Zen Heart

Morning sunlight spilled across the streets of Nirose.

After finishing the lavish breakfast Kade had prepared, Xia Lin took the letter of recommendation and headed alone for Tranquil Palm Monastery in the eastern part of the city.

This was Yiloli's largest place of cultivation in the capital of the Tsaros Empire.

After walking for roughly half an hour from the bustling downtown district, the buildings around him gradually grew sparser, and the clamor of voices faded away.

When Xia Lin rounded a hillside, his view suddenly opened up.

A complex of buildings surrounded by verdant pines and bamboo appeared before him.

The monastery had been built against the mountain and covered an enormous area—likely as large as a dozen football fields. Its walls were made of grayish-white stone bricks, simple and solemn, without a single unnecessary decoration.

The entrance was a traditional wooden archway. A plaque hung from its crossbeam, engraved in both Celestial Continent script and Common with the six large characters: "Tranquil Palm Monastery." On either side of the plaque hung a blue palm-shaped holy emblem.

When he pushed open the heavy wooden doors, a fresh breath of air washed over him.

Neatly laid bluestone paths ran through the courtyard, their sides lined with meticulously pruned trees.

In the distance stood several wooden buildings with upturned eaves. Their style was completely unlike the stone structures common in the Tsaros Empire and instead resembled traditional Celestial Continent architecture. Their roofs were covered in blue glazed tiles that reflected a soft sheen beneath the sunlight.

The sound of flowing water came from within the monastery.

Following the sound, Xia Lin saw an artificially diverted stream winding through the entire compound. Its water was so clear that he could see the pebbles beneath it and the koi swimming within. Several exquisite