Chapter 289: Dad Is So Fierce, Layperson, You Are the Buddha Child (6k)

Zhou Qing knew these two monks were searching for someone, but he hadn’t expected them to come from the Jiyuan Temple of the fifth-level cultivation nation.

After all, he had used the [Corpse-Feeling Scroll] to freely obtain the [Demon-Sealing Golden Bones] from the late Chan Master Kudi, who had reached the peak of the Severing Spirit realm.

What are the odds?

Wait—could they be looking for me?

“Zhou brother knows the Jiyuan Temple?” Shen Yunzhou asked, curious at Zhou Qing’s expression.

Realizing his slip, Zhou Qing immediately waved his hands. “No, no—I’ve only heard of a temple called Lanruo.”

“Well, from what I guess, Venerable Jue Ming traveled ten thousand miles just to pose these three Buddhist koans—he wants to find someone with innate spiritual aptitude and take them as a disciple!”

Shen Yunzhou said with certainty.

“Disciple!” all three exclaimed in unison.

Lu Yaoyao widened her eyes, Yan Xiao rubbed his chin, and Zhou Qing frowned slightly.

Shen Yunzhou nodded, his eyes gleaming. “Exactly. But if you could be taken in by Venerable Jue Ming, it would be like a carp leaping over the dragon gate—your fortune would soar overnight!”

“Not only would your own master be a Severing Spirit cultivator, but you’d have a whole host of uncles and aunts—no one in a fifth-level cultivation nation would dare disrespect the Jiyuan Temple!”

Hearing Shen Huangmao’s words, the three were deeply moved, exchanging glances filled with awe.

Clearly, the Jiyuan Temple’s influence in the Tianyun Holy Dynasty was extraordinary!

“Um… do you think, aside from lacking spiritual aptitude, my face and build look like something a monk should have?”

At that moment, Yan Xiao shyly patted his round face.

Everyone turned to stare at his narrow, squinting eyes.

Someone couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing—then everyone else followed, roaring with mirth.

“What’s so funny?” Yan Xiao asked, face flushed.

Shen Yunzhou clapped his shoulder, barely suppressing his grin. “Yan brother, to be honest, your build is perfect—you look exactly like one of those fat, gluttonous, lustful monks.”

“Get lost!” Yan Xiao feigned anger and shoved him.

Laughter faded, and the topic returned to the Jiyuan Temple’s disciple recruitment.

But Zhou Qing truly couldn’t help them—he didn’t understand this at all, and even if he faked it, lacking spiritual aptitude was lacking spiritual aptitude.

When they taught you Buddhist divine arts—say, the [Demon-Sealing Golden Bones]—could you even comprehend them?

You’d just get shipped back in disgrace!

He hadn’t expected them to be staying at the Qingyu Immortal Sect right now—thankfully he hadn’t followed them over.

What if they sensed my [Demon-Sealing Golden Bones]? How would I explain it?

It’s a secret technique of the Jiyuan Temple, never taught outside, and no one has ever successfully cultivated it to completion before reaching Soul Transformation. Even the worst excuse wouldn’t convince them.

Just then, Yan Xiao leaned in again, eyes gleaming. “Master Uncle said: people climb higher. If we core disciples can cling to the Jiyuan Temple’s big tree, our sect will only be happy.”

“Besides, taking more masters won’t hurt—as long as we keep Taiqingmen in our hearts!”

So far, every core and true transmission disciple was racking their brains to prepare for this upcoming “exam.”

Zhou Qing couldn’t help shaking his head—you could’ve just said you wanted to go.

Shen Huangmao’s family, the Shen clan, was a super-elite lineage; his sister was even at the late Severing Spirit realm—he’d never consider becoming a monk.

Lu Shimei didn’t need to be mentioned—she’d go to a nunnery if she ever wanted to become a nun.

But seeing Third Brother’s eager excitement, Zhou Qing couldn’t resist teasing him.

He grinned, clasped his hands together, and feigned solemnity: “Amitabha. From this monk’s view, Yan shi’s face radiates benevolence, with hidden spiritual light—you’re truly destined for the Buddha’s path…”

But before Zhou Qing finished speaking, his primordial spirit suddenly flared with searing golden light.

