Chapter 378: Heavenly Bamboo

Western Pure Land, Heavenly Bamboo Country.

This is the birthplace of the practitioners of the Western Teaching, and can also be said to be the foundation of the entire Western Pure Land.

Therefore, the Western Teaching is the state religion in the Heavenly Bamboo Country.

And the practitioners of the Western Teaching are greatly respected in the Heavenly Bamboo Country; even the king must treat them well.

"These are the clothes of the Heavenly Bamboo Country, truly interesting!"

Walking down the streets of the Heavenly Bamboo Country, Qiongxiao Xianzi gazed at the exotic surroundings, and her playful heart couldn't help but rise.

Meanwhile, Bixiao Xianzi likewise wore the attire of the Heavenly Bamboo Country.

"I say, I have legitimate business coming here; why did you two run over?"

Ao Yifan looked at Qiongxiao Xianzi and Bixiao Xianzi, and spoke with a helpless expression.

"Tch, what legitimate business could you possibly have?"

Qiongxiao Xianzi said disdainfully: "You came here just to find someone to bear your children; tell me, who have you set your sights on this time?"

Hearing this, Ao Yifan's face showed speechlessness.

Am I really the type who, upon seeing a woman, wants her to bear my child?

Alright, Qiongxiao Xianzi really has a keen eye for people.

After all, this is a fact, and Ao Yifan cannot refute it.

"Well, this time the situation is a bit special; you two must not cause trouble for me later."

Ao Yifan said.

"Fine, I'll just quietly watch your performance."

Qiongxiao Xianzi nodded.

Upon hearing this, Ao Yifan immediately sat cross-legged in the street.

The next moment, only seeing his palms pressed together, and then the ground beneath him sprouted a Bodhi tree.

Ao Yifan himself sat cross-legged atop the Bodhi tree, and on the tree grew many Bodhi fruits, each emanating spiritual light.

This sight left the surrounding passersby stunned.

The next moment, many passersby knelt and paid homage to Ao Yifan.

After all, they clearly knew that this person before them was a practitioner of the Western Teaching, and the citizens of the Heavenly Bamboo Country held a fervent admiration for such practitioners.

Seeing that the time was about right, Ao Yifan said: "I am the Sage, the Venerable Joy; seeing the suffering of the world, I have descended specially, planted this Bodhi tree; all people may pray and worship, and the sincere may obtain one Bodhi fruit; eating it ensures no illness or calamity."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces lit up with joy.

The next moment, a woman with somewhat disabled legs stepped forward and sincerely prayed.

Immediately after, a Bodhi fruit trembled slightly and fell into the old woman's hand.

"Thank you, Sage!"

The old woman, tears of gratitude streaming, immediately swallowed the Bodhi fruit in one gulp.

The next moment, amid everyone's shocked gaze, the old woman's originally somewhat disabled legs instantly recovered.

It really is true!

In an instant, everyone began to go mad.

After all, the practitioners they had encountered before mostly accepted their offerings, and rarely gave anything in return.

But this Sage before them not only does not require their offerings, but directly bestows such miraculous fruit.

This, is truly a Sage!

"Second Sister, what do you think he's preparing to do?"

Bixiao Xianzi looked at Ao Yifan and couldn't help but ask Qiongxiao Xianzi beside her.

"What for? Fishing!"

Qiongxiao Xianzi pursed her lips and said: "He always likes to play new tricks; I just don't know how big the fish he's catching this time is."

Soon, the news of the Sage's descent in the capital spread throughout the Heavenly Bamboo Country.

Countless people flocked to the capital, just to worship the Sage and pray for a Bodhi fruit that cures illness and averts disaster.

Moreover, this fruit has demonstrated countless miracles.

Regrowing severed limbs and restoring sight to the blind are merely trivial; indeed, some have personally witnessed a dying person, after consuming a Bodhi fruit, instantly becoming vigorous and lively.

However, seeking a Bodhi fruit requires not only sincerity, but also that one possesses merit.

And those heinous evildoers not only cannot obtain a Bodhi fruit, but their sins will also be revealed one by one beneath the Bodhi tree, and they will eventually be arrested.

And this matter, the more it spread, the more mysterious it became, eventually drawing the king of the Heavenly Bamboo Country!

The king and queen arrived, and were soon separated onto different paths.

Ao Yifan merely glanced at the queen indifferently, then calmly closed his eyes again.

"Pray to the Sage to grant the queen a Bodhi fruit, curing her infertility!"

Having said that, the king and queen bowed sincerely.

But to the king and queen's disappointment, no matter how sincerely they prayed, the Bodhi tree showed no response.

"Sage, please have mercy on your most faithful follower!"

The king could not help but speak.

"Alas——"

After a long sigh, Ao Yifan finally spoke: "The queen's condition is quite special; her offspring are destined to sit atop the pinnacle of the First Meditation Heaven, yet your lowly status means you have no qualification to be the father of this child."

Hearing this, the king of the Heavenly Bamboo Country's face changed.

Everyone in the Heavenly Bamboo Country knows that the First Meditation Heaven is a realm of great ease and great purity, the abode of the gods of the Heavenly Bamboo Country.

And the pinnacle of the First Meditation Heaven—doesn't that mean the queen's child is bound to be the most exalted among the gods?

Indeed, I have no right to be this child's father!

The King of Tianzhu thought to himself.

The next moment, he saw him bow down again to Ao Yifan.

Please, sage, point the way!

Enough, enough!

Ao Yifan sighed: "This sage pities the suffering of the world, and your queen's child will surely be the god who will relieve all suffering in this world; thus, I will help you!"

As he spoke, Ao Yifan slowly floated down from the bodhi tree.

Take this sage to your palace; I will personally purify the queen's body so that she may give birth to the Lord of Initial Meditation Heaven!

Ao Yifan said.

Thank you, sage!

The King of Tianzhu thanked him again, and together with the beautiful queen, he brought the sage back to the palace.

But after Ao Yifan left, the once vibrant bodhi tree instantly withered.

As for the remaining bodhi fruits, they all fell into the hands of those with merit.

Thus, the legend of the sage's descent to save the world has been passed down in Tianzhu Kingdom.

Of course, the legend continues—what naturally follows is what happened after the sage entered the palace.

……

Ao Yifan stepped into the queen, and wherever he passed, all the people of Tianzhu knelt in worship.

Suddenly, Ao Yifan's foot paused, and he gazed at a beautiful maiden nearby.

Noticing Ao Yifan's gaze, the king immediately explained: "Sage, this is my sister."

Mm

Ao Yifan nodded: "Bring her in as well; she too will give birth to the god of heavenly beings, and in the future she will also be qualified to enter the Formless Realm."

Hearing this, the king rejoiced, gave a few instructions to his sister, and she immediately entered the king's former bedchamber together with the queen to receive Ao Yifan's baptism.

I hope it succeeds!

The king, accompanied by all the palace nobles, knelt devoutly outside the bedchamber.