Chapter 930: The Old Monk Who Instructed Shakyamuni
The golden ancient ship sailed forth, moving against the black ocean as it escaped from the Demon Sea Eye. Five hundred Golden Body Arhats sat in meditation, but only the old monk opened his eyes, chanting Buddhist scriptures.
Were these skeletal arhats, their skin wrapped around bones, the divine monks of the Great Thunderclap Monastery from ancient times? Ye Fan was astonished. This was like a small Mount Sumeru.
"Old monk, you're still alive? Weren't you supposed to have entered nirvana two thousand years ago?" the Crocodile Ancestor bellowed, veins bulging on his forehead, clearly having crossed blows with this old monk before.
"Buddha is merciful. Good and good," the old monk spoke. His body was nothing but skin, withered as kindling, yet it was wreathed in Buddha light, sacred and transcendent.
"Spare me your false compassion. Today I'll refine you to dust," the Crocodile Ancestor said coldly. His black-gold armor gleamed with a frigid metallic luster, making him appear divinely martial, his ink-black hair flowing loose.
"This old monk should have long since entered nirvana. For two thousand years, I've kept but a single breath, guarding the Demon Sea Eye. Had it not been for the conflict between you two benefactors, I would likely never have awakened..."
Ye Fan was astonished. These were truly the Golden Body Arhats beneath Shakyamuni, and the old monk was even more distinguished as an ancient Buddha, seemingly of great origin!
Through his narration, Ye Fan was greatly surprised, learning of certain past events. They had guarded the Great Thunderclap Monastery, responsible for suppressing the spirits of the ancient Yinghuo Star.
It was a heavy responsibility.
This ancient star had once been vibrant, a cradle of life, but a cross-star-domain great war had occurred, destroying everything.
No one knew how many powerful beings had died in this place, nor how many sacred bones were buried. This was a burial ground for spirits.
Naturally, this place had become incredibly sinister. All the spirits were sealed within the North Sea Demon Eye, equivalent to a hell on earth!
"No wonder I sailed against the black ocean but could never enter the sea eye. That gate was sealed by you monks with restrictions!" The ancient great crocodile's blood-red eyes grew even colder.
"Benefactor, do not court disaster. Since you can find the Demon Sea Eye, you naturally know how it was formed and what kind of existence is sealed at its deepest point."
"So many years have passed. Even if immortals existed, they would have long turned to dust. What could remain inside?" the Crocodile Ancestor said grimly.
"Yes, nothing from that era could survive to this day. But do not forget what this place is—the North Sea Demon Eye of Yinghuo, once a supreme Yin death ground! You have seen ghost ships appear, many things transformed into yin spirits, let alone what is sealed in the deepest extreme Yin cave. Now, there must be supreme-level yin gods and unparalleled spirits. No one who comes can pacify them," the old monk said with solemn dignity.
Ye Fan's heart trembled. So within this Demon Sea Eye were sealed the beings who died in ancient wars, along with remnants of civilization, and countless unknown ancient secrets and past events!
"Old monk, are you going to strike again? Two thousand years, and you can still live. Even Shakyamuni honored you as a teacher," the ancient great crocodile said. His black-gold armor clanged, his killing intent like swords, slashing in all directions, carving great chasms across the ground and sky.
Ye Fan's mind shook violently. He stared at the old monk in disbelief. He was the only living person on that golden ship. With such a great origin, what other identity did he hold?!
"My dharma is inferior to Shakyamuni's. I can only be considered a guide. He created his own path. I and a few others honored as teachers are nothing," the divine monk said, pressing his palms together.
Ye Fan was astonished, then recalled some records. Before his enlightenment, Shakyamuni had several teachers—Brahmins and ascetics—before founding his own teachings.
This old monk was at least an ancient Buddha, most likely that ascetic from long ago!
Before Shakyamuni founded his teachings, Buddhism had existed, but on Earth it had declined, fragmented and loose, even its dharma corrupted.
