Chapter 145: Chapter 125: The Majestic High God, Originally Formless, Borrows Essence to Manifest in the World

Jiang Yi raised his hand and gently rubbed the Cat Master’s round little head, feeding him two pieces of Spirit Bird Jerky.

True Master Xuanmiao’s eyes immediately lit up. Snatching the jerky, he darted onto the nearby altar, curled into a ball, and began to feast.

After placating the greedy cat, Jiang Yi’s eyelids drooped slightly, and he appeared to sink into deep thought with his eyes closed.

Tiny, densely packed, tadpole-like characters flowed within his eyes, quickly converging into a clear train of thought.

’So Goose Mountain isn’t a hideout for Loose Cultivators, but the stronghold of an Ancient Demon Cultivator Dharma Lineage—the Youquan Sect.

’The Huang and Wang Families, two Fifth-Grade Clans, didn’t just suddenly start a rebellion. Their ability to rise to prominence and flourish so quickly was all thanks to the secret support of the Youquan Sect.

’As for the Zhao You Sect, their scheme isn’t yet clear. It’s probably because they have a Foundation Establishment True Master backing them that the Celestial Book ignored them, just as I had hoped.

’It’s also because of the cover provided by this Branch Sect Dharma Lineage that the Qianji Sect never noticed anything was amiss.

’If the mortal population in our jurisdiction hadn’t dropped by twenty percent, and if rumors of Loose Cultivators gathering hadn’t reached Xu Yan’s ears, Senior Brother Han and I would never have come here at all.’

Jiang Yi’s thoughts drifted as he secretly wondered, ’Am I also one of the legendary "Fate Shuzi"?’

’Otherwise, why do I always get dragged into these calculated schemes that hide "Opportunities"?’

’That time in the Sanhe District, I just wanted to find a stable apprenticeship.

’But I ended up with the Cat Master, not to mention making contact with Xuan Chanzi, the successor of the Zhongyi Sect.

’And now, after coming to Hanyang Prefecture, the veteran senior brother traveling with me, Han Li, has vanished in the blink of an eye...’

’I have two choices before me: get involved, or save my own skin.’

Jiang Yi slowly opened his eyes and gazed at the bright daylight outside the City God Temple. Leaving from here and taking a small path would lead directly to the flat, main road out of Hanyang Prefecture.

’If what the Celestial Book revealed is correct, the item the Huang and Wang Clans are about to acquire is exactly what I need to help with my "Crossing the Tribulation."

’And if I dive deeper into this mess and engage with the Youquan Sect, that grand promise the Cat Master made to me—the Innate Fire Virtue Body!—might actually be within reach!’

Jiang Yi had considered petitioning the Celestial Book to ask whether he should charge into Hanyang Prefecture, this veritable dragon’s den. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

But he quickly dismissed the thought. The Celestial Book only discerned cause and effect; it wasn’t responsible for guiding his path.

Besides, many "Opportunities" in this world were inherently fraught with risk and danger.

It was just like when he had asked the Celestial Book for a "path to wealth." One of the suggestions had been to hoard Purple Shadow Silk and Flowing Cloud Brocade from Sewing Peak, stating that the Marketplace at the foot of the mountain would be buying them in large quantities.

Only later did he find out that Sect Leader Liu Huan had already struck a deal with the Joyful Union Sect to sell off Sewing Peak’s three workshops, Mortal Servants and all, as a package. The other party was simply stocking up on materials in advance to rush production.

’As long as it doesn’t endanger me, I have to strike when the opportunity arises. Otherwise, how will I catch up in time for the North and South Dipper Sword in eight years?’

Having made up his mind, Jiang Yi turned to the Cat Master, who had finished gnawing on the jerky and was now licking his paws. He raised his voice and asked:

"Cat Master, do you know what use incense is to Cultivators? I’ve heard that long, long ago, the [Divine Dao] manifested in the world. Great mountains and lakes, the sun, moon, and stars—all had [Divine Positions] conferred upon them. All living beings worshiped the gods, and the gods governed all people. It was said to be a supremely glorious age."

True Master Xuanmiao had just finished off the jerky. Hearing the question, he answered offhandedly:

"Incense is extremely useful, of course. Xiao Jiang, the [Divine Dao] you mentioned can be considered the most widespread Daoist Lineage of the entire post-Ancient era, apart from the four great manifest Daoist Lineages. Even the resplendent and ultimate [Sword Dao] cannot compare."

He changed the subject, bringing up his former master:

"Before my former master began his Cultivation, his family was dirt poor. He couldn’t afford books, so he borrowed them from all over, copying texts for others in exchange for the chance to read them.

"In the dead of winter, the backs of his hands were covered in frostbite, cracked and festering from the cold.

"Later, after he advanced in rank, he developed the arrogant desire to collect every classic text in the world. He always wanted to befriend the Wandering True Monarch of the Eight Great Wanderers, but unfortunately, that old geezer always avoided him."

Jiang Yi’s expression remained unchanged, but inwardly, he scoffed:

’I’m afraid your former master’s methods for "collecting" those texts weren’t exactly upright.’

He often heard all sorts of stories about this "former master" from True Master Xuanmiao.

They could all be summarized simply:

When things were going his way, he scammed, tricked, and cheated. When things went south, he faked his own death to escape.

’Heaven only knew if he truly wanted to befriend the Wandering True Monarch, or if he was just coveting the man’s original manuscript of the complete, four-volume *All Worlds*.’

"Cat Master, you’re getting off-topic."

Jiang Yi held out a long strip of Spirit Bird Jerky, dangling it twice in front of True Master Xuanmiao’s mouth.

The calico cat immediately forgot all about any former master. He leaped forward, pouncing and circling Jiang Yi’s hand.

"Let’s get back to talking about ’incense’ and the ’Divine Dao’."

After teasing him for a moment, Jiang Yi finally let True Master Xuanmiao snatch the jerky.

He held it fast in his mouth, refusing to let go, tearing and chewing at it with all his might. Only then did he obediently return to the topic:

"The [Divine Dao] has extremely broad applications. It was naturally created to be manifest in the world, which is why its teachings are not just spread across the Yanfu Vast Land, but have also been propagated throughout the Outer Heavens.

"Even though its orthodox lineage no longer exists, many of its rituals and principles have been carried on. ’Incense’ is one of them.

"Take that Han boy, for example. The methods he used yesterday to summon the Land God and call upon the City God—they looked like talisman spells, but they actually originated from the ’Incense Spirit Response’."

True Master Xuanmiao was, after all, a worldly and dignified Foundation Establishment master who had knocked about the Four Directions Continent with his former owner.

When it came to the origins of various Dharma Lineages, he spoke with clear and compelling authority:

"The ’incense’ of worship is also called the ’Incense of Faith.’ It is the medium between mortals and heaven, a vessel for Spiritual Qi, and a bridge to the gods. It has the miraculous function of conveying one’s heart and faith, allowing one to be perceived by a True Spirit on high."

Jiang Yi nodded. ’So it’s basically like "writing a letter" or "passing a note" to the deity you’re trying to reach, while setting up an altar to summon a god is the more efficient "phone call" or "direct conversation".’

"Therefore, the most important act in the [Divine Dao] is performing rites of worship. Next is erecting temples, and after that, creating effigies. These are known as the ’Three Treasures of a Divine Cultivator’."

True Master Xuanmiao sat upright on the altar, his paws placed neatly before him. With a solemn expression and twitching whiskers, he almost had the dignified air of a grandmaster expounding on the Dao.