The Desolate Ancient Black Hole.
Gu Qingfeng remained alone, drifting with the flow within the chaotic whirlpool, his mind preoccupied with a single question.
Had his state of mind truly been influenced by Genggu Wuming, and if so, how?
Was Genggu Wuming trying to prevent him from seeking Original Sin, or was she subtly encouraging him to pursue it?
Initially, Gu Qingfeng believed Genggu Wuming must be trying to stop him. After all, she was the embodiment of Karma, the messenger of Fate, while he was an Original Sin Anomaly. Logically, Genggu Wuming would never allow someone like him to become the True Lord of Original Sin.
The True Lord of Original Sin was a key to unlocking the Wu Dao Age, a matter of immense significance that could shape the future.
For something so crucial, it stood to reason that Fate had likely already made arrangements, that Karma had predetermined a chosen one.
Even if Fate hadn't arranged it and Karma hadn't destined it, Genggu Wuming would never permit an Original Sin Anomaly like himself to become the True Lord.
An anomaly, by its very nature, represented disordered Karma.
If an anomaly like him became the True Lord of Original Sin and thus unlocked the Wu Dao Age, wouldn't the Karma of the future become even more chaotic?
It was entirely possible it could cause all Karma to descend into utter chaos.
As the embodiment of Karma, Genggu Wuming would absolutely never allow such a thing to happen.
Later, upon further reflection—especially when he thought of Xiao Jinr—he began to feel that Genggu Wuming wasn't trying to stop him, but was instead hinting that he should seize the position of True Lord of Original Sin.
Gu Qingfeng wasn't entirely certain whether Xiao Jinr was the fated True Lord of Original Sin, but he had a strong feeling she might be. Moreover, when he had asked, Genggu Wuming hadn't denied it. This was crucial. Her lack of denial suggested Xiao Jinr could indeed become the True Lord. Combined with his own intuition and the things Xiao Jinr had said, the more Gu Qingfeng thought about it, the more convinced he became that she might truly be the destined True Lord of Original Sin.
He even suspected that Xiao Jinr herself already knew. Not only did Xiao Jinr know, but perhaps Genggu Wuming knew as well. They just hadn't spoken of it.
If he considered the possibility—if Xiao Jinr really was the fated True Lord of Original Sin—Gu Qingfeng would seize that position without a moment's hesitation. He would rather become the True Lord himself than let Xiao Jinr bear that burden.
Furthermore, Gu Qingfeng was certain Genggu Wiming knew he would do exactly that.
Since she knew, and yet still allowed Xiao Jinr to come find him in the Lingluo Celestial Domain, she must have foreseen that Xiao Jinr's appearance would inevitably influence his state of mind and his decisions.
Given that, wasn't Genggu Wuming precisely hinting that he should seize the position of True Lord of Original Sin?
If Genggu Wuming truly wanted to stop him from seizing it, she probably wouldn't have allowed Xiao Jinr to meet him at all.
To be honest, Gu Qingfeng didn't know whether Xiao Jinr was merely a pawn in Genggu Wuming's game, nor did he wish to know. Even if she was, he accepted it.
The only thing he couldn't figure out was this: if Genggu Wuming was truly hinting he should seize the True Lordship, what was her purpose?
Wasn't she the embodiment of Karma, the messenger of Fate?
If he failed to seize it, that was one thing. But if he ultimately succeeded, it wouldn't be a simple matter of seizing a fated position and defying Heaven to change destiny. The disordered Karma of the Wu Dao Age would inevitably erupt completely because an anomaly like him had unlocked it. That wasn't the main issue. The real problem was that the Wu Dao Age held so many secrets, and even Fate itself was buried within it. Wasn't Genggu Wuming worried that once he opened the Wu Dao Age, he might get there first and claim all those secrets for himself?
He pondered this for a long time but could never reach an answer. He had no idea what medicine Genggu Wuming was selling in her gourd. The headache from thinking grew unbearable, so in the end, he simply stopped.
Let her sell whatever damned medicine she wanted. Let it be.
As Gu Qingfeng drifted deeper into the chaotic whirlpool, not only did the turbulent waves grow more intense and their impact more terrifying, but his ability to 'go with the flow' became increasingly unstable. The risk of being swallowed by the Chaotic Current grew greater by the day. Every so often, he would be swept into the current. Although he could rely on his own power to break free, continuing like this was no solution.
Moreover, while drifting with the flow, he had to both avoid being swallowed and evade the impacts of the Chaotic Current. It was mentally and physically exhausting. After all this time, Gu Qingfeng was utterly spent. This fatigue wasn't just physical; his spirit was especially weary.
Gu Qingfeng looked around. Drifting with the flow in this chaotic whirlpool felt like being lost in endless darkness, without even a glimmer of light or hope in sight.
It truly lived up to its name as the Desolate Ancient Black Hole. This damned hole was indeed profound. Gu Qingfeng had no idea how much longer he would have to wander within this black hole vortex.
After a moment of contemplation, he decided to stop actively going with the flow. He simply let his physical body drift within the chaotic whirlpool.
Whether he was swallowed by the current or battered by its impacts, Gu Qingfeng no longer cared. He just wanted to rest for a while; he was far too tired.
While drifting, he didn't seal himself away like those previous mighty experts had. Not only did he not seal himself, he didn't even close the acupoints throughout his body, nor did he summon any power to protect his physical form. He simply floated naked within the chaotic whirlpool.
The consequences of this were dangerous.
Because the impact force of the Chaotic Current was overwhelmingly powerful and terrifying. Each wave of turbulence struck like successive explosions of layered space, one after another. The sensation was nothing short of thrilling—more frenzied than when Gu Qingfeng had faced the judgment of the Great Dao in the past.
If swallowed by the current, with good luck one might fall into some forgotten space. The key issue was that this was already the depths of the chaotic whirlpool. There were no forgotten spaces here; those spaces couldn't withstand the impact of the current and had long since disintegrated.
Now, whenever Gu Qingfeng was swallowed by the current, the feeling was indescribably... invigorating. It was exhilarating to the extreme, as if being violently assaulted by layers upon layers of space. The endless power of the Chaotic Current tore at his physical body, then drilled through his acupoints and surged into his body, akin to being devoured by countless ants.
It was painful yet stimulating.
That was Gu Qingfeng's experience.
Even so, he didn't stop. Instead, he actively opened all the acupoints throughout his body, allowing the endless Chaotic Current to rush inside.
It wasn't that he had masochistic tendencies. Rather, he had suddenly realized this was an excellent method for tempering sinews, invigorating blood, and flushing meridians.
Exactly!
Tempering sinews, invigorating blood, and flushing meridians!
Ever since Gu Qingfeng ignited the Original Sin Karmic Flames on Wu Dao Mountain and awoke from his ten-thousand-year slumber, his physical body had completely deteriorated. Whether it was his internal organs, his meridians and acupoints, or even his blood—everything had become as if rusted.