A few seconds later.

Xu Lei gathered the wisp of ’Qi’ that had been wrapped around his hair—what Hui Ming and the others called Magical Power—and drew it back into his Lower Dantian.

He walked out of the Zen Room and into the courtyard.

Hui Ming was practicing his fist forms.

According to the cultivation knowledge Hui Ming had shared with Xu Lei before.

The Buddhist Sect had two paths of cultivation: the Vajra Dao and the Bodhisattva Dao.

Hui Ming cultivated the Bodhisattva Dao.

Wu Gui cultivated the Vajra Dao.

The former was a long-range path with mystical abilities.

The latter was a close-combat path with overwhelmingly powerful abilities.

Now, Xu Lei had also chosen to cultivate the Bodhisattva Dao.

The cultivation of the Bodhisattva Dao was quite similar to that of Daoist Family Qi Refiners.

It involved meditation, breathing exercises, and visualization to absorb and assimilate the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, strengthening the energy of the Dao Seed within his body!

But the reason Hui Ming was in the courtyard practicing fist forms like an ordinary Martial Monk was because disciples of the Bodhisattva Dao were not physically strong.

Therefore, he was now using some of the Buddhist Sect’s fist techniques that could effectively strengthen the body to train himself.

Once the body’s Essence Qi was strong, it could in turn nourish one’s Magical Power.

This was the so-called "refining Essence Qi into Qi."

When assimilating Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, one also needed to neutralize it with one’s own Essence Qi.

According to Hui Ming, the fundamental nature of Bodhisattva Dao cultivation was, in fact, quite similar to that of Daoist Family Qi Refiners.

Hui Ming had actually also said back then that Xu Lei could choose to cultivate Daoism or to practice Buddhist Cultivation.

If he wanted to cultivate Daoism, Hui Ming and the others had some texts from the Daoist Sect they could give Xu Lei to practice with.

Even if Xu Lei wanted to formally join the Daoist Sect to cultivate, they could help.

But Xu Lei, naturally, still chose Buddhist Cultivation.

After all, he had been in the Buddhist Sect for decades.

In the end, he still felt more of a connection here.

’Since Daoist and Buddhist cultivation are more or less the same.’

’One just shaves their head, and the other doesn’t.’

’What’s there to be conflicted about?’

Besides, by cultivating in the Buddhist Sect, if anything came up, he could still ask Hui Ming and Wu Gui for guidance.

Xu Lei had known them for decades, after all.

There was a foundation of trust.

’If I switched to the Daoist Sect, who knows if the True Daoists over there would be willing to teach me sincerely.’

As for why Xu Lei didn’t cultivate the Vajra Dao and chose the Bodhisattva Dao instead...

It was because he felt that in this day and age...

He wasn’t too afraid of powerful close-combat fighters. After all, if he needed protection now, he could have Shang Yin dispatch a massive army to surround and guard him.

But if it was a long-range Qi Refiner who could kill from a distance with Sword Control, or used a Magical Artifact like the Rakshasa Treasure Fragments...

...that was what was truly difficult to defend against.

That was why Xu Lei chose the Bodhisattva Dao.

If he could achieve some success in his own cultivation, he would, at least to a certain extent, no longer have to fear assassination by these mystical methods.

Or rather, even if someone tried to kill him with such methods, he would be able to sense the attack coming to some degree.

He wouldn’t end up like Shang Yin’s older brother back then, who clearly held military authority over an army of more than a hundred thousand men...

...but in the end, died without even knowing how it happened.

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei said, "Martial Nephew, you are as diligent as ever."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Hui Ming replied, "Martial Uncle has just emerged from meditation. You are no less diligent. How can you say such a thing?"

"True, haha. You and I seek different things, yet we are both equally diligent."

Xu Lei laughed. "Martial Nephew, you do it so that one day, you may successfully attain the Dao, achieve Nirvana to become a Buddha, and be guided to the legendary Buddha Realm that exists parallel to the Immortal Realm!

"To achieve the Bodhisattva Fruit Position!

"To truly transcend and live forever!

"As for me, your Martial Uncle, I do it so that the Essence Qi in this gradually aging body of mine can be revitalized.

"So that my power of Charitable Giving may return to the vigor of my youth!"

"Amitabha Buddha."

Hui Ming said, "Using the power of the Dao Seed for cultivation can indeed revitalize the body’s Essence Qi.

"However, with excessive indulgence in carnal pleasures, the rate at which your Essence Qi is consumed will be greater than what you gain from cultivation.

