Journey to the West: I have Nine Golden Crows Inside Me
Chapter 1490: Ninety-nine three, guilty conscience

Chapter 1490: Ninety-nine three, guilty conscience

The purer the Innate Divine Light, the more profound the power becomes. In the presence of this ball of Innate Divine Light, even Jiang Chen feels the illusion of being seen through.

As if illuminated by this light, all the dark thoughts in his heart are laid bare, naked under the sunlight.

"Pure divine light, can it discern good from evil?"

Jiang Chen has a realization, this is what those with great knowledge are like; just a glance, and they know whether the person before them is good or bad.

"Why would you choose to linger in the mortal realm instead of going to the Heavenly Realm?" Jiang Chen asked, curious.

Inside the Innate Divine Light was an old man with an aged face, full of wrinkles, and his hair was gray but meticulously arranged, tied up with a high ancient crown.

"I am held back by obsessions, unwilling to leave," the old man replied in a trance.

If he wished to leave the mortal realm, he wouldn’t be heading to undergo Reincarnation in the underworld. Instead, he would be taken away by the Great Divine Transcendents from his sect, those who became Sages, to become a true disciple and start a new life within the Holy Land.

People like him, who are so learned, are truly exceptional, so much so that even the Great Divine Transcendents cannot help but take them in as disciples, even if at a great cost, to reshape their bodies for them.

It can be said that if they are willing to leave the mortal realm, what awaits them is a future of unparalleled brilliance. However, their obsessions unshed, even knowing the resplendent future, they still do not wish to leave.

"What unfulfilled wish do you have, Senior?"

Having an obsession signifies the existence of unfulfilled wishes, Jiang Chen inquired with curiosity.

"We cannot see the path ahead and feel aggrieved in our hearts. During the rise of the Human Race, we did not contribute. When the Human Race declined, we were powerless to help, carrying guilt within, thus forcibly staying in the mortal realm, to offer the last bit of strength for the Human Race with our waning bodies," the old man replied.

His words represented not only his thoughts but also the collective sentiment of those residual souls like him.

They were born in the era of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, during the last splendor of the Human Race. At that time, they were wholly devoted to their studies, indifferent to worldly affairs, their splendor unconnected with the Human Race.

Later, as the Human Race declined, after years of fruitless study and dying at home, they were unable to use what they learned to serve the Human Race.

Therefore, they were filled with self-reproach, feeling that they had taken the wrong path. If they had chosen the way of the Immortal Dao or the Martial Dao, they would have had the power to protect the Human Race during its downfall, instead of being as powerless as they are now.

Their remorse became self-blame, making it difficult for them to let go of everything to retreat to the Taoist Field of the Great Divine Transcendents and practice bitterly.

"Senior need not be aggrieved. After years of validation, it has been confirmed that the hierarchical system of the Sages is a dead end. Even with talent as strong as that of the Confucian Sage, the path was impassable, eventually forcing a change in direction. This alone shows the difficulty of this path."

"As for the feeling of guilt, Senior need not carry this burden either. A new Divine Dao is now established, a crucial time for assistance. Senior could join the Divine Dao, helping to govern the Human Race, applying your lifetime of knowledge to reverse the declining trend of our people."

Hearing about the old man’s obsession, Jiang Chen’s eyes lit up, and he quickly said.

Carrying guilt is good, feeling remorseful for being unable to serve the Human Race can be easily resolved—just by joining the Divine Dao, one could strive for the race, making up for past regrets.

"Divine Dao, eh!"

The old man didn’t respond immediately, but pondered. Quickly, the Innate Divine Light upon his spiritual platform began to flicker, weaving countless illusions as if speculating something.

It’s also distressing to think about it. These learned men, in life, had knowledge but no Divine Ability. Yet after death, as souls without the encumbrance of a physical body, their Innate Divine Light shines brightly, endowing them with various mysterious Divine Abilities.

Like with divine light reflecting Heaven and Earth, they could know everything under heaven. At the moment, the old man was speculating about the Divine Dao, seeing if it was as Jiang Chen said, capable of boosting the Human Race’s strength.

"Divine Dao, gathering Fate, Merit, and Willpower into one entity. The strength of one is limited, but the collective strength of many is infinite. Integrating the force of many into one person thus yields the power to move mountains and fill seas."

"Divine Dao is indeed profound!"

Finally regaining his senses, the old man couldn’t help but praise. If the Great Divine Transcendents of Immortal Dao were to examine the Divine Dao, they would certainly not be free of disdain, being too entangled with the mundane world, unable to transcend, hardly considered the true path.

But from the perspective of the Human Race, this Divine Dao is truly excellent. After all, with hearts bent on strengthening their race, how many can truly detach?

Even in the pursuit of immortality, there’s the concept of uplifting oneself and one’s companions to the heavens. To ask people to give up everything and solely devote themselves to bitter cultivation is clearly impossible.

This kind of Divine Dao can on a grand scale protect an entire clan or nation, or on a smaller scale, protect family and kin, fitting the common people best.

"In my life, I was unable to serve the Human Race, a great regret. Now that there’s an opportunity to serve, how could I refuse?"

"I also have to thank the Human King for giving me this chance."

After understanding the essence of Divine Dao, the old man no longer hesitated and bowed to Jiang Chen, agreeing to join the Divine Dao.

"Good, with Senior’s assistance, how could the Human Race not prosper?"

Jiang Chen was also very happy; who says the Divine Dao lacks high-level combat forces? Here is one, someone close to an Innate Dao Sovereign. Once enshrined as a God, he would be comparable to the Innate Dao Sovereign, a Main God.

"Senior, please first go to the Divine Court, and I will seek out the other seniors!"

Souls like this old man are not many in the Nine States, but there are still about four or five. These people all need Jiang Chen to personally invite them. As for the remaining residual souls, he only needs to send avatars to invite them.

...

...

Persuading residual souls is not a difficult task. After all, if they could live, who would wish to die? And becoming a God grants them the opportunity for another life.

In just one day, Jiang Chen met with all the residual souls in the Nine States Territory, most of whom accepted his invitation to join the Divine Dao.

As for the small remainder, due to various reasons, they did not choose to join the Divine Dao. This is normal; even the Innate Spiritual Treasure cannot please everyone, let alone the Divine Dao.

"There are five souls that can be enshrined as Main Gods, a hundred as Law Gods, and ten thousand as Heavenly Gods; this should be enough to support the structure of the Divine Dao."

Back at the Ancestral God Temple, thinking of today’s achievements, a smile appeared on Jiang Chen’s face.

Main Gods are equivalent in strength to Innate Dao Sovereigns.

Law Gods are equivalent to Innate Dao Monarchs.

Heavenly Gods are within the threshold of Heavenly Immortal to Golden Immortal.

Heavenly Immortal, Mysterious Immortal, Golden Immortal—these three realms were originally one and the same, until the Immortal Dao flourished, and the realms were redefined, just then separating them.

"Next, it’s time for the Investiture of the Gods!"

Jiang Chen felt a surge of excitement at the thought; the numbers had been gathered, and what followed was the Investiture of the Gods.