CHAPTER 227: CHAPTER 188 ORTHODOX GODS? DIVINE DAO RESURGENCE?!

North of Taiping Prefecture.

There lies a Sheng Mountain.

This mountain is deep and serene, and within it stands a Daoist temple named ’Wulang Temple,’ part of the Mei Mountain lineage. The temple master is called ’Ding Yangzi,’ one of the ’Mei Mountain Ten Elders,’ a seasoned elder of the Mei Mountain Magic Teachings.

On this day.

Within Sheng Mountain.

Yu Ningzi visited the mountain. After some pleasantries, he finally stated his purpose: "Senior, do you know the origin of the unicorn monster in Taiping Prefecture City? Some days ago, I heard of the monster harming people, so I went to subdue it. Each time I managed to reveal its true form and carry it out of the prefecture city, it would return to the city shortly after. No spell or binding method could hold it."

This Yu Ningzi, wearing a red scarf, was none other than the Lushan Sect Red-Headed Master whom Chen Jichuan encountered ten days ago during a fierce battle with the unicorn monster.

He often roamed the southern region of Da Sui. After completing his studies, he traveled the world, aspiring to subdue demons, exorcise evil, and bring order to chaos.

Who would have thought, not long after setting out, he would encounter such a difficult problem?

Thus, he came to Sheng Mountain for guidance.

"Taiping Prefecture City?"

Ding Yangzi, with white hair and beard yet a robust physique, shook his head upon hearing this: "That unicorn monster was originally a judge’s pen secretly worshipped by the White Lotus’ demon practitioners. In recent years, it developed into a spirit monster, wreaking havoc on the people. This monster is rooted in Taiping Prefecture City, and being the incarnation of the judge’s pen, it cannot be removed or destroyed. Even I, an old Daoist, have no solutions for it. All I can do is warn the city folk not to wander at night to avoid this monster."

"The judge’s pen?"

"The White Lotus Sect?" Yu Ningzi was stunned upon hearing this.

He was no stranger to the White Lotus Sect.

It was a heretical cult notorious for deceiving citizens and wreaking havoc, embodying all manner of atrocities. That they committed evil deeds was no surprise.

But a judge’s pen?

"It was once the ’Soul-hooking Pen’ held by the Civil Judge under the Taiping City God. After the great upheaval and the collapse of the Netherworld, countless deities perished, including Taiping City God. His Civil Judge, Martial Judge, and other affiliated officials also met their demise, while many Magic Artifacts either fell into the Netherworld or remained in the world of the living."

"This judge’s pen is one such artifact."

"Having been to Taiping Prefecture City, you must also know the rumors of the ’White Cloth Monster,’ said to be Guanyin’s girdle transformed, as well as the ’Duck Monster,’ believed to have descended from the Turquoise Pool’s Old Duck Spirit under the Queen Mother’s command. These so-called ’Ten Strange Things of Taiping’ are, in fact, relics of the former Taiping City God and his divine subordinates."

"Ordinary Daoists cannot wield these divine Magic Artifacts."

"The White Lotus Sect collected these and used a secret technique to worship them, transforming them into spirit monsters that now trouble the mortal world. These practitioners parade their abilities about, distributing charms and sprinkling holy water, seemingly providing aid while actually exploiting the people. It’s rumored the White Lotus Sect Leader may have already obtained the City God Seal and is secretly refining it to seize the divine position. Once successful, he would subdue the spirit monsters formed by these divine Magic Artifacts, thus presenting himself as a savior to the Prefecture City’s people, earning the incense offerings of one city."

Ding Yangzi did not withhold anything and revealed the hidden truths of Taiping Prefecture City.

The Divine Dao crumbles.

Demons and devils arise.

Without divine assistance, their magical powers have greatly diminished, leading to the decline of the Righteous Path and the rise of demonic forces. Many Magic Teachings have even turned to demons for wealth, power, magical prowess, and longevity.

The White Lotus Sect is one such example.

Its foundation is particularly deep in Taiping Prefecture, even surpassing Ding Yangzi’s Sheng Mountain in influence.

"The White Lotus Sect Leader has acquired the City God Seal?"

"If it’s refined, wouldn’t he immediately ascend to the rank of a prefectural City God, reigning for centuries, perhaps even becoming another Black Mountain Ghost King?!"

Yu Ningzi was shocked.

In the past, the Black Mountain Ghost King obtained a Mountain God Seal from Daqing Mountain and usurped the position of a Mountain God, amassing great power. He settled in the Netherworld, transforming Daqing Mountain into Black Mountain, establishing a Ghost City, and proclaiming himself Ghost King, dominating one region ever since.

