Caught up, but not entirely.

Yaoqin looked solemnly at everything happening before her.

Though she didn’t understand the principles behind it, such an immense amount of wish power being used on a single person, with a ridiculously low increase in cultivation, undoubtedly hinted at some hidden technique.

Was this another application discovered by Zen Forest Temple?

Could there be some additional enhancement?

If that were the case, the Central Continent would likely see a wave of wish power competition. But why would the monks of Zen Forest Temple so openly reveal such a secret technique?

Was this a technique exclusive to the Buddha’s chosen one, immune to imitation? Was it a deterrent?

“What’s going on?” Li Yingling tugged at Chu Xingchen’s sleeve, urgently asking, “Master, what’s happening? Didn’t you say wish power was useless?”

Why did it seem like everyone else knew what was happening, except her?

Good news: there was drama to witness, and she was right there in the thick of it.

Bad news: she couldn’t make sense of it, and she was the only one who couldn’t.

If no one understood, it wouldn’t be so bad, but being the only one in the dark made Li Yingling feel incredibly uneasy.

Chu Xingchen frowned and hesitated, “Theoretically, it is useless…”

But with such a massive amount of wish power entering Yuan Kong’s body… Yuan Kong’s cultivation should have skyrocketed. Yet, why did his aura feel so weak?

It even seemed like he hadn’t reached the Foundation Establishment stage yet?!

Could this be another use of wish power? Refining one’s foundation?

Chu Xingchen once again scanned Yuan Kong with his system.

[Target: Yuan Kong]

[Cultivation: Late Qi Refining Stage]

[Golden Trait: Born Buddha’s Chosen One]

[Purple Trait: Insight into Illusions]

[Blue Trait: Wisdom]

[Blue Trait: Compassion]

[Gray Trait: Wish Power Cultivation]

[Due to cultivation restrictions, does not meet the disciple recruitment conditions.]

Seeing the system’s traits, Chu Xingchen was momentarily stunned. The black trait, “Forbidden Cultivation Body,” had been replaced with the gray trait, “Wish Power Cultivation.”

Could it be that the massive surge of wish power had only resulted in this? In the end, he still had to rely on wish power for cultivation?

He thought it was something significant, but it turned out to be just this?

The only plausible explanation was that the “Forbidden Cultivation Body” wasn’t just about being unable to cultivate—it likely had other side effects, which was why the abbot of Zen Forest Temple had taken such measures.

This system’s flaw was precisely this—why couldn’t it provide detailed explanations for the traits?

After reviewing the traits, Chu Xingchen spoke leisurely, “It seems… it really is useless.”

Yaoqin didn’t turn around, but her tone was skeptical, “Are you saying that the overwhelming surge of wish power poured into one person had no effect, and his cultivation remains at the Qi Refining level?”

“Yes… that seems to be the case.”

“So, does that mean this Buddha’s chosen one will have to rely on wish power for cultivation from now on?”

“Most likely, yes.”

Yaoqin laughed in frustration, “Then do you think the abbot is crazy, or are you?”

Chu Xingchen replied seriously, “That Buddha’s chosen one is the crazy one.”

Yaoqin turned around, ready to smack Chu Xingchen with her folding fan.

Was he still trying to joke around at a time like this?

But when she turned, she saw that his expression wasn’t one of playful teasing—it was completely serious.

This expression meant Chu Xingchen wasn’t joking; he truly believed what he was saying.

Yaoqin asked, “Do you know something?”

Chu Xingchen shook his head, “Don’t worry. Since the abbot invited us here, there must be a reason.”

Hearing this, Yaoqin could only suppress her doubts.

Seeing that her master had finished speaking, Li Yingling quickly asked, “Master, are you done talking? Can you explain what’s going on now?”

She was determined to get to the bottom of this drama today!

Chu Xingchen sighed and looked at Li Xingtian beside him, “Explain it to your senior sister.”

Li Xingtian nodded gently and began explaining the situation to Li Yingling.

Chu Xingchen and Yaoqin turned their attention back to Yuan Jing.

The abbot of Zen Forest Temple first clasped his hands and bowed to the surrounding devotees.

He spoke in a relaxed tone, “Thank you all… Our humble temple has nothing to offer in return. Today, all income from Zen Forest Temple will be donated.”

“Additionally, this will be the last Zen Forest Temple Fair. We hope all benefactors enjoy themselves today.”

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted with cries:

“Abbot! Don’t go!”

“Keep hosting it! We’re willing to donate!”

The scenes formed by wish power were clearly visible to those nearby, and they joined in the calls.

