Becoming a Deity from Planting the Bodhi Tree

Deep within the Martial Arts Hall.

Master Yang, the supervisor, was pondering over the Purifying Divine Incense delivered this morning, calculating how many more times he should lead them into meditation in the coming days.

Guiding them personally into meditation could accelerate their ability to enter meditation independently.

A few more times, and as long as one is not a blockhead, they usually could grasp the knack.

To say meditation was difficult was not quite right, yet to say it was easy wasn't true either—it's simply because some had guidance to lead the way.

But after entering meditation, one could only rely on oneself.

Therefore, for many Martial Artists, meditation is both the starting point and the endpoint of Spiritual Cultivation.

Thinking of this, Yang Yan sighed. After all, hadn't he been stuck at Residence for decades?

In today's Federation Martial Arts, the dual cultivation of life and martial arts is hindered by one's level of Spiritual Cultivation and that's what prevents his martial arts from advancing further, stepping into the final Heart Image.

Spiritual Cultivation… truly difficult to describe.

He had waited for decades, yet never encountered the chance for a Spiritual Transformation.

He wondered if there would ever be such an opportunity in this lifetime.

Yang Yan slowly closed his eyes, the play of light and shadow beside him chaotic, a Charging Tiger with a blade in its mouth lazily sprawling at his feet.

His Power of the Spirit, with his body as the center, radiated outwards, sweeping around the Martial Arts Hall, inspecting for any suspicious persons lurking in the shadows.

He had already verified the identities of the people from the Supreme True Buddha Sect through his own channels.

Suddenly, a bright golden wave of Spiritual Waves rushed into his perception.

The exuberant and rampant Life Force was like the sun emerging from the water, vigorous and ascending, regal and unapologetic.

Master Yang's expression turned serious.

…

…

Sunlight, streaming through the patchy shadows of the uneven rooftop skyline, flashed over the figure of Ji Jingqiu as he dashed past.

In just one night, his Qi Force had significantly strengthened, his body feeling as though it had been Transformed entirely.

He couldn't pinpoint exactly how, but the same journey that felt strenuous just yesterday morning, now seemed much easier to run—every inch of his bones and muscles felt like they were aligned with the most perfect golden ratio.

At 8:45 am, Ji Jingqiu ran into the gates of the Martial Arts Hall and bumped into his senior, Yao Wei.

"Senior sister, good morning!"

"Little junior brother, good morning."

Yao Wei revealed a slight smile, quite fond of this junior brother with a hearty appetite and a sunny disposition.

Suddenly, Yao Wei paused.

She turned her head to look at Ji Jingqiu, who had brushed past her and was striding towards the depths of the training ground.

A look of perplexity crossed her face.

Why was there a faint fragrance on the little junior brother? He didn't seem like the sort to fuss over appearances to the extent of spraying perfume on himself…

Could it be love?

…

Ji Jingqiu planned to greet Master Yang first.

Passing by the training ground, he raised his hand and greeted Zhang Xingshan and Luo Xi.

"Good morning to you both!"

He had a comfortable interaction with Zhang Xingshan the day before and had received help from his older brother, so greeting him was a definite must.

Having greeted Zhang Xingshan, it would be awkward to exclude Luo Xi, otherwise wouldn't that be isolating and cold-shouldering a fellow comrade?

Zhang Xingshan was momentarily stunned, then returned the greeting.

Although this guy usually greeted them as well, it was limited to nodding his head, so why was he extra enthusiastic today? It made him feel somewhat flattered…

No, that's not right, why should he harbor such emotions?!

Zhang Xingshan's breathing became erratic, his Pile Skill dissipated.

He sighed, and before he could readjust, he heard the cold voice of someone next to him, tinged with confusion.

"…I heard that Ji Jingqiu joined your Security Bureau's external combat system yesterday?"

Luo Xi came to a halt, beads of sweat slowly slipping down her delicate face, pooling at her chin.

Zhang Xingshan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he nodded affirmatively, confirming the matter, though offering no explanation to Luo Xi's puzzlement, his demeanor reserved and aloof.

Luo Xi couldn't help clenching her fists, itching to punch this pretentious guy in the face.

She had heard it from her family, but they too only knew the rough details, unaware of the underlying reasons, and had instructed her to inquire further within the Martial Arts Hall.

Moreover, her family had also advised her to get along well with Ji Jingqiu and Zhang Xingshan for a while.

She could understand the former—a Martial Arts prodigy already showing promise, naturally worthy of association, guided by Master Yang.

But what was the deal with the latter?

Was it simply because they needed to exchange positions in the external combat system with the Security Bureau?

Luo Xi retracted her gaze resentfully and continued Practicing.

…

By the time Ji Jingqiu walked into the room.

Master Yang stared at him intently, not waiting for the latter to greet him, but instead asking first:

"You've encountered the peril of becoming lost in bewilderment?"

