"I heard...
The one representing the Sacred Ground this time is Xuanyuan Wuji."
Gu Qingfeng had always only cared about the people and matters he cared about. For things that didn't interest him, he had neither the mind nor the inclination to inquire.
He was hearing about Dugu Qizhan, who was hailed as 'equal to Heaven,' for the first time, let alone this so-called Xuanyuan Wuji.
His understanding of the Sacred Ground was as limited as his knowledge of the Shangqing Grotto—both were scant.
Although he had met people from the Sacred Ground, interacted with them, and even fought against them,
that was the extent of it.
Having lived until now, he had never been to the Sacred Ground, nor did he even know where it was located.
The only thing he knew was that, like the Shangqing Grotto, the Sacred Ground was extremely mysterious and very low-key. Under normal circumstances, they would not show themselves unless something earth-shattering occurred between heaven and earth.
Gu Qingfeng still remembered that when he had used the Nine Nethers Fire to burn the Nine Heavens back in the day, people from the Sacred Ground had shown up, attempting to stop him. However, at that time, Gu Qingfeng had completely lost his mind, his consciousness was somewhat blurred, and he didn't remember much of what happened.
After the Present Era began, when he fused with the Original Sin Blood in the Great Northwest and gave birth to the Life-Death Pagoda with the Myriad Phenomena Paying Homage, people from the Sacred Ground had also appeared. He also remembered that it seemed to be a woman, named Xuanyuan Wan or something.
When the Blood Moon descended and Gu Qingfeng contended with the Great Dao for Xiao Jin'er, people from the Sacred Ground had shown up again—also that Xuanyuan Wan.
When the Wudao Mountain appeared, it seemed to have been this Xuanyuan Wan as well.
It was only later that he learned that this Xuanyuan Wan had a significant background. She was not merely a member of the Sacred Ground, but seemed to be its princess, known as Princess Xuanyuan.
As for this Xuanyuan Wuji, Gu Qingfeng thought for a moment but had not the slightest impression.
However, the fact that Xuanyuan Wuji could represent the Sacred Ground and enter the Primordial Black Hole meant his background was absolutely significant—one could imagine that even with one's toes.
Sure enough.
Ren Tianxing spoke four words: "One Hand Covers Heaven."
At first, Gu Qingfeng didn't understand what it meant. Only after listening further did he realize that Xuanyuan Wuji's existence was, if anything, even more formidable than Dugu Qizhan's.
It was said that Xuanyuan Wuji, like Dugu Qizhan, was a master from the Desolate Ancient Era.
According to hearsay, he entered the Dao through martial arts. In the earliest days of the Primordial Era, with absolute martial prowess, he once covered the sun and moon with a single hand, and covered the heavens as well.
This was Xuanyuan Wuji.
Xuanyuan Wuji, whose one hand covered heaven.
Some said Xuanyuan Wuji not only entered the Dao through martial arts but later also entered Sagehood through martial arts.
Although he had not yet sought the Great Dao nor achieved full Sagehood,
he was already a Half-Sage of the Great Dao.
Therefore,
Xuanyuan Wuji also had an extremely resounding title: Martial Saint!
Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng couldn't help but feel some emotion. "One Heavenly General Dugu Qizhan, equal to Heaven; one Martial Saint Xuanyuan Wuji, whose one hand covers heaven... truly..." Gu Qingfeng shook his head, truly not knowing what to say, only sighing at his own ignorance and insignificance.
In the past, he couldn't understand why some old seniors, despite their extraordinary experience and powerful cultivation, became increasingly timid and hesitant.
As he experienced more and more, he also came to understand those old seniors more and more.
As the saying goes, ignorance is fearless.
Not knowing, therefore fearing nothing.
On the contrary, the more one knows, the more fear grows in one's heart.
The more one knows, the more insignificant one feels.
"Sigh!"
Gu Qingfeng sighed and drained the wine in his cup.
"Why does Brother Gu sigh?"
Seeing Gu Qingfeng looking depressed and somewhat troubled, Mo Wentian was very puzzled.
