Don't rush me in the comments! I'm currently identifying a primordial saint.

Chapter 322 Bodhi Ruins, Lingtai Square Inch!

When Su Fan woke up, he found himself lying on the city wall of Nantianmen.

It was already daylight.

The sunlight shone on his face, warm and comforting.

Su Fan opened his eyes to find the city in ruins. The runes on the city wall were dull and lifeless, and the cracks in the wall were more numerous than they had been three days ago.

At the foot of the city wall, people are cleaning up the battlefield.

Taoist disciples, Buddhist disciples, human warriors, and elite demons—fewer than ten thousand people survived, and they silently carried the corpses of their comrades.

Su Fan sat up, his whole body aching.

His sword was broken, his armor was shattered, and blood was still seeping from his wounds.

But he couldn't care less about that, because he saw Laozi standing by the city wall, looking into the distance.

"Senior," Su Fan walked over, "how many casualties?"

Lao Tzu did not turn back.

"Two thousand three thousand of the Taoists survived, one thousand one hundred and eleven thousand of the Buddhists survived, twelve thousand of the humans survived, and sixty of the demons survived. In total, less than sixteen thousand."

Su Fan remained silent.

Of the original 38,000 men, only 16,000 survived the battle. 22,000 lives were lost forever outside the South Heavenly Gate.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Where's the dragon? Is it dead?"

Lao Tzu shook his head.

"It escaped. Di Jun was seriously injured, and Donghuang Taiyi rushed from Beiju Luzhou to force it back. But it didn't die, and it will come again next time."

Su Fan's heart sank to the bottom.

How many demons will come next time?

Three hundred thousand? Four hundred thousand?

And they only have 16,000 left.

He stood on the city wall, looking at the vast land in the distance, his mind blank.

Just then, a Taoist disciple ran over. "Grandmaster! Someone has arrived outside the South Heavenly Gate!"

Laozi frowned. "Who is it?"

The disciple swallowed hard. "He said his name was Sun Wukong, and he came from beyond the heavens."

Su Fan was stunned.

Sun Wukong? The Great Sage? How did it get here?

He quickly walked to the city wall.

Outside the South Heavenly Gate, a monkey stands.

The monkey was dressed in golden armor, wore a golden crown, and held a golden cudgel. Its fur was all sticking up, as if it had just been in a fight.

Su Fan rushed down the city wall. "Great Sage! What brings you here?"

When Sun Wukong saw him, his eyes suddenly reddened. "Boy, I've come to find you. After you left, something happened in the Outer Heavens."

Su Fan's expression changed. "What is it?"

Sun Wukong gritted his teeth.

"God Hunter. That Grand Elder has recovered from his injuries. He led his men in a sneak attack on the Myriad Swords Pavilion. The Purple Emperor, the Yellow Emperor, and the Flame Emperor are all seriously injured. I, Old Sun, fought my way out to deliver this message to you."

Su Fan's mind went blank.

The Grand Elder of the God Hunters, at the sixth level of the Dao Realm. He was severely injured when I detonated the fragments of the Pangu Axe last time. I thought he would be quiet for hundreds of years, but I didn't expect him to recover so quickly.

Su Fan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was attacked from both sides: the extraterrestrial demons in front and the God Hunters behind.

He opened his eyes. "Great Sage, you rest first. I'll think of a way."

Sun Wukong shook his head. "I'm not tired. Kid, I'm not here just to deliver a message. There's something else."

Su Fan looked at him. "What is it?"

Sun Wukong took out a stone from his pocket. The stone was small, blue all over, and had several words engraved on it.

Su Fan took the stone and examined it closely. The words read: "Crescent Moon Three Stars Cave."

Su Fan was stunned.

The Cave of Slanting Moon and Three Stars? Isn't that the Bodhi Patriarch's sacred site?

Sun Wukong looked at the stone with a complicated expression.

"When I, Old Sun, first became a disciple, it was at the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars. My master taught me the Seventy-Two Transformations, the Somersault Cloud, and immortality. Later, I caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace and was imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain by Buddha. I never saw my master again."

Su Fan remained silent. Bodhi Patriarch was Sun Wukong's true master.

He only appeared a few times in Journey to the West, but each time was crucial. He taught Sun Wukong his skills and then disappeared without a trace.

No one knows where he went, no one knows his origins. Some say he is an incarnation of the Buddha, some say he is an incarnation of Laozi, some say he is an incarnation of Hongjun Laozu. But no one knows the truth.

Sun Wukong looked at the stone.

"This stone was found by me, Old Sun, in the ruins of the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion. It has been glowing, and I, Old Sun, think that my master might be in the primordial world."

