Back before the Calamity occurred, there were already prophecies foretelling it, and many omens had appeared in the Heavenly Realm.
Moreover, Gu Qingfeng also knew that before the Calamity struck, some great powers in the Heavenly Realm had already begun making preparations.
Preparations for what?
Naturally, to seize Heavenly Mandates and plunder the Great Dao.
Not only that, but some people, like Yun Nichang, had long been preparing for the Karma that would follow the Calamity.
The occurrence of the Calamity and the rebirth of the Primordial Origin presented the only opportunity to alter Karma.
Therefore, some had been waiting for this day for many, many years, and had been laying their schemes for just as long.
There were quite a few such individuals, and Gu Qingfeng knew of several.
Back then, an old demon had even advised him to prepare early for the Calamity—to seize a Heavenly Mandate, plunder a Great Dao, or something along those lines. If there were bitter fruits to bear, he could take this chance to sever them; at the very least, he could investigate his own Karma and make plans for the future.
Alas.
Back then, Gu Qingfeng had been judged by the Old Heaven until he had no temper left, his mind wholly occupied with how to kill the Old Heaven. How could he have had the mind to consider such things?
Thinking back on it now, he felt considerable regret.
He blamed his own youthful arrogance and lack of thorough consideration.
If he had listened to the old demon's words back then, made plans early, and begun his preparations and arrangements sooner, he wouldn't be running around like a headless fly now.
As for now...
Yun Nichang had clearly started her arrangements long ago—so damn early that she'd begun before he was even born...
As for Jun Xuanji, that woman was even more mysteriously unfathomable. Her methods were exceedingly high, as Gu Qingfeng had personally experienced. If that woman ever decided to make her move and lay schemes, who the hell knew what kind of shady dealings she'd get up to.
"They're all masters of deep scheming. I have to hand it to them."
Gu Qingfeng drank his wine, sighed, and also grumbled.
But it was just talk.
As the saying goes, character determines fate. His nature was carefree and casual, seeking only great freedom. Not to mention that he hadn't had the leisure for such things back then; even if he had, he wouldn't have prepared anything in advance. He was too lazy to bother, and didn't want to bother. He never troubled himself over future matters—living one day in freedom was the true way. Only those with nothing better to do would worry about the future.
What is destined to come will come; what isn't, you can't beg for even if you try.
If the sky wants to rain, or a mother wants to remarry, no one can force anyone.
Living.
If you have the skill, live splendidly. If you don't, just get by. Live one day at a time. If you can't live, then die and be done with it.
That's just how life is.
It wasn't that he didn't submit to Fate.
Nor was it that he didn't believe in Karma.
It was just that submission was one thing; whether he accepted that fate was another matter entirely.
Similarly, with Karma: belief was one thing; whether he acknowledged that Karma was another matter entirely.
Looking at the messy assortment of items on the ground—the scroll painting, the Icy Heart, the turbid crystal, the Dragon-Elephant Seed—Gu Qingfeng wasn't clear on exactly what Karmic connection these things had with him, but he wasn't anxious.
Not anxious in the slightest.
He sought his own Karmic roots, but he would absolutely not seek them blindly, much less seek them at all costs.
This kind of business couldn't be rushed. He didn't want to get entangled in it, nor would he become a slave to Karma.
"Let nature take its course; let everything follow fate."
As these words fell, Gu Qingfeng waved his arm, storing the scroll painting and the Icy Heart away.
Suddenly.
A hoarse, aged voice echoed in Gu Qingfeng's mind.
"What fine words—'let nature take its course,' 'let everything follow fate.' What a great, free-hearted state of mind! This Old Monk admires it, admires it immensely!"
It was the Old Monk's voice.
Gu Qingfeng focused his mind, and his divine sense entered the Extinct Bone Jade.
Within the ethereal world stood an ethereal mountain, and upon that ethereal mountain stood an ethereal temple. Residing within that temple was an Old Monk Gu Qingfeng had never seen before.
