These words again.
Gu Qingfeng was not hearing them for the first time, but had heard them many times before.
In the past, he did not understand.
He did not understand why a previous life and a present life would meet.
He thought a previous life was the past, and the present life was the now. The past was already over, and precisely because it was over, there was the present—just like Karma, where the cause precedes the effect.
Later, as he experienced more and more, he gradually began to understand.
Not only did he understand, but he had also witnessed it with his own eyes.
Yes.
He had witnessed it.
A Yun Nishang of three lives and three worlds.
A Feng Zhuyue of three lives and three worlds.
And a Jun Xuanji of who knows how many lives and worlds.
Whether it was Yun Nishang, Feng Zhuyue, or Jun Xuanji, they had all experienced the so-called 'meeting of previous life, present life, and Karma'.
For example, Yun Nishang was the previous life of Hongxiu, and Hongxiu was the previous life of Ouyang Ye.
For example, Feng Zhuyue, Can Yang Wuyou, and Mantufan were each other's previous and present lives.
In Gu Qingfeng's view, Yun Nishang and Feng Zhuyue had not only experienced the so-called 'meeting of previous life, present life, and Karma', but also 'whose fate is whose depends on heaven'.
However.
Whether the current Yun Nishang was Hongxiu or Ouyang Ye, he did not know.
Perhaps she was Yun Nishang, and also Hongxiu, and also Ouyang Ye.
Not long ago, in an ancient ruin, he had witnessed Feng Zhuyue, Can Yang Wuyou, and Mantufan—their previous and present lives—merge with each other. Similarly, he did not know whether the merged Feng Zhuyue was Can Yang Wuyou or Mantufan, or perhaps both.
In the past.
He thought a previous life was just a previous life, and a present life was just a present life. Although there was Karma between them, that was all.
Now he knew that a previous life was not merely a previous life, and a present life was not merely a present life. The relationship between them might not be as simple as just Karma.
Your present life might be your present life, but your previous life might not necessarily be your previous life. Perhaps your previous life is also your previous life, but the previous life of your previous life might not be your previous life.
One previous life might not correspond to just one present life for you; it could be two, or three, or even four or more...
As Mo Wentian said, one True Self can give birth to countless Original Selves, and one Original Self can give birth to countless Ego Selves...
How many True Selves, how many Original Selves, how many Ego Selves...
How many previous lives, how many present lives, how many future lives...
How many cycles of reincarnation, how many rebirths, how many Karmic ties...
No one knows.
"The Primal Cataclysm births heaven and earth, endless cycles manifest across past and present; previous life and present life meet through Karma, whose fate is whose depends on heaven!"
Gu Qingfeng murmured these words, his heart filled with many emotions.
He felt this phrase was like a prophecy.
A prophecy about Original Sin, about the Daoless Age, and also about Karma.
Just now, Mo Wentian said that long ago, some Great Dao Experts had deduced that the True Lord of Original Sin would be born in the Present Era. Therefore, they had all begun to make their moves and set their schemes.
Some directly fused with the blood of Original Sin, some reincarnated to seize the innate Original Sin, while others hid deeper, nurturing Ego Selves to seek Original Sin.
Of course.
Not all who set schemes would contend for the True Lord of Original Sin.
Nor did all Great Dao Experts wish to become the True Lord of Original Sin.
Some Great Dao Experts might have other reasons for their schemes.
Like Yun Nishang, Feng Zhuyue, and Jun Xuanji—Gu Qingfeng might not know their true purpose for scheming, but one thing he was certain of: it was definitely not to contend for the True Lord of Original Sin.
However.
Regardless of the original reason for scheming—whether to contend for the True Lord of Original Sin, to protect the Great Dao, or for other purposes—the Present Era had arrived, and the Primordial Black Hole had already appeared.
In other words.
The schemes laid back then were now time to be reaped.
At the very least, Yun Nishang and Feng Zhuyue had already fused with each other's previous and present lives, having reaped their schemes...
As for those Great Dao Experts who nurtured Ego Selves to seek Original Sin, some had probably also begun to reap their schemes.
Precisely because of this.
The phrase spread: "The Primal Cataclysm births heaven and earth, endless cycles manifest across past and present; previous life and present life meet through Karma, whose fate is whose depends on heaven."
"As the saying goes, with a close friend, a thousand cups of wine are too few. If possible, I, Mo, truly wish to drink heartily with you two brothers, drink until the end of eternity, drink until the very end of heaven and earth!"
Mo Wentian's expression turned solemn as he said in a deep voice, "Unfortunately, unfortunately, I, Mo, still have Karma to seek. If I cannot seek my True Self Karma, I, Mo Wentian, will die with everlasting regret. I ask for your forgiveness, brothers, for I cannot accompany you to the end!"
With that.
Mo Wentian downed an entire jar of wine in one go.
It was clear.
Mo Wentian did not want to leave.
He truly wished to drink merrily with Gu Qingfeng and Ren Tianxing just like this, as he said, drink until the heavens and earth grow dim, drink until the end of all things.
However.
He had no choice but to leave.
His entire life had been spent seeking Karma, seeking the True Self. He had sought until now, reaching the most critical moment.
If he truly was an Ego Self nurtured by some Great Dao Expert to contend for the True Lord of Original Sin.
If the Primordial Black Hole truly would give birth to the True Lord of Original Sin.
Then now was his only chance to seek his True Self.
Even though he did not know if he could succeed in seeking his True Self, or even what the result would be after succeeding, he still would not give up.
This was the path he had chosen; he would not regret it.
"I should also leave!"
The cold and ruthless Ren Tianxing downed the wine in his cup. He did not say much, only that he should leave. His tone and manner were as icy as ever, devoid of any emotional color, as if he were merely leaving for a casual stroll.
However.
Once he left, life or death was unknown.
Mo Wentian only wished to seek his True Self, while Ren Tianxing sought the True Lord of Original Sin.
Mo Wentian might be someone else's Ego Self, and Ren Tianxing also had this possibility.
Not to mention that Ren Tianxing's hope of ascending to the True Lord of Original Sin was extremely slim; even if he ultimately succeeded, it might only be to pave the way for another.
This point, Ren Tianxing was not unaware.
But he still had to do it.
Because this was the only path he could walk.
He had to walk it, whether he wanted to or not.
The path Mo Wentian chose, he would not regret; the path Ren Tianxing chose, even if he had to crawl on his knees, he would walk it to the end.
"Being able to drink fine wine with you two today, I, Gu Qingfeng, am genuinely happy from the bottom of my heart. Truly, it's been a long time since I've drunk as heartily as today."
Gu Qingfeng still sat casually in the void, his body swaying gently with the flow of chaotic currents, like a reflection in water.
He was leisurely, at ease.
Always had been.
Glancing at Mo Wentian, then at Ren Tianxing, he stood up, picked up three jars of fine wine, gave one to each, and said with a faint smile, "I won't say much more. For you, Brother Mo, I wish you success in seeking your own True Self Karma. For you, Brother Ren, I wish you success in ascending to the True Lord of Original Sin. Once you're both done with your business, let's continue drinking. How about that?"
"Hahahaha!"
Mo Wentian laughed heartily and responded with a heavy "Good!"
"Come!
Cheers!"