Becoming a Deity from Planting the Bodhi Tree

The long knife was thrust in front of him, its blade slightly trembling, yet the sword master was momentarily unsure whether to sheath the blade, his expression in disarray.

All the eyes around silently followed the blade as it flew, making him feel uneasy, like he was branded by the void as part of the Heavenly Saint Lake.

He wished to say it was unrelated to him, that it was this person from the Heavenly Saint Lake who forcefully "borrowed" the knife!

At that moment, the blade vibrated lightly, emitting a clear ringing after being freed, the long knife having a spirit, sensing its owner's hesitation, feeling very aggrieved and confused, which made the sword master increasingly flustered.

Ji Jingqiu, however, had no time to mediate this "family dispute."

He merely saw the celestial dome evolved from the Beginning of One Element, where the twinkling morning stars swelled from several dozen to several hundred!

This made him ponder; it seemed that what the Federation's master Zhou Yantong had said earlier was somewhat valid.

All Hundred Veins gathered together, lined up, saving him from visiting each family.

This time was a prime example.

Of course, the present should not negate the past.

Without visiting each family, he wouldn't be where he is now.

At least the Ke family's visit was worthwhile.

Ji Jingqiu raised his head, his expression solemnly gazing forward, with the Bodhi Eye present, he saw more clearly than others.

In the world, not only did the Dharma manifest itself, but some ancient texts appeared, spanning the heaven and earth, acting as carriers of Heaven and Earth Law, shining brightly between the mountains and rivers as if dozens of Great Suns emerged at once.

"This piece of the Cosmic Light Fragments is about to be destroyed, 'End of Tribulation' is here, Dao manifests."

Hel cautioned,

"Quickly collect that thread of Civilization Fire, use the 'Eternal History' I taught you."

That thread of so-called Civilization Fire hovered not far from Ji Jingqiu, yet no one dared to step forward and seize it.

Reputation is forged through combat, even if this was the first hearing of Tian Qiu from Heavenly Saint Lake, after today, anyone below the Heavenly Person would retreat a great distance.

"Dao manifests..."

Ji Jingqiu did not rush to act, but gazed at the ancient texts crossing the sun and moon, suddenly asking,

"For martial artists above the Heavenly Person, do they perhaps favor the End of Tribulation?"

"...End of Tribulation approaches, though closer to the Dao, it also brings the risk of tribulation upon oneself. Unless one's lifespan is nearing exhaustion, none would walk this path."

"Above the Heavenly Person, isn't one's lifespan infinite?"

"Infinite? Even heaven and earth have an end; if one does not transcend, how can it be called infinite?" Hel sneered, "The Federation assumes a Great Grandmaster's life is endless because the Federation has existed for merely ten thousand years, whereas at the peak of the Heavenly King, living for a hundred thousand years is not difficult."

Ji Jingqiu was speechless; to the Federation, a hundred thousand years... certainly could be equated to infinity.

He shook his head, the appearance of the Spirit Ocean brought unprecedented crisis, yet also brought unparalleled opportunity.

He calmed his Spirit, amidst countless eyes, approached the Civilization Fire.

This was a seed of fire, clear yet resplendent, like the radiant dawn at the break of day, far more than just a flame, it carried many things.

"Is this the Civilization Fire?"

Under Hel's guidance, Ji Jingqiu drove the [Eternal History] to contain this Civilization Fire.

During the containment process, he saw many scenes through the fire seed.

It encompassed the initial establishment and prosperity of a civilization...

But this was not the most precious to Ji Jingqiu.

As the civilization fire rooted in Ji Jingqiu's body, slowly melting and dispersing into every corner of his Qi Force, Ji Jingqiu gained a new understanding of the flame itself.

The so-called Civilization Fire is the "Manifestation" of civilization existing in the world.

But why in the form of "flame?"

Ji Jingqiu inwardly surveyed the gently flickering, dissolving Civilization Fire within himself, a sudden enlightenment arose.

The fire represents not only destruction and burning, but also the source of all things, the origin of civilization.

Without fire, most civilizations would remain in the stage of eating raw flesh and blood.

Even constant stars are a flame burning in the vast, secluded void of the universe, a beacon in the cold cosmos, and the origin of life.

Ji Jingqiu suddenly thought of the former Primordial First, Ning Mingsheng.

That one who, while a Heavenly Person in years past, opened the path of "Burning Me," using all things in heaven and earth as kindling to ignite the True Self.

In the Inner World.

"The essence of this Civilization Fire is stronger than I imagined... this fellow can at least convert thirty percent of Qi Force into True Strength."

Hel muttered, Ji Jingqiu was elevated again in the Heart Image Realm.

She was now highly suspicious; this fellow, even if without a Divine Weapon to suppress, could contend with martial artists of the Second Tier of the Heavenly Person just by himself.

Suddenly, she noticed Ji Jingqiu's anomaly:

"What are you doing?"

Ji Jingqiu stared at his fingertip, a wisp of Heart Lamp's fire seed quietly burning.

Simultaneously, his brows adorned with Heart Moon Spiritual Light shone exclusively, transcending worldly dust, illuminating Impermanence.

At this moment, an indescribable rhythm diffused through the Heart Lamp's fire seed at his fingertip.

According to Ji Jingqiu, both Buddhist and Daoist households held "worship" towards fire.

In his previous life's history, there was even an ancient religion called "Zoroastrianism," which believed fire represented life and light, as the purest and most magnificent thing.

Although interpretations about fire vary across families, in the end, they lead to the same conclusion.

One word is called Samadhi True Fire.

Among them, Samadhi originates from Buddhism, meaning to eliminate all distractions, making the Spirit tranquil, a good mind residing immovable, Heart Body serene and still, away from chaos and disturbance, named Samadhi.

Whereas True Fire stems from Daoist internal alchemy practices, the superior method, using Void as cauldron, Taiji as furnace, purity as the base of elixir, non-action as Dantian, essence and life as lead and mercury, stillness and wisdom as water and fire...

Ultimately, enlightenment reveals self nature, Three Elements unite as Holy Embryo, essence and life blend as cosmic formation completing elixir, form and spirit perfectly aligned, truly united with the Dao!

Ji Jingqiu muttered, "Unexpectedly, the greatest gain of this trip was not witnessing the divine skills of various sects' dojos and realizing my invincibility; nor was it finding the suspected 'Old Me' of All Phenomena God Lord... but finding the direction of this path."

"What are you talking about?" Hel asked, confused.

Ji Jingqiu suddenly clasped his hands together, his gaze radiant:

"This initial exploration of the realms has yielded more than expected, time to return, I need to settle and attempt a few things!"

At this moment.

The world already showed signs of collapse.