Chapter 268 - 133: Creating a God

Chapter 268: Chapter 133: Creating a God

He glanced at the corpses of the Earth Ghost Demons, now nothing but black ash on the ground. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he turned to Yan Zixiao and asked,

"By the way, you were bragging to me before that the former Sect Leader of your Ten Thousand Swords Sect didn’t actually die. You said she used some kind of Secret Skill to reincarnate and cultivate again. Is there any truth to that?"

The Ten Thousand Swords Sect, the foremost Sword Dao Sect in the martial world.

And its legendary former leader, the Female Sword Immortal, was the champion of the righteous path and the pinnacle of the Sword Dao.

Back then, the Great Demon Jiang Chaoxi dominated the era, utterly invincible. Only this Sword Fairy, with her legendary blade, managed to wound the arrogant demon.

It was only a single strike, and she was ultimately defeated, but it was enough to prove her immense power and style.

After all, the Jiang Chaoxi of that era was a being who dared to defy even the Celestial Dao.

Before Jiang Chaoxi was annihilated by the Celestial Dao, the entire righteous path had placed its hopes on this Sword Fairy, believing she was the one who could slay the Great Demon.

Her Dao heart was resolute, and her lifelong conviction was to "exorcise demons and protect the Dao."

She was the complete opposite of that love-struck Fairy from the Cold Moon Sect, the one whose life was ruined by a single glance at Jiang Chaoxi.

In fact, she almost succeeded.

During the final battle between the righteous and demonic factions, none of the other heroes could get within ten zhang of Jiang Chaoxi. Only her sword broke through his demonic defenses and wounded the Great Demon.

That one strike shook the world.

The Court even wanted to name her National Preceptor, lending her the nation’s destiny to help her heal, hoping she would gain the strength to rival Jiang Chaoxi.

But she ultimately declined the offer.

After Jiang Chaoxi was slain by the Celestial Dao, she, though gravely wounded, pushed her damaged Dao Foundation to its limits in an attempt to attain the Ziwei Star Position, but she failed.

In the end, her injuries worsened, and she perished, her Dao dissipating with her.

After her death, most of the Star Positions she had attained did not return to the sea of stars, seeming to have been extinguished along with her.

There are even rumors that before her death, this Sword Fairy used her entire life’s Cultivation Level to attain an unprecedented new Star Position out of thin air.

But since no one ever witnessed it, it became an unsolved mystery.

"I only heard a few elders mention it in passing once. As for whether it’s true or not, who knows?"

Yan Zixiao shrugged. "For a godlike figure of that caliber, it’s not surprising for them to have some heaven-defying, fate-altering techniques.

Still, in my opinion, even if she did reincarnate, she’d be a completely new person. What does that have to do with her past life?

If she doesn’t awaken her memories or never starts on the path of cultivation, she might just end up as a run-of-the-mill village woman who marries and has children.

It wouldn’t even be unusual for her to die young by accident."

"The Ten Thousand Swords Sect has been searching in secret for years, but they’ve found nothing... The world is vast, and the population immense. Trying to find one reincarnated person is like finding a needle in a haystack."

Hearing this, Xu Fu murmured,

"Based on the timeline, if she really did reincarnate successfully, she’d be about eleven or twelve years old by now, right?

Alas, in this chaotic world overrun by Demon Fiends, reaching the pinnacle of the Sword Dao again would be next to impossible.

Her greatest regret before she died was probably not being able to kill the Great Demon she hated to her very core..."

...

「Meanwhile.」

Jiang Mu returned to the forest where they had parted, only to find Si Rumeng and her companions gone.

’They ran off?’

Jiang Mu frowned, then shook his head.

’No.’

’The Life Souls of those female ghosts are all tied to the Buddha Lamp. If I don’t replenish it with Incense and Candle Power, their souls will eventually dissipate.’

’Si Rumeng is a smart woman, and fiercely protective of her own.’

’She would never gamble with her subordinates’ lives.’

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Mu had his answer. He turned and sped toward Meiruo Temple.

Just as he thought.

Before he was even close to the temple gates, he saw an enchanting figure standing silently before the ruined monastery.

Si Rumeng had changed into a brand-new, floor-length dress the color of dark green ink. A wide sash of the same color cinched her waist, making it look so slender one could encircle it with a single hand.

Her white hair cascaded like a waterfall to her waist, swaying gently in the breeze.

She stood with her hands clasped behind her back, her head tilted up as she stared in a daze at the mottled, faded couplets on either side of the temple gate.

Upper scroll: Chanting sutras may grant salvation, but does that mean Yama fears a Monk?

Lower scroll: Burning paper money may extend a life, but that just means a Bodhisattva is a corrupt official.

Jiang Mu landed behind her. Looking at the couplets, he chuckled. "Interesting."

Si Rumeng didn’t turn. Her voice drifted over, tinged with scorn.

"Mortals are foolish. They think that by burning incense, kowtowing, and donating silver for lamps, they can bribe the gods and Buddhas into granting them blessings in the next life.

