Legend had it that Da Xing the Mad Monk possessed tens of millions of incarnations, countless beyond counting. These incarnations wandered throughout the myriad heavens and worlds, punishing evil, healing the sick, and delivering all living beings.
Whether this was true or false, no one knew for sure.
Since ancient times, this was simply how the story had been passed down. As for the identities of Da Xing the Mad Monk's tens of millions of incarnations, opinions varied widely. Some said he had once incarnated as a beggar, others said as a lofty monk, and still others said as an old Daoist priest. He was also said to have incarnated as a tyrant who dominated a region. It was even rumored that Da Xing the Mad Monk had incarnated as a demonic creature. In short, there was no end to the speculation.
"Heh!"
Witch Niangniang's tone sounded as if she were mocking Da Xing the Mad Monk, her words laced with contempt.
"Do you truly believe Da Xing the Mad Monk incarnates tens of millions of times to wander the myriad heavens and worlds solely for the purpose of healing the sick and delivering all living beings?"
To this.
Bai Chou said nothing. She naturally knew matters were not so simple. Da Xing the Mad Monk's tens of millions of incarnations might punish evil and heal the sick, delivering all living beings, but that was certainly not all there was to it. More likely, it was mostly for the sake of Karma.
"The world says that Genggu Wuming is the incarnation of Fate, the emissary of Karma..."
Witch Niangniang said, "But in truth, compared to Genggu Wuming, Da Xing the Mad Monk is more like an emissary of Karma."
Between Heaven and Earth, there were many illusions and many secrets.
Such as Karma and Fate.
In the eyes of ordinary people, so-called Karma and Fate were essentially the same thing.
But Witch Niangniang knew that Karma was Karma, and Fate was Fate. The two were absolutely not the same. Although Karma was a Great Dao, and Fate was also a Great Dao, Karma was more like the law and order governing all living beings and the myriad things of Heaven and Earth, while Fate was the existence that presided over all living beings and the myriad things of Heaven and Earth.
If Heaven and Earth were a chessboard, then Karma was the rules of the game, while Fate was more like the master of the chessboard.
"You have no fondness for Da Xing the Mad Monk, or more precisely..." Bai Chou said, "You seem to have never held any goodwill towards the Buddha Dao."
Indeed.
Witch Niangniang had never held any goodwill towards the Buddha Dao.
The reason was simple.
The two words 'Karma' originated from the Buddha Dao.
She knew that the Buddha Dao's original intention in creating Karma was good. Regardless of whether it was for the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth or for all living beings, it served as a certain restraint and binding force. Following the cycle of Karma, where good and evil receive their due retribution, was conducive to the development of all things.
Yet, although the Buddha Dao created Karma, it did not manage Karma well.
To the extent that Fate emerged.
Fate was born from Karma, but in the end, it rose above Karma, becoming a supreme, sovereign existence.
In order to contend with Fate, Original Sin then appeared.
Fate was born from Karma, and Original Sin was also born from Karma.
The difference was that the fundamental nature of Fate lay in the word 'compliance,' while the fundamental nature of Original Sin lay in the word 'defiance.'
Others might not know, but Witch Niangniang's heart was as clear as a mirror. She understood perfectly well that since ancient times, including the mysterious Era of No Dao and even the Desolate Ancient Era, from the Great Antiquity all the way to the present era, everything, without exception, revolved around the struggle between Original Sin and Fate.
In Witch Niangniang's view, even if Original Sin and Fate were not the true players behind the chessboard of Heaven and Earth, they were definitely among them.
This was precisely why Witch Niangniang held no goodwill towards the Buddha Dao. Since the Buddha Dao had created Karma, it should have properly managed and maintained it. Its failure to do so led to the emergence of the struggle between Fate and Original Sin.
This was the dereliction of duty of the Buddha Dao and the root cause of everything.
Bai Chou spoke again, "I heard you say that it was Da Xing the Mad Monk who led him into this Primordial Black Hole. If Da Xing the Mad Monk hadn't appeared, would he have come to this Primordial Black Hole?"
Witch Niangniang shook her head. She did not know the answer to this question either.
"If that's the case, what was Da Xing the Mad Monk's intention in leading him into the Primordial Black Hole?"
"Could he not know the consequences?"
"I think it's impossible for Da Xing the Mad Monk not to know the consequences, right?"
"The appearance of the Primordial Black Hole was chaotic enough. His entry will only make the situation even more chaotic."
"Da Xing the Mad Monk truly does not know the consequences."
Bai Chou was even more puzzled. "Since he doesn't know, why would he still do this?"
"It is precisely because he does not know the consequences that Da Xing the Mad Monk is willing to stake everything on this gamble."
"A gamble?"
Bai Chou was speechless. "To think Da Xing the Mad Monk also wants to use him for a gamble. Isn't he afraid of losing?"
Witch Niangniang said softly and lightly, "If Da Xing the Mad Monk loses this gamble, then it also means Karma has lost, and it will lose utterly."
"And if this gamble is won?"
Witch Niangniang shook her head. "This gamble... he cannot win."
"You mean..."
"...that Da Xing the Mad Monk is bound to lose this gamble?"
"Not winning does not necessarily mean he is bound to lose."
Bai Chou frowned in contemplation, seeming to understand, yet also seeming more confused.
"The outcome of a contest of wits is never merely a matter of winning or losing."
Desolate Ancient Ruins.
The sky was an endless vortex of chaotic currents.
The earth was a boundless wasteland.
Within the wasteland, there were also many mysterious pillars of light. Each beam of light represented a currently manifesting Desolate Ancient ruin. Looking up, groups of people were hurriedly rushing towards the various pillars of light.
After all, these were ruins from the Desolate Ancient Era now manifesting. Even a single stone was priceless. If one was lucky enough to obtain some treasure, it was not impossible to soar to the heavens in a single leap.
Moreover, without exception, those who had entered the Primordial Black Hole this time were either experts from the Great Desolate's giants or from blessed lands and cave heavens. They understood the value of Desolate Ancient ruins better than anyone.
In the wasteland.
Two people were walking aimlessly.
One was a clean-looking man in white robes. The other was a slovenly-looking figure wearing tattered clothes, a battered hat on his head, and holding a broken fan.
They were none other than Gu Qingfeng and Da Xing the Mad Monk.
Gu Qingfeng walked through the wasteland, a jar of fine wine in one hand, taking occasional sips. His expression was somewhat downcast.
Logically speaking, having learned that Feng Zhuyue, Man Tu Fan, and Lady Wuyou were his past and present lives, he should have been happy. After all, the guilt that had plagued him for many years had been lifted, as if a great burden had been removed.
Yet, for some reason, not only was he not happy, but he also felt somewhat melancholy.
Perhaps it was because learning that Feng Zhuyue, Man Tu Fan, and Lady Wuyou were his past and present lives made him see even more clearly that every person he had faced along his journey was entangled in one conspiracy after another.
Although he had already experienced such things before, like with Yun Nishang and Jun Xuanji, this wasn't something one could get used to just because it happened often.
No matter how transcendent, how indifferent, or how unconcerned Gu Qingfeng's Mental State was, deep down he still felt somewhat uncomfortable.
It wasn't that he felt his feelings had been deceived.
It was just that this world felt false.
No!
Not that the world was false, but that his own life felt false.