Outside the magnificent and imposing Buddhist hall, beneath the Bodhi tree.

Bodhisattva Guangxian, appearing as a young monk, took out a golden bowl from his sleeve and placed it before him.

Across from him was Bodhisattva Liuli, dressed in white robes, with snow-white bare feet and flowing dark hair.

Besides her bloodless lips, Bodhisattva Liuli appeared normal. Her eyes, gleaming with glass-like luster, gazed at Guangxian without emotion as she spoke softly:

“How powerful is the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox?”

The young monk replied calmly:

“Still somewhat below First Rank.”

Bodhisattva Liuli nodded:

“Without awakening that divine ability, she cannot fully utilize the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox’s spiritual essence. The threat isn’t significant.”

As they spoke, the golden bowl projected a beam of light, manifesting the towering figure of Bodhisattva Jialuoshu above their heads.

Bodhisattva Guangxian pressed his palms together and said evenly:

“The Southern Demons have restored their nation.”

…

The Demon Suppression Ravine lay in southern Alantu, a cold valley where the Buddhist sect had carved paths and prison cells into the cliff walls to imprison wayward monks, demons who ravaged the Western Regions, and various foreign enemies.

Two or three hundred years ago, the Demon Suppression Ravine had housed only demon prisoners.

Later, some demons died naturally as their lifespans ended. Others, unable to endure the cold and loneliness, converted to Buddhism. The Demon Suppression Ravine gradually fell silent.

Asura descended from the sky, his gaze sweeping across the valley walls lined with empty, desolate cells.

The light grew dimmer as one descended.

*Tap tap*

Asura landed in the valley and looked westward.

On the black cliff face was a cave entrance twenty feet high, with three characters carved above it:

Demon Suppression Ravine!

Entering the cave would lead directly to the underground chambers of Alantu.

Legend had it that Buddha had imprisoned the Asura King at the mountain’s base, referring to this very Demon Suppression Ravine.

The valley floor was forbidden ground in Alantu. Ordinary monks were not allowed to approach, and even Arhats and Vajras could not enter without a Bodhisattva’s permission.

Usually, with Bodhisattva Guangxian watching from above, Asura had never visited this place, neither before his fall nor after his return.

Asura reached out his hand carefully toward the cave as if there might be an invisible door.

His hand easily entered the cave, finding nothing.

No barriers… Under his protruding brow ridge, Asura’s sharp gaze flickered. Without hesitation, he stepped into the cave.

The tunnel was pitch black. Even supernatural beings in the Transcendent realm couldn’t see in complete darkness due to the limitations of eye structure.

However, Transcendent realm experts didn’t need to rely solely on their eyes to see.

Particularly since Asura had cultivated the Divine Eye ability. Yet for some reason, following a Transcendent expert’s intuition, he neither used his Divine Eye nor his spiritual essence to probe his surroundings.

Strangely, the warrior’s unique danger sense hadn’t warned him of anything.

Continuing along the dark tunnel, Asura wasn’t worried about hitting the walls, as even divine weapons would struggle to damage his physical form.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, Asura stopped.

“Huff… huff… huff…”

From deep within the tunnel ahead came rhythmic breathing sounds.

Asura had come seeking the Asura King’s remains, but he hadn’t expected to encounter this situation.

Someone was sleeping in the Demon Suppression Ravine where the Asura King had been imprisoned?

The cold wind blew against him, and Asura felt a chill throughout his body—a coldness that reached his very soul.

Yet still, his warrior’s danger sense remained silent.

…

Bodhisattva Jialuoshu, a symbol of strength, sat cross-legged with palms together. Hearing of the Southern Demons establishing their nation and Western Region Buddhist armies withdrawing from the South, his steady, solemn face showed no change in expression as he slowly said:

“Even you couldn’t stop them.”

To this, Bodhisattva Guangxian calmly replied:

“This one is not a First Rank Mystic.”

Bodhisattva Jialuoshu maintained his meditation pose and asked instead:

“How is Asura’s condition? After his return, is his Buddhist heart pure?”

He was referring to Asura’s failure to protect Shenshu’s remains, allowing the demon clan to retrieve them—the main reason for today’s loss of the Southern Borderlands.

Bodhisattva Liuli also shifted her gaze toward Bodhisattva Guangxian.

The young monk spoke slowly:

“His Buddhist heart is pure!”

Hearing this, Bodhisattva Jialuoshu nodded slightly.

Bodhisattva Liuli withdrew her gaze.

“Liuli, how long until your injuries heal?” Jialuoshu lowered his gaze toward the woman Bodhisattva with flowing dark hair.

