Yang An was desperate to cultivate this technique, but he couldn’t show his eagerness in front of Elder Monk Hai Shu.

Otherwise, if anything seemed amiss in the future, the possibility of arousing suspicion would only increase.

’But if I frame this as a response to what Elder Monk Hai Shu just said...’

’This technique is difficult to cultivate, but as the esteemed True Buddha Reincarnation, how could I shrink back from a little hardship?’

’No one else has mastered it in a thousand years?’

’Then I will be the second! And I will surpass my predecessor!’

That way, in Elder Monk Hai Shu’s eyes, his motivation would change. He wouldn’t be cultivating this Body Refining Technique simply to obtain it, but rather to prove his innate talent and affirm his status.

The two motivations were fundamentally different.

Sure enough, Hai Shu Bodhisattva seemed very satisfied with Yang An’s response.

"Yuan Ji, to have such determination is truly a blessing for our Land of Great Virtue and Goodness.

It seems it won’t be long before our Land of Great Virtue and Goodness sees the second person in a thousand years to master the Jade Kala Vajra Body!"

Hai Shu Bodhisattva’s words expressed complete confidence in Yang An’s talent, but in truth, he wasn’t overly optimistic. Such situations had arisen before, after all.

If he succeeded, the Jade Kala Vajra Body might flourish at Great Virtue Temple through Yang An’s efforts. Perhaps the technique could even be improved again, making it easier to cultivate.

If he failed, the worst that could happen was that this Body Refining Technique would be sealed away for good, and they would cease any further attempts.

As for Yang An, as the Buddha’s Son of Great Virtue Temple, he would naturally need to be compensated. It wouldn’t be too late to make amends then; it would simply mean giving him another chance to choose a different technique.

"Thank you, Bodhisattva!"

Yang An bowed with great sincerity.

Meanwhile, Hai Shu Bodhisattva tapped repeatedly within the illusory scroll, his fingertips dancing and shifting.

The mountains, rivers, clouds, and mist, the clear, shimmering light on the water—all of it shifted and transformed in the blink of an eye.

Countless Scripture Mantras appeared, detaching themselves from the scroll to float in mid-air.

The Scripture Mantras enveloped the two of them, then rapidly expanded until they filled the entire Heart Buddha Hall.

The illusory scroll began to vanish. It was as if everything was sinking into a vortex, and the Heart Buddha Hall suddenly grew bright.

Under Hai Shu Bodhisattva’s guidance, the Scripture Mantras floating in the air immediately converged into the vortex as well.

"Clear heart, empty nature; with Great Virtue, be free!"

With that single chant, the countless Scripture Mantras instantly compressed. Like a surging torrent, they vanished in the blink of an eye.

At that moment, a slip of golden paper appeared in Hai Shu Bodhisattva’s hand, which he offered to Yang An.

"Yuan Ji, take this and keep it safe. This technique must absolutely not be taught to outsiders. That applies even to you, the Buddha’s Son!"

The golden paper floated before Yang An as Hai Shu Bodhisattva gave his solemn warning.

"Yuan Ji understands!"

Yang An respectfully accepted the golden paper, his heart pounding with an excitement and anticipation beyond words.

The moment his fingers touched the golden paper, an information box materialized before his eyes.

"[Jade Kala Vajra Body]: Originating from Great Virtue Temple, derived from the Old Technique ’Red Wheel Infinite Body.’ It was modified by the Buddha Golden Group of Great Virtue Temple. This technique replaces the original tempering process with the dust of seven substances—gold, Jade, Frost, Vermilion, silver, Ink, and Shang—to attain seven types of physical transformations. It grants the power to roil rivers and seas, and the might to make heaven and earth tremble.

Cost of Use: Each use of a physical transformation will cause the Dust to burn the user’s body and soul. This damage is irreversible and cannot be healed. Each type of transformation stacks this damage. If all seven transformations are used in succession, exceeding the user’s tolerance, the accumulated damage from the Dust will erupt, leading to a point of no return where both body and soul are annihilated.

Status: Purification available!]"

Taking a deep breath to forcefully suppress his surging excitement, Yang An stored the golden paper in his Meat Burial Talisman.

Obtaining such a Body Refining Technique was a completely unexpected delight.

However, he also understood that he had only been able to obtain this Body Refining Technique because of his status as the Buddha’s Son.

If he were just some ordinary "fated person," he would have long since been relegated to the lowest ranks of the Monks at Great Virtue Temple, never even getting a chance to meet Hai Shu Bodhisattva.

’Truly, every small action is bound by the threads of fate.’

Yang An was beginning to believe he truly possessed an enviable karmic affinity with Buddhism.

"Amitabha!"

After giving the Body Refining Technique to Yang An, Hai Shu Bodhisattva chanted the Buddha’s name and then, with a raised hand, beckoned.

A huge pile of assorted Scripture Scrolls suddenly flew from a wooden shelf against the wall of the Heart Buddha Hall, landing with a series of THUDS in front of Yang An. They piled up into a small mountain.

’The inevitable has arrived.’

Looking at the scene, even though Yang An had been mentally prepared, the sheer number of Scripture Scrolls still made the corner of his mouth twitch.

"There are a total of seventy-two works here."

A smile appeared on Elder Monk Hai Shu’s face.

"The *Sutra of the Self-Abandonment of Maitreya* is in four volumes and twelve parts, the *Sutra of the Dharma of Tuo Mi Shekong* is in three volumes and nine parts, the *Sutra of the Teaching of the Bodhisattva Mengsheng* is in one volume and four parts..."

He recited the names eloquently.

Yang An felt like the monk from the legends who journeyed west. He had finally obtained the true scriptures and was about to return with them to the Great Tang.

"This will be your task from now on. As the Buddha’s Son, Yuan Ji, you must set an example. Recite these day and night, and seek the Perfection of your Buddha Nature."

"Thank you, Bodhisattva. I understand."

Yang An didn’t dare say more. He simply nodded in agreement and stored all the Scripture Scrolls in his Storage Magical Artifact.

These Scripture Scrolls were no ordinary items. As Yang An touched them, information boxes continuously flashed before his eyes, though he had no time to examine them in detail.

「When he returned to Mingxin Zen Courtyard」

He took out all the Scripture Scrolls in the Quiet Chamber of his Zen Room. Only after touching them one by one did he discover that frequently reciting these scriptures could accelerate the refinement of his Mana and also keep his mind clear and sharp.