"Your expenditure will exceed your income.

"This will inevitably shorten your lifespan.

"Martial Uncle, please be careful."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei replied, "Thank you for the reminder, Martial Nephew. Don’t worry, your Martial Uncle knows what he’s doing."

「Half an hour later.」

Inside the Almsgiving Room of Anchan Temple.

Xu Lei met with Zhang Xiaomai again.

Zhang Xiaomai was now twenty-eight years old.

But she still had fair skin and a beautiful face, with a graceful and slender figure.

Of course, the years had still left their mark on her.

Making her seem even more ripe and voluptuous than before.

"Sir, I’ve come to request Charitable Giving again today."

The moment she saw Xu Lei, Zhang Xiaomai stepped forward and said, "I’ve been busy for a few days, and I’ve missed you terribly!"

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei also stepped forward and wrapped his arm around Zhang Xiaomai’s slender waist. "My Buddha is merciful. Since that is the case, this humble monk shall grant your wish, benefactor."

That was right.

For the past three years, although Xu Lei had begun his cultivation...

...he had not stopped his Charitable Giving to Shang Rou, Wei Qingning, and Zhang Xiaomai.

He had originally thought that after obtaining the Dao Seed and starting to cultivate, he would no longer be able to touch women.

Only later did he discover that, in fact, he still could.

It was just that doing so negated much of the anti-aging effect.

He would still age as he was meant to.

However, Xu Lei had no hope of attaining the Dao in this lifetime anyway.

So naturally, he wouldn’t abstain from women like Hui Ming did.

’If I get old, I get old! If I die, I die!’

’To die in the arms of a beautiful woman is a fine death indeed!’

’What level of cultivation could I possibly achieve in this life?’

Xu Lei didn’t care at all.

As long as he ensured the Dao Seed wasn’t extinguished and could be inherited into his next life, that was enough.

Moreover, what Xu Lei hadn’t expected was that after obtaining the Dao Seed, his fading ability for Charitable Giving, nourished by the Dao Seed, had actually grown powerful once more.

’To think that practicing my breathing and cultivation every day could have such an effect!’

Xu Lei was overjoyed.

It was a truly unexpected delight!

"Sir, please be gentle with Xiaoai."

Thus, as Zhang Xiaomai took the initiative to kiss Xu Lei, she couldn’t help but say in a soft and pitiable voice, "Sir, you truly are not like the fifty-four-year-old man other women speak of.

"These past few years, you’ve been even more extraordinary than when Xiaoai first came to be with you.

"Xiaoai came alone today; Sister Rou couldn’t accompany me.

"You must know when to stop."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei said, "This humble monk bestows Charitable Giving on behalf of the Buddha; naturally, it is different from the mundane. What, are you not pleased?"

"Xiaoai is, of course, happy to receive your affection, Sir,"

Zhang Xiaomai said. "But I fear I won’t be able to bear it."

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei kissed Zhang Xiaomai on the lips and said, "Rest assured, this humble monk will control himself."

「Three years later.」

Xu Lei was now fifty-seven years old.

The wrinkles on his face had deepened.

However, with the enhancement of his Dao Seed, his ability for Charitable Giving was still like that of a young man in his twenties or thirties.

That’s right. Although he had been cultivating these past few years, it was merely to ensure his Dao Seed was not extinguished.

He hadn’t enhanced it much otherwise, simply using it as a means to nourish his ability for Charitable Giving.

Thanks to this, of course, even though Xu Lei was much older than Shang Rou, Zhang Xiaomai, Wei Qingning, and the others...

...he was still not overwhelmed by bestowing Charitable Giving upon the three of them by himself.

Over these years, Xu Lei had not given Charitable Giving to any other women.

He only bestowed it upon the three of them.

Zhao Xiaocha and Liang Fangying hadn’t come looking for Xu Lei again either.

Without the nourishment of a Dao Seed, they no longer had much desire at their age.

"Divine Monk!"

On this day, inside the Almsgiving Room at Anchan Temple, Wei Qingning hugged Xu Lei and said, "Let Qingning bear you another child!

"The world is at peace now!

"The Wei Family is thriving!

"There are some things we no longer need to worry about!

"Qingning wants to have another child of her own while I’m still relatively young!"

She was now thirty-one years old.

However, she was well-maintained and remained an incredibly alluring and beautiful young woman.

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei said, "Benefactor Qingning, since you have a request, there is no reason for this humble monk to refuse."

"Thank you, Divine Monk."

