In the ethereal space, there was an ethereal mountain.
On the ethereal mountain, there was an ethereal temple.
In the ethereal temple, there was an old monk that Gu Qingfeng had never seen before.
The space in the Nirvana Bone Jade was still the same as before. It was so ethereal that it seemed like it never existed. It was as ethereal as an illusory dream.
Every time Gu Qingfeng entered the Nirvana Bone Jade, he had a strange feeling. It was a feeling of déjà vu.
In the past, he might not have known why he had such a feeling.
But now.
He could more or less guess that the Nirvana Bone Jade might be related to the Daoless Era.
Even the old monk that he had never seen before might be from the Daoless Era.
This place might even be a lost ruin from the Daoless Era.
Perhaps.
Gu Qingfeng was not too sure either.
"Amitabha."
The old monk's voice sounded. It was as mysterious and strange as before. Every word sounded as though it had experienced countless years. It made one's consciousness a little dizzy, a little blurry, and a little sluggish.
"Lay Buddhist Ancient, we meet again."
"Yes, we meet again."
Gu Qingfeng smiled. "How have you been? Are your bones still strong? Do you need me to find you a girl to accompany you in reciting scriptures? Or pray to Buddha? "
The old monk had never paid attention to Gu Qingfeng's teasing. This time was no exception.
"Old monk, how long do you think we've known each other?"
"I've been living in seclusion here and have no concept of time."
"You don't know. But for me, I have some impression. It should be two or three hundred years, right? Furthermore, I still clearly remember that I found the Nirvana Bone Jade in a Buddhist ruin. I didn't think about it in detail in the past, but now that I think about it, what happened in the Buddhist ruin back then was somewhat odd. I don't know why, but when I entered the Buddhist ruin, I felt like something was calling out to me. Finding the Nirvana Bone Jade was like finding a relative. It felt very intimate. Don't you think it's odd? "
"Lay Buddhist Ancient, the reason why you feel close to the Nirvana Bone Jade is not that it's calling you, nor is it me. It's because you and the Nirvana Bone Jade belong to the same place."
"Same place?"
"The Daoless Era."
When the old monk mentioned the Daoless Era, Gu Qingfeng was rather surprised. He was surprised not because he knew that he came from the same place as the Nirvana Bone Jade, nor was it because they both came from the Daoless Era. To be honest, although the old monk had never mentioned his relationship with the Nirvana Bone Jade, Gu Qingfeng could more or less guess it. What truly surprised him was that the old monk had taken the initiative to mention it.
"Oh my, did the sun rise from the west today? Or are you finally willing to show mercy? "
"There are some things that Hermit Ancient will gradually understand even if I don't say it."
"What do you mean?"
"If there is a cause, there must be an effect. If there is an effect, there must be a cause. Everything in the world is within cause and effect."
"Karma, it's karma again. The word karma seems to be able to explain everything."
"Everything in the world originates from karma."
"If that's the case, why didn't you tell me before?"
"In the past, Patron Ancient had never sought karma."
"Therefore, I'm beginning to seek karma now, and I seem to be sinking deeper and deeper into this path. You know that there are some things that can't be hidden, so you might as well tell me directly?"
"You will definitely know what you should know, Patron Ancient."
"Can I understand this as' if I don't know, I definitely won't know '?"
The old monk did not respond to this.
"Since it's not easy for you to be merciful today, can I ask you a few questions?"
"Please go ahead, Patron Ancient."
"Is this place also considered a relic from the Daoless Era?"
"Yes and no."
"What do you mean?"
"The Nirvana Bone Jade belongs to the Daoless Era, but the space within is not a relic of the Daoless Era. It evolved from itself."
"Are you from the Daoless Era?"
"Yes and no."
"What do you mean?"
"I did belong to the Daoless Era in the past, but as for now … I can't say for sure."
"Why can't you say for sure?"
The old monk still did not answer this question.
"Apart from you, is there anyone else like you here?"
"Yes."
"How many?"
"I don't know."
"Haha." Gu Qingfeng smiled and said, "No wonder I feel someone staring at me every time I come in. It seems that there really are others here."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "Since this place isn't a remnant of the Daoless Era, but a manifestation of the Nirvana Bone Jade, then did you come in before the Daoless Era disappeared, or after?"
"I don't know, I forgot …"
You don't know?
Forgot?
These words sounded very familiar. Gu Qingfeng asked, "What's wrong? Could it be that you're lost too?"
"Everyone from the Daoless Era has lost themselves, and I am no exception."
"You don't look lost."
"It just looks like it. I have already lost myself. This is also why I didn't dare to say that I was not from the Daoless Era, because I don't know if I am still the me from the Daoless Era."
"Is that so …"
Gu Qingfeng pondered for a moment, and inexplicably thought of a sentence.
Cultivation is to cultivate the heart, and seeking the truth is to seek the self.
How much is the self, how much is the self, and how much is the true self?
He didn't know who had said this sentence, or perhaps he had seen it in some ancient book. Thinking of this sentence, Gu Qingfeng couldn't help but have some doubts. Could it be that these people from the Daoless Era were all lost in seeking the self?
"Old monk, tell me, was it a coincidence that I found the Nirvana Bone Jade back then, or was it karma?"
"Scholar Gu, do you still remember what I often said to you in the past? Don't treat karma as a coincidence. There are no coincidences in the world. Everything is within karma. "
"But you also told me not to treat coincidences as karma, and not to treat coincidences as fate. What do you mean by that?"
"Whether it's a coincidence or a coincidence, it can't be separated from karma."
"Like you said, when I found the Nirvana Bone Jade back then, it didn't choose me, nor did I choose it. It was karma and fate?"
"Perhaps."
"Then you lived in seclusion in the Nirvana Bone Jade, and I found it. What is the karma between us?"
"I don't know."
"Really?"
"I really don't know."
Gu Qingfeng was silent for a long time, and then he smiled, "Old monk, old monk, you seem to be rather doubtful of the saying that everything in the world is within karma. You seem to be at a loss and hesitant about karma."
There was another period of silence. After a long time, the old monk opened his mouth to reply, but he sighed, "Scholar Gu, I've lost myself … I've really lost myself … Not only have I lost myself in searching for myself, but I've also lost myself in searching for karma …"
(End of chapter)
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