Taoist Master Xuanhuang

The ferocious beast thus brazenly stepped onto the stage.

However, the term "ferocious beast" is only for the entry level. Once a beast reaches the first level and develops intelligence, it will be called a demon beast.

The identities of demon beasts and spirit beasts can be switched. Once they are officially registered, they are spirit beasts, while wild ones are called demon beasts. It's quite arbitrary.

The paths to enlightenment differ, and so do the hardships and threats faced.

Overall, the essence of the alien realm has been integrated into the core domain. If one survives for a long time, one will become a cultivator of the core domain.

Even if they could take care of their former home, they would be powerless to do so.

Perhaps this is also a form of naturalization.

the other side……

Peng Yue and Zuo Qiuming did not leave.

They were both waiting, having already planned that it wouldn't be long before the other nine families would invite them again.

They only brought back a solution to the inability to attack from a distance, not a solution to the problem of sustainability. Based on their understanding of the other nine families, it wouldn't be long before they would be summoned again under the pretext of the eleven families being of one mind.

Rather than doing that, we should wait a while.

It appears that the other nine companies have become somewhat dependent on two of them to solve their problems.

This is the situation that both the civil and military temples wanted to see. It's worth it to suffer a little loss.

Once you accumulate too many favors, the cycle of cause and effect will make it difficult for these nine families to disobey you.

Just as the two were waiting, a piece of news suddenly began to spread widely.

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What? You can gain merit by slaying a holy being who has fallen into demonic possession?

[So that's how it is. No wonder the merits of being granted godhood were so great—when would they be fulfilled? It turns out this was what was waiting for!]

This immediately caused a huge uproar.

The quota for deification has been decided long ago, and there are many reasons why the deification has not yet taken place. The main reason is that the cultivators who are to be deified do not have enough merit.

They were distressed because they could not be fully deified without accumulating enough merit.

After this news spread, the cultivators who had secured a spot began to have their own ideas.

The situation is different for independent cultivators.

[Oh? So, to be deified, one needs so much merit? It seems we were a bit too naive before. Thinking it was none of our business was a huge insult. Now it seems that with our abilities, accumulating enough merit is simply wishful thinking. I knew it.]

Some monks have made peace with themselves.

Previously, I felt that the idea that the Investiture of the Gods had nothing to do with me was the greatest insult, which made them furious and deeply humiliated.

Some began to go to extremes, such as joining subordinate camps, while others were completely defeated, which had a somewhat laissez-faire attitude.

But reality tells them that becoming a god is not so simple; it requires sufficient merit and good fortune.

The way to gain merit and good fortune is to kill or eliminate those who have been corrupted and possessed by evil.

They were terrified by this method of acquisition. "I'm just a first-tier rogue cultivator, and you're telling me to kill a fourth-tier saint? You're giving me far too much credit."

[I've said it before, although our cultivation world is unfair, there is still a basic degree of fairness. The three great gods don't favor powerful experts; it's just that only they can achieve the goal of becoming gods. If we can also accumulate enough merit, perhaps we will have a chance too. You see...]

Someone said: "They won't wait for anyone, nor will they leave empty seats. The three officials are indicating that there's a limit to the amount of merit one can accumulate. Once that limit is exceeded, they won't wait for you, even if you were the one who obtained the title of God in the first place. Priority will be given to cultivators who have already accumulated sufficient merit."

The idea of ​​"vacancies awaiting" is easy to understand. It means that the positions of deities have not been completely distributed. The three lords have reserved many, and these positions are prepared for us. As long as we accumulate enough merit, we can bathe, burn incense, worship the Heavenly Dao, and recommend ourselves. If we meet the standards and the Heavenly Dao allows, we can also achieve a divine position.

These two pieces of news were released together.

It's just a petty scheme between the Lord of All Beings and the Lord of Heaven and Earth.

It's easy to understand why they won't wait for you; the cultivator just explained it very clearly.

We can't wait for you for hundreds or thousands of years. We can't keep the position of deity vacant forever. Even if a lucky person gets the position, they can't accumulate enough merit. We can't keep waiting for you forever.

This is what they mean by "they won't wait for anyone." It's like putting a clockwork on cultivators who have attained godhood; if they don't work hard, they'll be eliminated.

Similarly, the idea of ​​leaving positions vacant is easy to understand; it means that not all divine positions have been bestowed, and many positions are still waiting to be filled.

Whether you are a rogue cultivator or a being from a small world, no matter who you are, as long as you have enough merit, you can burn incense, bathe, and worship the Heavenly Dao if you wish to obtain a certain divine position.

