Becoming a Deity from Planting the Bodhi Tree

His agreement was crisp and decisive; any moment of hesitation would have been his fault.

Three million!

A high-energy nutrition bar worth 6666—he could eat one and throw away two!

Not only did he gather enough for an interstellar scenic tour, but he even had a million leftover!

"Does the Religious Administration have this much money?" he curiously asked.

Among the various departments of the Federation, the Religious Administration was probably the most low-key. He wasn't even sure if Taian City had such a department, as he had never seen it in any official consultations.

"Actually, three million isn't much," Zhang Chongba shrugged, "The Federation's bounty offers aren't mainly about the money; the most valuable thing is 'Merit Points.'"

"Merit Points?"

"Yes, Merit Points."

Zhang Chongba nodded,

"It's a very simple credit exchange system, but the one who set up the framework of this system is the Federation's largest force—the Federation itself."

"Unfortunately, if you were employed within the Federation system, this task could become a pretty part of your resume."

Ji Jingqiu's eyes shone as he said, "Does the external combat system of the Order Office count?"

"Oh?"

Zhang Chongba was somewhat surprised to glance at Ji Jingqiu and nodded,

"Of course it counts. Brother, you joined the external combat system of the Order Office? Not bad; it's the most free for you."

Leng Dao suddenly said, "Qiu, afterward, if Li Buyi is executed, I could try to arrange an entry evaluation for you."

Hearing this, Zhang Chongba's face twitched, this time completely unsure.

Because that sentence was a bit too complicated to handle, and he didn't have the authority.

What was the real relationship between Leng Dao and Ji Jingqiu? Were they really just online friends?

Within the Federation, the Religious Administration was independent of any system, responsible only for religious and divine matters.

In terms of responsibilities, any department had to fully cooperate without error!

Even the Tax Bureau, which claimed to have spent 500 billion to enhance and strengthen armed forces in previous years, had to yield.

Additionally, they held the highest security clearance in the Federation.

Even the security clearance held by the Federation Security Bureau ranked below theirs.

It was said that during the early days of the Federation's establishment, the first director of the Security Bureau slammed the table, furiously shouting that this was a joke of a security bureau, and they might as well give the name to them!

To the regret of many Administration members in later generations, their first director was somewhat thin-skinned back then.

Otherwise, they would now be called the "Federation Religious Security Administration."

For such a real-power department, the entry threshold could be imagined; they never recruited external personnel and had their own internal recruitment standards and recommendation process, with many strict conditions, one of which was targeting spiritual cultivation.

After all, one of the areas they presided over was artificial deities, so they naturally held very high requirements for spiritual cultivation talents.

Speaking of which...

From the earlier conversation, it seemed Ji Jingqiu ignited his Heart Fire during the Body Refining Stage?

With a shift in thoughts, Zhang Chongba noticed some previously overlooked details.

Like the faint fragrance on Ji Jingqiu and the spiritual ocean aura hidden under the intense Zen.

Zhang Chongba couldn't help but ask, "Brother, have you already entered the spiritual ocean? Was it my second uncle who guided you?"

Upon hearing this, Leng Dao's gaze also fixed as he awaited Ji Jingqiu's response.

Ji Jingqiu hesitated a bit and shook his head, "Yesterday, during a visualization practice, I had some insights and accidentally went deeper, almost unable to return."

Zhang Chongba tried probing further, "Where are you in your martial arts cultivation now?"

"I'm currently in the Opening Veins stage."

"Still Opening Veins?" Zhang Chongba's gaze was puzzled.

Did he sense it wrong, or wasn't this the treasure body prototype after Breaking Limit?

Leng Dao took over the topic, "Qiu, are you planning to Break Five Limitations and then Reverse Innate to solve the Evil Poison Disease problem?"

"Yes."

"Evil Poison Disease?!"

Zhang Chongba's gaze wavered, shifting between Leng Dao and Ji Jingqiu, finally understanding why Leng Dao cared so much about Ji Jingqiu.

Leng Dao took a deep breath, said,

"Qiu, I actually came here intending to take you back and find a good Martial Arts master to guide your training. But since you're learning martial arts from Lao Ba's second uncle, that should be no problem. Mr. Yang is quite adept at teaching disciples, after all; Chongba was brought up directly by him."

Hearing this, Zhang Chongba's burly frame instinctively shrunk, recalling certain unforgettable past events.

Leng Dao turned to Zhang Chongba, seemingly seeking verification of his statement.

Zhang Chongba awkwardly laughed and nodded, passionately promoting his second uncle,

"My second uncle is unmatched in training disciples, especially in the Body Refining Realm, truly expert-level! You've seen Yang Yao, right?"

"Yang Yao, the senior brother?"

"This kid is already a senior brother?"

Zhang Chongba clicked his tongue,

"Last time I saw him, he had just started practicing. This kid's martial arts talent was actually quite average, but under my second uncle's training, he managed to break the three limitations! How his Heart Image turns out later, hard to say, but the four Chains have decent hope."

