Chapter 213

Xie Xubai once asked Yan Shuo why his spiritual power was steadily increasing, yet he could never grasp the opportunity to become a god.

At that moment, Yan Shuo was sitting on the ridge of the field, or more precisely, on the ridge in the middle of the flower field of the spiritual world, quietly watching the young man surrounded by white flowers.

The clusters of flowers swayed in the wind, and before we knew it, they had grown as tall as the mountain grass.

The spirit of youth is so pure and clear that it gleams with a porcelain-white halo under the sunlight.

He sat cross-legged in this endless sea of ​​white flowers. The wind rustled the flowers, and also stirred his smooth sideburns, his eyelashes fluttered, and his eyes, filled with a gentle smile, curved naturally, casting a deep and intricate silhouette.

Yan Shuo watched intently, and before he knew it, his back relaxed against the mound of earth. One hand rested on his bent thigh, while the other hung limply at his sides, and he happily tapped out an unknown tune.

Suddenly, the young man raised his eyes, his gaze like a lake, brimming with bright, radiant light: "President Yan..."

Yan Shuo inevitably met his gaze.

The flowers, startled, tilted their bodies helplessly, trying to hide from anyone's gaze, and rippled out in circles of snow-white waves.

The dark clouds dispersed, the gale ceased, and a ray of warm yellow sunlight shone down on the earth from the azure sky, as if the whole world had brightened up.

"President Yan?" Xie Xubai repeated suspiciously, "What are you thinking?"

Yan Shuo paused for several seconds before casually asking, "Um, nothing... What did you just say?"

Xie Xubai: "Should I try to expand my social standing?"

Yan Shuo reverted to his usual calm tone: "Cen Xiangcai's decision to have you increase your status and gain power was indeed an effective shortcut, but this shortcut is also a double-edged sword."

He cited examples of brands hiring celebrities to advertise.

A celebrity's wide fame, good reputation, and high popularity can easily make a product sell like hotcakes.

However, once a serious scandal breaks out, the product's reputation will plummet, affecting not only the original sales market but also the decision-maker's vision and position.

"In other words, the people you build relationships with must be powerful, well-known, and have a certain degree of influence and power."

However, it must also be appropriate to your current strength, without excessively suppressing you. Otherwise, you will be constrained by this relationship, just as a vampire's familiar can never escape the vampire's enslavement.

“Cen Xiangcai’s business skills are good, and the identity he chose for you before was also acceptable. But now that your strength has increased, if you want to make significant progress, you must establish contact with a demigod or god-level being.”

Yan Shuo glanced at Xie Xubai, who was listening attentively, and suggested casually, "If you don't mind, we can find some time to go and complete the adoption procedures for Yan Yi."

Xie Xubai was stunned for a moment: "What..."

"Just kidding." Yan Shuo remained calm and composed, then changed the subject, "Even if you were to adopt it, it would have to be after you become a demigod, otherwise your power wouldn't be able to control it, and it might hurt you when it goes berserk and out of control."

An enraged tentacle emerged from the flowerbed: "You're talking nonsense! How could I possibly hurt Bai Bai?"

Yan Shuo glanced at it, conveying a thought that only they could hear: "You can't hurt him, but if you see a human with other pets, who loves them more than you, who won't let you wrap your wrists around them, who lets them hug and pet them, who no longer gives you goodnight kisses, but instead hugs and kisses them, who only says the words that used to comfort and praise you to them, could you resist throwing them into the sea?"

The little tentacle froze halfway through the conversation, and was completely stunned when it finished.

"At that time, you will only want to lock up the human you like, so that no one can covet him, no one can touch him, so that he can only belong to you, and can only be held in your arms."

Yan Shuo's tone suddenly became much calmer: "However, humans are social creatures. Humans who completely sever ties with society usually become depressed and despondent, withering away like flowers. Not to mention Xie Xubai, who likes excitement and enjoys the world."

At this point, He paused, silently repeating these words in his mind more than ten times, until a dangerous thought could no longer arise.

He glanced at her coldly, his oppressive aura striking the little tentacle's heart like a heavy hammer. Bloodlust appeared in his eyes, and every word carried a chilling warning: "If you don't want this to happen, mind your own business. Don't force humans to acknowledge your relationship unless they become strong enough to be your equal."