An old monk who once instructed Shakyamuni!
What a shocking origin! Just thinking about it left one dazed. Ye Fan was truly stunned, even dumbfounded. How ancient was that figure? He must be a sage Buddha, knowing everything about Earth's ancient past!
This was a true living fossil. If he could sit with him for a single day, most of the mysteries in his heart could be unraveled. At this thought, Ye Fan was deeply stirred.
"Old monk, who do you think you are? I admit I'm no match for Shakyamuni, but can't I cut you down? Even if you're half his teacher, it won't save you!"
The ancient great crocodile was domineering and overbearing. His black-gold armor clanged, emitting billions of sword rays that slashed in all directions. He stepped forward, charging to board the golden ship.
"Namo He La Da Na Duo La Ye Ye, Namo A Li Ye Po Lu Jie Di, Shuo Bo Na Ye Pu Ti Sa Duo Po Ye..." The old monk chanted the Demon-Subduing Sutra. Golden runes leaped out, imprinting on the sky, each weighing ten thousand jun.
"Clang! Clang!"
The Crocodile Ancestor struck. Each blow sent sparks flying, violently colliding with the runes. At their level, every casual strike was a law of heaven and earth.
If Yinghuo weren't a special ancient star, their battle might have shattered half of it, for order divine chains had already risen, piercing the boundless void.
This was a fierce battle. Neither side held back, each seeking to destroy the other. It was a struggle between Buddha and demon!
"Namo He La Da Na Duo La Ye Ye..."
Suddenly, all the nirvana-entered Golden Body Arhats on the ancient ship began chanting—the lingering thoughts and fluctuations from their lifetimes. The chanting resounded across Yinghuo.
Infinite light burst forth, confronting the ancient great crocodile. The entire golden ship erupted with various patterns, interweaving beneath the sky.
Chanting!
It was as if all the Bodhisattvas of the heavens were shouting in unison, or as if the Buddhas were roaring, vibrating from ancient times with vast, unfathomable divine power.
This golden ancient ship was a supreme dharma artifact, at least of legendary rank. It bore formations personally inscribed by Shakyamuni, now all lit up, ready to save all demons of the world.
Buddha's might spread eighty thousand miles!
The Buddha dharma was profound, inscrutable, converting all stubborn enemies. Now it displayed astonishing power. The chanting never ceased, like a great bell, deafening and overwhelming. Golden ancient symbols flickered, flooding the area.
The Crocodile Ancestor was powerful, but facing Shakyamuni's half-teacher, he struggled to cope. The ancient ship combined with the will of the five hundred Golden Body Arhats from their lifetimes, its power unimaginable, all unleashed by the old monk.
Yinghuo was the greatest sea of suffering in the world. The Great Thunderclap Monastery once sat here. This golden ship held special significance, helping people cross the sea of suffering.
Now, striking at the Crocodile Ancestor meant converting the ancient great demon. The chanting never ceased, as if three thousand ancient Bodhisattvas and Buddhas were reciting together. Divine power shook the world. Infinite light became eternal, filling heaven and earth.
Ye Fan watched from afar, not fleeing. Escaping into the star domain offered no path to life, and charging toward Earth wasn't a good choice either, for drawing the battle there would have unimaginable consequences.
Since it had come to this, he was fully committed. He would wait for dawn. Even if the old monk lost, he would fight, avenging his wrongfully killed classmates.
This was a sacred war, an ancient sage-level battle. Complex secret arts, incomprehensible order divine principles, pierced through this region.
Finally, at dawn, the chanting on the golden ship grew quieter, its radiance dimming.
"Buddha is one foot tall, demon is ten feet tall!" the Crocodile Ancestor sneered. "You think you can convert me? Not unless Shakyamuni returns."
"This poor monk is old, my blood and qi withered. I should have left this world long ago. I cannot convert you, benefactor, but I have seen your future. Evil has reached its end."
