The primordial chaos has arrived, and you have to choose the crow at the start.

Chen Geng looked down at the three lives, his voice heavy: "Tell me in detail how the Buddhist sect forced you."

"Why do you still have remnants of incense from sacrifices on you, yet no one protects you?"

Chen Geng was certain that the sound he heard was not a hallucination, but rather someone was performing a ritual for him, but the distance was too great, or perhaps it was separated by the Bodhi Patriarch's sacred site, so he could not hear it clearly.

He could also see that the reason there was so little incense was because the demon race now believed that the Demon Emperor was dead and were worshipping the living Nuwa.

"You...who are you?"

The panic in Sanming's heart gradually subsided. Listening to Chen Geng's words was like the blazing sun melting snow, and a ray of hope emerged in his heart.

Could it be... that this is one of his seniors from the demon race?

Yes, that must be it. Otherwise, why would I feel inexplicably at ease? It must be due to cause and effect, guided by fate.

Thinking of this, Sanming's eyes reddened, and he felt as if something was blocking his heart. He knelt down and choked out in a hoarse voice:

"Senior, my demon race is now in complete decline."

"Those Buddhist disciples in Xiniu Hezhou insist that we are demons, demonizing our demon race and calling us a type of demon."

"They blamed the drought and floods on us, and slaughtered my demon race on a massive scale..."

From Sanming's words, Chen Geng witnessed a horrific scene, which, combined with the current situation and his memories of Journey to the West...

A truth unfolded in Chen Geng's mind.

Western religions use demons as pawns, sacrificing demons to promote Buddhism.

Humans are, after all, the main characters in the Journey to the West mythology, possessing abundant fortune. The Heavenly Court, various religions, and powerful figures all have members of the human race among their disciples.

The goal is to promote Buddhism by gaining acceptance of Western Buddhism among humankind, but at what cost...

"boom!"

All the peach trees around him burst open, and Chen Geng's eyes shone brightly, as if blazing flames were about to erupt.

"You beast! Do you think my demon race has no one to rely on?!"

Sanming was so frightened that he took two steps back. He seemed to see a pair of golden eyes light up in the void, and he was completely terrified.

  

"You should cultivate here on this small mountain for now."

Chen Geng looked at Sanming's disheveled appearance, a flash of disappointment in his eyes, and then walked towards the Three Star Cave.

He's already made up his mind: at worst, he'll just give up this opportunity to travel through time!

Outside the cave, one can see disciples practicing cultivation everywhere, consulting spirit mediums, divining their fate, and so on.

Most of these people were time travelers from Earth, and they all stopped what they were doing when they saw him.

"What's wrong with the boss today?"

"Isn't he always in the back mountain? Why did he suddenly come today?"

"Holy crap, the boss looks really grumpy. Who offended him?"

"Guess what, did he find out about Wang Qianqian pursuing Li Shuangyan? That slut..."

A chorus of voices rose and fell, but Chen Geng paid no attention to them. He went outside the cave and bowed.

"Emperor Geng intends to bid farewell to the Ancestral Master, and asks for the Ancestral Master's understanding."

"Squeak~"

The gate slowly opened, and Bodhi Patriarch sat high on the platform, looking down at him.

Chen Geng glanced at Dong Xiaomiao, who was still in meditation, and his respect for Bodhi Patriarch grew even stronger.

He treats everyone equally, which makes him truly great.

In his mind, Bodhi Patriarch was a truly great master.

"Di Geng, are you really leaving?"

The Bodhi Patriarch spoke with a complex tone: "Once you leave my monastery, the wind and rain, the frost and thunder outside will not be so easy to endure."

How could He not see what Chen Geng was thinking? What in this Three Star Cave could possibly escape His notice?

"To be honest, your tenth brother also visited my temple before."

Bodhi Patriarch waved his hand, and the two disappeared into the cave, standing on a mirror-like lake.

All around was a vast expanse of white mist; where was Fangcun Mountain on this lake?

Only a Bodhi tree is rooted on the surface of the lake, and in its reflection, scenes gradually emerge.

Chen Geng looked into the mirror and saw a scorching hot corpse of a golden crow, radiating an immortal aura.

