Responding to the words "time will tell," Zen Lingzi arrived at Jian Xiaolou's door at precisely one quarter past midnight every night for over half a month. No amount of rejection could deter him, and his nightly lectures always circled back to the virtues of Buddhism, the profundity of its teachings, and the boundless compassion of the Buddha.
But no matter how persistently he preached, his disciple remained entirely unmoved. Despite her efforts to hide her feelings, Zen Lingzi could see the thinly veiled annoyance in her eyes.
After three days of self-reflection behind closed doors, Zen Lingzi decided to change tactics. Abandoning subtle persuasion, he unveiled his ultimate gambit:
"I have a gift for you."
Jian Xiaolou, who had been on the verge of nodding off, suddenly snapped awake.
"You're an Earth-type spiritual root, aren't you?" he asked.
Jian Xiaolou, suspecting he intended to bestow a cultivation technique, replied carefully, "I have Earth, Wood, and Metal spiritual roots, with Earth being the strongest."
"And what techniques do you currently practice?"
"Body Refinement Technique and Earth Shield Technique," she answered, handing over her cultivation manual with a slight bow.
"You may continue practicing those," Zen Lingzi said, barely glancing at her manual. He appeared lost in thought before declaring, "'Steadfast as the earth, serene and deep as the hidden treasure'—I shall bestow upon you the Great Mahayana Kṣitigarbha Ten-Wheel Sutra. How about that?"
A sutra?
The name of the text sparked recognition in Jian Xiaolou. In her modern life, she had come across its mention as part of the Three Kṣitigarbha Sutras, alongside the Sutra of the Fundamental Vows of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva and the Sutra of the Divination of the Effects of Good and Evil Karma. They were renowned for extolling the virtues of the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva.
Of course, this could just be a coincidence.
"What grade is this sutra?" she asked cautiously.
"It has no grade," Zen Lingzi replied.
"No grade?"
"True treasures are growth-oriented, unbound by rank. They evolve alongside the practitioner's cultivation and possess no upper limit," Zen Lingzi explained as he stood, removed his outer robe, and began unbuttoning his plain inner shirt. His eyes scanned the room.
"What are you looking for?"
"A pen," Zen Lingzi sighed, securing his outer robe again. "My cultivation is restricted, so I can't inscribe the technique onto a jade slip. I'll have to write it by hand."
Jian Xiaolou's mouth twitched. "I don't have a pen here, and I can't conjure one out of thin air. Should I go borrow one?"
Zen Lingzi shook his head. Instead, he bit his fingertip. "This will suffice."
Jian Xiaolou winced on his behalf.
With bold and fluid strokes, Zen Lingzi covered one side of the shirt with blood-red characters. Though the sight was shocking, he remained nonchalant as he explained:
"This Great Mahayana Kṣitigarbha Ten-Wheel Sutra contains six profound techniques. These range from Gravity Manipulation and Earth Guidance to Stone Golem Creation, Mountain and Sea Transference, and the Grand Mahā Techniques. Finally, should you form a karmic connection with Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, you might cultivate the Golden Kṣitigarbha Dharma Body. But be prepared—Buddhist techniques are unlike Daoist methods; they yield no immediate results."
When he handed her the bloody garment, Jian Xiaolou hesitated.
"If I cultivate the Kṣitigarbha Sutra, does that mean I'll become a Buddhist cultivator?" she asked.
Zen Lingzi's backstory as a victim of the Soul Imprint Curse softened her resentment toward him, but she had resolved never to set foot in the Southern Spirit Buddhist Kingdom unless absolutely desperate. No matter how good the sutra might be, she had no intention of touching it.
"The myriad paths lie within the heart," Zen Lingzi said, his hand hovering midair. "Practicing the techniques without cultivating the mind does not make one a Buddhist."
"Practicing techniques without cultivating the mind..."
After a moment's thought, Jian Xiaolou accepted the bloodstained shirt with both hands.
"Memorize it and destroy it afterward. This knowledge must not be shared," Zen Lingzi warned.
"I understand," she replied.
Noticing his still-bleeding fingertip, Jian Xiaolou suggested, "You should stop the bleeding, Senior..."
Zen Lingzi's expression softened. "It's no bother."
It may not bother him, but what about Li Jianzhao?
Jian Xiaolou bit her lip. As much as she disliked Li Jianzhao, she didn't want him dying from blood loss in her room.
"Senior, the body you're inhabiting isn't ordinary. Has no one noticed anything unusual?"
Possession typically harmed the host, draining their vitality or damaging their soul. Jian Xiaolou worried that Li Jianzhao might collapse before the long-legged tyrant made his move.
"A Golden Core cultivator periodically checks on him, but they won't notice anything. I'm using the Zi-Wu Fusion Technique, not a ghost clan possession method. Not only does it spare his soul, but it also nurtures his spiritual veins. His innate spiritual body is remarkable, so his odd behavior will raise no suspicions," Zen Lingzi said.
"The Zi-Wu Fusion Technique?"
Zen Lingzi explained that the technique, created by a long-forgotten ghost cultivator named Huai You, allowed human practitioners to merge with others, offering unique combat and survival advantages. Hearing this, Jian Xiaolou's interest piqued.
The defensive aspects of the Wu Fusion could shield her during danger, while the offensive Zi Fusion could wear down opponents stronger than herself. For someone like her, who couldn't kill, this was a lifesaving art.
"Senior, I don't need the sutra anymore. Could you teach me the Zi-Wu Fusion Technique instead?"
Zen Lingzi hesitated but eventually relented. "Fine. But heed this: If you ever encounter a narcissistic ghost who claims to be the most handsome in the world, never use this technique before him, or we're both doomed."
Jian Xiaolou couldn't help but laugh. Zen Lingzi, she thought, wasn't so bad after all.
A few weeks later, Jian Xiaolou was still practicing, her progress uncertain. Without a volunteer, her training stalled. Reluctantly, she approached Zhan Tianxiang, who eventually agreed to help, albeit with some misunderstanding.
After multiple clumsy attempts, her body became translucent—a sign of partial success. But when she tried to fuse with Zhan Tianxiang, her solid body inadvertently launched him into a tree.
From his perch, bleeding and dazed, Zhan Tianxiang muttered, "Are you sure this is a life-saving art?"