Chapter 1: Medical Disputes

The disciples of the Wrathful Zen are known for their fiery tempers.

At seventy years old, He Guang has been practicing Wrathful Zen for decades and achieved the Golden Elixir of Enlightenment ten years ago.

As the morning light begins to break, a vibrant red sun is on the verge of rising. He Guang takes a moment to focus, using her fingers to disperse the mist that clings to the mountaintop. The true form of Wrath Peak gradually reveals itself—towering and majestic, its heights adorned with emerald greenery.

With a clean bottle in one hand and a willow branch in the other, she tends to the flowers and grasses outside the hall. The water in the bottle has just been drawn from a clear spring, and the willow branch was freshly plucked from a nearby tree. With every gentle sweep, she ensures that each flower receives its share of nourishment, the droplets shimmering like jewels in the early light.

The disciples of Wrathful Zen are not known for their patience; they find solace in cultivating flowers and plants to nurture their spirits.

Since joining the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect, He Guang has made it a tradition to plant a pot of flowers every year. Now, sixty pots flourish in the garden, each one a riot of colors competing for attention.

The first pot she ever planted was of foxtail grass, a gift from her master, who guided her every step as she nestled it into the soil. She tended to it with utmost care, but one careless moment in her youth led to the accidental snapping of its leaf sheath. As punishment, her master made her kneel before the foxtail grass for an entire day and night, a lesson she never forgot.

The second pot holds wolf’s tail grass, a present from her elder brother disciple. Whenever their master was in a foul mood, he had a habit of plucking its petals. As a result, this particular plant has always struggled, its growth stunted and its appearance disheveled, resembling a mangy wolf more than a noble flower.

Just then, a small bald monk hurried toward her, a haze of mist swirling around him.

With a graceful flick of her cloud-like sleeves, He Guang dispels the fog enveloping the flowers and plants.

The small monk bows respectfully and says, “Senior Sister, the Law Enforcement Hall has sent this year’s accounts. Initially, they intended for the Hall Master and the Deputy Hall Master to sign, but since both of our elders are absent from the sect, I thought it best to bring it to you first.”

The Law Enforcement Hall oversees all matters of the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect, with the highest officials being the previous generation’s Hall Master and Deputy Hall Master. Following them is she—the eldest sister of this generation.

He Guang nods, her hands still busy tending to the plants.

Understanding her routine, the small monk pulls a document from his robes without hesitation and begins to read aloud.

The open courtyard is silent, a world away from bustling life, with only the monk’s voice echoing through the air.

“This year, the income from the Transcendence Hall has increased significantly. However, the evaluations of our practitioners regarding the exorcism of inner demons have dropped… The trading volume with the demon clans has decreased considerably compared to last year, while our dealings with the sea clans, particularly the dragon tribes, have increased substantially. However, the terms for next year’s transactions are yet to be settled, and the Hall Master has gone to address this matter.”

“This year, the income from the Transcendence Hall has seen significant growth, yet the practitioners’ evaluations of our methods for exorcising inner demons have dropped… The trading volume with the demon clans has decreased notably compared to last year, while our dealings with the sea clans—particularly the dragon tribes—have increased considerably. However, the terms for next year’s transactions have yet to be finalized, so the Hall Master has gone to address this matter.”

The small monk paused, glancing up to gauge He Guang’s expression.

He Guang remained impassive, her hands tirelessly tending to the plants as if she hadn’t heard a word.

Gathering his focus, the small monk continued reading aloud. What mattered little to those above him held no power to sway his words. Yet, he couldn’t help but keep a part of his attention on He Guang, watching her lovingly as she watered the flowers.

Dressed in a striking red robe embroidered with gold, she epitomized the spirit of Wrath Peak. Water droplets cascaded from the willow branch, sparkling like gems in the morning light. The small monk’s heart raced; each droplet contained the essence of the Dew Pool, infused with spiritual energy that could revive withered trees and heal long-standing ailments.

Each watering was a small fortune—these flowers were of great value.

She moved past one pot without watering it.

The small monk recognized it immediately; it was a stupa flower gifted by Han Xiuli, the young lord of the Illusory Demon Sect.

Over thirty years ago, Han Xiuli had been trapped by his inner demons, unable to achieve the Golden Elixir, and sought help from the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect. At that time, He Guang was still in the Foundation Establishment stage, working alongside the Wrathful Zen Master to help him conquer his inner turmoil. With their aid, Han Xiuli successfully achieved the Ninth Grade Golden Elixir and rose to become the young lord of the demon sect. Now, at seventy, he had reached the late stage of Golden Elixir, his cultivation speed unparalleled in the current realm of immortals.