If the White Lotus Sect Leader succeeds, the world would likely—

"Precisely."

"But the White Lotus Sect Leader is cautious by nature and extremely elusive. Finding his location is tremendously difficult. He can be targeted only when he initially begins refining the divine position and has yet to fully grasp it. At such a time, action may be taken to intercept."

As Ding Yangzi explained this.

He began persuading Yu Ningzi to stay in Taiping Prefecture to join forces against the White Lotus Sect and locate their leader.

Just then—

"Hm?"

Ding Yangzi abruptly looked up, gazing toward the south and Taiping Prefecture City.

A faint yet resolute ripple spread outward from Taiping Prefecture City, steadily enveloping the entire prefecture.

This ripple was unfamiliar.

But Ding Yangzi, being highly skilled and well-read, paused briefly before realizing with a shock, exclaiming in alarm, "City God’s Domain?!"

...

The City God takes rightful domain.

The Dharma Domain unfolds.

Initially shallow due to sparse incense offerings, this domain was unstable. Even someone as experienced as Ding Yangzi could hardly perceive it.

But over the past ten days—

As ghost messengers and yin soldiers gathered in the City God Mansion, and as Lu Guannian and other divine officials took their posts, the functioning of the City God Mansion was gradually restored.

Heavenly Dao took notice.

And bestowed its reward.

Of course, this was because Chen Jichuan was of orthodox origin and rightly claimed the divine position. His work in harmonizing Yin and Yang earned him blessing. If it were a pseudo-god or evil god seizing the position, being spared punishment from Heaven and Earth would already be a stroke of luck, let alone receiving rewards.

A soft divine light enveloped the City God Mansion.

The Dharma Domain solidified.

Now, a top-tier figure like Ding Yangzi could finally sense it.

Within Sheng Mountain.

"He actually succeeded!"

Ding Yangzi’s expression darkened, but without hesitation, he prepared to set off immediately.

Transformation, mountain raising, summoning soldiers, dog-shifting, cannon-forming, sealing the mountain, aligning with the divine, and concealing his traces.

All performed in one swift motion.

Just before departing, Ding Yangzi paused, recited a spell: "Disciple departs with the Azure Dragon bearing me, and returns sheltered in the belly of the Orchid Serpent. No one hereafter will know these secrets. All spells return to the One Palm Doctrine. This body is no ordinary form, but a nameless, anonymous divine body. Heaven shall not govern, nor Earth accept me. With one step, I ascend the void, with two steps, I tread the clouds, with three steps, I sit among the heavens, and with four steps, I vanish traceless."

After the incantation, he stomped on a cross he had drawn with his foot, muttered: "Within this cross, one stroke births, and when two meet, one perishes."

Having done all this.

Ding Yangzi took his hunting dogs and ferocious soldiers, descending Sheng Mountain and heading straight for Taiping Prefecture City.

Yu Ningzi had been quietly watching nearby.

When he saw Ding Yangzi’s use of the final spell, he grew nervous. This incantation was a Mei Mountain Magic ’fighting spell prophecy.’ When two Daoists confront each other, this technique could protect oneself against a stronger adversary.

For a prominent figure like one of the Mei Mountain Ten Elders to proceed with such caution, this clearly indicated great peril ahead.

As this thought surfaced.

Yu Ningzi, though apprehensive, did not retreat and resolutely followed.

...

Taiping Prefecture City.

City God Temple.

Chen Jichuan, dressed in luxurious robes and bathed in divine light, stood astride the worlds of Yin and Yang, observing the shifting clouds in all directions. He saw military forces advancing from the east, south, west, and north.

These included Mei Mountain Soldiers, Maoo Mountain Soldiers, Lushan Five Camp Soldiers, and Yin Mountain Generals.

Their murderous auras were palpable.

Each force numbered in the tens of thousands.

"Mei Mountain."

"Maoo Mountain."

"Lushan."

"Yin Mountain."

Chen Jichuan assessed them and couldn’t help but admire.

The first three sects, collectively known as the ’Three Mountains Dharma Lineage,’ were regarded as the leaders of the Righteous Path in this world, while the Yin Mountain Sect was a notable force just below the Three Mountains.

These sects maintained their standing and reputation not only because of their numerous eminent practitioners but also due to the inherited ’soldiers’ passed down through generations.

Ordinary mages might create ten or a hundred soldiers, with limited power. But these great sects combined their collective efforts over generations to nurture and augment their soldiers, resulting in mighty legions.

