Actually.
Regarding the Desolate Ancient Era, the Ancient Clan's eradication of Venerable Wu Dao, and the termination of the Wu Dao Age that had only just begun, there is another interpretation.
As is widely known,
the so-called Venerable Wu Dao back then was merely a wisp of consciousness birthed by the Original Sin.
Eradicating Venerable Wu Dao did not equate to eradicating the Original Sin Source.
Perhaps the timing wasn't right back then, or perhaps there were other reasons, which led to the Ancient Clan's failure to eliminate the Original Sin Source.
Therefore, they could only wait until this Modern Era, laying down various strands of Karma to force the True Lord of Original Sin to emerge, thereby seizing this opportunity to thoroughly eliminate the scourge that is Original Sin.
Of course,
this is merely speculation by some. As for the true nature of events, no one knows.
Perhaps because Ancestral Patriarch Green Robe could find no grounds to refute Ancestral Patriarch Xunfeng, he did not continue speaking.
Instead, Ancestral Patriarch Xunfeng, stroking the white beard on his chin with one hand, continued with steady calm: "This old man advises you all not to persist in your delusions. Throughout the ages, from antiquity to the present, there has never been any Wu Dao Age. The so-called Wu Dao Age is merely a lie fabricated by the Original Sin. The true purpose of the Original Sin slaughtering the Three Thousand Great Daos is to replace them, to dominate Heaven and Earth, to dominate all living beings."
"This old man admits that the Three Thousand Great Daos are each different, leading to differences among the beings of the Great Dao as well. But this is not preordained by Heaven, nor arranged by Fate; it is the result of Karma. History has shaped the situation we see today, and history is cyclical. So too is Karma. The Sage Dao cannot remain exalted forever, the Heavenly Dao cannot dominate Heaven and Earth forever, and the Human Dao cannot remain lowly forever."
"Consider this: if the Three Thousand Great Daos truly perish completely, losing the restraints of Karma and morality, what would become of the multitudes of living beings?
The good receive no reward, the wicked suffer no retribution. Then, the world would fall into great chaos, with peace never to return."
"What is Original Sin?
This is Original Sin!"
"Esteemed friends, it is time to wake up. There has never been a so-called Original Sin Era. If one exists, it would only be an era of Original Sin where one acts without restraint and does as one pleases. If you still care for yourselves and your descendants, I implore you not to become slaves to the Original Sin any longer!"
Masters.
They were all masters.
Gu Qingfeng realized these old fellows were all experts at expounding principles. Each argument was well-structured, grounded in reason and evidence, delivered with passion and vividness, making it impossible to refute and compelling belief.
He had no interest in the Wu Dao Age, so he had never really pondered what kind of era the so-called Wu Dao Age might have been.
Now, hearing Ancestral Patriarch Xunfeng's words and mulling them over carefully, he had to admit they made a lot of sense.
Once freed from the restraints of Karma and morality, wouldn't that indeed lead to acting without restraint and doing as one pleases?
If everyone truly had no more considerations, perhaps it would be exactly as Ancestral Patriarch Xunfeng said: the world in great chaos, peace never to return.
Gu Qingfeng previously had no concrete concept of Original Sin either. But after hearing Ancestral Patriarch Xunfeng's words, he seemed to understand a little.
What is Original Sin?
When sin is no longer bound by Karma, when Original Sin returns to its primordial state—perhaps that is the so-called Original Sin.
At that moment, Da Xing the Mad Monk asked, "Kid Gu, don't tell me you believe what that old stick Xunfeng is saying?"
"What's wrong?
I think what he said makes a lot of sense."
"Kid, you mustn't fall for this old fellow's tricks."
"What the hell kind of tricks could there be?"
"Don't think for a moment his words are meant for Green Robe's ears."
"I know he's deliberately saying them for the ears of those Ancestral Patriarchs from the grotto-heavens and blessed lands."
"It's not just that either. This old monk suspects this old fellow is also deliberately saying them for you Original Sin Anomalies to hear."
