"Fellow Daoist Xia, are you joking with me?"
Feng Bingwen looked at the rugged Taoist priest, whose eyes seemed to show unease, and his smile faded.
"Of course not."
Xia Yan was taken aback, then shook his head repeatedly. After learning that the Taoist in front of him came from the Supreme Tao, his mindset had unconsciously changed, and he no longer had the pride he felt when he first noticed Feng Bingwen's arrival.
"Fellow Daoist, do you think I'm overestimating myself? Even the gods couldn't do it, yet I, a mere Cave Profound cultivator, dare to attempt it?"
"To do something knowing it's impossible, fellow Daoist, is truly a brave warrior!"
Upon hearing this, Feng Bingwen smiled dismissively and praised him.
"Before I came here, some people advised me against it, and some even laughed at me for being foolish. But I just wanted to give it a try. Since this place was buried underground by our human ancestors, there might be some hidden tricks left by them. If we can reactivate them, we might be able to relieve the suffering of the hundreds of millions of ordinary people on the surface!"
"This is just your guess. Besides, even if our human sages left behind a contingency plan, after such a long period of time, how much power would it still retain?"
Feng Bingwen actually had some respect for the Taoist in front of him, even though his behavior was considered incredibly foolish by most cultivators, practically courting death.
But it is precisely because there are many such cultivators that the human race has been able to establish itself in this world. Otherwise, if everyone were selfish and self-serving, the human race would not be qualified to occupy the Nine Provinces.
"I don't know. Perhaps that sage didn't foresee the situation today, or he thought that we, his descendants, would have a way to solve it, so he didn't leave any arrangements. But in any case, I want to look for it."
"There is a solution!"
Feng Bingwen looked up at the sky, but even with his amazing eyesight, he couldn't see through the thick aura of bloodlust. All he could see was a vast expanse of black.
"If any one of the emperors of the Divine Path were to make a move, they could seal off the rift valley that stretches for thousands of miles."
"Your Majesty!"
Xia Yan gave a cold laugh.
"How could such a being care about the suffering of mortals? If it really wanted to make a move, you and I wouldn't have had the chance to come here. I don't believe that even a dignified emperor wouldn't have noticed when he appeared in this place."
"Fellow Daoist seems to have some prejudice against the path of gods."
Feng Bingwen raised an eyebrow. He had also come into contact with many gods, and in terms of his impressions, he thought they were quite good. After all, most of the people who could obtain a divine position were ordinary people in their previous lives. It was only because they had made great achievements or their virtues were recognized by the general public that they were able to ascend to a divine position.
Such deities are usually able to fulfill the authority and responsibilities bestowed upon them by their divine positions. Protecting the peace of a region is generally not a problem for them.
"It's not that I'm prejudiced against Shinto, it's that you simply don't understand Shinto!"
"I don't understand Shinto."
Feng Bingwen was amused. He had once facilitated the birth of a deity, although it was a minor deity who could not be brought to the forefront. But no matter what, it was still a deity who could collect offerings and incense from mortals.
"Then I'd like to hear your insightful opinion, fellow Daoist!"
"I dare not presume to offer such profound insights, but I do indeed possess some knowledge of the secrets of Shinto!"
"I would like to hear the details!"
"Fellow Daoist, do you know what the foundation of our human race's divine path is?"
"The power of incense offerings and prayers!"
Feng Bingwen said without hesitation.
Since the beginning of time, gods have existed in the world, including celestial gods born from the pure air of the nine heavens, and mountain and water gods nurtured in the high mountains and great rivers.
These deities are all born of nature and are almost irreplaceable. At the time of their birth, they possess the authority and corresponding power bestowed upon them by heaven and earth.
However, when the acquired beings learn from nature, comprehend the Great Dao, and seek the path of cultivation, everything begins to change, even the divine path.
One person's thoughts and ideas have no impact on the world, but when thousands or tens of thousands of people think about and revere the same thing at the same time, a fundamental change will occur.
The practice of incense offerings and deities originated from this, and the human deity system with the City God as its core was born. Some humans even used the power of incense offerings to invade mountains and rivers and obtain titles from the mountain and water deities.
"Indeed, when are ordinary people most devout, offering the most incense to the gods?"
