In the far north of the Dàqián Dynasty, there was a mountain range stretching for two thousand miles. It was perpetually covered in snow, like a silver dragon winding across the heavens and earth.

This is the location of the renowned Dàxuěshān Sect within the martial arts world.

The Daxi Mountain is one of the Three Great Sects of Dayan, possessing one hundred and eight temples.

The Golden Temple is one of the 108 temples.

Covering an area of about a hundred mu, with red walls and yellow tiles, the courtyard is laid out in one after another, layer upon layer, just like a Buddhist mandala.

In front of the temple, there are several ancient trees that cover the sky and the ground. Their gnarled branches intertwine.

Behind the temple are rows of spirit pagodas, arranged in a tiered fashion up the snowy mountain peak, enshrining the relics of eminent monks from generations past.

"Ding Dong…"

"Ding dong ding dong..."

The sound of the bell floated leisurely in the sky.

The chanting abruptly stopped. Soon, a procession of gray monks filed out of the Daxiong Treasure Hall, their shaved heads gleaming like light bulbs.

Hundreds of monks left the Great Hero Hall and quickly dispersed after finishing morning class, ready to begin their respective duties.

Some swept, some practiced martial arts, some went to the meditation hall, and some went to fetch water and chop wood. The quiet temple suddenly became lively.

The vegetarian hall is especially busy.

The spacious hall had nine long tables, each thirty meters long and three meters wide. The tabletops and benches were polished to a shine.

Twelve monks were busy carrying steaming bowls of food to a long table. The lids on the bowls kept the food warm.

They handle serving dishes with skill and grace, bringing them to the table and clearing them away with efficiency, precision, and remarkable speed.

A middle-aged monk, while ladling rice, bellowed loudly: "Faning! Bring the meal to Master Yuanzhi... Ah, take it to Master Fkong."

As he went on, his voice grew weaker and softer, shaking his head with a wistful expression.

"Yes, Master Faming," a young monk as round and white as a Maitreya Buddha responded, stepping forward with a guileless smile.

"The voice of the burly Fa Ming monk rose again, his eyes widening: 'No eating on the road!'"

"Fa Ming, senior brother!" Fa Ning's round, chubby face was flushed with grievance as he said in an indignant tone, "How could I have eaten it!"

"Humph, if you don't eat, how can you be so fat!" Faming scoffed. He didn't even let Fan Ning explain further, waving his hand impatiently. "Go quickly and come back quickly!"

"...Yes!"

Fan Ning reluctantly agreed with a sigh, and carrying her large belly and lunch box, walked out of the vegetarian hall.

"Sigh... I still feel that Master Yuanzhi is alive." Fah Ming shook his head in lament.

"Master Yuanzhi's passing has been seven days now." Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

"The most pitiful one is Fa Kong's younger brother. His master, who he depended on, has left, leaving him alone in the world. How could he not be heartbroken? I gave him an extra bowl of rice." Fa Ming looked at him with compassion.

Since Master Yuanzhi has left, perhaps Junior Brother Fahkong could be assigned something a little more relaxed?

"It's difficult."

"Um...?"

"The Medicine Valley was bestowed upon Master Yuanzhi by the Temple. Since disciple Fahkong inherited Master Yuanzhi's bowl, he naturally should inherit the Medicine Valley and continue cultivating medicine."

"Yaogu is not small, two people are fine, Fa Kong's disciple alone... and his bones are too weak, will he be able to make it?"

"Alas... Fa Kong's junior brother's aptitude is indeed... If Xiaoluohanquan could be mastered, things wouldn't be so difficult."

"...Master Fameng, what precept did Master Yuanzhi break?"

All the monks looked curiously at Master Fahming.

Under normal circumstances, if a disciple of the Vajra Temple breaks a precept, they will have their martial arts revoked and be sent to face the wall in the Meditation Tower for reflection.

Yuan Zhi had his martial arts skills revoked, but he was unexpectedly granted a valley to cultivate medicinal herbs.

"It's probably Master Yuanzhi who is skilled in medicinal herbs. Planting medicinal herbs is also a way to atone for his past deeds... Enough chatter, let's get to work!" Master Fahming waved his hand impatiently.

—

Fan Ning, carrying his lunch box, left the dining hall. He lumbered out with a big belly, seeming as clumsy as an elephant.

He was actually like a polar bear, incredibly fast. His size didn't hinder his speed at all.

He strode out of the Jingang Temple, dashing down the stairs paved with ice and snow.

The icy steps seemed to mock him, but he charged forward with heavy strides. However, his feet were glued to the stairs, refusing to budge an inch.

The gray monk's robe rustled as he hunted, revealing a round belly that was quite imposing.

I rushed down over two hundred stairs and turned into a small valley on the hillside.

As soon as I stepped into this valley, it was warm like spring.

His chubby face couldn't help but break into a smile.

