Chapter 54: It Worked—But Not Completely
Yaoqin watched the scene before her with a solemn expression.
She didn't understand the exact principle behind it, but to use such an immense amount of wish power on one person—and for that person's cultivation to rise so little—clearly meant there was some hidden secret involved.
Was this another way Chanlin Temple had discovered to use wish power?
Could there be some kind of special enhancement effect?
If that were true, the entire Central Continent would soon erupt into chaos over the competition for wish power. But why would the monks of Chanlin Temple so openly display such a method?
Could it be a technique exclusive to the Buddhist Son—something others couldn't imitate? A form of deterrence, perhaps?
"What's going on?" Li Yingling tugged at Chu Xingchen's sleeve anxiously. "Master, what happened? Didn't you say wish power was basically useless?"
Everyone else seemed to understand, yet she didn't.
Good news: there was juicy gossip unfolding right before her eyes.
Bad news: she didn't understand a thing about it.
If no one else knew, that would be fine—but when everyone else did, it was pure torture.
Chu Xingchen frowned in hesitation. "In theory, it should be useless…"
But with that much wish power flooding into Yuankong's body, his cultivation should have skyrocketed. Yet his aura didn't seem much stronger at all.
He wasn't even quite at the Foundation Establishment stage!
Could this be another function of wish power—tempering his physique or spiritual roots?
Chu Xingchen once again activated his system to scan Yuankong.
[Target: Yuankong]
[Cultivation: Late Qi Refining Stage]
[Gold Entry: Innate Buddhist Son]
[Purple Entry: Insight into Illusion]
[Blue Entry: Wisdom]
[Blue Entry: Compassion]
[Gray Entry: Wish Power Cultivation]
[Cultivation restricted — does not meet disciple-acceptance criteria]
Chu Xingchen blinked. The former black trait, "Forbidden Cultivation Physique," had been replaced by a gray trait—"Wish Power Cultivation."
So all that wish power had merely changed his body to allow cultivation through wish power instead?
He had thought something grand was happening—but this was it?
The only reasonable explanation was that the so-called forbidden physique wasn't just about being unable to cultivate—it must have had other side effects, prompting the abbot to take such drastic measures.
Still, the system's limitation was frustrating. Why couldn't it just show a detailed description of these traits?
After scanning, Chu Xingchen sighed and muttered, "It seems… it really didn't do much."
Without turning back, Yaoqin's voice carried a trace of disbelief.
"You're saying that immense tide of wish power poured into one body, and it had no effect—his cultivation is still at Qi Refining level?"
"Yes… that's what it looks like."
"So, you mean this Buddhist Son will have to cultivate solely through wish power from now on?"
"Most likely, yes."
Yaoqin laughed in disbelief. "Then tell me—who's the mad one here, the abbot or you?"
Chu Xingchen replied earnestly, "The Buddhist Son is the mad one."
Yaoqin turned sharply, intending to smack him with the folding fan in her hand.
Was he seriously joking at a time like this?
But when she faced him, she saw no trace of teasing in his expression—only calm seriousness.
That look meant he truly believed what he said.
Yaoqin asked quietly, "You know something, don't you?"
Chu Xingchen shook his head. "Don't rush. Since the abbot summoned us here, there must be an explanation."
Hearing that, Yaoqin could only suppress her questions and wait.
Seeing his master fall silent, Li Yingling immediately piped up, "Master, are you two done talking? Can someone please explain what's happening now?"
She wasn't leaving without understanding this drama.
Chu Xingchen sighed and turned toward Li Xingtian. "You explain it to your senior sister."
Li Xingtian nodded slightly and began recounting everything that had just occurred to Li Yingling.
Chu Xingchen and Yaoqin both turned their gazes toward Yuanjing.
The abbot of Chanlin Temple pressed his palms together and first bowed to the surrounding believers.
His tone was calm and unhurried as he said, "My deepest thanks to all of you. This humble temple has nothing worthy to repay your kindness. Thus, all offerings collected today will be donated in full."
"At the same time, this will be the final Chanlin Temple Fair. I hope everyone enjoys this day to the fullest."
The crowd erupted in protest.
"Abbot! Don't go!"
"Hold another one! We're willing to donate incense money!"
