"Because when the Era of No Dao ended, Karma and Fate were severely wounded, causing their Sources to wither and nearly scatter. After the Era of No Dao ended, Karma has been in slumber—through the Desolate Antiquity, the Grand Antiquity, the Remote Antiquity, and the Ancient Antiquity. It was only in the Present Era that it began to recover..."
"There's such a thing?"
Gu Qingfeng thought for a moment, then tilted his head back and drained a cup of wine. He wasn't sure whether to believe Genggu Wuming's words, but he had indeed heard something about Karma becoming disordered due to the Era of No Dao.
Suddenly, as if realizing something, he asked, "You just said Karma was severely wounded, causing its Source to wither... Karma has a Source too? Could it be that this thing is also a Great Dao?"
"In all the Myriad Heavens, everything that exists is a Great Dao. Karma is, and Fate is no exception."
After Genggu Wuming finished speaking, Cang Yan, who was beside her with her eyes closed and one hand tapping the table, chimed in, "What was severely wounded by the end of the Era of No Dao wasn't just Karma. The Dao of Humanity, the Dao of Nature, and even..." She paused before continuing slowly, "Even the Heavenly Dao was. These Great Daos all fell into a very, very long slumber following the end of the Era of No Dao."
"The Heavenly Dao has been slumbering all this time too?"
Gu Qingfeng was quite shocked inwardly. He knew the Dao of Humanity and the Dao of Nature had been slumbering. He could more or less guess that Karma was slumbering. But that the Heavenly Dao had been slumbering for so long—this was the first time he'd heard of it.
"What? Are you surprised?"
A playful smile curved at the corner of Cang Yan's mouth, as if deliberately teasing Gu Qingfeng. "From what I know, Ancient Master, you've had dealings with the Heavenly Dao for a very, very long time. Could it be you never noticed at all?"
At this moment, Genggu Wuming said, "He was born at the end of the Ancient Antiquity. By that time, the Sources of the Three Thousand Great Daos had already withered, and almost all had fallen into slumber. It's normal he didn't notice."
"Ha! I forgot. He's just a wet-behind-the-ears youngster born at the end of the Ancient Antiquity."
Cang Yan, still propping her head up with one hand, her eyes closed, said with a smile, "Let me tell you, little one, if you had experienced the Grand Antiquity and the Remote Antiquity, you would certainly know that for so many years, the Heavenly Dao has always been elusive, avoiding showing itself whenever possible, acting as little as possible. Why? Precisely because its Source was severely wounded and fell into slumber."
"Otherwise, do you think a mere Immortal Dao would dare to dominate the Nine Heavens alone? Dare to call itself the Head of the Great Daos in the Great Desolate? If the Heavenly Dao's Source hadn't been severely wounded, since ancient times, there wouldn't have been so many madmen across the Myriad Heavens who Defy Heaven..." As soon as she finished, Cang Yan added, "Of course, you are an exception. I know that even if the Heavenly Dao weren't slumbering, you would still Defy Heaven as usual. And I also believe that even if the Heavenly Dao still ruled heaven and earth, it probably still couldn't do anything to you."
"Big Sister."
Gu Qingfeng glanced at her, squinting with a smile. "Are you mocking me or ridiculing me?"
"Ancient Master, you think too highly of me. Who are you? Who in all the Myriad Heavens doesn't know your capabilities? Pillar of heaven and earth, burning the Nine Heavens above, commanding the Nine Nethers below, sweeping through the Great Desolate, unmatched by anyone. How would a mere woman like me dare to mock or ridicule you?"
"I never noticed before how good you are at subtle sarcasm."
Gu Qingfeng didn't continue bantering with Cang Yan. He looked back at Genggu Wuming and said, "What's your point in telling me all this? Whether the Heavenly Dao is slumbering or not, whether your Karma and Fate are slumbering or not—what does it have to do with me? It's not like I exhausted their Sources and made them slumber."
Genggu Wuming responded softly and lightly, "Regardless of which Great Dao, once its Source withers and it falls into slumber, its order and Laws become unstable, even disordered, allowing certain people to exploit the loopholes."
"So?"
"So, throughout the ages, there have been so many people reincarnating, trying to seize this opportunity to recklessly sever Karma and Defy Heaven to change Fate."
Gu Qingfeng asked indifferently, "And then? I still don't see what this has to do with me."
"Ancient Master, you... If you keep pretending to be ignorant while understanding perfectly well, is there any point in us continuing this conversation?"
Cang Yan opened her eyes, gazing at Gu Qingfeng. "At the very least, I brought over two hundred jars of Heavenly Dao Wine. I wouldn't dare claim my sincerity is immense, but I am absolutely genuine and sincere in wanting to talk to you, to resolve the misunderstanding between you and Nameless. I truly have no other intentions."
Gu Qingfeng shrugged, noncommittal, and said nothing.
Cang Yan raised her hand and summoned a jar of Heavenly Dao Wine, poured herself a cup, then drank it in one go. "Since you refuse to speak, I'll just say it directly. The misunderstanding between you and Nameless is essentially your suspicion that Nameless has been secretly controlling your Karma and Fate. But she hasn't. Even though she is the incarnation of Karma and the messenger of Fate, she is only the incarnation of Karma and the messenger of Fate. She is neither Karma nor Fate, and even less can she control anyone's Karma or Fate."
"Of course, you might not believe it, but this is the truth. Even if we retreat ten thousand steps and say Nameless really could control Karma and Fate, she absolutely could not control your Karma and Fate. I believe even without us saying it, you know yourself that your existence is very special. You are a variable, and moreover, the greatest variable of the Present Era."
"For a variable, Karma is bewildering, Fate is mysteriously unknown, and even the heavens cannot decide it. Even if Nameless truly wanted to control your Karma and Fate, to be honest, she doesn't have the capability or the skill to do so."
Gu Qingfeng just reclined in his chair, head drooping, also closing his eyes. He said nothing more, simply listening.
"I know you've always suspected that I interfered with your Karma, even suspecting that much of your Karma was grafted through me."
Genggu Wuming said plainly, "But I have never interfered with your Karma, much less grafted your Karma."
"As I said earlier, because the Source of Karma is slumbering, its order and Laws have been very unstable, easily exploited by others. Although over all these years, I have done my utmost to maintain the Laws and order of Karma, and have tried my best to stop certain people from Defying Heaven to change Fate... the results haven't been ideal."
Genggu Wuming's tone remained very flat, as if discussing a very ordinary matter. Only when talking about Karma did her tone seem to carry a hint of helplessness.
"There are far, far too many people who want to Defy Heaven and change Fate... too many to count, too many to number. Some want to sever Karma, some want to graft Karma... others want to alter Karma... and still others seek to explore Karma..."