Wei Qingning then turned and lay down on her stomach, looking back over her shoulder. "I’ll have to trouble the Divine Monk!"

"Amitabha Buddha."

Xu Lei said, "My Buddha is merciful. Why fear a little hardship?"

「Three years later.」

Xu Lei was sixty years old.

The wrinkles on his face were a little deeper.

But because he still kept exercising, his posture wasn’t stooped.

Because he continuously drove his Dao Seed through meditation, his ability for Charitable Giving had declined somewhat compared to a few years ago.

But he still retained his vigor.

Plus, he was hygienic and had no hair.

All in all, he could be considered clean and fresh.

On this day.

In a secret room of the Wei Family estate.

Xu Lei embraced the thirty-four-year-old Shang Rou.

As Shang Yin’s biological sister, Shang Rou’s status was now extremely distinguished.

However, she hadn’t chosen to go to the Capital City to live with Shang Yin, but had instead chosen to stay with the Wei Family.

Naturally, this was also because Xu Lei was at Anchan Temple.

Xu Lei had not chosen to go to the Kyoto Celestial Zen Temple.

Although there were more True Monks cultivating at Celestial Zen Temple...

...in Xu Lei’s current state of cultivation, seeking guidance from anyone would be useless.

He could only wait until his next life to formally begin cultivating.

For now, he just practiced it as a Health Preservation Technique to strengthen his body.

And wherever Xu Lei was, Shang Rou naturally was too.

’Going to the Capital City and having Shang Yin nearby would be nice.’

’But Shang Yin couldn’t give her Charitable Giving, after all.’

Besides, the Wei Family’s business was here, and her children also lived here.

Of course, the Wei Family was now the number one Noble Family in Anqing.

Shang Rou’s eldest son was now an official in Anqing.

Her other children had also become elites in various fields.

"Divine Monk, you truly live up to your name as the Divine Monk!"

At this moment, lying in Xu Lei’s arms, Shang Rou couldn’t help but say in a coquettish voice, "You’re already sixty years old, yet you’re still so powerful and undiminished.

"It’s simply unbelievable. If word got out, I’m afraid no one would believe it.

"Many ordinary sixty-year-olds in the mortal world are already decrepit and hobbling toward their graves.

"Let alone being able to bestow the grace of Charitable Giving as you do."

"This humble monk’s energy has declined, after all."

Xu Lei said, "The years are ultimately merciless.

"This humble monk’s merits are not yet complete.

"In the end, I have not yet become a Buddha.

"I am still of mortal flesh and blood.

"Actually, the main thing is that you all are happy.

"As for myself, it doesn’t really matter."

That was right. In recent years, Xu Lei was not purely indulging in carnal pleasure.

If he were merely enjoying beautiful women, he could have perhaps continued to bestow Charitable Giving upon some Devotees he didn’t know who came seeking children.

But he didn’t.

He only bestowed Charitable Giving upon Shang Rou, Zhang Xiaomai, and Wei Qingning.

Because he had been there to witness them forming a family.

Although in the eyes of the world, they were a perfect family...

...a wife, a concubine, and their husband, treating each other with the utmost respect...

...but Xu Lei knew, after all, that Wei Qingning was a woman.

If Xu Lei ignored them, he feared they would be lonely in their chambers.

Which could in turn lead to unrest in the household.

Therefore, Xu Lei felt that as Zen Master Bu Zhong, he had a responsibility to continuously bestow Charitable Giving upon them.

...to make their lives pleasant and their home peaceful.

If Xu Lei’s body aged and he lost this ability...

...he naturally wouldn’t be able to help it.

But now that he had the Dao Seed, he possessed such an ability.

And so, that is what he did.

「Three years later.」

Xu Lei was sixty-three years old.

On this day, he received news that Liang Fangying had passed away.

But Liang Fangying had passed during the night, so he didn’t even get to see her one last time.

He could only go to her home to pay his respects afterward.

Unexpectedly, just one month later...

...Zhao Xiaocha also passed away.

She was also sixty years old.

To pass away at sixty.

In the ancient world, this was already considered a long life.

When Zhao Xiaocha was on her deathbed, someone from the Zhao Family came to find Xu Lei.

Xu Lei rushed over immediately.

"Little Divine Monk!"

Zhao Xiaocha’s eyes reflected Xu Lei’s image as she smiled on the bed, her voice weak and intermittent. "In this life... Xiaocha... has no regrets... and no sorrows."

After speaking, her hand fell limp.