Chapter 5

As his troubled thoughts faded away, Meng Qi gradually felt a true energy being generated, flowing through the Conception and Governor Vessels, and condensing into the sweet and clear "Nectar" at the upper and lower jaw, forming a mouthful of sweet and clear "Nectar."

The "Nectar" slowly seeped into the Conception Vessel, following the thoughts Meng Qi focused on to fill the acupoints.

If the body was deficient, the "Nectar" would not be sweet, and it would require such true energy generation to strengthen the spirit and body. Meng Qi's current condition indicated that his body was in its best state at the moment.

"Has this body already completed the 'Hundred Days Foundation Building'?" The little monk Meng Qi, who was not particularly fond of the Buddhist sect, opened his eyes, recalling the situation just now. According to Master Xuan'en's description, "I" should have already passed the 'Hundred Days Foundation Building' stage and could begin 'Zen Meditation and Qi Accumulation.'

However, after some thought, Meng Qi steadied his mind. The 'Hundred Days Foundation Building' completed in the past is in the past. If he wanted to walk further on the path of martial arts, he must personally experience every step, allowing no shortcuts. Only then could he walk more steadily and further.

After a quarter of an hour, Xuan'en tapped the wooden fish, using its clear and penetrating sound to awaken everyone. He then inquired about each person's meditation status, including whether they could enter a meditative state and the quality of the "Nectar" generated, and provided individual guidance.

Finally, he nodded and said, "Try again after you return. We will start learning to read."

Flipping open the scripture used for learning to read, Meng Qi found, as expected, that he basically recognized the characters.

This made him inwardly delighted; at least he wasn't illiterate and didn't need to start from scratch. Now, he could "dominate" the lecture hall!

"Pick up the brush and practice this character," Xuan'en instructed.

Meng Qi's joy immediately vanished. The last time he wrote with a brush was in elementary school, and indeed, the characters he wrote were extremely ugly.

"More practice is needed," Xuan'en said, hands behind his back, as he passed by Meng Qi.

Meng Qi nodded dejectedly, suddenly startled. If Xuanzang saw these characters, would he suspect something? This body was likely born into a noble family and had already completed the 'Hundred Days Foundation Building,' so it was impossible that he hadn't practiced writing from a young age!

Struggling to open his mouth, Meng Qi felt that explaining to Xuan'en would be futile and might even make things worse. So, he hurriedly practiced writing, and if Xuanzang asked, he could say that he was not yet accustomed to the chores in the miscellaneous service hall, causing his arms to be sore and his writing to be illegible.

As the sun approached noon, Xuan'en announced that the little monks could leave. Meng Qi quietly took the white paper he had practiced writing on, intending to destroy it.

After lunch, Meng Qi and Zhenhui, among others, were assigned to clean various areas of the temple until sunset.

After a day of hard work, Xuanxin gathered everyone again to continue telling his heroic stories from the martial world.

"… The Water Moon Nunnery is all I have to say about that. If you encounter them in the future, keep your distance. As for the Vajra Temple, they are not on good terms with our Shaolin, so you must be very careful."

Ah? Although the miscellaneous service monks had heard many martial world stories and anecdotes about noble families before becoming monks, none of them knew that the Shaolin Temple and the Vajra Temple, both among the four major Buddhist temples, had such a strained relationship that required caution!

Seeing their wide-eyed expressions, Xuanxin nodded in satisfaction and said, "The Blood Knife Bhikshu was originally a wild fox Zen, but he had a once-in-a-thousand-years encounter, obtaining the fifth form of the 'Buddha Palm,' from which he derived two fundamental great laws and founded the Vajra Temple. Therefore, they have always coveted the third form of the 'Buddha Palm' secretly stored by our Shaolin, hoping to compare and understand how to achieve the 'Buddha Body.' This has led to many hidden conflicts between the two sects."

"Buddha Body…" Meng Qi's eyebrows twitched, feeling that this matter was a bit fantastical, yet it also stirred his heart.

Suddenly, someone knocked at the gate. Xuanxin jumped up, looking terrified and blurted out, "Junior Brother Xuan'ku, I haven't broken any rules…"

Before he could finish, his expression turned serious. "Junior Brother, what brings you to our miscellaneous service hall?"

Meng Qi turned back and saw a familiar little monk standing at the gate. He was one of the children who entered the temple with Meng Qi, Zhenhui, and Zhende, one of the two oldest, about fifteen years old. During the lecture hall session today, he had chatted quite well with the other little monks in the miscellaneous service hall, showing no signs of discrimination.