"Hearing you talk about so many masters, I'm worried, that's all."
"Worried?"
Mo Wentian was even more unable to understand. "If anyone should be worried, it should be I or Brother Ren, especially Brother Ren. If he wants to contend for the True Master of Original Sin, the first ones he must face are masters like Dugu Qizhan and Xuanyuan Wuji."
He paused, then continued, "As for you, Brother Gu, you neither seek Karma nor wish to change fate, nor have any interest in the True Master of Original Sin. You don't need to face these Great Dao masters. Why are you worried?
Where does this worry come from?"
"There's an old saying, how does it go? 'The tree desires stillness, but the wind will not cease.'"
Gu Qingfeng sighed repeatedly. "Although I say I don't seek Karma, don't change fate, don't contend for Original Sin, only wish to follow nature's course and accept everything as it comes, fate plays tricks on people. I've entered this Primordial Black Hole, am already in this vortex. Many things are beyond my control. Even if I don't look for trouble with them, I can't stop them from looking for trouble with me. Even if I want to just swallow my pride and live on, they might not agree."
Hearing this,
Mo Wentian was speechless, then laughed.
Perhaps he envied Gu Qingfeng's state of mind too much, so much so that he forgot Gu Qingfeng's current situation.
Indeed.
Gu Qingfeng's existence was too special.
Although all three of them were people of Original Sin and variables of the Present Era, neither Ren Tianxing nor Mo Wentian could match Gu Qingfeng in terms of the depth of their Original Sin or the magnitude of their variable nature.
Add to that the fact that many existences in heaven and earth believed Gu Qingfeng was the fated True Master of Original Sin.
Just as Gu Qingfeng said, the problem now was no longer whether he sought Karma, changed fate, or contended for the True Master of Original Sin.
Even if he didn't seek, didn't change, and didn't contend.
Even if he weren't in this Primordial Black Hole.
Even if he only wanted to live, even if it were a living death.
Those existences in heaven and earth might not grant him his wish.
This was also the reason why Mo Wentian and Ren Tianxing admired Gu Qingfeng, because they both knew that Gu Qingfeng's situation was far more dangerous than theirs. Yet even so, Gu Qingfeng still sat here with them, drinking heartily as if it were nothing.
Although Gu Qingfeng sighed and wore a troubled expression,
that was all.
Mo Wentian could see that Gu Qingfeng's sorrow was not for Karma, nor for fate, nor even for Original Sin, but merely for the so-called trouble he spoke of.
Thinking of this, Mo Wentian couldn't help but feel like laughing out loud.
During their first meeting, he had already admired Gu Qingfeng by thirty percent.
Meeting again, his admiration grew to sixty percent.
After deeper conversation, his admiration for Gu Qingfeng had reached one hundred percent.
Previously,
he only wanted to toast to express his admiration.
But now,
he even felt an impulse to kneel and bow in reverence.
Yes.
He truly had this impulse.
What did Gu Qingfeng have to face?
Heavenly General Dugu Qizhan, equal to Heaven; Martial Saint Xuanyuan Wuji, whose one hand covers heaven; and masters representing the Great Dao like the Great Sun Radiant Emperor, Lord Heishan, Ancestor Xuehe, the Western Heaven Buddha Emperor Miao Rulai... including the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens, Seventy-Two Blessed Lands, the Nine Heavens and Nine Nethers, the Sacred Grounds and Forbidden Lands, the Desolate Ruins and the Return Ruins—too many, far too many masters.
So what?
These so-called Great Dao masters were, in Gu Qingfeng's eyes, merely so-called troubles.
It was only at this moment that Mo Wentian realized how lofty Gu Qingfeng's state of mind was—so lofty that it left him far behind, so lofty it surpassed imagination.
He became increasingly certain that although Gu Qingfeng had not attained the Dao, his state of mind had absolutely attained it.
Cultivation is the cultivation of the heart; what is practiced is the Dao.
Only when the heart attains the Dao can one walk the Great Dao.