The Way of Nature and Life

With just one sentence, Qiu Yan identified the speaker's gender and could not help feeling surprised.

In the world of his previous life, the concept of equality between men and women had been deeply ingrained. But after coming to this world and absorbing Qiu Yan's memories, he had gained a certain understanding of it. He knew this world was still at a stage where men and women held different statuses, which was why he was surprised.

But after thinking it over slightly, he felt relieved.

"There is no need to say anything about the mortal world. The one before me is, after all, a deity. It is only natural that she would be different."

With that thought, Qiu Yan calmed down.

Clang!

The person beside the table moved slightly, and the battle armor upon her body gave off the sound of metal striking metal. That suit of armor wrapped her entire body, leaving not the slightest bit exposed.

"Leaving aside this City God's gender, this outfit alone is astonishing..."

Whoosh!

Just as that thought settled in Qiu Yan's mind, a piercing sound tore through the air. The City God raised her hand and flung the booklet she held toward Qiu Yan.

In a flash, the book had arrived before Qiu Yan. He immediately retreated two steps on reflex, vigilance appearing on his face, but the booklet hovered in midair.

At that moment, the City God spoke, her voice still smooth and mellow.

"I made you wait so long. Take this book as an apology."

As she spoke, Qiu Yan's gaze fell upon the cover. Four characters immediately entered his sight—

The Way of Nature and Life.

Strands of strange ripples continuously radiated from the booklet.

"What is this?" Qiu Yan was startled, and his gaze returned to the City God.

Not long ago, Qiu Yan had only just sorted out his thoughts and decided to find a cultivation method for his scholar avatar. Yet in the blink of an eye, the method he needed had appeared before him as an "apology."

However, Qiu Yan's first reaction was not delight, but the suspicion that the connection between himself and his avatar had already been seen through by this female City God.

Unexpectedly, the City God slightly raised her head, her voice emerging from beneath the mask. "I know that you have some Karma entanglement with the scholar named Qiu Yan. But he is, after all, only a mortal, while you are a Heaven-Born Deity. Long-term contact will bring him disaster rather than fortune. Give him this book, and it will count as repaying the Karma. Whether he can cultivate anything from it depends on himself."

"Hmm?" Qiu Yan let out a soft sound of surprise.

Yuanning City God continued, "There is no need for doubt. You are a Heaven-Born Deity, so naturally I will not let you slip away. I do not play at empty gestures either. If you are willing to join my staff and serve under me, I certainly will not treat you poorly. This booklet is nothing at all."

Hearing this, Qiu Yan gradually regained his composure and asked, "I ask the Metropolitan City God to enlighten me. What is so extraordinary about a Heaven-Born Deity?"

"I knew you would ask that." Yuanning City God nodded. "To become a god, one needs investiture and belief. Whether it is the thoughts of the people, the thoughts of demons, or the thoughts of heaven, earth, and nature, they are all indispensable to deities such as ourselves."

"But among gods, deities like you, born through Creation from Nothing, are the rarest. Even those who were revered by countless people in life and became gods after death through the People's Wishes entrusted to them, or those who comprehended some mystery of heaven and earth and were only invested as gods after death, are constrained by their Original Edition Three Souls and entangled by Karma. It is difficult for them to decide their own paths. Only Heaven-Born Deities like you, who came into being from thin air, can cast off such restraints. Without receiving investiture, you can..."

"Alter your Divine Office and raise the grade of your Divine Rank on your own!"

Qiu Yan frowned slightly. He had caught some information from her words, but his understanding of matters related to the Divine Path was limited, so he could not yet grasp the crucial point precisely. Still, he knew a little about the grade of a Divine Rank.

The grade of a Divine Rank was like rank in the mortal officialdom, an important standard by which deities were judged. South City Land God Huang Jue, for example, held a Sixth-Rank Divine Seat, while Qiu Yan himself possessed a Seventh Grade Divine Rank.

Different Divine Rank grades brought differences in one's command and control of Divine Power.

However, having been trapped in one place for decades and receiving little incense and worship, Qiu Yan had not even condensed many Divine Power Stars. He therefore knew nothing of how to raise the grade of his Divine Rank.

"As long as you join my ranks, I will naturally explain all matters concerning the Divine Path in detail. As for incense offerings, there is even less need to worry," the City God said as she rose. Her slender figure, encased in battle armor, was not tall. "Of course, I will not force you. Go back and think it over carefully."

