Chaos!
Utter chaos!
The transformations in the sky surged like winds and clouds, like mountains, rivers, and glaciers, and even more like heavenly thunder igniting earthly fire.
The manifestations of creation in the sky were both yin and yang, like a great sun and a dark moon, like Asura demons and devils, and also like heavenly gods descending to the mortal realm.
Divine abilities and magical treasures filled the sky like swirling snow, a torrential storm of pear blossoms.
The sacred was enveloping, the evil was roaring.
Light was shining universally, darkness was devouring.
Looking out, the entire sky was filled with the power of the Great Dao, everywhere, densely packed, countless and uncountable.
The Ancestral Patriarchs of the Immortal Dao, the Ancestral Patriarchs of the Demonic Dao, the Ancestral Patriarchs of the Demonic Beast Dao, the Ancestral Patriarchs of the Buddhist Dao, the Ancestral Patriarchs of the Heavenly Dao, the Ancestral Patriarchs of the Sage Dao, including the Ancestral Patriarchs of Original Sin—all of them made their move at this moment.
At first, none of them went all out. Most held back, attacking while probing, guarding, and observing simultaneously.
No one wanted to exhaust their full strength to deal with Fusheng Dijun and the other Tribulation Variables and the Empresses.
They all thought to wait until others were dealing with the Empresses before going all out to seize the divine consciousness demonic thoughts on Gu Qingfeng.
The Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs of the various Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands were like this, the Ancestral Patriarchs of the Heavenly Dao, Sage Dao, and Immortal Dao were even more so, and those Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs were each playing their own little schemes.
Originally, they had all planned this way. But as the fight went on, the more they fought, the more alarmed and anxious they became, because the strength of the Empresses and others protecting Gu Qingfeng was far too profound and unfathomable, far too inconceivable.
They clearly saw the Empresses deeply embroiled in the overwhelming attacks, with no capacity to spare for protecting Gu Qingfeng. Seizing this opportunity, the various Ancestral Patriarchs wanted to rush forward and snatch the divine consciousness demonic thoughts on Gu Qingfeng. But before they could even reach Gu Qingfeng, the Empresses intercepted them. Whether they were Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs or Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs, even the Ancestral Patriarchs of the Heavenly Dao and Sage Dao—none could break through the Empresses' blockade.
The figures of the Empresses were each more elusive than the last, their methods each more ingenious, their attainments each more profound. Every move and technique was executed with divine skill, making them impossible to block or defend against.
The Ancestral Patriarchs all knew that if they continued fighting like this, they would be the ones at a disadvantage. Under normal circumstances, perhaps they could wage a war of attrition with the Empresses.
The problem was, right now they simply couldn't afford to drag it out. Because the Nine Forbidden Great Daos on Gu Qingfeng had already been released by him, and the divine consciousness demonic thoughts of the three Nether Lords were becoming increasingly ethereal and illusory, liable to be released at any moment.
What worried them most was that not only were the three Nether Lords becoming more illusory, but Gu Qingfeng himself was as well.
What they feared wasn't Gu Qingfeng releasing the three Nether Lords.
To be honest.
If Gu Qingfeng could release the divine consciousness demonic thoughts of the three Nether Lords, it would be a great boon for them, a perfect opportunity to snatch them.
What truly worried them was that the three Nether Lords and Gu Qingfeng were not only becoming more illusory, but the aura of the Great Dao on them was also growing increasingly sparse.
They were all afraid!
Afraid that Gu Qingfeng wasn't releasing himself, but was instead ascending to become the True Lord of Original Sin recorded in the Book of Fate.
If Gu Qingfeng once ascended to become the True Lord of Original Sin, then everything would be over.
For the Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs, what they would lose wasn't just the three Nether Lords, but also the True Lord of Original Sin.
For the Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs, what they would lose similarly wasn't just the three Nether Lords; the Three Thousand Sources of the Great Dao might very well be lost as well!
Thinking of this.
They all realized the severity of the situation. Many Ancestral Patriarchs even felt the divine consciousness demonic thoughts of the three Nether Lords were no longer important; what mattered was stopping Gu Qingfeng!
Whether Gu Qingfeng was truly releasing himself or ascending to become the True Lord of Original Sin, he must not be allowed to succeed!
