bioinnovel Chapter 324 Breakthrough to the Second Level of the Dao Realm!
Chapter 324 Breakthrough to the Second Level of the Dao Realm!
South Heaven Gate.
When Su Fan and Sun Wukong landed, there was a person standing on the city wall.
With white hair and beard, dressed in a Taoist robe, and holding a whisk.
Bodhi Patriarch was gazing into the distance, in the direction where the heavenly demons had retreated.
"Master!" Sun Wukong rushed over, "I, Old Sun, have emerged from seclusion!"
Bodhi Patriarch turned around, looked at Sun Wukong, and then at Su Fan. His eyes were full of satisfaction.
"Ten years have passed, and your cultivation levels have stabilized."
Su Fan walked to the city wall and looked at the battlefield outside the South Heavenly Gate.
Ten years ago, the place was littered with corpses and rivers of blood. Ten years later, wild grass has grown, covering the bones.
But the grass was gray, as if it had been soaked in blood.
"Senior," Su Fan asked, "has the Heavenly Demon come here in the past ten years?"
Bodhi Patriarch shook his head.
"No. In the battle ten years ago, both the Demon Dragon and Emperor Jun were seriously injured. Both sides are recuperating. But it won't be long. The Heavenly Demon's recovery speed is faster than ours."
Su Fan remained silent. He looked at the Taoist disciples, Buddhist disciples, human warriors, and elite demons on the city wall.
Ten years ago, they had 16,000 people.
It's still the same people, no more, no less.
It's not that no one came to help, it's that no one was available to come.
The Taoist sect was decimated, the Buddhist sect was decimated, the human race was decimated, and the demon race was decimated.
In the entire prehistoric world, there are only 16,000 people capable of fighting.
"Where is Fuxi?" Su Fan asked.
"Where is Zhuanxu?"
"Where is Laozi?"
"Where is the Medicine Buddha?"
Bodhi Patriarch pointed to the other side of the city wall.
"Everyone's here. Everyone's waiting for you."
Su Fan walked over.
On the other side of the city wall, Fuxi sat on a rock, wiping his sword.
His sword had many nicks and chips, each chip representing a life lost.
Zhuanxu sat beside him, his eyes closed, as if he were meditating.
His aura was much stronger than it was ten years ago, but it was still unstable.
Laozi stood by the city wall, gazing into the distance, his back as aged as a weathered mountain.
The Medicine Buddha sat cross-legged on the ground, holding prayer beads in his hands and chanting incantations.
Since Di Jun was not there, he returned to Beiju Luzhou to recuperate.
Donghuang Taiyi was not there either; he stayed with Dijun.
Su Fan walked up to Fuxi.
"Senior, I'm back."
Fuxi looked up at him and smiled.
"It's good that you're back. Did you break through to the Dao Realm?"
Su Fan nodded.
"First level of Dao Realm."
Fuxi patted him on the shoulder.
"Good, the human race has gained another Dao Realm expert."
He stood up and sheathed his sword.
"Let's go. Let's go to the meeting."
South Heavenly Gate, Council Hall.
It's called a main hall, but it's actually just a larger stone building.
The house was built with stones from the city wall, and inside there was a stone table and several stone chairs.
On the stone table, there was a map.
The map depicts the four great continents of the primordial world: East Sheng Shen Continent, South Zhanbu Continent, West Niuhe Continent, and North Julu Continent.
However, most areas on the map are marked with red crosses, which represent areas that have been lost.
Su Fan looked at the map, his heart heavy.
Of the Eastern Continent, only the Southern Heavenly Gate remains.
In the Southern Continent, only the area of Fuxi City remains.
Xiniuhezhou has fallen entirely.
In Beiju Luzhou, only the sacred land of the demon race remains.
The entire primordial world, spanning tens of thousands of miles, was occupied by the Heavenly Demons, who controlled nine-tenths of it.
Lao Tzu pointed to the map, his voice hoarse.
"The main force of the Heavenly Demons is in Xiniu Hezhou. The Demon Dragon is resting there, and its injuries should heal in three years at most."
"Three years from now, it will bring even more Heavenly Demons. Last time it was 200,000, next time it might be 300,000, or 400,000. And we only have 16,000."
