Postnatal Divine Path, Incense God Path

In the period that followed, the Primordial World suddenly fell into a strange calm, with undercurrents churning beneath the surface.

Li Fan spent each day on Taiyin Star, accompanying Goddess Wangshu as she observed the Primordial World. He noticed that the Qi Refinement Path was spreading at an astonishing speed, whether in the eastern or western lands of the Primordial World.

The myriad beings grew ever more numerous, the world ever more prosperous. The authority of the gods was limited, and Li Fan pondered what he could do—perhaps even gain some benefits in the process.

Li Fan recalled Later Generations, and suddenly a key word surfaced in his mind: "Incense."

He shouted excitedly, "I've got it, hahaha!"

Wangshu said, "What have you 'got'? I didn't see you comprehending the Dao. Don't shout in my ear."

"Goddess, I have an idea—to carve out a path of survival for the myriad beings: the Postnatal Divine Path."

Wangshu looked curious. "The Postnatal Divine Path? What's that about?"

Li Fan said, "Goddess, 'God Merged with Dao' is ultimately a form of sacrifice. The method is sound, but what if we changed the object of worship to the myriad gods themselves?"

"Establishing a force in the Primordial World brings immense fortune. Sentient beings rely on Great Divine Powers, and Great Divine Powers gain fortune. So why not go straight to the source—directly worship the Great Divine Powers?"

Wangshu mused, "Below Da Luo, no matter how many, they are all ants. Your method will lead more and more people to 'God Merged with Dao,' and Chaos Demon Gods might take the chance to fish in troubled waters."

Li Fan said, "Sacrifice may have little effect on Da Luo Venerable Gods, but what if the power of sacrifice could create gods? Even if those gods are very weak, this is the trend of the times—Heaven's will cannot be defied."

"One radish, one hole. The myriad beings need the path of sacrifice. This is the Postnatal Divine Path."

Wangshu said, "Neither you nor I have a force. Even if we want to promote your Postnatal Divine Path, it will be very slow. We must find someone to cooperate with."

"The authority born from sacrifice cannot come from nothing. When the myriad beings become gods, they divide the original authority of the gods. If you take a bigger bite, others get a smaller one."

"I know a Great Divine Power who might be very helpful to you."

Li Fan smiled. "Let me guess—Goddess Taiyuan."

Wangshu nodded. "Yes. Although Goddess Taiyuan, like us, has not established a force, she possesses a top-tier innate spiritual treasure: the Heavenly Book of Investiture of the Gods, which can enfeoff the myriad gods. She has good relations with all the major forces. You can discuss it with her."

Li Fan was shocked. So the Heavenly Book "Investiture of the Gods" had already appeared in this era? But in Later Generations, it ended up in Hongjun's hands. It seemed Goddess Taiyuan's future was bleak.

Still, Goddess Taiyuan was a battle maniac who often fought Chaos Demon Gods. "He who walks by the river often gets his feet wet," as they say.

Curious, Li Fan asked Wangshu, "Goddess, tell me about the other Great Divine Powers openly active in the Primordial World and what innate spiritual treasures they carry. If I ever cross paths with them, I'll be prepared."

Wangshu spoke slowly. "Among the Five Elder Lords, the other one is Old Ancestor Diandao, who has the supreme-grade innate spiritual treasure Diandao Banner. A monk from the West has the top-tier innate spiritual treasure Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit."

"Among the Five Divine Emperors, White Emperor Luohu possesses five top-tier innate spiritual treasures: four Innate Divine Swords and the Twelve-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus. Then there's my innate supreme treasure, the Taiyin Jade Forbidden Pearl."

"Among the Five Divine Beasts, Ancestral Dragon has the supreme-grade innate spiritual treasure 'Xuan Yuan Water Control Banner,' Yuanfeng has the supreme-grade 'Li Di Flame Light Banner,' Shi Qilin has the supreme-grade 'Central Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner,' and Tiger Ancestor has the supreme-grade 'Plain Cloud Realm Banner.'"

Li Fan was stunned. "Wait, Goddess, you also have an innate supreme treasure? Can I see it? I've never seen what an innate supreme treasure looks like."

Wangshu brought out the innate supreme treasure Taiyin Jade Forbidden Pearl. It was as bright as the moon's essence, containing the Hunyuan Grand Unity level of the Taiyin Great Dao.