They fail to realize that if gods and spirits can truly be bought with money and incense, how are they any different from the corrupt officials of the mortal world?"

Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow.

"Life is hard. People need some form of comfort, something to believe in. Even if it’s false, it gives them hope."

Si Rumeng’s lips curled into a slight smile as she turned around.

Her defiant, almond-shaped eyes fixed on Jiang Mu. "Do you know," she asked,

"why I had my sisters occupy this ruined temple and lure those men here?"

Jiang Mu thought for a moment. "Could it be because there’s still some residual Incense and Candle Power here?"

Si Rumeng nodded, a self-deprecating glint in her eyes.

"That’s right. Meiruo Temple may have long been abandoned, but deep underground, there’s still a trace of Buddha’s Will Power left behind by an eminent monk a century ago.

Black Mountain placed incense and candle shackles on them, and by resonating with this place, they can stabilize their Cultivation Levels and have a slightly better chance of escape when danger arises."

She glanced around the dilapidated temple hall, a cynical curve forming on her lips.

"Isn’t it ironic?

A group of demon ghosts who can’t bear the light of day must hide right under a Bodhisattva’s nose, relying on the Buddhist Sect’s incense just to survive.

If the gods and Buddhas in the heavens knew, they’d probably be so furious they’d descend to vanquish us all, wouldn’t they?"

Jiang Mu narrowed his eyes, studying her. "What are you getting at?"

Si Rumeng turned, the hem of her skirt fluttering up to reveal the pale jade of her leg.

She crossed her arms and said coolly,

"What I’m saying is...

The Incense and Candle Power in your Buddha Lamp may seem plentiful now, but it’s a finite resource. Every bit you use is a bit you’ve lost forever.

Once it’s all gone, what will you use to sustain Xiaoqian and the others?

Without Incense and Candle Power, that Magical Treasure of yours is nothing more than a useless piece of scrap metal."

Jiang Mu had actually been pondering this very problem on his way here.

But he had no immediate solution.

He wasn’t a high-ranking official like a Garrison Envoy, appointed by the Court and revered by the people of a territory.

The only ways to acquire Incense and Candle Power were to be an eminent monk or Daoist master in a temple, or to have an officially recognized shrine.

A rogue Demon like the Great Immortal Huang could trick people into offering incense by doing them favors, but that was ultimately an evil path.

In the long run, it would not only lead to rejection by the Celestial Dao but also result in a severe backlash.

A Demon stealing mortal incense is, by its very nature, an act against the heavens.

Furthermore, that kind of Incense and Candle Power is impure and tainted, filled with Greed and desire, making it unsuitable for nourishing the Buddha Lamp.

So, to "recharge" the Buddha Lamp, there were currently only two options.

First, he could find an enlightened monk or a Great Power and beg for some. But the substance was incredibly precious; who would give it away for free?

Second, he could gain official recognition himself, establish a shrine, and receive offerings.

The power obtained in this way would be the purest, not only nourishing the Buddha Lamp but also greatly benefiting his own cultivation.

But that was even more difficult.

Si Rumeng watched Jiang Mu, lost in thought, and said softly,

"Lord Jiang, you’re a member of the Demon-slaying Bureau. You should know better than I do.

In this day and age, with Demon Fiends running rampant, a corrupt Court, and the common people groaning under oppression, the Great Qing is already on the verge of collapse.

An age of chaos is both a catastrophe and an opportunity.

In times like these, the hearts of men are at their most fragile and most easily manipulated. It is also... the easiest time to steal the incense of mortals."

A glint flashed in Jiang Mu’s eyes. "What are you proposing?"

Si Rumeng extended a slender, jade-like finger, pointing at the empty hall behind her. A light called ambition shone in her eyes.

"How would you like to... erect a golden statue right here?"

Jiang Mu laughed and shook his head.

"Your idea is too naive. Faith isn’t something you can build in a day or two.

With what little reputation I have now?

The statue would be smashed to pieces and branded an illicit shrine of an Evil Cult before it was even finished."

"Who said anything about making *you* an Immortal?"

Si Rumeng slowly walked to the temple gate, gazing up at the empty plaque above it.

The first light of dawn broke, outlining her figure in a hazy golden halo.

It added a touch of sanctity to her presence.

She suddenly glanced back over her shoulder, a bewitching, seductive smile gracing her gorgeous face as her red lips parted.

"I’m saying...

why don’t you... create an ’Immortal’?"

"Create a god?" Jiang Mu frowned.

Si Rumeng walked up to him, her breath as fragrant as an orchid.

"One day in the future, should you want to become the Emperor, to rebel, to win the people’s support... the god you create will be of great help to you."

Jiang Mu saw the ambition swirling deep in her eyes and said flatly,

"Everyone knows that I, Jiang Mu, am a loyal and patriotic man. I’m as law-abiding as they come. Don’t speak such treasonous nonsense."

"Sounds to me like you’re asking for a whipping."

Si Rumeng lifted her chin and smiled. "Then by all means, give me your worst."