Becoming a Deity from Planting the Bodhi Tree

1 a.m.

Ji Jingqiu opened his eyes on the bed.

Feeling refreshed and not sleepy at all.

Master Yang was right; deep sleep achieved through meditation can replace eight or nine regular hours of sleep in just two or three hours.

If it's like this every day... hiss, it's like indirectly extending life!

Ji Jingqiu, who couldn't sleep, was about to get out of bed when he heard a door opening outside.

Moments later, a sound of a door being locked echoed from the end of the hallway.

It was his grandfather returning.

Ji Jingqiu immediately furrowed his brow.

This old man actually played Mahjong until this time?!

He had clearly promised to be home by 10:30!

Ji Jingqiu usually went to bed early, accustomed to sleeping by 10 o'clock, so he never noticed before.

Today, he finally caught this unruly old man.

Ji Jingqiu planned to find time to talk with his grandfather about "curfews".

He rolled out of bed, turned on his smart terminal, hoping to search for information about Martial Arts.

In the end, he gave up disappointed.

The Federation's internet has strict control over content related to Martial Arts. Without sufficient identity level, you can't access it.

Currently, Ji Jingqiu is just a first-level ordinary citizen.

There are quite a few pathways to upgrade citizen status.

Like making societal contributions, applying for patents, completing Martial Artist level verification, or getting accepted into one of the Federation's universities.

Federation's secondary education system doesn't include Martial Arts courses, but universities, equivalent to colleges from previous lives, offer Martial Arts Department choices.

And students in this world generally go to university at sixteen.

Regrettably, due to the Evil Poison Disease, Ji Jingqiu has been unable to complete his studies, even though his academic scores were passing. The nearly zero time spent in school prevented him from taking the crucial examinations.

But now, he also feels his hardships have come to a sweet end.

At this hour, Ji Jingqiu unexpectedly found that a gaming group he had joined before was "on fire".

He was curious, what were these night owls discussing in the middle of the night?

It's hard to say, though; friends in the group were from all over, some planets might actually be experiencing daylight now.

Entering the group chat, he was surprised to see the screen full of red packets!

Ji Jingqiu, with quicker hands than eyes, started grabbing them from bottom to top.

While he was grabbing red packets, a string of question marks slowly appeared in the group.

[Left Thousand Households]: Am I seeing ghosts in broad daylight?

[Right Thousand Households]: Damn, brothers, Chan's account has been hacked!

[Mountain]: Even after my brother's death, you won't let him go?! Wait for it, I'll have someone track you down and kill you!

…

After grabbing the red packets, Ji Jingqiu read the comments, feeling a bit embarrassed.

[Chan] was his online nickname.

Before cicadas sing, they usually endure many years of darkness and suffering underground until they break through the soil.

He chose this nickname as a motivation for himself in those days.

He had been busy recently, so he hadn't shown up much online and even had muted the group. Since everyone knew he had Evil Poison Disease, during his absence, they had assumed he was dead…

[Chan]: Cough… I'm not dead yet.

The group immediately exploded, asking him to verify his identity.

[Right Thousand Households]: ??? I don't believe it!

[Chan]: Sha Bei.

[Right Thousand Households]: Hiss, it's been a while since I heard that nickname, you don't say, I kind of believe you now (nostalgic)

Ji Jingqiu sent a displeased emoji.

After a noisy exchange, everyone finally accepted the fact that he was still alive.

He asked around and finally understood why there were so many red packets tonight; [Mountain] was celebrating his admission into one of the top ten Federation universities, Han Sea Academy, in the Martial Arts Department, by giving away money in the group.

[Chan]: I've also started planning to practice Martial Arts. I enrolled at the Martial Arts Hall today. Anyone has detailed Martial Arts materials, please send me a copy.

[Mountain]: Really?! Can your body handle it???

[Chan]: The old master of the Martial Arts Hall today praised me for having talent.

[Right Thousand Households]: Silly kid, if he didn't praise you, how would you pay him money?

[╰ Lingering Memories]: Exactly, I've seen enough of these tricks. These days, if a Martial Arts Hall can scam someone, they will; back in my day...

[Chan]: He didn't take my money.

[Everyone]: ?

[Right Thousand Households]: Is it really possible?

[See Me as Seeing Mountain]: The early stages of Martial Arts cultivation can cause great harm to the body, Chan, don't push yourself too hard!

[Chan]: Mhm, I understand. Our club master said, if I can Reverse Innate, I'll be able to solve the problem of Evil Poison Disease.

[See Me as Seeing Mountain]: ???

[Leng Dao]: ?

Seeing Leng Dao's ID, the chat group exploded just like when they saw Ji Jingqiu before.

[Leng Dao]: Long time no see, everyone. Chan, I remember you live in East Three Bright Star, right?

[Chan]: That's right, it's been a while Lord Blade!

