Becoming a Deity from Planting the Bodhi Tree-Chapter 359 - 174: A Twist of Fate, The Origin of the Original Plane_4

If one is unwilling to kowtow every three steps on this staircase, they must bear the weight of Dharma, which becomes heavier as they ascend. Only those with profound insight into Dharma can continue without struggling.

At the end of the staircase, the half-concealed stone doors of the Divine Temple swung completely open at this moment, as if welcoming their arrival.

Standing before the towering stone doors, dozens of meters high, everyone could not help but feel a sense of insignificance, wondering for whom these colossal gates were erected—could it be for the race of giants?

Entering the Divine Temple, the light filtered in from high crevices, resembling fine golden sand, scattered across the ancient stone floors.

Throughout one could see dense trees and vines, these plants having long coexisted with the temple, their thick and twisted trunks and branches filling the crevasses of the temple structure.

A breeze blew in from outside the stone doors, gently swaying the leaves and vines, making a rustling sound, bringing an indescribable sense of solace and purification.

The great hall of the temple was nearly empty; Ji Jingqiu did not see Yue Wukong and West Emperor, indicating that the two had already ventured deeper inside.

"Two paths, which shall we take?" someone asked.

"Split up?" another suggested.

"That's unwise, we already have few people; we should combine all our strength."

"Left or right, let Ji decide."

"Yes, let Ji decide."

Ji Jingqiu glanced at the two channels on the left and right, noting no discernible difference, then turned to the Elf girl, who shook her head to signal her own uncertainty.

"Then, let's take the right; it seems more agreeable," Ji Jingqiu said with a grave expression, leading the way.

The further they walked down the passage, the darker it became, and at some point, a faint mist began to fill the air.

There were muffled conversations up ahead.

Ji Jingqiu and the others proceeded straight to the end of the passage and finally laid eyes on many Martial Artists.

Yue Wukong stood solemnly before a corridor with deep abysses on both sides.

Ji Jingqiu and his companions approached, and Yue Wukong uneasily shuffled aside.

Ji Jingqiu scanned the area, not seeing West Emperor—he must have taken the other path. Only Yue Wukong remained, prompting Ji Jingqiu to kindly consider guiding Yue Wukong here...

"No bloodshed within the Divine Temple!" Feeling Ji Jingqiu's "benevolent" gaze, Yue Wukong quickly stated.

Ji Jingqiu looked at him suspiciously, seeking confirmation from the Elf girl nearby.

She nodded earnestly: "It's true. Many areas within the temple forbid conflict and bloodshed. Disrespect towards the temple will result in exile from the Half-plane or even immediate death!"

Only then did Ji Jingqiu put aside his combativeness.

After all, it was the temple of a supreme being, and respect must be maintained.

"Hmm... This seems to be 'Qujing Tongyou,' also known as Heart Inquiry Road. One either withstands it through the strength of their Spirit Realm or walks the correct sequence, which is hidden in the corridor's floor patterns," Mu Rouzhi whispered, "This trial assesses one's Spirit Realm, or Martial Wisdom."

Qujing Tongyou, Heart Inquiry Road?

This reminded Ji Jingqiu of his strange encounter in the Spirit Ocean, and the path he took there.

It was only later that he learned the true meaning of that path from Jiang Minghuan of the Wilderness Sect.

After scrutinizing the corridor for a while, Ji Jingqiu suddenly said:

"Follow me."

Yue Wukong changed expression and couldn't help but advise, "Ji, it's better to be cautious. Once one sets foot on this path, all means of saving oneself will be null."

It was a well-meaning reminder. Ji Jingqiu nodded slightly, and the Federation Martial Artists hesitated no further, following his steps onto the corridor.

Under the watchful eyes of Martial Artists from other civilizations, they reached the middle of the way unscathed, as if it were a smooth path.

"Ji, with your Martial Wisdom, have you already seen through the mysteries here?" Duan Xuanji excitedly asked. Raised in the Heavenly Mechanism Dojo, he had been immersed in a variety of books from a young age under his master's influence. He immediately recognized the arcane symbols on the walls of the corridor as a type of Divine Text.

Here, these Divine Texts function like the Heaven and Earth Law.

Duan Xuanji felt a vague understanding as he examined these texts, yet couldn't advance further to fully grasp their profound nature, as if there was a barrier.

He recognized this as a deficiency in his Martial Wisdom.

Meanwhile, Ji Jingqiu's Martial Wisdom had been proven time and time again over the past few months.

Ji Jingqiu was momentarily at a loss for words.

It wasn't out of modesty, for he indeed possessed extraordinary Martial Wisdom, but at that moment, the one who perceived the mystery of the staircase was actually the Bodhi Eye.

It was not really a matter of perceiving; he had seen it at a glance...

Suddenly, Ji Jingqiu stopped in his tracks.

When he paused, not only did the people from the Federation halt, but the Martial Artists from other civilizations who had unknowingly followed also eagerly waited for his next move.

"Why are you all looking at me?" Ji Jingqiu looked over with a sidelong glance, "If you have any ideas, make a move yourselves!"

Yue Wukong originally wanted to stand firm, for pride matters, especially when many Martial Artists from the Black Sun Clan were behind him, and as their leader, he could not afford to lose face.

But the astonishing blade he saw Ji Jingqiu wield against Wan Shensan was still vivid in his memory.

Thinking of that blade...

Yue Wukong restrained the urge to retort from his heart.

He looked down to judge the distance between them and suddenly didn't feel very safe, quietly stepping back.

As he stepped back, the Martial Artists from the Black Sun Clan behind him exchanged glances, silently retreating another two steps without a word.

Seeing Yue Wukong hold his tongue, the Martial Artists from the other civilizations, now subjected to the tacit might of that Yanhuang Federation warrior, also became increasingly silent, endeavoring to lower their presence.