Chapter 102

Chapter 102: Unreasonable and Overprotective Parents

Ning Tian lingered in the cold wind before finally getting into the car. Upon seeing how thinly he was dressed, Wei Xi promptly shut the windows tightly – his second disciple had a weak constitution, and his leg had hurt for almost a month after he kicked a helmet the last time. It was truly a worrisome physique.

Mr. Gu suddenly received a call, and after hanging up, he wore an ecstatic expression. "Excellent, Daoist Wei. Ning Tian's people contacted us and said they'll send someone over."

Wei Xi didn't have much of an impression about the name mentioned, but Unity Yi recalled it clearly. "Master, did you forget? Ning Tian is the company owned by Mr. Shuo Zong."

He then asked Mr. Gu, "I used to think that Ning Tian specialized in business since they're so wealthy. I didn't expect them to collaborate with you often too. They're even more remarkable than I imagined."

Hearing this, Mr. Gu couldn't help but wear a wry smile. How could there be frequent collaborations?

But when he first entered the industry and learned of their private methods, he had been as surprised as Unity Yi. Mr. Gu was now middle-aged and had gone through rigorous screening by the organization to obtain his current status and job. Before that, he was just an ordinary office worker like countless others, seeing only what society wanted him to see. In his previous understanding, Ning Tian was a renowned national conglomerate, a state-supported enterprise benefiting from numerous preferential policies for generations. Their businesses spanned across various industries – online games, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and more. Even in the rapidly developing aerospace sector, which the country had poured vast amounts of money into in recent years, their presence could be found. As a representative of new technology industries, they consistently led research and development efforts publicly and steadfastly. Countless awards were bestowed upon the technologies they developed, giving them virtually uncontested authority in the contemporary scientific community.

It all sounded very advanced and socialist, right? They could be considered the pioneers in science, and there were even rumors speculating that the company was secretly affiliated with the national scientific research institute, which was why they could receive such special treatment that ordinary enterprises could only dream of.

Mr. Gu had thought the same when he was young. But after being selected for a special task force and delving deeper, he finally understood the source of the company's privileges.

In that moment, his scientific dreams shattered, but as he held his position, he still had to strive to maintain stability for the common people and society as a whole.

In truth, it wasn't something too difficult to accept. It was just that since then, Ning Tian's company had taken on a more extraordinary meaning in his mind. Whenever he saw those business elites from the company, who had privately collaborated with him and then transformed into public figures spouting economic, financial, or scientific terminology, on financial magazines or channels, his feelings toward them became more complicated.

Embarrassingly, there was even a hint of admiration mixed in those emotions. It was as if he had accidentally punctured a bubble, revealing that an already impressive person around him was actually a Superman who saved the world during their spare time.

However, Mr. Gu later realized that Ning Tian's superheroes were different from his one-sided imagination. They were more secretive, only interacting with the highest echelons, and were much more selective about the jobs they took. They weren't as enthusiastic about saving lives as he had assumed. Apart from widespread disasters like floods or droughts that threatened vast ecosystems, they wouldn't be bothered by ordinary troubles, let alone small-scale criminal activities like the cult sacrifice in Yue He City.

*****

Not long after the phone call ended, Xia Shouren hurriedly arrived with his companions.

Xia Shouren's attire was somewhat different now. He was dressed in a suit, wore a formal coat, and had a stylish haircut. Seeing him like this, Mr. Gu immediately recalled, "Mr. Xia is representing Ning Tian for the program today, right?"

Their station recorded a health talk show every Wednesday evening, which aimed to promote healthy lifestyles to the public. They had previously heard that a representative from Ning Tian's management would be a guest on this episode, due to the company's new anti-tuberculosis drug, launched two months ago, winning a prestigious overseas medical award.

Xia Shouren grunted, rather annoyed. During the rehearsal break, he had suddenly sensed something amiss. Upon checking the rooftop, he discovered an issue with the stars, forcing him to halt the recording and notify the company to send someone else in his place.

Damn, I had memorized all my lines, Xia Shouren thought.

Opportunities to participate in such talk shows or appear on magazine covers were usually highly sought after by the company's mythical creatures, as they could significantly boost their popularity. If they were lucky, they might even gain followers and offerings. Had it not been for his good looks and the fact that he had assisted Shuo Zong in capturing the Azure Dragon last time, Xia Shouren wouldn't have been able to secure this opportunity over his colleagues.

