I am your natural enemy.

Chapter 810 Watching the Show, The True Meaning of the Styx River
Wen Yan climbed out of the River Styx, stood on the bank, and looked at the concrete bridge that looked like it had been weathered by time and was full of a heavy atmosphere. He chuckled.

No matter how he looked at it, he couldn't see that the bridge was impassable.

In all his perception, the bridge was imbued with an extremely stable and divine aura.

This is also why he almost forgot that he can't cross the bridge either.

Just as I was pondering this, I saw more ghosts staggering along the road behind me.

Those bewildered and numb souls kept moving forward tirelessly.

The one in front of them walked onto the bridge without pausing, but the next moment, his movements began to slow down, as if he had sunk into a quagmire.

The soul of the deceased began to slowly sink into the bridge, and no matter how much it struggled, it was useless.

The souls that followed also sank into the bridge. However, Wen Yan keenly noticed that the third soul to come onto the bridge sank even faster than the first.

Before the first soul had even fully sunk into the water, the third soul had already passed through the massive bridge and plunged into the River Styx below.

This obvious difference in the rate of sinking made Wen Yan fall silent.

So this thing didn't just pass through instantly after all?
He didn't feel anything at all, just like when he was going down the stairs and suddenly missed a step.

He could also see that the guy who sank faster had a thicker black aura churning around him after falling into the river, and struggled even more painfully as he floated in the River Styx.

Forget it, it must all be the fault of that stupid son. If his soul hadn't been given to that stupid son, he wouldn't be in this state.

It couldn't be because he was so cool and emitted black smoke that it was so bad that no one felt anything when crossing the bridge.

Another possibility is that he is still a living person, which is why he acted this way.

When the opportunity arises, I'll wait for someone destined to come and give it a try.

Wen Yan stood on the shore, looking at the bridge that stretched out into the distance. After a while, she walked ashore.

Near the bridge, at the top of a section of the railing, a small decorative ball is missing. It was pulled down by the mentally challenged son and given to Xiao Wu.

That's the benefit for Xiao Wu. We can't let him put in so much effort and not get any benefits in return.

As for what will happen in the future, Wen Yan doesn't know; there's plenty of time.

He left quietly and returned home.

He didn't tell anyone about it.

If we talk about it too much, who knows if someone might have ulterior motives?

Anyway, don't ask. If you do, I'll just say I have no idea. Do I look like someone who knows or can understand this kind of thing?

Time passed slowly, and Wenyan stayed at home obediently.

He spends his days reading the news, cooking, practicing meditation, and doing his daily routine. When he's really bored, he doesn't know what's wrong with him, but he even wants to tutor Chen Qimo. However, after just one glance at the math test paper, he suddenly calms down.

The professor definitely didn't teach him this!

In the morning, we get up, make breakfast, and the whole family eats together. After breakfast, those who need to go to school go to school, and those who need to go back to sleep continue to sleep.

Wen Yan held her phone, looking at the latest news. When she had nothing to do, she would browse the mysterious forum or the internal community of the Lieyang Department.

And then today I saw that Lone Star State is actually preparing to hold a referendum.

I don't know how they managed to find a legal basis for this, but theoretically, the people of Lone Star State could actually hold a referendum for independence.

Then another group of people shouted that if the referendum passed, it would be a civil war.

Then, someone immediately grasped the key point.

Oh, so you mean you don't object to us holding a referendum, but you object to it passing? That's great, let's hold the referendum first.

Wen Yan glanced at the messages on the mysterious forum again. These people were discussing things on the mysterious forum, and taking advantage of the fact that the forum could not be traced, they spoke with complete impunity.

Many people are sharing this for fun.

Then a guy claiming to be an anonymous source spoke with a worried tone.

Ultimately, Robin's current situation boils down to economic issues. If things were harmonious, and one worker could still support a full-time housewife and two or three children, and even maintain a decent life, then there wouldn't be the current problems.

Ultimately, why are the people of China so wicked?

Public opinion is now surging in Lone Star State. Even if gunfire is used openly, that's a minor matter.

The real big deal is that the professionals, sects, and capitalists behind the scenes have already started fighting, and the fighting is much fiercer than it appears on the surface.