"Saying them for us to hear? What, does he think a few words like these can make those Original Sin Anomalies mend their ways, stop scheming for the True Lord of Original Sin, and instead protect the Great Daos of Heaven and Earth?"
"The true Original Sin Anomalies who scheme for the True Lord of Original Sin might not change because of a few words from this old fellow Xunfeng. The problem is, not all Original Sin Anomalies want to scheme for the True Lord of Original Sin. Aren't you a prime example, kid? And it seems that bastard Qiongqi also has no interest in the True Lord of Original Sin."
"Although I have no interest in the True Lord of Original Sin, I also won't go protecting some damn Great Dao."
"You used to often say one thing, kid: nothing in this world is absolute. Can you swear you definitely won't protect the Great Dao?"
Da Xing the Mad Monk's question truly stumped Gu Qingfeng.
Indeed.
He couldn't guarantee he definitely wouldn't protect the Great Dao.
Because with many things, you can't make a decision until the final moment. And often, many things aren't something you can do just because you want to, nor can you avoid them just because you don't want to. After all, plans can't keep up with changes.
"Kid Gu, you're still too young. Today, when this old fellow Xunfeng says these things, it's fine if you just listen casually, letting them go in one ear and out the other. The most terrifying thing is contemplation. Once you contemplate his words, they will plant a notion in your mind."
Da Xing the Mad Monk continued with a serious and earnest expression: "Don't underestimate a single notion. This thing might not affect you much in the short term, but given enough time, your way of thinking might gradually change because of this insignificant notion. Sometimes, even at a certain time, in a certain place, under certain circumstances, you might make a decision you never imagined because of this tiny notion."
"In our Buddhist teachings, there are two ways of speaking about enlightenment: gradual enlightenment and sudden enlightenment."
"Gradual enlightenment, to put it plainly, is gradually comprehending because a notion influences your thinking. Sudden enlightenment is comprehending because a notion aligns with a particular moment of your circumstances."
After hearing Da Xing the Mad Monk's words, Gu Qingfeng nodded, suddenly enlightened. "So that's how it is, no wonder!"
Da Xing the Mad Monk was somewhat confused. "No wonder what?"
"No wonder you, old bald ass, keep spouting all sorts of nonsensical nonsense in my ear every now and then. So you're trying to gradually influence my thinking."
"This..." Da Xing the Mad Monk never expected Gu Qingfeng to suddenly come out with such a statement. He was stunned, dumbfounded, his face alternating between green and red. He opened his mouth, wanting to speak but stopping himself. After a long while, he finally blurted out, "We were just talking about that old thing Xunfeng, how the hell did you drag into me? Besides, when have I ever spouted nonsensical nonsense at you? Don't you go making unfounded accusations against people!"
Gu Qingfeng grinned, patted Da Xing the Mad Monk's shoulder, indicating he was just joking and not to take it to heart.
Da Xing the Mad Monk still wanted to say something when suddenly, a loud shout from Ancestral Patriarch Green Robe erupted within the arena.
"Xunfeng!
You old thing!
Stop spouting nonsense about Karma and Fate here! You're just afraid!
Afraid the Great Dao will perish, afraid your Sage Dao will no longer be supreme! You protect the Great Dao only because you belong to the noble Sage Dao, that's all!"
"Esteemed friends, don't listen to this old thing Xunfeng's nonsense! He is simply a lackey of the Ancient Clan, attempting to continue using Karma and Fate to dominate everyone! Karma is a shackle, Fate is a cage! Only by slaughtering the Three Thousand Great Daos and opening the Wu Dao Age can we transcend these shackles, transcend this cage, and dominate our own Fate!"
"Original Sin is not sin!"
"As long as Karma does not die, Original Sin will not cease!"
"As long as Fate does not rest, Original Sin will not perish!"
"As long as the Great Dao does not fall, the Wu Dao will not open!"
"As long as Heaven and Earth do not perish, the Universe will not emerge!"
"As long as Illusion is not broken, Truth and Falsehood will not be clear!"
"Kill!
Everyone, let's join hands and kill them!"