Despite the rare opportunity, Xia Shouren had almost given up on his pride and considered entering the entertainment industry as a star during his journey. Especially after hearing that several new demons from Taicang Sect had already become popular.

Unfortunately, he had his own pride and couldn't bring himself to cross that mental barrier.

The other supernatural creatures in his company felt the same way. As objects of worship, they had been looking down on humans with arrogance for thousands or even tens of thousands of years. Appearing on talk shows as guests was tolerable, but professionally performing for the audience's pleasure? No, thank you.

Xia Shouren exhaled a breath of frustration and exchanged a glance with his best friend. Seizing the chance when Wei Xi wasn't paying attention, he secretly passed the Godslayer Whip to him. His anger was eventually overshadowed by concern. "No matter how fallen the Constellations might be, they're still recognized deities by Heavenly Law. I advise you to be cautious and avoid divine punishment."

Shuo Zong nonchalantly acknowledged, leaning back in his car seat. His fingertip slowly traced the uneven patterns on the whip's surface, deep in thought. "That's not important. Don't you have anything to say?"

Divine punishment was not important? Xia Shouren was taken aback. Gazing at Shuo Zong's expression, he seemed to understand something after a moment and responded with an "Oh." "You mean this whip? Indeed, it was crafted by the Primordial Spirit itself. It's said that the tendons of three malevolent dragons from the Nether Sea were used to forge it. When I retrieved it from your place earlier, I was terrified by its malevolent aura. Its fearsome reputation from ancient times is well-deserved."

Shuo Zong's face remained cold. "Who asked you about that?"

Was the Godslayer Whip not significant enough? Xia Shouren was puzzled by Shuo Zong's reaction. After another thought, he realized, "Oh, you meant Master Wind and Water General? Together, they do pose a significant problem and seem suspicious. Didn't you say these Constellations have already fallen? Why have they suddenly reappeared with signs of demonic possession? There must be some hidden truth we're unaware of."

Shuo Zong: "…"

Shuo Zong gazed at him indifferently. "Xia Shouren, I wasn't talking about that. Do those eyes of yours on your head serve any purpose?"

Xia Shouren: "????"

Friend, what are you doing? Isn't this the most important matter?

Their companion leaned back in their chair and suddenly reached out a hand to touch a pendant hanging outside their clothes.

The pendant was purple-golden in color, with an ancient and heavy appearance, and a faint aura that was rarely seen. Xia Shouren immediately recognized it. "Hey, isn't this the purple-golden chain of the Yellow Emperor that Wei Xi took?"

There was finally a hint of softness in their friend's eyes. They parted their lips as if they were about to say something, but Xia Shouren's next words came first. "Wow, I knew it. With your personality, how could you possibly give such a valuable item away casually? And it didn't take long for you to get it back. Impressive, impressive. Looks like Wei Xi really couldn't defeat you."

Shuo Zong: "…"

Xia Shouren: "?"

Shuo Zong: "Scram."

Xia Shouren: "???"

What's wrong with this person? Why are they being so sullen and sarcastic? Can't I compliment them on their prowess? And what was that important thing you wanted to discuss earlier? Finish your sentence before telling me to leave, please.

Beside him, Bi Fang, who had accompanied him, also found Xia Shouren's eviction inexplicable. However, when he approached to greet, he also clearly saw the purple-golden chain around Shuo Zong's neck. Not knowing what to say, he politely inquired, "Mr. Shuo Zong, is this the purple-golden chain?"

The recipient of the question glanced at him and grunted in response.

Shuo Zong was aloof and held a unique position. Normally, he didn't speak much and didn't maintain particularly close relationships with the company's mythical beasts. Bi Fang usually felt a bit intimidated by him. After exchanging greetings, he nodded and prepared to leave.

Suddenly, Shuo Zong's voice echoed from behind, "It was a gift from Wei Xi."

Bi Fang: "???"

He turned around, but the other party had already rolled up the car window, leaving his face unseen. Bi Fang stood there, dumbfounded – Why did you tell me that? I wasn't going to ask you.

Upon returning to Xia Shouren's car, Bi Fang found Xia Shouren, now without his coat, leaning on the steering wheel, deeply perplexed. "What do you think is going on with him?"

Bi Fang: "Who? What happened?"

