"So you're saying both I and Yun Nishang have already been swept into this Karmic Maelstrom?"
"That is indeed the case."
The Agent of the Decree of Original Sin continued, "From what I know, this Karmic Maelstrom has already drawn in over a dozen Karmic Chains. Your chain is just one of them. If you continue to investigate, practically anyone connected to you by Karma will likely be dragged into this maelstrom."
"Moreover, I've already told you that one of the Karmic Chains of our Original Sin has also been pulled in. And that's just what I know. How many Karmic Chains this maelstrom has truly entangled, I do not know. What terrifying events this Karmic Maelstrom might trigger in the future, I dare not even imagine."
"You may not believe my words. That's fine. I don't expect you to believe me. I only wish for you to know of this matter. Whether you believe it or not is your own affair."
Gu Qingfeng truly couldn't determine whether the words of this Agent of the Decree of Original Sin were true or not.
If they were true...
Then he felt like cursing.
Out of the blue, he'd gotten himself tangled up in the legendary Karmic Maelstrom. From what he recalled, this thing was one of the taboos of Heaven and Earth. Once caught in it, it was practically like boarding a pirate ship that made you an enemy of the cosmos. You'd find yourself rejected by Heaven and Earth, viewed as a thorn in the side by the Three Thousand Great Daos, and judged by all manner of laws...
He'd heard that back in the day, it was because of this very thing that the Buddhist Sect was annihilated.
"Now, can you hand over that Stillness-Annihilation Karmic Scroll to me?"
Without a second thought, Gu Qingfeng refused again. "No."
"You... I've already told you the whole story, why are you still..."
"Why? No reason why. Whether this Karmic Maelstrom is real or fake, even if it is real, why should I give you the Stillness-Annihilation Karmic Scroll? It seems you know my Karma is related to that scroll..." Gu Qingfeng looked at her, his smile carrying a profound meaning. "Besides, even if I am swept into a Karmic Maelstrom, that's my business. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with you, does it? Why are you so anxious? What, do we share some Karma between us? Are you afraid of being dragged in by my Karma?"
"You and I? Hah, sorry, but I don't have that much 'good fortune,' nor that great a 'destiny'!"
The Original Sin woman's tone was particularly strange when she said the words 'good fortune' and 'destiny,' clearly speaking sarcastically. Her meaning was obvious: anyone connected to Gu Qingfeng by Karma would be in for terrible luck.
At this, Gu Qingfeng's smile seemed to grow even more cheerful, because he guessed something from her words. He chuckled, "You know my Karma has already been drawn into the Karmic Maelstrom. You and I have no friendship, we're not even acquainted. You wouldn't come to advise me to give up for no reason. If you and I share no Karma, why do you seem even more anxious than I am? Give me a reason. Convince me, and I'll hand over the Stillness-Annihilation Karmic Scroll to you."
The Original Sin woman did not respond, merely staring at Gu Qingfeng.
"Is my Karma related to the Original Sin?" Gu Qingfeng ventured to ask.
When he spoke these words, a flicker of something strange clearly passed through the Original Sin woman's eyes. Even though she was concealed within the radiance, even though that flicker in her eyes vanished in an instant, Gu Qingfeng still detected it.
"Seems I guessed right."
Gu Qingfeng's thoughts raced like lightning as he speculated. "What's the relationship?"
Whoosh! In an instant, the Original Sin woman vanished, disappearing without a trace as if she had never appeared.
Gu Qingfeng did not pursue her.
When it came to these kinds of vague, half-true, half-false words, unless he had confirmed their veracity himself, he never paid them any mind and couldn't be bothered to engage. A person lives one life, grass lives one autumn—one's own troubles are already plenty. Who has the spare mind to deal with those uncertain, unknown matters? As for things like Karmic Maelstroms, never mind not knowing if they're true or false, even if they were real, so what? Even if the Karma involved the Original Sin, what of it?
Since Gu Qingfeng had already decided to set foot on this path of seeking Karma from which there was no return, he naturally would not turn back.
The decisions he made would never change because of anything.
Not even if the sky came crashing down.
...
Yunxia Sect, Spirit Seclusion Garden.
A somewhat slovenly-looking old man was sitting in the courtyard, basking in the sun, sipping a little wine, and humming a little tune. It was Old Man Huode.
Suddenly.
He seemed to sense something, abruptly standing up. Seeing Gu Qingfeng, he was first taken aback, then grinned widely. "Well, well, look who's back, Ancestor."
"What are all those people down the mountain doing?"
On his way back, Gu Qingfeng had noticed that the foot of Yunxia Sect's mountain was exceptionally lively, densely packed with people everywhere.
"What else? Come to watch the spectacle, of course. You caused such a huge commotion at the Bingxuan Sect, kid. Overnight, you became famous throughout the Four Directions Great Domain. So, many people have traveled thousands of miles, drawn by your reputation, hoping to get to know you, this celebrity. These past few days, this old man has received thousands of visiting cards alone."
Huode seemed very excited, his mood exceptionally good.
Indeed.
Ever since several hundred years ago, when they expelled Gu Qingfeng from the sect, and as Gu Qingfeng's fame grew until he finally ascended to the throne of the Immortal Monster King, becoming the Red-Scarlet Monarch who laughed proudly at the world, Yunxia Sect had become an object of scorn and ridicule for everyone under heaven. Even after the Great Calamity, they had always been looked down upon.
Now, after so many years, they had finally gained some glory in the Four Directions Great Domain. For Huode, who had always treated Yunxia Sect as his family, this naturally made him very happy. Even though he knew all this was still because of Gu Qingfeng, outsiders didn't know that, and he was quite content to enjoy it.
Gu Qingfeng gave an "oh" of acknowledgment, then leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and basked in the sun, pondering how to figure out this Karma business as soon as possible. He said, "Huode, I remember you said the Yanyang Heart was borrowed back then by someone from the Nine-Hua Alliance? What was his name again? Old Man Rong?"
"That's right, that old scoundrel. But... I heard he's dead."
"Dead? When did that happen?"
"Over a month ago? I heard it from others. At the time, you were busy with something about Karma, kid, and this old man forgot to tell you."
Gu Qingfeng sat up and took a sip of wine. If he remembered the unique spiritual aura of the Yanyang Heart, he could have used his divine sense to conduct a wide-area search. Unfortunately, too much time had passed. Not to mention the Yanyang Heart's spiritual aura, he'd even forgotten what the Yanyang Heart looked like.
"Since Old Man Rong is dead, do you know who has the Yanyang Heart now?"
"Not clear on that. This old man investigated too, but found no clues. But don't you worry, kid. By the end of the year, we'll naturally know."
"How so?"
"At the end of the year, that's the hundred-year mark after the Great Calamity. The Nine-Hua Alliance will definitely activate the Nine-Hua Tai Xuan Stele. At that time, all the behind-the-scenes big shots of the Nine-Hua Alliance, whether they've been away or in seclusion, will all be present. Then you can just deal with them one by one."
"Nine-Hua Tai Xuan Stele? What's that thing?"
"A treasure. A great treasure. An extremely miraculous treasure. Not only does it contain pure Tai Xuan spiritual energy, but the stele is also inscribed with the Nine-Hua Tai Xuan Scripture."