Becoming a Deity from Planting the Bodhi Tree

"Alive..."

Leng Dao muttered.

Martial Arts inheritance naturally cannot be a living entity.

What Zhang Chongba was referring to was the entity that carries the Martial Arts inheritance.

The Federation has been vigorously promoting the way of divine religion to date, not without reason, as it holds profound significance.

Years ago, the Mu Family of Donghe spent a huge price to try to create a Divine Body based on the remaining thoughts of their ancestral elder, for worship in the temples.

The resulting manifestation of that thought, through the power of faith and will, also known as the power of 'incense' in ancient legends, completely materialized in the mortal world, astonishing the upper echelons of the Federation.

After awakening,

that elder of the Mu Family, who dared to be the first under heaven, disregarded familial affairs and focused only on worldly matters.

Faced with the Divine Temple prepared by the Federation for him, he turned around and left without hesitation, only leaving behind one sentence—

"Temples are prisons that trap the sky at all four corners, unable to settle my heart."

Since then, no one has known of his whereabouts.

Legends say he has reached the state of 'One Thought Becomes Void, One Thought Eternal,' thus no one could trace him; shortly after materializing in the mortal world, he went to the deepest part of the Spirit Ocean.

There are also rumors that he still silently sits in some corner of this world, meditating daily, waiting for someone.

Zhang Chongba said somberly, "The information we've received states that this supreme path to the heavens was left by Marshal Ji.

And he explicitly stated that all those from the Six Family Bloodline should not harbor delusions; the original master of this path would not spare them a glance."

The original master...

Leng Dao took a deep breath.

It was as if he had just arrived at this planet, reexamining the city before him with fresh eyes.

On this planet that had long become a remote area, there roamed a spirit of a Supreme Grandmaster from his lifetime...

Suddenly, Leng Dao thought of something, his expression sharper than ever before, his eyes like the blade in his hand, he said in a deep voice:

"The supreme Dao of East Three Bright Star was left by Marshal Ji? Is it the only known one, or...?"

Zhang Chongba looked at him steadily, speaking in a low voice:

"The Federation has lasted for over ten thousand years. Many say that even if one day the Federation falls, the Six Great Families will not fall; but remember, there were seven Founding Marshals, not six!"

Leng Dao felt as if struck by a spiritual shock, his hand whitening slightly as it gripped the handle of his blade, lips pursed, and his breathing grew rapid.

After a long while, his voice hoarse, he asked, "How many people know about this?"

"It's still under seal; otherwise, aside from the Six Great Families, various families, conglomerates, and academies would swarm here like sharks scenting blood, frenziedly gathering."

"Where did you get this information from? The Six Great Families?"

"From Marshal Ji himself," Zhang Chongba said solemnly. "It's a will left by Marshal Ji before his death, specifying the year, instructing the Ji Family to disclose this matter to the world this year. Because of the gravity of this matter, the Ji Family communicated with us first."

Leng Dao was stunned, "What does Marshal Ji...intend to do?"

"That Marshal Ji practiced 'Yi Sword,' acclaimed for considering the whole world as pieces, playing against the heavens, who can guess what he is thinking?" Zhang Chongba smiled bitterly, saying slowly, "Besides the will, Marshal Ji also left behind a phrase."

"What phrase?"

Zhang Chongba enunciated each word, "Ten thousand years later, he shall ascend this mountain again."

Leng Dao appeared puzzled.

Zhang Chongba spread his hands, "Don't look at me; even the Ji Family doesn't know what this means."

Leng Dao steadied his spirit, suddenly asking, "Why me?"

He initially thought this trip was simply to capture the cultist Li Buyi.

But now that Zhang Chongba had laid his cards on the table, how could he not understand the intricacies?

Zhang Chongba spoke earnestly:

"Because you are the most talented and sincerely passionate about blades among this generation in the Religious Administration.

That grand personage used a blade in his day, his reputation and might even surpassing Marshal Yang, known as Heroic Blade back then!

If anyone among us has the most potential to be chosen, it can only be you."

...

Ji Jingqiu followed the guiding officer Yang, arriving at a grand hall.

It gathered quite a number of people.

"Special Commissioner Ji—'Special Commissioner' is the title we use for external combat martial artists."

As they walked, Officer Yang explained some basic, common queries.

For instance, those crowding the hall, all were martial artists preparing for combat power assessment.

Only by passing the combat power assessment could one qualify to proceed to the next selection phase and eventually be incorporated into the Security Bureau's external combat system.

The reason for this situation, besides rigorous scrutiny, lay also in the particularities of current Martial Arts.

Officer Yang spoke with a smile:

"The external combat system's recruitment standards differ between the Body Refining Stage and True Seed Realm.

During the Body Refining Stage, talent is considered, whether one has opened the Heavenly Person Door directly determines a martial artist's upper limit, hence only young martial artists who have opened the Heavenly Person Door can pass the preliminary screening.