Xia Shouren glanced at him, hesitated for a moment, and considering Shuo Zong's status within the company, decided not to directly mention him. He rephrased his question, "Bi Fang, can I ask you something?"

Bi Fang: "Huh?"

Xia Shouren rubbed his temples in frustration. "Here's the thing. If you had a friend who suddenly became very irritable and unpredictable, and started doing things that were completely out of character, what would you think could be the reason?"

Bi Fang ventured a guess. "Could it be because they're unwell?"

Xia Shouren waved his hand dismissively. "Impossible, impossible. He's so strong, nothing could make him fall ill, not even if the sky were to collapse. Actually, his symptoms aren't severe, but I've suddenly noticed that he's become very strict with me and doesn't seem to cherish our friendship at all."

Bi Fang chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. "Friendship isn't important when you're in love, right? That must be it, he's fallen for someone."

Xia Shouren burst into laughter. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

A white-collar worker, fresh from his night shift, stepped out of a downtown office building and into the damp street. Glancing at the gloomy sky, he opened his umbrella to shield himself, grumbling, "Enough already, it's been pouring for over half a month. I have to carry an umbrella every day, and who knows when this rain will cease."

His companion, a delicate and pretty young lady, softly echoed in agreement. Their eyes caught the vivid banners posted by the city government along the road, advocating against cults. Engrossed in conversation, they chatted about recent news as they hastened towards the subway station, hoping to catch the last train.

Though the recent occult sacrificial ceremony was horrifying, it didn't seem to have caused much distress in the everyday lives of ordinary people. Everyone continued to live their lives as usual, following their established routines.

Wei Xi's gaze followed their retreating figures, vaguely sensing the fascinating order inherent in human society and the human condition itself.

Mr. Gu sighed from the side. "It's truly a case of feast or famine. Yue He has more water than it knows what to do with, and its citizens have to carry umbrellas every day just to go outside. Meanwhile, the people in Wu are suffering through such a drought that they can barely survive, and yet they haven't seen a single drop of rain for months."

As he spoke, he was met with a blast of cold wind that froze his damp face, making him sneeze repeatedly.

Wei Xi stood by his second disciple, wrapped tightly in his coat, unaffected by the weather. The black umbrella held by the disciple was broad and large, made from an unknown material that didn't even make a sound when raindrops landed on it. The space under the umbrella was miraculously shielded from any wind or rain.

Xia Shouren, holding an umbrella behind Bi Fang, complained, "Damn, people really become more sensitive as they age. He didn't complain when we were drenched in the Sea City, but now, with just a light drizzle, he's using a Five Elements Boundary Umbrella? This is a magical artifact used to deflect lightning during thunder tribulations, for crying out loud."

Inside, Bi Fang could only sigh—using such a coveted treasure, a Five Elements Boundary Umbrella, to shield them from rain, Mister Shuo Zong truly lived up to his reputation as a wealthy man.

However, Shuo Zong paid no attention to their opinions. At that moment, his focus was drawn to an advertisement board equipped with a television screen in front of the subway station.

On the television was a local news broadcast from Yue He City, with the newscaster speaking rapidly and clearly: "Our city's economic and cultural development has shown significant progress. To protect the creative environment, various municipal departments have collaborated to register over ten dilapidated buildings surrounding the urban area. These structures, having stood for decades, are tightly sealed and have been unoccupied for at least that long..."

The scene shifted, capturing the dilapidated houses nestled amidst modern dwellings. Their layouts and sizes faintly echoed past grandeur, but the exterior walls and eaves, battered by years of wind and rain without repair, now conveyed a profound sense of neglect and melancholy.

Wei Xi found his disciple's thin black jacket strangely warm. Even though it wasn't too cold under the umbrella, he instinctively slipped his hand into his disciple's pocket. The disciple seemed lost in thought until Wei Xi's action brought him back, glancing down at him before silently switching the umbrella to the other arm. The closer hand retreated into its pocket, enclosing Wei Xi's hand in an unseen embrace.

Wei Xi intertwined their fingers, fitting his own between his disciple's. Glancing at the ongoing TV program, he asked, "What did they say on there?"

His disciple ignored the question, surveying the cityscape around them. "Six thousand years ago, this city and the thousands of square kilometers surrounding it were known as Beihuang River. Do you know why it was named that?"

