Chapter 580: Chapter 580 Bodhi Tree Chapter 580: Chapter 580 Bodhi Tree He said somewhat angrily, “So what if I hid it?”
“Didn’t you, bastard, still find out?”
“I was planning to use it to revive myself and then come back for it, but now it’s all yours!”
“If you have any conscience, leave me one Bodhi seed.”
Jiang Fan was surprised and said, “What’s inside?”
The Evil Spirit reluctantly said, “A Bodhi Tree.”
“When I arrived, it was only blooming, not yet bearing fruit, so neither the Tiger Demon Emperor nor I touched it.”
“A Bodhi Tree blooms once every fifty years and bears fruit once every fifty years.”
“Judging by the time, it should be just about to bear fruit in the next few years.”
“You came at the right time.”
Jiang Fan’s expression showed contemplation.
He said, “A Bodhi Tree, I remember it’s known as the Buddha’s wisdom tree, right?”
“It’s said that meditating under the tree can yield unique insights.”
The Evil Spirit nodded and said, “That’s right.”
“The Bodhi Tree indeed has miraculous effects for those in Buddhism; it’s a dream tree for those on the Buddhist path.”
“However, this tree is extremely difficult to keep alive.”
“Even the White Horse Temple, known as Little Western Heaven in the Outer Realm Divine Sect, doesn’t have a Bodhi Tree.”
Jiang Fan showed little interest.
He had the Void Divine Tree for soul purification and his comprehension was extraordinary.
He didn’t need the Bodhi Tree.
Moreover, it only helped with understanding the Buddhist path.
But since he encountered it, why not take it?
He carefully pushed open the door right away.
Sure enough, inside was a small courtyard filled with sunlight.
It was unknown what kind of magical spell had been cast on this little courtyard, but it drew sunlight in through a mountain.
Bathed in sunlight, a tree three zhang high, with branches and leaves forming a canopy, quietly shimmered with Buddha light.
Small golden round beads the size of thumbnails appeared intermittently among the leaves.
The Evil Spirit was excited, “Hey, hey, don’t take it all for yourself; leave one for me.”.
“This can enhance comprehension.”
Jiang Fan said, “Agreed.”
But as he was about to step forward, his pupils shrank slightly.
He discovered under the Bodhi Tree, there was a monk’s corpse, wearing a kasaya, sitting cross-legged with palms together!
A golden Zen Staff lay horizontally on his knees.
Beside him was a golden Buddha Bowl.
Even his body was golden, like a small golden statue.
“What is that?” Jiang Fan said in surprise.
The Evil Spirit revealed an envious look and said, “It should be the owner of this Secret Realm.”
“Being able to meditate under a Bodhi Tree and pass away in enlightenment is a blessing.”
“Seeing his golden skin, he’s already attained the Vajra Fruit Position.”
“He is an ascetic monk.”
Jiang Fan nodded deeply.
Even from a distance, he could feel the overwhelming power of the Buddhist path emanating from the corpse.
He immediately clasped his hands together and bowed, “Master, sorry for the disturbance.”
Then, he went forward and picked all the Bodhi seeds.
He examined the Bodhi Tree a bit more.
Since he encountered it, he naturally intended to take it along.
But he glanced at the monk’s remains under the tree.
He then took both the man and the tree into his Heavenly Thunder Stone.
The Evil Spirit was puzzled, “Why bring along this bald monk’s corpse?”
Jiang Fan said calmly, “Let him rest with the Bodhi Tree.”
Then, Jiang Fan looked at the Zen Staff and the Buddha Bowl, unexpectedly finding their levels were quite extraordinary.
His heart stirred as he said, “These wouldn’t be Spiritual Artifacts, would they?”
The Evil Spirit nodded and said:
“A high monk of the Vajra Fruit Position is equivalent to a Nascent Soul of the Human Clan and a Demon Emperor of the Demon Race.”
“The Buddhist tools he carried are naturally at the Spiritual Artifact level.”
“Oh right, the kasaya he’s wearing is of a higher level, it’s a Mid Grade Spirit Artifact.”
Jiang Fan took a deep breath.
Two Low Grade Spiritual Artifacts and one Mid Grade Spiritual Artifact?
He… he just struck it rich?
But, Jiang Fan quickly realized something was wrong, “Why didn’t you and the Tiger Demon Emperor take them back then?”
Could it be that they both were virtuous people who didn’t take things lying on the ground?
The Evil Spirit chuckled, “I was waiting for you to be all happy and then pour a bucket of cold water on you.”
“You figured it out so quickly, that’s no fun.”