At this point, she paused, then said, "The few demons that recently entered the city have some connection with that scholar. I have already sent people to warn them. This is not simply to win you over. Those demons have devoured the city's people. Since the people worship and offer to me, I ought to give something in return."

"So the demons that entered the city really are connected to me!"

Qiu Yan was not surprised upon hearing this. But the other party made no attempt to conceal her efforts to recruit him, speaking plainly and directly. That left him somewhat surprised and raised doubts in his heart.

"Why do this City God's words differ somewhat from those of the South City Land God? Their attitudes toward the people are completely different. But the information she revealed shows that she has not discovered the connection between my true self and my avatar. She completely sees us as two separate people."

Just as he was pondering this, the battle-armored City God raised her hand and made two grasping motions through the air.

Whoosh!

The airflow swirled, gathering several wisps of smoke scattered in the air and winding them around the City God's hand. They gradually condensed into a fingertip-sized ball of mist. She flicked her finger, and the mist ball shot out, landing before Qiu Yan.

"This Spirit-Calming Incense can steady the mind and stir the soul. If that scholar lacks the aptitude and finds it difficult to achieve Aperture Opening by himself, give this to him. Otherwise, let him cultivate only the Life Dao, strengthening his body and improving his health."

Qiu Yan drew a deep breath and looked deeply at the City God. After a brief hesitation, he swept his sleeve and collected the mist ball, then silently bowed to her.

"This City God is straightforward, and she truly is willing to spend heavily. Simply because she believes I have Karma entanglement with my avatar, she gave me a cultivation method and even revealed important information..."

As he thought this, Qiu Yan suddenly felt his scalp tingle. A chill of terror rose in his heart, as though something had fixed its gaze upon him. Even the white light around him fluctuated faintly.

"As expected of a Heaven-Born Deity. Your senses are truly sharp." Across from him, the City God nodded.

About the time it took to drink half a cup of tea later.

In a room within the Liu Household courtyard, light flashed in Qiu Yan's room. A booklet appeared on the table beside an unrolled painting scroll, and a human figure slowly emerged within the painting.

Rustle.

The quilt was thrown aside, and Qiu Yan's scholar avatar sat up.

A short while ago, he had exchanged a few words with Yuanning City God and gained some benefits. The City God had said all that needed saying and did not keep him any longer. After taking his leave, his divine true self had departed the temple and returned to his residence.

"Those demons caught up so quickly."

Recalling the conversation, Qiu Yan muttered to himself and looked at his hands.

"But I did not expect that even the City God here could not distinguish my true self from my avatar. From this, that Mystic Hair is anything but simple. I must study it carefully in the future and probe its mysteries. But my most urgent task right now is..."

With that thought, he got out of bed, walked to the table, and picked up the booklet.

"I wonder what this book contains."

Thinking so, he opened it.

The next instant, jade-green light shone out from the book, radiating from row after row of graceful writing on the pages.

The light illuminated Qiu Yan's face, then vanished.

Afterward, a confused expression appeared on Qiu Yan's face, while lines of text flashed rapidly through his eyes.

After a long while, he finally returned to his senses. Then he drew a deep breath and praised, "What a marvelous method. With just that, the contents of the book have been imprinted into my mind and turned into memories, without the slightest omission! If it were me, I could use Divine Power to instill memories into another person face-to-face, but to attach it to a book like this would be absolutely impossible."

As he thought, his gaze swept over the rows of graceful script.

"This was written recently. It may even have been copied out personally by that City God, written on the spot. It seems she truly places immense importance on me, a Heaven-Born Deity. She has even put so much effort into the 'mortal' by my side."

From the City God's words, it was clear that she had not seen through the mystery of Qiu Yan's scholar avatar. She merely believed him to be a mortal with Karma entanglement with Qiu Yan. Even so, she had prepared such a booklet, showing how meticulous she was.

"This can be considered generous treatment..."

After thinking it over, Qiu Yan formed a plan. He withdrew his thoughts and focused his attention on the book once more.

The first page contained no fewer than thirty characters, but its core content was merely the words "a brief outline," indicating that this book was only a general introduction, speaking broadly without going into depth.

He raised his hand and turned another page. Eight characters immediately appeared before his eyes—

Nature Dao makes gods; Life Dao makes immortals.

P.S. Many thanks to Brother Xiao Liang for the reward. I have some matters to attend to tonight. If I return early, there will be another chapter; if it is too late...

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