"..."
Upon hearing this, Feng Bingwen immediately realized what was happening, and his expression became somewhat subtle.
"The vast majority of ordinary people only worship and offer sacrifices to the gods with the utmost sincerity when they encounter difficulties."
Xia Yan's tone was soft and melancholy.
"It is precisely because they know this that when the power of incense offerings and prayers first appeared, some evil gods would deliberately cause various natural disasters, or even incite man-made calamities, in order to suppress the power of incense offerings and prayers!"
"This must have happened in the past!"
Feng Bingwen raised his hand and pinched the space between his eyebrows.
"That's right, no god dares to do that now. All the plague gods and evil spirits have been wiped out!"
Xia Yan nodded.
"If only I had been born ten thousand years earlier, and lived in the same era as so many sages, I would have loved to witness their brilliance."
At this moment, Feng Bingwen couldn't help but sigh. The more he learned about them and came into contact with them, the more he could feel the greatness of the ancestors who had led the rise of the human race and laid the foundation for their current status.
It's hard to imagine how many hidden dangers these human ancestors eliminated for future generations. There were also demonic cultivators who could give up everything for cultivation, and evil gods who deliberately caused natural disasters and man-made calamities in order to collect incense offerings and prayers. These cultivators and gods who once appeared on the land of the Nine Provinces have now become a thing of the past.
The demonic cultivators have grown legs, and among them are many outstanding figures who can lead their entire sects away with a wave of their sleeves. Even now, there are still remnants of the demonic path hiding in some corner of the world, barely clinging to life.
However, evil gods are different. The essence of gods is actually similar to that of earthbound spirits. Except for a very few or extremely high-ranking gods who are not restricted and can roam freely, most gods can only move within a specific range. Once they leave the range, their power will rapidly diminish and weaken.
"It seems that you have already guessed that the evil gods who maliciously caused various natural disasters, created man-made calamities, and even spread plagues and locust plagues were all wiped out by the sages of the human race. Each of them was annihilated and died a very tragic death. Therefore, the gods we worship now, unless they have become demonic, would never dare to cause calamities!"
"They cannot actively cause disasters, but the natural disasters brewing and erupting in the world are none of their concern!"
Feng Bingwen could easily understand the hidden meaning in those words.
Humans are inherently like this: when they eat well, sleep soundly, and everything goes smoothly, why would they think of going to a temple to burn incense?
People only burn incense and pray to Buddha when they encounter illness, suffering, or are tormented by certain things.
Now, in this vast land, a fissure stretching thousands of kilometers has suddenly opened up, and malevolent energy from the ancient battlefield surges forth, along with numerous evil spirits and demons bred within the ancient battlefield.
The strongest among them were sealed away by the gods, unable to reach the ground. However, some weaker ones were too numerous to be completely sealed away, allowing them to roam the mortal world.
In the face of this sudden disaster, those who encountered these ghosts and evil spirits and were lucky enough to survive naturally went to the temple immediately to burn incense, pray to Buddha and gods, and ask for peace.
Nowadays, the temples and shrines across the country are filled with incense smoke and prayers, far exceeding the usual levels.
"It seems you understand, fellow Daoist!"
"I think I understand!"
"The Emperor will take action, but when he will do so is unclear. After all, Donghua Continent is a vast territory, and there are countless matters to attend to at any given moment. It may take quite some time before it is this place's turn."
"Fellow Daoist, are you being too pessimistic? It's just some incense and prayers. No matter which emperor it is, they would never need it. It's just a trivial matter to them, yet they would have to bear the karma for it, and might even be noticed."
Feng Bingwen knew that among the many sages who led the rise of the human race, some had perished and some were asleep, yet to this day, they still acted like pillars of strength, awe-inspiring both within and outside the human race.
"The Emperor may not need it, but do the gods under him not need it? No matter which Emperor it is, they are not alone. They may be without desires, but the gods under them are not without desires!"
"Tsk!"
Feng Bingwen raised his hand to stop the Taoist priest in front of him, signaling him not to continue.
"Let's stop here."
