While no one can truly explain Karma and Fate clearly, everyone can more or less sense their existence. Some great powers have even undergone multiple cycles of reincarnation in attempts to sever Karma, and though they invariably ended up lost in the sea of suffering, this at least proves that Karma is something that truly exists.
However,
Original Sin is different.
What kind of existence is Original Sin? Not only do ordinary people not know, even those who seek Original Sin—the Original Sin individuals themselves—do not understand. Even Gu Qingfeng, whom many regard as the fated True Lord of Original Sin, has no damn clue what Original Sin actually is.
Exaggerated?
Not in the slightest.
Don't be fooled by how far Gu Qingfeng has traveled down the path of Original Sin, or how deeply he seems to be sinking into it. Simultaneously, he has grown increasingly bewildered by Original Sin. Each time he gains some insight, he becomes even more confused, feeling as if he's fallen into an endless vortex of mysteries—solving one only reveals ten, a hundred, a thousand more waiting outside.
However,
Original Sin isn't what confuses him the most. What confuses him most are the two words: Illusion.
What is Illusion?
Initially, Gu Qingfeng believed so-called Illusion meant falsehood.
Later, as he gradually gained insight, he came to think Illusion wasn't falsehood, but rather nothingness.
Later still, he realized Illusion wasn't nothingness either. What it actually was, he couldn't say.
As for the phrase, 'All that has form is Illusion.'
Based on Gu Qingfeng's understanding, he pondered that all things with form are not actually true forms. The Buddhist teaching of impermanence and fundamental nature means everything is in a state of flux. Even thoughts and notions come one after another; in a single instant, countless notions change. To perceive the essence of things is to perceive true form. True form is emptiness, yet it is not nothingness. Emptiness gives birth to existence, hence it's called 'true emptiness and wondrous existence.'
The old monk residing within the Nirvana Bone Jade once said: 'See that which cannot be seen, hear that which cannot be heard, know that which cannot be known—that is truth.'
So-called truth might be a kind of transcendence.
Once you transcend, you attain truth.
Before transcending, everything you see, hear, and know—all of it—is Illusion.
What confuses Gu Qingfeng is this: Karma, Fate, and Original Sin—what the hell do they have to do with these two words, 'Illusion'?
Or perhaps, before transcendence, Karma is Karma, Fate is Fate, and Original Sin is Original Sin. After transcendence, so-called Illusion ceases to exist, so-called Karma is no longer Karma, Fate is no longer Fate, and Original Sin is no longer Original Sin.
Is that it?
Gu Qingfeng did not know.
"Da Xing," Gu Qingfeng said, gazing at the vast and mysterious Primordial Black Hole of the Desolate Ancient Era. "Why do I feel more and more that all of this is related to your Buddhist Sect?"
Hearing this, Da Xing the Mad Monk's expression shifted slightly, and he said gravely, "I say, kid Gu, can't you stop randomly throwing shit and piss pots around?"
"Is this random? To my knowledge, the Buddhist Sect teaches about Karma, right? Karma is related to your Buddhist Sect, right? And it's almost certainly something your Buddhist Sect cooked up. The Buddhist Sect also teaches about good and evil, right? Isn't the root of evil Original Sin? That seems to be something your Buddhist Sect cooked up too, doesn't it? Besides that, there are the two words 'Illusion.' 'All that has form is Illusion'—that's a famous saying from your Buddhist Sect. Dare you say it's not?"
"This..." Da Xing the Mad Monk was momentarily speechless. He opened his mouth, then closed it, wanting to refute but finding no grounds to do so.
Even if he didn't want to admit it, he couldn't deny that what Gu Qingfeng said was true.
"Alright, fine, you've got a point. Karma, Fate, Original Sin, and Illusion all seem related to our Buddhist Sect. Actually... to be honest with you, kid, I've had this feeling for a long time. Over the years, I've been searching for answers, but unfortunately, I've found nothing."
At this point, Da Xing the Mad Monk sighed. "The progenitors of the Three Thousand Great Daos all kicked the bucket in the Desolate Ancient Era. Our Buddhist Sect was no exception. Ask anyone, and no one knows. As things stand, the only way is to find my Senior Brother as soon as possible. He might know something."
"That's what puzzles me," Gu Qingfeng said. "Your Senior Brother, the White-Browed Holy Monk, hasn't always been in the Primordial Black Hole, right? You used to be together before. If I remember correctly, back when the Immortal Dao in the mortal world tried to erase me, I even met your Senior Brother. Didn't you ask him about it then?"
"Some things... how should I put it? You don't understand, kid."
Da Xing the Mad Monk opened a jar of fine wine, took two gulps, and said, "I did see my Senior Brother often in the past, but the problem is, at that time, most of my Senior Brother's memories from his Previous Life were as vague and faded as mine."
"So, does that mean your Senior Brother's memories from his Previous Life have awakened now?"
"Should be. My Senior Brother came to this Primordial Black Hole partly to guard our Zen Sect's relics, and partly to awaken his memories from his Previous Life."
"Why don't you awaken your own memories from your Previous Life?"
Da Xing the Mad Monk shot Gu Qingfeng a sidelong glance, his expression one of disdain, as if looking at an idiot. "You think memories from a Previous Life just awaken whenever you want?"
"Why not?"
"This thing depends on Fate. Whether you get the chance, whether you have the fortune. And also... once memories from a Previous Life awaken, it's not necessarily a good thing. You might even cease to be yourself afterward, losing your Ego..."
"What do you mean by that?"
"There's a saying you should have heard, kid."
"What saying?"
"'When the Desolate Ancient Cataclysm reshaped heaven and earth, endless cycles of Reincarnation manifested. Past lives and present lives meet through Karma; whose life is whose depends on heaven.'"
Gu Qingfeng nodded. He had indeed heard this saying, and not just once. Almost every person of Karma he had met in this life had said it to him—Jun Xuanji had said it, Yun Nichang had said it too.
"The meaning of this saying, I believe I don't need to explain; you already know, kid. Karma is in chaos. Why is Karma in chaos? Original Sin is naturally the chief culprit. To awaken memories from a Previous Life, the first thing you face is your previous self. Two selves—one from the past, one from the present. You can only possess one Ego. In other words, either your Ego is devoured by the Ego of your Previous Life, or the Ego of your Previous Life is devoured by yours."
"Can't they merge?"
"Difficult. Almost impossible. Even if, by some remote chance, they did merge, in the end, only one Ego would remain. How much of that Ego's consciousness would truly belong to you?"
"That's true."
"So, that's why I said awakening memories from a Previous Life isn't necessarily a good thing. Of course, having said that, if your previous self does appear, you'll inevitably face a choice between the two. No one can escape it."
Gu Qingfeng asked curiously, "Have you met your previous self?"
"Not yet."
Gu Qingfeng made an acknowledging sound, then asked, "Da Xing, let me ask you something. Does everyone have a Previous Life?"
"In principle, every Human has a Previous Life. But you, kid, are an exception. You don't fall within the scope of normal principles."