Chapter 146: Chapter 125: Mighty Gods are Inherently Formless, Borrowing Essence to Manifest upon the World

"However, many with a shallow Dao Inheritance and insufficient Dao Wisdom mistake deities for concrete entities. In truth, they are not.

The myriad majestic spirits of the orthodox Divine Dao are all formless, shapeless, and nameless, just like the Great Dao itself.

It is only for the convenience of all living beings—so they may worship and find peace of mind in prayer—that these spirits borrow Sculptures to manifest a form and walk the world.

The Land God and City God you saw yesterday are just like that. In essence, they are nothing more than condensed masses of Heaven and Earth Essence Qi."

Jiang Yi had a sudden epiphany. No wonder when he saw Senior Brother Han Li use a talisman to summon the Land God and the City God, the Spiritual Energy had surged like a tide—a state not much different from when he himself circulated the Qi Cultivation General Outline, the ’Commander of Ten Thousand Truths.’ So that was it. They were different streams flowing from the same source.

"The exalted positions within the Divine Dao are known as the Five Virtues."

True Master Xuanmiao continued:

"This ’Virtue’ isn’t worldly morality, but ’Innate Virtue.’ It’s quite similar to what the Buddhist Dao calls ’True Suchness.’ Both refer to the inherent, true potential all beings are born with.

Originally, the practice of the orthodox Divine Dao was about ’inherent nature, cultivated virtue’—meaning all things possess a divine nature. They just need to undergo processes like Cultivation, conferment, enlightenment, and manifestation to become majestic spirit deities possessing both."

But he changed his tune, his voice tinged with disdain:

"It’s a shame such a great Dao is so difficult to follow. Later, ignorant fools brazenly altered it, turning it into a vulgar scheme of building personal shrines, cultivating incense, and amassing Luck. They even concocted the fallacious custom of slaughtering the three sacrificial animals and offering blood food!"

Jiang Yi put on a timely expression of reverence and adoration, which the Cat Master found increasingly gratifying.

A sensible student always knows how to stroke his teacher’s ego.

Jiang Yi took the opportunity to ask:

"Sacrificing three kinds of livestock to the heavens and offering blood food are ancient traditions. Are you saying they’re wrong?"

True Master Xuanmiao smacked his lips. Jiang Yi took the hint and held out a piece of Spirit Bird Jerky with both hands.

"This is why those with a shallow Dao Inheritance only ever grasp the surface of a Daoist Lineage’s principles, never its true essence."

He snatched the jerky, took a bite, and tilted his round head back, looking for all the world like a classic, head-shaking old scholar.

"The three-animal sacrifice to the heavens was originally a grand state ceremony involving the slaughter of an ox, a sheep, and a pig. The ox represents the foundation of agriculture, the sheep is a sign of good fortune, and the pig symbolizes abundance. The goal was to pray for favorable weather and a long-lasting dynasty. It was an offering of blood food to ’Heaven’ to express the sincerity of the ritual."

"But then, ignorant descendants started copying the practice. If they were worshipping ancestors or conducting a major ceremony, it might be excusable.

But many majestic spirit deities—such as Thunder General, Dianmu, Marshal Huo, and the Water Monarch—are all manifestations of Heaven and Earth Essence Qi. They merely possess mortal forms and names, walking the world only in response to the collective will of mortals.

They are Innate beings, a mass of divine qi. What use could they possibly have for mortal blood food? It’s completely superfluous!"

Jiang Yi clicked his tongue in amazement. He felt as if his worldview had expanded. Truly, every Daoist Lineage was a complete, perfectly structured framework from top to bottom.

’So when Senior Brother Han used a talisman and lit some incense yesterday to compel the Land God and summon the City God, he was just using an Incense Spell to activate the Essence Qi.

’In that case, I could learn to do the same. Using the general outline of ’Mixed Refining Origin, Commander of Ten Thousand Truths,’ I could absorb all kinds of Spiritual Energy and summon majestic spirit deities myself.’

Jiang Yi had no intention of setting foot in Hanyang Prefecture to confront the Huang and Wang Families directly.

Doing so would likely lead to the same fate as Senior Brother Han: being subdued and captured.

"Cat Master."

After a moment of thought, Jiang Yi once again humbly beseeched True Master Xuanmiao:

"If the Divine Dao no longer exists, how can the names of the deities enshrined in those temples still answer a summons and manifest in the world?"

