Incense Divine Bureau

"These memories from the depths of my heart could strengthen my own will and thoughts, allowing my Living Soul to grow. The mysteries within were well worth exploring, but now was not the time."

As he pondered, Qiu Yan's gaze fell once more on the line of writing on the paper.

"Commanding generals is not something a poor scholar can do, but the train of thought revealed in this sentence can be borrowed. 'Grasping its handle' means holding reward and punishment, holding the key. If I can find the key to the demons pursuing me this time, I may not be unable to accomplish something."

With that thought, Qiu Yan slowly rose.

"There should be some gains on Wang Qiao'er's side. Whatever that person is planning, he is still a source of intelligence. Next, I need confirmation from another direction."

As the thought settled, white radiance suddenly flared from the scroll beside the table, and a figure appeared—it was the deity's true body.

The true body glanced at the scholar avatar, spun around, and vanished from the room.

A few breaths later, another figure stood outside the divine residence beneath the City God Temple.

Facing the austere temple before him, the deity's true body remained silent. Before long, a gray shadow emerged from within, came before Qiu Yan's true body, bowed, and led him into the temple.

"This figure reeks of death. It is not a Living Soul, but a ghost."

Watching the figure leading the way, Qiu Yan's thoughts turned. His understanding of the Soul Dao was still shallow. Though he knew this world was bound to have ghosts and the like, this was his first time seeing one.

"The City God governs a city's Underworld Office. It is hardly strange for him to command ghost attendants. If I get the chance in the future, I should make a request and see if I can borrow one to study."

The path ahead twisted and turned. Following the guiding ghost through dark corridors, Qiu Yan turned three times before arriving at a grand hall. The ghost turned back, bowed, and vanished in the blink of an eye.

The hall was vast and spacious, almost worthy of being called a palace. Carved beams and painted rafters rested atop several pillars, imposing and stately, suffused with a solemn air.

At the very back stood three steps. A desk rested atop them, and someone sat behind it, their entire body encased in a cold-glinting suit of armor. It was the Yuanning Metropolitan City God whom he had met once before.

Behind this City God stood a screen painted with a city. Human figures thronged within its walls; villages and hamlets linked together beyond them; people plowed in the fields; roads crisscrossed in the distance; mountains shone bright and waters ran fair, all lifelike beyond belief. Above the screen hung a plaque bearing four large characters—

Record Good, Record Evil!

An aura of Chaos continuously drifted from the screen like a thin mist, scattering over the Yuanning City God's body. Amid it, faint, jumbled, low murmurs could be heard, as though countless people were whispering at once.

At the sight, Qiu Yan's pupils abruptly contracted.

"What dense incense and People's Wishes! It has actually condensed into mist and taken visible form. How many people must be burning incense and worshipping deities!?"

The deity's true body had spent nearly eighty years as a mud-sculpted divine idol. Naturally, he was no stranger to this aura of Chaos and immediately recognized it as the gathered thoughts of commoners burning incense and making wishes. Once such incense and People's Wishes were absorbed by a divine body, transformed and refined by the Core Talisman, they could become Divine Power and condense into Divine Power Stars.

"With incense and fire prayer power this dense, once absorbed, a Divine Power Star could condense in just a few breaths. It is simply unbelievable! I was a mountain god for decades, scrimping and saving every day, only to gather a handful in the end. Decades of effort were not even worth one day for a City God! No, at this rate, even several hours would not compare. Hmm?"

The moment Qiu Yan entered, all his attention had been drawn to the City God seated high above. Then he noticed the incense and People's Wishes spilling down from the screen. As emotion stirred within him, his senses grew sharper, and he quickly discovered something unusual.

The Yuanning City God's whole body was faintly trembling, sending out wave after wave of ripples that spread through the surroundings. The ripples glimmered with a pale green light and radiated the majesty of Divine Power.

"Divine Power keeps surging from this City God's body, slowly seeping in every direction and filling the entire hall. It may even have permeated the whole City God Temple. No wonder I sensed solemn majesty as soon as I arrived. Could it be that the Yuanning City God is nourishing the entire Divine Office with her own Divine Power? That would be no small expense."