The reason this worried guy started saying these things in a self-deprecating way today is because of something else.

The gods based in Lone Star State are now at war with the gods in other parts of Robin.

The previous declaration of war by the gods started strong but ended weakly, with several gods dying near the border of the Divine Land, and later the Yellow Demon also died.

The balance and consensus that had been established began to be broken.

Dividing the cake will inevitably lead to problems.

Some deities felt that Robin being perfectly fine was not directly related to their interests.

In Robin's pantheon, I am not ranked high in terms of offerings, followers, or authority.

But if I were to stand with Lone Star State and support its referendum for independence, then I would be a lifesaver, ranking first.

The benefits I can gain in Lone Star State in the future, and the number of believers in Lone Star State, will far exceed those before, so why shouldn't I go with the flow?

I am respecting the people of Lone Star State’s right to pursue freedom, while you guys are the evil gods who trample on freedom!
Wen Yan had only come to take a routine look, but she didn't expect to see such a commotion so early in the morning.

The headquarters chief has definitely misjudged the situation this time.

This is definitely not just about increasing the trend of independence.

Robin has made the Gods Act the top national policy, so the current state of affairs related to the gods signifies that the foundation of the nation is beginning to crumble.

However, this has nothing to do with Wen Yan now; Wen Yan is just watching the show.

A few days later, with the auspicious day approaching and the procedures still pending, Wen Yan made a phone call to the head of headquarters.

"Boss, time is running out."

"Do you think everything can be resolved quickly and the procedures can be completed in a short time? Especially something like this that requires going through the entire process and being extremely cautious, it's impossible to speed it up."

"It's alright, I was just asking. If it doesn't work out, we can wait for the next auspicious day. Next year's Ghost Festival will be fine. I specifically checked the almanac. If I have nothing else to do now, I'll go cultivate on the bright moon."

"Okay, I'll go and urge them again."

After hanging up the phone, Wen Yan believed the headquarters chief's words, but he was also certain that it wasn't the only reason.

Making that phone call, without asking any further questions, was enough to express my stance.

It means, if you keep dragging it out, I'm not going to help anymore.

If this matter isn't handled perfectly and leaves any hidden dangers, then it's better not to do it at all.

After saying that, Wen Yan really went off to cultivate on the moon.

On the other side, after hanging up the phone, the general manager laughed to himself in his office.

He stood up, put on his coat, and called out to the outside.

"Arrange a car, let's go."

Two hours later, the head of the department went to a small, impromptu meeting. He simply stated the facts, saying in a gentle tone that if they couldn't make it this year, they would have to wait until the Ghost Festival next year.

The progress accelerated dramatically.

The strategist vividly demonstrated what it means that if you don't occupy it, the enemy might occupy it.

Once the enemy occupies it, the suffering won't be short-lived; just look at the Great Wilderness.

That will be painful from now on, and it's certain that the Great Wilderness's fortune will be swallowed up by the Divine Land.

Once the snowball starts rolling, it's like the wheel of history; anyone who tries to stop it is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

A branch has appeared on the path to the underworld, and it has truly become connected with the River Styx. Furthermore, the path to the underworld is also about to be completely integrated with the Great Wilderness.

It's only been a year, who dares to gamble for another year?
Everything started to go smoothly.

When Wen Yan finished his cultivation for the day and felt "full" again, the black box sent him a message from the headquarters when he returned from the moon, saying that the time had been set and it would be an auspicious day in a few days.

After making a complete decision, Wen Yan went to Miss Qi's house.

Upon entering, I saw Luo Shen's ribbons neatly placed in a corner of the sofa, and a flash of golden light shone through the gap in the sofa.

When Luo Shen saw Wen Yan, she thought he had come to find Hui Bu again, and couldn't help but find it a little funny.

She's not stupid. Gray Cloth has been acting like a thief many times. How could she not understand what Gray Cloth meant?

Seeing Wen Yan's "aggressive" appearance, he quickly offered some words of advice.

"Fine, since your little sprite likes it, I'll give it to him. That ribbon has also acquired some spirituality, but who knows how many years it will take before it transforms into a sprite, and how many opportunities it will require."

