novelraw Chapter 383: Incense Fire Initiation
Chapter 383: Incense Fire Initiation
Though it was hard to believe, Lü Yang tested him a few more times. Only when the old man’s soul was on the verge of scattering did he finally confirm that his ambush had truly succeeded.
In that case, there was nothing more to be said.
He made his move. Soul Searching!
Fortunately, after the man left the Earth God Temple, his Position had plummeted. He had dropped from the level of Fake Foundation Establishment all the way down to the Final-phase of Qi Refining, albeit one who had mastered a Legendary Technique.
And when dealing with a Qi Refiner, there was no need for torture.
Soon, as Lü Yang’s Divine Sense flooded in, fragments of the old man’s memories appeared all at once, revealing the accumulated experience from half a lifetime of cultivation.
’So this Earth God was just the first village chief of White Village. He was the one who led dozens of households to reclaim the wasteland here in Taiyue Mountain and establish White Village. After he died, the villagers spontaneously worshipped him, and through Incense Fire Initiation, he became the current Earth God of Taiyue Mountain...’
’Incense Fire Initiation?’
Lü Yang lowered his eyelids and quickly extracted the most crucial part from the Earth God’s memories: the current cultivation system of Seven Luminaries Heaven.
The cultivation of Seven Luminaries Heaven could be summarized in six words.
Incense Fire Initiation, Five Steps to Heaven!
Upon initial initiation, by receiving the worship of the people of a township or village, one can become a Fude Village God, also known as an Earth God. In a backwater like this, that’s equivalent to the Fake Foundation Establishment level.
That being said, this type of Incense Fire God has significant limitations. The greatest restriction is their territory. For instance, the Earth God before him possessed the power of Fake Foundation Establishment within his own Earth God Temple. But once he left, his Position dropped to the equivalent of a cultivator at the Final-phase of Qi Refining who had mastered a Legendary Technique.
’But even so, that’s still incredibly impressive.’
Fake Foundation Establishment is still Foundation Establishment. Having a Position is always stronger than not having one.
More importantly, this cultivation method is astonishingly fast. As long as one can gain the worship of mortals, they can achieve a meteoric rise in an instant, empowered by the Incense!
Wasn’t that the case with this White Village Land God?
He was a mere mortal in life, yet after death he became a great cultivator at the Fake Foundation Establishment level. In a backwater place, countless Qi Refiners would be green with envy.
’And above the Earth Gods are the City Gods.’
There are four grades of City Gods.
County City Gods, State City Gods, City Gods, and the highest-ranking Capital City Gods correspond to the Early Stage, Mid-phase, and Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, all the way to the Great Perfection stage.
As the name implies, a County City God is one who receives the Incense offerings of a whole county. In reality, however, a considerable portion is intercepted and sent to higher authorities. This gives rise to the State City God, and by the same logic, the City God, and finally the Capital City God, who governs all City Gods under Heaven.
It was a hierarchical system, progressing layer by layer, just like paying taxes.
In this way, a City God System was established that covered the entire world like an impenetrable fortress, and the whole of Seven Luminaries Heaven—the Central State Vast Land—was under its rule.
’It’s very similar to the Dao Court, but far inferior.’
Lü Yang mused to himself. This system, based on the populace, was similar to the Dao Court in the East. However, the City God System relied on Incense and was thus heavily dependent on the people.
The Official Positions of the Dao Court, however, didn’t have so many restrictions. They were bestowed directly by the Daoist Court Emperor; the populace was little more than a number to be maintained.
Moreover, the Dao Court was far stricter than the City God System.
Under the Dao Court’s rule, there were no such things as Loose Cultivators. Every faction had to be registered with a Dao Court department; otherwise, they couldn’t even cultivate.
The City God System, by comparison, had far too many flaws.
The greatest flaw was that people’s hearts are fickle, and the so-called Incense could be too easily taken away. After all, not everyone would choose to believe in and worship the City Gods.
This gave rise to heretical cults.
’These so-called heretical cults are essentially faiths established outside the City God System. They grant their own initiations for godhood and even seek to overthrow the City God System itself.’