Wei Xi felt the name sounded vaguely familiar but couldn't recall where he'd heard it. Then, Xia Shouren's voice rang out behind them: "Because it was arid and barren, devoid of life, much like a desert today."

Mr. Gu expressed surprise, "Is that so? Yue He is now one of the cities with the most evenly distributed rainfall in the country, and Lake Yue He is the largest freshwater lake in the nation."

Xia Shouren chuckled, "Over six millennia, tectonic movements and several global climate changes can alter everything. Back then, Beihuang River had only a small oasis with drinkable water. Thus, the people living in the Beihuang River oasis, praying for rain, became the world's first collective worshippers of Master Wind and Water Priest, the origins of the Rain God Temple."

Mr. Gu nodded, "I see. Mr. Xia, your knowledge is vast. I've been on business trips to Yue He many times, yet I've never heard of a Rain God Temple here."

Upon hearing this, the smile on Xia Shouren's face gradually faded. After a moment, he regained his voice, "Yes, because Yue He no longer needs them."

Rain God's divine status, recognized by the Heavenly Dao, was sustained by the devout offerings of believers. However, when they were no longer needed, their fate was to be forgotten.

Under the Heavenly Dao, the rule that made gods rise and fall was relentlessly harsh.

*****************

Unlike remote mountain areas, in Yue He City, cult activities were concentrated in a larger urban village within the city.

The local community leader and officials greeted them, expressing their frustration with the cult's existence: "What can we do? They're mostly elderly people, like they're possessed. No community lessons can change their minds; they firmly believe in the god they worship. Their leader holds classes from time to time, and these elders trust him blindly. When the police intervene, they throw tantrums, claiming heart attacks or even threatening suicide on the spot. The police can't do much; they're also worried about accidents."

Fortunately, this sacrificial event causing a scandal was their first foray into involving living humans, and it was eventually stopped by the police before any major chaos erupted. However, because no lives were lost, the local police couldn't take severe action against them. Most of these elders were locals, old and unreasonable. If force was used, it would inevitably lead to disputes.

Due to several municipal inspections, the long-time residents of the urban village were wary of the community leader's arrival. Upon seeing them, their expressions soured. The community leader felt helpless, having such superstitious residents in their jurisdiction, and felt ashamed in front of the visiting leaders: "You probably don't encounter people like this often, right? They refuse to believe anyone but their so-called deity. To put it bluntly, they're mentally ill."

Unity Yi looked around and nodded: "They are indeed ill. They believe in some obscure god; it's better they use that energy to worship our Tai Cang Sect's Ascended Celestial Emperor. Isn't the Ascended Celestial Emperor more powerful than their pathetic god?"

Community Leader: "..."

Did something seem off with these leaders?

However, right after Unity Righteousness finished speaking, the air around them suddenly grew tense, diverting her attention from Taicang Sect. "Strange, why has the wind and rain suddenly intensified?"

Shuo Zong raised his head, sensing the waves of fury surging forward through the umbrella. He looked at Unity Righteousness with a complicated expression.

This guy had to be quite the talent. On his way here, he was still pondering how to force those gods out, for they were different from other opponents they'd dealt with in the past. Favored by Heavenly Dao, even if they had fallen, they possessed formidable skills. If they wished to hide, it would take him great effort to track them down.

Little did he expect that Unity Righteousness's casual words would provoke them before he could make a move.

Xia Shouren awkwardly held up his umbrella and addressed the perplexed street chief, "It's fine, we've reached our destination. You all can go back now, we'll manage from here."

With the intensifying storm making the outdoors unbearable and the eerie atmosphere, the street chief hesitated only briefly before taking his leave, accompanied by the community officials.

The moment they vanished, the wind and rain grew even more violent, especially within the village. A faint aura of martial power mixed with the wind, sending Xia Shouren's clothing into disarray.

Shuo Zong, holding the Five Elements Umbrella, and Wei Xi under its shelter, were the only exceptions. Shuo Zong gazed at the dark alley and coldly said, "Come out."

A celestial chant seemed to float down from the heavens, followed by the chaotic sound of footsteps. Suddenly, a light flickered on in a house ahead, and the garage door opened, revealing a group of elderly people clad in black cloaks. They wore black capes, their eyes fixed intently on the strangers. With their numerous numbers and grim expressions, combined with the distant celestial chant in the background, they appeared eerily surreal.

