People in Japan were quite superstitious.
Perhaps due to deliberate brainwashing by the upper echelons, the people here would rather believe in ghosts and spirits than dismiss their existence.
Lu Jin wasnât much of a believer before. But ever since the old man got drunk, got hit by a car, and diedâleaving him to inherit this templeâhe started to believe a little.
In the Dragon Kingdom, if you pretended to be a charlatan and tried to convince people to make âbody offeringsâ, youâd probably get beaten to a pulp by some womanâs husband.
Out of ten people, youâd be lucky if even one foolish woman fell for it.
But in Japan, he had already unlocked the achievement of bedding over a hundred women using this method.
As long as he put on a solemn expression, spoke in a mysterious tone, and spouted a few deceptive words, those somewhat attractive married women were more than happy to let him âenlightenâ them with Buddhist teachings.
And afterward, they would even make generous donations to the temple.
Compared to chastity, the people here were far more concerned about whether they were haunted by evil spirits.
Considering the culture of this country, it wasnât all that hard to understand.
After all, this was a nation with little regard for moral principles.
âSinful!â
Sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion, Lu Jin picked up the wooden fish mallet beside him and began rhythmically tapping the wooden fish.
Young men are full of desire.
Breaking the precepts for personal indulgenceâcompletely normal.
But the thing he liked most about Buddhism was that no matter what sins were committed, there was always a chance for redemption.
Even if one laid down the butcherâs knife, they could immediately become a Buddha.
So, offering oneâs body was nothing out of the ordinary.
As long as one sincerely repented and recited Buddhist scriptures, their sins would vanish.
Break the precepts, repent, and then break them againâ¦
As for when he would truly attain enlightenmentâwho knew?
He would continue reciting his scriptures, and whenever enlightenment struck, that would be Buddhaâs decision.
The ethereal sound of the wooden fish abruptly stopped. Lu Jin, who had been sincerely repenting, opened his eyes in confusion.
After a brief moment of excitement, Lu Jin quickly calmed down.
After all, he had been studying Buddhism for over a decadeâhis mental state was at least a bit higher than the average personâs.
Carefully studying the system, Lu Jin realized that its functions were even simpler and more direct than he had imagined.
First, it could enhance the effects of any object.
Second, he had three enhancement opportunities per day.
What effects an item gained after enhancement all depended on luck.
âEnhance an object?â
Lu Jinâs gaze fell on the Buddhist scripture in front of him.
He decided to test the systemâs abilities.
As soon as the thought arose, the Buddhist scripture in front of him instantly became aged and worn, as if it had endured the passage of countless years.
At the same time, a vast and sacred aura emanated from the book.
This was just a cheaply printed book he had bought from a street stall.
It was nothing more than an ordinary printed scripture.
But now, it seemed to have turned into an ancient relic.
âRecite it day and night, and no evil shall touch you?â
Lu Jin raised an eyebrowâwas it really that powerful?
Flipping through the now-aged pages, lines of handwritten black ink characters came into view.
He had been forced to memorize the Medicine Buddha Sutra by the old man since childhood.
By now, he knew it by heart.
This handwritten version contained the same content as the one he remembered.
However, as he read it aloud, a completely different sensation arose.
Lu Jinâs brows furrowed slightlyâhis once casual expression shifted as he continued reading with newfound patience.
His mind gradually drifted into a trance-like state, as if hovering between dream and wakefulness.
A faint golden light emerged, slowly coalescing in his mind into the towering figure of a Buddha.
Hair in tight curls, left hand holding a medicine jar, right hand forming the Abhaya Mudra.
Compassionate yet imposing.
It was the divine image of the Medicine Buddha.
After silently finishing a full recitation of the Medicine Buddha Sutra, Lu Jin slowly opened his eyes, a trace of astonishment flickering within them.
He now felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted from his bodyâan indescribable lightness overtook him.
Moreover, within him, a faint energy stirred, subtly nourishing his body.
âCan reciting scriptures really lead to enlightenment?â
Lu Jin hurriedly flipped open the
and recited it several more times.
Each time he finished a recitation, he could feel that warm current within his body grow slightly stronger.
It was only a minuscule amount, as fine as a spiderâs silk, but he could undeniably sense this mysterious force gradually strengthening.
However, apart from enhancing his physical well-being, he couldnât perceive any other significant changes just yet.
The only notable thing was that the Buddha image in his mind was becoming increasingly vivid.
âIf one enhancement produced this result, what if I enhance it againâ¦?â
A glint flashed in Lu Jinâs eyes.
Without hesitation, he consumed his second enhancement opportunity, determined to make this scripture even more miraculous.
A golden radiance erupted.
A faint Buddha figure emerged from the scripture.
In the distance, he could almost hear an endless chorus of Buddhist chants echoing through the temple.
Boundless Buddhist intent permeated the air, reverberating throughout the sacred space.