Yuan Jing listened to the countless pleas to stay but remained silent. After another bow, he turned and walked toward the side hall.

With martial monks maintaining order, the crowd trying to surge forward was held back.

Two white-bearded monks at the Foundation Establishment stage also turned to help maintain order.

As Yuan Jing approached, all the invited guests in the side hall stood up and walked out to the corridor.

“Greetings, honored guests,” Yuan Jing smiled, “Thank you for coming today.”

A Taoist priest spoke gravely, “No need for thanks. It was indeed an eye-opening experience. We also admire the abbot’s efforts for the people.”

Yuan Jing clasped his hands and quickly replied, “I dare not accept such praise. I acted for the sake of wish power and feel ashamed to claim any merit.”

“Actions speak louder than intentions, Abbot. There’s no need to be modest,” a scholarly young man in white robes said. “Today, the Buddha’s chosen one of Zen Forest Temple must have ascended to greatness. Congratulations.”

Yuan Jing smiled bitterly, “What greatness? It’s merely a way to keep my junior brother alive.”

Hearing this, Yaoqin couldn’t help but glance at Chu Xingchen beside her. Had he been right again?

He always seemed to have an uncanny sense of intuition at crucial moments.

Yuan Jing continued to explain, “My junior brother suffers from a strange illness and is on the brink of death. This method is his only hope. From now on, his cultivation will depend entirely on wish power.”

A beautiful woman in a yellow robe frowned and asked, “Then why did you invite us here? Was it just to show us how you saved your junior brother?”

“Today, I asked you all to witness that saving my junior brother was an act of Zen Forest Temple alone, with no connection to the Buddhist sects of the Central Continent.”

Yuan Jing’s words left everyone momentarily stunned.

However, since they had been specially invited by Yuan Jing, none of them were fools. They quickly grasped the implications of his words.

Had there been a falling out with the Buddhist sects of the Central Continent?

But Yuan Jing wasn’t finished. He paused, allowing everyone to digest his words before continuing,

“From today onward, Yuan Kong is expelled from Zen Forest Temple. He is no longer a monk of our temple and has no further connection to Zen Forest Temple. Our bond is severed.”

After saying this, Yuan Jing clasped his hands, bowed, and then turned to leave with an air of finality.

The guests on the corridor were left exchanging bewildered glances.

The Taoist priest muttered in confusion, “What does this monk mean?”

The scholarly young man in white robes glanced at Yuan Jing’s retreating figure, seemingly understanding something. He chuckled lightly and also left.

With the young man’s departure, the other distinguished guests, having witnessed the grand spectacle, began to leave without further discussion.

After all, their role wasn’t to make decisions but to report back.

Soon, only Chu Xingchen and his three companions remained in the corridor.

With no outsiders around, Chu Xingchen sighed, “Rather than being a senior brother, he’s more like a father.”

Yaoqin nodded gently, agreeing with his words.

Yuan Jing’s words had been remarkably concise.

Yuan Kong was saved by the Zen Forest Temple in Yuzhou City and had no connection with the Buddhist sect of the Central Continent, which meant Yuan Kong owed no gratitude to the Central Continent's Buddhist order.

However, Yuan Kong was later expelled from the Zen Forest Temple, signifying that from that moment on, he no longer had any ties to the temple.

As one of the branches of the Central Continent, the Zen Forest Temple was naturally under the control of the Central Continent's grand Buddhist sect.

But as the abbot's words fell, he could no longer control Yuan Kong, who had been expelled from the temple.

The only shackle that could bind Yuan Kong had been undone by Yuan Jing himself.

Though he didn’t understand why Yuan Jing was so concerned about the Central Continent's Buddhist sect interfering with Yuan Kong, his deep affection for Yuan Kong was unmistakable.

Yuan Jing walked back to Yuan Kong, looked at him for a moment, and couldn’t help but smile as he said,

“You’re awake, yet pretending to still be asleep?”

Hearing this, Yuan Kong slowly opened his eyes and said in a low voice, “Senior Brother… why?”

He had just heard the abbot’s decree expelling him from the Zen Forest Temple.

“Why what?” Yuan Jing reached out and ruffled Yuan Kong’s little head, smiling warmly. “You little outsider monk, do you want to sleep with this old monk tonight, or go back to your own little room?”

Yuan Kong looked up in surprise at the abbot, only to see a smile spreading across his face.

In that instant, he understood everything—he had been expelled, but not entirely.

Yuan Kong also smiled and said, “Who would want to sleep with an old man like you?”