"Oh ho, you flatter me so."
"I'm not flattering you, merely stating a fact. And..." Bai Chou continued, "most importantly, you were able to ignite the Original Sin Karmic Fire."
"What's so strange about that? Couldn't you do it?"
"I could not. Many who bear Original Sin cannot. They have been fused with the Blood of Original Sin for far, far longer than you—perhaps ten thousand years, perhaps a hundred thousand, perhaps a million. It could be since the Ancient Era, the Archaic Era, or even the Primordial Era."
Bai Chou looked at Gu Qingfeng, his tone serious and solemn. "Yet you have been fused with the Blood of Original Sin for less than a mere few hundred years, and you've been resisting it all along. Even so, you could still ignite the Original Sin Karmic Fire."
"I was just lucky, that's all."
"Heh, lucky?"
Bai Chou said softly, "Whether you admit it or not, you cannot deny that your talent, innate gifts, and comprehension are all exceptionally compatible with Original Sin. The fact that you could ignite the Original Sin Karmic Fire is proof enough that your understanding of Original Sin has already surpassed imagination."
"It's not as mystical as you think. I could ignite the Original Sin Karmic Fire not because my understanding of Original Sin was profound, but because I had some insights into the ways of Buddhism."
"I know. Back then, within the Buddhist ruins, you comprehended the Great Stillness, transcending all life and death. During the Ancient Cataclysm, you comprehended the Great Freedom, transcending all Great Daos. Within the Original Sin Nightmare, you comprehended the Great Illusion, transcending all truth and falsehood. Then, when Wudao Mountain descended and the Blood of Original Sin was eroding you, you comprehended the Great Compassion, transcending all sentient beings."
"Since you know I comprehended the legendary Four Supreme Mental States, you should also understand the reason I could ignite the Original Sin Karmic Fire, right?"
"Are you saying you used one of the legendary Four Supreme Mental States—a Saintly Heart—to ignite the Karmic Fire of Original Sin?"
"Otherwise, did you really think I understood Original Sin deeply?"
Gu Qingfeng said, "To tell you the truth, ever since fusing with the Blood of Original Sin, I've kept it sealed in my arm. Forget comprehending anything about Original Sin, I haven't even glanced at it."
"Heh heh!"
Bai Chou suddenly laughed, a laugh that seemed inexplicable.
Gu Qingfeng asked, "What are you thinking?"
"Do I look like a fool to you?"
Bai Chou's question made Gu Qingfeng feel even more baffled.
"Or are you treating me like a fool?"
"What do you mean?"
"I have been completely open and honest with you, yet you keep playing dumb with me."
"Playing dumb about what?"
"Must I spell it out?"
"If you don't say it, how would I know?"
"Fine! Then I'll tell you."
Bai Chou declared, "You say you have never comprehended Original Sin. I believe that. But never having comprehended it does not mean you know nothing about it. Because you comprehended the Great Stillness, Great Freedom, Great Illusion, and Great Compassion. These Four Supreme Mental States all originate from Buddhism. Many only know that Original Sin belongs to the Daoless Age, but in truth, Original Sin has always come from Buddhism."
Bai Chou continued, "You know. You've always known. Even if you didn't know before, after successively comprehending the Four Supreme Mental States, you must have sensed it."
"When Wudao Mountain descended back then, everyone was fearful and anxious, afraid you would become an Incarnation of Original Sin. The Three Thousand Great Daos were, Heaven and Earth were, the Holy Lands were, Eternal Nameless and everyone else was. Only you were not afraid."
"Because you were already prepared in your heart. When the Blood of Original Sin was eroding your physical body, you were drinking. When it was eroding your soul, you were still drinking. While drinking, you were also arranging your affairs. In truth, you weren't drinking, nor were you arranging your affairs. You were waiting. Waiting for the Blood of Original Sin to erode your last shred of consciousness, and waiting for the Blood of Original Sin to completely fuse with you as one."
"Only by becoming one could you feel Original Sin more clearly. And only by becoming one could you ignite the Original Sin Karmic Fire."
"Now, do you still dare say you know nothing about Original Sin?"
Bai Chou's questioning left Gu Qingfeng somewhat embarrassed. He chuckled, "Oh ho, it seems you truly have sharp eyes."
The facts were exactly as Bai Chou had said. After successively comprehending the Four Supreme Mental States, Gu Qingfeng's perception of Original Sin had grown increasingly tangible. This was especially true after comprehending the Great Illusion, transcending all truth and falsehood, and the Great Compassion, transcending all sentient beings. By the time he had comprehended all Four Supreme Mental States, the Blood of Original Sin within him felt as if it had been with him since birth, utterly indistinguishable from himself. It was precisely because of this that he could ignite the Karmic Fire of Original Sin.
"For me, the Blood of Original Sin within may flare up. But for you, it fundamentally will not. If my guess is correct, the current you can already control the Blood of Original Sin. You might not understand Original Sin yet, but that's because you don't wish to. If you were willing, you could understand it better than anyone. Am I right?"
"What difference does control or not make? I still can't shake it off. What's the damn use?"
"At the very least, you don't have to worry like I do about whether the Blood of Original Sin will flare up one day, or whether you'll lose your Ego and become an Incarnation of Original Sin."
Gu Qingfeng smiled.
His smile, in turn, made Bai Chou feel baffled. He asked, "What are you smiling about? What's so funny?"
"To be honest with you, I should indeed be able to control the Blood of Original Sin now. I also don't need to worry about whether it will flare up. But don't you think that's a terrifying thing?"
"Terrifying? How so?"
"The Blood of Original Sin flaring up means you and the Blood of Original Sin have not completely fused. As for me, I can control the Blood of Original Sin. In other words, I have already completely fused with the Blood of Original Sin. We are utterly indistinguishable from each other. Listen clearly: I and Original Sin are indistinguishable from each other. Put another way, the current me might already be the Incarnation of Original Sin!"
Gu Qingfeng's words caused Bai Chou to freeze on the spot. His deep, gloomy eyes also flickered with a look of horror.
"Impossible. If the current you were the Incarnation of Original Sin, why haven't you lost your Ego?"
"Who stipulate that becoming an Incarnation of Original Sin means you must lose your Ego? Did you stipulate it?"
"This..." Bai Chou was unable to refute.
"Of course, it's just speculation. Whether I am currently the Incarnation of Original Sin, no one knows. Besides, I've only temporarily not lost my Ego. What the situation will be after my physical body revives is still an unknown."
"Then what do you plan to do?"
"What can I do? Take one step at a time."
"Are you just going to sit and wait for death? Let fate manipulate you?"
"What else?"
"If I were you, I definitely wouldn't sit and wait for death. Unfortunately, I am not you. I cannot control the Blood of Original Sin, nor can I comprehend those Four Supreme Mental States. I've always wanted to ask you: why don't you take the initiative? Since you have comprehended the Four Supreme Mental States and can control the Blood of Original Sin, then comprehend the true essence of Original Sin. Even if it's not to prepare for the future, at least it would place you in an unbeatable position. Perhaps you could change the Karma, change your own fate?"
"Change my own Karma? Change my own fate? Ha ha ha ha!"
Gu Qingfeng laughed uproariously as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.