"This master saved you out of selfish motives, and this master's selfishness lies in two words: the Human Dao."
Selfish motives?
And it was for the Human Dao?
Gu Qingfeng did not understand what his master's selfish motives had to do with the Human Dao.
"That is a long story..." came Old Master Zhenjue's long sigh from within the stone chamber. After a moment, he spoke again: "Disciple, do you know the history of the Human Dao?"
The history of the Human Dao?
Gu Qingfeng truly wasn't very clear. He only knew that the Human Dao was also one of the Three Thousand Great Daos, and was even hailed as the cornerstone of the Three Thousand Great Daos. Precisely because of this, the Immortal Dao, Heavenly Dao, Monster Dao, and the other Three Thousand Great Daos had always wanted to seize control of the Human Dao. Once they seized the Human Dao, it would be like gripping the throat of the Three Thousand Great Daos. There was another saying: he who gains the Human Dao, gains Heaven and Earth. In other words, whoever could obtain control of the Human Dao could become the leader of the Daos, standing above the Three Thousand Great Daos.
However, in Gu Qingfeng's impression, whether from various rumors or ancient texts, there seemed to be no records of anyone controlling the Human Dao during the Ancient Era. Throughout the entire Ancient Era, the Human Dao had always been absent.
He had heard that during the Primordial Era before the Ancient Era, the Human Dao still existed. However, the Three Thousand Great Daos fought over control of the Human Dao, causing the Source of the Human Dao to become extremely weak. By the end of the Primordial Era, the Source of the Human Dao had completely perished. It never appeared throughout the entire Ancient Era. It was said that in the Current Era, the Source of the Human Dao would revive.
Of course.
That was just a rumor. Whether it was true or false, Gu Qingfeng did not know.
He had always only concerned himself with matters that concerned him. For other matters, he simply couldn't be bothered.
"The revival of the Human Dao in the Current Era is not a rumor; it is real."
As he spoke to this point, Old Master Zhenjue's voice carried a note of worry: "The existence of the Human Dao is too important. The Three Thousand Great Daos have always been eyeing it covetously. Whether it's the Heavenly Dao, the Immortal Dao, or the other Daos, they all began laying their plans as early as the Ancient Era, vying for the Human Dao that would revive in the Current Era."
"Disciple, do you know that the Human Dao once had a glorious and brilliant history?"
Gu Qingfeng shook his head.
Do not look at the fact that he had gestated a body full of Taiji Golden Cores, and to this day had gestated a Myriad Beings' Floating Pagoda with All Phenomena Paying Homage. But regarding the history of the Human Dao, he did not know much. Moreover, in his impression, it seemed the Human Dao didn't have much of a history.
Thinking carefully, about the history of the Human Dao, he only knew that it had appeared in the Primordial Era and had perished due to the contention among the Three Thousand Great Daos. Beyond that, he knew nothing else.
"That was a very, very long time ago, so long that the Three Thousand Great Daos had just gestated. At that time, the Heavenly Dao stood aloof and lofty, the Immortal Dao considered itself extraordinary, the Monster Dao was cruel and violent, the Monster Dao was sinister and cunning, while the Human Dao was industrious and simple, its status also the lowest among the Three Thousand Great Daos. Yet, the Human Dao did not abandon itself to despair because of this. Instead, relying on its industriousness and simplicity, it advanced step by step, finally not only surpassing the Monster Dao and Monster Dao, but also surpassing the self-proclaimed extraordinary Immortal Dao, and even the aloof and lofty Heavenly Dao; in the end, they were all surpassed by the Human Dao."
"At that time, although the Human Dao had surpassed the Three Thousand Great Daos, it did not presume to be the leader of the Daos, nor did it stand aloft like the Heavenly Dao, nor consider itself extraordinary like the Immortal Dao. Instead, it emphasized the equality of all living beings, the unity of the Great Daos. Between Heaven and Earth, across the Four Seas and Eight Wastes, it was an age of prosperity. Humans, Immortals, and Demons no longer had distinctions of high and low, noble and base."
"Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. The Human Dao trusted the Heavenly Dao too much, and trusted the Immortal Dao too much...
To the extent that later, it was... by the Heavenly Dao and Immortal Dao..." As he spoke, Old Master Zhenjue sighed again. After a long while, he continued: "Since then, the Human Dao has never existed independently again. First, it was dominated by the Heavenly Dao, then later dominated by the Immortal Dao...
They fought over it, ultimately causing the Source of the Human Dao to wither, until finally it perished..."
In the grand hall.
Gu Qingfeng's heart was shaken. This was the first time he had heard of such a thing, and the first time he learned that the Human Dao actually had such a glorious history, once standing above the Heavenly Dao, Immortal Dao, and even the Three Thousand Great Daos?
"Why have I never heard of this matter? It seems there are no records of this aspect in ancient texts either?"
Gu Qingfeng voiced the doubt in his heart.
"History has always been written by the victors. Whether it is the Heavenly Dao or the Immortal Dao, they would not let the world know that the Human Dao once stood above the Great Daos, nor would they let the world know that Humans, Immortals, and Demons were equal a very, very long time ago, much less let the world know of the despicable things they once did to the Human Dao."
"Master, when you said that a long time ago, Humans, Immortals, and Demons were equal...
What do you mean?"
Gu Qingfeng had a vague feeling, but still dared not believe it, asking: "And what despicable things did the Three Thousand Great Daos do to the Human Dao back then?"
"Back then, Humans were Humans, Immortals were Immortals, Demons were Demons, and Demons were Demons. Apart from differences in innate nature and bloodline, there was no essential difference in other aspects. Immortals could summon wind and rain, Humans could too. Demons could move mountains and drain seas, Humans could too. Demons could transform in myriad ways, Humans likewise...
could too."
Gu Qingfeng was astounded, saying: "Master, do you mean that back then, Humans did not need to cultivate to possess the same abilities as Immortals and Demons?"
"No, it's not that they didn't need to cultivate, but that Humans were born with the same powerful innate talent and potential as Immortals and Demons."
The shock in Gu Qingfeng's heart could no longer be expressed in words, because his master's words completely shattered his understanding, shaking his worldview and outlook on life to their foundations.
As everyone knows.
The status of Humans is very low.
At least, in front of Immortals and Demons, Humans are no different from ants.
Let alone fighting, even ordinary people cannot stand steadily in front of an Immortal.
This is the difference in bloodline, just like a mouse and a tiger. From birth, a mouse is a mouse, lowly in status, while a tiger is born a king.
Gu Qingfeng had always thought it was like this, no!
Not that he thought so, but that this world was such a world, Heaven and Earth were such Heaven and Earth.
But now?
His master said that a long time ago, Humans were no different from Immortals and Demons, also possessing the same innate talent and potential, with absolutely no distinctions of high and low, noble and base.
Was this true?
Gu Qingfeng asked in astonishment and doubt: "If back then, there was no distinction of high and low, noble and base between Humans, Immortals, and Demons, then why have Humans now become so weak, only able to reach the heights of Immortals through diligent cultivation?"
"Disciple, do you remember what this master just said, that back then the Heavenly Dao dominated the Human Dao, and the Immortal Dao also dominated it, causing the Source of the Human Dao to perish?"
Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng's heart couldn't help but lurch, and a bold guess emerged: "Could it be...
that the Heavenly Dao and Immortal Dao tampered with the Source of the Human Dao?
So that's why Humans have now become so weak and insignificant?"
Old Master Zhenjue did not respond, choosing silence.
Precisely this silence also made Gu Qingfeng realize his guess was correct. In other words, the reason Humans have become so insignificant, born with reverence for the Immortal Dao and Heavenly Dao, is not because they were born lowly, but because the Immortal Dao and Heavenly Dao once tampered with the Source of the Human Dao.
This truly was an earth-shattering secret.