The divine art [Demon-Sealing Golden Bones] activated uncontrollably.

His face changed—he tried to stop it, but found himself powerless; his bones cracked repeatedly, golden patterns surging along his meridians and erupting across his skin.

The next instant, a hundred-zhang Buddha phantom erupted behind Zhou Qing.

The Buddha wore a gilded kasaya, brows like distant mountains, eyes brimming with compassion, right hand forming the Fearless Mudra, left hand cradling a seven-jeweled lotus platform swirling with radiant light.

Soft chanting echoed from the depths of space, reverberating across the entire Xiao Ling Peak.

At the same moment, Qingyu Immortal Sect!

Venerable Jue Ming, who had been meditating, suddenly opened his eyes and snapped his head toward the northeast.

His eyes filled with shock: “Kong Chan, go!”

Before his words faded, his withered hand seized the sleeping young monk’s collar; Buddhist power burst from his fingertips, tearing open space—master and disciple vanished into the void.

In the space of a breath, they reappeared at Taiqingmen’s Xiao Ling Peak.

Less than a hundred meters away stood four young figures.

One of them blazed with golden light; behind him hovered a majestic golden Buddha phantom.

Around the Buddha, countless sutra characters floated, Sanskrit chants ringing like temple bells, the recitation shaking the clouds into churning waves.

And he stood with hands clasped together!

The young monk Kong Chan rubbed his eyes, voice trembling: “Master, those are the sutra lines of the [Demon-Sealing Golden Bones]!”

Venerable Jue Ming’s throat bobbed; his voice nearly cracked: “C-C-Circled Completion level [Demon-Sealing Golden Bones]? How is this possible?”

“Only the abbot and Chan Master Kudi have ever completed this technique—and they were born with Buddha bones, achieving it only after reaching Severing Spirit peak!”

And that young man… his face looks familiar.

Right—the golden bird-man!

…

Zhou Qing was already panicking, sweat drenching his back.

What the hell—does this divine art have a bloodline recognition feature?

Just saying “Amitabha” triggered it?

Couldn’t stop it—this is a trap from my dad!

Without hesitation, he dropped his hands; the Buddha phantom above slowly dissolved.

Shhh!

A tearing sound echoed as Mo Xingjian shot toward the peak.

Seeing the compassionate Buddha phantom, then the flustered Zhou Qing, his expression turned grim.

He was about to speak when he spotted the two monks nearby—his heart sank.

Sect Master’s cursed mouth—

Shen Yunzhou, Yan Xiao, and Lu Yaoyao stared blankly, unable to process what they’d just seen.

“You’re all hallucinating! You all saw nothing!”

Seeing their gaping mouths, Zhou Qing wanted to chop off his own hands and whispered urgently.

Was it too late to hypnotize them now?

“You… you were a monk before?” Lu Yaoyao shrieked, eyes wide as saucers.

Wait—why had her dad never mentioned this?

Hold on—

If Sister Shen wasn’t his wife, did Dad become a monk, get desperate, sneak off, and break the celibacy vow?

Didn’t some temples have female Bodhisattvas—or even nunnery compounds nearby?

Or maybe someone came to offer incense, Dad got lustful, dragged her into the meditation hall or woodshed, and forcibly took her—thus conceiving me?

In an instant, Lu Yaoyao had conjured dozens of humiliating scenarios.

Shen Yunzhou rubbed his eyes, then beamed with fervor: “Zhou brother, I’ve finally witnessed true heavenly talent!”

“Others spend a hundred years striving for this Buddhist sacred image—you utter one phrase and the heavens resonate.”

“If you went to the Jiyuan Temple, those bald old monks would worship you as a living Buddha!”

Yan Xiao’s throat felt dry, his eyes burning with longing.

He blurted: “Fourth Brother, is this the legendary ‘words become law’? Can you say one phrase to make me break through to Severing Spirit?”

Zhou Qing’s face flushed awkwardly, filled with regret.

He was about to explain when Mo Xingjian stepped forward from behind him, his expression grave as he stared at Jue Ming and Kong Chan.