"Nonsense!" the Crocodile Ancestor scoffed.
The ancient old monk chanted Buddha's name. His body's radiance dimmed, slowly fading. He was about to enter nirvana, transforming into dharma bones, merging with the golden ship.
The ship glowed, moving toward the Demon Sea Eye to seal it. The seawater had already flowed in, leaving the ground dry.
"Stubborn. Even in death, you don't find a good place. You insist on blocking the Demon Sea Eye," the Crocodile Ancestor sneered.
"If I do not enter hell, who will?" The old monk's final words came as he and the entire ship charged into the spirit burial ground, sealing the sea eye.
The Crocodile Ancestor turned. His black-gold battle armor gleamed with a cold luster, making him look as if forged from demon gold, his divine might unmatched.
At that moment, the first rays of dawn struck him, making him even more terrifying. His towering form was suffocating, his black hair flowing, his blood-red eyes fixed coldly on Ye Fan.
"Ant. You dare harbor killing intent toward me? No matter how special your physique, I could crush a crowd like you with one foot!" He was filled with contempt, not taking Ye Fan seriously at all. Having dealt with the ancient Buddha, he cared even less. No one in this star domain could subdue him.
"You crocodile! Today, either you die or I do!" Ye Fan shouted.
"A tiny insect dares to roar at a god in the heavens? Lift your head and you still can't see how high my toes are. You're unworthy!" the Crocodile Ancestor said with extreme disdain.
Then, he manifested an immeasurable dharma body, rapidly enlarging. He raised a massive foot and stomped toward Ye Fan, intending to crush him like an ant, just as one would treat an insect.
He did it naturally, truly regarding Ye Fan as an ant, not taking him seriously at all, for his realm was what it was.
To Ye Fan, this was the ultimate humiliation. He said no more. As he retreated using the Stride Art, he shook the cauldron above his head. The Immortal Treasure Ancient Scroll flew out, filled with endless twinkling stars. Then he shook it hard, and a figure flew out.
It was an old man, sealed in a block of Divine Source, bony and withered. He sat cross-legged, devoid of any life fluctuation, yet he made one's heart palpitate.
He was naked from the waist up, his ribs showing, with an animal skin wrapped around his lower half. In his hand, he held a glossy white bone club, looking primitive but sending chills down one's spine.
A red iron chain, dazzling with divine light, bound him, nearly cutting into his flesh. It was inscribed with many complex dao patterns, inscrutable and profound. This was a Red Divine Chain.
Seeing this, the Crocodile Ancestor still stomped down. He sensed that the being in the Source was terrifying and wanted to strike first, using his ancient sage combat power to crush the old man alive.
"Boom!"
This stomp was undeniably domineering. Even an ancient ancestral king struck by it would be ground to dust, no question. The Crocodile Ancestor had struck ruthlessly.
However, the Divine Source block shattered, burning into brilliant divine light. The old man was unharmed, and a terrifying fluctuation burst forth, like crashing waves, like stones piercing the sky!
All of this was the aura of this ancient sage awakening!
"Boom!"
Heaven and earth roared, as if an ocean had burst its banks. The entire sky collapsed. This ancient sage "swished" open his eyes.
Incredibly dazzling. Even the powerful Crocodile Ancestor cried out in shock, flipping three somersaults backward to dodge those soul-piercing gazes!
Two lightning bolts seemed to strike across heaven and earth—two materialized beams that shot into the sky, shattering the firmament, their qi surging to the stars!
His eyes were too terrifying, millions of times brighter than divine lamps, like two suns condensed and embedded in his eye sockets, burning fiercely. No one could meet his gaze.
"Senior, please slay this demon! He has bullied our human race too much!" Ye Fan transmitted loudly.
He didn't need to say it. This ancient sage could not be insulted. Someone had dared to stomp on his body, and he had sensed it.