Su Fan's heart stirred. Bodhi Patriarch, if he were still alive, if he were in the primordial world, if he could be found…

A powerful figure capable of teaching Sun Wukong must be at least at the seventh level of the Dao Realm.

He looked at Laozi. "Senior, do you know where the Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars is?"

Lao Tzu remained silent for a long time.

"I know. It was on the coast of Xiniu Hezhou. But Xiniu Hezhou is gone; it was destroyed by the Heavenly Demons."

Su Fan's heart sank.

Destroyed? Does that mean Bodhi Patriarch's temple is still there?

Sun Wukong stood up. "I'll go take a look. Even if it's destroyed, I'll find my master."

Su Fan stopped him. "Great Sage, it's too dangerous for you to go alone. I'll go with you."

Laozi frowned. "Su Fan, your injuries haven't healed yet."

Su Fan laughed. "It's alright. I'm tough."

He turned around and followed Sun Wukong, flying towards Xiniu Hezhou.

Xiniuhezhou is now a scorched wasteland.

Su Fan and Sun Wukong flew over this once golden land, only to see ruins.

Buddhist temples collapsed, Buddha statues shattered, and scriptures burned to ashes. The earth was scorched black, rivers dried up, and mountains collapsed.

The air was filled with the smell of burning, and occasionally one could see the remains of a few demons, but there were mostly the skeletons of Buddhist disciples.

Sun Wukong flew ahead without saying a word.

Su Fan followed behind him without saying a word.

They flew for a whole day, from the east to the west of Xiniuhezhou, from the south to the north. Everywhere they looked, there were the same ruins, the same scorched earth, the same white bones.

Just when Su Fan was about to despair, Sun Wukong suddenly stopped.

Ahead, a sea appeared.

The sea is vast, stretching to the horizon. The water is black, churning with enormous waves. Beside the sea, there stands a mountain. It is not high, but it is very steep.

The mountain was covered with evergreen pines and cypresses, standing out starkly against the surrounding scorched earth. At the foot of the mountain stood a stone tablet.

The stone tablet is inscribed with the words: Lingtai Fangcun Mountain.

Su Fan was stunned.

Lingtai Fangcun Mountain? Xieyue Sanxing Cave is located on this mountain.

Sun Wukong landed in front of the stone tablet and reached out to touch the words. His eyes reddened.

"Master... I, Old Sun, have arrived..."

He walked up the mountain path. Su Fan followed behind. The mountain path was narrow, with cliffs on both sides.

After walking for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a stone gate appeared ahead. The stone gate was three zhang high, and several characters were carved on it:

Oblique Moon Samsung Cave.

But the door was closed, tightly shut.

Sun Wukong pushed it, but couldn't open it. He smashed it with his golden cudgel, but couldn't break it. He chanted a spell, but still couldn't open it.

Sun Wukong panicked. "Master! It's me, Old Sun! Open the door!"

No one answered.

Su Fan walked to the stone gate and examined it carefully. Runes were engraved on the gate; those runes were very ancient, even older than those he had seen in the forbidden area of ​​the demon race.

He tried to push it with the power of the Pangu Armor, but it was no use. He tried to shake it with the power of the Eastern Emperor Bell, but it was still no use.

Sun Wukong sat in front of the stone gate, like a deflated balloon.

"Master...don't you want me anymore...?"

Su Fan squatted down and patted him on the shoulder.

"Great Sage, don't rush. This door may require a special method to open."

Sun Wukong looked up at him. "What method?"

Su Fan thought for a moment. "This is your master's temple. The method of opening the door should be related to you."

Sun Wukong was stunned. He stood up and walked to the stone gate. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly knelt down and kowtowed three times.

"Master, your disciple Sun Wukong requests an audience."

The stone door lit up. The runes on the door began to glow, a soft light like moonlight. Then, the door opened.

Su Fan was stunned.

Is it really that simple? You just kowtow and it opens?

Sun Wukong stood up and walked through the stone gate. Su Fan followed him in.

Behind the door was a cave. The cave wasn't large, but it was very deep.

The cave walls are covered with murals, all depicting the same person.

The man was dressed in a Taoist robe, holding a whisk, with white hair and beard, exuding an air of otherworldly wisdom. His eyes were gentle, like a spring breeze.

Bodhi Patriarch.

Deep within the cave, there was a stone platform. On the platform stood a statue. The statue was three zhang tall and looked exactly like the person in the mural.

Su Fan walked up to the statue and stopped. Looking at the kind face, a sense of respect welled up in his heart.

This is Patriarch Bodhi. Sun Wukong's master. The one who taught him all his skills and then disappeared without a trace.