The little tentacle tried hard to think, but still couldn't wrap its head around it: "But why does it have to be an evenly matched battle? How could I become an enemy for no reason?"

"Bye-bye!" The little tentacle jumped up, clinging to Xie Xubai with a pitiful expression, and shouted at the top of its lungs, "You have to believe me, I won't hurt you! I won't become your enemy! Never, ever! Really, really, really, really, you have to believe me! Otherwise, you can embed your mental energy into my brain, and if I want to hurt you, then you—"

Xie Xubai had no idea what Yan Shuo had secretly said to the little tentacle. The child suddenly became so anxious that he was about to cry, and was saying things that made his heart pound. He quickly interrupted him in a loud voice: "I believe you, I believe you. Xiao Yi will definitely not hurt me! Don't panic, don't panic... What nonsense are you talking about!"

He spoke sternly and firmly, resolutely dispelling the little tentacle's dangerous idea. He quickly picked up the panicked little creature, kissed it, patted it to comfort it, and frowned as he said to the man with strong disapproval, "Don't keep scaring it."

Yan Shuo: "..."

He pressed his tingling thigh without leaving a trace, and suddenly felt that he had been superfluous in explaining to Yan Yi.

This is His world of consciousness, where He can control everything, including the wind, rain, and soil.

In fact, Yan Shuo wanted to conjure a chair, since sitting on the ground would be quite improper.

But for some reason, seeing the young man sitting naturally on the ground, smiling as he stroked the small flower whose leaves were swaying happily, he also sat down as if possessed.

I vaguely sensed something and didn't want to disrupt the scene before me.

Yan Shuo continued, "Moreover, identity is formed based on the perception of others. Nowadays, no matter what identity you have, it is not as good as the general public's perception that 'you are a god.' Instead of spending time building relationships with others, it is better to collect more faith."

Xie Xubai: "So the reason I can't become a god is because I haven't collected enough faith?"

But I received the opposite answer.

"The lack of historical anecdotes and legends to spread and perpetuate fame is indeed a major problem for mortals to become gods, but this is not a problem for you."

Yan Shuo: "Haven't you noticed? You already have quite a few followers."

Xie Xubai subconsciously looked inward at his own mental world.

Although he could see the countless threads of faith, he didn't really feel them; he could only roughly tell who was who and what their current situation was.

Xie Xubai has tried more than once to establish a deeper connection with these lines of faith.

Just like in TV novels, a single thought can enable seamless communication with believers across space and time.

The result was still nothing.

Perhaps in terms of sheer numbers, his followers are quite numerous, but those lines of faith break and disappear from time to time, making them unstable.

Another point that Xie Xubai was concerned about was that he could only hear the believers' calls and successfully provide them with the power to help them in extremely rare circumstances.

In most other cases, he could only watch helplessly as the flame of life for his believers was extinguished in dire circumstances.

This made him doubt himself more than once, wondering if it was because his power was too weak that his followers suffered as a result.

“Weak? Have you always looked down on yourself like this?” Yan Shuo’s voice remained unchanged, yet it was as resolute as stating a fact. “Xie Xubai, whether before or after you gained power, you have never been weak.”

Xie Xubai was taken aback, and then he heard Yan Shuo say, "If you insist on blaming yourself for the problem, you can only blame yourself for not being able to change your mindset."

Xie Xubai couldn't help but press further: "What concept?"

"First, one cannot take believers for granted as one's own possession. Second, when seeing players fanatically worshipping one as a god, the first reaction is not smugness but worry, worrying that one is unworthy of the position and that believers will be so superstitious that they lose themselves."

Yan Shuo: "Thirdly, they could clearly use their mental power to manipulate the players' thinking, turning them into obedient puppets and gaining a large number of stable believers, but they never thought of doing that."

Xie Xubai felt uncomfortable listening to this and subconsciously retorted: "Using spiritual manipulation to gain faith, how is that any different from heretical and crooked practices?"

Yan Shuo remained noncommittal: "It is an evil and crooked path, but it can lead to godhood."

"..." Xie Xubai was silent for a moment, then said bluntly, "I'm sorry, I can't do it."

Yan Shuo looked at Xie Xubai, his indifferent and sharp gaze softened, and a slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, but it was fleeting and he quickly regained his mature and composed demeanor.

"I bet when you see some believers stealing or doing petty theft, you can't help but teach them a little lesson."

