Bodhi Had No Root

The man wore gray cloth monk's robes, his face kindly.

He sat there in silence, like a sculpture that had existed since time immemorial.

Amitabha.

There was an indescribable sense of "perfection" about him.

Guanyin walked beneath the Bodhi tree, pressed her palms together, and gave a respectful bow.

"World-Honored One, this disciple has brought Fellow Daoist Mystic Willow."

Amitabha opened his eyes.

Yang Xuan met those clear eyes.

"Sit."

Amitabha raised a hand slightly.

Yang Xuan did not refuse. He sat down upon a stone on the other side of the Bodhi tree.

"Fellow Daoist Mystic Willow."

Amitabha spoke in a calm voice, like an old friend not seen for many years. "I already know why you have come."

Yang Xuan inclined himself slightly but said nothing.

He knew that when such a mighty being spoke, it was never merely idle pleasantries.

Sure enough, Amitabha extended a hand, plucked a leaf from the Bodhi tree, placed it in his palm, and gave it a gentle breath.

The leaf drifted up, spun through the air, transformed into a wisp of golden light, and vanished without a trace.

Amitabha asked, "Do you know how many springs and autumns this leaf passed through, from sprouting to withering?"

"I do not."

"Three hundred and sixty springs and autumns."

Amitabha said, "Such is one leaf, and such is one world. Since this world was opened, it has undergone nine thousand three hundred kalpas. Every kalpa has its rise and fall, its birth and destruction. Now, this world has reached the very end of its final kalpa."

Yang Xuan's brow twitched slightly. "The final kalpa?"

"The Three Realms are in turmoil, and the Six Paths are in chaos. The immortal path is fading, while the human path is destined to rise."

Amitabha's gaze fell upon Yang Xuan's face, deep and tranquil. "The time of your arrival in this world was no coincidence."

Yang Xuan's heart tightened.

Could it be that every group member who entered the chat group corresponded to a world on the verge of destruction?

Would his own world also perish?

He truly could not imagine how the Primordial World might be destroyed.

"This humble Daoist does not understand," Yang Xuan replied.

Amitabha smiled faintly and raised his hand, drawing a circle in the air.

Images of heaven and earth immediately appeared within it—mountains and rivers, the smoke and fires of mortal life.

It was as though he were observing the lines on his palm.

"The Three Realms and Six Paths will ultimately perish."

Amitabha said slowly, "When the immortal path is revered above all else, there comes to be a divide between immortals and mortals."

"The root of this world's final kalpa is, in truth, that the immortal path has obscured the human path."

Yang Xuan fell silent for a moment. "So immortals and mortals must be separated?"

Amitabha said, "Indeed. As fate decrees, an era has its end, and the immortal path must come to an end."

Yang Xuan was shaken.

When the human path rose, the immortal path would retreat.

Was this not only this world's fate, but also the fate of the Primordial World?

Just like the Primordial World novels from his previous life.

The Investiture of the Gods War, the seclusion of the immortal path, and the rise of humanity.

From then on, immortals would no longer interfere in mortal affairs, and the human world would enter an age "without gods."

Amitabha nodded. "The human path is the right of all living beings to choose."

Yang Xuan froze.

He suddenly understood.

"World-Honored One, this humble Daoist has one more question."

"Speak."

"When this world's final kalpa arrives, where will the immortal path return to?"

Amitabha was silent for a moment. "Flowers bloom and flowers fall, each in its own time. It is merely different roads leading to the same destination."

"This humble Daoist will remember it well."

Yang Xuan rose and gave Amitabha a deep bow.

"Fellow Daoist, there is no need for such courtesy."

Amitabha waved a hand.

Yang Xuan sat down again, his heart now holding several degrees more respect for this Buddha.

In the myriad worlds, similar flowers all bloomed.

Though this one was a reflected incarnation, he was also an independent world's peak Profound Immortal.

Amitabha suddenly changed the subject, his gaze falling upon Yang Xuan.

He lifted a hand, plucked a leaf from the Bodhi tree, and offered it to Yang Xuan.

"This leaf is a gift for Fellow Daoist."

Yang Xuan accepted the golden leaf and could not help asking, "World-Honored One, what wondrous use does this leaf possess?"

"Fellow Daoist just spoke of knowing autumn from a single leaf. But do you know that one leaf may also reveal a world?" Amitabha asked instead of answering.

Yang Xuan nodded faintly. "I know a little."

"This leaf is called a Bodhi Leaf," Amitabha said. "Bodhi had no root. Fellow Daoist, you have become attached to appearances."