Sun Wukong stood in front of the statue, knelt down, and kowtowed three times.

"Master, it's me, Old Sun, who's come to see you."

The statue didn't react. Sun Wukong kowtowed three more times. Still no reaction.

Su Fan walked up to the statue and looked at it closely. There was a faint golden light on the statue.

The golden light was weak, like a candle flame about to go out. Inside the statue, there was an aura. The aura was faint, but it was still there.

"Great Sage, your master is still alive," Su Fan said.

Sun Wukong suddenly looked up. "Really?"

Su Fan nodded. "It's true. His soul is still inside the statue, but it's very weak and needs to be awakened."

Sun Wukong stood up. "How do I wake him?"

Su Fan thought for a moment. "I'll do it."

He took a deep breath and then started the live stream.

The live stream was instantly flooded with hundreds of millions of viewers. The chat was flooded with comments.

"The boss is live!"

"Where is this? Inside a cave?"

"That statue! Is it Bodhi Patriarch?!"

Su Fan looked at the camera and spoke slowly.

"Everyone, I am currently in Xiniu Hezhou, Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, Xieyue Sanxing Cave. The statue in front of me is the Bodhi Patriarch."

The live stream chat exploded instantly.

"Holy crap! Bodhi Patriarch!"

"Sun Wukong's master!"

"The person who taught Sun Wukong the 72 Transformations!" "Really?!"

Su Fan nodded. "Really."

He looked at the statue and began to speak.

"Bodhi Patriarch, also known as Subhuti, is Sun Wukong's master."

"He lived on Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, in Xieyue Sanxing Cave, where he taught Sun Wukong the Seventy-Two Transformations, the Somersault Cloud, and the art of immortality, and then disappeared without a trace. No one knows where he came from, and no one knows where he went."

The screen was flooded with comments.

"I know! Patriarch Bodhi is an incarnation of the Buddha!"

"No, it's an incarnation of Laozi!"

"It's the Grandmaster Hongjun!"

"Stop arguing, listen to the boss!"

Su Fan smiled.

There are many theories about the identity of Bodhi Patriarch. Some say he was an incarnation of the Buddha, because Subhuti was a disciple of the Buddha.

Some say he is an incarnation of Laozi (Taishang Laojun) because his Taoist temple is in the west and is related to Laozi.

"Some people say he is the incarnation of Hongjun Laozu because his abilities are so great that even Buddha is afraid of him. But no one knows the truth."

The comments section was scrolling even faster.

So who exactly was Bodhi Patriarch?

"Boss, hurry up and tell me!"

"I'm so anxious!"

Su Fan shook his head.

"I don't know. But one thing is certain—he is a powerful being. A powerful being who can teach Sun Wukong. His strength is at least at the seventh level of the Dao Realm."

The live chat exploded.

"Seventh level of the Dao Realm!"

"Wouldn't that make him even stronger than Laozi?"

No wonder Sun Wukong is so powerful!

"If the master is this strong, how could the disciple be weak?"

Su Fan continued, "The Bodhi Patriarch taught Sun Wukong for three years, and he taught him the Seventy-Two Transformations, the Somersault Cloud, and the art of immortality. Three years—do you know what that means?"

"This means that Bodhi Patriarch's abilities were many times greater than Sun Wukong's. He was like a true teacher who taught his students and then left quietly, asking for nothing in return and leaving no name."

The chat fell silent.

Then, people started spamming the screen.

"This is a true teacher!"

"With students all over the world, I seek neither fame nor fortune!"

"Bodhi Patriarch, eternal god!"

Su Fan looked at Sun Wukong. "Great Sage, is there anything you'd like to say?"

Sun Wukong stood in front of the statue, his eyes reddening.

"Master, I, Old Sun, am sorry. You taught me skills, but I caused trouble, made a ruckus in the Heavenly Palace, and was imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain by Buddha for five hundred years. I have disgraced you, Master."

He knelt down and kowtowed three more times.

"Master, I understand now. Skills aren't for causing trouble, they're for protecting people. I protected Tang Sanzang, protected China, and protected the Outer Heaven. I didn't disgrace you, Master."

The statue lit up briefly.

The golden light was a fraction brighter than before.

Su Fan felt a surge of warmth in his heart as he watched this scene. He took a deep breath and turned to look at the statue.

"Alright, that concludes the science lesson. Now, it's time to awaken Patriarch Bodhi."

He walked to the statue and placed his hand on it. Within his body, the power of the Pangu Axe fragment slowly surged.

He did not use the Investiture of the Gods because the Tao of Bodhi Patriarch could not be contained by the Investiture of the Gods.

He wanted to use his own voice and his own heart to awaken the legendary Bodhi Patriarch.