After exorcising his inner demons, He Guang’s reputation soared, leading many practitioners to seek her out for the same guidance.

Among the flowers, there were also gifts from scattered cultivators: starry night flowers from a wandering monk, elegant orchids from a charming disciple, and royal blossoms from demon practitioners…

After she achieved the Golden Elixir, requests for her to exorcise inner demons diminished, primarily due to her steep fees.

Just then, a flash of sword light cut across the sky, and a small monk with hair leaped down, rushing to He Guang, shoving aside the bald monk engrossed in reading. Breathless, he exclaimed, “Senior Sister, there’s a medical dispute at the entrance! Fifth Brother can’t hold them off any longer!”

He Guang remained unfazed, continuing her flower-watering with the serenity of an ancient sage.

The bald monk chuckled, teasing, “It’s just a medical dispute. Why the urgency? Is it worth troubling the Senior Sister over something so trivial?”

The Ten Thousand Buddha Sect ran its business on open principles, placing customers above all else. Yet, the character of the practitioners varied, and not every inner demon could be easily quelled. Medical disputes were an annual occurrence.

The sword-wielding monk stamped his foot, nearly in tears, “This time is different!”

The intricately carved beams and embroidered pillars adorned the entrance, casting shadows that danced with the dust. There’s a saying that to gauge a sect’s true depth, one must first examine its front gate. A sect that cannot even maintain its entrance is likely barren within. Looking across the realm of cultivation, the grand gate of the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect ranks among the top three.

Inside, clouds of mist swirl around, illuminated by resplendent Buddhist light.

The Ten Thousand Buddha Sect boasts eighteen hundred Zen halls, each nestled atop its own peak. Towering mountains rise majestically, a tapestry of rugged terrain, with peaks encircled by expansive lakes. The highest among them is the Hall Master’s Great Luminescence Peak, which soars above the rest, its sheer cliffs standing like sentinels against the sky.

At the reception of the Transcendence Hall, a sea of people swarms.

A newly arrived cultivator squeezed into the throng, turning to a fellow practitioner nearby who was watching the commotion with interest. “Fellow Daoist, isn’t this the place for exorcising inner demons? Why is it so chaotic? What are all these monks huddled together for?”

“That female cultivator is causing a medical dispute! She’s failed her Foundation Establishment twice, and now her physician monk has run off!”

The cultivator’s expression shifted to one of surprise mixed with sympathy. “Twice failing to establish a foundation… it seems futile to cause a ruckus over it. Her path is surely blocked now.”

Another individual chuckled softly and leaned in to gossip, “This isn’t just any ordinary medical dispute. Her physician is a Zen disciple from the Forgetting Emotion Sect. You know what that means—it’s a big deal.”

The Zen disciples hold a significant place in the hierarchy; the most formidable are the Zen Masters, with the highest potential to reach the Dao. Among their most talented direct disciples, the ones with the greatest aptitude are referred to as Zen Disciples.

At the center of the crowd stood the female cultivator at the heart of the medical dispute—Liu Yiyi, clad in striking red, her presence as radiant as flames. Beside her was You Xiaowu, draped in a tattered gray robe, his long hair tied back in a ponytail. He bore little resemblance to a monk and more to a sycophantic lackey.

Liu Yiyi tugged at You Xiaowu’s sleeve, her voice insistent as she cried, “I don’t care! You need to bring Ji Chanzi back to me. My failure in establishing a foundation is definitely his fault!”

Ji Chanzi, whose full name was Ji Ziye, was the Zen disciple from the Forgetting Emotion Sect and her primary physician.

“My dear lady, even if I call for him, it won’t do any good; I can’t bring him back!”

You Xiaowu’s brow furrowed in distress as he tried to free his sleeve from her grip. However, Liu Yiyi held on too tightly, and he dared not pull away forcefully, fearing it would only escalate the situation. Besides, the truth was they were indeed at fault in this matter.

As she turned her head, a flash of red fabric darted through the crowd.

You Xiaowu’s expression changed instantly, and he shouted, “Benefactor, physical contact between men and women is forbidden!”

Liu Yiyi took a few steps back, her tone growing even more defiant. “Why are you yelling at me? Who would want you anyway! I don’t want you; I want Ji Chanzi!”