The atmosphere tensed upon their arrival. Both parties fell into a brief silence, locked in a serious standoff. Unity Righteousness's admiring exclamation sounded rather out of place, "Wow, so imposing! Matching uniforms and background music too. Press play, then march to the beat to confront the enemy. Master, do you think these uncles and aunties brought a square dance tape recorder with them?"

The crowd: "...................................."

Whispers broke out within the group:

"What do we do now? We've been found out."

"I told you it wasn't necessary, but that old Liu insisted on these rituals. I guess he's too used to organizing events before his retirement."

"But how did they know it was a tape recorder? Wouldn't most people assume it was the Bodhisattva singing?"

United Righteousness: "......."

Auntie, with the poor sound quality of that tape recorder and considering you're all mainstays of the square dance, it's not surprising that you were recognized.

The leading elder's face turned ashen. He turned back and signaled his square dance partner to turn off the tape recorder, then said coldly, "Young man, leave quickly. The deity is already enraged. Don't come here with your nonsense about believing in science. Don't we know if there are gods or not?"

United Righteousness hastily explained, "Don't misunderstand. We're not here to lecture you. There are definitely gods. I don't know about yours, but the Celestial Venerable of Dao Attainment that our Taicang Sect worships is very efficacious."

Hearing this unexpected response, the seniors became even more agitated, and a look of surprise appeared on the face of the leading elder. "Ta... Taicang Sect? Are you the Taicang Sect from the recent TV commercials?"

United Righteousness: "You've seen our advertisement too?"

So it turned out they had a shared interest. The elderly lady who had just been hostile immediately softened and chuckled. "Of course, oh my, your advertisement was superb. I only saw it once, but it's etched in my mind, impossible to forget."

United Righteousness: "You're too kind, too kind."

The group of elderly ladies: "It's amazing what young people can do, appearing in advertisements like that. It's quite impressive, unlike us old folks with our aching bones, always being chased by the city management in Lehe City, alas! What was the name of your Celestial Venerated again?"

United Righteousness leaned in: "The Attained Dao Celestial Venerated, very spiritual. Would you be interested in learning more?"

The leading old man, seeing that they were engaged in an animated conversation, stood there, utterly perplexed, glancing repeatedly towards the house. The intertwining wind and rain outside grew more menacing, with the howling winds sounding like fierce roars.

A cold snort finally echoed from within the house: "No matter where you come from, all of you had better leave before the gods bring down their wrath!"

The elderly on site immediately fell silent at the sound. Even the cheerful old lady who was chatting with Unity Yi turned pale, trembling as she stepped aside, creating a path through the center: "Divine Envoy."

Wei Xi promptly heard Mr. Gu say beside him, "So this is the Divine Envoy of that cult! This person is extremely cunning, relying on the police's reluctance to intervene to commit wicked deeds while making the elderly members of their sect take the fall! He himself remains hidden, as if nothing is happening!"

Then he fell into a moment of silence, "...This time, I suppose he couldn't bear to see Mr. Unity preaching to his followers."

The divine messenger was a young man with a hooked nose and a malevolent gaze. He stared coldly at Wei Xi and his group. Mr. Gu had guessed correctly – he had indeed been hiding and only emerged when he heard that things were going south. Now, facing this group of rivals, his mood was terrible. "Did you hear that? Leave immediately! Stop spreading your deceitful words here!"

United Righteousness, undeterred by being caught poaching believers, retorted, "Why should we? This isn't your territory. What do you mean by deceitful words? We're all in the same business; if you can preach, why can't we? Haven't you heard of religious freedom? Mind your manners, would you?"

The divine messenger raged, "Nonsense! Who are you to claim to be our peers? Our deity could never be compared to your so-called Celestial Sovereign!"

United Righteousness sneered. "Indeed, our Celestial Sovereign has even been on television, with countless fans online and official recognition from the state. Not quite the same as your deity being chased by city management officials through the streets."

The divine messenger was livid but didn't know how to refute these words. Seeing the uncertainty in the eyes of the elderly believers in the village, he finally lost his temper. "You're pushing your luck!"

As his words echoed, an indescribable tension filled the air. The cloaked elders present became dazed, and one by one, they stumbled and fainted. Even Mr. Gu beside Wei Xi collapsed into the rain.

The divine messenger himself fell to the ground in a frenzy. Then, a majestic voice boomed, "I have been a god for six thousand four hundred and eighteen years, since the dawn of chaos. Never have I heard of a Celestial Sovereign who has attained enlightenment."

