Several years later.

Kongnian Temple.

Dawn was just breaking.

The young woman slowly opened her eyes.

Unlike when she was small, the young woman's figure had now fully developed, with curves outlined perfectly by her undergarments.

Her skin was delicate as freshly fallen snow, yet showed a faint blush, like warm jade reflected by March peach blossoms. Her eyebrows were slender as a new moon, naturally carrying an elegant charm that needed no cosmetic enhancement.

Most impressive were the young woman's eyes, clear as autumn water. Her pupils were deep black like ink drops, while the whites were clear as mountain spring water. When she glanced around, there was both the innocent naivety of a young girl and a hint of tender affection.

However, though the young woman's eyes were beautiful, few dared look directly into them, fearing she might see through their inner thoughts.

Getting out of bed, the young woman put on her monk's robe, left her room to wash up, then went to the front hall for morning prayers.

Because she was the world's first woman to practice Buddhism, to avoid impropriety, the young woman lived in a relatively remote location where almost no one disturbed her.

Walking through the mountain forest, the young woman moved with the lightness of a swallow. Her every gesture carried a natural, pure aura, like the first budding lotus at dawn, clean and bright, untainted by worldly dust.

She had walked this mountain path countless times and was familiar with every blade of grass and tree.

When the young woman entered the temple and stepped into Kongnian Temple's main hall, most of the monks had already gathered.

At the very front of the hall sat an elderly man, aged but with upright posture, the abbot of Kongnian Temple.

The young woman walked step by step toward the front of the hall.

Many monks were already accustomed to seeing this junior sister.

Finally, the young woman sat on a meditation cushion to the side behind the old man.

As the abbot's only disciple, she was positioned before all other monks but behind the abbot.

"Since everyone has arrived, let morning prayers begin," Abbot Xu Jing slowly spoke.

"Yes," all the monks responded in unison.

"Dong dong... dong..."

As three bell tolls rang from Kongnian Temple, all monks closed their eyes, and the sound of chanting sutras spread throughout the temple.

Though all were reciting scriptures, among the many monks, only the young woman was bathed in faint Buddha light.

This Buddha light grew thicker, as if Buddhist essence had draped her in a golden kasaya.

Simultaneously, above Kongnian Temple, Buddha light gathered, golden auspicious clouds drifted, and gentle breezes seemed capable of dispelling all distracting thoughts.

Previously when monks chanted sutras, though Buddhist phenomena occasionally occurred, they were never this obvious but since the young woman's ordination and conversion to Buddhism, every time she recited Buddhist scriptures, miraculous signs would appear.

Over the years as the young woman subdued demons in Kongnian City, blessed newborns, and performed last rites for the elderly, it was always the same.

Day by day, the young woman's reputation grew.

Gradually, the people of Kongnian Temple gave the young woman a common title, Wonderful Lotus Saintess.

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

Unknowingly, half an hour passed. Three more bell tolls rang, the sound of monks chanting sutras in the hall ceased, and all opened their eyes but before them, that young woman was still reciting scriptures.

The young woman had entered a state of enlightened selflessness.

"You may each withdraw," Abbot Xu Jing slowly spoke.

"Yes, Abbot."

The monks pressed palms together in salute and gradually departed, opening the temple gates to welcome pilgrims and going about their various duties.

An incense stick's time later, the young woman slowly opened her eyes, her pure gaze blinking at Xu Jing, "Grandfather Abbot, are morning prayers finished?"

"Yes," Abbot Xu Jing nodded with a smile, "They ended an incense stick ago, and you just entered the Way."

"Oh..." the young woman nodded.

"Wangxin, you receive Buddha's favor not only because you have a Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart, but also because of your pure soul and your diligent study of Buddhist teachings these years."

Xu Jing looked at this young woman who was both his disciple and like a granddaughter.

"In the six years since you converted to Buddhism, your cultivation has reached Golden Core realm, and your mastery of Buddhist teachings surpasses most Buddhist disciples.

According to Kongnian Temple's rules, once a disciple reaches Golden Core realm, they must descend the mountain to experience the mortal world for ten years but before this, Grandfather Abbot has a question for you."

Wangxin tilted her head, "Grandfather Abbot, please speak directly."

"The question is simple," Xu Jing smiled.

"For some, Buddha is these pages of scripture."

"For some, Buddha is repeatedly ferrying others and oneself across suffering."

"For some, Buddha is the golden statue before them."

"Wangxin, having read so much Buddhist scripture, what is the Buddha in your heart?"

Hearing the abbot's words, Wangxin lowered her head in contemplation.

"No hurry," Xu Jing smiled, "Think it over carefully. When you have an answer, it won't be too late to speak."

With these words, Xu Jing stood and walked step by step out of the hall.

In the hall, only Wangxin remained kneeling.

"What is my Buddha?"

Wangxin raised her head, looking at the Buddha statue before her.

The Buddha statue also gazed back at Wangxin.

One day.

Two days.

Three days.

Pilgrims passed by the young woman as she listened to their prayers.

Chanting echoed around her as she listened to Buddhist scriptures.

As days passed, Wangxin continued kneeling motionless on the hall's meditation cushion, eyes closed in deep thought, still as a statue.

Initially, when pilgrims saw Master Wangxin kneeling before Buddha, they were startled but didn't disturb her.

Over time, pilgrims grew accustomed to it.

"What is the Buddha in my heart?"

The young woman had never considered what Buddha meant to her.

All these years, she had simply recited scriptures, studied Buddhist teachings, and cultivated diligently.

Ten days, eleven days... twelve days...

Gradually, the young woman entered complete selflessness.

She began to hear neither pilgrims' prayers nor chanting voices.

Her world became completely blank but in this blankness, a small figure quietly appeared.

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

One month later, within Kongnian Temple, the Buddhist bell rang without being struck. Golden lotus flowers formed from light gathered above the temple, creating a vast golden lotus pond.

Xu Jing stepped forward and arrived at the main hall.

Walking before the young woman, her eyes slowly opened as golden light in them gradually faded back to normal.

"Do you have an answer?" Xu Jing asked.

"Mm," the young woman nodded, "Just now, I saw Buddha in my heart."

"Oh?" Xu Jing smiled slightly, "What was He like?"

"He is a child, just like Xiao Mo."