Chapter 2: Enlightenment
"The door... It can transport me to another world?"
Through a brief mental connection, information streamed from within the 'door.'
In essence, Lin Yuan could, if willing, enter another world through the 'door' in his mind. This entry wasn't about physical presence but rather the arrival of one's true spirit and consciousness, akin to a transmigration.
"The Myriad Realms Gate..."
Lin Yuan appeared contemplative. According to the fleeting text beneath his vision, the gate in his mind was the Myriad Realms Gate, and he was its keeper.
"Now or never?"
Lin Yuan pondered. The Myriad Realms Gate could project his true spirit and consciousness into a different realm. However, it wasn't without limitations; after each traversal, the gate needed time for 'recharging.'
Based on the orbital cycle of Canglan Star, this 'recharging' took roughly eight months to a year.
"Forget it."
Lin Yuan made a decision.In a few days, recruitment personnel would arrive to take him away for conscription. Then, he'd be under extensive surveillance alongside other new recruits. He didn't know if using the Myriad Realms Gate to traverse would leave traces on his physical body, possibly alerting the surveillance system. But Lin Yuan wasn't willing to take that gamble.
Even a fool could tell that the Myriad Realms Gate in his mind was an extraordinary treasure. If its existence was revealed, the consequences would be far worse than forced conscription.
Thus, the best time for inter-realm traversal was now. At least for the moment, Lin Yuan wasn't under any surveillance. Even if there were any abnormalities, he hoped to conceal them.
Moreover, given the remarkable nature of the Myriad Realms Gate, it might even elevate Lin Yuan to the status of an 'evolver,' exempting him from forced conscription.
"Traversal."
Lin Yuan's thoughts stirred, and the ethereal door in his mind began to vibrate. His consciousness seemed to lose control and surged into the gate uncontrollably.
The Great Departure Dynasty.
The Great Zen Monastery.
As a world-renowned sacred Buddhist site, the Great Zen Monastery held an unfathomable heritage. There were no less than fifty innate-stage martial monks and even one Grandmaster at the Zen stage.
It was common knowledge that innate-stage martial artists were skilled practitioners, and a Grandmaster was a rarity, whether in temples or across the land. With a Grandmaster presiding, the Great Zen Monastery could be considered one of the most elite powers.
The Martial Monk Hall.
Hundreds of monks, bare-chested, practiced the Arhat Fist, a foundational martial art beneficial for cultivating internal energy.
As the monks repeatedly practiced their forms, a group of three- or four-year-old novices, clad in grey robes, peeked out from a distance with round, curious eyes, full of anticipation.
These novices were the most recent disciples recruited by the Great Zen Monastery, mostly orphans without parents.
"Unexpected."
Among the ten novices, one of the younger ones showed a glint of curiosity in their eyes. This novice was none other than Lin Yuan, who had traversed worlds.
"The martial world."
Lin Yuan contemplated. Despite being a young novice in his original form, he had some understanding of this world. It was akin to the ancient 'Earth,' a place where martial artists could confront overwhelming odds.
From the novice's memories, Lin Yuan discovered a senior monk at the Great Zen Monastery, several meters away, effortlessly demolishing a wall with a light palm strike. In the context of the intergalactic human civilization, this was considered superhuman, placing such individuals in the category of 'evolvers.'
[Name: Lin Yuan]
[Identity: Keeper of the Myriad Realms Gate]
[Realm: None]
[Bound Talent: Unrivaled Insight]
[Current State: Consciousness Arrival]
[Residency Duration: Twenty Years]
Lines of ethereal text silently flashed in Lin Yuan's lower-left field of vision.
"Can I only stay in this world for twenty years?"
Lin Yuan appeared contemplative. This limitation wasn't difficult to understand. However, the newly emerged 'Bound Talent' puzzled him.
"Unrivaled Insight."
Lin Yuan scanned himself thoroughly. Besides enhanced sensory perception, there were no other anomalies.
"Hmm?"
"That's a sparrow."
Lin Yuan looked up and spotted a sparrow flying overhead. His heightened senses allowed him to notice every detail of the sparrow's body—its feathers, wings, and plumage.
In just a moment:
[Your Unrivaled Insight allowed you to witness the flight of the sparrow, granting you comprehension of the Martial Art: Avian Sky Crossing Technique.]
Lin Yuan's eyes widened. In an instant, numerous key points about the Avian Sky Crossing Technique flooded his mind. This technique allowed brief levitation, although it didn't enable true flight like a sparrow, it was incredibly extraordinary.
"So this is Unrivaled Insight."
Lin Yuan took a deep breath. Merely observing a sparrow had granted him knowledge of a rare technique—truly living up to the term 'unrivaled.'
"Earthworm."
Shifting focus, Lin Yuan looked at the earthworm crawling out of the soil.
[Your Unrivaled Insight allowed you to witness the earthworm's burrowing, granting you comprehension of the Martial Art: Earth Dragon Turning Technique.]
Experience and techniques for digging poured in. With the Earth Dragon Turning Technique, Lin Yuan could swiftly create vast underground passages, making him the ancestor of all tomb raiders.
"Insane."
"Incredibly insane."
Lin Yuan couldn't help but marvel. His attention shifted to the numerous martial monks practicing nearby.
[Your Unrivaled Insight allowed you to observe the martial monks practicing the Arhat Fist, granting you comprehension of the High-Quality Martial Art: Grand Arhat Buddha Fist.]
Compared to the previous attempts, this one took much longer, nearly the time of burning half an incense stick.
"Grand Arhat Buddha Fist?"
Enlightenment sparked in Lin Yuan's mind, and he began practicing the fist technique.
Under an old kwei tree at the Martial Monk Hall, Abbot Hui Wen halted, observing the monks practicing.
"Well done, well done."
"The path of martial arts knows no shortcuts."
"Only through daily practice for decades can one achieve something."
Abbot Hui Wen nodded slightly, expressing admiration. After observing for a while, he noticed no monks slacking off—everyone was diligently practicing, showing no signs of negligence.
"As for those young rascals…"
Abbott Hui Wen glanced briefly and caught sight of the group of young novices peering from a distance.
Though the Grand Zen Temple was a sanctuary of Buddhism, it was also a major center for martial arts. It was natural for newly initiated young novices to aspire to learn martial arts.
"You've barely learned to walk, yet you're thinking of running away?"
Abbott Hui Wen observed six or seven young novices imitating the martial monks, attempting to mimic their fist techniques. He felt a tinge of helplessness.
The Arhat Fist, while not an immensely profound martial art, was a closely guarded secret within the Grand Zen Temple. It took at least seven or eight years of dedicated practice, under the guidance of accomplished masters, to grasp even its basics. These novices were still growing and were nowhere near the physical condition required to master the Arhat Fist.
"Fooling around, just fooling around."
Abbott Hui Wen frowned. Martial arts were no joke. Forcefully practicing without proper guidance not only yielded no benefits but could also cause harm.
"Hmm?"
As Abbott Hui Wen was about to intervene and shoo away the young novices, he suddenly froze. His gaze landed on the youngest novice among them, who was also practicing the martial arts.
"This?"
Abbott Hui Wen's expression subtly changed. The more he observed, the more incredulous he became. He was astounded, as if witnessing an incredible upheaval within himself.