Like Floating Life Emperor Lord, Eternal Wind Great Emperor, and the others, Da Xing the Mad Monk's state of mind had also sublimated along with the changes of this Calamity. He gradually comprehended the true meaning of this Calamity and understood the tribulation he himself should face within it.
Not only that.
After drinking a jar of fine wine poured from the Prajna Sin Karma Bowl, he even awakened memories of his past life in the Desolate Ancient Era.
The reason he had chosen to perish in the Desolate Ancient Era in his past life was also because he had deduced the true meaning of this Calamity and the tribulation he himself should face.
Just as Gu Qingfeng had said, the tribulation he should face was none other than delivering all sentient beings.
If he could deliver all sentient beings within this Calamity, Da Xing the Mad Monk could redeem himself, escape the Sea of Bitterness, transcend his false self, awaken his true self, and ascend to become a True Buddha.
If he failed to deliver all sentient beings in this Calamity, forget about awakening his true self or transcending his false self—Da Xing the Mad Monk would not only be unable to escape the Sea of Bitterness but would also be lost within it for all eternity.
However.
The phrase 'delivering all sentient beings' was easy to say but difficult to do, let alone delivering them within this Calamity.
Da Xing the Mad Monk had deduced the course of this Calamity countless times, and without exception, every deduction ended in failure.
There was no other way.
He could only plant a karmic seed within Gu Qingfeng, binding his own karma to Gu Qingfeng. This way, if Gu Qingfeng wanted to escape the Sea of Bitterness, he would have to help him escape first. If he didn't help, Gu Qingfeng himself would also be unable to escape.
This method was somewhat despicable, sinister, and utterly shameless.
But Da Xing the Mad Monk could no longer afford to care about such things. Whether for the sake of the Great Dao and all living beings or for his own sake, he could only grit his teeth and do it.
He was like this, and so were the various Empresses. They had all planted karmic seeds within Gu Qingfeng, binding their own karma to him, hoping that Gu Qingfeng could lead them out of the Sea of Bitterness.
They had all deduced the course of this Calamity countless times and concluded that this might be the only method that could allow them to escape the Sea of Bitterness.
They also knew that when Gu Qingfeng released those karmic seeds from his body, he would have surely discerned their intentions.
Precisely because they knew, when Gu Qingfeng questioned them earlier, none of them responded, nor did any dare to meet his gaze.
Da Xing the Mad Monk was the same. Faced with Gu Qingfeng's questioning, he would rather die than admit it.
He understood clearly that Gu Qingfeng wanted to end all of this more than anyone else, which was why he had planted a karmic seed within him.
Similarly.
Da Xing the Mad Monk was also very clear that Gu Qingfeng, having discerned the truth, would be utterly furious.
Just imagine: Gu Qingfeng was the one who most desired to end all of this, and he was also the only one qualified and powerful enough to do so. Yet, at the critical moment of ending it, he suddenly discovered that he had long been kidnapped by over a dozen people. Originally, he could have ended it all, but now he had to stop. Moreover, after being kidnapped by over a dozen people, whether Gu Qingfeng could still end it all had become an unknown variable.
No matter who this happened to, they would be enraged beyond measure, let alone Gu Qingfeng.
Da Xing the Mad Monk even suspected that Gu Qingfeng had slaughtered numerous Original Sin Patriarchs in one breath after emerging, just to vent his fury.
Now that Gu Qingfeng was in a rage, Da Xing the Mad Monk dared not provoke him.
On the opposite side.
Old Taishan remained like a pile of mud, half-collapsed and half-kneeling on the Profound Mystery Flower, continuously kowtowing and begging for mercy. He pleaded for help from Heavenly Secrets Lady Genggu Wuming, who had yet to appear, but unfortunately, no miracle occurred, and Genggu Wuming did not manifest.
"Da Xing."
Gu Qingfeng suddenly spoke expressionlessly, "Go and deliver this old thing."
"Gu kid, the tribulation this old monk should face really isn't delivering all sentient beings. Don't listen to others' nonsense..." Da Xing the Mad Monk shamelessly spoke lies with his eyes wide open.
However.
Before he could finish this time, the previously calm Gu Qingfeng suddenly glared with furious eyes and roared sharply, "Go!
Deliver him for me!"
Da Xing the Mad Monk knew Gu Qingfeng was truly enraged. His heart skipped a beat in fear, and the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably. Lowering his head, he said, "This old monk...
This old monk...
doesn't know how to deliver him..."
"If you can't even deliver one person, what the hell are you delivering all sentient beings for!"
Gu Qingfeng's furious voice struck Da Xing the Mad Monk as if his skin were torn and flesh ripped, causing an indescribable tearing pain throughout his body.
Da Xing the Mad Monk felt like crying but had no tears. If he knew how to deliver all sentient beings, he wouldn't have planted a karmic seed in Gu Qingfeng back then.
Precisely because he didn't know how to deliver all these sentient beings, he had no choice but to plant a karmic seed in Gu Qingfeng.
"Do you damn well think I know how to deliver all these sentient beings?"
"This old monk..." Da Xing the Mad Monk responded with gritted teeth, "This old monk doesn't know either..."
Gu Qingfeng slapped Da Xing the Mad Monk on the head and roared angrily, "You damn well didn't know yourself, yet you planted a karmic seed in me?"
This slap sent stars flashing before Da Xing the Mad Monk's eyes, and his consciousness blurred from the impact. Things had reached this point, and Da Xing the Mad Monk knew that even if he continued playing dumb, he couldn't muddle through anymore. He spoke up, "I say, Gu kid, just take pity on this old monk and help me get through this Calamity, escape the Sea of Bitterness, alright?"
"Don't even mention that I damn well don't know how to help you; even if I did know, I would absolutely never help you, you old bald donkey!"
Gu Qingfeng stared at Da Xing the Mad Monk with a fierce, murderous gaze, pointed at him, and shouted without any courtesy, "Da Xing, let me tell you a truth: you're stuck in this Sea of Bitterness. As long as I live for one day, you'll never think of getting out. Even if I end this Calamity and pull you out of the Sea of Bitterness, I'll throw you right back in!"
Hearing this!
Da Xing the Mad Monk was greatly alarmed. He raised his head and stared at Gu Qingfeng in disbelief, saying, "I say, Gu kid, it's not like I'm the only one who planted a karmic seed in you. Why are you taking all your anger out on me!"
"I'll settle their accounts one by one myself!
Today, I'm settling yours first!"
"You!"
Da Xing the Mad Monk was also furious. He looked as if he had thrown caution to the wind, plopping down to sit in the void, adopting the attitude of a dead pig with reckless abandon (not fearing scalding water), and said, "Fine, since you want to settle accounts with this old monk, then come on. Anyway, this old monk has lived long enough in this lifetime. I'll trouble you to make your move and obliterate me, so this old monk can continue struggling in the Sea of Bitterness in the next life."
Those trapped in the Sea of Bitterness cannot die cleanly. Even if they die in this lifetime, they will reincarnate in the next, and with each cycle of reincarnation, they will only sink deeper into the Sea of Bitterness, and the karmic tribulations they face will become increasingly unbearable.