Those who had seen the visions formed by the wish power shouted the loudest, their emotions stirred.
Yuanjing listened to the voices of countless people pleading for him to stay. He said nothing—only bowed deeply once more before turning toward the side hall.
The martial monks around maintained order, blocking the crowd that tried to surge forward.
The two white-bearded monks at Foundation Establishment level also turned away to help maintain peace.
When Yuanjing entered the corridor, everyone who had been invited stood up in greeting.
"Greetings, venerable benefactors," Yuanjing said with a gentle smile. "Thank you all for accepting my invitation today."
A Daoist priest, his expression solemn, spoke first. "There's no need for thanks. Today has been an eye-opener. I also admire all you have done for the people, Abbot."
Yuanjing clasped his hands together and quickly replied, "I dare not accept such praise. I merely did what was necessary for the sake of wish power. My heart is far from pure; I cannot claim any merit."
"Deeds are what matter, not the intention," said a young scholar in white robes. "Today, it seems the Buddhist Son of Chanlin Temple has ascended in one leap. Congratulations."
Yuanjing gave a weary smile. "Ascended? Hardly. I've only managed to let my junior brother live a little longer."
At those words, Yaoqin glanced at Chu Xingchen beside her. Once again, his earlier intuition had been spot-on.
He always seemed to have that strange sharpness at crucial moments.
Yuanjing went on, explaining, "My junior brother carries a strange affliction and does not have long to live. This method was the only chance he had. From now on, his cultivation can never again be separated from wish power."
The woman in yellow frowned. "Then, Abbot, did you summon us merely to watch you save your brother?"
"Today, I ask you all to bear witness," Yuanjing said quietly. "That what I did today to save my junior brother was done solely by Chanlin Temple. It bears no relation to the Buddhist sects of the Central Continent."
His words froze everyone in place.
But those invited here were no fools. After a brief pause, they understood what he truly meant.
So there was conflict between Chanlin Temple and the Central Continent's Buddhist Order?
Still, Yuanjing was not finished. He waited a moment for his meaning to settle in before continuing.
"From this day forth, Yuankong is expelled from Chanlin Temple. He is no longer a monk of this temple and shall have no further ties to it. Our bond as master and disciple ends here."
After speaking, Yuanjing pressed his palms together in farewell, then turned and walked away with quiet dignity.
Those left in the corridor exchanged puzzled glances.
The Daoist muttered, "What does this monk mean by that?"
The scholar in white looked after Yuanjing, as if realizing something, and smiled faintly before taking his leave.
With his departure, the other invited guests—having witnessed what they came to see—also began to disperse.
After all, their task was not to decide, but to report.
Soon, only Chu Xingchen and his three companions remained in the corridor.
Seeing that no outsiders were left, Chu Xingchen sighed softly. "He calls himself a senior brother, but he's more like a father."
Yaoqin nodded lightly in agreement.
Yuanjing's words had been few, but each carried deep meaning.
By declaring that Yuankong was saved by Chanlin Temple of Yuzhou City and not the Central Continent's Buddhist Order, Yuanjing made it clear—Yuankong owed no debt to them.
But by expelling Yuankong from Chanlin Temple, he also severed the temple's hold over him.
Chanlin Temple, as a branch of the Central Continent's Buddhist Order, was naturally under their control.
Yet with Yuanjing's declaration, they could no longer control Yuankong—his last chain had been broken by his own senior brother's hand.
Though they could not fathom why Yuanjing feared interference from the Central Continent, his love and protection for Yuankong were unmistakable.
Yuanjing returned to stand before Yuankong once more. Looking at him for a moment, he couldn't help but smile.
"Awake, yet pretending to sleep?"
At his words, Yuankong slowly opened his eyes and spoke in a low voice. "Senior Brother… why?"
He had clearly heard Yuanjing's words expelling him from Chanlin Temple.
"Why what?" Yuanjing reached out to ruffle his head, smiling with his usual teasing tone. "You little outsider monk—are you sleeping here with me tonight, or going back to your own room?"
Yuankong stared up in surprise, then saw the warm smile on the abbot's face.
In that instant, he understood everything.
He had been driven out—but not completely.
Yuankong chuckled softly. "Who wants to sleep with you, old man?"
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