I slay evil in the Department of the Supernatural

"The principle behind advancement through the Heavenly Dao?"

Faced with Grandpa Liu's question, Xu Lindong fell into deep thought for a moment before sharing his insights.

"The Kitchen God is in charge of the kitchen, the Door God is in charge of the house, and the Earth God is in charge of a certain area of ​​land."

It seems that the areas under their control are expanding... until finally, they rule over heaven and earth?

"To rule the world?"

Grandpa Liu laughed, "Young man, you have ambition."

He shook his head, his voice slow and low, "For now, I can only see the land, and that's all I can understand."

Just as a kitchen official guards the hearth, witnessing the warmth of human relationships and the warmth of the fire, so too does the fire ward off evil spirits.

Door gods protect the gates of a house, distinguishing between good and evil from within and without.

The gate serves as a boundary, marking the starting point of the order of heaven and earth.

As he spoke, he pressed his palm on the table.

An oil lamp on the table suddenly shone brightly.

As the supernatural power fluctuated, the golden-red aura quickly spread to the closed door.

The portal sensed this automatically and a barrier composed of golden-red light and special gas appeared, as if to protect it.

"From a single household to a grand residence, it may seem like merely an extension of the doorway, but in reality, it represents the establishment of power..."

He said meaningfully, "When you go from 'ensuring the food and clothing of your family' to 'protecting the peace and tranquility of your home,' you will understand."

Fire represents compassion, and the door represents boundaries.

Compassion must have limits; it cannot be given indiscriminately in order to attain enlightenment.

"Compassion must have limits..."

Xu Lindong was deeply moved and realized the key to this.

Bodhisattvas possess compassion, yet they also possess the fierce wrath of Vajra.

Even immortals are the same.

"Going further up, the land governs the local customs and the mountains and rivers extend from it."

Then, fire became the heat of the earth's veins, and gates became the passes of mountains and rivers.

Grandpa Liu said, "As for what you said about ruling the world, that's too far away, but it is indeed the ultimate path of the Heavenly Dao."

From nature to upholding the Way on behalf of Heaven, it's all about understanding one thing: the original intention of protecting remains unchanged.

But when you look from the stove to the sky, you are no longer pursuing just a stove, but the life and growth of all things under the cycle of the heavens.

Therefore, these seemingly unrelated sequences can increase sequentially upwards, level by level.

Grandpa Liu stubbed out his cigarette. "So, don't underestimate the power of a stove fire."

It is the starting point, burning with the warmth of everyday life, but reflecting the light in your heart... a light that can illuminate the world.

"The hearth fire is the starting point, the lamp reflecting in my heart? What if... I one day lose my way on the path of evil?"

Perhaps the first fire in the hearth was the key that led me back to my true self?

Xu Lindong felt he had grasped a lot of information and fell into deep thought.

After a long while, he stood up and bowed again.

Grandpa Liu's gaze had already drifted elsewhere, as if the conversation had never happened, and he returned to his usual slightly dazed appearance.

Xu Lindong knew that he was always like this; it was a lingering effect from past battles.

He immediately stopped bothering them and turned to leave.

Just then, his phone received a text message from Yi Qianxun informing him that the matter was settled and that he would now deliver the documents and books to his home.

"Sister Xun is really efficient; she found so much information so quickly..."

Xu Lindong smiled after reading the message.

I was a little surprised, but also touched. Sister Xun is really too proactive.

This person, who never skips work, actually skipped work this time just to deliver his documents back home.

He sent a text message to dissuade her, but Yi Qianxun ignored it.

Right now, all I can do is prepare to go home first.

He first went to the supplies department and found Director Hu, where he exchanged 100 merit points for three red incense sticks needed for the ceremony.

He originally intended to accumulate merit points to exchange for door god tokens.

To be promoted to a door god, one must also thoroughly digest the extraordinary substance of the kitchen god and comprehend the ability to "report and bestow blessings".

The special red incense required for this ceremony is something that must be prepared now.

"It's gotten this far already?"

Director Hu handed out three red incense sticks, looking at Xu Lindong with a hint of surprise, then nodded and praised, "Not bad, really not bad."

Xu Lindong took the red incense and sniffed it.

It has a smell of old stove ash mixed with wax, so it seems I made the right choice in changing it.

He looked up, smiled at Director Hu, and said, "Since it's so good, Director, how about giving me a discount?"

Director Hu waved his hand dismissively: "Go away! I keep records of everything that comes and goes here; how can I just give discounts like that?"

He paused, then lowered his voice, "However, once you are promoted to Level 1 Executive Officer, some supplies... will indeed have internal discounts, and you can even receive extra extraordinary equipment."

"Level One Executive Officer?"