Following me, there's definitely no chance of having this opportunity.

Why not do that for her and take the ribbon with her?

Without giving Wen Yan a chance to refuse, Luo Shen reached out and beckoned, and the ribbon flew up, automatically folded itself, and landed in her hand, which she then handed to Wen Yan.

Wen Yan looked stunned, then hesitated to speak.

Without saying a word, Luo Shen placed the ribbon directly into Wen Yan's hand.

At that moment, he saw a tiny bit of gray cloth peeking out from the gap in the sofa. He could clearly feel the anticipation there, even without the gray cloth forming any words or expressions.

As the ribbon fell into her hand, Wen Yan could even sense that the ribbon had been tried to beautify by the gray cloth several times.

Unfortunately, none of it worked.

Thinking back to how he had learned the methods of engraving from the gray cloth, and looking at Luo Shen, whose eyes even held a hint of expectation, Wen Yan sighed inwardly, reached out and covered the ribbon, and gave it a blessing.

The crimson-gold radiance enveloped the ribbons, and as it bloomed with gentle yang energy, the spirituality that had been tried to be awakened many times finally underwent a slightly different change.

"Enlightenment: Your yang energy has the effect of enlightening a series of races such as ghosts and zombies. The effect obtained is related to the current progress → Your power has the effect of igniting everything that has a spiritual nature."

As the power emanated from Wen Yan's hands, it was not only Wen Yan's yang energy, but also the power of Wen Yan as a cultivator, as well as the soul power that Wen Yan had transformed, that all landed on the ribbon with the help of the power.

The gray cloth silently emerged from the sofa, floating behind Wen Yan, staring at him in shock.

Now it knows why it couldn't conjure the ribbons; it wasn't just a difference in ability, but also a difference in power—a fundamental difference in power.

Of course, there is one more thing that Gray Cloth doesn't know: Wen Yan was originally an intelligent being, and after completing a transformation and leap, he is now qualified to enlighten others.

After the light slowly faded, the ribbon floated up on its own, like a girl who had just woken up, floating up in a daze. But when she sensed the people around her, she immediately panicked and darted behind Luo Shen.

But then, a little more quietly emerged, sensing the warm aura emanating from Wen Yan, and slightly relaxed their guard.

But then, seeing the golden gray cloth floating out from behind Wen Yan, which suddenly unfolded, revealing two thumbs at each end and two characters protruding in the middle, he was so frightened that he shrank back.

Wen Yan turned her head and sighed helplessly.

That wretched gray cloth...

Oh well, whatever, at least I've kept my promise to Gray Cloth.

He made an excuse, saying he had important business with Miss Qi, and quickly left, going upstairs to the second floor.

A short while later, he led Miss Qi downstairs. Miss Qi bid farewell to the Goddess of the Luo River and promised to meet again when the opportunity arose.

Wen Yan led Miss Qi away, directly taking the path to the underworld and arriving at the River Styx.

As Wen Yan was about to walk down the main road, Miss Qi shook her head and said that she sensed it and that she couldn't be pulled away, because if she was, the situation would change.

Unlike Wen Yan, she wanted to experience the River Styx beforehand, so she could only stand here.

"Don't you need me to stay here with you?"

"No need. If I were to have an accident here and fall into this trap, unable to extricate myself, then it would mean I am not qualified."

There's a lot of information here... I can sense it.

Also, is this the legendary Bridge of Helplessness?

"You ask me, who should I ask?"

Miss Qi nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

As for why the bridge is made of reinforced concrete, she wasn't surprised. The underworld is built like a four-lane highway, so what's so strange about a concrete bridge?

That sense of depth and weight that comes with the passage of time cannot be faked.

Even Miss Qi felt that the bridge must have existed much longer than she had.

Look at the mottled marks on it, faintly revealing the shape of bones. The face doesn't quite resemble the people of modern China. Perhaps it was a Qiang person who was once roasted.

After Wen Yan left, Miss Qi stood alone by the bridge, quietly feeling the atmosphere.

