If possible, Da Xing the Mad Monk would also like to seek Karma and find his True Self.
It's just that Karma isn't something you can seek just because you want to, and the True Self isn't something you can find just because you look for it.
This path is not easy to walk.
Karma is too complicated. Each cycle of reincarnation carries different Karma. Simply seeking the Karma of this lifetime is already headache-inducing, let alone the previous life, the life before that, the life before that, and even more.
Throughout the ages, the number of great powers who sought Karma is countless, among them were even Great Dao overlords who dominated heaven and earth. But what was the result? Who succeeded?
No one.
At least, up to now, Da Xing the Mad Monk has never heard of anyone who successfully sought Karma, nor has he ever heard of anyone who found their True Self.
Instead, many great powers walked this path of seeking Karma, only to end up not finding their True Self but losing themselves instead.
'Ancient calamity births heaven and earth, endless reincarnations appear, past and present Karma meet, whose fate belongs to whom depends on heaven.'
No one knows when this saying began to circulate.
Some say it's also a prophecy recorded in the Book of Fate, while others say it's just a false rumor.
As for whether this sentence is recorded in the Book of Fate, Da Xing the Mad Monk might not know, but one thing he is certain of: this sentence is definitely not a false rumor, but a fact, and moreover, a fact that is about to happen.
Back in the Desolate Ancient Era, those Great Dao powers wouldn't have planted Karma for no reason.
They must have had some scheme.
Either to protect the Heaven-Earth Great Dao, or to vie for the position of True Lord of Original Sin.
Either to follow the Mandate of Heaven, or to defy it.
And whether defying or following the Mandate of Heaven, when the time comes, they would surely integrate the Karma they planted back then into their True Bodies.
This is the so-called 'past and present Karma meet'.
Because the Karma seeds planted back then, after countless cycles of reincarnation, have long since formed independent destinies. Once they learn they are someone else's Karma, they will inevitably resist, even snatch the True Self.
This is 'whose fate belongs to whom depends on heaven'.
"Da Xing, do you have anything else?"
Seeing Demon Emperor Blood River showing signs of wanting to leave, Da Xing the Mad Monk hurriedly said, "Wait, there's one more thing."
Demon Emperor Blood River's brow lifted slightly, as if somewhat annoyed by Da Xing the Mad Monk's shamelessness. "What else?"
"If we hadn't run into each other, forget it. But since we have, I must ask clearly."
"What exactly is it?"
"You previously gave that Gu kid a black jade statue. What is that thing?"
"What Gu kid?"
"Playing dumb with This Old Monk, are you? The Gu kid is the You Di, the You Di is the Gu kid."
Demon Emperor Blood River shook his head slightly. "I have not met the You Di."
"This Old Monk knows you haven't met him! I'm talking about that incident before. It was your disciple, that bastard Three-Eyed Demon Lord, who caused trouble at a Desolate Ancient ruin. Later, Old Demon White Bone stepped in and directly erased Three-Eyed Demon Lord. Old Demon White Bone gave a black jade statue to the Gu kid at the time, saying it was from you. Don't tell This Old Monk you don't know about this."
"So that's what you're referring to."
Demon Emperor Blood River said, "Correct. I did indeed ask Old Bai to give something to the You Di."
"What is that thing?"
"You need not know."
"What do you mean This Old Monk need not know? What's wrong with This Old Monk asking?"
"What should be said, I will tell you. What should not be said, I will not utter a single word."
"This..." Da Xing the Mad Monk gritted his teeth in frustration, yet could do nothing about it. Compromising, he said, "Fine, fine, fine. What that thing is, you don't have to say if you don't want to. But tell This Old Monk, for what reason did you, out of the blue, give that Gu kid such a thing? What exactly are you scheming?"
"You will know in time."
"You're playing mind games with This Old Monk, aren't you?"
Da Xing the Mad Monk spoke in a tone of suspicion, shouting, "Just now you swore up and down that you neither intended to protect the Heaven-Earth Great Dao nor contend for the True Lord of Original Sin. And yet? You're still secretly cozying up to the Gu kid behind the scenes. Don't think you can fool This Old Monk. With one opening of This Old Monk's Dharma Eye, I know exactly what scheme you're cooking up."
"Then tell me, what scheme am I cooking up?"
"This Old Monk was right there at the scene. Not only was This Old Monk there, many other experts were also lurking at the scene at the time. That Old Demon White Bone's attitude towards the Gu kid was utterly reverent. Not only did he address him repeatedly as 'You Di', he also bowed with clasped hands and knelt in worship. The respect was something else."
Da Xing the Mad Monk continued, "Old Demon White Bone's true purpose probably wasn't just to pay respects to the Gu kid, was it? Wasn't it more to put on a show for others to see?"
Demon Emperor Blood River smiled.
Yes, he smiled.
A trace of a smile, unprecedented, crossed his originally cold and aloof face. "Your guess is correct. I did indeed have that intention."
"Just as I thought! This Old Monk knew it was like this!"
Da Xing the Mad Monk was quite excited and hurriedly pressed, "Then tell This Old Monk, what was your purpose in having Old Demon White Bone do that?"
Da Xing the Mad Monk was someone who couldn't keep things to himself, and he was also quite curious by nature. Ever since Old Demon White Bone gave Gu Qingfeng that black jade statue back then, he had been pondering this matter in his heart. He thought and thought but could never figure out what Demon Emperor Blood River's purpose was.
To show goodwill to Gu Qingfeng?
What about Gu Qingfeng was worth showing goodwill to?
