Immortal after a Hundred Reincarnations

More than a century after Xu Lei had presented the Steel Refining Technique, people in the Great Shang were now producing iron screws.

He had actually come up with them himself over the last decade, simply out of boredom.

"Ah?"

The Crown Princess Consort was also astonished. "Are they really that impressive?"

She inspected them and, naturally, found nothing out of the ordinary.

"Watch closely!"

Without another word, Xu Lei grabbed a screw.

The trick was that the ring on his hand was magnetic.

He used the principle of magnetic repulsion to launch the screw away.

"Amazing!"

The Crown Princess Consort couldn’t help but gasp. "How did you do that?"

Xu Lei had already put away the Iron Bowl and the copper plate from before.

But this bolt and screw showed no signs of being props.

Other than the bolt itself being magnetized.

"I will gift this to you, Patroness."

Xu Lei then added, "Inspect it as you wish."

His intention was to give her the magnetized bolt on purpose.

’Driven by curiosity, she’ll almost certainly try to find someone to figure it out.’

’But by the time she does, she’ll have already entered the Almsgiving Room.’

’And with something like Charitable Giving, once it happens the first time, a second time is sure to follow.’

’By then, the die would be cast.’

’She would have her child by then.’

’Only to discover that the Living Buddha she relied on was a fraud who got by with mere illusions.’

’The timing would be perfect.’

Of course.

These two tricks alone might be deciphered too quickly.

So, after a moment’s thought, Xu Lei performed a third trick.

Procuring an object from thin air!

Xu Lei held one palm open in front of him.

Then, with his other hand, he pulled a long string of Buddhist Beads from the palm of the first.

’Of course, this wasn’t purely a magic trick anymore.’

’I’ve hidden a Qiankun Cloth Bag in my sleeve.’

’The Buddhist Beads were already inside the Qiankun Cloth Bag.’

’Taking something out of the Qiankun Cloth Bag...’

’So it’s perfectly fine to pass it off as a magic trick for a performance.’

’And no mortal Illusionist in the world would ever be able to figure it out.’

’This way, I can firmly establish myself as a Living Buddha whose authenticity is impossible to determine.’

Of course, since the performance was so much like an illusionist’s act, the woman would likely lean toward judging Xu Lei to be a fake Living Buddha later on.

In short, everything he had shown her was the result of his careful planning.

"How did you do that?"

The Crown Princess Consort was flabbergasted. "These Buddhist Beads... where did they come from so suddenly?"

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei said, "You are a devout follower of the Buddha, Patroness.

I shall gift this string of Buddhist Beads to you."

As he spoke, Xu Lei even held out his arms for her to inspect.

After he had removed the beads, the Qiankun Cloth Bag had been pulled up into his armpit by a hidden string.

Naturally, she wouldn’t find anything.

All she would see was a bare arm and an ordinary Monk’s sleeve.

Yet a long string of Buddhist Beads had appeared from it out of thin air.

"So you really are a true Living Buddha!"

The Crown Princess Consort said in shock, "I was blind to not recognize an Enlightened Monk!

Since I am fortunate enough to have earned your favor, I beg you to grant me a son through Charitable Giving!

Please, relieve me of my suffering!"

"There’s no time like the present."

Xu Lei said, "Let the preparations for the Charitable Giving begin!

Bathe yourself.

Then come to the Almsgiving Room."

"Ah?"

The Crown Princess Consort asked, "So soon?"

"Are you unwilling?"

Xu Lei replied, "If you are unwilling, you may leave the mountain."

「Half an hour later.」

The Crown Princess Consort, of course, ultimately agreed.

In the temple’s Almsgiving Room.

Xu Lei held her tender, supple body and performed his "Charitable Giving" with wild abandon.

「Five days later.」

On this day.

In the Almsgiving Room.

"Living Buddha!"

The Crown Princess Consort, lying on Xu Lei’s chest, said, "My Illusionists have already figured out your first two tricks.

Only the third one remains unsolved."

Xu Lei simply smiled, saying nothing.

「Ten days later.」

On this day.

In the Almsgiving Room.

"Living Buddha, I’m pregnant! I’m pregnant!"

Overjoyed, she embraced Xu Lei. "How did you do it?

How did you cure me?

With such medical skill, why do you hide away in a temple as a Monk?"

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei said, "This humble monk has told you before, I am a true Enlightened Monk.

The very figure you spoke of—a Living Buddha in this world.

A child that others cannot grant, this humble monk can."

"Regardless... thank you."

The woman in his arms simply chuckled at his words, then kissed him. "Thank you! But I probably can’t come here again.

Now that I’m with child, everyone in the Eastern Palace is on edge.

I need to focus on nurturing this pregnancy."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei held her slender waist and kissed her lips. "The child has been conceived; the meritorious deed is done.

After tonight, you should not return, Patroness.

You have your child. Go down the mountain and live a good life.

Although you and I have been as close as could be these past days...

...I am ultimately a man of the cloth, merely bestowing merit on the Buddha’s behalf.

It is impossible for us to continue this relationship."

「The next day.」

Now pregnant, she was leaving the mountain.

"Living Buddha, what was the principle behind that third trick?"

Before she left, she couldn’t resist turning back to ask in a sweet voice, "Not a single one of those master Illusionists can replicate it!"

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei pressed his palms together. "This humble monk has already told you.

I am a true Enlightened Monk, a Living Buddha in this world!"

"Hmph. Fine, don’t tell me!"

She flashed a captivating smile. "There are plenty of extraordinary people in the world, anyway!

I refuse to believe not a single Illusionist can figure it out!

Farewell!"

「Three months later.」

Xu Lei had been at the Celestial Zen Temple for nearly five months.

However, since the Crown Princess Consort’s departure,

No other female Devotees suitable for Xu Lei’s "Charitable Giving" had arrived.

Some Devotees did come, but he had his other disciples handle their "Charitable Giving."

On this day,

Xu Lei went down the mountain into the city to feast.

Unexpectedly, he saw a beautiful, seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl in a red cloak galloping toward him on horseback.

"Dammit! Are you blind?"

She nearly crashed into Xu Lei, but instead of apologizing, she furiously cracked her whip. "This Princess’s horse is approaching, and you still don’t get out of the way?"

Xu Lei, of course, was not struck by the whip.

He had already stepped aside.

But as he looked at where the whip had viciously struck the ground right in front of him...

...a cold glint appeared in Xu Lei’s eyes.

’If I were a mere mortal, a blow like that would have split my skin open.’

"What are you looking at!"

But the girl in red retorted, "I, the Princess, am only giving you a scolding. That’s already magnanimous of me!

Don’t push your luck, Monk!"

After that, the red-robed girl and her entourage galloped away in a great rush.

Xu Lei thought for a moment but decided not to follow them for revenge.

’After all, a Cultivator in this Dharma Decline Era shouldn’t be looking for fights.’

However, to Xu Lei’s surprise, when he returned to the temple...

...he heard one of his disciples report that a Princess had come seeking a child.

Xu Lei went to see who it was and was astonished to find that the Princess seeking a child was none other than the arrogant, beautiful, red-robed girl from before.

It turned out that she had been married to the Prince Consort for over two years.

Yet, she had never been able to conceive.

At first, she hadn’t thought much of it.

But then, the Prince Consort had an affair, and the other woman got pregnant!

Only then did the Princess realize that she was the one who was infertile.

She had never considered coming to a temple to ask for a child.

She had only come because she heard that the Crown Princess Consort had become pregnant after her devout worship.

And so, she had come seeking the same miracle.

The Princess saw Xu Lei and recognized him as well.

A look of embarrassment could not help but cross her pretty face.