’However, most of these heretical cults aren’t powerful. They’re mostly entrenched outside the Central State Vast Land in remote, sparsely populated areas, which makes it difficult to nurture powerful Incense Fire Gods. There are only two exceptions. One is the White Lotus Sect, which worships the Mother of Non-Birth. The other is the Imperial Family’s Ancestral Temple...’
At this point, Lü Yang’s gaze grew increasingly bright.
’This Incense and Candle Divine Dao... is a treasure!’
It only required the simplest form of faith to transform the thoughts of mortals into the Power of Incense, which could then raise one’s Cultivation and Position. It couldn’t be more perfect for him!
Because he had the Myriad-Soul Banner!
In Lü Yang’s eyes, the City Gods of Seven Luminaries Heaven were far too naive. To think they actually spent all their time protecting mortals to gain their Incense and faith.
Why go to all that trouble?
A simple Mind Confusion Technique would solve the problem.
In this regard, the White Lotus Sect had the right idea, using various mind-confusing methods to gather Incense. But compared to the Myriad-Soul Banner, they were far too amateurish.
Because the followers of the White Lotus Sect could potentially betray them.
But the Banner Spirits of the Myriad-Soul Banner were absolutely loyal!
Thinking of this, Lü Yang began to scheme. ’According to the memories of the White Village Land God, the world’s current supply of Incense can support at most three Capital City Gods.’
It was currently split evenly among three factions: the City God System, the White Lotus Sect, and the Imperial Family’s Ancestral Temple.
Although the three factions fought for power, they had also formed a delicate balance. None of them wanted a fourth power to emerge that could stand on equal footing with them.
And the method the three factions used was very simple.
Population control.
After all, the foundation of the Incense and Candle Divine Dao was people. The larger the population, the more faith, the more Incense, and naturally, the more Incense Fire Gods that could be supported.
Therefore, by controlling the population, they cut off any possibility of a fourth Capital City God appearing.
’But on the other hand... as long as the people of Seven Luminaries Heaven have babies like their lives depend on it and the population explodes, they could support not just three, but nine Capital City Gods!’
Nine Capital City Gods? That meant nine at Foundation Establishment Perfection!
’This is... my opportunity!’
At this thought, a cold glint flashed in Lü Yang’s eyes. If he could really achieve this, he would have a chance to fight his way back to that broken place!
But he quickly regained his composure.
The first step is always the hardest. The dream was beautiful, but reality was harsh. If he wanted to specialize in the Incense and Candle Divine Dao, there was still a fundamental problem he needed to solve.
He wasn’t a local!
Although Seven Luminaries Heaven didn’t reject outsiders thanks to the influence of his Fortune, it was unlikely that the world would offer an outsider the same treatment as a native.
’That includes the Banner Spirits I carry. They aren’t natives of Seven Luminaries Heaven, and without the influence of a Fruit, it’s impossible for them to generate faith and Incense out of thin air, no matter how loyal they are. If I want to walk the path of the Incense and Candle Divine Dao, the only way is to make Seven Luminaries Heaven accept me, to see me as one of its own...’
But how could he do that?
Lü Yang stroked his chin. Unless he could bribe this Outer Realm, like he did last time in the Ten Thousand Martial Realm, he would forever remain an outsider in Seven Luminaries Heaven.
How to bribe it?
’Earth Vein Qi... No, an entire Lay Line!’
The Vast Skull Mountains!
’Thinking back, I should have taken the Vast Skull Mountains Ley Line when I was in the North. But I completely ignored it...’
Lü Yang slapped his forehead. He should have realized something was wrong back then. After all, the Vast Skull Mountains Ley Line was a treasure, yet at the time, it was as if he had completely forgotten about it. Looking back now, Heaven and Earth had probably been secretly interfering with his thoughts through his Immortal Spirit Body!
The more Lü Yang thought about it, the angrier he became.
’If Heaven and Earth are unjust... then don’t blame me for being ruthless.’
With this thought, Lü Yang made an immediate decision: he would undermine Heaven and Earth, and he would start with the Vast Skull Mountains. Otherwise, how could he continue to advance in Seven Luminaries Heaven?