Everyone knew that now, both those protecting the Heaven-Earth Great Dao and those scheming for the True Lord of Original Sin, all wanted to eliminate Gu Qingfeng.
Anyone showing goodwill to Gu Qingfeng would undoubtedly be digging their own grave.
Furthermore, given Demon Emperor Blood River's character, he wouldn't show goodwill to anyone, not even Gu Qingfeng.
If it wasn't to show goodwill to Gu Qingfeng, then why?
To tell all existences in heaven and earth that he, Demon Emperor Blood River, supported Gu Qingfeng?
Support Gu Qingfeng in what?
That fellow Gu Qingfeng himself didn't even know what he should do. What could Demon Emperor Blood River support him in?
Moreover, supporting Gu Qingfeng was no different from showing him goodwill; both would make one a thorn in the side of all existences in heaven and earth.
Therefore.
Da Xing the Mad Monk thought and thought, but still couldn't understand why Demon Emperor Blood River did this.
"Da Xing, don't you find it tiring?"
Suddenly.
Demon Emperor Blood River uttered this sentence out of nowhere, causing Da Xing the Mad Monk to freeze on the spot, momentarily unsure how to respond.
He also didn't understand why Demon Emperor Blood River would suddenly say such a random thing out of the blue. They were just talking about Gu Qingfeng's matter; what did that have to do with whether he was tired or not? This question made no sense at all.
Suddenly.
Da Xing the Mad Monk reacted, his face flushing red with anger, neck bulging. Unpleasantly, he said, "You mean you think This Old Monk meddles too much?"
"Don't you think so? In my impression, it seems you've always been busy running around for other people's affairs. Don't you have your own matters? Or is it that 'worrying about the world's worries before the world worries' is the duty and responsibility of you, the Living Buddha of this world?"
Sure enough.
Demon Emperor Blood River was deliberately mocking him, which truly infuriated Da Xing the Mad Monk.
"Bullshit duty! Bullshit responsibility! Do you think This Old Monk wants to meddle so much? It's fucking unavoidable!"
"Do you think This Old Monk doesn't want to eat well and drink well all day? Let me tell you! This Old Monk dreams of it! It's just that I've been fucking forced step by step into becoming like this!"
"Do you think This Old Monk wants to meddle in other people's affairs? It's fucking beyond my control!"
"Especially that Gu kid's matters. What kind of existence that bastard is, you're not unaware. Anyone who gets involved with him won't come to a good end. Does This Old Monk not want to stay far away? Do you really think This Old Monk is so bored he's looking for trouble?!"
"Do you have any idea, kid, that This Old Monk now even feels like dying? Living worse than a dog every day!"
"And you fucking ask This Old Monk if I'm tired? This Old Monk is so tired now I fucking want to go on a killing spree!"
Perhaps Demon Emperor Blood River's 'don't you find it tiring' directly struck Da Xing the Mad Monk's sore spot, causing him to flush red-faced and roar angrily, as if venting the grievances of these years.
"Damn it all! It's either this one forcing This Old Monk, or that one forcing This Old Monk. Either threatening This Old Monk or intimidating This Old Monk. Do they really fucking think This Old Monk, as a Living Buddha, has no temper?!"
"If they really push This Old Monk over the edge, This Old Monk will just close my eyes, and you all can fucking do whatever you want!"
Da Xing the Mad Monk's such intense reaction also genuinely surprised Demon Emperor Blood River. He asked, "Who is forcing you? And who can force you?"
"Who's forcing This Old Monk? Too many! That bitch Fate! That bastard Karma! That little wench Gu Gu Wuming! That little slut Witch! Oh right! And your wife, that snake-hearted woman Cang Yan! They're all fucking forcing This Old Monk..."
Demon Emperor Blood River shook his head slightly. "You shouldn't speak of her like that."
"This Old Monk is saying it right to your face today, so what?!"
Perhaps the grievances in his heart were truly too many, the wrongs suffered too great. After venting the pent-up frustration, Da Xing the Mad Monk also threw caution to the wind, shouting, "Your wife used despicable means to frame This Old Monk, spread the news that This Old Monk brought the Gu kid into the Desolate Ancient Black Hole far and wide, and even fucking planned to make This Old Monk shoulder the blame for slaughtering the Three Thousand Great Dao! Let me tell you, Blood River, This Old Monk has had enough long ago! If it weren't for your sake, kid, This Old Monk would have long ago slapped your wife into a bloody pulp!"
Demon Emperor Blood River's expression seemed somewhat helpless. He still said, "Da Xing, you really shouldn't speak of her like that."
"Hey! Damn it! This Old Monk is calling that little wench Cang Yan just that today! So what! Are you going to kill This Old Monk?"
Enraged, Da Xing the Mad Monk yanked the monk's cap off his head, revealing his bald pate. He also pulled out the Great Compassion, Great Mercy Fan from his waist, pointing it at Demon Emperor Blood River, shouting, "If you want to stand up for your wife today, go ahead and bring it on! Others might fear you, but This Old Monk doesn't! If we really go all out, who knows who'll kill who! When it comes to fighting, This Old Monk has never feared anyone!"
Demon Emperor Blood River stood in the void, his cold face still devoid of any emotional color. Facing Da Xing the Mad Monk who had assumed a fighting stance, he also looked rather helpless, his eyes seeming to hold a trace of sympathy.
"You should look behind you."
"Look behind? Look at what? Who are you trying to scare? Who's behind? What, is it that madwoman Cang Yan or Gu Gu Wuming? Let me tell you! Today, forget about your wife, forget about that little wench Gu Gu Wuming, even if the fucking Old Man Heaven himself comes, This Old Monk isn't afraid!"