The fragrance of sandalwood wafts through the air, and the sound of bells echoes far and wide.

I sat kneeling on the prayer mat, gazing at Chan Guang behind the screen, who was striking a wooden fish without saying a word. His snow-white robe was spread out and piled on the bluestone floor, like wisps of mist swirling around the Cangshan Mountain.

Just like the mountainside of Lianhua Temple is shrouded in clouds and mist all day long, it is as if the gods and Buddhas use their robes to protect sentient beings out of compassion.

No wonder he was called a Buddhist disciple.

One of the geniuses of our time.

Why does Brother Xie sigh?

My barely audible sigh was caught by his keen senses, but I wasn't alarmed. I smiled and said, "It's your mind that's not at peace. You're chanting scriptures, yet you're paying attention to my sigh..."

After saying this, the other person stopped playing the wooden fish, let out a long sigh, and then stepped out from behind the screen.

He showed neither joy nor sorrow, but when his eyes and brows looked at me, he seemed slightly lost in thought.

"I mean, the fact that the person at Jingyun Mountain has finished their seclusion could be an uncertain factor affecting my plans, right?"

“Brother Xie comes from the Bu Tian Men school, so he can calculate it himself. Why do I need to guide you?”

He sat cross-legged opposite me, and I looked at his compassionate face, which seemed to be that of a deity, and suddenly smiled.

“Since my master took me back to the sect and raised me, he has told me since I was a child that there are some things that should not be calculated and cannot be calculated. If you calculate too much, you will easily lose your Dao heart and become a demon in a moment.”

The former head of Jingyun Mountain is the best example.

Because he saw his disciple ascend to immortality in the future, he was willing to "clear all obstacles" for him. Unfortunately, he himself fell into demonic possession before his disciple's ascension and made a terrible mistake!

Now, although I tell the other party that some things don't count, I actually let it go a long time ago.

We were destined to be apart; fate, with its harsh pronouncements, made us miss each other time and time again.

Master also said that, apart from the woman from Jingyun Mountain who has the destiny of a phoenix, the only other people in the world who can ascend to immortality are those born with the destiny of a phoenix and possess the qualities of a phoenix.

Attracted by the Phoenix Maiden, destined to be with her, he is a genius of his time.

I am not a Phoenix type, and I have no innate affinity for women destined for the Phoenix realm. Similarly, I have no chance of ascending to immortality.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but look at the Buddhist monk opposite me who had the destiny of a lone phoenix. When I mentioned the Phoenix Maiden of Jingyun Mountain, his eyes were as calm as if I were only talking to him about the weather outside.

"I heard that she came to see you when she came out of quarantine a few days ago..."

I probed Zenko further, asking him about Meijiu.

"Yeah, they called me 'little bald monk'."

Zenko responded calmly, but when he mentioned Mei Jiu, a hint of indulgence and helplessness flashed across his face.

Yes, they did grow up together after all...

I even regret that when Zen Guang saw through my destiny and karma at a glance, I asked him about my fate.

What I didn't expect was that he gave me my only hope at that time.

"Sincerity moves mountains; gods and Buddhas will always give those in dire straits a glimmer of hope."

Those discerning eyes that could see into a person's future and past told him that everything he had done would eventually be rewarded.

"Take it with you. With it, you can tell me anytime you feel lost."

A golden, thousand-petaled lotus flower fell into my palm. I don't know if it was my imagination, but this golden lotus flower felt icy cold.

If destiny indicates that only women with the Phoenix Fate and those with the Phoenix Destiny can become gods, and those with the Phoenix Destiny are naturally attracted to women with the Phoenix Fate, then there will be exceptions to break this rule.

If there is one, then there will be two, and countless things that contradict it will appear, and then destiny will no longer hold true.

What I want to do is create gods.

...

[Sect Leader Qi has recently arrived at our sect. Master is currently receiving him. I wish you all the best on your journey, Uncle-Master. — Xie Chen]

I watched as the message I sent to Mei Jiu via my teleportation talisman arrived in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Compared to my politeness and courtesy, she remained as unpretentious as she had been in childhood.

【Junior Nephew Xie!! Help!! Please don't let my senior brother know my whereabouts!! —Mei Jiu】

[May I ask where my master is currently traveling? My abilities are limited, and I can only temporarily disrupt the celestial secrets of his whereabouts, thus hindering my master's divination for a period of time. — Xie Chen]

That's enough! My dear junior disciple, sending you love!! My recent whereabouts are... —Mei Jiu

I looked at the several areas on the star chart in front of me that I had covered up earlier, one of which was the area that Mei Jiu was about to enter. I picked up the golden lotus and told its owner about Mei Jiu's whereabouts.

I find it increasingly difficult to see through the light of Zen.

What exactly is his reason for being on my side?

At the risk of dragging the entire Lotus Flower Temple down with it, this Buddhist disciple, born with the bones of a Buddha, should be saving the world, but now I see a dark aura on these golden lotuses.

...

Mei Jiu, this girl who has always been clueless, has actually fallen for a boy of unknown origin and ordinary background.

When I helped her "mess around" outside again, I discovered that she had picked up a boy, a wolfhound who looked unremarkable but whose eyes were full of ferocity.

"Zenlightenment, I can't calculate that kid's fate..."

For some reason, I couldn't tell anything from the other person's face, and their birth chart indicated an early and short life, completely different from his current situation.

My plan to create a god was unintentionally ruined by Mei Jiu quite a bit, but fortunately she didn't find any clues about it.

These failures have made me realize the difference between what is recognized by Heaven and what is created by human effort, and I need to make further modifications based on that.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!