The main hall was deathly silent.
Su Fan remained silent for a long time before speaking.
"Where are the God Hunters? Have they made a move?"
Sun Wukong shook his head.
"No. When I, Old Sun, arrived, they were still in the Outer Heavens. But the Grand Elder's injuries have healed, and he won't let this go easily; he'll come sooner or later."
The Bodhi Patriarch spoke.
"I know a little about the God Hunters. Their Grand Elder is called Xuanming, and he is at the peak of the sixth level of the Dao Realm, just one step away from breaking through to the seventh level."
"Three thousand years ago, he joined forces with the Demon Dragon to attack the Primordial World. Later, he was severely injured by the Buddha and escaped. Unexpectedly, he is still alive."
Su Fan's heart sank.
The Demon Dragon is at the seventh level of the Dao Realm, while Xuanming is at the peak of the sixth level of the Dao Realm.
Two formidable enemies, one in the primordial wilderness and the other in the outer heavens, attacking from both sides.
He took a deep breath.
"Senior, I have an idea."
Lao Tzu looked at him.
"What are your thoughts?"
Su Fan pointed to Beiju Luzhou on the map.
"The demon race. Although Di Jun is injured, the demon race still has sixty elite soldiers. Together with Donghuang Taiyi, they can hold off the enemy for one leg."
He then pointed to Jambudvipa.
"Humans. There are still 100,000 people in Fuxi City, and more than 10,000 of them are still capable of fighting. Together with Zhuanxu, they can hold off one enemy force."
He then pointed to Dongsheng Shenzhou.
"The Taoist and Buddhist sects, along with Patriarch Bodhi, can also block the way."
Laozi frowned.
"You mean, split up the forces?"
Su Fan nodded.
"Yes. We should divide our forces. The Heavenly Demons are coming from the west, and the God Hunters are coming from beyond the heavens. If we guard the South Heavenly Gate, we can only block one side, while the other side will stab us in the back. It would be better to divide our forces, with one side guarding the South Heavenly Gate, one side guarding beyond the heavens, one side guarding North Julu Continent, and one side guarding South Jambudvipa."
Fuxi shook his head.
"Splitting our forces weakens each route. With the Heavenly Demon and the God Hunters joining forces, either route could wipe us out."
Su Fan remained silent.
He knew Fuxi was right; dividing the troops would be tantamount to suicide.
Not dividing our forces is suicidal; no matter how we fight, we're doomed.
The Bodhi Patriarch spoke.
"I have a solution."
Everyone was looking at him.
Bodhi Patriarch stood up and walked to the map.
He pointed to Xiniu Hezhou.
"I'm going to Xiniu Hezhou. The demonic dragon is resting, so I'm going to hold it off. It's injured, and I'm injured too. But I can hold it off for three years. It won't be able to come within three years."
He then pointed to the outer heavens.
"Envoy of the Gods, return to the Outer Heavens. Take Wukong with you. Xuanming's target is you. If you go back, he won't come to the Primordial World. If you hold him off, he won't be able to come within three years."
He then pointed to the South Heavenly Gate.
"Laojun, you guard the South Heavenly Gate. Small groups of demons will come to harass us, but the main force won't be able to. You can hold it."
He then pointed to the Northern Continent and the Southern Continent.
"Fuxi, return to Fuxi City. Zhuanxu, return to Beiju Luzhou. Defend your respective territories. Three years later, when your master and the Investiture of the Gods return, we will have our final battle."
Su Fan remained silent for a long time.
Bodhi Patriarch's plan was to break everyone up and have them fight their own battles.
Each path is weak, but each path can hold off the enemy.
It will be delayed for three years.
"What about three years from now?" Su Fan asked. "How will we fight three years from now?"
Bodhi Patriarch looked at him.
"Three years from now, Yuanshi and Tongtian should awaken. When they awaken, the prehistoric world will be saved."
Su Fan's heart stirred.
Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Jiaozhu are two of the Three Pure Ones.
They have been asleep for over three thousand years. If they awaken, the Taoist sect will have a backbone.
The Dao Realm has eight levels, plus the seventh level of Bodhi Patriarch's Dao Realm, the sixth level of Laozi's Dao Realm, the seventh level of Dijun and Donghuang Taiyi's Dao Realm, and the fifth level of Fuxi and Zhuanxu's Dao Realm.