In the center of the valley, there was a circular lake about one hundred meters in diameter. The lake water, like a mirror, reflected the blue sky and white clouds.

Surrounding the lake were patches of fields, like little squares, neat and tidy. Each patch was planted with a different medicinal herb.

A log cabin stood beside a field, with a wooden table in front of it. On the table sat a tea stove, a teapot, and teacups.

In the morning, a thin young monk was drawing water to irrigate the fields.

He wore gray shorts and his appearance was unremarkable among the crowd. He was slender, and the two wooden buckets he carried on his pole seemed like they could collapse him at any moment.

He staggered through the fields, swaying unsteadily, water spilling out of his bucket intermittently, splashing onto the soil with a steady patter.

The gray monk's robe was soaked with sweat, leaving patches of white on the front and back, just like his face.

But he remained focused and serene, stumbling and sweating profusely with a pale face, yet his composure was undiminished, as if he were not toiling but rather...

"Brother! It's time for dinner!"

Faining's voice was filled with displeasure as she stepped forward and effortlessly lifted the pole onto her shoulders, as if it were a mere blade of grass.

Then he handed him a wooden box: "Master Fa Kong, as I said many times before, just give me water!"

"Greetings, Master Fa Ning," said Fahong with a smile as he received the food box and wiped the sweat from his brow. "It's quite early today."

Even in such a disheveled state, his demeanor remained composed and at ease, carrying an air of nonchalance.

"Brother, why burden yourself so!" Fa Ning said indignantly.

He carried the two buckets of water to the ground in a few steps and poured it onto the ridges. Then, he strode on to the lake to draw more water.

Fa Kong shook his head and smiled.

This is OCD. Even if I'm tired, I have to water the plants on time, otherwise I just feel uncomfortable and awkward.

He sighed inwardly.

Human connection is truly a mystery. Some people meet for years and never quite click, while others seem destined to be friends the moment they lay eyes on each other, forging deep bonds in just a few short days.

Fan Ning had only provided a few days' worth of meals, and the two already felt like old friends.

He struggled his way through his past life, from an orphaned nobody to a man with tens of millions of dollars. He battled and fought his way through the treacherous seas of commerce.

It is said that compassion does not command armies and righteousness does not control wealth. He has an indifferent heart, unlike Fa Ning, who is honest and kind. Being with someone like Fa Ning feels very comfortable.

He brought the food box to the front of the house, placed it on the pine table, made two cups of tea, and beckoned Faning: "Junior brother, you're all set."

Fannie had already drawn water six times by now.

Fa Kong smiled and shook his head.

He truly is a genius, rising from the ninth rank to the fifth in just two years. Over a hundred jin of water in two buckets seems as light as a feather to him; carrying water is like play to him.

"Brother." Faning put down his pole and sat down opposite him with a creak.

He drank the tea in one gulp and, even so, Fa Ning was not satisfied, saying, “Next time, remember to ask me to help pick the water!”

Fa Kong smiled and agreed.

Fannning could indeed help himself, but Fannning also had responsibilities and was very busy. How could he feel at ease asking him for help?

He felt he shouldn't always bother Faning, which was exactly what Faning resented—feeling that he was too distant.

Fa Kong opened the wooden box and took out three bowls of vegetables and two bowls of rice.

There are three dishes, two meat and one vegetable.

Without mentioning a platter of towering beef and a plate of pork knuckles, even a dish of stir-fried Chinese cabbage would be glistening with oil. In his past life, this would have been typical high-fat, high-sodium, high-calorie food, extremely unhealthy.

All disciples of the Vajra Temple must practice martial arts and do not abstain from food, instead they should have meals every day.

As soon as the fragrance wafted in, my empty stomach began to rumble incessantly.

Resisting the urge to shovel all the food into his stomach at once, he chewed slowly.

These three unhealthy dishes are just right for him now. He needs to gain weight first so that his energy will be stronger.

This person is naturally thin, no matter how much they eat.

"Senior brother, today the temple welcomed new disciples. We have four new junior brothers, and they are all top-notch."

"Congratulations," Fa Kong chewed a piece of beef and nodded lightly.

The stronger the Vajra Temple, the greater its disciples' fortune. It is good to find shade under a big tree.

This world is prosperous with martial arts, meaning extreme danger. The Diamond Monastery is the best sanctuary for oneself.

"Master Yueming wants to send a new disciple over to help you, Senior Brother. I'm trying to convince Master Yueming to let me come instead."

Fa Kong nodded lightly and added another piece of beef inside.

All the plants cultivated here are precious medicinal herbs. The longer they grow, the stronger their potency becomes. All the herbs grown here are at least ten years old.

The original owner was adopted by Master Yuanzhi since childhood and grew up in this Yaogu Valley. Although his martial arts aptitude was poor, he was taught by Master Yuanzhi since childhood and excelled in the cultivation of medicinal herbs.

