The Sect Leader Has Taken in a New Female Disciple

Zhou Qing could hardly believe that the little novice who used to follow Master Jue Ming had grown into such a handsome and upright young man.

What shocked him even more was that in less than two hundred years, Kong Chan had already cultivated to Nascent Soul Great Perfection, just one step away from the Divinity Transformation Realm.

No wonder, being a bhikkhu like the one beside him, he treated him with such respect, not to mention that he had a master in the Spirit Severing Realm.

"I just arrived as well, you’ve grown so much I almost didn’t recognize you!" Zhou Qing laughed.

Kong Chan scratched his smooth head sheepishly, a gesture that still bore a shadow of the little novice he once was.

He then noticed the two people behind Zhou Qing and quickly gathered his emotions, putting his hands together and regaining a solemn Dharma Aspect.

Yet the joy in his eyes couldn’t be hidden: "And these two are..."

"My two friends." Zhou Qing introduced them with a smile, then lowered his voice, "I just heard about Lady Li’s matter..."

At these words, a hint of sadness flashed through Kong Chan’s eyes.

But he quickly smiled again: "She passed peacefully, it’s her blessing, and that one has come to terms with it. But you..."

He looked Zhou Qing up and down, "After all these years, how do you still look the same? Not a bit changed."

As soon as he said that, Kong Chan suddenly froze.

With his Nascent Soul Great Perfection cultivation, he couldn’t perceive Zhou Qing’s depth at all, even feeling a sense of pressure for a moment as if facing his master.

Zhou Qing only smiled without speaking, his gaze shifting to the depths of the main gate: "Is he there?"

Kong Chan understood and nodded: "He is. On the day Donor Li passed, he observed filial piety for three days and then severed the last trace of attachment, officially stepping into the Spirit Severing Realm a year ago."

"Spirit Severing Realm?" Zhou Qing’s pupils narrowed, full of disbelief.

"Yes." Kong Chan’s eyes were full of reverence, "Not only that, but he is also the second person besides you to cultivate ’Demon-Suppressing Golden Bone’ to Great Success while in the Divinity Transformation Realm."

Zhou Qing felt a storm surge in his heart.

This Buddha Son who was born looking like a five or six-year-old child had, in less than two hundred years, directly condensed a Nascent Soul, comprehended the Realm, severed attachments, and stepped into Spirit Severing.

Such cultivation speed could be compared to his fortuitous life.

No wonder multiple Spirit Severing Venerables were personally alarmed in the past to find him.

"What is his Dharma name now?"

"Gui Cang. Master says, ’One thousand years nurtures into the earth’s hidden treasures, ultimately attaining Perfection.’

"Gui Cang..." Zhou Qing murmured softly.

Cao Aman and Sun looked at each other, their gazes at Zhou Qing filled with surprise and doubt.

To be acquainted with a bhikkhu of such status, talking about the legendary Spirit Slash Great Power, what kind of background does this Zhou really have?

At this moment, the sky suddenly cracked open with a golden rift.

The Venerable Jue Ming, donned in a moon-white kasaya, walked out into the void, Buddha Light cascading down his body, and with each step, golden lotuses bloomed.

His face was serene, with a vermillion dot like blood on his forehead, and seven golden wheels of merit suspended behind his head.

The vast aura made all the monks bow and pay respects: "Greetings, Venerable!"

The lay disciples waiting in line were even more trembling, involuntarily prostrating themselves on the ground.

Cao Aman and Sun were also subdued by this immense pressure, their knees buckling to kneel.

Only Zhou Qing stood with his hands behind his back, looking up to meet Jue Ming’s gaze.

Jue Ming smiled slightly, lotus flowers blooming under his feet as he walked to Zhou Qing.

Kong Chan hurriedly paid his respects: "Disciple pays respect to Master."

Jue Ming nodded slightly, his gaze examining Zhou Qing closely.

Then he showed a look of surprise: "Long time no see. I didn’t expect, in just over a hundred years, you would have stepped into the Spirit Severing Realm."

"What?!" Kong Chan suddenly looked up at Zhou Qing, his eyes full of shock.

No wonder he couldn’t perceive Zhou Qing’s cultivation depth at all; it turns out the other party is already a Spirit Slash Great Power!

Prostrate on the ground, Cao Aman and Sun similarly looked up at Zhou Qing’s back with disbelief.

"Spirit Severing Realm? Is Brother Zhou really this Spirit Severing expert?" Cao Aman only felt his throat dry, his voice trembling.

Sun’s eyes widened, realizing she had always been calling him "Little Zhou" these past days, and a cold sweat instantly covered her back.

Zhou Qing, feeling the pressure emanating from Jue Ming, calmly said: "I didn’t expect that, among the top three Venerables in Jiyuan Temple, you have already reached Late-stage Spirit Severing."

Jue Ming smiled gently: "Let’s go, he should already be aware of your arrival."

Just as Zhou Qing was about to step forward, he paused: "This is Cao Aman, my brother, who has long admired Jiyuan Temple, I wonder if..."

Jue Ming turned his gaze to Cao Aman, pondering slightly: "Kong Chan, how about taking him as your disciple?"

Kong Chan put his hands together, respectfully responding: "Disciple will obey Master’s command."

He turned to Cao Aman, a gentle smile in his eyes: "Junior Brother Cao, please follow me."

Cao Aman stood there dumbfounded for a long while before regaining his senses, so excited he spoke incoherently: "I, I really can... Brother Kong Chan... no, Master..."

Sun was already in tears, incessantly kowtowing to Jue Ming and Zhou Qing: "Thank you, Venerable, thank you, seniors..."

Jue Ming nodded with a smile, then turned to Zhou Qing, gesturing for him to follow: "Donor Zhou, please accompany this humble monk into the temple for a talk."

Zhou Qing nodded slightly, following Jue Ming as they stepped through the vermilion temple gate.

The moment he crossed the threshold, he felt a cool Buddha Power wash over his entire body, as if even his Divine Soul had been cleansed.

"Fascinating!" Zhou Qing thought in awe.

...

As one of the top two Buddhist temples in Nanhuang State, Jiyuan Temple’s profound heritage and esteemed status are beyond question.

The entire temple’s hierarchy is divided into eight ranks:

Abbot.

Venerable (Late-stage Spirit Severing Realm).

Bodhisattva (Early-stage to Mid-stage Spirit Severing Realm).

Arhat (Divinity Transformation Realm Perfection).

Vajra (Early-stage to Late-stage Divinity Transformation Realm).

Bhikkhu (Nascent Soul Realm).

Novice Monk (Golden Core Realm).