He bowed respectfully: “I wonder, Venerables—why have you suddenly come to Taiqingmen?”

Zhou Qing and the others instantly paled; only then did they realize the two monks had appeared nearby without a sound.

With the dual-color formation guarding Taiqingmen, their silent arrival could mean only one thing: Shen Yunzhou was right.

They were Severing Spirit cultivators—had torn through space to arrive.

“Damn it!” was Zhou Qing’s first thought.

At that moment, Jue Ming gently lifted his foot and appeared before them.

Jue Ming clasped his hands: “Amitabha. I am Jue Ming, and this is my disciple Kong Chan. We apologize for this sudden visit.”

Kong Chan bowed obediently, but his bright eyes curiously wandered over Zhou Qing.

“I’ve got something to do—I’m leaving!” Zhou Qing turned to flee.

Jue Ming quickly said: “May I ask, shi, how do you possess the Jiyuan Temple’s [Demon-Sealing Golden Bones]?”

Shen Yunzhou and the others all turned their gazes to Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing’s heart turned cold—he knew he could fool others, but never these two monks.

He stopped, forcing calm as he frowned: “Demon-Sealing Golden Bones? I don’t know what you mean.”

Jue Ming chanted a Buddha’s name, his eyes gleaming: “Amitabha. This divine art is our temple’s supreme secret, never taught outside. Its cultivation is as difficult as climbing to heaven.”

“Only the abbot and Chan Master Kudi have ever completed it—and both were born with Buddha bones, achieving it only after reaching Severing Spirit peak.”

At these words, Lu Yaoyao covered her mouth in a soft gasp, Yan Xiao Hu’s eyes widened in shock, and Mo Xingjian’s face turned pale all at once.

A master of the Cutting Spirit realm’s peak was like a god to them—how could Zhou Qing possibly possess such a divine art?

Surrounded by so many stares, Zhou Qing involuntarily swallowed hard, his mind racing.

He stole a quick glance at Shen Huangmao.

Number Six had seen his “Subduing Demon Golden Bones.” If this guy accidentally let something slip, Shen Hanyi might suspect him.

As Zhou Qing frantically searched for an excuse, Kong Chan asked curiously, “Are you the Buddha Child?”

Zhou Qing froze.

“Buddha Child? What does that mean?”

Shen Yunzhou, however, seemed to recall something, murmuring: “One flower blooms into five leaves, fruit naturally forms. The old depart on cranes, the new lotus breaks through the soil… Could Master Ku’e of your temple…?”

He snapped his head up. “Wasn’t it said he had already shattered his limits and taken that final step?”

Hearing Shen Yunzhou’s words, Jue Ming and Kong Chan immediately turned to him in surprise.

Soon, Jue Ming seemed to remember something, clasping his hands together: “I once heard that among the Eight Great Families, the Shen family once had a prodigious youth who grasped a peculiar realm.”

“That time, impure substances rained from the sky for three days straight. Many claimed all the filth of Southern Phoenix Continent had been gathered and dumped upon the Shen family.”

“Had the Shen ancestral patriarch not been attached to their ancestral land, they might have relocated entirely.”

Hearing Jue Ming’s words, Shen Yunzhou’s face flushed, then he cleared his throat: “Indeed, that was me. I never imagined Reverend Jue Ming had heard of my so-called ‘fame.’”

As he spoke, he ran a hand through his newly grown dung-yellow hair, deliberately adopting a carefree posture, yet unable to hide the redness creeping up his ears.

Jue Ming smiled faintly. “Amitabha. It was merely because Shen’s realm was so shocking and unprecedented that I happened to hear of it.”

Jue Ming’s words instantly made Shen Yunzhou puff out his chest, his pride unmistakable.

He then turned to Lu Yaoyao. “Hear that? When you grasp a realm, grasp one that’s truly unique. You still look down on me!”

Lu Yaoyao let out a series of hollow laughs.

Then Jue Ming turned his gaze back to Zhou Qing and explained: “Shen’s words were correct—our abbot has indeed passed into nirvana.”

“In our Jiyuan Temple’s lineage, only one Buddha Child emerges per age. Only after the previous Buddha Child enters nirvana do the Bodhisattvas select a new one.”

