Hearing Monk Hushu's words, Lin Mu was certainly intrigued and looked forward to meeting the Green Petal Urim Lotus. After all, it was not every day that one got to see a Transcendent Plant.
This would technically be Lin Mu's second time encountering such a being. The first had been the mutated Violet Mystic Life Tree, but that was a different kind of plant. Even though it was a Transcendent, it was mostly passive in nature.
Plants had a different cultivation system in the first place, and as such, not all the factors that applied to normal cultivators applied to them. For instance, they didn't necessarily experience Immortal Tribulations.
They usually encountered such trials only at very crucial stages or during periods of major growth. One such mon point was when the plant was about to transform and gain a humanoid form—a stage the Green Petal Urim Lotus had apparently reached.
The mutated Violet Mystic Life Tree hadn't been on that level. It was powerful, yes, but lacked the active spiritual sentience of the lotus.
"Let's return to Meng Bai and Daoist Chu," Monk Hushu said after a bit.
"Yeah." Having visited the lotus lakes and absorbed the sacred atmosphere, Lin Mu figured it was time to return.
He still had to settle their living arrangements, after all.
Along the way, Lin Mu saw several more lakes, though these were smaller than the main ones. Each was adorned with lesser Violet Petal Urim Lotuses, their soft glow shimmering on the surface like violet fireflies. These lakes were scattered across the various terraces of the temple grounds, each with its own beauty. However, the ones they had visited earlier remained the main sacred grounds, cared for with utmost reverence.
A while later, they arrived at the hall where Meng Bai and Daoist Chu were resting.
The two were sitting at a low wooden table, enjoying a cup of fragrant herbal tea brewed by one of the monks.
"You're back," Meng Bai said, looking up as the door opened.
"How was it?" Daoist Chu asked, his eyes narrowing with curiosity.
"Quite transformative," Lin Mu replied. "Meeting the Abbot and the elders was certainly worth it."
"I see," Daoist Chu replied, stroking his chin.
"What was it like up there?" Meng Bai asked, excitement lighting his eyes. "And can I see it too?"
"Hmm… I think you can take a few steps and see how it goes," Lin Mu said after thinking for a bit.
"It can certainly help young Meng Bai," Monk Hushu added. "Though with his age, it might not bring the same effects. One needs to have accumulated life experience for it to be most beneficial."
"There's a special effect?" Meng Bai asked, surprised.
"Every step can bring about purification of your mind and spirit," Lin Mu explained. "If you're able to endure it, you might just be able to resolve doubts and fears that have long troubled your heart."
After hearing it all, both Meng Bai and Daoist Chu were surprised.
"I didn't know it was like that," Daoist Chu muttered. "It's probably for the best I didn't go. I might've fainted." He chuckled to himself.
With his temperament, such purity would have felt more like penance than enlightenment.
"I'll try," Meng Bai said with determination. Though a little nervous, he reckoned it might be worth attempting at least once.
"So what are we doing about our living arrangements?" Daoist Chu asked, glancing at Monk Hushu.
"You can stay in my courtyard," the monk replied calmly. "There are plenty of rooms."
"And where is that?" Daoist Chu inquired.
"Another peak," Monk Hushu answered.
"I thought you'd be living here," Lin Mu said curiously.
"Even I can't live on the Grand Peak as the disciple of the Abbot," Monk Hushu said, shaking his head.
"Wait, your master is the Abbot?" Lin Mu raised his brows in surprise.
The monk had never mentioned this before.
"Yes," Monk Hushu replied with a faint smile.
"You never told him?" Daoist Chu asked, though he didn't seem surprised.
"It never properly came up," Monk Hushu said casually.
"Well, I suppose that's fine," Lin Mu said with a shrug. "Should we head to the courtyard then?"
"Very well," Monk Hushu nodded.
The group began their descent from the Grand Peak, eventually making their way eastward to another peak slightly shorter in stature. This was where higher-ranked monks like Hushu resided. At about five thousand meters tall, it was still a formidable mountain, crowned with a cap of pristine snow.
Like the Grand Peak, this one also had a temple at its summit, though it was more reserved in scale. Just below it lay Monk Hushu's personal courtyard—a mark of his seniority.
Despite his status, the courtyard was not luxurious. In fact, it was striking in its simplicity. Made of weathered wood and local stone, it blended seamlessly with its serene surroundings. No elaborate decorations adorned its walls, and there were no golden statues or intricate paintings.
Instead, a modest garden occupied one side, containing a few hardy shrubs and seasonal flowers. In the center lay a tranquil pond where a handful of carps swam leisurely. Their movements created gentle ripples that shimmered in the mountain sunlight.
There were five rooms in total, each sparsely furnished but fortable. It was more than enough for their small group.
Had any other cultivators seen the place, they might have been shocked. That someone so powerful would live in what appeared to be little more than a mountain hermit's dwelling—barely more refined than a village inn—was unexpected. But this was the essence of Buddhist cultivation: austerity, discipline, and harmony with nature.
Most monks lived in shared acmodations. The only reason higher-ranked monks had private quarters was so they wouldn't be disturbed during deep meditation or scripture recitation.
In the main hall of the courtyard stood a stone Buddha, weathered by time, yet radiating a calming energy. A large prayer wheel turned slowly nearby, engraved with depictions of the six realms of reincarnation.
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