Then, as Heaven permitted, he was conferred the title of god.

They skipped all the discussion and focused solely on ability, ignoring status.

Therefore, after this news spread, the entire small faction and the group of independent cultivators went crazy.

The three officials were still fair.

As long as I work hard, I am qualified to obtain a divine position, but...?

[To gain great merit by slaying a holy being? This?]

This really troubled the rogue cultivators. This was a sacred creature! Had it really fallen to the point of being openly killed and publicly priced?
Is the world developing so fast?
Am I still half asleep?
[I can't beat them, I simply can't beat them, okay? I'll just continue cultivating slowly. I'm no longer envious of those fellow cultivators who have attained godhood; they are truly capable.]

Some people have already given up before it even started. What a joke! How can they even participate in this?

[No? I'm not doubting the power of the Four Superpowers, I just want to ask, do the Four Superpowers have the ability to kill a Saint? That doesn't make sense, they're supposed to be a fourth-tier Saint.]

Some people have deep doubts.

People kept asking for confirmation: "Didn't they say that the four strongest sect leaders are only at the late stage of the second tier? Can a late stage second tier kill a Saint?"

[Yes, it's late-game Tier 2, not late-game Tier 3. We're not mistaken!]

They thought they had misremembered, otherwise it wouldn't make sense.

[There must be secrets we don't know, otherwise the three supreme gods wouldn't have released such information. They must be capable of doing it to say such a thing; there must be secrets we don't know.]

Do you all remember the Demon-Suppressing Tower that the Daoist sect once acquired during the time of the Daoist Master Lu Ren? It is said that the tower was very powerful back then.

[I remember, but only the Taoist sect has it, right? The other three sects don't.]

Everyone pondered this for a long time without finding a solution.

Ladies and gentlemen, could it be that the divine is not as powerful as we imagine, or that the divine has significant flaws that we are unaware of? Could this be the reason?

Finally, a monk made a bold hypothesis.

"Yes, the Daoist Master taught us to make bold hypotheses and carefully verify them. Perhaps this is indeed a factor. We shouldn't make a hasty decision; we need to investigate further."

One of the cultivators said cautiously.

【Fellow Daoist, I don't understand, what are you investigating?】

A monk who had already given up asked questions because he didn't understand.

[Of course, we need to investigate whether the sacred can truly be erased by us. If it is true, wouldn't that mean we also have a chance to become gods?]

The person replied.

[Ah!] The monk who had given up was shocked after hearing this; he really dared to think that way.

Is this why I'm not as good as my friend?

I tend to give up when things don't go my way, but he never gives up until the very end. This kind of perseverance and spirit is what makes me inferior to my friend.

The independent cultivators saw hope.

The major powers felt like the sky had fallen.

[How could this be...? We had agreed on this, how could there be such a change of heart?]

Yes, we went to great lengths to obtain it, and now they're telling me they're unsure if it's me? Isn't that just taking advantage of an honest person?

[So what if we're bullying you? The three Supreme Lords have a valid reason and evidence. Time can't be dragged on indefinitely, can it? As for leaving a seat vacant? Are you saying we're allowed to share the spoils, but the three Supreme Lords aren't allowed to hold back?]

He continued, "From both a moral and logical standpoint, we have no right to be dissatisfied. Why didn't we complain when the spoils were being divided?"

Old Wu, I know you're unhappy about not having a living godhood, but does that mean you have to be so heartless? We're family, we're fellow Daoists of the same faction.

The man called Old Wu let out a cold laugh: "Heh, that won't be the case in a while. We've already parted ways. Instead of getting entangled with me here, you should go back to the higher-ups and complain, saying you can't do it, you're incapable of killing the Holy One, and ask headquarters for help. You've always been like this, always relying on headquarters' abilities to achieve your own selfish goals."

After saying that, Old Wu gave a cold laugh and left.

This is mocking them.

He wasn't particularly capable, but because of his status as a veteran, he always got the benefits.

What's most annoying is that they have no ability to benefit themselves and rely entirely on the powerful force as their mother to obtain it. After obtaining it, they suck the nutrients from the mother like parasites.

They don't contribute much, but they're quick to ask for benefits.

With such parasites around, it's no wonder our own power can't thrive.

The division was also their fault; they were dissatisfied with this and that, always thinking they were the elders and that they should get the most.

When there are too many people like this, it is the reason why a major power begins to split and even rot.