Yuanzhi passed away seven days ago. Now he was alone, and it was truly difficult for him to manage this herbal valley on his own. He was frail and weak.

It would tire him out, causing the medicinal herbs to be lost. That is something the Diamond Temple wouldn't want. Sending a new temple disciple over to help is also reasonable.

"Sigh... Master Yuanming is truly stubborn. No matter how I plead, he won't change his mind!" Faning sighed with dismay.

"Come over here and help me plant medicine, you're being underutilized." Fa Kong smiled and led the cow inside, slowly chewing.

Fa Ning is a fifth-rank master.

In the martial world, the level of martial arts mastery is divided into four: Human Origin, Earth Origin, Heaven Origin, and Divine Origin.

Ren Yuan is practicing Qi.

Qi flows within, cannot leave, strengthens the essence. This stage is all about strength, speed, and technique.

Martial artists at this level are considered third-rate masters.

The origin of Qi cultivation is the local area.

True Qi flows through meridians, following specific pathways. Through its operation, one can temporarily enhance their own strength or speed, and even injure others by channeling True Qi through the palms or weapons, striking and disrupting the opponent's meridians.

The masters of this realm are second-rate masters.

Tian Yuan is practicing Qi Gong.

True Qi is like gas, while Gang Qi is like water, purer still. Its power is incomparable.

Most importantly, qigong can be practiced away from home.

Attacks from afar, striking with the palm or fist directly from a distance, penetrating the opponent to injure their meridians or viscera.

One can, with a special mental technique, refine their protective qi to be as tough as cloth. It not only dissipates incoming sword strikes or true energy from another's palm, but can also injure the attacker in return.

These masters of this realm are called first-rate masters, top-tier masters.

Above these three realms, the divine primordial essence reaches into the realm of gods.

They are often those born with talent and good fortune, and when they suddenly have a brilliant idea, it is a stroke of genius. That is how a master arises.

There are few masters in the world.

According to what Fa Kong knows, the Daxiushan Sect stands alone and is classified as Grade Nine.

The Human Yuan realm is nine ranks and eight ranks, the Local Earth realm is seven ranks and six ranks, the Heavenly Yuan realm is five ranks and four ranks, the Divine Yuan realm is three ranks and two ranks, and above the Divine Yuan realm is the first rank.

And Fa Ning was young, having only practiced martial arts for two years, he had already reached the fifth rank. With his qi protection, he was a prodigy. How could they ask him to help in Ya Gu to grow medicine?

This is a waste of resources.

"I'll definitely get Master Yuánmíng to agree!" Fáníng encouraged herself.

He pondered silently.

Fa Kong senior brother was not only incompetent but also lacked talent in martial arts. These new disciples were all martial arts prodigies, no less gifted than him, so it was inevitable that they would look down upon Fa Kong senior brother.

How could Master Fa Kong be comfortable if someone like this were sent over?

Maybe beating the new junior brother up would intimidate Master Fahkong, but it wouldn't necessarily be effective.

So it's best to just come and help yourself.

Fa Kong nodded. "Junior brother, did you start practicing the Vajra Eight Extremes at the eighth layer of your Little Arhat Fist?"

"Yes."

"Xiao Luo Han Quan is no longer practiced?"

"The master said that when you reach the eighth level, you have a deep enough foundation. There's no need to practice further. Others stop practicing at the sixth level."

"Wasn't there a master who practiced to the tenth level?"

"Master said that Master Miao Ling's practice of Xiao Luo Han Quan to the tenth level was due to fate and chance, it was heaven's will, not human effort, and could not be forced."

"If you really have to train to level 10, how long would it take?"

"Master said that if one lacks the predestined conditions, practicing for a hundred years will be futile. Several senior masters in our temple devoted their entire lives to cultivating the Xiao Luohan Fist but ultimately failed to reach the tenth level, wasting valuable time; it is truly regrettable."

Fa Kong nodded thoughtfully and smiled, "Junior brother, you should head back. Otherwise, Master Shi Ming will start nagging again."

"Then I'll be going, Shixiong. Remember not to pick water!" Fan Ning reluctantly got up, giving a worried reminder.

Although Fa Kong was weak, he felt a sense of kinship with him. Weakness in his eyes seemed like the steadfastness of a towering mountain.

And what's more, Fa Kong spoke in a measured and calm manner, with an air of composure and gentleness that made him feel very comfortable. He felt an inexplicable sense of trust and reliance on him.

"Good, good, go on then." Fa Kong waved his hand with a smile.

After Fa Ning paid respects, he strode away.

Fa Kong smiled and watched him leave, continuing to eat. He ate while recalling his bizarre experiences.

It has been seven days since I arrived in this world.

Although only seven days have passed, everything from my past life feels like it happened seven years ago, as if it were a grand dream.

(Editor in charge:novel meaning)