Burning a Finger

Sweet Dew Monastery, Buddhist Hall.

"Da da da..."

A monk in a grey robe was striking a wooden fish while chanting scriptures.

"... When I attain enlightenment in my next life, if any sentient beings are afflicted by numerous illnesses, without help or refuge, without medicine or doctor, without relatives or home, and are poor and suffering greatly, may all their illnesses be cured and their bodies and minds at peace and joy, their families and resources abundant, and may they even attain unsurpassed enlightenment."

"When I attain enlightenment in my next life, if there are women who are tormented by the hundred evils of womanhood, and who feel extreme aversion to their female form, wishing to relinquish their female body, upon hearing my name, may they all be transformed from women into men, possessing the characteristics of a man, and ultimately attain unsurpassed enlightenment..."

"Crack... Bang..."

Suddenly, a strange sound rang out, and the monk abruptly raised his head, revealing a handsome face and eyes as clear as glass looking at the fallen blue glass Bodhisattva statue.

"Namo Medicine Tree Lapis Lazuli Bodhisattva!"

She uttered a respectful inscription, tore open her monk's robe, revealing her right shoulder and smooth, jade-like skin.

Extend your right hand, make a fist with four fingers, leaving only your little finger exposed.

Step forward a few steps, dip your little finger into the oil basin of the lamp to coat it with sesame oil, and then place it over the lamp flame.

The flame, small as a bean, flickered and ignited the little finger, which was covered in sesame oil.

The monk showed no sign of pain, raised his fingers, and burned them in worship.

Please enlighten me, Bodhisattva!

The little finger slowly burned like a candle, its fragrance mingling with the aroma of sesame oil, forming a wisp of pale blue smoke that flowed into the fallen Buddha statue.

"Click-clack... click..."

A series of soft sounds rang out, and the Bodhisattva statue slowly cracked open, from which a green sprout emerged. Under the continuous flow of pale blue smoke, the sprout grew rapidly. When it reached three inches in length, it blossomed and bore fruit. When the little finger was completely burned away, it withered away, but a Bodhi seed remained in its place.

The monk stepped forward, picked up a Bodhi seed, and put it in his mouth. The next moment, his little finger, which had been burned away, grew back at a speed visible to the naked eye. Images flashed through the monk's glassy eyes. After a long while, the monk turned and walked out of the Buddhist hall.

In the courtyard in front of the Buddhist hall, a young novice monk who was sweeping the yard heard the noise, turned around, saw the monk, quickly put his hands together in greeting, and said, "Great Monk!"

The monk reached up and removed the hairpin from her head, letting her beautiful hair fall down, her voice as clear and melodious as a yellow tinkling.

"Monk, my fortuitous opportunity has come. Transmit my decree: one year from now, a grand Dharma assembly will be held, and I, this celestial maiden, will offer myself in alms to find the one with the right affinity."

The words fell, but there was no reply. The young novice was staring blankly at the monk's angelic face.

"Heh! You little novice, do you really think you can be my destined one?"

The dazed young novice monk immediately snapped out of his daze and hurriedly ran outside, crying, "This disciple wouldn't dare! This disciple wouldn't dare!"

*****

The Dao of Qi Refining.

"There must be Purple Mansion level power in that Sweet Dew Monastery, otherwise my Yuanchen Pearl wouldn't have reacted so strongly!"

Fang Yu murmured to himself, sensing the nearly depleted Primordial Qi within the Yuanchen Pearl. He secretly resolved that in the future, when he went to Wondrous Goodness City, he would stay far away from Gan Sweet Dew Monastery to avoid being detected.

"I hope my fortuitous opportunity doesn't lie in that Sweet Dew Monastery, otherwise, I'm afraid it will be very difficult to obtain!"

Fang Yu sat cross-legged, circulated his Cultivation Method to restore his Law Power, and then transformed it into Primordial Qi, storing it within the Yuanchen Pearl.

Several days later, he opened his eyes, sensing the Yuanchen Pearl's Primordial Qi, which had recovered, and a smile appeared on his lips.

Now that the Yuanchen Pearl has been restored, it is time to seek fortuitous opportunity at the Dao of Qi Ingestion.

