Gu Qingfeng had never imagined that there existed such a hidden history of grievances between the Human Dao, the Heavenly Dao, the Immortal Dao, and even the Three Thousand Great Daos. The more he thought about it, the more unbelievable it seemed.
Indeed.
Who could have imagined that, in the distant past, humans, immortals, and demons had no distinction of high or low, noble or base?
Who could have imagined that the Three Thousand Great Daos would join forces to scheme against the Human Dao, even tampering with the Source of the Human Path, thereby weakening human bloodlines?
Strangling human aptitude and potential?
What was the purpose of the Three Thousand Great Daos doing this?
It was all too obvious.
To prevent the Human Dao from rising again, and to better enslave it. With the Human Dao as a foundation, the Immortal Dao and Demonic Dao would grow ever stronger. After all, in this world, most sought the Immortal Dao, while in other great worlds, many pursued the Demonic Dao or the Yao Dao.
Gu Qingfeng couldn't help but recall his Master's teachings on the Foundation of the Human Dao back at the Shangqing Sect. Connecting that with what his Master had said today, he tentatively asked, "Master, when you taught me the Foundation of the Human Dao back then, was it because you wanted me to revive the Human Dao?"
"Revive the Human Dao?
Disciple, you misunderstand...
Although this master has spent his entire life contemplating the Human Dao, and truly wishes for it to rise again, reviving it is far from easy. The matter is far too complex and arduous. Over the years, this master has only entertained the thought, never harboring the extravagant hope of reviving the Human Dao."
"Teaching you the Foundation of the Human Dao was only in the hope that you, my disciple, would uphold your true nature and never forget your original intent. If you can achieve these eight words, this master would be more than satisfied."
"Uphold your true nature, never forget your original intent."
Gu Qingfeng repeated the eight words. He understood, yet his feelings were complex. He said, "Master, did you see long ago that my very existence would pose a threat to all living beings in heaven and earth?"
Elder Zhenjue did not speak. After a long silence, he finally said, "Silly disciple, no one can choose their origin. Origin is not important; what matters is being without shame in your heart. Your path in life is long and rugged. On the vast journey of life, it's inevitable to lose your true nature. This master only hopes you can return to your nature amidst that loss, find yourself again..."
"As long as you are without shame in your heart, what does it matter if heaven and earth won't tolerate you? What does it matter if you slaughter all living beings? Cultivation is about cultivating the heart, walking the Dao. As long as the heart is righteous, whether it's the Immortal Dao or the Demonic Dao, it's all the same. The Dao follows nature; the Three Thousand Great Daos, all methods return to one."
Gu Qingfeng murmured his Master's words, seeming to gain some insight. Then he knelt on the ground and kowtowed. "This disciple understands. Thank you for your teachings, Master. This disciple will surely remember them in my heart."
"Understanding is good...
Understanding is truly good...
Go back. Return to where you came from..." After Gu Qingfeng finished kowtowing, though filled with a thousand reluctances in his heart, he ultimately left.
After Gu Qingfeng departed, a sigh came from within the stone chamber.
"Heh heh heh..." Suddenly, an ethereal laugh came from somewhere unknown. "Zhenjue, do you regret it now?
Heh heh heh heh..."
"I'm afraid when you taught him the Foundation of the Human Dao back then, you never imagined he would gestate a body full of Taiji Golden Cores, did you?
Even less did you imagine that with his body of endless Taiji Golden Cores, he would gestate that 'All Beings' Floating Pagoda, Myriad Phenomena Pay Homage' thing that no one knows what it really is?
Heh heh heh..." The voice was strange, neither clearly male nor female, filled with mockery.
"Back then, because of a single moment of compassion, you personally created the most mysterious, most unknown variable of the Present-Ancient Era...
Heh heh heh...
To the point that now heaven, earth, and the Great Daos are all plunged into danger...
Heh...
Even more terrifying is that he also gestated that 'All Beings' Floating Pagoda, Myriad Phenomena Pay Homage'...
Heh heh heh...
Although I...
Although I don't know what that is, one thing is certain: if he...
If he sets his mind on contending for the position of the Human Dao, I'm afraid...
No one would be his match, ha ha ha ha!"
"If...
If a person of Original Sin, and one connected to the Daoless Age at that, ascends to become the Human King of the Present-Ancient Era, dominating the Human Dao...
Heavens!
I truly cannot imagine what things would be like then."
"I used to think I was the one guilty of heinous crimes. Now I understand, the one truly guilty of heinous crimes is you!
Ha ha ha..."
At that moment.
Another aged voice chimed in. "Demoness, stop spouting nonsense! If Senior Zhenjue had not taught him the Foundation of the Human Dao back then, whether the Present-Ancient Era could have smoothly opened would be an unknown. With his destiny, once he loses his true nature, the consequences would be unimaginable. I'm afraid what ended back then wouldn't have been limited to just the Remote Ancient Era!"
"Hmph!
Old fool, don't try to scare me!
Do you think this lady was scared into growing up?
That kid surnamed Gu may have extraordinary destiny and be of Original Sin origin, but if he thinks he can stir up heaven and earth in the Remote Ancient Era, he's still far too green..." The aged voice retorted, "On his own, perhaps he cannot stir up heaven and earth. However, if he once loses his true nature and cannot find himself again, he will inevitably affect the acceleration of the Karmic Black Hole's occurrence. It's not impossible for it to descend even in the Remote Ancient Era. As you said, he is of Original Sin origin. Since it's Original Sin, naturally it can influence the Karmic Black Hole. If the Karmic Black Hole truly descends, I don't need to say, you probably know the consequences."
"Hmph!" The voice called the demoness snorted coldly. "Don't try to scare this lady with the Karmic Black Hole! Dare you say Zhenjue doesn't regret it?"
When asked, the aged voice did not respond again.
The voice called the demoness said quite smugly, "He must regret it. When he taught that kid the Foundation of the Human Dao back then, he only wanted to resolve the impending catastrophe of the Karmic Black Hole from the Daoless Age. Even if he couldn't resolve the catastrophe, at least he could mitigate it. He just never calculated that today, that kid has already kicked open the door to the Human Dao with one foot."
"And...
Heh heh heh, as far as I know, dealing with the catastrophe of the Karmic Black Hole, the existence of the Human Dao is of paramount importance. Heh...
And Zhenjue actually...
Actually let a person of Original Sin inadvertently push open the door to the Human Dao, ha ha ha...
Thinking of this, this lady can't help but want to laugh."
Then.
A third voice sounded.
"Let me say, when the Old Master taught that kid the Foundation of the Human Dao, his original intention was probably for the impending Black Hole catastrophe. As for that kid gestating that so-called 'All Beings' Floating Pagoda, Myriad Phenomena Pay Homage,' that might have truly exceeded the Old Master's expectations. However, you all should also consider what kind of person the Old Master is. In his lifetime, the salt he's eaten is more than all the rice the rest of us have eaten combined. Regarding matters of heaven and earth, he has probably long since seen through them. What's the point of us worrying here?"
Then, a fourth voice sounded.
"The Old Master has always been profound and unfathomable. When we take a step, it's just one step. When the Old Master takes a step, it's absolutely a decisive move that determines victory or defeat."
Soon, a fifth voice sounded.
"The Old Master has observed the game for countless ages. In his lifetime, he has only taken this one step. Whether this step is right or wrong, victory or defeat, we shall wait and see."
"There's no need for you to argue either. Senior Zhenjue..."