Li Fan gazed at the Taiyin Jade Forbidden Pearl, which radiated moonlight. It possessed the ultimate power to shake the Laws of Heaven and Earth, the might to overturn Qiankun.

Li Fan said sincerely, "Goddess, I wish you an early attainment of the Hunyuan Grand Unity Venerable God."

Then he asked, "Goddess, the Five Divine Beasts possess four of the Five Directions Banners. Has the last one not yet appeared?"

Wangshu pondered. "Not necessarily. It might have appeared but is being kept hidden. After all, once all five banners are assembled, they can set up the innate Five Directions Grand Formation, greatly increasing the Divine Beast Clan's power. If the Five Divine Beasts find out, they might try to seize it by force."

"At the Myriad Gods Conference back then, Great God Hongjun invited everyone to deduce the spiritual treasures of the Primordial World. The final conclusion was that many were still gestating."

"There should be many treasures on Mount Zhou, but unfortunately, no one can ascend it. The entire mountain was sealed with a Divine Prohibition Grand Formation by Great God Pangu."

"All the gods deduced together and concluded that, whether manifested or not, the innate spiritual treasures of the Primordial World are limited."

"There are nine innate supreme treasures in the Primordial World, twelve top-tier innate spiritual treasures, and thirty-six supreme-grade innate spiritual treasures. Below that, they didn't deduce further. Innate spiritual treasures are finite. If you can't find one, you can always take one from a Chaos Demon God."

Wangshu joked, "Li Fan, did you find any innate spiritual treasures during your travels? You even found a top-tier innate spiritual root."

Li Fan teased back, "Goddess, you guess. I'm off to find Goddess Taiyuan to discuss the Postnatal Divine Path."

Vast Horizon—one step, billions upon billions of miles away. Before long, Li Fan arrived at the Primordial Earth, the domain of Earth Emperor Yuejian.

He came to Goddess Taiyuan's Territory, near Mount Zhou. He saw Goddess Taiyuan just returning from fighting a demon god.

The goddess wore armor forged from the setting sun's blood-red glow, a long spear in her hand, her falling hair like tattered battle flags rustling in the gale.

But Li Fan noticed a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth. She was seriously injured from battle.

Li Fan said urgently, "I have Three Lights Divine Water here. It's a sacred healing substance. Goddess Taiyuan, heal your wounds first."

Goddess Taiyuan drank the Three Lights Divine Water, and her injuries slowly recovered.

The bloodstains at the goddess's lips were washed away without a trace by the divine water. Her weary aura receded, and the fighting spirit reignited in her eyes.

Goddess Taiyuan nodded. "I know you. You're Li Fan, the one who recently attained Da Luo, right? You're a good person. I acknowledge you."

Li Fan felt this goddess was rather simple.

"Goddess, who wounded you? Can you tell me about the Chaos Demon Gods?"

Goddess Taiyuan's expression turned grave. "The strongest demon god currently active on the surface is the Five Elements Demon God. The Five Elements are the supreme among the Chaos Demon Gods."

"The Five Elements Demon God's Dao Fruit has been suppressed, but he refuses to accept it. He constantly tries to find ways to escape. The demon god revives his power through possessed gods, staining them into one of his avatars."

"He can't beat me, so every time he sees me, he self-destructs. The demon god's goal should be Mount Zhou behind me."

"Mount Zhou is the transformation of Great God Pangu's spine, the pillar holding up the Primordial World. I can feel that the Divine Prohibition Grand Formation on Mount Zhou is slowly weakening over time."

Li Fan was filled with awe. "I am deeply impressed. All beings of the Primordial Chaos thank the Goddess for guarding Mount Zhou."

"I came this time to invite the Goddess to join me in promoting the Postnatal Divine Path. I hope Goddess Taiyuan will help me."

Goddess Taiyuan looked curious. "What is the Postnatal Divine Path? Is it a branch of the Innate Divine Path?"

Li Fan replied, "No, the Postnatal Divine Path is a form of worship. Sentient beings offer sacrifices to all gods, and the gods respond in turn."

"Sacrifices generate fortune and incense. Gathering the power of incense and wishful energy allows one to become a Postnatal Deity. Your Heavenly Book of Investiture of the Gods is the key."

Goddess Taiyuan considered for a moment, then agreed.

Li Fan and Goddess Taiyuan first went to the Taiyin Star to find Wangshu, the Taiyin Star Lord, and discuss together how to promote the Incense God Path.