Was his dharma name "Zhenyong"? Meng Qi recalled.

Zhenyong was tall and thin, with an ordinary appearance, but his smile revealed a mouthful of white teeth, making him look especially radiant. "Junior Uncle Xuanxin, I heard from several junior brothers that you are well-versed in martial world stories. I love listening to these stories, so I couldn't help but come here. Please forgive me and allow me to listen in."

At this moment, the martial monks were on their own to practice "meditation and cultivation."

Flattered by Zhenyong's praise, Xuanxin seemed to float on air, smiling and saying, "No problem, no problem. Sit down and listen. More knowledge of the martial world will help you avoid pitfalls in the future."

Zhenyong looked around and sat next to Meng Qi, whispering, "Junior Brother Zhen'ing, I didn't squeeze you, did I?"

"No," Meng Qi shook his head, feeling that Zhenyong's speech was surprisingly mature for his age, like a grown-up scholar.

"I see that Junior Brother Zhen'ing can read and understand sentences. I hope you will take care of me in the future. If you need anything from your senior brother, just say so," Zhenyong said with a familiar smile.

Meng Qi's heart stirred, thinking that Zhenyong was a martial monk. He smiled and replied, "It's a small matter, senior brother, no need to be so formal."

After a few exchanges, the two seemed to become close friends, regretting not meeting earlier.

Seeing this, Xuanxin cleared his throat, making everyone quiet, and continued, "Besides the two fundamental great laws, the Vajra Temple's sword techniques are also noteworthy."

"The Blood Knife Bhikshu was a master of sword techniques and had insights into the fifth form of the 'Buddha Palm.' After achieving the 'Furious Vajra Body,' he created three sword techniques that are the pinnacle of sword techniques. There are very few that can match them…"

His storytelling made the miscellaneous service monks excited and their minds wander, but as they listened, they became a bit depressed. Zhenyong immediately raised his hand and said, "Junior Uncle Xuanxin, does our Shaolin have any sword techniques that can match them?"

Indeed, isn't our Shaolin martial arts known for its comprehensiveness? The miscellaneous service monks also had a sense of pride in their sect.

Xuanxin clicked his tongue. "Our Shaolin has few sword techniques, but there is one that can match these three, the 'Ananda Breaking Precepts Sword Technique,' one of the seventy-two supreme techniques, which can communicate with the laws of heaven and earth. Of course, one must reach the 'Outer Scenario' realm to fully utilize this sword technique."

He introduced this sword technique, making the monks yearn and become excited.

"Alright, it's late. Go back to your rooms and practice." Xuanxin yawned, then added nonchalantly, "I'm not afraid of Junior Brother Xuan'ku; I just want to give him face."

He was still bothered by his earlier fright.

"Is that so?" A deep voice suddenly sounded from the door.

Xuanxin's face turned pale, and he quickly put on a smile. "Junior Brother Xuan'ku, I, I…"

Xuan'ku, with a large face and big ears, still wore a yellow monk's robe, but his right hand held a string of brownish-red prayer beads.

This was the same as what Meng Qi had seen on the discipline monk in the Discipline Hall earlier, except one was dark yellow and the other brownish-red.

"Junior Brother Xuanxin, I am no longer in the Miscellaneous Service Hall. I am currently a discipline monk in the Discipline Hall," Xuan'ku said seriously.

"Of course, Junior Brother, you are here to inspect," Xuanxin deliberately changed the subject.

This is even more terrifying… Meng Qi silently stuck out his tongue. The unfeeling Junior Uncle Xuan'ku actually joined the Discipline Hall. If he were to catch him in the future…

Xuan'ku looked around the courtyard, nodded, and said, "Go back to your rooms and don't forget to practice."

Back in the meditation room, Meng Qi quietly took out the small jade Buddha, turned his back to Zhenying, Zhen'guan, and others to check it, feeling its smooth and cool touch, which refreshed his mind.

"What a wondrous treasure!" Meng Qi was delighted, examining it from all angles, hoping to discover more secrets, but found nothing. He had to calm his mind and stop thinking about it, starting to try to meditate. With the help of the small jade Buddha, this meditation was very easy.

After generating true energy, Meng Qi suddenly frowned, thought for a moment, and directly took off the small jade Buddha.

The first step in martial arts cultivation cannot rely on external objects. If it becomes a habit, it will be like walking with a crutch in the future.

Without the small jade Buddha, Meng Qi's mind gradually became active, but with the experience of the previous two successful meditations and the clear moonlight, he finally calmed his mind, entered a meditative state, and generated true energy.

