"Changfeng, you believe that You Di's 'letting go of himself' is entirely his own choice, uninfluenced by the Karmic Seeds, and furthermore, his purpose in choosing to let go is not to end all of this?"
Seeing Great Emperor Changfeng nod, Immortal King Qianye grew even more puzzled and asked, "If You Di letting go of himself isn't to end all of this, then what else could it be for?"
"Before letting go of himself, You Di once told me that this Original Sin Cataclysm was not prepared for him alone, but also for me, for all Original Sin Anomalies, and for all Destined Calamity Fates."
Great Emperor Changfeng gazed intently at Gu Qingfeng, who was in the process of letting go of himself, and murmured, "Perhaps... he has already seen the answer to this cataclysm."
In the void.
Black smoke filled the sky, and Original Sin permeated the heavens.
The nine Forbidden Great Daos were already flickering in and out of visibility.
The incarnations of the three overlords—Avici Asura, Boundless Netherworld, and Heaven-Devouring Earth-Swallowing Blood Taotie—had also become distorted and blurred.
At this moment, he stood tall and straight. His three thousand strands of black hair had long since turned white, and grayish-white smoke, like flames, burned around his body.
No one knew Gu Qingfeng's condition.
Nor did anyone know whether the current Gu Qingfeng was still the Gu Qingfeng of before.
The only thing known was that, whether it was the nine Forbidden Great Daos or the incarnations of the three overlords, they were still tenuously connected to Gu Qingfeng, not yet let go. The grayish-white smoke representing the ancient clansmen seemed to have already invaded Gu Qingfeng's entire body.
Led by Ancestor Xuanming and Ancestor Green Robe, a group of Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs gathered in the void, surrounding Gu Qingfeng so tightly that not even a drop of water could leak through. Ancestor Xuanming, still transformed into the Original Sin ghost face, continued his impassioned appeals, while Ancestor Green Robe stood at the forefront, shouting loudly. Both seemed eager to draw over powerful existences like Miao Rulai, Demon Emperor Weiyang, the Free Emperor, and the Old Master of Heishan.
Unfortunately.
No matter how Ancestor Xuanming and Ancestor Green Robe colluded or analyzed the pros and cons, Miao Rulai remained seated cross-legged on the palm of that sacred great Buddha, never moving or speaking from beginning to end.
The Old Master of Heishan, the Old Monster Liaoe, and the Green Lamp Ghost Emperor also paid them no heed.
Bai Chou remained Bai Chou, his body wrapped in white cloth, revealing only a pair of eyes fixed on Gu Qingfeng.
Qiongqi, like an outsider, had not spoken a single word, not even one syllable, since his appearance.
However, it was at this moment that the Free Emperor, Mo Wentian, suddenly stepped forward.
His stepping forward not only made the Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs present feel that stopping Gu Qingfeng from letting go of himself was the correct choice.
At the same time, it also threw the Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs opposite into greater panic, and amidst that panic, there was also disappointment.
The existence of the Free Emperor was rather special compared to other Original Sin Anomalies.
The reason was simple.
The world knew that the Free Emperor was heroic and magnanimous, valued loyalty and righteousness, and was unconstrained by trivialities.
He had many friends, so many that they spanned the Great Wilderness, the myriad realms of the heavens, and the Three Thousand Great Daos. Whether in the heavens above or the earth below, whether they were esteemed Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs or ordinary secular cultivators, his friends came from all walks of life and every school of thought.
Some said Mo Wentian's friends were not only spread across the myriad realms of the heavens but also spanned heaven and earth, transcending past and present.
This was no exaggeration.
At the very least, whether they were Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs or Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs present, the majority were friends of the Free Emperor and respected his character.
Because of this, during the early days of the ancient era, when the Holy Land sought to eliminate Mo Wentian and laid a heaven-encompassing net to besiege him, the news spread throughout the myriad realms of the heavens and immediately caused an uproar. From the highest heavens to the deepest netherworld, from the Immortal Dao and Buddhist Dao to the Demonic Dao and Yao Dao, from the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens and Seventy-Two Blessed Lands to the many giants of the Great Wilderness, numerous Great Dao Emperors, Great Dao Thrones, and even Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs personally came forward to rescue Mo Wentian.
