Becoming a Deity from Planting the Bodhi Tree

The dusk settled over the horizon.

Amber twilight solidified in the sky, and the street was shrouded in the twilight's remaining glow, bathed in a warm light.

Tonight's food street was bustling with more people than usual.

Jing Qiu was slurping his spicy and sour noodles when he learned from Madam Qiu, the owner of the noodle shop, that some people from the lower classes were performing religious propaganda.

"Religious propaganda? Which church?"

Jing Qiu asked curiously.

In this era, the Federation did not prohibit religious dissemination; rather, there were quite a few support policies.

This also led to many temples standing tall in metropolitan circles like Taian City.

In the official terminology of the Federation, so-called Gods were referred to as the "Human Integration Thought Body."

For this purpose, the Federation had even established a special department called the "Religious Administration Bureau."

It was said that this department had such considerable power that it would override the Federation Security Bureau when necessary.

"They say it's something called the Kongmen Sect, but those who came to spread the word have big tattoos all over their arms. Looks like another case of hanging out a sign that says sheep but selling dog meat," Madam Qiu sneered.

"The Kongmen Sect?"

Jing Qiu slurped his noodles, thinking that he had never heard of it, and it seemed like the usual deceptive stuff cooked up by those lower-class guys, just as Madam Qiu had said.

These days, the ones most fond of creating religious movements were those gang organizations.

After finishing a bowl of spicy and sour noodles, Jing Qiu felt quite stimulated in appetite and, standing in the doorway, marveled:

"It seems like a lot of people are here to join the fun tonight!"

Not far away, a crowd had gathered, from which a man's powerful voice could occasionally be heard, continuously instructing everyone to line up in an orderly fashion.

Madam Qiu pursed her lips: "This group is clever; hand out religious pamphlets, leave a name and contact, and they'll give you flour and eggs, and it's said that those with a special connection even get a fine piece of jewelry."

Eggs too?!

Jing Qiu suddenly understood why there was such a commotion!

This was practically targeting the people's lifeline!

"Qiu, you'd better go get a share quickly. If you're late, you might miss out; the Order Office people are coming soon," Madam Qiu suddenly gave him a push.

"Order Office?" Jing Qiu asked, puzzled.

Madam Qiu covered her mouth with a laugh: "That old man Wang is shrewd; he said, for sure, these guys aren't any good, and they're likely another cult disguised to deceive people, so he reported it earlier. If you go late, you might miss your turn."

Jing Qiu instinctively glanced towards Old Wang's fried shop not far away.

Sir Wang was truly ruthless!

He decided not to join the fun since they didn't really eat much eggs or flour at home anyway.

Patting his recently stimulated stomach, Jing Qiu started his quest for food.

He was halfway through eating when a clear commotion erupted not far away.

"Don't move!"

"Hands on your head, everybody squat down!"

"Make way, people!"

...

With loud shouts.

The officers from both sides of the street began to round up those distributing flour and eggs.

However, many onlookers, including several elderly individuals, were caught in the crossfire, making it difficult for the officers to force their way through.

This allowed the big tattooed men to seize the opportunity, and a shout of "Unlimited flour and eggs for everyone, first come, first served" turned the scene into chaos.

Someone deliberately tore open a flour package, tossed it high, creating a snowy spectacle, and used the distraction to scatter and escape, triggering a scene of complete panic.

Jing Qiu stuffed a chicken wing stuffed with rice into his mouth, cheeks puffed out, watching the drama unfold as he ate.

Suddenly, someone lightly tapped him on the shoulder from behind.

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

A man stood behind him, with a buzz cut and a somewhat sickly pale face. His lips curled up in a smile, yet it sent a chill down one's spine.

Jing Qiu turned to look at the officers conducting the raid and asked in surprise:

"Aren't you going to run?"

The buzz-cut man smiled with pursed lips: "This monk has not yet violated any laws on this trip, so why need I run?"

Monk?

Jing Qiu was dumbfounded.

This guy was supposed to be a monk? Why did he still have hair, then? It seemed like a fake monk.

"The donor possesses deep Zen intentions and has a connection with my Buddha. I wonder if this monk has the privilege to be your guide?"

The buzz-cut man's eyes showed anticipation, his smile grew even broader, yet Jing Qiu felt a kind of indescribable fanaticism in this guy's demeanor, which made him uncomfortable.