[Hmph, just a junior, so arrogant. Our division is caused by these juniors' disrespect for elders. We built our power through sacrifice; what credit do they have? We've built such a glorious power; what's wrong with enjoying it a little?]

After Old Wu left, they started to feel dissatisfied.

In short, they're all the same; they only see what they've given and don't see anything they've received.

They always thought that their own power had treated them unfairly, not that they wanted more.

He considers himself an elder statesman, therefore he can do whatever he wants.

"Let's go find the sect leader. This won't do. The sect leader must stand up for us."

That being said, I genuinely couldn't bring myself to slay a saint who had fallen into demonic possession, so I could only seek help from higher-ups or even the sect leader, asking them to come up with a solution.

I don't care how much I have to sacrifice for my power, but my divine position cannot be taken away.

The message released by the three supreme gods caused a huge uproar.

The above-mentioned independent cultivators and powerful forces are considered to be in a better position. The most uneasy and incredulous are the people directly involved.

The person in question is sacred.

The sacred being, who had been carefully walking among humans, was suddenly bewildered.

Hunting oneself?

To gain merit by eliminating oneself? Have I been labeled as possessed by a demon?
No, did you ask us?
They were still reeling from the shock of the Demon Suppression Department's recent annihilation of several realms. They had been very careful, but in the end, they still paid the price.

They actually openly advertised themselves as easy prey?
If this is intolerable, then it is intolerable. If it is intolerable, then there is no need to endure it any longer.

then……

That was it. I was really intimidated. Even if I couldn't stand it, what could I do? Resist?
Resisting means becoming a target, so it's better to endure it a little longer and see how things go.

For a moment, the sacred became even more low-key, and the timid ones were so frightened that they ran back to the realm, for there was nowhere safer than the realm.

As long as I stay within this realm, what can you do to me?

Unless the Demon Suppression Department intervenes.

However, the evil-suppressing department's actions are of the most heinous kind.

Although I have committed sins as defined by humans, they are not so numerous as to warrant punishment.

This means that as long as I don't increase my sin value, I'm safe, so I have nothing to fear.

Even if so-called cultivators have a way to eliminate me, that's me wandering outside the realm; within the realm, I'm terrifyingly strong.

At the same time, they calmed down and began to think.

[Oh no! Which scoundrel exposed their weakness? Do all the cultivators already know?]

The saints had to begin to have doubts.

The doubts about his own endurance and lack of ability to perform multiple times were exposed.

This statement sounds very insulting, especially to male sanctity.

It's not lasting, and it can't be done frequently enough; it's truly an insult to the sacred.

[That shouldn't be the case. Even the corrupt temples of literature and martial arts, and those top-tier realms, haven't exposed their weaknesses. Who would be so foolish as to expose them so easily? Could it be that the Demon Suppression Department discovered this through their previous actions?]

The fourth-tier True King Saint, hiding within the realm, began to ponder.

[Hmph, the claim that I reign supreme in terms of endurance and frequency is definitely not about me. However, this secret has been discovered after all, therefore my choice was right. Only by following the path of cultivation can there be a future, and the future absolutely belongs to the cultivators. We holy beings have too many shortcomings.]

Lao Ai looked proudly at the nearly two thousand pregnant servants, quite certain that he was not what they said he was.

I won't take the blame for this. My own secret realm dantian is almost complete, and I'll be able to solve the problem of insufficient mana sustaining itself.

My previous low profile and forbearance were the right thing to do. I was also in a micro-realm, and the weakest of them all. That meant that if the Demon Suppression Department discovered me, they would definitely eliminate me. Fortunately, I had a uniquely advantageous environment; it was truly a stroke of luck.

At the same time, Lao Ai felt lucky.

The Secret Swamp is such a wonderful place; it has protected itself so well that the world cannot discover it.

With his own carefulness and caution, he has developed from the weakest micro-realm to the top micro-realm.

My status as a fourth-tier, top-level, perfected king is proof of that.

[Gaining merit by slaying saints is irrelevant to me. I'll just focus on developing my strength cautiously. Once I reach the fifth-tier Venerable level, even a Dao Lord won't be able to touch me, right? Hmph!]

Ultimately, it's a matter of short-sightedness.

Previously, he was the only one in the realm, and although he knelt down when advancing to the Xuanhuang realm.

However, what they didn't know was that even a fifth-tier Venerable had to kneel, and even a sixth-tier Venerable would have to put up some resistance before he could stop kneeling.

He thought that as long as he reached the fifth-order Venerable level, he would be fearless of Xuanhuang.

...(End of chapter)