Immediately, the Ancestral Patriarchs no longer held back, each unleashing their true abilities. Even an existence like Green-Robe Ancestral Patriarch, who loved to stir chaos and reap the spoils, did the same.
He understood clearly that if he continued pretending and seeking opportunistic gains, not only would he fail to reap any benefits, but he might even lose his own life.
It must be said that Green-Robe Ancestral Patriarch was truly deep and unfathomable. Once decided to unleash his true power, he released all his external incarnations in one breath—a full eighteen of them. Moreover, each one had been infused with Original Sin blood, each one infused with Original Sin essence. His true original body was even more beyond everyone's expectations—he was actually an Original Sin Variable!
Even a despicable, sinister villain like Green-Robe Ancestral Patriarch had unleashed his true power; naturally, the other Ancestral Patriarchs would no longer hold back.
Especially the Nine Holy Sons of the Sage Dao and the Nine Heavenly Sons of the Heavenly Dao, truly worthy of being Heaven's Chosen Ones, Heaven's Gifted Sons.
Each of the Nine Holy Sons was draped in ten-thousand-zhang sacred light, each like a sacred great sun. Set against the vast, majestic, and awe-inspiring sacred radiance, each one resembled a Sacred Son, adjudicating all living beings.
The Nine Heavenly Sons were similarly each draped in ten-thousand-zhang heavenly light, also like a great sun. The difference was, they were more like a domineering Azure Heaven sun, ruling over all living beings.
Led by Old Taishan, the Nine Immortals of Xuantian, though they weren't like the Nine Heavenly Sons and Nine Holy Sons who were all destined Tribulation Constants possessing Sacred Bodies or Domineering Azure Heaven Bodies, at this moment they too were draped in ten-thousand-zhang radiance. As the light shimmered, the Nine Immortals of Xuantian also resembled a great sun.
Different from the sacred great sun of the Nine Holy Sons and the domineering Azure Heaven sun of the Nine Heavenly Sons.
The Nine Immortals of Xuantian were more like nine radiant suns of light.
If the sacred great sun of the Nine Holy Sons adjudicated all living beings, and the domineering Azure Heaven sun of the Nine Heavenly Sons ruled over all living beings, then the radiant suns of light of the Nine Immortals of Xuantian purified all living beings.
Was that all?
Not yet.
From the side of the Eight Buddhist Sects, several more great suns also rose. They were precisely White-Brow Holy Monk, Great Treasury Buddha, Small Thousand Buddha, Lotus Buddha, and several other Holy Monks and Buddhas.
They were draped in ten-thousand-zhang Buddha light, the Buddha light vast and majestic, like a great sun. Set against this great sun Buddha light, White-Brow Holy Monk and the other Buddhas resembled the legendary Great Sun Tathagata Buddha, delivering all living beings.
It is said.
Before the Desolate Ancient Era, the sun of the Great Yang and the moon of the Great Yin represented the cycle of yin and yang.
The sun of the Great Yang was in the Nine Heavens, the moon of the Great Yin was in the Nine Nethers.
Unfortunately, that great calamity before the Desolate Ancient Era not only caused the fall of the Nine Heavens and Nine Nethers, but the sun of the Great Yang and the moon of the Great Yin also seemed to have fallen.
As for what exactly that great calamity before the Desolate Ancient Era was, how it occurred, and how the Nine Heavens, Nine Nethers, and the sun of the Great Yang and moon of the Great Yin fell, it remains a mystery to this day.
It is only known that after the Desolate Ancient Era began, the Nine Nethers and the moon of the Great Yin disappeared, while instead the Nine Heavens and the sun of the Great Yang began to recover. After recovering, the Nine Heavens were dominated by the Heavenly Dao, Sage Dao, and Buddhist Dao, and the sun of the Great Yang was similarly dominated by nine Great Daos including the Heavenly Dao, Sage Dao, and Buddhist Dao.
From then on, the sun of the Great Yang became the sun of the Nine Daos, also known as the Nine Yang Sun.
Like the Azure Heaven Sun of the Heavenly Dao, representing rule.
Like the Sacred Sun of the Sage Dao, representing adjudication.
The Radiant Sun of the Immortal Dao, representing purification.
And the Tathagata Sun of the Buddhist Dao, representing deliverance.