[Leng Dao]: I have Martial Arts materials, I will organize them and send a copy to you later. I'm currently on a business trip to East Three Bright Star, maybe we can meet offline in a few days.

[Chan]: Sure, my treat!

[Leng Dao]: Heh, alright. Also, congrats to Shan for getting into Han Sea Academy, I suggest you choose 'Lu Xingying' as your mentor when school starts. Although his cultivation is weaker among the Han Sea mentors, he is skilled in training students and is a good mentor.

[See Me as Seeing Mountain]: Damn, Lord Blade, you sound just like my uncle!

[Leng Dao]: Train hard and strive to join the Sea Martial Association; I'll try my best to get you a chance to join.

...

Outside the window, a man-made lake is beautifully adorned with elegant autumn scenery.

A pale-haired young man abruptly got up from bed, clicked on his friend's avatar, wanting to privately chat with Lord Blade, but discovered that Lord Blade's avatar had already turned gray.

Logged off...

Ruan Qingshan, or as known in the chat, [See Me as Seeing Mountain], lay back on the bed with a sigh.

Pity, missed Lord Blade again.

In their private game chat group, Lord Blade is a legend.

Not only does he consistently dominate the game rankings, he is also a legendary man in real life, which can be glimpsed from his occasional chats in the group.

If he's not on the way to suppress bandits at the frontier, then he had just finished chasing a fugitive wanted by the Federation.

Ruan Qingshan called his older sister.

"Sis, I just stumbled upon Lord Blade in the chat again; he also suggested I choose Lu Xingying as my mentor and urged me to strive to join the 'Sea Martial Association'. What is this organization?"

In the projection, a woman in Martial Arts attire with short hair frowned and said,

"Go dye your hair back!"

Ruan Qingshan showed an awkward expression.

Luckily his sister didn't dwell on it much.

Ruan Xiuqiu then oddly remarked, "Sea Martial Association? If you could join the Sea Martial Association, dad would brag during New Year's 'Ahahaha, how did you know my son joined the Sea Martial Association?'!"

"…Is it that exaggerated?" Ruan Qingshan was dumbfounded.

Ruan Xiuqiu snorted, "You don't get it! The Sea Martial Association is the elite student society of Han Sea Academy, unparalleled! They only accept twenty new members each year, do you think it's your turn?"

"But..." Ruan Qingshan weakly said, "Lord Blade mentioned he can try to secure a chance for me to join."

A momentary silence fell over the projection of Ruan Xiuqiu.

Then after a while, Ruan Xiuqiu somberly added, "Remember to serve your Boyle well in the group."

Ruan Qingshan helplessly replied, "I want to, but right after saying that, Lord Blade went offline and disappeared as always."

"Alright, nothing else, I'm hanging up."

Ruan Xiuqiu now just wanted to find some peace.

"Wait!" Ruan Qingshan hastily said, "Shan also showed up just now! He said he's practicing Martial Arts, and the master of his Martial Arts Hall told him, just by Reversing Innate, he could cure his disease."

Ruan Xiuqiu exclaimed, "Are you talking about that lad with Evil Poison Disease? He hasn't killed himself? Are you sure it's not his account being hacked?"

"Don't curse others," Ruan Qingshan said annoyed, "Chan has always been strong and optimistic."

Ruan Xiuqiu paused, then seriously remarked:

"To tell you the truth, I really want to meet him; living up to sixteen years with Evil Poison Disease is inconceivable...

If it's truly the case, his willpower is unimaginable, and he might make smooth progress in Spiritual Cultivation."

"Do you think he has a chance to Reverse Innate?"

"I haven't met him; I cannot judge," paused Ruan Xiuqiu, "but the only ones able to Reverse Innate are the true Martial Arts Geniuses!"

"Sis, aren't you considered a Martial Arts Genius? Weren't you ranked in the top twenty of the Martial Arts Department last year?"

Ruan Qingshan wondered.

His older sister who was two years his senior also got into Han Sea Academy and placed in the top twenty of the Martial Arts Department last year.

Han Sea Academy, being one of the top ten academies in the Federation, being ranked among the top twenty could be considered a Genius, right?

Ruan Xiuqiu softly said:

"Let's not talk about Reversing Innate; of the Heavenly Person's Five Limits, I've only broken through four limits, not reaching the fifth, how can I talk about Innate?

I am a Martial Arts talent, but still far from a true Martial Arts Genius. Once you truly start learning Martial Arts, you will understand, faced with those monsters, you are like an ephemeral creature facing the vast sky."

...

[Leng Dao]: I've sent you the material, going invisible now, too many people looking for me. If you have questions after reading, ask me directly, I'm online.

[Chan]: Thanks, Lord Blade! I'll treat you to a big meal in a few days!

[Leng Dao]: Heh, I look forward to it.