That's enough!
"Okay." Su Fan stood up. "I'm going back to Tianwaitian."
Sun Wukong also stood up.
"I'm going too, Old Sun."
Bodhi Patriarch looked at him.
"Wukong, be careful when you go to the Outer Heavens. Xuanming is at the peak of the sixth level of the Dao Realm; you can't defeat him. Your mission is not to fight, but to stall him. Hold him off until the Gods Conferring Envoy comes up with a solution."
Sun Wukong nodded.
"Disciple understands."
Su Fan turned around and walked out of the main hall.
He stopped at the door and looked back at Bodhi Patriarch.
"Senior, I will definitely come back in three years."
Bodhi Patriarch smiled.
"I'll be waiting for you."
Su Fan turned around and walked out of the main hall, with Sun Wukong following behind him.
The two walked to the edge of the city wall and looked at the wasteland outside the South Heavenly Gate.
"Great Sage, let's go," Su Fan said.
Sun Wukong nodded: "Let's go."
The two took to the air and flew towards the South Heavenly Gate.
Behind me, the South Heavenly Gate grew smaller and smaller, and farther and farther away.
Ahead lies the direction of the outer heavens.
Su Fan flew high in the sky, looking down at the vast land below.
This is the primordial wilderness, the place where Pangu separated heaven and earth, where Nuwa created humans, where Fuxi drew the trigrams, where Shennong tasted herbs, where the Yellow Emperor fought Chiyou, and where Zhuanxu controlled the floods.
He fought here for ten years, shedding his blood for ten years. He will come back.
"Kid," Sun Wukong's voice came from the side, "tell me, will the primordial world still exist three years from now?"
Su Fan remained silent for a long time.
"Yes. I'm definitely here."
He sped up and flew towards the teleportation array.
Beyond the Heavens. Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion.
When Su Fan and Sun Wukong emerged from the teleportation array, they found themselves in ruins.
The city walls collapsed, the main hall crumbled, and there were charred marks everywhere.
There were dried bloodstains on the ground.
Su Fan's heart sank to the bottom.
"Emperor Ziwei!" Su Fan shouted, "Emperor Huang! Emperor Yan! Chi You!"
No one answered; only the sound of the wind could be heard.
Su Fan rushed into the ruins and began moving stones one by one.
Sun Wukong also helped carry the stones, and after carrying them for a long time, they finally found a person under a pile of rubble.
The Purple Star Emperor.
He was covered in wounds and barely breathing, but he was still alive.
Su Fan helped him up.
"Senior! Senior!"
The Purple Emperor opened his eyes, saw Su Fan, and smiled.
"You're back..."
Su Fan's eyes reddened.
"I'm back. Where's everyone else?"
The Purple Emperor pointed to the depths of the ruins.
"They're down there. They're all still alive."
Su Fan and Sun Wukong continued moving things.
One piece, two pieces, three pieces.
They spent the entire day digging everyone out of the rubble.
The divine shadows of the Yellow Emperor, the Yan Emperor, Chi You, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady, the Earth Goddess, the Thunder God, Doumu Yuanjun, the Medicine Buddha, and the Maitreya Buddha.
Everyone is still alive, but everyone is seriously injured.
Su Fan settled them all in, then sat on the ruins, looking at the once glorious Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion.
Sun Wukong stood beside him.
"Kid, what's next?"
Su Fan remained silent for a long time.
"Wait. Wait until they recover. Then, figure out a way to deal with Xuanming."
Sun Wukong looked at him.
"Do you have a solution?"
Su Fan shook his head.
No. But it will happen eventually.
He stood up and looked into the distance.
That's the direction of the Hunters' lair; Xuanming is there. Peak of the sixth level of the Dao Realm.
He couldn't beat him, but he had to hold him off. Three years.
He took a deep breath.
"Great Sage, do me a favor."
Sun Wukong looked at him.
"What is it?"
Su Fan took out the Eastern Emperor Bell from his pocket.
"Go to Beiju Luzhou and find Dijun. Tell him that the Eastern Emperor Bell is in my hands. Tell him to come to the Outer Heavens."
