Perhaps someone had long since deduced that Gu Qingfeng's existence would affect, or even alter, the destinies of the Great Dao's Heaven and Earth, the Dao-less Original Sin, and even the fate of Causality itself. Therefore, they had long ago placed their pieces upon Gu Qingfeng.
For instance, Yun Nichang, Feng Zhuyue, Tang Henghe, and all those connected to Gu Qingfeng by karma.
Also, Da Xing the Mad Monk, Lady Blackwater, the Old Beggar, Demon Emperor Xue He, Lady Langya, and even the Mysterious Woman herself were no exception.
Likewise, this included the Old Monk residing within the Realm of Extinction.
This was also the fundamental reason why the Mysterious Woman remained steadfast in her belief that the Old Monk, like herself, had placed his bet on Gu Qingfeng.
Therefore,
the Mysterious Woman had every reason to suspect that Genggu Wuming and Wu Dao Zun Shang had also long ago laid their schemes upon Gu Qingfeng, using him as a chessboard for their hidden game.
No other person, regardless of how profound their cultivation, how formidable their strength, or how immense their destiny, could possibly conceive and nurture a causal incarnation like Gu Qingfeng—the ultimate variable of Original Sin.
However,
the Mysterious Woman believed that while others could not, Genggu Wuming absolutely could, and Wu Dao Zun Shang likewise possessed that capability. Throughout all of ancient and modern Heaven and Earth, only those two had such power.
Could one causal incarnation simultaneously have two original masters?
Such a thing was absolutely impossible for anyone else.
But if it happened to Gu Qingfeng, then nothing was impossible.
The Mysterious Woman asked repeatedly, but unfortunately, the Monk of Extinction remained as he always had been, offering no answer.
The Mysterious Woman seemed to have long anticipated this. She chuckled, "Even if you don't say it, this Palace knows the answer. Not only do I know, but I believe he should also know the answer by now. Even if he doesn't know for certain, he must already harbor suspicions in his heart."
The Old Monk remained silent, offering no response.
The Realm of Extinction resembled chaos, akin to illusion, a blend of reality and falsehood, truth and deception, making it impossible to discern clearly.
The Mysterious Woman, hidden who-knew-where, continued speaking, "Some have wagered the Great Dao on him, others have wagered the Dao-less on him. This Consort has always been very curious, Old Monk. You have exhausted your efforts to arrange this game of karma. What exactly have you wagered on him? The Great Dao?
Or the Dao-less?
Or perhaps you wager on both? Or perhaps on neither?"
The Old Monk remained as silent as ever.
The Mysterious Woman seemed utterly uninterested in expecting an answer from the Old Monk, continuing her monologue, "Old Monk, oh Old Monk, you may hide the truth for a time, but you cannot hide it forever. You may deceive him, but you cannot deceive this Palace. Do you truly believe this Palace does not know your real identity?"
After a moment,
the Mysterious Woman's voice came again, tinged with a hint of amusement, "According to this Palace's knowledge, that fellow surnamed Gu encountered three 'Benefactors' in his youth." When she said the word 'Benefactors,' she deliberately paused, emphasizing the word heavily, then snorted with a derisive laugh, "At the very least, he himself considered them benefactors."
"The first Benefactor was his master, someone called... Zhenjue, I believe."
"It is said that in his youth, even in the mortal realm, he was already an existence intolerable to Heaven and Earth. He was besieged by others multiple times, had his cultivation crippled several times. The last time, he was surrounded by numerous experts of the mortal realm and nearly lost his life. Coincidentally, that Master Zhenjue appeared, not only saving his life but also braving the condemnation of the world to take him as a disciple."
As the Mysterious Woman spoke these words, her tone was peculiar, especially when mentioning Gu Qingfeng being intolerable to Heaven and Earth, and Zhenjue appearing to save him and take him as a disciple, it was filled with mockery and sarcasm.
"I heard that after this Master Zhenjue took him as a disciple, he didn't teach him any cultivation methods, not even a single one. He only taught him two words: Humanity."
"I wonder, Old Monk, have you ever heard this story?
Have you ever met that Master Zhenjue?"
The Old Monk still did not respond.
The Mysterious Woman continued, "The second Benefactor was someone called... Old Master, I believe. It is said this Old Master was not a person, but a figure within a painting. They say this Old Master in the painting set up a chess game. By chance, that fellow surnamed Gu seemed to have found this painting in an ancient cave abode, comprehended its mysteries, and would play chess and spar with the Old Master in the painting every day."
"I heard that Old Master was a recluse of profound attainment, using the chess game within the painting to help Gu comprehend the profundity of the two words: Principle."
"I wonder, Old Monk, have you ever heard this story?
Have you ever met his second so-called Benefactor, Old Master?"
The Old Monk still did not respond, as if he hadn't heard.
"Heh."
The Mysterious Woman chuckled lightly and continued, "As for his third so-called Benefactor... it seems to be someone called Da Fuzi?"
"It is said that back then, that fellow surnamed Gu went berserk in his cultivation, lost himself, his consciousness blurred, and went on a rampage in the mortal realm. Coincidentally, that Da Fuzi appeared out of nowhere, not only dispelling this fellow's demonic nature but also expounding Buddhist Dharma to him."
"Speaking of which, this Da Fuzi could be considered half a master to him. Master Zhenjue didn't teach him any methods, only the two words 'Humanity.' And this Da Fuzi, likewise, taught him no methods, only the two words 'Buddhist Dharma.'"
"And so, this fellow formed a bond with Buddhism, not only forging a Buddha-heart but also comprehending the Buddhist Great Freedom, Great Nirvana Silence, Great Compassion, and Great Illusion."
"Including his seeing through the mortal world, the emptiness of all phenomena, the successive transformations of his mental state, culminating in his acceptance of following nature's course—all were profoundly connected to Da Fuzi's teachings of the two words 'Buddhist Dharma.'"
"I wonder, Old Monk, have you ever heard this story?
Have you ever met his third so-called Benefactor, Da Fuzi?"
The Old Monk again did not respond.
The Mysterious Woman laughed again, "I imagine that Master Zhenjue, who taught him 'Humanity,' and Old Master, who taught him 'Principle,' might be unfamiliar to you. But I believe his third Benefactor, Da Fuzi, should be very familiar to you, shouldn't he?"
"I heard that when he toppled the Immortal Dynasty in the mortal realm and slaughtered numerous Nine Heavens Immortals, incurring the judgment of the Immortal Dao, it was that Da Fuzi who taught him the method of Nirvana Silence to deceive Heaven and cross the sea, allowing him to be reborn in the Great Wasteland through Nirvana Silence."
"Nirvana Silence and rebirth...
Ah, tsk tsk, how could this Palace forget? This place is the Realm of Extinction, after all."
"Heh heh..." "Hmm...
This Consort also heard...
that this Da Fuzi once reincarnated as the Prophetic Living Buddha, saving all sentient beings in a certain celestial realm."
"Is that all?"
"Of course not."
"This Consort also heard...
that Da Fuzi once made a grand vow, known throughout all of ancient and modern Heaven and Earth: 'Until Hell is emptied, I vow not to attain Buddhahood.'"
Having said this,
the Mysterious Woman laughed heartily, her laughter playful, triumphant, and somewhat maniacal.
Amidst the laughter, her voice came once more.
"Tell me, should this Palace call you Old Monk, or should I call you Da Fuzi? Or should I respectfully address you as the Prophetic Living Buddha, or reverently hail you as the Greatly Compassionate, Greatly Merciful Bodhisattva Dizang, Lord of Hell, who rescues beings from suffering and hardship!"