Above the heavens.
The massive chaotic vortex filled the sky, still slowly rotating. Although a few of the dozen or so beams of light that had appeared earlier in the desolate wilderness had vanished, several still shimmered.
Beneath each beam of light lay a mysterious Ancient Ruin. After Eastern Peak Great Emperor, Pure Robe Bodhisattva, and the others departed, they too swiftly entered other ruins to investigate.
While the sacred and pristine Seven-Colored Lotus was indeed a rare find, who could guarantee that other ruins didn't hold a second Seven-Colored Lotus, or treasures even more precious than it?
In the wilderness.
Gu Qingfeng wandered aimlessly like a headless fly, all the while fiddling with the black jade statue.
The black jade statue had been given to him by the Ancient Bone Demon. Gu Qingfeng had just examined it; it indeed contained quite a bit of fine wine. However, compared to the wine inside, he was more interested in the statue itself. The thing was pitch black, about the size of a fist, and looked vivid and lifelike, exquisitely crafted. It resembled a Buddha yet also a demon, a ghost yet also a monster, a god yet also a saint—more like a chimera of all things.
"I say, kid Gu, aren't you being a bit too discourteous? You didn't even say goodbye when you left."
Da Xing the Mad Monk caught up and immediately launched into a scolding.
"What's the matter? Afraid this lord would sneak off alone?"
"Nonsense! If you ran off, where would this old monk find you?"
"Relax. This lord can't run, and won't run either. Besides, even if I did run, where could I go?"
"That's true enough."
Da Xing the Mad Monk grinned and asked, "So, what do you think?"
"Think about what?"
"This old monk is asking what you think of Ancestor of the Blood River's methods? Quite the impressive play, wasn't it?"
Gu Qingfeng deeply agreed, nodding in approval. "It was indeed impressive."
"Why else would they say Ancestor of the Blood River is a Demon Emperor? His methods are such that you can't help but admire them. To tell you the truth, if Ancestor of the Blood River hadn't sent the Ancient Bone Demon to resolve this matter, Fusheng that kid would have been lucky to escape with his life intact!"
"It couldn't have been that bad."
Gu Qingfeng said, "Fusheng Dijun is clearly no ordinary existence. As you said, born with a Tyrant Body, blessed with the Purple Star Monarch and the Canghao Imperial Seal, plus the Great Dao Hunyuan, and holding a Great Dao Divine Weapon like the Xuanyuan Sword in his hand. Looking across the ancient and present heavens and earth, there probably aren't many who could obliterate him. Isn't it precisely because Ancestor of the Blood River is wary of him that he chose to concede? Otherwise, a dignified Demon Emperor of his stature wouldn't have backed down proactively."
"You're not wrong. Ancestor of the Blood River is indeed wary of Fusheng Dijun, but you only got half of it right, kid."
"How so?"
"Those wary of Fusheng Dijun throughout the ancient and present heavens and earth aren't limited to just Ancestor of the Blood River. The Black Mountain Old Demon of the demonic path, the Great Sun Radiance Emperor of the immortal path, the Buddha-Emperor Miao Rulai of the Western Buddha path, including the Nine Heavens and the Nine Netherworlds, even the holy lands and forbidden grounds—they are all wary of Fusheng Dijun."
"Oh?"
Gu Qingfeng, who had been fiddling with the black jade statue, couldn't help but look up upon hearing this, casting a meaningful glance at Da Xing the Mad Monk.
Da Xing the Mad Monk chuckled slyly. "Kid Gu, does that sound a bit familiar to you?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"What this old monk is trying to say, can't you guess, kid? If your existence is something the heavens and earth cannot tolerate, then even if Fusheng that kid isn't intolerable to heaven and earth, he's certainly not far from it."
Da Xing the Mad Monk sighed with an air of profound mystery. "If a single person causes all existences to be wary of him, then that person is undoubtedly treading on thin ice. A single misstep would lead to eternal damnation. Believe me, even without this old monk saying it, you, kid, understand this better than anyone."
Gu Qingfeng listened, somewhat confused. "This lord is having trouble understanding. What do you mean? Is Fusheng Dijun also a person of Original Sin?"
"Fusheng is not a person of Original Sin."
"That makes it even harder for this lord to understand. Since Fusheng Dijun is not a person of Original Sin, from what you're saying, why does it sound like the entire heavens and earth want to obliterate him?"
"Kid Gu, do you remember what this old monk said earlier?"
"You old bald donkey have said so much. How is this lord supposed to know which sentence you're referring to?"
"The one about you, kid, being the fated True Master of Original Sin."
"What about it?"
"This old monk said before that all of this might have been a conspiracy from the very beginning—a conspiracy of Fate, of the Heavens, to completely eradicate Original Sin. You, kid, might be a pawn of Fate. Once you become the True Master of Original Sin, Fate will obliterate you, thereby eradicating Original Sin once and for all."
Gu Qingfeng nodded. "You did say that. What about it?"
"Let me put it to you this way. Fusheng Dijun has another identity."
"What identity?"
"A Tribulation-Bearer."
"Throughout the ages, there have been many Tribulation-Bearers across the myriad realms, haven't there?"
"There have indeed been many Tribulation-Bearers, but those who bear the True Mandate are absolutely few. Currently, this old monk has only discovered a handful. One is Su Hua, who has already become the Holy Maiden Empress. Another is Fusheng."
"Is that so..." Gu Qingfeng fell into deep thought, saying nothing.
"Think carefully, kid. If this old monk's earlier speculation is correct, and all of this is a conspiracy orchestrated by Fate to eradicate Original Sin, then what tribulation would a Tribulation-Bearer bearing the True Mandate be responding to?"
Without waiting for Gu Qingfeng to answer, Da Xing the Mad Monk continued, "If this old monk's guess is not wrong, it would definitely be responding to *your* tribulation!"
"You mean to say... Fusheng Dijun was arranged by Fate to deal with this lord?"
"More or less."
"That logic doesn't hold."
"Why doesn't it hold?"
"If it's really as you say, that Fusheng Dijun was arranged by Fate to deal with me, then why can't the heavens and earth tolerate him?"
"The problem lies precisely there."
"How so?"
"Can't you see it, kid?"
"See what?"
"Fusheng that kid is not only a Tribulation-Bearer bearing the True Mandate, damn it, he's also an Anomaly like you! And his anomaly is no less significant than yours."
Hearing this.
Gu Qingfeng was momentarily speechless. "A Tribulation-Bearer bearing the True Mandate can also become an Anomaly?"
"If a fated Child of Original Sin like you can become an Anomaly, what's so strange about a Tribulation-Bearer bearing the True Mandate becoming one?"
"It's not that I find it strange, it's just..." Gu Qingfeng scratched his head, frowning. "It's just that this whole thing sounds so convoluted!"
"Convoluted? Convoluted is right. It would be strange if it weren't!"
Da Xing the Mad Monk rolled his eyes. "The existence of Original Sin has thrown causality into complete disarray. Since causality is in chaos, Fate is naturally also in chaos... If it weren't chaotic, why would Fate go to such great lengths to eradicate Original Sin?"
Da Xing the Mad Monk chuckled. "Let me tell you, kid, I wouldn't be surprised if even the one hailed as the incarnation of causality and the emissary of Fate, Gengwu Wuming, became an Anomaly now, let alone you, a fated Child of Original Sin, or Fusheng, a Tribulation-Bearer bearing the True Mandate."
"This old monk said it before. If Original Sin is a poison, then causality is already deeply poisoned, and Fate is hanging on by its last breath."