Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 944 - 800 Making a Grand Entrance

Chapter 944: Chapter 800 Making a Grand Entrance

Black Cloud Mountain, atop a certain peak.

The place was the nearest to the outside world, where a mountain fortress had been established, with hundreds of acres of cultivated mountain fields nearby.

The fields on the mountain were steep and barren, yielding little grain.

Within the fortress, numerous buildings had been meticulously constructed, with a shrine at the very center.

Xu Yunlang, who was a noble son from a prominent family in the outside world, tread cautiously here, daring not to even take a breath too deeply.

He entered a study where a middle-aged man, looking similar to him and busily writing, was inside.

"Father..."

Xu Yunlang greeted with a bow, "Today, I inspected Small Field Village, and the growth of the fields looked promising. Next year should bring a good harvest... The yearly accounts of Datong Cloth Manor in the city have been audited, earning a total of one thousand two hundred and sixty-seven silver..."

"Hmm, not bad..."

The man’s expression softened slightly, "The winter sacrifice is approaching. All sacrificial offerings must be prepared thoroughly, without any mistakes..."

"Yes, I am aware," Xu Yunlang replied.

He bowed deeply, but his fist clenched secretly within his sleeve.

Although the sacrificial offerings were amply prepared, they lacked any novelty, and his branch would still fade into obscurity among the others.

If only he could obtain the Spirit Wine on that day, it would surely delight the ancestors and win their favor, but alas...

He could not say more at this time. After another bow, he retreated backward out of the study.

Soon after he stepped out the door, he encountered a finely dressed gentleman holding an ivory folding fan.

"So it’s Yunlang..."

The gentleman smiled and greeted Xu Yunlang upon seeing him.

Attendants and beautiful servants surrounded him, making his entourage even more imposing than Xu Yunlang’s single servant.

Xu Yunlang recognized him as Xu Yunding from the main branch and couldn’t help but show a flattering expression, "Eighth Brother... you’re also here?"

"Hmm, this mountain will be the foundation of our family in the future. We, the main lineage, should come and get accustomed to it more..."

Xu Yunding frowned, apparently finding this place much more humble compared to his luxurious home where wealth and plenty abounded.

After a few more exchanges, Xu Yunding continued, "This winter sacrifice, I’ve gone to great lengths to find a white bull... Offering it should bring joy to our ancestors."

Hearing this, Xu Yunlang replied eagerly, "Eighth Brother is truly considerate... to have even found a white bull."

Pigs, cows, and sheep are collectively called the ’three offerings,’ all of them cherished in sacrificial ceremonies to deities.

Among them, the cow is the most valued.

A white bull is even rarer and more valuable.

In comparison with the Spirit Wine, it was equally impressive.

’Once the ancestor truly becomes the Black Cloud Mountain god, the main branch, being the legitimate line, will surely rise in even greater prominence...’ Xu Yunlang watched Xu Yunding’s retreating figure, a shadow flickering in his eyes.

Meanwhile, inside the shrine.

Xu Yunlang’s father, the middle-aged man, stood solemnly, watching an old man slowly arranging the family shrine and its offerings of fruits.

Within the shrine, incense curled up, creating a mysterious atmosphere.

"Taoist Law stipulates..."

The retired minister, Lord Xu, spoke in a steady voice, "Only members of the immediate family can offer sacrifices in the family shrine. The control over the incense offering is very strict..."

After all, in a world governed by the God Path, the extent of the Power of Faith represents power!

"To break free from this shackle, one must become a true god!"

The elder spoke slowly, "Currently, I only possess a Taoist Record... Amid the political strife in the Taoist Court years ago, I bore all the accusations and troubles for my faction, which should count for something. Skulking about to offer sacrifices should not matter; there are those in the court who will speak for me. Now that I have accumulated enough divine power, and our other family rivals have been pushed away, it is time to be more aggressive..."

The middle-aged man’s expression became immediately serious.