He began to read:

"The true meaning is hidden in the square inch of the mind; the crescent moon and three stars illuminate the vast world."

"Bodhi is originally a rootless tree, and the Tao follows the natural way between heaven and earth."

"Having taught seventy-two clever monkeys, they can somersault up to the ninth heaven."

"Three years of instruction have been a debt of gratitude as deep as the sea; I seek neither fame nor fortune nor repayment."

"The wondrous Dharma is transmitted in Xiniu Hezhou; Subhuti, the Patriarch, is a true immortal."

"Today your disciple comes to invite you, Master, to awaken and not sleep any longer."

With each recitation, the statue lights up one more point.

As the last sentence was recited, the golden light on the statue suddenly burst forth, illuminating the entire cave.

A figure emerged from the golden light. It was an old man with white hair and beard, dressed in a Taoist robe, holding a whisk, exuding an air of otherworldly wisdom.

Bodhi Patriarch.

He looked at Su Fan, his eyes filled with satisfaction. "Thank you, Envoy of the Divine Conferment."

Su Fan knelt on the ground and performed a deep bow. "Junior Su Fan greets Patriarch Bodhi."

Sun Wukong also knelt down. "Master! I, Old Sun, have come to see you!"

The Bodhi Patriarch looked at Sun Wukong with eyes full of loving kindness. "Wukong, you've grown up."

Sun Wukong cried. He knelt on the ground and wept like a child.

"Master, I, Old Sun, miss you. It's been three thousand years, and I, Old Sun, still miss you."

Bodhi Patriarch walked over and patted his head.

"I know. I know everything."

He looked up at Su Fan.

"Envoy of the Gods, those lines you just recited were very good. 'Bodhi is originally a rootless tree, the Tao follows the natural order between heaven and earth.' You understand the Tao."

Su Fan lowered his head.

"This junior doesn't understand. This junior has only received some education."

Bodhi Patriarch smiled.

"Reading is also a way. Reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles are both ways."

He looked out of the cave. Outside lay the scorched earth of Xiniu Hezhou.

"Three thousand years. Your master has been asleep for far too long."

Su Fan stood up.

"Senior, the extraterrestrial demons have arrived. The primordial world needs you."

Bodhi Patriarch nodded.

"I know. I will take action."

He looked at Sun Wukong.

"Wukong, come with me. I'll teach you a few more skills."

Sun Wukong wiped away his tears.

"Master, I, Old Sun, will go with you."

Bodhi Patriarch turned and walked out of the cave. Su Fan followed behind. In the live stream, the chat was going crazy.

"The Bodhi Patriarch has come back to life!"

"Seventh level of the Dao Realm!"

"Master Sun Wukong is back!"

"The prehistoric world is saved!"

"Boss is awesome!"

"Bodhi Patriarch, eternal god!"

Su Fan looked at the comments and smiled. He turned off the live stream and followed Bodhi Patriarch out of the cave.

Bodhi Patriarch stood on Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, looking at this scorched earth, and remained silent for a long time.

"Three thousand years have passed. What is owed must be repaid."

He turned around and looked at Su Fan.

"Envoy of the Gods, take me to the Southern Heavenly Gate. I want to see those who are still fighting."

Su Fan nodded and, with Bodhi Patriarch and Sun Wukong, flew towards the South Heavenly Gate.

South Heaven Gate. On the city wall, Lao Tzu is meditating.

Sensing the presence of Bodhi Patriarch, he suddenly opened his eyes.

"Bodhi? You're still alive?"

Bodhi Patriarch smiled. "Laojun, how have you been?"

Laozi stood up, walked to Bodhi Patriarch, and looked him up and down.

"Three thousand years, you've kept it well hidden."

Bodhi Patriarch shook his head.

"It's not hiding, it's sleeping. It's been sleeping for three thousand years, and it's just woken up."

Laozi looked at him, then at Su Fan, and smiled.

"Good lad. He's brought in another great master."

Su Fan smiled. "Good luck."

Bodhi Patriarch stood on the city wall, gazing into the distance.

That was the direction the Heavenly Demons retreated from.

"When will the next attack be?"

Lao Tzu said, "I don't know. But it won't be long."

Bodhi Patriarch nodded. "Then we'll wait. I also need time to recover."

He turned to look at Sun Wukong. "Wukong, come with me. I'll teach you a few moves to deal with the Heavenly Demon."

Sun Wukong's eyes lit up. "Yes, Master!"

The two walked to a corner of the city wall and began to teach each other martial arts.

Su Fan took a deep breath and clenched his fist.

"Come on, extraterrestrial demons. No matter how many come, I'll take them all."