Old Huang did not answer the doubts in Lei Lie's heart. He merely stood up, placed one hand behind his back while stroking his beard with the other, and spoke softly, "It is said that before the Primeval Ancient Era, the Human Dao had not yet declined. Not only had it not declined, it was actually at its zenith, stronger than the Immortal Dao, the Demonic Dao, stronger even than the Buddha Dao, the Monster Dao... and even stronger than the Heavenly Dao...
One could say, in those distant days, the Human Dao was truly the leader of all Great Daos. It is said that in that time, humans of the Human Dao were born with powerful physical bodies, possessing immense strength, capable of moving mountains and draining seas, ascending to the heavens and descending to the earth—there was nothing they could not do."
"There's such a thing?" Lei Lie clicked his tongue in astonishment. This was the first time he had heard of such a rare tale.
Before the Primeval Ancient Era, the Human Dao was the leader?
And humans of the Human Dao were born with bodies of immense strength?
Was this true or false?
"This old man also heard it from some senior predecessors. As for whether it's true or false, I cannot say."
"Then how did the Human Dao decline later?"
Old Huang shook his head, indicating he did not know either.
"If humans of the Human Dao were truly so powerful before the Primeval Ancient Era, why have they become so weak now? Could it be because of the Human Dao's decline?"
"Perhaps. However..." Changing the subject, Old Huang pondered for a moment before continuing, "There is one theory that says, before the Primeval Ancient Era, when the Human Dao was prosperous, humans of the Human Dao were born with the Three Flowers."
"Three Flowers? What Three Flowers?"
"The so-called Three Flowers also refer to the Three Souls: the Heaven Soul, the Earth Soul, and the Life Soul!"
Lei Lie scratched his head. He only knew that ordinary mortals possessed a single soul; he had never heard of any Heaven Soul, Earth Soul, or Life Soul.
"Later, as the Human Dao declined, seizing the opportunity, Heaven extracted the Heaven Soul from the Human Dao's Source, Earth extracted the Earth Soul from the Human Dao's Source, and Fate extracted the Life Soul from the Human Dao's Source. From the beginning of the Primeval Ancient Era onward, humans of the Human Dao no longer possessed the Three Souls, leaving only the soul, becoming true ordinary mortals, and turning into ants in the eyes of the Great Daos."
"This is too... too much. Old Huang, if what you're saying is true, why would Heaven, Earth, and Fate extract the Three Souls of the Human Dao?"
Perhaps because the things Old Huang spoke of were too shocking and bizarre, Lei Lie was stunned for a long while, unable to regain his composure, not knowing what to say.
"This old man does not know either..." Old Huang sighed with sorrow. "Such secrets of Heaven and Earth, how could our kind hope to glimpse them?"
"Then... after the Primeval Ancient Era, has there truly never been another person who possessed the Three Souls?"
Old Huang turned around, stared at Lei Lie, and said gravely, "There has."
"There really has?"
"Some say the legendary Worthy Ones might be people who possess the Three Souls!"
Hearing this.
Lei Lie's heart skipped a beat, filled with shock and astonishment. He exclaimed, "You're saying Worthy Ones are people of the Three Souls? Is it true?"
"Whether it's true or false, this old man cannot be certain. Since ancient times, whether in the Primeval Ancient Era, the Ancient Era, or the Present-Ancient Era, a few Worthy Ones have always appeared. These Worthy Ones are neither Immortals nor Buddhas, nor are they monsters, demons, or ghosts. They possess neither cultivation nor destiny, yet each has immense strength, capable of ascending to the heavens and descending to the earth, with powers that are truly vast and profound. Therefore, there have always been those who suspect that the legendary Worthy Ones might be people of the Three Souls."
"What do you mean? Are you saying Worthy Ones might be ancestors of the Human Dao from before the Primeval Ancient Era?"
"That's not necessarily the case."