Being ’more aggressive’ meant proclaiming Lord Xu as the Black Cloud Mountain god and accepting the belief and worship of the mountain villagers in that identity.

Divine power is about turning the false into the true!

If enough people came to believe that Lord Xu was the Black Cloud Mountain god, what was false could become real, perhaps even culminating in the formation of a Godhood Position for the Black Cloud Mountain god.

Of course, by doing so, he would become a heretic god and be severely repressed by the Taoist Court!

Luckily, Lord Xu had connections within the court. If he became the Black Cloud Mountain god, he could immediately request formal recognition from the Taoist Court.

Even though it was a process of boarding the carriage first and buying the ticket later, as long as one had the ticket, one would not be targeted for extermination.

Then, the Xu Family could pass on their legacy on Black Cloud Mountain for hundreds of generations, enduring forever, just like Dongxuan Temple on Fulong Mountain.

"Have we finally come to this step?"

The middle-aged man had a resolute look.

This was a gamble!

Should anything go slightly amiss, the result would be the ruin of the family and the loss of life!

"You need not worry, they owe me this much."

Lord Xu sneered, "I took significant risks for many behind me. Otherwise, with my ministerial position, my court-appointed titles and grants could even surpass that of the Black Cloud Mountain god... This is compensation."

If the powerful backers couldn’t even manage this, it would mean the loss of loyalty...

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man felt much more reassured.

Boom!

Just then, a rumble of thunder suddenly came from the outside.

To the middle-aged man, this winter thunder seemed normal.

But to Lord Xu, it was a shock. His facial muscles twitched violently, and he scrambled out of the shrine.

The middle-aged man, having never seen his father in such a state, was stunned.

After pausing for a moment, he quickly followed, only to see the sky filled with rolling clouds and a crack suddenly appearing in the firmament.

A Golden Light descended, covering a fog-engulfed peak on Black Cloud Mountain.

At that moment, the entire Black Cloud Mountain Range seemed to be roaring.

Countless spirits and monsters ran out from their lairs, gazing at the spectacle, then followed their instincts and offered worship toward that peak.

"Is this... beasts worshipping? A mountain god’s ascension?"

The middle-aged man muttered incredulously, "Has Black Cloud Mountain... produced a mountain god? How is this possible?"

He was well-versed in literature and deeply involved in the God Path, so he was not mistaken.

This is undoubtedly a sign of the rightful position of the Mountain God!

But how is that possible?

The Taoist Court hasn’t issued any decree enshrining a deity, and clearly, the most worshipped one nearby is my own father!

Why then is there a Mountain God being born?

Unless...

The middle-aged man thought of the most impossible scenario, his eyes turning red.

"Heavenly bestowed Godhood Position..."

Lord Xu witnessed this scene, and tears involuntarily streamed down his face, "Vast heavens, why be so unjust to me?"

He then burst into loud sobs!

...

Panlong Lake.

Deep underwater, there was a grand and magnificent palace.

The walls were embedded with fist-sized pearls, one after another.

Around the corners of the corridors, colorful corals, several feet high, could be seen everywhere.

"Rubbish!"

A roar erupted from the great hall, "All this time has passed and they’ve still not caught that big demon loach... My naval forces have truly slackened!"

Bang!

A gigantic turtle was flung out of the great hall.

On closer examination, it turned out to be the very Turtle Prime Minister.

It seemed as if one of its legs had been kicked, making it limp. Yet, it lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to move for a long time.

The Little Lady was kidnapped, and the abductors even had the audacity to control a fish to extort a hundred jars of ’Icy Jade Liquor’!

It was only natural for the Lord of Panlong Lake to be enraged.

Regardless of channeling divine power or commanding thousands of the Water Tribe, nearly turning Panlong Lake upside down, there was still no trace of that despicable demon.

With the Dragon Lord’s sensitivity to Panlong Lake, it was feared that the loach demon had already fled to another body of water.