A cold male voice seemed to echo in agreement, "What kind of evil has dared to call itself a god? Preposterous!"

One by one, the surrounding people lost consciousness, leaving United Righteousness strangely awake amidst the commotion. The voices reverberated so loudly in his ears that he was terrified. Taking several steps back, he gradually understood their words and inferred their identities. He immediately protested, "What nonsense! To call our Celestial Sovereign evil, when it's you cultists who are truly evil! Do you have any self-awareness at all?!"

Both male voices: "..."

They fell into a silence, seemingly realizing their current identities and unsure how to refute the statement. Instead, they turned to the others who had arrived and said, "It's you."

Xia Shouren's gaze was somewhat complicated as he looked at them and sighed. Shuo Zong held his umbrella and called out their names with a faint tone, "Long time no see, Master Wind, Water General."

The two of them gazed at each other from afar. Master Wind and Water General still wore their loose robes from their days in Heaven, but their aura, once pure and divine, now carried traces of black.

They smiled at Shuo Zong together, "Indeed, it's been a long time, Heavenly Luck God. I didn't expect that after years apart, we would meet again under such circumstances."

Shuo Zong nodded calmly, "Indeed."

Master Wind glanced at the Godslayer Whip in Shuo Zong's hand, his eyes flickering slightly, "Are you going to kill us? We've known each other, and we were both celestial officials in Heaven. Aren't you afraid of divine punishment for killing us?"

Shuo Zong handed the black umbrella to Wei Xi, "There is no longer a Heaven above, nor are there any celestial officials."

"Que'er," before Wei Xi could fully understand their previous titles, he sensed the tension, "Are you guys going to fight?"

The disciple who shoved the umbrella at him lowered his head and gave him a look, his gaze and voice softening, "Stay here and don't move. The Five Elements Boundary Umbrella will protect you. I'll be done soon."

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck down from the sky. Master Wind and Water General stood their ground, staring coldly at Shuo Zong. Their gazes swept over the pendant on his chest, shimmering in the lightning's glow, and they couldn't help but sneer, "No wonder you're so confident. I never expected not only the Godslayer Whip, but also Emperor Huang's Purple Gold Chain to be in your hands."

The tense atmosphere instantly eased, and Shuo Zong immediately raised an eyebrow. "Impressive, isn't it?"

He gestured to Wei Xi, "He gave it to me."

Xia Shouren: "???"

Master Wind: "????"

Who told you about that? !

************

Master Wind, the Water General, didn't dare to be careless. They exchanged glances, ignoring the baffling conversation, and charged straight at Shuo Zong.

Lightning split the sky, and Unity Yi was terrified, crouching in the corner. "What's going on! Why is Junior Brother suddenly fighting with them?!"

Master Wind, the Water General, possessed astonishing strength. As celestial constellations chosen by Heavenly Dao, they carried divine bones and were born as a perfect team. Now, their combined power was virtually invincible. Even someone as formidable as Shuo Zong found it difficult to subdue them easily. The Godslayer Whip in his hand weaved a dense killing formation, yet it only managed to add a few wounds to Master Wind, the Water General.

Xia Shouren was not skilled in combat to begin with. Unprepared, he was knocked down by Master Wind's magic artifact. Rolling on the ground, he clutched his injured spot and looked up at the sky.

Master Wind's divine robe danced amidst the tempest he had conjured, while his face contorted in pain from Shuo Zong's ruthless attack. "We only wanted a few sacrifices. We didn't even succeed, so when did human lives become so precious to you!"

In Shuo Zong's eyes, there was nothing but cold detachment. "I may not know the value of human lives, but I do know that you willingly embraced darkness and disrupted the world. You demanded sacrifices from your followers. If we don't eliminate you, the fragile Heavenly Dao would be crushed."

"Divine Dao! There is no such thing as Divine Dao now!" Master Wind roared with hatred. "And those followers! I protected them for thousands of years, yet they could forget me in an instant. What kind of followers are they? At best, they're ungrateful fools!"

Wei Xi couldn't comprehend these words, and Unity Yi also found them perplexing. "What's going on? Aren't they evil gods of a cult? Why do they call themselves priests and talk about thousands of years?"

