Innate and master were entirely different concepts.
Especially when it came to a master who had already developed spiritual powers— the most apparent sign being the ability to take shortcuts in reaching the innate realm.
For instance, one could ingest certain spiritual medicines or receive exclusive teachings from a master. With the Great Zen Temple's profound background, it could artificially produce several innate martial experts if it were willing to pay the price. However, such actions would be meaningless.
For a martial arts powerhouse like the Great Zen Temple, having a few more innate martial experts wouldn't fundamentally impact them. What truly mattered was the presence of masters and great grandmasters, as they had the power to influence the overall situation in the world.
Regardless of breaking through to the innate realm or advancing to the level of master, external aids were of minimal use. Breaking through to the innate realm required perfect control over one's power, such as swallowing specific natural treasures or receiving guidance from a master.
For masters striving to become great grandmasters, they had to develop spiritual powers, a process fraught with danger that could lead to death.
This was why the abbot and the other leaders, upon sensing the mysterious grandmaster who displayed spiritual powers, were shocked.
In today's world, a great grandmaster was a rare occurrence, with the last known one being the founder of the Great Li Dynasty one hundred and eighty years ago.
Considering the time elapsed, it wasn't impossible for a new great grandmaster to emerge. However, it would likely be someone among the already renowned masters.
As for Lin Yuan, an eight-year-old child, it was inconceivable for him to be a great grandmaster, capable of dominating the world. This concept was beyond their understanding and defied logic.
On the back mountain of the Great Zen Temple, the venerable Long Eyebrows, who was in seclusion, was also disturbed by the spiritual fluctuations emanating from the scripture repository.
"Spiritual power?"
"Disciple Hui Zhen, has he stepped into the realm of a great grandmaster?"
Long Eyebrows muttered to himself, his gaze blank.
As a master of the Great Zen Temple, he had taught Lin Yuan for two months and was aware of his terrifying martial talent. In Long Eyebrows' eyes, Lin Yuan becoming a master was plausible, and there was a significant possibility of him touching the realm of a great grandmaster in the future. However, he expected this to happen decades later.
Now, merely five years later, Lin Yuan had become a great grandmaster? Compared to the abbot and the leaders, Long Eyebrows' shock was more profound. The abbot and the leaders were only at the peak of the innate realm, knowing the difficulties of breaking through to a great grandmaster but lacking a concrete understanding.
Long Eyebrows, on the other hand, was a master, just one step away from becoming a great grandmaster. He could feel the insurmountable gap between a great grandmaster and a master every moment. Even with the breakthrough method left behind by Patriarch Damo, Long Eyebrows had no idea how to achieve the leap to becoming a great grandmaster.
In the scripture repository, Lin Yuan sat cross-legged, suppressing the fluctuations of his spiritual power.
"This spiritual power resembles the evolution path of 'Mental Masters' in the universal human civilization."
Lin Yuan speculated in his mind.
In the universe's human civilization, evolutionaries weren't a secret, and there were many well-known evolutionary paths. The Mental Masters, in particular, required special means to stimulate the mind, enabling them to wield unimaginable powers.
"Just a similarity, not an exact match."
Lin Yuan pondered inwardly.
The evolutionary path of Mental Masters in the universe primarily focused on illusions, whereas the spiritual powers of a grandmaster were purely martial, creating a sense of oppression surpassing that of Mental Masters.
Furthermore, the physical bodies of Mental Masters in the universal human civilization were generally considered weak points, appearing somewhat fragile. In contrast, masters had already surpassed the pinnacle of an ordinary person's physical capabilities and could perfectly control every strand of power within their bodies.
Although Lin Yuan wasn't aware of the specific merits and drawbacks of the Mental Master evolutionary path, he speculated that, in terms of combat power, grandmasters were likely superior.
"In the universe's human civilization, martial arts should be considered an entirely new evolutionary path."
"If I can push martial arts to higher levels in this realm and present it to the Goddess of Wisdom for evaluation when I return, I should be able to obtain substantial rewards."
Lin Yuan silently contemplated.
After learning about the forced conscription matter, Lin Yuan had inquired with the Goddess of Wisdom, realizing her profound interest in new evolutionary paths.
"Are they all waiting outside?"
Lin Yuan seemed to sense something, glancing towards the outside of the scripture repository.
Breaking through to the realm of a great grandmaster and refining spiritual powers unavoidably led to the spread of the news. Thus, it was entirely normal for the abbot and the leaders to perceive it.
Outside the scripture repository, Long Eyebrows, the abbot, the leaders, and others were waiting. If other monks were present, they would have noticed that the usually dignified abbot and leaders wore anxious expressions, akin to students waiting to meet their admired teacher. Restlessness.
Expectation.
"Come in, everyone."
At that moment, a gentle voice resonated in their ears.
"Yes."
Upon receiving permission, the abbot, the leaders, and others breathed sighs of relief, following behind Long Eyebrows as they entered the scripture repository.
"We greet you, venerable monk."
On the third floor of the scripture repository, Long Eyebrows and the others finally saw Lin Yuan.
They respectfully bowed.
There was no other way. If Lin Yuan had reached the innate realm (prenatal realm) at the age of three, it could be explained as an extraordinary martial prodigy. However, entering the realm of a great grandmaster at the age of eight was inexplicable by common sense.
Only the legendary reincarnation of a true Buddha or a living Buddha could reconcile with everyone's understanding.
All, including Long Eyebrows, unhesitatingly addressed Lin Yuan as "venerable monk."
"Venerable monk?"
Lin Yuan smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying anything.
He knew his own affairs, and he was definitely not a "venerable monk."
However, as long as he didn't reveal it, no one would know.
Next, Lin Yuan chatted with the abbot, leaders, and others, taking the opportunity to share some insights he had occasionally gained in the past few years. He explained his understanding of breaking through the innate realm to reach the master realm, providing guidance to those present.
This direct guidance left the abbot, leaders, and others profoundly enlightened. As a grandmaster inheritance establishment, the Great Zen Temple naturally possessed precious legacies left by Patriarch Bodhidharma and successive masters on how to break through to the master realm.
However, even the annotations left by Patriarch Bodhidharma were often not fully understood by the abbot, leaders, and others. Achieving certain feats did not necessarily mean one comprehended all the underlying principles and essence of those feats.
While it was known that breaking through to become a master required perfect control over every strand of one's power, the details of how to achieve such perfect control were rarely explained, let alone how to actually do it. Lin Yuan, leveraging his extraordinary insight, meticulously replicated the process of breaking through the innate realm to the master realm, providing specific methods and means. This revelation brought tears to the eyes of the abbot, leaders, and others.
Through Lin Yuan's guidance, they at least saw hope in breaking through to become masters. If they could cultivate and refine their skills for a decade or two, perhaps they might step into the realm of masters.
In just a few sentences, Lin Yuan, like a beacon of wisdom, illuminated the future of the Great Zen Temple for decades to come, cultivating several potential masters. Such an ability—only a "venerable monk" like Lin Yuan could achieve it.
It could be said that if anyone dared to question Lin Yuan's "venerable monk" identity now, the abbot and leaders of the Great Zen Temple would be the first to object.
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