"Well, well, Venerable One. What brings you the leisure today?"
"Amitabha. Layman Gu, it has been a while."
The Old Monk's voice was, as always, hoarse and unpleasant to hear. Each word seemed to carry the weight of millennia, leaving one somewhat dazed.
"Getting by."
Gu Qingfeng was long accustomed to it. He smiled and asked, "Your sudden outburst of admiration just now really caught me off guard."
"Facing unknown and chaotic Karma, Layman Gu can still maintain such a carefree state of mind. It is truly rare, exceedingly rare..." The Old Monk spoke slowly. "Throughout the ages, how many great powers, in seeking their Karmic roots, ended up trapped within them, unable to escape life and death? I hope Layman Gu will take this as a warning. Do not act impulsively; do not forget the fundamental nature of Karma."
"And what exactly is the fundamental nature of Karma?"
"The word 'fate.'"
"Oh ho! So it seems I've accidentally comprehended the fundamental nature of Karma, haven't I? Hahaha!"
"Is Layman Gu mocking My Buddha?"
"Mocking?
Am I?"
"In Layman Gu's eyes, My Buddha has always enjoyed being deliberately mysterious, creating Karma, Creation, and Samsara to toy with the world. This Old Monk merely uttered the word 'fate,' and you laugh so heartily. If that is not mocking My Buddha, then what is it?"
"That's right, there is a bit of that meaning. You know I've never liked you monks since I was born."
Gu Qingfeng made no attempt to conceal his distaste for Buddhism. Seeing the Old Monk fall silent, he didn't press further, merely asking, "Weren't you always opposed to me seeking my Karmic roots? What's changed today?"
"Since Layman Gu's mind is made up, and not even Heaven and Earth can sway it, how could this Old Monk hope to persuade you? It's just..." The Old Monk hesitated for a moment before slowly continuing, "This Old Monk has an impertinent request. I hope Layman Gu will grant it."
"An impertinent request? Grant it?"
Gu Qingfeng was taken aback. "The words 'grant it' carry too much weight. I can't bear it, especially when spoken by a venerable Buddha like you. It sends shivers down my spine."
"Presumably, Layman Gu knows that before the Calamity, many wished to alter their Karma during the rebirth of the Primordial Origin. For this, many great powers began their preparations long before the Calamity."
"That's right. What of it?"
"My Buddha also foresaw this and would inevitably take precautions to prevent Karmic chaos."
"They prepare theirs, you guard yours. What does that have to do with me?"
"If Layman Gu were not walking this path of Seeking Karmic Roots, it would naturally have nothing to do with you. But now that Layman Gu has already set foot upon this path, it..."
"Are you saying your Buddhist sect will send someone to guard against me? I'm only seeking Karmic roots, not altering them. Why guard against me?"
After a long silence, the Old Monk finally responded.
"Layman Gu may not wish to alter anything, but that does not mean those who share Karma with you do not wish to change."
Gu Qingfeng thought it over. That was indeed true. He might only be seeking Karmic roots, but Yun Nichang's side was probably aiming for more than just that. He asked, "And then? You want me to 'grant' something? Grant what?"
"If, on your future path of Seeking Karmic Roots, Layman Gu encounters followers of My Buddha, I hope you will, for the sake of this Old Monk's humble face, show mercy. Injuring them, crippling them, even killing them—all that is permissible. I only beg that Layman Gu not destroy their Buddha-heart."
"What kind of talk is that? I rarely kill these days. I'm not that cold-blooded, ruthless, or bloodthirsty..."
The Old Monk remained silent. After another long while, he spoke again. "That is the funniest joke this Old Monk has heard in this lifetime. Layman Gu, don't you find those words coming from your mouth utterly ridiculous and ironic?"
The next stop: Nine Glories Alliance, where the book's first wave of heavyweight ** will arrive!