Becoming a Deity from Planting the Bodhi Tree

The dusk was sinking at the horizon.

The amber twilight congealed in the sky, the streets basked in the afterglow, cloaked in a warm glow.

Tonight, the snack street was bustling with more people than ever.

Ji Jingqiu slurped his hot and sour rice noodles and learned from Madam Qiu at the rice noodle shop that it was due to some folks from the lower levels spreading religious propaganda.

"Religious propaganda? Which church?"

Ji Jingqiu asked curiously.

In this era, the Federation did not forbid the spread of religion; on the contrary, there were quite a few supportive policies.

This also led to a considerable number of divine temples erected within prosperous, advanced urban circles like Taian City.

In the official terminology of the Federation, what's called gods are referred to as "Human Integration Thought Body".

For this reason, the Federation had established a special department named the "Religious Administration Bureau".

The power that this department wielded was said to be quite high, even surpassing that of the Federation Security Bureau when necessary.

"They say it's the Kongmen Sect, but the people who came to spread the word all have sleeve tattoos. Just from looking, you know it's a case of bait-and-switch with sacrilegious intentions," Madam Qiu sneered.

"Kongmen Sect?"

Jingqiu slurped his noodles and thought to himself that he had never heard of it; it seemed just like what Madam Qiu mentioned, another scam concocted by those lowlifes from the underbelly.

These days, those who loved to play with religion the most were the gang organizations.

Having finished his bowl of hot and sour noodles, Ji Jingqiu found his appetite nicely whetted. He stood at the doorway and peered out, exclaiming in surprise:

"It feels like there are quite a few people coming to join in the fun tonight!"

Not far away, a throng of people was bustling around, and from within, the robust voice of a man could be intermittently heard, constantly urging people to line up in an orderly fashion.

Madam Qiu gestured with her lips: "These folks are smart; if you take a pamphlet and leave your name and contact, they'll give you flour and eggs. I heard they even give a nice piece of jewelry to someone with destiny."

They're giving away eggs too?!

Ji Jingqiu suddenly realized why there was such a big commotion!

This was practically grabbing people by their lifelines!

"Qiu, you better hurry and get one too, or there won't be any left soon. The Security Bureau's guys will be here any minute," Madam Qiu suddenly gave him a nudge.

"Security Bureau?" Ji Jingqiu asked, puzzled.

Madam Qiu covered her mouth and chuckled: "Sir Wang, the old man, he's sneaky. He said these folks are definitely up to no good, probably some cult trying to deceive people under a new guise. So, he called the police earlier. If you're late, Qiu, you might not even get your turn."

Ji Jingqiu subconsciously looked towards Old Wang's frying stall not far away.

Sir Wang is ruthless!

He decided not to join in the fun, as he didn't really eat eggs or flour at home anyway.

Patting his recently satisfied belly, Ji Jingqiu set off to continue his culinary journey.

He had only gotten halfway through a chicken wing rice burger when a clear commotion came from not too far away.

"Don't move!"

"Hands on your head, all squat down!"

"Make way, everyone!"

...

Under a series of stern shouts,

policemen swarmed in from both sides of the street, beginning to round up the propagandists giving out flour and eggs.

However, there were still many onlookers caught in the middle, including some elderly, making it hard for the police to forcefully clear a path.

This gave the tattooed strongmen a chance to shout, "Flour and eggs are unlimited, first come, first served," turning the situation unmanageable.

Some deliberately tore the flour packages and flung them high into the air, creating a white, blizzard-like scene, then they took the opportunity to scatter and flee, leaving chaos all around.

Ji Jingqiu stuffed a chicken wing rice burger into his mouth, cheeks bulging as he continued to eat and watch the spectacle.

Suddenly, someone patted his shoulder from behind.

"Benefactor, are you interested in learning about the Kongmen Sect?"

A man stood behind him, with a buzz cut, a sickly pale face and upturned lips. Although smiling, the expression sent a chill to the bone.

Ji Jingqiu turned around to see the scattering policemen, and asked in surprise:

"Aren't you going to run?"

The buzz cut man pressed his lips together and smiled: "This humble monk has not yet violated any laws on this trip; there's no need for flight."

A monk?

Ji Jingqiu was startled.

This guy is a monk? Then why does he have hair? Seems like a fake monk.

"Benefactor carries a profound sense of Zen and shares a destiny with Buddha. May I qualify to be the benefactor's guide?"

The buzz cut man looked expectant, his smile growing thicker. However, Ji Jingqiu felt uncomfortable with the indescribable fanaticism in the man's demeanor.