Zhou Qing finally understood.

So they weren’t here to take disciples—they were here to find the Buddha Child.

“I’m not the Buddha Child you’re looking for!” Zhou Qing quickly waved his hands in denial.

Jue Ming clasped his hands, his tone calm: “Who the Buddha Child is, no one knows—not even us.”

“You say you’re not—does that make you not? You say you are—does that make you so?”

Zhou Qing: “...”

Mo Xingjian stepped forward, placing himself before Zhou Qing.

“Reverend Jue Ming, Zhou Qing is a disciple of Taiqingmen and my own student. To declare him the Buddha Child based solely on a strange phenomenon is far too hasty!”

Jue Ming shook his head slowly. “Master, you misunderstand. Buddha’s affinity knows no sect or lineage. The first Buddha Child was once an ordinary mortal.”

“Moreover, I never claimed he is the Buddha Child we seek—I only wish to know how this Zhou disciple came to master our ‘Subduing Demon Golden Bones.’”

Mo Xingjian opened his mouth to argue, but found no words.

Stealing another sect’s ultimate art was a grave taboo in the cultivation world—especially when the sect was Jiyuan Temple, guarded by a Cutting Spirit master.

Just as Mo Xingjian was about to fabricate a story and take all blame onto himself—

Zhou Qing gently tugged his master’s sleeve, stepped forward, and gave him a reassuring look.

The more you explain, the more holes you create.

And a Cutting Spirit monk isn’t easily fooled.

Zhou Qing looked at Jue Ming, bowed, and spoke calmly: “Reverend, to be honest, the Buddhist divine art you mentioned—I bought it from a street vendor.”

“Bought it?” Jue Ming blinked in surprise.

Zhou Qing nodded seriously. “Yes. It cost me fifteen mid-grade spirit stones.”

Jue Ming fell silent.

The “Subduing Demon Golden Bones” had once been Jiyuan Temple’s secret, but that was long ago.

Due to its extreme difficulty and few successful practitioners, the temple eventually lifted all restrictions.

Even now, many monks could study it—but reaching its peak? Nearly impossible.

After all, the art’s purpose is to help cultivators sever attachments and enter the Cutting Spirit realm.

Yet only the abbot and the late Chan Master Ku Di ever achieved its perfection.

And even they reached perfection only after already attaining the Cutting Spirit realm.

If you’ve already cut your attachments, why bother perfecting this art? It seems redundant.

Jiyuan Temple had many monks; each year, some vanished without a trace.

So it was perfectly reasonable that the “Subduing Demon Golden Bones” and other Buddhist arts had leaked outside.

But—

Jue Ming’s gaze burned as he stared at Zhou Qing. “I sense your physical foundation is likely under forty years old, yet you’ve already reached the Soul Transformation realm’s mid-stage—and perfected the ‘Subduing Demon Golden Bones.’”

“Such talent is unprecedented. No one has ever perfected it while still in the Soul Transformation realm.”

“I wish to know—how long did it take you to perfect it?”

At this, Kong Chan’s curiosity surged; faintly, a Buddha image seemed to emerge on his forehead.

Facing Jue Ming’s question, Zhou Qing could only reply: “I am dull-witted. I began cultivating it since the Qi Condensation stage.”

Yan Xiao Hu glanced at Zhou Qing instinctively.

Is that true?

We’ve been together all this time—when did you ever practice Buddhist divine arts?

Did you pick this up years ago at the Five Sects Exchange Fair?

“Master, this Zhou disciple is lying!” Kong Chan scratched his forehead.

Zhou Qing: “...”

Monks don’t lie—but I’m not a monk. How do you know I’m lying?

Jue Ming bowed. “Zhou disciple, I will not pursue the origin of this art. I can even authorize its legal transfer to you.”

“But I have one request: how long did it truly take you to perfect it?”

Zhou Qing met Jue Ming’s burning gaze, then glanced at Shen Yunzhou and the others. He cleared his throat. “You swear I can legally use it afterward?”

“Monks do not lie,” Jue Ming affirmed.

Zhou Qing sighed. “Fine. This art is indeed hard to master—I spent ten full years.”

