The Buddha Lord Said I Should Meet Him
Little B, I told you not to hang out with Little C! Looks like you've been watching some weird movie again.
Little B, Little C, you've been put in solitary confinement.
Lu Ping chose A.
[You chose A.]
[The next day, you went to the temple in the center of the city.]
[You step over the threshold, bypass the ordinary people offering incense in front, and walk straight to the meditation room in the back courtyard.]
A plump monk dressed in a gray robe was sitting at a stone table drinking tea.
[You step forward, put your hands together in a Buddhist gesture of respect.]
"Master, I want to become a monk."
The fat monk put down his teacup and glanced at you.
[You were dressed in shorts and a jacket, and you were wearing sleeves from Chen's Rice Shop.]
[He was quite handsome, even rather good-looking. He didn't look like an ordinary laborer at all, though he did appear somewhat frail.]
The fat monk shook his head.
"Don't be silly, benefactor. Your health isn't good enough for the hardships of the temple. Go back and work hard at the rice shop; the Buddha Lord will still protect you."
Your gaze falls on him.
[You sense that the other person also possesses cultivation, though their level isn't too high, roughly around the Foundation Establishment stage.]
[Your current cultivation level is only at the Qi Refining stage; normally, you shouldn't be able to separate your Divine Sense from your body.]
[However, your divine soul has always been strong, and you have diligently practiced the Spirit Refining Technique. Coupled with certain reasons that are currently unclear, your Divine Sense, when activated, is in no way inferior to that of Foundation Establishment cultivator.]
[You didn't recklessly unleash your Divine Sense to scan everywhere.]
[A thought flashed through your mind, and an idea came to you.]
[You secretly circulated the Spiritual Power within your body that had just recovered to the Qi Refining Stage, and cast the Yi Wood Nine-Turn Spirit-Nurturing Art.]
You flicked your finger, sending it landing on a withered, yellow blade of grass nearby.
[In the blink of an eye, the withered grass suddenly sprouted new green shoots, climbing up the stone table leg and quickly growing into a lush vine half a person's height.]
The fat monk's eyes flickered slightly, and even the teacup in his hand paused for a moment.
He stared at the vine, then looked up at you, and after a long while, he finally spoke.
"You... you have a spiritual aura?"
[Mortals will always remain mortals; only the monks in the temple can receive the Law Powers bestowed by Buddha Lord.]
This is the Principle of this world.
[You, a rice shop clerk, have suddenly revealed your cultivation level.]
This was beyond the fat monk's comprehension.
[You withdrew your Spiritual Power, your expression calm.]
"Master, I dreamt of the Buddha Lord last night. He said that my worldly ties are severed and it is time for me to enter a temple to cultivate."
The fat monk's attitude immediately became respectful.
He stood up, clasped his hands together, and even bowed to you.
"So he was a divinely ordained child Buddha Lord."
"Young lama, please come with me. I will take you to see your abbot."
[You follow the fat monk through the covered corridor and arrive at a meditation room.]
[The fat monk asked you to wait outside the door; go in and announce his arrival yourself.]
[A moment later, he came out and nodded at you.]
[You step into the house; the room is dimly lit and unlit.]
[A gaunt old monk sat Meditation Cushion, turning a string of black wooden prayer beads in his hands.]
[Use your Divine Sense to scan. This old monk exudes Spiritual Power fluctuations, likely at the Golden Core Early Stage.]
The old monk stopped reciting his prayer beads and his gaze fell on you.
Why do you practice spiritual cultivation?
[This was originally just a casual question, but when the old monk uttered it, it suddenly took on a sharp, wake-up call.]
[You remain calm, hands clasped together.]
"I don't know. I suppose the answer will come when I see the Buddha Lord."
The old monk was taken aback at first, then a strange smile appeared on his face.
" To Buddha Lord?"
He shook his head.
"Even if you go to the Central Buddha Capital, you might not be able to meet the Buddha Lord. In my entire life, I've only seen the Buddha Lord from afar once."
"You are but a newly enlightened mortal, how dare you be so certain that you will see the Buddha Lord upon arrival?"
[The old monk raised his finger and pointed to the entire temple outside the meditation room.]
"Moreover, in this Brahma Sound City, there are eight hundred fully Bhikshu and three thousand Śrāmaṇera."
"The pilgrimage to Buddha Willing Envoy only once every ten years, and the whole city is scrambling for it. What makes you think this spot will fall into your lap?"
[Options pop up.]
[A: Using Flattery to try and persuade people with reason.]
[B: You little Golden Core, you're getting too big for your britches! Summon the Crow-Crow and subdue them with force.]
[C: Suddenly ripped open his shirt, revealing his collarbone, flicked his bangs, and bit his lower lip with a sly look in his eyes: "With this devastatingly handsome face of mine! Those Arhat Bodhisattvas in the Central Buddha Capital are too bland and tasteless; they need a pure-hearted male Bodhisattva like me to help them transcend! Just give me a spot, and tonight this humble monk will sacrifice himself to feed a tiger and lead you to the enlightenment of supreme bliss! Forget your prayer beads, come and play with me!"]
Ahhh... Little C, have you really gone mad?!
Little B, this time you're getting your Performance Assessment, but you're not allowed to hang out with Little C anymore.
Lu Ping chose B.
[You chose B.]
[You listened to the old monk's questioning, but simply stood there quietly, without saying a word.]
[Although you are only at the Qi Refining Stage now, there is still a Fire Crow Seed hidden in your Dantian.]
[That's Transformation Great Demon, the Lihuo Fire Crow.]
[With a thought, you summoned a trace of a Fire Crow.]
[Even this slightest aura emanating from you exudes a terrifying pressure.]
The old monk's expression changed drastically, and even one of the prayer beads in his hand snapped in his hand with a "crack."
He stared at you, speechless, his body trembling slightly.
[Judging from the old monk's reaction, you know the time is right.]
Although you rely on the power of the crow, you are extremely polite on the surface, with your hands clasped together.
"Master, in my dream the Buddha Lord spoke to me, 'I am the Buddha before you.'"
[You suppress your aura, and the oppressive aura dissipates.]
The old monk looked at you with a newfound reverence. He paused, stood up, and bowed to you.
"The reborn child... no, since the Buddha's Son Buddha Lord decreed this, this old monk will naturally obey."
[You naturally stayed at the temple.]
[The next day, the abbot personally arranged a private meditation room for you.]
According to custom, all new disciples entering the temple must be ordained and receive the required precepts.
[Several young Śrāmaṇera, carrying Razors and copper basins, stand outside your door.]
[Options pop up.]
[A: When in Rome, do as the Romans do; accept the temple's arrangements.]
[B: It's time to show off our verbal skills! Let's unleash some Zen koans and Buddhist sayings you've ever heard, and give these monks a taste of something extraordinary...]
[C: Pulling out several wigs, he said earnestly to the young Śrāmaṇera, "Fellow disciples, I see your heads are slicked back, lacking professional approachability. Come, try my 'career elite slicked-back hairstyle,' only 3.2 million Spirit Stones, Buddha Lord will praise its handsomeness!"]