Having noticed this, Qiu Yan followed the paths along which the Divine Power spread. His awareness rode the scattered Divine Power and enveloped more than half the hall.

Others sat on both sides of the hall as well—at a rough count, there were more than a dozen of them.

When Qiu Yan entered, his gaze had been captured by the City God, leaving him unable to spare attention elsewhere. Yet he had still noticed those around him. They sat upright in their chairs, each with a different bearing and appearance, all radiating light. Several near the desk glowed blue, while the rest were shrouded in white radiance, faint Divine Power fluctuations emanating from them.

Huang Jue, the South City Land God, was among them, seated third on the right.

Several streams of the incense and People's Wishes flowing from the screen also descended upon these people.

"Hmm? They should be the many local deities under the City God's command. They are even allotted some incense and People's Wishes..."

As Qiu Yan studied the crowd and pondered inwardly, they were observing him as well. Aside from Huang Jue, who smiled to express goodwill, the others wore varied expressions. Some smiled, some were doubtful, while some faintly revealed hostility and wariness.

Streams of thought flew directly from several of them, crisscrossing and conveying their intentions—

"This is the Heaven-Born Deity Huang Jue mentioned?"

"It seems the Metropolitan City God holds this man in high regard. They were originally discussing matters, yet upon hearing of his arrival, she immediately sent someone to guide him in."

"Indeed. He has not joined the Divine Office, so by rights he should not be allowed into the main hall. Yet an exception was made for him."

The atmosphere gradually turned awkward. Then a smooth, watery voice came from behind the desk—

"Min Yuan, since you have come, you must have made your decision. Speak it. If you are willing to join me, that would naturally be best. Even if you are unwilling, I will not blame you."

It was the Yuanning City God speaking.

The moment she spoke, the scattered flying thoughts vanished at once. No local deity dared continue the discussion.

On the other side, Qiu Yan withdrew his gaze, clasped his hands, and bowed. "The City God has treated me with sincerity. Qiu naturally must return peach for plum."

"Good!" A single word rang from within the metal mask on the City God's face, joy evident in her voice. "There are currently no vacancies under my command, but I will not treat you poorly. First, join the staff. Like Mister Bai, you will serve as a civil adjudicator. You were formerly a mountain god, governing a region. Should an opportunity arise in the future, I will naturally assign you a territory."

The moment these words fell, the expressions of the many local deities around them changed, each harboring different thoughts.

"So many promises at once, and directly into the staff. That means he can bathe in incense every day..."

"Extraordinary, truly extraordinary. I wonder what is so special about this man."

"A Heaven-Born Deity is truly so precious? Worthy of the lady making such promises?"

On the left, a man in a long blue robe with a small tuft of beard had originally kept his eyes half-closed. At this moment, he suddenly opened them and glanced at Qiu Yan.

Qiu Yan remained outwardly composed, but thoughts churned in his heart.

"What is this City God thinking? Is she not putting me on the fire to roast? As the saying goes, one does not fear scarcity, only unevenness. Whether human or god, none welcome those favored by others. With the City God so openly giving me special treatment, before I have even taken office, a rift has already faintly formed between me and my colleagues."

Thinking this, he raised his head toward the desk atop the platform. Yet he could discern nothing from that metal mask, much less grasp what the City God was thinking, and could only shake his head slightly.

"Never mind. These are all empty illusions. I should first act according to the plan, then adapt to circumstances in the future."

As the thought settled, he clasped his hands and said, "Many thanks for the City God's favor. However, there is one matter I must explain. Though this Lesser God is the Minyuan Mountain God, I was not born because of the mountain. Rather, I took form from People's Wishes. Forests and mountains are dangerous; when people walk through them, they are on tenterhooks at every moment, not daring to be careless even while eating. Thus arose the thought of praying for safety. Therefore, this Lesser God's original duty was in truth 'kindling the fire, cooking the meal, and protecting one peaceful repast.' Only later did it gradually change, my Divine Office expanding until I became a mountain god."

P.S. This was the second update today. Wishing all readers a happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Please send some recommendation votes~~~