One Step Apart

"Entering the demonic path, seeking the demonic path."

The Tian'an City God raised his cup again and drank the wine in one gulp.

"Indeed, the word 'seeking the demon' is more fitting for me."

"When I was alive, I was nothing but a commoner, who only knew how to fight and kill all day long." The City God looked at Su Che: "I didn't really have any desire for land, beautiful women, power, or status."

"The gold and silver that Emperor Taizu bestowed upon me were distributed to my subordinates as soon as I received them, and the land and houses allocated to me were all given to my relatives back home. As for those beauties, hehe, after years of war, I have indeed missed out on the pleasures of family life."

"But do you know what I face every day after I became the City God?"

"Today a yellow petition is handed over, begging me to bless her so she can seduce the young widow next door. Tomorrow a devout woman kneels before the hall, praying for her husband's early death so she can marry her lover with her child."

"There are mothers-in-law who wish their daughters-in-law would die young. There are sons who long for their parents to die so they can inherit the family business." The City God gestured near his ear and said, "You don't know unless you cultivate the Divine Path, but every day it feels like there are countless mosquitoes buzzing in my ears, saying things like, 'I want women, I want men, I want money, I want fame...'"

The City God looked at Su Che: "In this kind of world, what's it like to be a god?"

"Sinking into the five desires, unable to find a moment of peace. To serve as Orthodox God for such a bunch of pigs and dogs is worse than not serving at all."

"Sir, it really hasn't been easy for you."

Su Che's words seemed to displease the City God.

"Not easy? I was originally granted the title of god; this title of Tian'an City God was not something I begged for. I died in battle for my country back then, and I have served diligently for hundreds of years. I have done right by the Great Liang. The words 'not easy' are too light."

The City God looked at Su Che and said, "Judicial Punisher Su, if you don't want to do this job anymore, you can resign. But what can I, the City God, do if I don't want to do this job anymore?"

The City God is an officially appointed deity. The incense offerings from the human world are both the best aid for the deity's cultivation and a shackle that confines them to a certain area.

"The Dao Scripture Ching says, 'The highest good is like water, which benefits all things without striving, and dwells in places that others disdain.' You, sir, are the City God of a county, capable of bearing the Turbid Stream of the Five Desires..."

"Judicial Punisher Su, stop with the empty talk."

The Tian'an City God downed a cup of wine. "I have only one thought now: to kill every single thief, man or woman, in this Tian'an County."

"Then what?"

"Then I will travel to the Northern Sea in the morning and climb Cangwu Mountain in the evening; I want to be free."

"Therefore, sir, you have decided to embrace demonic possession and wash away your Divine Path cultivation."

"You could say that."

Su Che sighed.

"May I ask, who gave you this idea, sir?"

"It was my own idea."

"Perhaps I, Su, am being a bit blunt, but since the founding of the nation, you have embarked on this path of Divine Path. You have no renowned teachers and probably not many friends. Even if you could come up with such a brilliant idea, you probably don't have the means to change your Dao Path."

Is this important?

"Very important."

Su Che asked, "Does the sir know why the Devil Sect has such a bad reputation?"

"It's just a prejudice of worldly people..."

"Continue upwards, crossing the Ninefold Celestial Firmament, and you will reach the Outer Void, where the masters are endless Heavenly Demons. They are formless yet existent, constantly changing, feeding on the filth and desires of the human world, and are the mortal enemies of all cultivators."

"Besides these, there is the Demonic Slave Race, who all come from other worlds conquered by the Heavenly Demons. They were transformed by the Heavenly Demons into mere tools of conquest. These Heavenly Demons, together with the Demonic Slave Race, take it upon themselves to conquer all other worlds."

"Rumor has it, and I mean rumor, that in the center of this universe, there exists a Boundless Heavenly Demons, who has stood here since the beginning of the universe. He existed before heaven and earth were created, and he remains even after heaven and earth collapsed. He is known as the Supreme and Mysterious Ruler of Heaven Primordial Heavenly Demon."

"I know all of that..."

"Once you enter the Devil Sect, you're doomed. Why? Because once you're in, there's no chance of getting out. The foundation of the Devil Sect sect, 'Self-Transformation Freedom -deception,' can be broken down into nothing more than the four words: harming others for personal gain."

Su Che looked at the City God before him with deep emotion. "No one in the world doesn't want to seek freedom and liberation. But why are some people willing to shave their heads and go west rather than worship under the Devil Sect that has countless relatives and friends in the Void?"

"What do you mean?"

"I fear that what that person passed on to the City God was not some wonderful method to escape the path of the Divine Path, but rather a poison to gradually lure the City God into his trap."

Su Che unleashed his magical Law Power, his voice booming like thunder, concealing the profound laws of the Mystic Gate sect for suppressing demons and overcoming evil.

"I urge the City God to carefully consider whether there are any deficiencies or inconsistencies in your own cultivation technique. Better late than never..."

"... It's not too late."

A shrill voice rang out from the City God's throat.

"Hehe, I didn't expect that someone in such a small place as Ci Prefecture could see through my methods."

The voice continued, and the City God's eyes were filled with terror.

"You think you're deceiving everyone, but you can only fool honest people like this."

Su Che slowly stood up, his mind focused and on guard.

He had read in ancient texts that the Devil Sect had a method called "Demon Seed," which was said to be able to gradually steal the cultivation of the opponent without their knowledge, eventually turning them into one's own servant.

Clearly, the Tian'an County City God had unknowingly fallen into the trap of that Devil Sect sect, his yearning for freedom ultimately making him their prey without him even realizing it.

"You Rakshasa Sea..."

The Tian'an County City God, rousing his remaining strength, let out a loud roar.

This State-Tutelary Orthodox God of the state was surrounded by divine power, swirling with layers of radiance, within which the faint sound of thunder could be heard. It was he who used the righteous method of heavenly thunder to cleanse his mind and resist the opponent's all-pervasive erosion.

No matter how he checked, he felt that his practice was normal, his breathing was natural, and his condition was excellent. He had no idea where the problem lay.

Six Paths dark chains suddenly flew out, firmly locking the Tian'an City God around his body. Blood-red patterns, like worms, surged on the chains.

The ones who made the move were the ghost messengers. They formed some kind of formation and summoned Six Paths black iron chains in the Void, like snakes and pythons, tightly binding the Tian'an City God.

"Since we're here, let's make the best of it. Since the City God wishes to break free from the constraints of his divine position, why not become my incarnation and we can explore this beautiful land together?"

The group of ghostly messengers each opened their mouths, their voices rising and falling in waves, one after another, creating an indescribably eerie and unpredictable atmosphere.

Su Che naturally understood that the Devil Sect sect expert, whose whereabouts were unknown, had already thoroughly corrupted the area around the Tian'an City God.

If Shi Chibao hadn't acted ahead of time to fulfill the imperial court's orders, this Tian'an City God would probably have been completely corrupted within a few days.

"You wicked thief!"

Su Che pointed his right hand like a sword and exhaled a breath of stale air.

The Tai Hell Avici Sword, however, unleashed its full power, its target aimed directly at the Tian'an City God.