Fusheng Dijun did not respond to Xuan Yuan Qinghou's question.
However, whether he responded or not seemed no longer important.
Because when Xuan Yuan Qinghou uttered these words, the Great Dao Patriarchs from the various grotto-heavens present were all shocked, stirred, and excited—this was especially true for the Xuantian Nine Immortals, and Old Tai Shan in particular.
Although Xuan Yuan Qinghou did not state it explicitly, everyone could hear the implication behind his words: it seemed he had already decided to take action.
Just as the Great Dao Patriarchs were still immersed in their excitement, another voice came from the void.
"Fusheng Dijun seemed to have said earlier that no one can suppress the Divine Sense and Demonic Thoughts on You Di."
Suppressing the excitement in their hearts, the Great Dao Patriarchs once again looked towards the source of the voice. This time, the speaker was not from the Holy Land, but from the Heavenly Dao!
A group of Heaven-ranked Immortals and Demons of the Heavenly Dao stood in the void, as if standing upon clouds of infinite change.
Among the Heaven-ranked Immortals and Demons, nine were the most unique, the most eye-catching, the most commanding of attention.
These nine individuals, male and female, were all dressed in pristine white robes, spotless. The men were extraordinarily handsome, like gods descended to earth; the women were peerlessly beautiful, like celestial maidens descended to the mortal realm.
The nine of them were like nine divine statues guarding heaven and earth, even more like sovereigns reigning over the world, looking down upon the void and arrogantly surveying all living beings.
Each of these nine individuals carried a powerful aura.
This aura was both familiar and strange to the Patriarchs present. It was none other than Heavenly Might.
That's right!
It was Heavenly Might, and a Heavenly Might that inspired awe, even making one feel compelled to kneel and worship.
These nine were precisely the Nine Sons of Heaven of the Heavenly Dao.
The speaker was a man.
This man was tall and imposing, his face chiseled like a knife, his expression resolute. Merely standing in the void, he gave off an intensely oppressive feeling. A sweep of his eyes seemed to penetrate all things.
His body was accompanied by vast, majestic Heavenly Might, his presence rivaling the firmament, his voice like rolling thunder. When he spoke, each word felt like a massive mountain pressing down on everyone's hearts, making them feel suffocated.
This man was both one of the Nine Sons of Heaven and their leader: Du Gu Fengyun.
Du Gu Fengyun's expression was solemn and extremely cold as he looked down at Fusheng Dijun and asked, "I wonder if the nine of us can suppress the Divine Sense and Demonic Thoughts on You Di?"
Earlier, Xuan Yuan Qinghou, leader of the Nine Holy Sons, had asked Fusheng Dijun the same question.
Now, Du Gu Fengyun, leader of the Nine Sons of Heaven, was also asking Fusheng Dijun this question.
Fusheng Dijun did not respond to Xuan Yuan Qinghou, and similarly did not respond to Du Gu Fengyun.
The Great Dao Patriarchs present also cared little whether Fusheng Dijun answered or not, for they too heard the implication in Du Gu Fengyun's words: it seemed the Heavenly Dao had also decided to act.
Old Tai Shan of Xuantian was undoubtedly the happiest among them. Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he looked at Xuan Yuan Qinghou and Du Gu Fengyun, clasped his hands, and said, "This old man ventures to ask, do the two of you support suppressing the Divine Sense and Demonic Thoughts on You Di?"
"Of course we support it. After deliberation, our Holy Land unanimously agrees with what Old Tai Shan said. In this calamity filled with unknowns, if we stand by and watch, we are undoubtedly waiting for death. Only by taking the initiative can we turn passivity into activity. Only by turning passivity into activity can we seize the advantage. Only by seizing the advantage can we protect the Great Dao and all living beings."
Xuan Yuan Qinghou spoke with elegant calmness, his words flowing freely. "At this critical moment, suppressing the Divine Sense and Demonic Thoughts on You Di is indeed the most correct choice for the Great Dao."
At the same time.
Du Gu Fengyun of the Heavenly Dao also spoke. "After deliberation, our Heavenly Dao also supports Old Tai Shan's decision. No one knows whether You Di can successfully let go of himself. No one knows what impact You Di letting go of himself will have on this calamity."