Was that all?
Of course not.
As Mo Wentian traveled the Great Wilderness, acting chivalrously and upholding justice, he had saved countless immortal realm sects, clans, and families, as well as countless cultivators. Therefore, on that occasion, cultivators from across the myriad realms of the heavens and various celestial domains banded together in groups to rush to Mo Wentian's rescue.
This was the famous event of the ancient era: "The Heroes Defy the Saints to Save the Free Emperor," also known as "When the Free Emperor is in Peril, the Myriad Realms Come to Aid."
The Free Emperor's life perfectly embodied four words for all living beings throughout the ages: a true hero and champion!
Even after the news broke that the Free Emperor was an Original Sin Anomaly, no one ever questioned his character.
Even when the Free Emperor appeared here, many Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs still placed great hopes in him. In their hearts, they believed that even if every other Original Sin Ancestral Patriarch present was scheming for the title of True Lord of Original Sin, the Free Emperor absolutely would not.
Therefore.
When they saw the Free Emperor step forward, beyond panic, the Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs felt mostly disbelief and extreme disappointment.
"Hehehe! This seat always knew Brother Free was one of the rare clear-sighted ones."
After Ancestor Xuanming spoke, Ancestor Green Robe added, "Brother Free truly lives up to being a hero and champion throughout the ages!"
The Free Emperor glanced at Ancestor Green Robe, then at Ancestor Xuanming, swept his gaze over the Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs present, and asked calmly, "Do you all truly believe that stopping You Di from letting go of himself is the most correct choice?"
Perhaps not expecting the Free Emperor to ask this so suddenly, Ancestor Xuanming was taken aback for a moment before countering, "Could it be that Brother Free doesn't think so?"
"No!"
The Free Emperor said, "I believe that for you, Ancestral Patriarchs, stopping You Di from letting go of himself is indeed the most correct choice. Just as Ancestor Xuanming said, if You Di lets go of himself and the cataclysm ends, then everything ends. You cannot afford to lose."
No one knew what the Free Emperor truly meant. Ancestor Xuanming was also somewhat puzzled and asked, "Hehehe, if this seat heard correctly, just now the Free Emperor seemed to mention the word 'you.' Could it be that Brother Free is different from this seat? Or could it be that Brother Free's body is in Original Sin, but his heart belongs to the Great Dao?"
The various Ancestral Patriarchs present had also heard the Free Emperor mention the word "you," implying something beyond the surface. Could it truly be as Ancestor Xuanming said, that the Free Emperor's body was in Original Sin but his heart belonged to the Great Dao?
"Ancestor Xuanming misunderstands."
The Free Emperor smiled faintly and said, "This Mo Wentian's body is indeed in Original Sin, but my heart belongs neither to Original Sin nor to the Great Dao."
"Interesting! Truly interesting!"
Ancestor Xuanming let out an eerie laugh and said, "If Brother Free's heart belongs neither to Original Sin nor to the Great Dao, then where does it belong?"
"That is my own affair and has nothing to do with you."
Hearing this, neither the Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs nor the Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs could understand what the Free Emperor truly meant.
"I stepped forward only to advise everyone to think thrice before acting. Do not be used by others. Whether stopping You Di from letting go of himself is the correct choice for you, I do not know. But one thing I am clear about: if you stop You Di from letting go of himself, be prepared to pay the price."
"A clear-minded You Di is very terrifying, Mad Demon's You Di is even more horrifying, and the lost You Di can no longer be described as terrifying or horrifying. You Di, why would Letting Go of Oneself, I may not know Dao, but I know Dao, whoever stops him Letting Go of Oneself, believe me, none of you can bear this price!"
"A clear-minded You Di is terrifying, a Mad Demon's You Di is even more horrifying, and a lost You Di can no longer be described with words like terrifying or horrifying. Why You Di is letting go of himself, I may not know. But I do know this: whoever stops him from letting go of himself—believe me—none of you can bear the price!"