Sun Wukong accepted the Eastern Emperor Bell.
"You want Di Jun to help you fight Xuanming?"
Su Fan nodded.
"Yes. Di Jun is at the seventh level of the Dao Realm. He can defeat Xuan Ming, but he is injured. I need him to help me hold off Xuan Ming for a year. After a year, I will find a way to break through to the second level of the Dao Realm."
Sun Wukong looked at him.
"You can break through in a year?"
Su Fan smiled: "Let's give it a try."
Sun Wukong turned to leave. Su Fan called out to him.
"Great Sage".
Sun Wukong turned around.
Su Fan said, "Be careful."
Sun Wukong laughed.
"I, Old Sun, am tough too."
He took off and disappeared into the sky.
Su Fan turned around and looked at the unconscious gods.
The Great Emperor Ziwei, the Yellow Emperor, the Yan Emperor, Chi You, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady, the Goddess Houtu, the Thunder Lord, Doumu Yuanjun, the Medicine Buddha, and the Maitreya Buddha.
They are all still alive. As long as they are alive, there is hope.
He sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.
Within his body, a protective force was surging.
He guided the river, letting it flow through his entire body.
He wants to break through to the second level of the Dao Realm.
We must achieve a breakthrough within a year.
On the ruins of the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion, Su Fan sat alone, closed his eyes, and began to cultivate.
A month later, the Ziwei Emperor awoke.
He saw Su Fan, but didn't say anything. He just sat down next to him and began to cultivate as well.
Two months later, the Yellow Emperor awoke, the Yan Emperor awoke, and Chi You awoke.
They sat down next to Su Fan and began cultivating.
Three months later, everyone woke up.
They sat on the ruins, surrounding Su Fan, and cultivated together.
A group of people sat on the ruins of the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion.
No one moved, no one spoke; they were waiting.
Wait for Su Fan to break through, wait for Di Jun to arrive, wait three years later.
In the seventh month, Su Fan opened his eyes.
His aura was at the peak of the first level of the Dao Realm, just one step away.
He stood up and stretched his limbs.
The Ziwei Emperor also stood up.
"Is a breakthrough imminent?"
Su Fan nodded.
"Soon."
He walked to the edge of the ruins and looked into the distance.
That place is the lair of the Heavenly Demons, and also the lair of the God Hunters.
"Kid!"
Sun Wukong's voice came from the sky.
Su Fan looked up and saw Sun Wukong falling from the sky.
Behind him followed a man in a golden robe and crown, with a dignified face; it was none other than Di Jun.
Su Fan was stunned.
"Demon Emperor? Why have you come in person?"
Di Jun landed in front of him and looked at him.
"Where is the Eastern Emperor Bell?"
Su Fan took out the Eastern Emperor Bell from his pocket and handed it to him.
Di Jun accepted the Eastern Emperor Bell and remained silent for a long time.
He touched the runes on the clock as if he were touching an old friend.
"Three thousand years have passed," he said. "The Eastern Emperor Bell has finally returned."
He returned the Eastern Emperor Bell to Su Fan.
"You take it. It's yours."
Su Fan was taken aback.
"You don't want it?"
Di Jun shook his head.
"It chose you itself. I don't want you."
He looked at Su Fan.
"I've done you a favor. Where is Xuanming?"
Su Fan pointed into the distance.
"The Hunters' lair is at the edge of the Outer Heavens."
Di Jun turned around and walked in that direction.
Su Fan called out to him.
"Demon Emperor, your injuries..."
Di Jun didn't even turn his head.
"He won't die."
He left, alone, heading towards the Hunters' lair.
As Su Fan watched his retreating figure, a complex mix of emotions welled up within him.
Di Jun, the emperor of the demon race, is at the seventh level of the Dao Realm.
He went alone to deal with Xuanming, who was at the peak of the sixth level of the Dao Realm.
He can win, but he will be hurt more badly.
Su Fan took a deep breath and turned back to the ruins.
He sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.
He needs to break through to the second level of the Dao Realm before Di Jun returns.
Su Fan closed his eyes, and the protective power within his body surged.
Su Fan guided the river, letting it flow through his entire body.
He only has one year.