“Buddhist tools can only be activated by the power of the Buddhist path.”
“If someone outside the Buddhist path gets them, they are no different from scrap metal.”
“Of course, if the Buddhist tools retain the Buddhist power within, they can barely be activated.”
“Once used up, they revert to scrap metal.”
“If you couldn’t use them, you could sell them to people on the Buddhist path; they’d probably be very happy with them?”
The Evil Spirit smiled faintly, “People on the Buddhist path don’t engage in trade.”
“They only do almsgiving, understand?”
Jiang Fan was bewildered, “If I don’t give it to them, can they forcibly take it?”
The Evil Spirit scoffed, “Forcibly taking it is the best-case scenario.”
“Those bald monks from White Horse Temple are even harsher.”
“Not only will they take your things, but they’ll also convert you directly!”
“From then on, you’ll be a follower of Buddhism, part of their order.”
Jiang Fan was taken aback.
The Buddhists of the Outer Realm Divine Sect were this domineering?
“In short, consider this a warning.”
“Avoid touching Buddhist items if you can.”
“Even if you have them, keep them hidden; don’t let them find out.”
“Neither the Tiger Demon Emperor nor I dared to touch these things; you’d better measure it yourself.”
Jiang Fan instantly felt troubled with the items in his hands.
He couldn’t use them and couldn’t sell them either.
No wonder no one wanted them.
As he pondered, a sudden loud noise rang out.
The Evil Spirit was startled, “Oh my, that old Daoist is quite skillful!”
“He broke through to the final restriction so quickly.”
“Kid, we need to get to the Nascent Soul corpse, now.”
“We mustn’t let them get there first.”
Jiang Fan couldn’t afford any more distractions; he casually threw the Buddhist tools into his Heavenly Thunder Stone.
Following the Evil Spirit’s guidance, he arrived at the intersection of the South Hall and North Hall.
There, he found a passage leading deeper down.
Gusts of chilling wind blew from within, making Jiang Fan shiver.
“What’s in there?” Jiang Fan cautiously retreated.
It looked incredibly eerie.
The Evil Spirit said, “It’s the path to the Inner Realm.”
“But don’t worry, we’ll stop halfway.”
“The Nascent Soul corpse and the Space Storage Device I mentioned are midway.”
“Once I revive using the corpse and you get the Space Storage Device, we’ll leave immediately without going any further.”
Jiang Fan’s mind raced.
He discreetly touched the Soul-Suppressing Buddha Beads in his chest and nodded:
“You better not trick me.”
With that, he stepped into the gusting wind tunnel.
Atop the mountain belly.
Green Crane Master’s Daoist robe was soaking wet, beads of sweat dripping from his hair, and his pale old face was drenched in sweat.
He held ten immensely powerful array flags in his hands.
Gazing at the last restriction beneath him, he panted:
“Who would’ve thought, borrowing the array-breaking Spiritual Artifact from the Holy Hall would be this difficult.”
“Could this Secret Realm within the mountain belly be the cave of someone in the Divinity Transformation Realm?”
“With such formidable restrictions in place.”
The young girl supported Green Crane Master and said, “Master, you should rest for a bit.”
“You’ve exerted too much energy over the past few days.”
Green Crane Master nodded.
He looked at the nearby Concubine Yunxia and Chun Ni, who had followed along:
“You two, if you also want a share of the spoils, you can’t just follow behind us.”
He hinted at his meaning.
After all, it couldn’t be him fighting hard to clear the way and then have Concubine Yunxia and Chun Ni reap the benefits.
Concerned that anyone else would dare to compete with them for the treasure, given that Concubine Yunxia was with the Demon Emperor, he would have already lashed them to death with a horsetail whisk.
Lu Liang looked at Concubine Yunxia’s beautiful face, his heart burning with desire, and pleaded:
“Master, please don’t make things difficult for Concubine Yunxia.”
He turned and fawned over her, “Yunxia, don’t worry.”
“Even if my master doesn’t share, I’ll give you a part of whatever I get.”
Concubine Yunxia frowned.
Are you qualified to call her that?
Jiang Fan didn’t even have the nerve to call her “Yunxia.”
What was this disciple of the Ten Thousand Tribulations Holy Temple anyway?
“That’s unnecessary.”
“Green Crane Master is right; since we are exploring the Secret Realm together, we should contribute our efforts.”
Concubine Yunxia thought for a moment and took out an item from her chest.
Green Crane Master, who had meant to make things difficult for her, changed his expression.
He hurriedly shielded his two disciples behind him and said:
“Concubine Yunxia, what do you mean by this?”