Her words sent a ripple of laughter through the crowd, an uproarious chorus of disbelief and amusement. The onlookers’ eyes sparkled with mischief, like hungry dogs catching a whiff of meat, eager to indulge in the juicy gossip.

In that moment, a cool, aloof female voice cut through the chatter.

“Ji Chanzi? He’s nothing but a quack. I’ll treat you myself.”

The crowd parted as He Guang stepped forward, moving gracefully to the center where Liu Yiyi stood. She pressed her palms together in a gesture of respect and then turned to address the onlookers. “Everyone, forgive us for the commotion. Please, continue with your consultations and refrain from letting your thoughts wander.”

You Xiaowu shot He Guang a resentful glance, clearly annoyed by her intervention. He Guang waved him off, signaling for him to help disperse the crowd. Then, she led Liu Yiyi to a quiet room, eager to hear the details of the situation.

As He Guang listened, she couldn’t help but think to herself: This is nothing more than a cliché plot from a female-oriented Mary Sue fantasy novel.

Liu Yiyi was the wicked supporting character, while her sister, Liu Youyou, was the perfect Mary Sue protagonist.

As the legitimate daughter of the family, Liu Yiyi had been betrothed to the eldest son of the Xiao family since childhood, growing up alongside him as childhood sweethearts. However, Young Master Xiao was one of the male supporting characters in the harem of the main heroine. Ever since meeting the protagonist, he had become infatuated with her, declaring that he would marry no one but her. He insisted on breaking off his engagement with Liu Yiyi to pursue the main heroine instead.

The melodrama of the internal family strife is not worth detailing here. The three of them entered the Dayan Sect, where a Yuanying True Monarch took notice of Liu Yiyi’s impressive spiritual root talent and wanted to take her as a personal disciple. However, in a twist of fate, the True Monarch misinterpreted her actions, believing she intended to harm the main heroine, and ultimately chose to accept the main heroine as his disciple instead.

Determined to prove herself, Liu Yiyi dedicated herself to relentless practice, training day and night to establish her foundation before the protagonist could. Yet, despite her efforts, the main heroine succeeded in establishing her foundation first, leaving Liu Yiyi consumed by jealousy and inner demons.

In a typical cultivation novel, this would be the moment for Liu Yiyi to exit the stage.

However, in reality, there was the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect, known for its ability to combat inner demons.

With all her belongings in tow, Liu Yiyi rushed to the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect, purchasing the most expensive exorcism package available, which included one-on-one, hands-on service from a disciple of the Forgetting Emotion Sect.

During her first psychological consultation, Ji Chanzi filled her head with lofty ideals about the cyclical nature of the universe. If He Guang had been present, she surely would have rolled her eyes and muttered something about pretentious scholars leading the world astray.

Liu Yiyi, however, bought into it wholeheartedly. Brimming with confidence, she returned, ready to establish her foundation again—but failed once more.

Instead of dampening her spirit, the setback only fueled her determination. She returned to the sect, thinking, “Familiarity breeds comfort,” and sought out Ji Chanzi again.

Ji Chanzi, having also experienced failure once, was undeterred, believing in the adage of picking oneself up where one fell. Little did he know that he not only stumbled but also dug a hole deep enough to bury himself in.

Her second attempt at establishing her foundation ended in failure once again.

In the realm of cultivation, there were practitioners who had established their foundations twice, but those who tried three times and succeeded were a rarity—so rare, in fact, that they became textbook examples.

To be honest, even Liu Yiyi didn’t believe she could succeed on her third attempt. Liu Youyou stood as an obstacle in her path, a manifestation of her inner demons. With such heavy burdens weighing on her spirit, she couldn’t entirely place the blame on Ji Chanzi.

Listening to Liu Yiyi’s plight, He Guang felt a pang of sympathy. This girl had decent spiritual roots; why was her path to cultivation fraught with so many obstacles?

Just when Liu Yiyi was about to give up, she heard a shocking piece of news: Ji Chanzi was now with Liu Youyou!

Her psychologist was dating her greatest rival!

How could she possibly endure this?

Putting aside Ji Chanzi’s questionable ethics as a physician, and whether he would confide his own demons to Liu Youyou, Liu Yiyi’s first suspicion was: Was Ji Chanzi deliberately sabotaging her Foundation Establishment attempts to help Liu Youyou?