"Sorry, I'm not interested in joining any religion right now," Ji Jingqiu declined.

The buzz-cut man took a step forward, closing the gap between him and Ji Jingqiu, his expression seemingly sincere, yet it instinctively made Ji Jingqiu take a step back.

"Qiu, your stir-fried noodles are ready!"

Coincidentally, the owner of the noodle shop nearby called out, and the street patrollers were searching this way.

The buzz-cut man showed a look of regret, "That's too bad, but benefactor, you have profound Buddha's Destiny; ultimately, you are destined to join the Kongmen Sect. As a monk, offering you this item is also a way of forming an early good connection."

Before Ji Jingqiu could refuse, a cool piece of jade was stuffed into his hand.

He looked down.

It was a jade Buddha pendant, with the Buddha's hands forming a seal, a compassionate and dignified face, with the corners of the mouth slightly turned up in a merciful smile.

Ji Jingqiu looked up to return it, but the person was nowhere to be seen.

This fellow...

A sense of caution arose in Ji Jingqiu's heart.

This man's words and actions were very suspicious. It might be understandable to be given eggs and flour, but who gives jade to someone they've just met for the first time?

If not harboring an ulterior motive, then surely concealing evil intentions.

He had a vague premonition of unease, urging him to quickly dispose of the jade Buddha, but as he rubbed the jade Buddha in his hand, he felt an inexplicable reluctance, as if the jade Buddha was extremely precious to him.

Ji Jingqiu suddenly became alert. Where did this feeling of incongruity come from?

Could it be that this piece of jade was influencing him?

His expression serious, he began meditation, introspecting his Mental Realm, checking for any external fluctuations that could affect his state of mind.

It was as if he had stepped into endless darkness.

In the obscurity, a flickering Heart Fire swayed without wind, conveying a sort of uneasy sentiment, yet this unrest was quickly swept away by a round of Glazed Glass Light.

After figuring out the source of discordance in his mind, Ji Jingqiu had an odd expression on his face.

His Heart Fire was warning him of the inauspicious nature of the quick jade Buddha, but it was swiftly suppressed by the Bodhi Tree, then clearly informed him that the jade Buddha was useful!

This greatly surprised Ji Jingqiu.

The Bodhi Tree is not only the foundation of the Pure Land World, but also the rudimentary shape of the Martial Arts Divine Power that came into being with the Fire House Buddha Hell Visualization.

Known as Wisdom Light, it possesses the Great Wisdom to shine through all Mist Darkness.

Its first layer of ability is to restrain all negative mental buffs.

Since it was needed by the tree, then there was no external force influencing or disturbing him.

Even if the jade Buddha contained something ominous, it would not harm him and was useful.

Ji Jingqiu's mind settled.

Anyone could deceive him, but the little tree would absolutely never do so.

Then, for now, he would keep it.

Having stored away the jade Buddha, Ji Jingqiu continued to eat along the street to fill his stomach before heading home.

...

In the middle of the night.

Ji Jingqiu woke up from a deep sleep.

Apart from feeling refreshed and clear-headed, he was hungry.

He fiddled around in the kitchen for a while, prepared a bowl of noodles, and took it back to his room.

But after eating the noodles, the feeling of hunger increased instead of decreasing.

Appetizer noodles?

But why was he so hungry?

He had eaten quite a bit that evening.

Unable to figure it out, Ji Jingqiu wondered if this was a side effect of his Pile Skill practice?

He felt the Qi Force within his body, and it seemed... indeed, it had grown stronger since the afternoon?

He thought he had found the reason.

The foundation of Qi Force is blood and Qi, and the strengthening of Qi Force requires the consumption of blood and Qi.

Ji Jingqiu was a bit worried. Advancing in Martial Arts was good, but if such progression came at the cost of constant hunger and a thinning wallet, then it was less bearable.

Would he have to keep High-energy Energy Bars on hand in the future?

His gaze unintentionally fell upon the jade Buddha lying on the table.

The moonlight from outside the window fell on the table, and the originally lard-colored jade Buddha surprisingly emitted a faint blood-red glow.

The corners of the smiling Buddha's mouth, once filled with compassion and mercy, now only revealed strangeness and enigma.

But Ji Jingqiu felt no disgust or wariness; he approached the table, his eyes fixed on the jade Buddha on the table.

His Adam's apple moved uncontrollably.

He reached out to gently stroke the surface of the jade Buddha, his lips slightly parted, swallowing saliva.

Bro, you smell so good...