She saw the souls of the dead walk onto the bridge; some walked a little further before starting to sink, while others sank a little closer.

But basically, the souls that appear now are all those who didn't go very far before sinking into the bridge and falling into the River Styx.

She began to wonder what she should do if she became the river god of this great river.

Wen Yan was right. If you want to become a river god, you have to stand here and feel it first.

A few days later, Wen Yan came to the Styx River again. Looking at Miss Qi standing there motionless, Wen Yan took out the small altar he had prepared from his bag.

Formal paper documents were placed on the altar, and offerings included a plate of steamed buns and a plate of cherry tomatoes.

The ritual still needs to be performed, regardless of whether the altar can be opened or not.

Wen Yan took out the manuscript, read it aloud, and then flames surged in her hand, burning the manuscript and the thick stack of documents to ashes.

The ashes, carried by the swirling wind, were blown into the River Styx.

The ashes fell into it and quickly disappeared without a trace, completely merging into it.

Miss Qi opened her eyes, a resolute glint in them. Instead of going directly into the river, she stepped onto the bridge, just like the other wandering souls.

Wen Yan, who was standing behind, was slightly startled. She raised her hand slightly, then lowered it again, saying, "Let Miss Qi choose for herself."

Becoming the River God of the Styx is bound to be risk-free.

Seeing Qi's actions, Wen Yan felt that she hadn't misjudged her.

If you only want to take advantage of others, you probably won't do a good job. Now Wen Yan thinks that Miss Qi is really suitable for this position.

With her first step, Miss Qi felt as if she had stepped on flat ground. But with her second step, resistance appeared, and she felt a slight tendency to sink.

She walked on and on, step by step, for a long time until she reached the middle of the bridge, where she could no longer walk.

She stood there quietly, feeling the sinking, the gentle advice echoing in her mind.

It's best to experience it for yourself.

She is about to experience the process of falling into the River Styx.

She was slowly sinking, slowly falling. It wasn't her body that was falling, but her consciousness, thoughts, strength, status, and everything else that began to fall at this moment.

When you reach the limit of depravity, it is the beginning of a new life.

She heard the agonizing cries, felt the struggles and obsessions of the souls lost in the river, and realized that their sins were one of the reasons they were condemned to this fate.

Gradually, Miss Qi sank into the river and to the bottom, never to rise again.

At this moment, the ashes that had sunk into the river were also washed up by the river water and reached the boundary marker at the bottom of the river.

A strange power emerged, and in Miss Qi's ears, it seemed as if Wen Yan's voice echoed.

"I hereby appoint you as the River God of the Styx, to dredge the river, maintain its operation, and guide the souls of the dead. I urge you to remember this and not to be negligent."

Miss Qi sat at the bottom of the river. Her former strength, which was almost exhausted, completely disappeared, and in its place, new strength was growing.

After a long while, she opened her eyes. What she saw was not like a river, but more like a world.

Countless people are trapped and struggling, yet they can't escape this world where they have no control over their own lives.

Compared to those outside, the souls here may have an easier time struggling.

She looked into the distance, where the bridge piers, like pillars of heaven, stood in the river, and many of the dead were still trying to grab onto the piers and climb up.

Unfortunately, no matter how much the souls struggled, it was as if they were passing through an illusion, unable to touch the bridge piers at all.

She floated over, reached out and touched it; she could touch it, but her hand could also pass through it.

Taking advantage of that slight resistance, she floated up, held onto the bridge pier, looked up at the bridge spanning the River Styx, and a thought arose in her mind.

When she is able to climb the bridge on her own and walk across it completely, that will be when she has "reached the other side".

Looking back at the riverbank, the vast river surface, which seemed like a sea, suddenly began to shrink, making her feel as if she were only ten meters away from the shore.

She saw Wen Yan still standing there, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he was still somewhat worried.

She floated over, pointed at Wen Yan, and a drop of water flew out and landed on Wen Yan.

"You were right after all. I succeeded only because I followed your advice. I have nothing to thank you for except this."

Wen Yan felt the drop of water fall on her body, and a notification immediately appeared before her eyes.

"To obtain the true meaning of the Styx River."

(End of this chapter)