While in the True Seed Realm, combat power is considered; even within the same realm, whether a Cultivation Body is constructed or not, the strength can be worlds apart.

After all, even the cheapest body skills cultivation technique, along with the needed resources, would require millions of Federation dollars!

Just the resource investment alone is poles apart, creating martial artists who are also worlds apart.

The Security Bureau will not support a martial artist who has just completed Opening Veins and directly breaks through to True Seed Realm, as these are watered-down and not worth cultivating.

But if someone from the True Seed Realm spends their own money to build a Cultivation Body, that's also a notable combat power. The Security Bureau will provide corresponding policy support based on their performance, such as citizen grade."

At this point, he glanced at the surrounding martial artists, chuckled, and said unabashedly:

"Most of these guys are just trying their luck."

He didn't finish listening.

Ji Jingqiu was shocked.

True Seed Realm, even with the cheapest body skills Cultivation Technique, would cost millions of Federation currency?

That's just absurd...

But then she remembered the Purifying Divine Incense, worth three hundred thousand each, and heaved a sigh.

Spiritual Cultivation is where the real expenses lie!

I'm quite frugal myself, I don't need the Purifying Divine Incense to enter meditation.

Yang, smacking his lips, restrained his desire to complain.

One million to build a Cultivation Body is just the beginning.

For those genius martial artists, just laying the foundations in the Body Refining Realm costs several millions of Federation currency.

He had tried Martial Arts before, but realized this path was a trap, not one for ordinary people at all.

He decisively gave up and turned to public examinations. With his family's support, he entered the Security Bureau system, which he considers his wisest decision to date.

After joining the Security Bureau, he saw many of these watered-down True Seed Martial Artists in the lobby, which made him more thankful and proud of his past choice.

Learning Martial Arts is a trap; taking examinations is the way out!

Without money or talent, ordinary people taking up Martial Arts is just physical training.

If he was going to spend tens of thousands on physical training, why not just hand it directly to a superior?

Officer Yang glanced at Ji Jingqiu next to him, still feeling envious.

His theory was faultless, but it only applied to ordinary people like himself.

Ji Jingqiu, who hadn't even completed Opening Veins yet, was already receiving preferential treatment and investment from the Security Bureau as a young martial artist with potential.

As Yang entered Ji Jingqiu's information, Ji Jingqiu sat nearby.

He suddenly received a message from Lord Blade.

Lord Blade casually asked how his Martial Arts progression was, then invited him to dinner the day after tomorrow at a venue of his choosing.

After confirming the time with Lord Blade, Ji Jingqiu put down the communication device.

He looked at the many martial artists waiting silently in the hall and suddenly remembered the red bolded sentence at the end of the document sent by Lord Blade.

[In today's Martial Arts, it's not about who moves fast, but who can afford to move slow.]

He hadn't understood before.

But now, he was beginning to grasp it.

After Opening Veins, one can try to break through to True Seed Realm any time.

But this kind of hasty breakthrough to True Seed Realm is meaningless.

What Lord Blade meant by 'slow' probably refers to achieving greater and farther milestones within the same realm, which naturally means progressing relatively slower.

Like breaking all Five Limits of the Heavenly Person.

Taking advantage of Yang entering information, Ji Jingqiu started a conversation with Zhang Xingshan seated next to him.

Zhang Xingshan also aimed to join the external combat system, so he came to check out the situation as well.

Unlike Ji Jingqiu, who started Martial Arts later in life, Zhang Xingshan had been involved in Martial Arts from a young age and was extremely knowledgeable about Federation Martial Arts.

"I'm definitely trying to Break Limit. Without breaking the limit before advancing, that's career suicide!"

"True Disciple of a dojo? That requires breaking all Five Limits of the Heavenly Person at least!"

"It's a pity we don't have a dojo on East Three Bright Star, but we could start by registering online, and later we can go together..."

As Ji Jingqiu chatted with Zhang Xingshan, his mind soared.

For him, achieving all Five Limits of the Heavenly Person was a must, and with the help of the Bodhi tree, he was confident.

Who knows, perhaps in the future, he could even secure a True Disciple status at a dojo!

Listening to Zhang Xingshan's description, being a True Disciple at a dojo holds an extremely high status within the Federation, not inferior to certain direct heirs of great familial lineages or corporate successors!

If he succeeds, wouldn't that be like skyrocketing to success?

Star travel would all be in VIP seats!

After Officer Zhang finished entering the identity information, he informed Ji Jingqiu that some things still needed to follow procedures.

However, his social citizen grade had already been upgraded to level three, and he could upgrade his terminal by himself when he returned.

After everything was completed, Ji Jingqiu, accompanied by Zhang Xingshan, left by luxury car and returned to his residential area.

As soon as he entered.

Ji Jingqiu was surprised to find his grandfather's shoes at the door.

He looked up at the clock; it was only eight o'clock.

It's rare for him to come back this early.

"Are we not playing Mahjong tonight?"

He tentatively called out into the house.

Footsteps sounded from the kitchen.