His tenth brother's neck was broken, his feathers were disheveled, and the Great Dao within his corpse had long been scattered.

The figure of Bodhi Patriarch vanished, leaving only the Bodhi tree to speak:

"Emperor Gui, grateful for my kindness, voluntarily offered his body to the Bodhi tree. Now that I have accepted this favor, I would like to offer you some advice."

The Bodhi tree's branches and leaves trembled, and Chen Geng found himself involuntarily falling to the ground beneath the tree, where he sat cross-legged.

"You should stay here and contemplate the Dao, and think carefully about whether you should leave."

Both of them closed their eyes. Time here has no concept of passing or reversing; only the pure Bodhi path pervades the space.

Every time Chen Geng's eyelids twitch, it means that his wisdom has progressed a little further.

Chen Geng saw himself.

Before him stood a figure dressed in imperial robes, whose face was exactly the same as his.

"Going out might mean death. Even the Golden Immortal Emperor Gui's body can't change that, so how can you?"

"He" stared at Chen Geng: "Emperor Bing's corpse still hangs in the sky. You haven't even comprehended the Golden Crow Dao yet, so how can you defy the heavens?"

Chen Geng frowned and remained silent.

He then said, "Even if Sage Tao Taiqing has given an order, how do you know there aren't other sages behind this game?"

"The rise of Western religions is inevitable, and the demon race is destined to become a victim of the great calamity. What use is your going out now, except for a pointless sacrifice?"

"It would be better to wait until after we have attained the Dao, and then, as a Great Luo Immortal, we can contend with them. The fate of the demon race can then be changed."

Chen Geng remained silent, and there was no figure reflected in his pupils.

He said again, "The real beginning is when you attain enlightenment. Don't forget your identity. Your battlefield is not here, but with the Lich."

Chen Geng remained silent. "He" said a lot, but in the end, Chen Geng didn't respond to a single word.

Only after "He" fell silent did Chen Geng slowly speak: "What are you, daring to use my appearance?"

There was no so-called "reflection" in his eyes; his eyes were clear and empty: "Who can change what I, the One, have decided?"

"The demon race can be saved after I elevate the Dao, but don't forget, once the backbone of the race is broken, it will never be able to stand up again."

The true fire of the sun swirled around him, burning away the constraints. Chen Geng rose and bowed to the Bodhi tree.

"Thank you, Ancestor, for helping me to comprehend the Dao. Di Geng's mind is as clear as a mirror. This time, I do not seek any special opportunity, but only that the backbone of my demon race be continued."

He flung his hand away, took a step outside, and in an instant all the scenery vanished, and he was back outside Fangcun Mountain.

Looking back, there was only a Bodhi tree, echoing the Bodhi seeds on his body, as if the patriarch was watching him.

It wasn't until Chen Geng turned and left that it gradually disappeared into the void.

The Fangcun Mountain Dojo is not located in Xiniuhezhou, but in people's hearts.

After a long time, a figure appeared in the world of that mirror lake.

This figure wore an imperial robe and bore a striking resemblance to Chen Geng, carrying immense fortune that even the Heavenly Dao could not approach.

"Fellow Daoist Bodhi, how have you been?"

Emperor Jun sat cross-legged, and a table, tea, and a futon appeared on the Mirror Lake.

The Bodhi tree transformed into the appearance of an old Taoist priest, dressed simply, and sat opposite Di Jun.

"Your Majesty, it's been a long time."

The Bodhi Patriarch sighed with emotion, "But I came here for the sake of the Seventh Prince."

"Yes, and no, fellow Daoist should know what I seek."

Di Jun's gaze was piercing: "Before I state what I seek, I would like to ask you, fellow Daoist, what has my son comprehended?"

"Seventh Prince..."

The Bodhi Patriarch exhaled softly and uttered only eight words: "You are arrogant and have an excessive thirst for killing."

Upon hearing this, Di Jun laughed heartily: "Then this time it should be his uncle who comes, not me."

"This is not a good thing," said Bodhi Patriarch, frowning. "There are so many powerful beings out there. This kind of temperament will bring about his own demise sooner or later."