The longer their heritage, the mightier their forces.

Mages from these sects requested ’soldiers’ from their ancestors before embarking on journeys, amplifying their magical prowess far beyond what they could achieve alone.

A mage leading an army.

Versus a mage fighting solo.

Which one is stronger is self-evident.

"Impressive foundations—these four sects can casually muster tens of thousands of soldiers, far surpassing the nascent City God Mansion I have reopened."

Chen Jichuan sighed in his heart.

Yet he showed no fear and, in fact, felt a sense of anticipation, calmly awaiting the gathering of these forces.

Through the Netherworld, their soldiers moved with astonishing speed.

Before long, the four forces arrived outside Taiping Prefecture City.

Yin and Yang separated them.

Yet for a City God like Chen Jichuan and these elite mages, the barrier posed no significant obstacle.

To the north.

Ding Yangzi of Mei Mountain appeared like a divine general, wielding a spear, with a bow slung across his back and a hunting dog by his side.

His brows furrowed as he gazed at the radiant Chen Jichuan, thoughts churning: "This man bears no trace of evil techniques—he is pure and upright, resembling a true orthodox god acknowledged by both the Immortal Record and the Heavenly Mandate. Could it be—"

To someone of Ding Yangzi’s caliber, identifying a being as divine or demonic was effortless.

But precisely because of this, Ding Yangzi found himself perplexed: "The Divine Dao has crumbled, and new deities are nearly impossible to establish. How could there be another orthodox god?"

Unless—

"A natural-born deity?"

Divine beings could originate in many ways.

Some were renowned individuals or officials whose virtuous deeds in life earned them posthumous worship.

Others were naturally born spirits, merging with the power of mountains or rivers to gain authority.

Some were merely mountain spirits, demons, or ghostly entities deceiving rural folk for incense offerings and blood sacrifices.

Regardless of origin, their legitimacy required endorsement from the court or the heavens; without such recognition, they were deemed ’heretical shrines’ and suppressed by the court and Righteous Path.

"Still, it would make more sense for a Mountain God or Water God to be a natural deity. But for a City God—"

Ding Yangzi was baffled.

Not only him.

The other three grandmasters present were equally stunned, unsure of how to handle this new deity.

"Esteemed Daoists, having journeyed so far, why not join Chen for a discussion in the mansion?"

Seeing hesitation in his guests, Chen Jichuan smiled and spoke.

Ding Yangzi and the others exchanged glances before respectfully replying: "Many thanks, Lord."

With that, they followed Chen Jichuan into the Dharma Domain and entered the City God Mansion.

...

Everyone took their seats.

Ding Yangzi and the others behaved courteously, introducing themselves one by one. In no time, Chen Jichuan learned their identities.

Mei Mountain Sect’s Ding Yangzi.

Maoo Mountain Sect’s Xuanwei Zi.

Lushan Sect’s Yuan Chengzi.

Yin Mountain Sect’s Zhi Feizi.

These four were outstanding figures from their respective sects, each esteemed far and wide within the Da Sui region.

Among them were secondary-level figures such as Lushan Sect’s Yu Ningzi, who accompanied their seniors. However, given their lower status, they remained silent during this meeting.

Lushan Sect’s magic is notoriously dominant and ferocious. Yuan Chengzi, being of a fiery temperament, could not hold back after some casual conversation. Bowing to Chen Jichuan, he asked, "Lord, your aura is pure, showing you to be an orthodox deity. Presumably, you were officially consecrated. Yet, as far as we know, there have been no new orthodox deities for years due to the severance of the Divine Dao. May I ask how you came to this divine position—"

The broken path of the Divine Dao.

Its impact on the Lushan Sect has been profound.

In the past, Lushan mages undergoing ritual ordination had to perform the ’presentation of office’ ceremony.

This involved interacting with deities, assigning official titles, and dispatching soldiers.

Disciples were summoned from various places, sometimes overseas. The ritual incorporated local City Gods and officials, ensuring recognition, status, and support for roaming Lushan mages.

Once familiarized—

Lushan mages could rely on local deities for incense offerings and provisions and command Lushan troops during their travels.

But with the recent collapse of the Divine Dao—

Lushan mages now have to prepare their supplies in advance, creating logistical difficulties. This has frustrated their operations and heavily limited their capabilities.

The sudden emergence of an orthodox deity like Chen Jichuan.

If this signified the revival of the Divine Dao, it would be monumental news for the Lushan Sect.

Yuan Chengzi naturally took interest.

...