Xia Shouren, supporting himself as he stood up, vaguely recounted the backstory, even though their opponents shared a sense of sorrow due to the mutual plight of fading relevance.

After listening, Unity Yi gave an ambiguous "Oh." "So you mean they became famous like the Purple Star right from the start and never experienced obscurity. After taking a hundred-year break, they expected to return to work as before, only to discover that they were forgotten, and their fans who claimed eternal love had moved on? Damn, that's tragic. No wonder they're struggling to cope."

Xia Shouren, still trying to feel melancholic, was left speechless.

Master Wind and Water General, filled with indignation upon hearing Xia Shouren's story, were similarly at a loss for words.

The sadness in Xia Shouren's heart suddenly vanished. "…Well, there's some truth to that."

During their time of awakening, Master Wind and Water General had learned about new professions in the human world. They thought to themselves, What nonsense is this? They loudly protested, "Silence! Stop spouting nonsense!"

United Righteousness looked at them sympathetically. "You claim to be celestial officials from the Heavenly Court, but my junior brother said it no longer exists. So, does that mean you both used to work in a public institution and got laid off when it shut down?"

Master Wind replied, "............"

Xia Shouren sighed. "Something like that."

United Righteousness let out a sigh. "Ah! It's the same up in heaven as it is down on earth. There's no future working for state-owned enterprises. Nowadays, one has to rely on private companies to make progress. Why did they have to fall into demonic ways? Why not come to Taicang Sect and learn under my master? Our sect's ascended deities are doing much better than these two."

Master Wind became furious. "What ascended deities! They're merely evil spirits who dare to impersonate gods!"

Fuming with anger, he lost control of his fight and even dropped his divine fan, which struck Shuo Zong on the head.

Shuo Zong: "......."

Realizing his mistake, Master Wind let out a startled cry. Wei Xi had been tense since the beginning, and upon seeing his disciple hit by the fan, his eyes widened in shock. In a fit of anger, he suddenly found an unknown surge of strength. He put away his umbrella, kicked off the wall, and leaped into the air towards the mid-air battle.

Wei Xi swung his umbrella fiercely, aiming at Master Wind's face. "How dare you strike my disciple with your fan!"

Master Wind: "......."

Master Wind was tempted to explain that the fan had accidentally flown away, but after being slapped, his anger flared. Observing Wei Xi's constitution, his fury intensified. "How dare you, mortal! From where did you come? To offend a divine being!"

Unable to hover in mid-air, Wei Xi almost fell after jumping. Fortunately, a strong arm encircled his waist, securing him firmly in place.

Born without fear, Wei Xi saw no reason to back down when Master Wind dared to roar at him. He glared fiercely and slapped the deity again.

Master Wind: "...."

Master Wind's patience wore thin. With a sharp cry, he lunged at Wei Xi's position.

Behind Wei Xi, Shuo Zong clenched the Godslayer Whip in his hand, his gaze chilling as he prepared to strike.

Before he could act, a burst of intense golden light suddenly erupted from Wei Xi's chest, sending Master Wind hurtling backward.

This unexpected turn of events left all present creatures momentarily speechless.

In the very next moment, a vague figure slowly materialized in front of Wei Xi. The figure, with its sleeves folded, spoke calmly, "Esteemed Star Lord, my disciple is young and ignorant. As a distinguished divine official, why bother taking issue with a child?"

Master Wind: "...."

With the support of Water Master, Master Wind regained his balance, staring in astonishment at the figure that had suddenly appeared. The person was short and thin, their features indistinct, seemingly frail, yet their entire body was enveloped by layers of dazzling golden light, the light of virtue.

Deities with divine bones could see the appearance of the light of virtue. Master Wind and Water Master had roamed the world for thousands of years, witnessing everything there was to see, but they had never encountered someone with such profound virtue. It was so astounding that they dared not even touch the person, fearing that the slightest injury might provoke Heavenly Dao to reduce them to ashes.

Both of them stared at this unreasonable and intrusive family member, disbelief etched on their faces. "Who... Who are you? What have you done? Where did all this virtue come from?!"

"Ahh? Virtue? What have I done?" The man's eyes lacked focus, his back hunched as he held his sleeves. He seemed unaware of the virtue on him. After some thought, he revealed a slightly awkward expression. "Well, if I must say... it might be... curing believers' athlete's foot and hemorrhoids, perhaps?"

Master Wind and Water Master: "................................???????"