The Dragon Lord was only capable of raging helplessly!

At that moment, inside the great hall, there was a middle-aged man wearing Flood Dragon robes.

He wore a golden crown, elegant as a jade tree in the wind, with two forked dragon horns on his head.

Suddenly!

The Lord of Panlong Lake let out a soft exclamation, the angry expression on his face fading away as he turned into a streak of golden light and flew out of the lake.

He saw that within the Black Cloud Mountain Range, which bordered Panlong Lake, a mountain peak was suddenly enveloped by a golden column of light, sighing, "A naturally born divine spirit... Alas!"

"Your Majesty, why sigh over this? The Black Cloud Mountain God is merely at best a Seventh Grade Divine Position..."

A general from the Water Tribe said, "Even the Lianyun Mountain God behind the Black Cloud Mountain Range is still inferior to you. On your God’s Birthday, he even came specifically to offer congratulations..."

"You don’t understand..."

The Lord of Panlong Lake gazed at the Black Cloud Mountain Range, silent for a long moment.

Both He and the Lianyun Mountain God had been enshrined by the Taoist Court, with the Taoist Record in hand, as though leashed.

The Court could from then on not only restrain them, but also make the promotion of Divine Rank difficult.

The one bestowed with a Godhood Position by the heavens, however, had no such worries.

The difference was enough to turn those in the know green with envy.

’It’s just... the Taoist Court surely won’t permit it. Even if the heaven-bestowed Godhood Position wasn’t of an evil deity, there should still be an enshrinement later... A mere little mountain god is likely unable to withstand the pressure from the Taoist Court.’ thought the Lord of Panlong Lake silently.

Not to mention the Black Cloud Mountain God, even himself from years past, when has he withstood the pressure?

But at this moment, there was actually a part of him that hoped the other would fail...

Since when had he become such a narrow-minded person?

Whoosh, whoosh!

At this time, atop the Black Mountain Range, myriad halos blossomed, a figure emerging in the air.

The mountain range roared, and from the earth, from the plants, from the Void... wisps and strands of spiritual energy emerged, converging towards that figure.

As the local Mountain God, he naturally could mobilize the spiritual energy of the land!

Especially during ascension, he could even somewhat ignore the repression of the Taoist Law!

The multitude of milky strands of spiritual energy rushed forth, stacking up like white clouds, from within which a hint of red emerged.

That thread of red swiftly expanded, dyeing the entire cloud red, creating a scene of a sky filled with crimson glow.

"Crimson Divine Power, indeed it is a Seventh Grade Divine Position!"

Just as the Lord of Panlong Lake was about to nod, his expression abruptly changed drastically.

Within that vast crimson glow, strands of golden light began to appear!

Initially, the golden light was just faint traces, but they quickly became like a tidal wave, converging onto the figure, forging a ’golden body’.

By the time the last trace of crimson had vanished, the Water Tribe general who had first spoken was already exclaiming in shock, "Golden Divine Power, a Fifth Grade Divine Position? Even Lianyun Mountain God is nothing more than this, right? A mere hundred miles of mountain range, how can it support a Fifth Grade Divine Position? Directly ascending without passing through the intermediate stages?"

Below a Fifth Grade Divine Position, they all remained Yin Gods, similar to Yin Souls.

But above Fifth Grade, one could forge a divine body, indistinguishable from ordinary flesh and blood creatures!

How many deities spend their entire lives unable to ascend from Yin to Yang.

Yet this one succeeded in a single step!

The Water Tribe general gritted his teeth in envy.

"No!"

The Lord of Panlong Lake felt a pressure and his expression changed dramatically, "It’s not over yet..."

Just then, above the head of the golden divine body, a thread of blue appeared, strand by strand, like the blessed rains from heaven, eventually forming a patch of blue Celebrating Cloud.

"Favor from the heavens?!"

At that moment, countless observers were rendered speechless...