"Sorry, I haven't prepared to join a religion for the time being," Jing Qiu refused.

The buzz-cut man took a step closer, narrowing the distance with Jing Qiu. His expression seemed sincere but pushed Jing Qiu to instinctively retreat.

"Qiu, your fried noodles are ready!"

Just then, the fried noodle shop owner next to him called out, and officers were patrolling by as well.

The buzz-cut man looked regretful: "That's a real pity, but the donor's connection with Buddha is profound. In the end, you will surely enter Kongmen. I shall gift you this object, to forge a good connection in advance."

Without waiting for Jing Qiu to refuse, a piece of cool jade was slipped into his hand.

Looking down.

It was a jade Buddha pendant. The Buddha's hands were in a mudra, with a compassionate and solemn expression, the corners of its mouth subtly upturned with a touch of merciful smile.

Jing Qiu looked up, wanting to return it to the man, but found he was nowhere to be seen.

He glanced around, but the buzz-cut man had disappeared without a trace.

This guy...

Jing Qiu felt a twinge of caution in his heart.

This person's behavior was very suspicious; giving away eggs and flour could be understood, but who gives out jade upon a first meeting?

It either had an ulterior motive or harbored malice.

He had a vague premonition of bad luck in his heart, urging him to dispose of the Jade Buddha quickly. However, when he rubbed the Jade Buddha in his hand, a sense of reluctance swept over him, as if this Jade Buddha was extremely precious to him.

Jing Qiu felt a sense of alertness and wondered where this discordant feeling came from.

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

He grew serious, started meditation, and examined his mental realm to check for any external influence on his state.

He seemed to step into endless darkness.

In his mind, a heart flame fluttered without wind, conveying a certain unease, but this unease was quickly swept away by a wave of Glazed Glass Light.

After clarifying the source of the discordant and unusual feelings, Jing Qiu's expression turned odd.

His heart flame was warning him that this Jade Buddha was ominous, yet it was quickly subdued by the small Bodhi Tree, which then clearly informed him that the Jade Buddha was useful to him!

This left Jing Qiu quite surprised.

The Bodhi Tree was not only the fundamental existence of the Pure Land World but also the Martial Arts Divine Power prototype associated with the Fire House Buddha Hell Visualization Map.

It was called Wisdom Light, possessing the Great Wisdom capable of shining through all Mist Darkness.

Its first-level ability was to counteract all mental realm negative buffs.

Since it was in demand, it shouldn't have been influenced by external forces.

Even if this Jade Buddha contained some ominous nature, it was harmless and useful to him.

Jing Qiu steadied his mind.

Anyone could deceive him; only the little tree was absolutely incapable of doing so.

So he might as well keep it for now.

After putting away the Jade Buddha, Jing Qiu continued eating along the street until he was full, then went home.

...

In the middle of the night.

Jing Qiu awoke from deep sleep.

Apart from feeling refreshed, he felt hungry.

Jing Qiu fiddled around in the kitchen and made himself a bowl of noodles, bringing it back to his room.

Yet, after eating, the hunger only intensified instead of subsiding.

Appetizer noodles?

But how could he be this hungry?

He had eaten quite a lot that evening.

Jing Qiu was puzzled, wondering if it was a side effect of Pile Skill.

He felt the Qi Force within himself, and it did seem to have strengthened since that afternoon.

He felt he had found the reason.

The root of Qi Force was blood energy. The growth of Qi Force required the consumption of blood energy.

Jing Qiu was a bit worried that, while advancing in Martial Arts was a good thing, if this progress came at the cost of hunger and an empty wallet, it would be less pleasant.

Would he have to regularly carry High-energy Energy Bars in the future?

His gaze inadvertently fell on the Jade Buddha lying on the table.

The moonlight outside the window shone on the table, and the originally mutton fat-colored Jade Buddha now emitted a faint blood-colored radiance.

The Buddha's smile no longer appeared merciful and compassionate, but rather sinister and bizarre.

But Jing Qiu didn't mind or become alert. He came to the table and bent over to stare at the Jade Buddha on the table.

His Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.

He reached out, gently stroking the surface of the Jade Buddha, his lips slightly parted as he swallowed.

Bro, you smell so good...