This was not a matter of her joining the Buddhist sect, it was more like forming a strategic, cooperative relationship. Regardless of the monk's lofty words, it was a transaction. And like any transaction, Su Min needed to think it over carefully, to weigh the cost.
As for the monk's intentions, they were transparently clear, he sought to borrow her rising fame and influence to extend Buddhism's reach into this sealed land. Constrained by the Boundary Formation and his own damaged cultivation, he was unable to interfere freely with worldly affairs. He needed a local agent, a powerful vessel to carry their teachings. And now, he believed he had found her.
"What do I gain from this?" Su Min smiled, her tone as light as a spring breeze, but her meaning as sharp as a honed blade.
She was thinking of old stories, like when the Buddha helped Sun Wukong defeat a powerful demon by lending divine power, but all favors came with a price. She saw no point in wasting words on spiritual platitudes, so she asked directly for the tangible benefits.
"I can impart to you the Samsara Reincarnation Art," the monk offered, his expression solemn, as if bestowing a great gift.
"No need," Su Min rejected the offer without a moment's hesitation. "I trust only in the body I was born with." She possessed the talent of endless longevity. She could endure any period of stagnation, no matter how long, what need had she for a risky reincarnation to extend a life that was already infinite? Besides, after reincarnation, who could say if one's core self, one's memories and will, remained truly intact? It was a gamble she would not take.
"Amitābha..."
Seeing Su Min refuse so firmly and logically, the monk showed a trace of genuine surprise. He had not expected her to turn down such a coveted art so directly. After all, in the current world where spiritual energy was still scarce, reaching the Golden Core stage was already a monumental feat for most. Yet the lifespan of someone at that stage was only about five hundred years. Advancing further to the Nascent Soul realm required another three centuries of accumulation, a period so precious that missing the window could mean remaining stuck at the Golden Core stage forever. Though the Art of Reincarnation came with obscure and dangerous side effects, it was still considered a convenient, if desperate, method of inheritance for many.
"Since you know so much, Benefactor," the monk said at last, a new respect in his eyes, "then speak your wish plainly. This humble monk shall offer a technique in exchange."
Su Min chuckled softly. The Art of Reincarnation, though precious to mortals and short lived cultivators, meant little to her. She had time enough to weather any storm. What she needed now was immediate, tangible power to survive the coming tempests.
There was one specific Buddhist scripture she had coveted from the very beginning of her journey in this world. It was essential, timeless, and irreplaceable in its function. And since she still had one empty slot for a mental cultivation technique at her current Qi Refining stage, the timing was perfect.
"I want the Great Sun Tathāgata Sutra," she said, enunciating each word of the title slowly and clearly, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
The little monk inhaled sharply, his serene composure finally cracking. He had not expected Su Min's appetite to be so great, asking outright for the core, foundational scripture of their entire tradition.
As the saying went, "Children make choices, adults take it all." In the path of immortality, cultivating both Buddhist and Daoist methods together was often considered the optimal, most balanced path. Although Su Min had only encountered Buddhism for now, and had not yet touched the organized Daoist sects, it was inevitable that she would cross their paths eventually.
Moreover, what her Heavenly Dao Insight talent granted were mostly innate divine abilities, the two possession techniques were already its limit. She needed powerful, active cultivation methods to fill the gaps.
"Benefactor..." the monk began, his voice strained, "According to the ancient precepts of our order, this sutra is reserved for those of high standing within the sect, for Arhats and Bodhisattvas."
"And do I not qualify, Master?" Su Min's smile deepened, becoming almost challenging. "Surely your Buddhism, with its profound insight, has glimpsed a corner of the future? You lingered long in that cursed village, you must have seen something, felt something about the threads of fate converging here."
"Amitābha..." The monk closed his eyes, chanting the Buddha's name softly as if seeking guidance. The silence stretched for a long moment.
When he opened his eyes again, they held a new resolve. "Amitābha. You are correct, Child of Destiny. In that case, this humble monk shall break precedent and pass this sutra to you."
He had not seen the full, intricate weave of fate, only the brilliant and unstoppable birth of a new star in the celestial chart. Guided by faint omens and the suffering of the people, he had sought her out. Saving all beings remained his primary purpose, but drawing a figure of destiny closer to the Dharma, to create a karmic link that could benefit countless souls in the future, did not go against his vows.
Moreover, when he arrived, he had sensed a unique, nascent incense aura surrounding Su Min, the subtle mark of one who was already being worshiped by common folk. He understood immediately that she was destined for greatness. Buddhism, with its long view, also knew when to forge ties that could last a thousand years.
As for the Great Sun Tathāgata Sutra, though it was the crown jewel of their teachings, it mattered little in the grand scheme. The scripture itself thrived on faith and incense offerings. If Su Min cultivated it, the worship she naturally received would, in a way, nourish the roots of Buddhism in this land in return. In this realm where he could not yet act freely, her rise would pave their way. Temples would eventually rise in her name, and when the Boundary Formations finally fell, Buddhism's spread would be as natural and inevitable as spring following winter.
"One condition," the monk said, his voice returning to its grave, solemn tone. "You must swear a heart demon oath before the heavens, this sutra shall never be passed to another, not to a disciple, not to a child, to no one."
"Agreed," Su Min answered without hesitation. She had no intention of founding a sect anyway. It was a fair price for a core secret.
"Then place your hand upon mine."
The monk extended his palm, which began to glow with a soft, warm, golden light. Without a moment's pause or fear, Su Min placed her hand upon his.
In that instant, the world seemed to spin. A vast, sun bright ocean of knowledge, concepts, verses, and esoteric principles flooded directly into her mind, searing itself into her memory. On her internal status panel, a new entry shimmered into existence, gleaming with divine light.
[Great Sun Tathāgata Sutra]
[Mental Techniques: 3/3] - Slot Filled
"Huff—"
Su Min gasped, pulling her hand back and trembling slightly as she leaned against the table for support. Her temples pounded with a sharp, transient pain from the violent influx of information.
"Amitābha," the monk said gently, his own hand returning to his side. "Though the Sutra is mighty, you must cultivate it step by step. Do not rush. Within its verses lie not only the foundational methods, but countless derived martial arts and hidden abilities. Those, Benefactor, you must uncover and comprehend on your own through diligent practice."
"Understood," Su Min muttered, massaging her forehead as the pain slowly receded. Her mind still whirled from the sheer, monumental scale of the knowledge now residing within her.
"By the way," she asked, finally looking up, "what of the villagers from the cove?"
"I have used a transportation art to ferry them to a sanctuary in Lingxi Prefecture," said the monk. "From this day onward, they shall live and die as ordinary humans, tending the earth. They are no longer bound by the evil they committed or witnessed. Their karma with this land is severed."
It was a clean, definitive end to the affair, one that suited Su Min perfectly. The transaction was complete.