Chapter 125: The Sweeping Monk

A sudden flash of realization struck Xian Chen’s mind as if he had glimpsed a legendary scene.

"The Myriad Manifestation Buddha Bowl!" he gasped.

The feed bowl that Long Ruxuan held so casually in his hand was clearly the divine artifact recorded in one of the Buddhist scriptures kept in the Library of the Ethereal Temple. It was called the Myriad Manifestation Buddha Bowl. He was absolutely certain he had not mistaken it; the patterns on the bowl were identical to those described in the records.

At this thought, turbulent waves surged in Xian Chen’s heart. Should such a divine artifact not be in the Immortal Realm? Or perhaps hidden away in some unknown corner? Who would have thought it would appear in a place like this? Unless... this senior...

His heart began to beat uncontrollably. He felt as if he had begun to understand something. Master Ethereal once said that the manifestations of the Buddha are infinite... Could it be that this senior is a powerful figure from some Buddhist sect? While Amitabha is the ancestor of all Buddhas, there are many experts within the Buddhist tradition, and there are certainly those whose power is in no way inferior to Amitabha’s. Perhaps the person before him was one such being.

Xian Chen’s eyes lit up once more. He could not leave. If he left now, he would be missing out on a great Buddha! With this in mind, Xian Chen no longer had any reservations. He dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Senior, please accept me as your disciple. Everything in my past is like smoke and clouds. I am willing to follow you; I implore you to take me in."

Although his destiny was tied to the Dharma, if he could follow Senior Zhu, it was not impossible to cultivate Buddhism! The end goal would be the same regardless.

Seeing Xian Chen so earnest, Zhu Xiaoyuan could not help but laugh out loud. This kid was truly interesting. If Xian Chen insisted on following the traditional Buddhist path, Zhu Xiaoyuan would have no ability to teach him—he couldn't teach him to chant sutras, mostly because he didn't know how himself. In truth, Zhu Xiaoyuan didn't mind Xian Chen believing in Buddhism; he just couldn't stand the thought of Xian Chen banging a wooden fish and chanting in his ear all day—it would give him a headache.

"If that’s the case, then you may stay. From now on, you will be responsible for the hygiene of this courtyard—sweeping the floors," Zhu Xiaoyuan said. He remembered that in the modern world, the most formidable figures in temples were often the sweeping monks; letting Xian Chen sweep carried a similar implication.

This task was perfectly suited for Xian Chen. Hearing this, Xian Chen felt a surge of joy. He bowed his head until it knocked against the ground three times. "Thank you, Master, for this opportunity." Although he did not understand why Zhu Xiaoyuan had assigned him such a role, he believed there was a reason for it.

Changsun Puyu also knelt down and kowtowed immediately after. "Master."

"Alright, everyone, get up. The sun has set, so let’s have dinner first. Tomorrow, Master will teach you knowledge," Zhu Xiaoyuan said.

Huan Yue and Ruo Feng had been busy in the kitchen, and by now, the meal was ready. They brought the dishes out, set the table, and called everyone to eat.

Changsun Puyu and Xian Chen walked over respectfully, but when they saw the dinner, they were stunned. Was this what he called home-cooked stir-fry?

"Is this... tomato scrambled eggs? But why do I feel the constant cleansing of immortal energy within it?" Changsun Puyu muttered to himself.

Xian Chen found it even more incredible. Every dish on this massive table was made of holy medicine! What was this? It was truly terrifying! They exchanged glances, their minds filled with complex emotions. Was this not far too extravagant?

"Come here, let me introduce you. These two are Changsun Puyu and Xian Chen. From now on, they are your junior brothers. Get to know each other," Zhu Xiaoyuan said, introducing them to Huan Yue, Ruo Feng, Long Ruxuan, and Lu Ran so they could become acquainted.

"Junior brothers, hurry up and eat," Long Ruxuan said. "We were just as shocked at first, but we’re used to it now. You will adapt, too; after all, this is our daily life!"

"Hahaha, hurry up, junior brothers, pick up your chopsticks!" Lu Ran chuckled. "Tomorrow, I’ll show you around and let you see how my vegetable garden is doing!"

Seeing this, Changsun Puyu and Xian Chen began to eat. With the very first bite, both were left dumbfounded. Changsun Puyu’s cultivation base surged instantly. It was only the first bite, yet he had jumped from the second layer of the Void Refinement stage to the eighth—he was completely bewildered.

Xian Chen also took a bite. Suddenly, he held his breath. His shattered Dantian began to repair itself autonomously. He had thought he was destined to be a cripple for the rest of his life, yet on the very first day here, he was on the verge of returning to his original state. Xian Chen’s heart was filled with excitement. This trip had not been in vain; everything was worth it.

"I finally know why Senior Brothers Long and Lu are so outstanding and brilliant!" Changsun Puyu exclaimed with emotion. With such a master, eating holy medicine as if it were nothing, and having immortal artifacts scattered around the courtyard... it would be difficult for them not to be exceptional.

Xian Chen’s expression was indescribable. "The senior brothers are indeed powerful, but Senior Sisters Huan Yue and Ruo Feng seem even more terrifying. It’s a good thing our last competition was against the people from the LuFu Palace and the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, and not them..." If they had faced them, there probably wouldn't even be ashes left of him and Puyu.

As Xian Chen was sighing, the surrounding atmosphere shifted. Everyone’s gaze turned toward Ruo Feng. They all looked at her with incredulity. Ruo Feng was enveloped in immortal energy, surrounded by the aura of the Great Dao.

Still holding her chopsticks, Ruo Feng felt a bit embarrassed when she saw everyone staring at her. "Sorry, I was busy eating and forgot to suppress it... It seems I just became an immortal."

Forgot to suppress... Became an immortal... Hearing these words, the others present almost wanted to cry. How could she say such a thing so casually? They were all stunned. Becoming an immortal just by eating? It was no exaggeration to call her a monstrous genius.

"Hehe, congratulations on becoming an immortal, Sister! But I knew it all along; you can become an immortal whenever you want," Huan Yue said with a happy smile.

Changsun Puyu and Xian Chen silently gripped their chopsticks, secretly resolving to work harder!

...

The next day, Zhu Xiaoyuan gestured for Huan Yue and Ruo Feng to bring paper and brushes from the study.

"Puyu, come here. Starting today, I will teach you calligraphy. Calligraphy places great emphasis on fundamentals. Since you are learning from me, you must start from the very basics."