Gu Qingfeng's desire to investigate his own Karma was not a spur-of-the-moment whim.
Of course, it couldn't be considered long-planned either.
It certainly wasn't born from sheer boredom or a masochistic urge to court trouble.
The truth was, during his several hundred years of cultivation, he had encountered a few strange individuals and witnessed several strange events.
Those strange people and strange events were all exceptionally mysterious and bizarre, and each was related to Karma.
However, back then, Gu Qingfeng was either being watched by Immortals and Demons or being monitored by the Heavens themselves. His days were filled with endless battles, living with his head perpetually on the line. He simply had no time to bother with something as profound and subtle as Karma.
This time, after having everything stripped away by the Heavenly Dao and awakening in his homeland, he took advantage of the post-cataclysm period, with the Heaven and Earth's essence reborn and re-evolving, to ponder and investigate his own Karma.
Back then, he had a vague feeling that his Karma was probably not that simple.
It was only after this investigation that he realized the matter was far more complicated than he had imagined.
Three thousand years ago, it began with Yun Nishang laying down a Karmic puzzle.
Five hundred years ago, he met Hongxiu at the Yunxia Sect.
Five hundred years later, today, he met Ouyang Ye at the Yunxia Sect.
Hongxiu was Yun Nishang, and Ouyang Ye was also Yun Nishang.
What kind of Karma truly existed between him and Yun Nishang?
Gu Qingfeng thought it over, but the more he pondered, the more confused he became. He thought until he was frantic, until his head ached.
In the end, he simply gave up thinking about it.
Let nature take its course.
After leaving First-Grade Manor, he returned to the Yunxia Sect to do one thing.
He told Huode to take the others and leave, to find a place to cultivate in peace.
The current situation was unclear. Various Edict Envoys were appearing one after another. The whereabouts of the Yanyang Seed were unknown. And most terrifying of all was Ouyang Ye. That woman was now mentally unstable, utterly mad, and her strength was especially terrifying. Who knew what she actually intended to do?
All signs indicated that all of this was intricately connected to the Yunxia Sect. This place was now extremely dangerous; disaster could descend from the heavens at any moment.
Gu Qingfeng might not fear it.
But one always had to prepare for the unexpected.
Therefore, he had Huode and the others leave this troubled place, find somewhere to cultivate first, and deal with the rest later.
Huode didn't refuse. Although he didn't know exactly what was happening, he trusted Gu Qingfeng.
If Gu Qingfeng said the Yunxia Sect was in danger, then it was definitely in danger.
Moreover, he understood Gu Qingfeng better than anyone. He knew full well that this kid had always been unrestrained and lawless. If even he said there was danger, then that danger was certainly not minor.
Huode had been active in the Qingyang region for several hundred years. Finding a safe haven was as easy as turning over his hand. After settling Tude and the others, he rushed back to the Yunxia Sect overnight.
This night.
The moon was dark, the wind high.
When Huode returned to the Yunxia Sect, he found Gu Qingfeng standing in mid-air, staring blankly at the completely empty Yunxia Sect.
Just as Huode was about to walk over, a sudden change occurred. With a wave of Gu Qingfeng's hand, the sky filled with brilliant light and profound mysteries. Huode felt his vision blur, utterly bewildered about what was happening. By the time he regained his senses, Gu Qingfeng was still standing quietly in mid-air.
But the Yunxia Sect was gone.
Yes.
Gone.
It had vanished into thin air just like that.
It had disappeared completely, as if it had never existed. The massive Yunxia Mountain had also turned into a stretch of ruins.
This...
What the hell!
Perhaps this scene was too insane, so insane that Huode couldn't accept it immediately. He collapsed onto the ground, pointing at Gu Qingfeng, stammering in shock, "You...
You kid...
You kid destroyed...
You destroyed our Yunxia Sect?
This is the foundation our ancestors built!
How could you..." Gu Qingfeng flashed to Huode's side, took out his Water-Cloud Wine, took a sip, and said nonchalantly, "Destroyed my ass. I just hid it, that's all."
With that, he waved his hand again. Once more, the sky filled with brilliant light and profound mysteries. The Yunxia Sect perfectly reappeared before Huode's eyes.