“The Director wounded my foundation. These injuries won’t heal quickly unless Bodhisattva Faji returns to help me heal with the Medicine Master dharma appearance,” Liuli shook her head slightly.

Jialuoshu sighed softly:

“The Director of that time still had power above standard. Now, it would be rather difficult for him to wound your foundation.”

After he finished speaking, Bodhisattva Guangxian unhurriedly asked:

“How goes the battle in Qing Province?”

Jialuoshu shook his head:

“Still in deadlock.”

Hearing this, both Guangxian and Liuli fell into contemplation:

“It shouldn’t be so.”

The latter added in her melodious voice:

“Given the fighting strength of Yun Province’s elite forces, they should have taken Qing Province by now. The Gu Clan is ultimately too few to influence the bigger picture.”

Bodhisattva Jialuoshu didn’t answer, instead saying quietly:

“You all wait for news in Alantu. Guard against demon attacks on Alantu attempting to seize Shenshu’s head.”

…

Buddha’s resting place lay in the Meditation Grove in western Alantu.

This was forbidden ground for Buddhist monks—from ordinary monks to First Rank Bodhisattvas, none could enter without a summons.

Red walls wound like giant serpents along the mountains, layer upon layer, topped with gray tiles.

Outside the Meditation Grove, a golden light appeared, manifesting as ArhatDue.

Arhat Due pressed his palms together, bowed outside the grove, and said softly:

“Disciple Due pays respects to Buddha.”

The Meditation Grove remained silent, without even the presence of living beings.

“Disciple Due pays respects to Buddha.”

Still no response.

Time was limited, leaving Due no room for hesitation. He stepped forward with his right foot in his Arhat shoes.

The Meditation Grove served as burial grounds for all monks, from Bodhisattvas to novices. After death, all could enter this grove.

It was their only chance in life to enter this grove.

Due proceeded, passing Buddhist stupas, weathered walls, and thick fallen leaves, all presenting a desolate, lifeless atmosphere.

He purposefully searched for the Confucian Sage statue.

According to Xu Qi’an’s words, if the Confucian Sage statue remained, Buddha wouldn’t broken free from the seal.

If the statue was destroyed, then Buddha had escaped.

Due didn’t doubt Xu Qi’an’s truthfulness, as their goals aligned in this matter: solving the mystery of Shenshu’s origins.

Xu Qi’an had no reason to lie or mislead—it would serve no purpose.

The Meditation Grove was vast, covering the entire mountaintop, but Due’s target was clear. He headed straight for the grove’s depths, where a Bodhi tree stood.

Legend says that when Buddha achieved enlightenment on Mount Alantu, the heavens grew jealous, sending storms and lightning.

Then, a Bodhi tree grew behind Buddha, sheltering Him from wind and rain, and protecting Him from lightning.

Soon, Due reached the grove’s depths and saw the Bodhi tree.

The tall, dense Bodhi tree stood in the grove’s depths, its trunk thick, with arm-thick vines hanging down in dense clusters almost covering the trunk.

The Bodhi tree wasn’t tall but spread in all directions like a canopy.

Arhat Due’s pupils contracted slightly.

Under the tree’s shade lay heavily weathered stone fragments. Upon careful examination, they could be identified as pieces of a broken statue.

The Confucian Sage statue was destroyed; Buddha had broken free… Arhat Due stared at the stone fragments in lengthy silence.

Suddenly, a calm, emotionless voice sounded from behind Due:

“Due, what are you doing here?”

In such circumstances, ordinary people might experience racing hearts and cold sweats.

But Due was a Second Rank Arhat with deep meditation cultivation. He turned slowly to face Bodhisattva Guangxian standing thirty feet away and said gradually:

“Shenshu has broken the seal and returned to the world. The Southern Demons have reclaimed the Ten Thousand Mountains and declared their nation restored.

“These matters are grave. This one believes Buddha should no longer slumber.”

Due was a Second Rank Arhat, Buddha’s disciple, theoretically not inferior in status to Bodhisattva Guangxian.

He had the right to seek a direct audience with Buddha.

However, the Buddhist sect respected the fruit of attainment, and Arhats were one rank below Bodhisattvas, so Bodhisattvas typically held higher status.

“Buddha eliminates the world’s karmic fires. He will wake when it is time to wake. He will see you when it is time to see you,” Bodhisattva Guangxian said calmly.

“If He does not wish to see you, you won’t find Him even if you search heaven and earth.”

Arhat Due pressed his palms together and bowed his head:

“This one was too hasty.”

Bodhisattva Guangxian nodded:

“Go now, and do not disturb Buddha again.”

Due said nothing more and began to leave.

Just as he passed Bodhisattva Guangxian, a faint, eerie whisper suddenly came from behind:

“Save me… save me…”