Yan Shuo: "The gods they believe in not only do not provide any benefits, but also hinder them from 'growing bigger and stronger and creating new glories,' so of course they will lose these so-called 'believers.'"

Xie Xubai's lips twitched, because Yan Shuo had perfectly hit the mark in the first half.

As for the latter part, he was of course indifferent to the loss of that part of his faith.

But Yan Shuo also clearly pointed out the crux of his problem.

Most ordinary people only seek good health, but when their desires are excessive, they inevitably develop into fanatical believers who eventually organize a grand sacrificial ceremony to bring disaster to all.

As long as Xie Xubai continues to worry about such accidents, he will never be able to wholeheartedly accept people's faith, and naturally he will never be able to seize the opportunity to become a god.

How can he connect with people who genuinely need help, and how can he fight against the system?

As for the idea of ​​prioritizing the overall situation and slightly relaxing the restrictions—such a desperate measure—Xie Xubai would resolutely reject it.

"What should we do now..."

He had a terrible headache, slumped back, and groaned in pain as he looked up at the sky.

Tiny tentacles and a field of flowers rushed up and patted him comfortingly.

For the composed and restrained young man, this embarrassed little expression was quite lively, and more importantly, it showed that he was finally willing to reveal his true feelings in front of him.

Yan Shuo's heart softened again and again, and he barely suppressed the curve of his lips.

It wasn't until Xie Xubai noticed the gaze directed at him that he naturally said, "Your idea is correct. What grants wishes is not a god, but a wish-granting machine. The believers it cultivates are not human, but a cocoon of desire."

The path to godhood is fraught with similar traps. Gods who cannot guard their true selves will sooner or later fall into depravity and become worse than monsters.

However, Xie Xubai has always been open and honest, and has remained steadfast even in the face of great danger.

Therefore, he will walk a difficult and bumpy road, but he will also avoid these traps and abysses, and walk a bright and glorious path.

"You don't lack the faith of others, you lack believers who can resonate with your faith and respond to each other. Isn't the faith of believers also the continuation of the will of God?"

Yan Shuo: "If it were any other deity, it would be difficult to find such a believer, but you are different."

Xie Xubai suddenly noticed that Yan Shuo smiled, something he hadn't done in a long time.

He could hardly describe what that smile was like; he only knew that the emotions it conveyed were like surging, unstoppable waves.

"Xie Xubai, you were born a human, and you will grow up as a human. Upholding the will of humanity, you petition for humanity to become gods. One day, you will also see countless dazzling human wills rising like stars among the crowd, shining brightly alongside you."

Time has passed, and the sun and moon have turned.

Even today, a thread of faith suddenly bursts forth with a blazing, bright light in the spiritual world, as if a tightly closed door has suddenly opened a crack.

Following the crack, Xie Xubai pushed open the door and teleported to the vicinity of Xu Qingran's team. He saw the giant swarm of insects rushing in, and the figures in mid-air were clearly so small, yet they fearlessly wielded their whips, facing death to live.

When Xie Xubai expressed his heartfelt amazement, recognition, and affirmation, the bestowal of power was so natural, as smooth as flowing water.

When the powerful strike wiped out the swarm of insects, Xu Qingran suddenly looked up, staring blankly at the moment when tears began to well up in his eyes.

Xie Xubai was surprised to find that his progress toward becoming a god had suddenly jumped from 57% to 60%!

At this moment, he finally understood the profound meaning of Yan Shuo's last words.

After a long silence, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

An indescribable emotion surged in my chest, hotter than magma, more turbulent than a tsunami—was it relief, relaxation, or contentment?

Xie Xubai was surprised that he couldn't tell the difference.

He just couldn't suppress the smile on his face, and kept thinking.

--very nice.

It was two hours later when Yan Chuyi and the others arrived at the centipede's nest.

Author's Note:

Xie Xubai: I love this world more every day than yesterday! We humans are amazing! Amazing!!! Amazing!!! [Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers]

—Although it's a bit of an exaggeration, Xie Xubai has always had this mindset; he's a stubborn idealist.

Incidentally, he, like his biological mother, enjoys recording beautiful moments in life.

In previous lives, when Xie Yuchun and Pei Yuheng gave speeches, Xie Xubai would feel excited and want to write down the parts that excited him, but because he was terrible at drawing, he usually chose to record videos or take photos instead.