"This...
What the hell kind of technique is this!"
"Just a major spatial technique, that's all."
Gu Qingfeng waved his hand again. After another flash of brilliant light filled the sky, the Yunxia Sect vanished once more.
"Why are you hiding our Yunxia Sect!"
Gu Qingfeng handed him a cup of wine, smiling, "Isn't it to protect your Yunxia Sect?"
"Really? Since when did you start thinking so considerately, kid?"
Clearly, Huode was somewhat skeptical.
Gu Qingfeng patted his shoulder, smiling without a word.
Indeed, using a grand technique to hide the Yunxia Sect wasn't entirely false when he said it was for protection. However, the more crucial reason was that he wanted to wait and see, to observe what secrets the Yunxia Sect concealed, and to see what tricks were hidden within the Yunxia Sect in this Karmic game Yun Nishang had set up.
"Alright, go back and rest. Things might be unsettled recently. Try not to wander around aimlessly. I'll come find you after I've sorted things out."
Huode opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but hesitated. Then he sighed heavily and said, "Old man may not know exactly what you're up to, kid, but I'm sure it's extremely dangerous. Otherwise, you wouldn't be making such a fuss. I'm telling you, Gu kid, can't you... can't you just live a peaceful, leisurely life for a while?"
Huode pleaded earnestly, "You've been Judged by Immortals and Demons, then Judged by the Heavens. Why don't you learn your lesson? Can't we just live steadily and quietly for a few years?
Stop stirring up trouble."
Gu Qingfeng looked at Huode, then shook his head and smiled helplessly, "Believe me, if I could, I'd want a leisurely life more than anyone. But I don't have that fortune...
In the past, all the fighting and killing, I had no choice... I had no choice but to keep killing my way through."
"That was the past. But now, no one's forcing you, right? How come you've only been idle for a few days and you're already stirring things up again..." "You think I'm just bored out of my skull for no reason?
Don't I know how carefree it is to bask in the sun and sip wine?"
Gu Qingfeng sighed, looking up at the night sky, "Unfortunately, I don't have that fortune. Didn't I tell you? I've long been targeted by the Mother of Nature...
That woman stuffed a bunch of benefits my way, who knows what scheme she's playing."
He poured more wine and downed it in one gulp.
Gu Qingfeng continued, "The Mother of Nature is still a minor matter. The key is I've discovered I'm now trapped in a Karmic game. This matter is too complicated. Even if I pretend not to see it, I probably can't extricate myself. It's like there's an invisible hand behind the scenes, stirring the waves. It's not something I can just end because I want to."
Another sigh, another gulp of wine.
Gazing at the night sky, at the moon.
Gu Qingfeng rubbed his face, squinted his eyes as he looked, a complex smile curling at the corner of his mouth, "A lifetime of sin, generations of sin. Someone like me can never find liberation in this lifetime. There's no retreat to speak of. I can only forge ahead against the current. Besides, after the cataclysm, the Heaven and Earth have been reborn, all manner of laws re-evolved. This is an opportunity to change fate, an excellent chance to explore the mysteries of Heaven and Earth."
"I don't seek to change my own fate, nor do I seek to explore the mysteries of Heaven and Earth."
"But for these past few hundred years, the Immortal Dao, the Demonic Dao, and the Heavenly Dao have tormented me for so long. Now, while they're re-evolving, if I don't give them some trouble in return, I'd be doing myself a great disservice."
Huode listened, his scalp tingling, his throat tight as he asked, "You kid...
What are you planning to do!"
"What am I planning to do?"
Gu Qingfeng squinted at the firmament, the smile at his lips turning solitary, arrogant, and domineering, "They Judged me one after another back then. It's only fair I let them have a taste of my Judgment."
The New Year is approaching...
First, I wish everyone an early Happy New Year!
!! May you live forever without death!
May you be immensely wealthy and prosperous!
Secondly.
Updates haven't been very strong these past few days, mainly because there's a lot going on for the New Year—various gatherings, various drinks, and they're all unavoidable. These past few days, I've been writing while drunk, my head splitting with pain!
!!
Everyone, have a stable New Year first. There will be an explosive release after the New Year!
!!