After hearing the Old Monk of Extinction say this, Gu Qingfeng understood somewhat more.
Thinking about it, it indeed made sense.
The Karma True Self and the Karma Incarnation were like a mother and her son.
A mother gives birth to a son. At first, the son has no independent fate, no independent consciousness, and no ability for self-determination. But as he gradually grows, he begins to possess an independent fate, an independent consciousness, and the ability for self-determination.
Having grown up under his mother's care and protection, no matter how independent the son becomes, the mother still knows his habits and nature intimately.
Such is the relationship between mother and son; the same holds for the True Self and the Incarnation.
Moreover.
The very purpose for which the True Self gestates an Incarnation is to use it as a chess piece. To better control it, the True Self will set up numerous Karma Games during the Incarnation's growth. This way, the True Self naturally understands the Incarnation intimately, and the Karma Incarnation will grow according to the True Self's will. In fact, if the True Self wishes, it can, through arranging numerous karmic events, make the Incarnation grow into whatever kind of person, with whatever personality, and even instill whatever fatal weaknesses it desires.
As long as it firmly grasps the Incarnation's weaknesses, when the time is ripe, it can effortlessly devour it.
Gu Qingfeng pondered: At the end of the Ancient Era, when he was stripped of everything and lost his fighting spirit, could that have been a game deliberately arranged by Genggu Wuming? The purpose being to make him lose his faith, so he could be devoured effortlessly in the future.
Of course.
All of this was merely speculation.
What the truth was, Gu Qingfeng did not know.
He wasn't even sure if he was a Karma Incarnation, let alone if he was Genggu Wuming's Karma Incarnation.
Furthermore.
Even if he was a Karma Incarnation, it might not necessarily be Genggu Wiming's. Perhaps he could also be an Incarnation of Original Sin—more precisely, it was not impossible that he was the Karma Incarnation of the Wu Dao Daozun from the Desolate Era.
Before this, he had always speculated that if he were a Karma Incarnation, he could only be Genggu Wuming's, because only Genggu Wuming could gestate an Incarnation that was both Original Sin and a Variable.
However, after finding his Id and gaining enlightenment on many matters, he inexplicably thought of another person: the Wu Dao Daozun from the Desolate Era.
After all, legend had it that after Wu Dao Daozun died, his might transformed into the Breath of Original Sin, his obsession transformed into the Light of Original Sin, his divine abilities transformed into the Flower of Original Sin, his spirit transformed into the Essence of Original Sin, while his physical body transformed into the Blood of Original Sin, his soul transformed into the Spirit of Delusion, and his consciousness transformed into the Awareness of Original Sin.
Whether it was the Breath of Original Sin, the Light of Original Sin, or the Flower of Original Sin, whoever was tainted by them would become a Karma Incarnation of Original Sin.
In the ancient and modern worlds, be it the Incarnation of Original Sin, the Retribution Body of Original Sin, or even the Dharma Body of Original Sin, they were all Karma Incarnations of Original Sin.
As for the Sons of Original Sin who had integrated the Blood of Original Sin, needless to say, they were absolutely Karma Incarnations of Original Sin.
Gu Qingfeng reasoned that since he had both integrated the Blood of Original Sin and was a Variable of Original Sin, he was probably absolutely a Karma Incarnation of Original Sin.
Those so-called Selves of Original Sin, and the so-called Original Sin Itself, should have all found their Self and their Id within Original Sin.
The problem was, if he truly was a Karma Incarnation of Original Sin, many things regarding Genggu Wuming wouldn't make sense or hold up. Yet if he was Genggu Wuming's Karma Incarnation, many things regarding Wu Dao Daozun similarly wouldn't make sense or hold up.
If he was both Wu Dao Daozun's Karma Incarnation and Genggu Wuming's Karma Incarnation, then many inexplicable things could be explained, and many untenable things could become tenable.
Could it be that he truly was both Wu Dao Daozun's Karma Incarnation and Genggu Wuming's Karma Incarnation?
Could one Karma Incarnation possess two True Selves?
Was that possible?
He wasn't sure.
After experiencing so many things, Gu Qingfeng felt there was nothing impossible in the ancient and modern worlds.
He looked up at the chaotic-like Realm of Extinction and asked, "Old Monk, tell me...
Could I be a Karma Incarnation?"
After a moment, the Old Monk of Extinction's voice, as if having traversed countless ages, came: "This old monk does not know."
Gu Qingfeng did not stop his inquiry because of this and continued, "If I truly am a Karma Incarnation, then whose would I be? Genggu Wuming's or Wu Dao Daozun's?"
"This old monk does not know..."
Gu Qingfeng asked again, "Could I be both Wu Dao Daozun's Karma Incarnation and Genggu Wuming's Karma Incarnation?"
"This old monk does not know..."
Once again, three questions met with three 'I don't knows'.
The Old Monk was still the same Old Monk as before, never changed, not even a tiny bit.
In the past, whenever Gu Qingfeng encountered confusion, he would enter here to seek answers from the Old Monk. Under normal circumstances, the Old Monk would resolve his doubts, although each time his words were cryptic and nebulous, they at least counted as providing some clarity.
But whenever Gu Qingfeng asked about the root of the matter, or the key to a problem, the Old Monk would always respond with 'I don't know' to every question.
For example.
In the past, when Gu Qingfeng asked about Karma, the Old Monk would give cryptic explanations about what Karma was.
But if Gu Qingfeng asked about his own Karma, the Old Monk would typically respond with 'I don't know' to every question.
This time was no exception.
When Gu Qingfeng asked what a Karma Incarnation was, the Old Monk would resolve his doubt. Even when he asked about the relationship between a Karma Incarnation and its Karma True Self, the Old Monk would provide clarification.
However, when Gu Qingfeng pressed further, asking if he himself was a Karma Incarnation and whose it might be, the Old Monk once again responded with three 'I don't knows'.
Whether the Old Monk truly didn't know or was pretending not to know,
Gu Qingfeng did not know.
The only thing he knew was that even if the Old Monk truly knew, he would not tell him.
"Alright then!"
Gu Qingfeng sighed and said, "You say you don't know, so you don't know. I won't force you. However..." He changed the subject, "If...
I'm saying if, if I truly am someone's Karma Incarnation, and when that person comes knocking and devours my consciousness, what will you do then?
Where will this Realm of Extinction go?"
Silence.
The Old Monk of Extinction did not answer this question for a long time.
After a long while, the Old Monk's voice finally came: "This old monk still clearly remembers to this day a sentence you once said, Benefactor Gu."
"What sentence?"
"Benefactor Gu once said that you never think about things that cannot be determined, because things that cannot be determined may not necessarily happen. Even things that are determined may have variables when the time comes. Therefore, living in the present, one should seek pleasure in a timely manner. 'If there's wine today, drink it today; tomorrow's worries can be dealt with tomorrow.'"
"Living in the present, seeking pleasure in a timely manner, 'if there's wine today, drink it today; tomorrow's worries can be dealt with tomorrow'..." Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng couldn't help but laugh heartily and said, "That's right, I did indeed say that. But that was only in the past. It's different now. If I still lived in the present and sought pleasure in a timely manner, I'm afraid that by the time my consciousness was devoured by someone, I'd still think it was a dream I had myself."