“Master Zhou, though young, I have never lied. And lying to a child is wrong,” Kong Chan said, bowing respectfully.

Zhou Qing: “...”

Jue Ming shook his head helplessly. “Zhou disciple, this answer is vital to me—it concerns a secret within Jiyuan Temple.”

Zhou Qing looked at the two persistent figures, his gaze lingering on Kong Chan.

The little monk looked no more than seven or eight, yet already possessed Foundation Establishment realm cultivation—and seemed able to discern truth from falsehood.

Was it related to the Buddha image on his forehead?

Fortunately, he’d claimed the art came from a street vendor—he hadn’t activated this talent. Otherwise, he’d have no explanation.

But if he kept lying, would this Cutting Spirit master snap?

What if he performed a soul-search and found Zhou Qing’s spiritual sense inaccessible? Wouldn’t that make him even more interested?

After brief thought, Zhou Qing looked at the two and ventured: “Alright, I admit I lied. This art is actually simple—I glanced at it, maybe a few breaths, and learned it.”

It should be true. After all, back in Zone Six, after using the “Corpse-Touching Scroll” on Chan Master Ku Di, he’d instantly comprehended it.

Hearing this answer, Kong Chan’s eyes widened in shock, his breathing quickening.

Jue Ming felt the claim was absurd.

A few breaths?

Even a Buddha reincarnated couldn’t possess such an unnatural talent.

But seeing Kong Chan’s extreme reaction—and the color of his “True-Eye”—Jue Ming’s heart lurched. He turned sharply, staring at Zhou Qing in disbelief.

Zhou Qing wasn’t lying?

He truly mastered the “Subduing Demon Golden Bones” in a few breaths?

This—this—

In that moment, Jue Ming’s entire understanding of the art shattered. He finally grasped what “shocking and unprecedented” truly meant.

The Buddha Child—this truly is the Buddha Child!

And the most terrifying one in history!

Abbot Ku’e, the former Buddha Child, had begun cultivating the “Subduing Demon Golden Bones” since his Golden Core stage—but only reached perfection after entering the Cutting Spirit realm.

And even then, he’d done so with the guidance of countless Bodhisattvas, Vajras, and Reverends from past generations.

But Zhou Qing? He bought a jade slip from a street vendor for a few spirit stones, glanced at it once, and perfected it in a few breaths?

Thinking of it, Jue Ming’s heart pounded violently, even threatening to make him faint.

The Bodhisattvas’ divination was correct.

The Buddha Child truly was here!

Jiyuan Temple might truly rise this lifetime!

“Master, Zhou disciple isn’t lying—he—” Kong Chan, now recovered, trembled as he pointed at Zhou Qing.

Mo Xingjian and the others stared at Zhou Qing, stunned.

They did not understand the depth of this Buddhist technique, but even the most basic spell could not possibly be learned within a few breaths.

Could it be because of the Four Flowers Gathering at the Crown?

Thinking of this, Mo Xingjian and Yan Xiao exchanged a glance—only they two knew the true circumstances.

Lu Yaoyao’s eyes sparkled, her cheeks flushed red, her fists clenched tightly then suddenly released.

At this moment, there was nothing left but admiration.

【Heart Mirror Points +9】

The label above his head changed from 【So Bold】 to 【So Amazing】!

Zhou Qing knew they had misunderstood, and became even more certain that the young monk truly possessed the ability to discern truth from falsehood.

But now that his “Subduing Demon Golden Bones” had received official authorization, he no longer needed to worry much when using it in the future.

Still, some things needed to be clarified in advance.

“I am not the Buddha Son!” Zhou Qing said solemnly.

Jue Ming clasped his hands together, a string of prayer beads slowly turning between his fingers; he suppressed his inner excitement and said, “The position of Buddha Son is never determined by self-proclamation or self-denial.”

Kong Chan also hurriedly said, “The layperson must surely be the Buddha Son—I have never seen anyone with such terrifying comprehension of our Buddhist techniques.”

Zhou Qing replied, “I speak the truth—why not now pull out any scripture or technique similar to ‘Subduing Demon Golden Bones’ and see if I can learn it on the spot?”

(End of Chapter)