“Fellow Daoist Feng, you are a disciple of the Supreme Dao and a disciple of the Dao Venerable. Please lend me your strength so that the people may have peace as soon as possible. No matter what happens, I am willing to serve you on this trip and will be at your beck and call for the next hundred years.”
Xia Yan spoke sincerely, having already discerned that although the Supreme Dao Immortal before him was at the same level as him, there was no comparison between them.
"What are you thinking? Not everyone is qualified to be by my side!"
Feng Bingwen's lips curled up slightly, and he said with a hint of teasing.
"You want me to help you, and you also want to take advantage of me? There's no such thing as a free lunch."
"Well!"
Even Xia Yan, who was a rogue cultivator who had traveled all over the country and visited countless places, was stunned and speechless upon hearing Feng Bingwen's words, unsure of how to respond.
"Fellow Daoist, do you look down on my cultivation level?"
A hint of bitterness appeared on Xia Yan's face.
As a cultivator who entered the Dao through the sword, he was always quite proud of his combat skills. Whenever he drew his immortal sword, cultivators of the same level would retreat in fear, and even when they did talk to him, they would be extremely respectful.
However, his proud combat power seemed so insignificant in the eyes of this disciple of the Supreme Dao. It was not that he couldn't see that even though this person had manifested a Dharma form, this Dharma form obviously did not represent the full strength of this disciple of the Supreme Dao.
"No, I have no complaints about your cultivation level, but it would be a waste for you to be by my side with your appearance like this! If a beautiful female cultivator said these words, I might consider it."
Feng Bingwen looked at the Taoist's face and found it amusing, so he spoke up.
At this moment, the chaotic domain unleashed by his Dharma form had already devoured most of the remains left behind by the descendant of the god and demon, and a new intelligence had indeed been born. The experience was completely different from that in the Dragon and Serpent Secret Realm.
"Female cultivator!"
Hearing Feng Bingwen's joking words, Xia Yan took them seriously, her eyes lighting up.
"I have a friend from the Immortal Sect, whose younger sister is dignified, beautiful, virtuous and kind..."
"Wait a minute!"
Upon hearing this, Feng Bingwen's lips twitched, and he stopped him again, unable to resist asking, "..."
What is your relationship with your friend's sister?
"I can introduce you to Fellow Daoist Feng. My friend's younger sister is truly a beauty of unparalleled grace. What is most admirable is her unwavering devotion to the Dao, unmoved by external things. She is about to pass the tribulation to become an immortal."
"No need, I was just joking with you earlier!"
"Fellow Daoist, are you perhaps making fun of me?"
Xia Yan gave a bitter, ashen smile.
"Fellow Daoist, look at that!"
Feng Bingwen felt it was about time, so he reached out and gestured to the side, pointing to the majestic and towering divine image.
"This is your Dharma form, fellow Daoist, but..."
Xia Yan frowned. He had been so focused on inviting Feng Bingwen to come that he hadn't noticed it in time. But now, upon closer inspection, he was immediately horrified.
Even the giant serpent, whose scales could not be pierced by his immortal sword, was now reduced to nothing but pieces of gray, withered bones that looked as if they would crumble at the slightest touch. There was nothing special about them, not even a trace of spiritual light.
"Fellow Daoist should have figured it out by now!"
"Your Dharma form has devoured the evil spirits!"
"Indeed, to be honest, I came down here seeking an opportunity, and now I have found it!"
Feng Bingwen readily admitted that at this moment, the Heavenly Book deep within his consciousness reappeared, its dazzling brilliance having dissipated, signifying that the prayer had been fulfilled.
Three thousand remains of gods and demons, merits totaling 10.8 million.
This is the content revealed in the Heavenly Book, and Feng Bingwen has just tasted what the remains of gods and demons represent.
If there are truly three thousand demons like the giant serpent, then no matter how rugged and difficult the path he chooses, his attainment of the Earth Immortal status is a certainty, and there will be no problem whatsoever.
"Therefore, what you said about being at my beck and call for a hundred years is unnecessary. If you could help me find traces of this evil creature, I would be extremely grateful."
"Fellow Daoist, what are you planning to do?"
Excitement appeared on Xia Yan's rugged face.
"I will not return to the surface until all the evil creatures here are exterminated!"
A sinister smile appeared on Feng Bingwen's face.
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