The old monk's words truly stumped Gu Qingfeng. "Are you saying that the drop I fused with back then wasn't the Blood of Original Sin, but the True Blood of Original Sin?"
"Layman Gu, you shouldn't ask this old monk that question."
As the old monk's voice came through, Gu Qingfeng thought about it and realized it made sense. He had fused with that drop of Original Sin blood back in the remote secular world of the Great Northwest. The owner of that drop of Original Sin blood was Empress Wuyou, and he had once asked her about its origins, but Empress Wuyou had said it was related to Jun Xuanji.
Whether that drop of Original Sin blood belonged to Empress Wuyou or Jun Xuanji, Gu Qingfeng still hadn't figured it out to this day.
As for whether that drop was the Blood of Original Sin or the True Blood of Original Sin, Gu Qingfeng couldn't quite grasp it for the moment. He only vaguely felt it might be the so-called True Blood of Original Sin.
Earlier, the old monk had said that all Blood of Original Sin in heaven and earth was born from the True Blood of Original Sin. The relationship between the two was like that of mother and child. Coincidentally, although Gu Qingfeng himself wasn't born from that drop of Original Sin blood from the Great Northwest, he was born because of that drop of Original Sin blood.
Most importantly, when Mount Wudao descended back then, the reason Gu Qingfeng was able to ignite the Karmic Sin Fire of Original Sin wasn't because of his great ability, nor his high skill, nor even his deep understanding of Original Sin. As for how he ignited the Karmic Sin Fire of Original Sin, to be honest, Gu Qingfeng still didn't understand even now. Back then, he had inexplicably ignited it.
If the drop he fused with back then was just an ordinary Blood of Original Sin, he probably wouldn't have been able to ignite the Karmic Sin Fire of Original Sin no matter what, right?
From this perspective, could it be that the drop of Original Sin blood he fused with was truly the so-called True Blood of Original Sin?
Thinking further, every time he encountered people or objects from the Daoless Age, he felt a sense of déjà vu. And since the Blood of Original Sin was mostly born from the True Blood of Original Sin, it belonged to the acquired Original Sin. In other words, only the True Blood of Original Sin truly belonged to the innate Original Sin blood of the Daoless Age.
Suddenly.
Gu Qingfeng thought of the Abyssal Asura Without End, the Yellow Springs Reaching Heaven and Earth, and the recently absorbed Heaven-Devouring, Earth-Eating Blood Taotie.
He also felt a familiar sense of déjà vu toward these three existences. The old monk had said these three existences were all Sons of Original Sin who had fused with the True Blood of Original Sin. If so, didn't that mean the Original Sin blood within his body was most likely also the True Blood of Original Sin?
The more he thought about it, the more possible it seemed.
No!
It wasn't just possible.
Gu Qingfeng felt that the Original Sin within his body was the True Blood of Original Sin.
Otherwise, the Abyssal Asura Without End probably couldn't have become his soul, and the Yellow Springs Reaching Heaven and Earth probably couldn't have become his avatar either.
Thinking of this, Gu Qingfeng asked, "Old monk, how much Blood of Original Sin exists in heaven and earth, and how much True Blood of Original Sin?"
"This old monk does not know..."
"When the Daoless Age opened back then, how many people fused with the True Blood of Original Sin, and how many Sons of Original Sin were there?"
"This old monk... does not know."
Gu Qingfeng continued inquiring, "If the Blood of Original Sin is all born from the True Blood of Original Sin, then where did the True Blood of Original Sin come from?"
"This old monk does not know..." The old monk knew nothing of the three questions.
And Gu Qingfeng did not continue asking.
Having dealt with the old monk for so many years, while he might not know who the old monk was, he knew a thing or two about the old monk's nature.
He clearly understood that there were many things the old monk might truly not know, but there were also many things the old monk didn't want to say, some things the old monk couldn't say, and still others the old monk didn't dare to say.
The old monk would naturally say what should be said. If it shouldn't be said, the old monk wouldn't utter a single extra word.
Over the years, Gu Qingfeng had long grown accustomed to this.
So, when he asked these questions, he hadn't expected the old monk to answer them.
He chatted with the old monk a while longer about some trivial, harmless topics. Gazing at the chaotic Realm of Extinction, Gu Qingfeng said, "Alright, that's enough for today. You rest up, old man. I'll come seek your guidance again after I finish with this busy period."
Just as Gu Qingfeng was about to leave, the old monk's voice came again.
"Layman Gu..."
Hmm?
Gu Qingfeng looked over, gazing at the ethereal Extinction Mountain within the Realm of Extinction. "What is it?"
"This old monk has a few questions he'd like to ask. If Layman Gu wishes to answer, then answer. If not, there's no need to force it."
"Ask away. I'm not like you, hiding and concealing things. Ask whatever you want, ask freely, ask to your heart's content. I'll answer everything I know, absolutely satisfying you."
Gu Qingfeng's words clearly carried a mocking, sarcastic tone. Whether the old monk felt ashamed or something else, he didn't say anything more.
"Just joking."
Gu Qingfeng chuckled. "Old monk, you mustn't take it seriously."
"Sigh..." The old monk let out a sigh, one that seemed to contain endless helplessness. "If there are things that can be said, this old monk would absolutely not hide anything. But there are things that cannot be said, and this old monk is also helpless. I hope Layman Gu can forgive me."
"I understand, and I can empathize. Everyone's situation is different, each with their own difficulties. I was just joking earlier."
"Thank you, Layman Gu, for understanding this old monk."
"Alright then... ask whatever you want."
"May I ask if Layman Gu has already decided to seek Original Sin?"
"Of course."
Gu Qingfeng said, "Otherwise, why would I come to this godforsaken place?"
"May I ask why Layman Gu seeks Original Sin?"
"Why?"
Gu Qingfeng pondered for a moment, then said, "There aren't that many reasons, really. If I must give one, it's for myself. After all, idle hands are the devil's workshop; I need to find something to do. Now that every existence in heaven and earth is joining the Original Sin excitement, a common mortal like me naturally can't avoid being common either."
"May I ask, Layman Gu, if you die here because of this, what then?"
"Old monk, not to criticize you, but isn't that question a bit idiotic? If I die here, what then? Of course, nothing then. Once dead, what else can be done?"
"Can this old monk understand that Gu Qingfeng's seeking of Original Sin this time is following fate? If he can obtain Original Sin, best. If not, he won't force it. Is that correct?"
"No! You're wrong."
"How so?"
"Since I've decided to seek Original Sin, I naturally won't follow fate like before. If there's an opportunity, I will definitely fight for it, to the death."
Gu Qingfeng sighed. "Let me be honest with you. This time, I either die here, or I obtain Original Sin."
"Death for Layman Gu has probably become a luxurious existence... If... if Layman Gu fails to obtain Original Sin this time, and also doesn't die, what then?"
"Impossible. I said, this time I either obtain Original Sin, or die here. There won't be a third possibility."
"This old monk remembers Layman Gu often used to say a phrase: nothing in the world is absolute; it's not the ten thousand you fear, but the one in ten thousand. What if it truly is as this old monk says? What will Layman Gu do then?"