Breathing and filling the acupoints with true energy, after one and a half hours, Meng Qi opened his eyes again. It wasn't that he didn't want to continue practicing, but he needed to ensure he got enough rest, otherwise, the next day's water-carrying and sweeping would be very tiring.

Due to the "meditation and cultivation" just completed, Meng Qi felt refreshed and couldn't fall asleep immediately. He turned his head and saw Zhenhui looking over, seemingly just finishing his practice.

"Junior Brother, are you not sleeping yet?" Meng Qi's heart stirred, planning to give him some advice about human relations.

Zhenhui nodded and said dully, "Almost."

"Okay, then I need to tell you some things, some words…" Meng Qi started a long speech, but as he spoke, he noticed Zhenhui's eyelids drooping, as if he was about to fall asleep.

He can't even listen… Meng Qi's mouth twitched, and he frowned, thinking. Soon, he had a good idea: "This guy seems very interested in martial world stories. I can incorporate human relations into them!"

Actually, if he weren't in a foreign place and alone, Meng Qi wouldn't care about whether others understood human relations. But now, he wanted to use this to alleviate the frustration of his mysterious transmigration.

"Junior Brother, I once heard a story about a great hero. Do you want to hear it?" Meng Qi asked with a smile.

Zhenhui's eyes opened wide, and he nodded vigorously. "Thank you, senior brother!"

This guy always talks so off the mark… Meng Qi scratched his bald head, looking at the moon outside the window, and said in a distant voice, "A long, long time ago, there was a Daoist named Qiu Chuji who passed through a place called Niujia Village…"

This story seemed to bridge the two worlds, making Meng Qi temporarily lose himself in it, forgetting that he was just telling a story to Zhenhui.

...

Three months later, Meng Qi had grown taller, but the 'Hundred Days Foundation Building' was only half completed due to lack of time.

The little monk Zhenhui, due to Meng Qi's exciting and intense "martial world stories," became even more admiring of him, almost following his every word.

However, Meng Qi still had not gotten the opportunity to leave the Miscellaneous Service Hall and enter the Martial Monks Hall.

"Junior Brother Zhen'ing, where are you going?" Zhenyong entered the Miscellaneous Service Hall and saw Meng Qi and Zhenhui holding brooms, preparing to go out. It was just after lunch.

Meng Qi answered excitedly, "Junior Uncle Xuanxin arranged for us to clean the Sutra Hall."

Mentioning this, Meng Qi felt unexpectedly delighted. After lunch, Xuanxin had instructed him and Zhenhui to clean the Sutra Hall, indicating that it would be their responsibility in the future.

Although Xuanxin clearly stated that they were only responsible for the lower two floors where the sutras were stored, and the upper floors would be cleaned by senior monks, Meng Qi couldn't help but be excited. The Sutra Hall, the place where the Shaolin's seventy-two supreme techniques were stored! How many martial and fantasy stories revolve around such places!

"I wonder if the 'Buddha Palm,' 'Sinew Metamorphosis Classic,' 'Maha Subduing Demon Fist,' and 'Great Dream Sutra' are in the Sutra Hall…" Meng Qi thought, his mind wandering.

...

Three months later, Meng Qi had grown taller, but the 'Hundred Days Foundation Building' was only half completed due to lack of time.

The little monk Zhenhui, due to Meng Qi's exciting and intense "martial world stories," became even more admiring of him, almost following his every word.

However, Meng Qi still had not gotten the opportunity to leave the Miscellaneous Service Hall and enter the Martial Monks Hall.

"Junior Brother Zhen'ing, where are you going?" Zhenyong entered the Miscellaneous Service Hall and saw Meng Qi and Zhenhui holding brooms, preparing to go out. It was just after lunch.

Meng Qi answered excitedly, "Junior Uncle Xuanxin arranged for us to clean the Sutra Hall."

Mentioning this, Meng Qi felt unexpectedly delighted. After lunch, Xuanxin had instructed him and Zhenhui to clean the Sutra Hall, indicating that it would be their responsibility in the future.

Although Xuanxin clearly stated that they were only responsible for the lower two floors where the sutras were stored, and the upper floors would be cleaned by senior monks, Meng Qi couldn't help but be excited. The Sutra Hall, the place where the Shaolin's seventy-two supreme techniques were stored! How many martial and fantasy stories revolve around such places!

"I wonder if the 'Buddha Palm,' 'Sinew Metamorphosis Classic,' 'Maha Subduing Demon Fist,' and 'Great Dream Sutra' are in the Sutra Hall…" Meng Qi thought, his mind wandering.