Seeing Xiao Jiang so eager to learn, True Master Xuanmiao slowly began to explain:

"Once a Daoist Lineage has manifested in the world, it leaves an indelible mark of the Great Dao. For example, even though the Sword Dao was annihilated, Sword Cultivators still possess the greatest killing power in the world and the ability to sever All Techniques.

The Divine Dao is no different. It was so useful that the Immortal Dao and Buddhist Dao both ’borrowed’ heavily from it.

For instance, the Immortal Dao’s altar rituals and the Buddhist Dao’s Golden Body Willpower both originated from it.

The Demon Dao originally wanted to take Merit from the Five Virtues. When that failed, they settled for the next best thing and took Fame Virtue, using names to evoke responses from Earth Deities as one of the cornerstones of their Dharma Lineage.

The Land God, City God, Mountain Monarch, Water Monarch, and even the Ear God—at the end of the day, they are all just ’Name Positions.’

As long as you know their names, can cast a talisman, and offer the Incense of Faith, you can usually compel them to serve you. If you’re willing, and have the ability to leverage a Name Position, you can even create a majestic spirit deity of your own."

Jiang Yi understood. ’That must be why Han Li could summon the Land God and City God for questioning just by casually lighting a few Incense Sticks and pasting on some talisman paper,’ he thought.

’It’s because he has the status of a Dharma Lineage, allowing him to touch upon the Name Positions of the Divine Dao and trigger a response.’

"Cat Master, I have a plan."

He looked at True Master Xuanmiao, who was chewing on the jerky atop the altar, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"If I borrow the name of our Dharma Lineage to gather Majestic Spirit Essence Qi, can I then give it a form and a name to create a deity?"

’Xiao Jiang wants to stir up some trouble?’

True Master Xuanmiao instantly perked up, leaping off the offering table and landing squarely in Jiang Yi’s arms.

He rolled his amber eyes, seemingly in thought.

"What Xiao Jiang proposes is indeed feasible. The so-called Land God and City God are just masses of Earth Element Essence Qi. They don’t have much Cultivation to speak of—barely at the Qi Cultivation Fourth or Fifth Layer, if you had to quantify it. Their ability to monitor cities and towns and ascertain the state of the common folk relies on the workings of the Five Virtues left behind by the Divine Dao."

Jiang Yi smiled faintly. This was the method he had devised to "enter the game."

There was no need for him to appear in person to get close to the Huang and Wang Families.

"Xiao Jiang, you’re truly clever! Just like this True Master!"

After hearing Jiang Yi’s explanation, True Master Xuanmiao agreed that entering Hanyang Prefecture under the guise of a majestic spirit deity was an excellent strategy.

He immediately had Jiang Yi fetch the usual supplies, like a brush, paper, and Vermilion.

Jiang Yi made do with what was on hand, using a talisman coin as paper and mixing the Vermilion.

"Cat Master, I remember you saying our Dharma Lineage has significant implications. Any words written about it will instantly be incinerated."

True Master Xuanmiao waved a paw.

"We are merely using a name to evoke the Essence Qi. Just use a different title to refer to it. Listen closely, Xiao Jiang. You will write: ’What must be done, shall be done; by Radiant Edict, it is so. The True Monarch has spoken; all spirits heed His call.’"

Jiang Yi did as he was told, putting the brush to paper. He finished the final stroke.

For a long moment, nothing happened.

"Cat Master, I don’t think your Dharma Lineage is work—"

Just as Jiang Yi began to speak, a deafening thunderclap suddenly ripped through the City God Temple, as if lightning had struck the roof right above them!

Dark clouds instantly blotted out the sky. A torrential river of Essence Qi surged forth, crossing forests and mountains to converge. It condensed into a massive, dazzling sphere of light that shone like a blazing sun.

"The majestic spirits of the ten directions answer your call. We respectfully await the Young Monarch’s command."

If not for True Master Xuanmiao’s ability to shield them from heavenly prying and prevent divination, the commotion alone would have been enough to draw every eye in Hanyang Prefecture.

"Do you have a name?"

Jiang Yi steadied his Heart Spirit and asked.

"We do not."

The sphere of light flickered. Within it was nothing but an incredibly condensed mass of Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, without physical form or a true name.

"In that case, you will take my surname, ’Jiang.’ Hmm... and your given name will be ’Shang.’"

Jiang Yi gave it a form and name, then molded it into the likeness of an old man with white hair and the ethereal bearing of an immortal.

"Go to Hanyang Prefecture. Investigate the Huang and Wang Families for me."

"As you command!"

The majestic spirit’s incarnation replied in a deep voice, then transformed into a streak of light and shot directly toward Hanyang Prefecture.