Ji Jingqiu was taken aback, then recalled his previous experience and nodded awkwardly with a blush.

Master Yang heaved a sigh and said:

"Before you even entered the door, I vaguely sensed the dense aura of the Spirit Ocean, an aura only those who have ventured deep would carry."

"Jingqiu, you must not be too hasty again. You've endured for sixteen years, can you not wait another one or two?"

"The reason I didn't elaborate on the Spirit Ocean before was precisely because knowing too much would deepen your connection to the Spirit Ocean and increase the risk of becoming lost."

At the same time, Master Yang felt a bit puzzled.

He had indeed detected a strong scent of being lost from Ji Jingqiu.

However, not only did Ji Jingqiu not become lost in the depths of the Spirit Ocean, but his spiritual demeanor was like a rising sun, as if he had undergone a transformation.

Ji Jingqiu forced a bitter smile and said, "Master Yang, lately I haven't even opened the Visualization Map, I just had some inexplicable insights that I can't quite articulate myself, and it happened to coincide with the injection of a gene enhancer..."

Master Yang fell silent.

Listen, listen.

Inexplicably...

This was his first tangible and specific impression of those cultivation geniuses mentioned in ancient books who could break through at will, comprehend the fading year from a single leaf's fall, or sense the chill of the world from ice in a bottle.

He too wished to have such an inexplicable breakthrough.

Master Yang sighed, about to offer more advice when he suddenly caught a whiff of a certain fragrance. He looked oddly at Ji Jingqiu:

"Why did you even spray..."

Before he could finish, his expression slightly stiffened, realizing something he had previously overlooked.

He got up, approached Ji Jingqiu, grabbed his shoulder, and after a careful examination, said incredulously:

"What exactly did you do last night?"

Ji Jingqiu honestly replied, "I just injected a dose of a gene enhancer, and it felt very effective!"

"Indeed, the Heavenly Person Door wasn't opened, but without opening the door, how did you forge the prototype of a Reincarnation Body? Did I examine you incorrectly?" Master Yang muttered, "Gene enhancer... just a gene enhancer?"

After pondering for a moment, he walked briskly with Ji Jingqiu towards the outside.

"Come, follow me to the Sun and Moon Testing Institution for a comprehensive check-up."

On the way, he also called for Yang Yao.

The three of them arrived at a tall building with a "Sun and Moon Group" plaque hanging on the upper floors.

Soon after.

A bespectacled man with the badge of a supervisor greeted them with big strides, introduced himself as Supervisor Nan, welcomed them warmly, and led them to the seventh floor.

"A full-body check-up, along with root bone testing, as per the Federation standards."

Master Yang cut straight to the chase and nudged Ji Jingqiu forward.

"No problem." Supervisor Nan smiled and led Ji Jingqiu deeper inside.

After an elaborate set of examinations, Ji Jingqiu came out looking dizzy.

Master Yang went to collect the results alone.

Yang Yao stroked his chin, puzzled, "Junior brother, what have you done to make Master bring you here for a full check-up?"

"I injected a gene enhancer yesterday. Master Yang is probably just being cautious," Ji Jingqiu replied, though he had some other guesses in mind.

Earlier, he had heard Master Yang murmuring the words "Reincarnation Body prototype."

"Gene enhancer?"

After a good long pause, having heard Ji Jingqiu's explanation, Yang Yao gave a thumbs up, exclaiming,

"Junior brother, that was a clever move! Your case is probably unique across the Federation! No wonder Master wanted to bring you here for a full check-up."

This matter would become a topic of conversation when bragging to others, even after leaving East Three Bright Star.

"Big senior brother, the root bone testing you mentioned earlier, isn't that for testing Pile Skill compatibility?" asked Ji Jingqiu.

"Not the same." Yang Yao shook his head, "This is the most meticulous root bone testing, scored according to a proprietary standard of the Federation, targeting the Five Limits of Heavenly Person."

"The reason Federation Martial Arts don't care about Innate Root Bone is that the Body Refining Stage of Qi Nourishing and Opening Veins both contribute to the improvement of root bone."

"Usually, after completing Opening Veins, as long as one's body isn't defective or such, they can be considered to score 95."

"Subsequently, breaking through a Heavenly Human Boundary can raise the score by one point.

Theoretically, after five Breakings of Limit, the peak is reached, and 99.9 points is the current theoretical limit of root bone."

Hearing this, Ji Jingqiu wondered, "Not 100?"

Yang Yao smiled:

"There is no 100. There is no end to Martial Arts; there is no such thing as perfection. The prevailing theory in the Federation currently states that there are only five Breakings Limit, making it 99.9.

Even if someone has an unusual constitution, an unparalleled opportunity;

Or if a brand-new path for Breaking Limit was discovered one day;

It would only result in further nuances behind the decimal point, getting infinitely close to perfection, but never truly reaching perfection."

Nuances behind the decimal point?

Add another 9?

99.999...

What a bargain hunt!