He paused, then continued. "Regardless of whether You Di can let go of himself, and regardless of what impact he will have on this calamity, we should not place our hopes on him. Opportunity knocks but once. No matter what, we should not sit and wait for death. We must grasp the fate of the Great Dao and create hope for the Great Dao."
"Here, I hope everyone does not forget the disaster of the Ancient Desolation, remembers the lessons of the Ancient Desolation, and does not follow in the footsteps of the Ancient Desolation. I also hope everyone does not hesitate, and does not listen to the slanderous words of certain existences. At such a critical moment, we should join hands to face this calamity, advance and retreat with the Great Dao, live and die with the Great Dao, stop this calamity at all costs, and protect the myriad beings of this heaven, earth, and Great Dao!"
If earlier, the Holy Land and the Heavenly Dao had only hinted they would act, leaving everyone somewhat doubtful, then now, Xuan Yuan Qinghou representing the Holy Land and Du Gu Fengyun representing the Heavenly Dao had publicly stated they would act to suppress the Divine Sense and Demonic Thoughts on You Di. At this moment, the Great Dao Patriarchs present harbored no more doubts, hesitated no longer, and resolved to suppress the Divine Sense and Demonic Thoughts on You Di.
As for Fusheng Dijun's earlier statement that the Divine Sense and Demonic Thoughts on You Di could not be touched—that not only could no one suppress them, but whoever touched them would die.
After Du Gu Fengyun and Xuan Yuan Qinghou stepped forward to publicly support Old Tai Shan, these words were also forgotten by the Great Dao Patriarchs present.
Fusheng Dijun's influence was undoubtedly powerful, stronger than any Great Dao Patriarch present, any Great Dao Bearer of Heavenly Mandate, any Calamity-Destined Being present. It was even stronger than the Nine Sons of Heaven led by Du Gu Fengyun, and stronger than the Nine Holy Sons led by Xuan Yuan Qinghou.
However.
The Nine Sons of Heaven were not merely the Nine Sons of Heaven. Behind them stood Heaven General Du Gu Qizhan, and behind Du Gu Qizhan stood the true leader of the Great Dao: the Heavenly Dao.
Similarly, the Nine Holy Sons were not merely the Nine Holy Sons. Behind them stood Martial Sage Xuan Yuan Wuji, and behind Xuan Yuan Wuji stood the first-generation leader of the Great Dao: the Holy Dao.
No matter how powerful Fusheng Dijun's influence was, it could not surpass the two great pillars supporting the heavens since the Ancient Desolation—Heaven General Du Gu Qizhan and Martial Sage Xuan Yuan Wuji—and certainly could not surpass the two generations of Great Dao leaders: the Holy Dao and the Heavenly Dao.
Therefore.
After the Holy Dao and the Heavenly Dao successively stepped forward and decided to suppress the Divine Sense and Demonic Thoughts on You Di, Fusheng Dijun's words were no longer so important to the Great Dao Patriarchs.
In the view of many Patriarchs, whether the Divine Sense and Demonic Thoughts on You Di could be suppressed was relative. For the Xuantian Immortal Dao led by Old Tai Shan and Taiji Boundless, perhaps they truly could not suppress the Divine Sense and Demonic Thoughts on You Di, and perhaps it was truly a case of whoever touched them would die.
But if the Heavenly Dao led by the Nine Sons of Heaven and the Holy Dao led by the Nine Holy Sons joined forces, they would certainly be able to suppress the Divine Sense and Demonic Thoughts on You Di.
Many Great Dao Patriarchs clearly remembered.
Earlier, when Du Gu Fengyun questioned Fusheng Dijun about whether the Nine Sons of Heaven could suppress the Divine Sense and Demonic Thoughts on You Di, Fusheng Dijun chose silence.
When Xuan Yuan Qinghou questioned Fusheng Dijun about whether the Nine Holy Sons would die if they touched the Divine Sense and Demonic Thoughts on You Di, Fusheng Dijun similarly chose silence.
In the eyes of many Great Dao Patriarchs, Fusheng Dijun's silence should be a form of having no answer.