Unlike Physical Energy, which could be directly increased through exercise, food, medicine, and countless other conventional methods, the path to strengthening Spiritual Energy was far more obscure.
In this world, aside from natural talent and inherited bloodlines, any postnatal methods for increasing Spiritual Energy were either mentioned only vaguely in various texts or dismissed as broad concepts such as personal will and life experience.
In other words, the entire Shinobi World possessed no systematic method specifically dedicated to cultivating Spiritual Energy.
"If none exists, perhaps I can create one myself."
Genjo silently considered the idea, then he couldn't help but recall the fitness practice that had swept the globe in his previous life, Yoga.
Yoga not only improved flexibility and core strength, but also formed a complete system for regulating both body and mind. It could calm one's spirit, focus the mind, and bring a person into a state of meditative tranquility.
Although he had never systematically practiced Yoga in his previous life, in an era dominated by short videos, he had occasionally come across yoga instructors explaining postures and breathing techniques. Even now, he could still remember those scenes.
Moreover, the real Genjo from his previous life had also been a great master of Yoga. There were even legends that the Buddha himself had attained enlightenment after mastering ascetic yoga practice.
The core doctrine of the Consciousness-Only School, founded by Genjo, was closely connected to yogic cultivation, and one of its foundational scriptures was the Yogācārabhūmi Sāstra.
Of course, Genjo's Yoga was entirely different from the modern form of Yoga practiced as physical exercise.
The Yoga of the Consciousness-Only School was a profound practice centered on examining and contemplating the layers of consciousness, ultimately transforming consciousness into wisdom. Its focus lay not in the body, but in consciousness itself.
Nevertheless, the two were not completely unrelated. Modern Yoga's emphasis on awareness and attentiveness to the body was precisely the first step toward awareness of one's own mind, as described in the Yogācārabhūmi Sāstra.
As things stood, Genjo himself was thoroughly versed in Buddhist doctrine while also being a master of Taijutsu and Medical Ninjutsu. Perhaps he could combine the mental cultivation methods of the Buddhist Yogācārabhūmi Sāstra tradition from his previous life, the postural principles of modern Yoga, the Taijutsu system of the Shinobi World, and the methods of manipulating Spiritual Energy found in Genjutsu training, merging these seemingly unrelated disciplines into an entirely new training method.
Movement would take the form of yoga postures, using stretching, twisting, and balancing to regulate chakra circulation throughout the body and strengthen Physical Energy.
Stillness would take the form of Yogācārabhūmi Sāstra meditation, using breath regulation, meditative concentration, and contemplation of the self to temper Dark Style's Spiritual Energy, allowing the incomparably pure innate spiritual power within Genjo to grow from a tiny stream into a vast river and sea.
Movement would nourish the body; stillness would nourish the spirit. Perhaps the two could even be united, just like the fusion of Dark and Light and the power of all creation, ultimately achieving a state in which body and mind became one and movement and stillness existed in perfect harmony.
"My version of Genjo is becoming more and more worthy of the name."
Genjo chuckled inwardly before lowering his gaze to look himself over.
He wore nothing but plain white monk's robes and carried a string of prayer beads in his hand.
Beyond that, he possessed nothing else, and even those prayer beads had been hastily created with Wood Style.
The nine-ringed monk's staff, the brocade kasaya, and the purple-gold alms bowl, he had none of them at present.
It made him wonder whether, after forging each of those three items one by one in the future and equipping himself with them, he would finally bear some resemblance to the monk from the memories of his previous life.
And even more importantly… the Bodhi Tree!
After all, the ultimate goal of this clone was to become the Buddha, to become the World-Honored One.
How could the World-Honored One not possess a Bodhi Tree of his own?
As he continued thinking, Genjo unknowingly stepped back onto the surface, and his view suddenly opened up.
It was now dusk, and looking at the blazing evening clouds, he let out a quiet sigh.
"So, where exactly is my Bodhi Tree?"
...
Meanwhile, in the Land of Waterfalls, Takigakure!
Takigakure was a ninja village located in the center of the Land of Waterfalls, hidden behind an enormous waterfall.
The entire village was enveloped by towering cliffs and cascading curtains of water. Viewed from outside, unless someone guided the way, an ordinary person would never be able to find the entrance.
For that very reason, Takigakure had always prided itself on being a village that had never been invaded by foreign enemies.
Of course, that claim was nothing more than a self-deceiving joke. If someone truly intended to invade, there was no need to locate the village hidden behind the waterfall; they merely had to set foot within the Land of Waterfalls.
As the nation's military force, Takigakure's ninja had no choice but to come out and fight, no matter how deeply they hid their village.
At this moment, inside the residence of Takigakure's leader, a young woman was gently telling a story while holding a child who appeared to be no more than two years old.
The child's name was Shibuki, the son of Takigakure's current leader, and the young woman was Shibuki's mother.
Shibuki listened quietly before suddenly looking up and asking in his childish voice, "Mom, where's dad? I haven't seen him for days."
"Shibuki, your father has gone to Konoha." His mother replied gently.
"Konoha? Where's that?"
"It's a very faraway place."
"Then when is dad coming back?"
"In a few days, he'll be back, and then you'll be able to see your father."
Shibuki nodded in a dazed, half-understanding way, then asked curiously, "What did Dad go to Konoha for?"
"Because your father has something very important that he needs Konoha's help with."
"What is it, Mom?"
His mother only smiled and shook her head. "You'll understand when you're older. All right, Shibuki, it's getting late. Time to go to sleep."
After much coaxing, she finally got Shibuki to fall asleep. She gently closed the bedroom door behind her, stepped outside, and slowly walked toward the very center of the village.
There stood a colossal tree that towered into the clouds, its lush canopy blotting out the sky and casting the entirety of Takigakure beneath its immense shadow.
The origin of this giant tree had long been lost to history. Even before Takigakure was founded, the ancestors of its people had already built their homes around this tree, living and multiplying there for generations.
According to some of the village's elderly residents, the tree had existed for at least several hundred years, perhaps even over a thousand.
As a result, it became the divine tree worshipped by Takigakure throughout the generations.
Every major festival, the entire village would gather beneath it to hold ceremonies, praying for peace, safety, favorable weather, and abundant harvests in the coming year.
Another noteworthy fact was that the divine tree was not merely enormous. According to Takigakure's oral tradition, every hundred years it would produce a special liquid known as the Hero Water.
Anyone who drank the Hero Water could increase their chakra dozens of times over for a short period.