"Bage, how many limitations did you break?" Ji Jingqiu curiously asked.

"Me?" Zhang Chongba touched his bald head, "Under my second uncle's guidance, of course, I broke all Five Limits."

Ji Jingqiu immediately looked at him with admiration.

Zhang Chongba enjoyed it and waved his hand modestly, "It's nothing. Brother, keep at it, you can do it too!"

Leng Dao continued,

"Qiu, I'll speak straightforwardly: I want your current data and your body data or blood sample after Reversing Innate. Additionally, I'd like you to accompany me to convince a few of my relatives, telling them that Evil Poison Disease is not incurable; there is hope as long as we persist. As compensation, I can pay you a large sum of Federation currency, or even cover your cultivation resources from now until you Reverse Innate!"

Ji Jingqiu pondered for a moment and said, "Lord Blade, you want to verify that martial arts can indeed cure the Evil Poison Disease?"

"Yes," Leng Dao affirmed.

Ji Jingqiu was silent for a moment: "Lord Blade, does someone around you also have the Evil Poison Disease?"

Leng Dao's voice was low as he replied, "My niece, last year my sister gave birth to a girl, and afterward she was diagnosed with Evil Poison Disease."

Zhang Chongba let out a sigh.

He knew about this too; Leng Dao's niece was extraordinary, born with intelligence, possessing an unusual constitution with an innate cultivation body prototype. Based on that alone, she was predetermined by a Martial Arts Master to be his last disciple. Unfortunately...

At the time, he even advised Leng Dao to be rational, suggesting his sister sign off on euthanasia early to spare the child some suffering.

Ji Jingqiu, after a long silence, slowly began speaking:

"Lord Blade, I express my opinion from the perspective and stance of a current Evil Poison Disease patient—

*I do not recommend making that kind of decision.*"

Zhang Chongba's gaze deepened.

Leng Dao's chest heaved violently.

"These sixteen years have been excruciating and difficult."

Ji Jingqiu spoke each word with intention, his expression earnest and serious, articulating a harsh reality,

*"Many times, I've thought how much better it would have been if I hadn't been born back then. So, I can't, and I refuse to use my personal experiences to influence the life direction of another patient."*

*Ji Jingqiu questioned himself—if he weren't a transmigrator with mature wisdom, could he have truly persevered?*

*The answer was unknown.*

*Thus, he couldn't make choices for others based on his own experiences.*

*All he could do was be honest with Leng Dao, revealing his true feelings.*

Leng Dao wanted to retort, but as he opened his mouth, he found it bitter, lowering his head in resignation.

Even the medical authority of the Federation Central Hospital did not have the right to overshadow the boy's voice on this subject.

No one knew better than Ji Jingqiu the price for enduring these sixteen years.

Zhang Chongba's thoughts drifted.

He pondered—

*If Ji Jingqiu had expressed support, using himself as a case study to encourage them that the Evil Poison Disease isn't terminal...*

*Then Leng Dao, his sister, and even her family might have clung to it as a last lifeline.*

Leng Dao had subtly hinted enough already.

As long as Ji Jingqiu was willing to help with this favor—not mentioning anything else, just the martial arts resources needed by Ji Jingqiu until Reversing Innate—Leng Dao and the others would offer them without needing Ji Jingqiu to implore...

Yet, Ji Jingqiu—who earlier stood firm on the "citizen obligation" banner—didn't do so.

He simply gave his heartfelt advice.

No one doubted the sincerity in his words.

But for Leng Dao, that sincerity was particularly painful.

Because it clearly signaled their decision was a great torment to that infant girl barely nearing her first birthday.

Suddenly, Leng Dao raised his head, as if grasping at a lifeline, inquiring,

"Qiu, what decision did your parents make back then?"

Ji Jingqiu paused, then smiled faintly:

"On my first birthday, they prepared a 'Zhuazhou' ceremony, claiming to see what I wanted for myself."

Leng Dao turned silent, and softly said, "That's a brilliant idea. Thank you, Qiu. I will convey your thoughts and your parents' wisdom entirely to my sister."

He slowly forced a small smile:

"In two months, my niece will be a year old.

"She's naturally smart, even calling out to people when only a few months old. If it's her, she surely will understand our intentions..."

Ji Jingqiu seriously added, "When that time comes, if she chooses to persevere, please let me know, and I'll send her a gift."

The medicine recipe developed by his parents, while it would gradually increase the pain, at least allowed the girl to live a normal life.

Of course, how to choose remained up to them.

The topic concluded, and a moment of silence followed.

Zhang Chongba rubbed his bald head, cheerfully breaking the silence first with a toast:

"Dao, regardless, we chose the right brother! Let's all have a drink together!"

Leng Dao's brows softened, and he smiled, raising his glass.

The three of them raised their glasses and clinked them together.

After putting down his glass, Ji Jingqiu voiced the doubt that had been lingering in his mind,

"Bage, what exactly is the Supreme True Buddha Sect, and what is Zen Buddha's Destiny?"