Ye Qiu’s pupils suddenly contracted as he saw an ancient tree on the ninth floor of the pagoda.
The tree’s trunk was robust, at least two metres in diameter and about three metres tall, its lush green leaves resembling emeralds, brimming with vitality.
A single glance brought a sense of calm, like still water.
“This is… a thousand-year-old Bodhi tree!”
Ye Qiu’s heart skipped a beat.
The Bodhi tree, also known as the Tree of Enlightenment.
Legend has it that Sakyamuni meditated under a Bodhi tree for forty-nine days, attaining the supreme Buddhist teachings and becoming the Buddha.
Since then, the Bodhi tree has been revered as a sacred tree in Buddhism.
Ye Qiu hadn’t expected to find a thousand-year-old Bodhi tree here.
“What a treasure.”
His eyes gleamed. Then, he noticed a three-foot-tall stone stele behind the tree.
Ye Qiu approached the stele.
It was weathered, clearly ancient, with a large “卍” character carved on it.
He stared at the character for a while.
“Hm?”
Ye Qiu was surprised to find that the “卍” had been etched with a finger, each stroke imbued with a unique charm. Though it was just one character, it conveyed a profound, vast sensation.
“The person who carved this wasn’t ordinary, likely a Buddhist high monk.”
“But why would a Buddhist monk erect a stele here?”
“What’s the purpose?”
Ye Qiu kept staring at the stele.
About ten seconds later, he noticed the strokes of the “卍” seemed to flow like a stream in his vision.
What’s happening?
He rubbed his eyes and looked again.
This time, the “卍” was unremarkable, unchanged.
“Strange!”
Ye Qiu stared at the stele, unblinking.
After thirty seconds, he saw the strokes of the “卍” begin to flow like water again, moving faster.
At that moment, he felt the blood in his body surge, mirroring the rhythm of the flowing strokes.
Within a minute, his blood boiled like water, as if it might burst from his body. His head spun, and his vision darkened.
Ye Qiu quickly looked away.
Instantly, his blood calmed.
Only then did he realise his clothes were soaked with cold sweat.
“There’s something odd about this stele.”
He sat down in front of it, activated his Heavenly Eye, and the “卍” emitted a golden glow.
The radiance was dazzling, brighter than the sun.
Though his eyes stung, Ye Qiu didn’t look away, continuing to stare.
Soon, the strokes of the “卍” flowed slowly again, shimmering with golden light.
His blood began to surge once more, accelerating.
That familiar sensation returned.
Ye Qiu felt dizzy, his vision darkening, but this time he didn’t look away, keeping his gaze fixed on the stele.
Three minutes later, his face was pale, his body drenched in cold sweat, trembling as if he might collapse.
At the critical moment, a hum sounded.
His eight streams of innate true qi surged from his Baihui acupoint, hovering above his head, emitting dragon-like roars.
A boom followed.
The stele changed, the “卍” glowing intensely, forming a golden light curtain accompanied by Buddhist chants.
Then, Ye Qiu saw an old monk’s silhouette appear within the light.
The monk sat cross-legged, eyes closed, holding prayer beads, silently reciting scriptures.
“Why did an old monk suddenly appear?”
As Ye Qiu marvelled, a grand chanting filled his ears.
Instantly, his boiling blood calmed, and a sense of tranquillity filled his heart.
He felt as if he were in an ancient temple, listening to an enlightened monk chant, forgetting worldly concerns, his heart serene.
The sensation was extraordinary.
Time passed slowly.
After an unknown duration, the monk opened his eyes, looking at Ye Qiu.
Those eyes, steeped in the vicissitudes of ages, seemed to hold boundless wisdom.
Before them, Ye Qiu felt utterly exposed, as if he had no secrets.
Moments later, the monk gave a faint smile and opened his right palm.
A fist-sized “卍” appeared in his palm, glowing brilliantly with a sacred aura.
The monk pointed with his left hand, gesturing for Ye Qiu to extend his palm.
Though puzzled, Ye Qiu stretched out his right hand.
The monk gently raised his right hand, and the “卍” shot like a beam of light into Ye Qiu’s palm.
“Amitabha!”
The monk pressed his palms together, his lips moving slightly, a clear Buddhist chant ringing in Ye Qiu’s ears.
Then, the monk’s silhouette vanished, and the light curtain disappeared.
His innate true qi returned to his body.
Everything returned to calm.
What had just happened felt like a dreamlike journey.
Ye Qiu looked at his right hand, seeing nothing.
But with his Heavenly Eye, he saw a fist-sized “卍” in his palm, fused with his flesh, radiating brilliant golden light.
He was stunned.
“Was everything I just experienced real?”
“Who was that old monk?”
“Why did he leave this ‘卍’ in my palm?”
A soft crack sounded.
Looking up, Ye Qiu saw the stele shatter into powder, scattered by a gentle breeze.
“Will this ‘卍’ affect my body?”
Worried, Ye Qiu closed his eyes to sense his condition, shocked to find no discomfort. In fact, his cultivation had improved significantly.
He was now just one step from breaking through to the ninth stream of innate true qi.
“Incredible.”
Ye Qiu found it unbelievable, then stood, opened his Qiankun bag, and shouted at the Bodhi tree, “Collect!”
Whoosh!
The thousand-year-old Bodhi tree was stored in the bag.
Then, Ye Qiu ascended to the tenth floor, the pagoda’s top.
Upon entering, he saw one hundred eight scrolls hanging on the walls.
Each depicted a monk and a woman, scantily clad, engaged in indescribable acts.
Each scroll showed a different pose, bold and daring.
Some were poses Ye Qiu had never seen.
He also noticed that certain acupoints on the figures were marked.
Every scroll was like this.
After studying them, Ye Qiu understood.
“Damn, this is bedroom art!”