Yang Xuan was slightly startled by his words. What came next, however, truly alarmed him.

"Fellow Daoist is not a person of this world."

Amitabha gave Yang Xuan's existence a definition.

Yet he did not question Yang Xuan's origins and simply continued, "Fellow Daoist need not explain. This poor monk will not ask of your origins."

Amitabha smiled faintly, closed his eyes, and entered meditation once more.

Yang Xuan also understood that this was the other party's way of seeing him out.

He rose, bowed to Amitabha, then left Thunderclap Temple with Guanyin.

West Lake Manor.

Yang Xuan arrived at Bai Suzhen's residence.

"Thank you for your great kindness, Senior. This junior has no way to repay it. This is flower monkey wine that this junior has collected for a hundred years. I hope Senior will not disdain it."

Bai Suzhen took a jar of wine from her sleeve.

The jar was emerald green, and its seal was still smeared with fresh mud.

This wine came from the White Ape Clan of Kunlun Mountain and was also known as monkey wine.

"Monkey wine..." Yang Xuan murmured. "Miss Bai, you are most thoughtful."

Joy immediately appeared on Bai Suzhen's face. Naturally, she knew that she had not been able to invite Senior here through her own reputation, but through the opportunity granted by the Supreme Chat Group, which had given her a rare chance to defy fate and change her destiny.

Senior had crossed worlds to come here. As the host, she naturally could not do nothing.

"What is your current cultivation realm?" Yang Xuan asked.

Bai Suzhen promptly replied, "This junior cultivates the Myriad Spirits Life-Forming Art and has now reached the Spirit Transformation realm..."

"Not bad." Yang Xuan nodded slightly. "The karmic ties between you and Xu Xian have now dispersed, and your tribulation of love has come to an end. You may pursue the Great Dao on your own."

His voice was not loud, yet it struck Bai Suzhen's heart like morning bells and evening drums.

Bai Suzhen's eyes reddened. "Thank you, Senior..."

Eighteen hundred years of cultivation, countless days and nights spent trembling with fear, the inferiority, self-doubt, and self-abandonment born from being a "demon."

From this day forward, all of it was gone.

"Senior..."

Bai Suzhen knelt, gratitude rising from the depths of her heart. "This junior will never forget Senior's great kindness for all her life. This junior will certainly cultivate well and never bring shame upon Senior."

Yang Xuan raised a hand, using his mana to support her back to her feet. His gaze carried emotions difficult to name.

Relief, reflection, and something... finally laid to rest.

It was mainly the mindset from his previous life at work, making him want to change something. That was why he had crossed worlds to come here.

"Rise."

Yang Xuan said, "This humble Daoist is not your master and cannot accept this kneel."

Bai Suzhen shook her head. "No. Though Senior has not formally accepted this junior as a disciple, in this junior's heart, Senior is a benefactor even more important than a master."

Yang Xuan fell silent for a moment, then sighed. "As you wish."

After that, Yang Xuan's figure gradually faded.

Bai Suzhen stood in the small courtyard, staring at the place where Yang Xuan had disappeared for a long time without coming back to herself.

She turned and walked into the house, a light smile on her lips unlike any she had worn before.

From this day forward, no more tribulations would befall her.

She need only cultivate step by step, and she would be able to attain the Dao and become an immortal.

Mount Buzhou.

Yang Xuan opened his eyes.

Seven gourd blossoms swayed gently in the wind, their seven-colored radiance brighter than before.

He took out the Bodhi Leaf. Golden light flowed across its surface before it was instantly absorbed by the azure gourd blossom.

Yang Xuan could not help but be startled.

It seemed that the azure gourd truly had an affinity with Buddhism. In the Primordial World, the azure gourd was the very one Daoist Jieyin took away. It was also called the Merit Gourd—the Azure Lotus Treasure-Colored Gourd, the Twelve-Petal Merit Gourd.

To keep himself from being divided up, Yang Xuan could only transform as soon as possible.

Amitabha's reminder at Thunderclap Temple had given him an insight.

Bodhi had no root...

Yang Xuan's divine sense fell upon the Nine Heavens Breath Soil formed by creation.

Perhaps he did not need to insist on transforming his true body right now. Instead, he could take the path of one body, two ways.

Using the Nine Heavens Breath Soil as a foundation, he could mold a body for himself and gain the qualifications to walk the Primordial World.

The Primordial World was now littered with treasures. If he did not go collect a few, would he not be betraying such an extraordinary starting point?