Xu Lindong's eyebrows twitched slightly. "I heard that you have to accumulate two first-class merits and two second-class merits, otherwise you have to work your way up in seniority."

"You already know, why ask?" Director Hu said with a laugh.

Xu Lindong didn't say anything more and turned to leave.

Director Hu looked at the decisive figure and shook his head with a smile: "This kid is already outstanding enough, yet he's still eyeing this little bit of exchange rate... Tsk, he seems to be used to being poor, which is quite similar to me when I was young."

After exchanging the incense for the stove, Xu Lindong left the Department of the Supernatural and returned home on his own.

Offerings are also required for the ceremony.

However, he can prepare the offerings himself, so there is no need to exchange them separately.

Once he grasps this "tattling" ability, the hearth carbon within his body can be completely digested.

At that time, by using the remaining two bottles of Level 3 Extraordinary Potions to boost one's energy and spirit, one can begin preparing for advancement to the Gatekeeper God.

...

"Ding ding dang duang!"

As soon as she got home, Yi Qianxun rushed up to Xu Lindong with several stacks of documents in her arms, making exaggerated sounds as she presented the books like treasures.

"Dongzi, how was it? Pretty awesome, right?"

In just one day... no, half a day, I've gathered so much information!

Tell me quickly, how are you going to reward me?

Xu Lindong took the book, flipping through it while laughing: "As a reward, you'll shine my shoes."

"Hmph! I'll wipe your big ass!"

Enraged, Yi Qianxun kicked off her slippers and kicked Xu Lindong in the butt with her bare foot.

The result was like kicking a car tire; she was bounced back and nearly twisted her ankle. She was so shocked that her mouth dropped open.

"Wow, Dongzi, when did your butt become so bouncy?"

Xu Lindong turned his head and glared at her: "My energy is almost over 100, so try to be less physical in the future, it's dangerous."

"hateful!"

Yi Qianxun clenched her fists. "After you surpassed me in strength, do I not even have the right to kick your butt anymore?"

Xu Lindong joked with a smile, "I do have the qualifications to smell farts."

"I'll beat you to death, you stinky bastard!" Yi Qianxun chased after him, ready to cause trouble.

The two joked around for a few moments as usual, and then Xu Lindong took the documents and went into the house.

These materials contain the formal prayers of the Kitchen God to Heaven.

The fixed format of these prayers helps him to construct rituals using incense as a guide, thereby building his own inner mirror stove.

Besides.

There is also "Report on the Corpse-Driving School of Western Hunan" and field research works by modern scholars on the mysterious culture of Western Hunan.

Among them are folklore records concerning the industry standards and skills of "corpse drivers".

"Sister Xun's work at the Commander's Office was a huge help to me."

Even the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs would have to apply to the Commander's Office or use merit points to retrieve this information from their own database if they wanted to find it!

Xu Lindong smiled; having connections at home makes things easier.

He first placed the relevant information about corpse transport aside.

Browsing through the prayers of the Kitchen God, I recalled the scene of Lei Chong praying in my mind, which corroborated the prayers.

...

As time goes by.

A day passed quickly.

During this period, Xu Lindong pondered the truth while trying to ignite the fire within his heart.

I tried dozens of times, but none of them worked.

He even went to the Dongxing Hotel during the day to treat Li Yunfan and the others to a big meal, which cost more than 20,000 yuan.

Even after experiencing such a painful event, I still couldn't stir my emotions or ignite my passion.

This made him wonder: Had he become arrogant lately?

I spent over 20,000 yuan, but I didn't feel much of a stir in my heart.

Or perhaps, he simply hasn't encountered anything truly emotionally resonant, whether good or evil.

Such as the usual quarrels between elderly people in Jiangcheng, the friction between taxi drivers, and even the extreme incident of jumping into the river from the bridge...

He didn't run into anyone all day.

Without a "medium of events," the fire in one's heart is hard to ignite.

It's as if you've tried to plant flowers, but they just won't bloom.

"Damn it, could it be that after becoming a zombie, human emotions are suppressed by the zombie heart? Even intense emotional fluctuations are difficult to elicit?"

Inside the room, Xu Lindong lay on the bed with his head tilted back, his thoughts churning as he searched for a solution.

At this moment, it would be great if debt collectors could come knocking on the door and bang on it; maybe that anger could ignite the fire in one's heart.

But Uncle Yi's loans all went through legitimate channels.

Besides, even if it's not legitimate, no fool would dare to go to the home of an executive officer of the Department of the Supernatural to collect a debt.

His mind wandered, and he unconsciously recalled the experience of igniting his inner fire last time.

Although it was purely accidental and the flame went out in a flash, it was at least a success.

"Let's see if there are any extraordinary people or individuals among my neighbors who can help ignite the fire within me..."

...