"Didn't you just say that after Heaven, Earth, and Fate extracted the Three Souls from the Human Dao's Source, no people of the Three Souls have appeared since the Primeval Ancient Era? If Worthy Ones aren't ancestors of the Human Dao from before the Primeval Ancient Era, then where did they come from?"
"The beings of the Human Dao are countless. The appearance of a few atavistic individuals is not impossible!"
"This..." Lei Lie thought carefully and found it very reasonable. Not to mention anything else, even among Immortals, a few atavistic Ancient Immortals occasionally appear, let alone among the countless beings of the Human Dao spread across the Myriad Heavens and Worlds. Moreover, the beings of the Human Dao can even give birth to Holy Infants and Holy Sons, so what's strange about giving birth to a few atavistic individuals who are people of the Three Souls?
Thinking of this, Lei Lie sighed with emotion, "Today I've truly broadened my horizons. Thank you, Old Huang, really. If you hadn't told me so much, I might never have known these great secrets of the Daos. Come, let this junior offer you a toast."
"Young Brother Lei Lie, there's no need for such courtesy. However, there is one thing this old man wonders if I should mention."
"Old Huang, why be polite with me? Just say whatever you have to say."
"Regarding that Fellow Daoist Gu from earlier, this old man thinks it would be better for you to keep some distance from him."
"What's wrong?" Lei Lie asked, puzzled. "Just because he took a Dao title the same as the Nether Emperor?"
"That's not what this old man means."
"Then what is it? Could it be because he's a Worthy One? Even if Fellow Daoist Gu really is a Worthy One, what's the problem? Didn't you say that in the Present-Ancient Era, the Human Dao will recover, so the various Great Daos will no longer suppress the Human Dao? Not only will they not suppress it, they might even try to win it over."
"That's not what this old man meant to say either."
"Then what do you mean?"
"The existence of that Fellow Daoist Gu... this old man always feels it's not that simple..."
"How is it not simple?"
Old Huang furrowed his brows deeply, thought for a long time, then shook his head and said, "As for how it's not simple, if you ask this old man to explain, I can't quite put it into words right now. It's just a feeling... his existence is mysterious, eerie, and unfathomably profound. For such an existence, it's better to keep a respectful distance."
"Mysterious and eerie? Unfathomably profound?"
Lei Lie thought and thought but couldn't figure out where exactly Gu Qingfeng was mysterious or eerie. As for being unfathomably profound, that was certainly true. Having wandered the Great Desolate for so many years, he had developed some discernment. He said, "Old Huang, I know you mean well. However, I'm someone who enjoys making friends. To be honest, my friends, Lei Lie's friends, come from all walks of life—I have all sorts. I've even made friends with quite a few monsters, demons, and ghosts. So, when I make friends, I never care which Great Dao they belong to, or whether they're good or bad people. These days, good people aren't necessarily good, and bad people aren't necessarily bad. Sometimes bad people are more righteous than good people."
Tilting his head back to take a fierce gulp of wine, Lei Lie said nonchalantly, "As for Fellow Daoist Gu, whether he's mysterious and eerie or unfathomably profound, no matter what kind of person he is, my first impression of him was quite good, and I genuinely admire him. Look, he saved my little brother without expecting any reward. And you say he's unfathomably profound, yet he doesn't put on any airs of a lofty expert. Not only does he not put on airs, he drinks with us here, jar after jar. That's him showing us respect, giving us face. We can't not appreciate that."
"You..." Old Huang pointed at Lei Lie, smiling with extreme helplessness. "This old man isn't saying Fellow Daoist Gu is some bad person, nor am I telling you not to befriend him. I'm just advising you to maintain a respectful attitude toward him. Whatever you do, do not offend him."
"So that's what it was. I thought it was something serious. Don't worry, I'm not some greenhorn who just started out. How could I possibly offend him? Especially since he's done us a favor—I'm grateful beyond words. How could I possibly offend him?"