However, it seems someone is looking for me inside the door.

He opened the door on a whim and saw a communication talisman flying around the doorway like a headless fly.

He sensed a communication talisman approaching when he was recharging the Yuanchen Pearl, but he ignored it. Although he had been a disciple for three years, he had not made any friends. Who would waste a precious communication talisman to find him? So he let the talisman remain outside the restriction.

Now it's time to see who's looking for him.

With a wave of his hand, the communication talisman landed in his palm. As he scanned it with his Divine Sense, its contents appeared—

Wu Youtian, the Spirit Root Heaven Spirit Root was discovered at the same time as him, reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer. To celebrate, he specially invited cultivators from the same region to a gathering. Although Fang Yu had never spoken a word to him, he was also among those invited.

"Wu Youtian should be nine years old this year. He has cultivated to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer Great Perfection in just three years. His aptitude for the Heaven Spirit Root is truly astonishing."

Fang Yu couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. He then checked the time; it was indeed tonight, and there was only a little over an hour left before the banquet began.

'Why don't I go take a look? I can't just bury myself in cultivation all day; I need to show my face, leave a trace, make some friends, expand my network, and prepare for the future. I can't wait until I advance to the Golden Core stage and not even have one or two friends.'

Fang Yu pondered, the Yuanchen Pearl spun rapidly, transforming his cultivation level into the Qi Refining Third Layer.

He had been cultivating the "Great Daoyan Five Elements Chaos True Explanation" for three years and had already broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivation Method. However, he stopped because there was no subsequent Foundation Establishment Chapter.

According to the normal cultivation speed of a single Mid-Grade Spirit Root on a third-tier Spirit Vein, he should have already broken through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining by now. However, since he is cultivating the "Great Daoyan Five Elements Chaos True Explanation," it would be normal for him to remain at the Qi Refining Third Layer.

After stabilizing his breathing, Fang Yu stepped onto the flying boat and headed towards the area where the meeting was located.

More than half an hour later, Fang Yu arrived at the entrance of the venue and saw Fairy Qingwu greeting guests from afar. Upon flying closer, he bowed and said:

"Jiang Yao greets Senior Sister Qingwu!"

Fairy Qingwu looked at him, slightly taken aback, clearly not recognizing him. She looked him up and down before remembering, "So it's Junior Brother Jiang Yao. But why is your cultivation still only at the Early Stage of Qi Refining?"

Fang Yu said in a deep voice, "Junior brother is dull-witted, and having also studied the ' Great Daoyan Five Elements Chaos True Explanation,' he failed to make a breakthrough this time. I'm sorry to have made Senior Sister laugh at him!"

Upon hearing this, Qingwu immediately understood. She frowned and asked, "You want to advance through the Dao of Alchemy?"

"Exactly!" Fang Yu nodded.

Fairy Qingwu shook her head, looking quite pessimistic, and said, "The Dao of Alchemy is not so easy. Talent and resources are both indispensable. You have no elders in the sect to support you, Dao of Alchemy. I advise you to switch to other Cultivation Method as soon as possible, and not to be too ambitious and waste your Mid-Grade Spirit Root aptitude."

"What the fairy says is true!" Fang Yu said helplessly, "Junior Brother will definitely consider it carefully!"

Upon hearing this, Fairy Qingwu knew that her junior brother, who also had Mid-Grade Spirit Root like herself, had not listened to her at all. She immediately stopped talking and instructed a maid to lead him into the venue.

The venue was spacious, and most of it was already full. Fang Yu was led by the maid to an empty seat in the back row. Just as they were about to reach it, they heard a shout, "Jiang Yao, over here!"

Fang Yu looked in the direction of the voice and saw Zhang Erhu waving at him. Fang Yu then looked at the maid beside him and asked, "May I sit over there?"

The maid paused slightly, then said somewhat reluctantly, "That's the area for those in the Qi Refining Middle Stage, it's not really suitable for you to go there. However, since you have a friend there, you can certainly go."

"That's good!" Fang Yu nodded and walked towards Zhang Erhu's seat.