109: Subhuti's Test

“You know even that?”

Tang Ku suddenly scratched his head and said, “Are you trying to say that the information we received… is problematic?”

“No!”

Patriarch Bodhi said, “The information you received is not problematic. What I want to say is that among the contingencies left by the so-called Saints, not many are truly useful. Nezha’s spaceship is one, you are one, and the rest have not played any role so far. Therefore, you can still only rely on yourself!”

Tang Ku was silent for a moment, then said, “Are you blocking my path to ask for your help?”

“Not exactly!”

Patriarch Bodhi said, “Do you think that since I no longer have any Disciple around me, I’m just perfunctory with you?”

“Hehe, since you’ve made it clear, I won’t be coy. Yes, that’s exactly what I think. Do you have anything you want to explain?”

Tang Ku teased.

The old man chuckled and said, “Hmm, actually no. It’s just that I’ve sent them all out to do what they need to do. They are not in this world at the moment… When you need their help, they will naturally return to help you. This is a promise I give you!”

“Whose contingency am I?”

Tang Ku asked.

“I don’t know that, but the person who left you as a contingency is not a Saint!” Patriarch Bodhi said.

“Who are you, then?”

Tang Ku suddenly tilted his head and said, “This is the question I most want to know today.”

“I have existed for too long!” Patriarch Bodhi said, “But I am merely a Clone separated from another great expert, or according to Buddha Dharma Divine Ability, I am a benevolent corpse cut out!”

Tang Ku was stunned for a moment, then swallowed and said, “What kind of great expert can have this level of strength from a benevolent corpse cut out?”

“I don’t know that, but…” Patriarch Bodhi looked up at the sky, as if he could see through the thick rocks, “I have always acted according to a certain will, so I taught Sun Wukong, I taught Bull Demon King, I taught everyone who could be taught, and I conveyed all information that could be conveyed… In the dark, it seems that everything I have done is related to what is happening now, as if it is all to deal with this great calamity!”

Tang Ku nodded: “It seems you are also a contingency… a contingency left by that unknown great expert!”

“Something like that!”

Patriarch Bodhi smiled, “Anything else you want to ask?”

“Yes!” Tang Ku said, “Can you tell me where those missing people and the souls of my Disciples are?”

“Alas, I thought you wouldn’t ask!”

Patriarch Bodhi said helplessly, “Those people from the Immortal Realm are too cunning. It seems they started a grand scheme a long time ago, but I, an outsider, couldn’t enter their Dharma Eye, so I wasn’t informed. Moreover, they also used some method to block the heavenly secrets, preventing me from calculating anything related to their plans. So, I don’t know about this!”

Patriarch Bodhi did not tell him the answer, but Tang Ku’s heart stirred, and he couldn’t help but show a look of surprise.

Not telling him the answer actually amounted to telling him something.

Combined with the strange events happening in Chechi Kingdom… these guys from the Immortal Realm are indeed plotting something, and it’s probably nothing good!

It wasn't that Tang Ku wanted to engage in conspiracy theories; it was just that these guys' actions were indeed a bit underhanded.

“However…”

Tang Ku suddenly looked up, staring at Patriarch Bodhi’s face with a hopeful expression.

The old man said calmly, “However, regarding the souls of your Disciples, I do have some clues… Hmm, I think you have already rescued White Dragon Horse, and the others are destined to be with you in the end, so you will meet soon! And those three were actually imprisoned separately. I don’t know the exact location, but you must remember the character ‘Ji’ ( pole). In the future, you will surely be able to find clues related to them through this character!”

“Understood!”

Tang Ku slapped his thigh, stood up, and bowed, saying, “Thank you, Senior, for telling me. I already have a grasp of the situation!”

“No, you don’t have a grasp of it!”

Patriarch Bodhi shook his head and said.

“What do you mean by that?” Tang Ku frowned, slightly displeased.

“Hehe, confidence is a good thing, but excessive confidence will turn into arrogance! That’s why I said you don’t have a grasp of it, and this is the third reason I am waiting for you here!”

The Aura on Patriarch Bodhi’s body suddenly surged, and terrifying pressure instantly acted upon Tang Ku.

Tang Ku was greatly alarmed. He almost thought that someone had set a trap with this great expert waiting for him, but then he heard Patriarch Bodhi say, “Punch me with all your strength. Remember, with all your strength! Use your strongest attack, so I can decide how to help you!”

After a moment of contemplation, Tang Ku nodded: “In that case, please excuse my offense!”

Buzz!

The Buddha Dharma Concept suddenly elevated, and the true form of Buddha of Sandalwood Merit abruptly appeared behind him, standing over six meters tall. His moon-white monk robe was identical to Tang Ku’s, devoid of the previous solemnity, but a subtle, indescribable Concept appeared on his body.

That was a strange Aura combining Killing Intent and dominance, mixed with the compassion of Buddhism. This was Tang Ku’s true form, painstakingly Cultivated over two days!

A pair of Gauntlets, strikingly in the shape of War God Gauntlets, had already appeared on the true form’s right hand. The Concept of the Great Wilderness Divine Fist’s third form, Shattering the Universe, enveloped the right fist, and then, it blasted towards Patriarch Bodhi.

This punch was silent, with no sound, light, or electrical effects, nor any terrifying pressure or fist wind.

However, the moment this punch was unleashed, a look of astonishment flashed across Patriarch Bodh’s face, followed by an expression of approval.

A purplish-blue light suddenly bloomed from the old man’s body. Within the light, an image of an old man holding a staff, with white hair and beard, and a bun on his head, like a village elder, appeared behind the old man.

Both in size and Aura, it was identical to Tang Ku’s true form behind him.

“True form? This is also a true form?”

Tang Ku was instantly shocked, “Patriarch Bodhi’s true form is such a small village elder? But who exactly is this?”

The old man made no grand movements. The staff in his hand was gently raised, and then it poked towards the true form’s fist.

Bang!

Ding!

Large sections of space suddenly shattered, then surprisingly pieced themselves back together with a sudden purple light wave. Tang Ku stood stunned in place, and his true form also showed a look of astonishment, then dissipated without a trace.

The old man’s true form finally disappeared. He smiled faintly and said, “Not bad, not bad. This move already has one-tenth the power of a Saint… You have touched the threshold of the Great Dao, but you haven’t gone deep yet. It seems I worried too much. Given time, your power will definitely reach the Saint realm, or even higher!”

Tang Ku smiled bitterly and helplessly, “How did you see that? I couldn’t even withstand one of your moves, and I already used all my strength!”

This punch almost drained all the power stored in his body; he felt quite weak now!

“Hehe, no problem, no problem!”

The old man chuckled, “Once I transmit some things to you, the Qi you lost will naturally recover slowly!”