God Path

Everyone shook their heads.

"Enforcers and enforcement officers may differ by only one word, but they are worlds apart... This isn't a difference in rank, but in power. Enforcers are merely ordinary people with the authority to enforce the law, while enforcement officers... possess a Path to Godhood of their own."

"Legend has it that before the Great Cataclysm, there were eighteen Paths to Godhood in the world. Each was different, but as the ages changed and civilization declined, only fourteen remain."

"These fourteen paths are—"

"Scholar, healer, warrior, yellow, azure, artisan, chess; theater, puppet, shaman, strength, divination, thief, courtesan."

"Legend says that every Path to Godhood leads to a 'divine seat.' If one walks a path to its end, one can transcend mortality and ascend to godhood..."

"And the path wielded by Aurora Domain's enforcers is one of those fourteen Paths to Godhood... the War God Path."

"According to Aurora City's regulations, every member of the Enforcers receives one chance to enter the Martial Way Ancient Treasury three years after becoming a full enforcer. If they pass the trials within the Ancient Treasury, they may be chosen by the War God Path and officially embark on this Path to Godhood."

"Once you embark on a Path to Godhood, Aurora City will change your status and promote you from enforcer to enforcement officer."

After hearing Han Meng's explanation, everyone's eyes lit up...

Walk the path to its end, and ascend to godhood!

For a group of children who had only just come of age, that held an irresistible appeal!

An image of the battle between the Red-Paper Monster and Han Meng the previous night automatically surfaced in Chen Ling's mind... Han Meng had seemed to unfold some mysterious domain, then became extraordinarily fierce. So that had been the power of the War God Path?

"Excuse me, can one only obtain a Path to Godhood by entering the Ancient Treasury?" someone in the crowd asked cautiously.

"Theoretically, no."

Han Meng shook his head. "The key to embarking on a Path to Godhood is gaining the God Path's recognition. If you possess exceptional talent on a certain path, or if the path believes you were born to walk it, then it will naturally guide you... We call such people [God-Blessed]."

"I once met a boy from the Southern Sea Domain. He began learning to paint at three, taught himself without a master, and at five casually painted Boats Racing Across the Waters on the ground with plain porridge. He gained the Azure God Path's blessing and became the youngest person in history to possess a God Path."

The whole crowd erupted in uproar.

"But those chosen by a God Path are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Most people who wish to walk a God Path can only rely on entering an Ancient Treasury... Of course, not every Ancient Treasury lies within the Human Domain. Several are located where the Ash Realm intersects with reality, making them extremely difficult for ordinary humans to reach.

This means that very few people can enter them and pass their trials. To embark on those God Paths, the only option is to receive God's Blessing, so the number of people on those paths is exceedingly small.

For example, the Yellow God Path, Theater God Path, Thief God Path, and Courtesan God Path."

"In short, these fourteen God Paths are the only extraordinary paths recognized by the Human Domain. In the Aurora Domain, the War God Path is the only choice for the vast majority of people."

"The only paths recognized by the Human Domain?" Chen Ling asked. "So there are paths that aren't recognized?"

Han Meng glanced at him. After a moment of silence, he answered anyway.

"There are... and quite a few. For example, the Fusion Faction, which attempts to abandon human identity and voluntarily merge with Calamity; or the Crimson Heaven Cult, a cult that worships the Calamity Red Star... But you must never touch those paths.

Once someone sets foot on one of those paths, there is only one outcome: they will be wanted by every Human Domain, and then...

wiped out completely."

Chen Ling's heart skipped a beat when he heard the words "wiped out completely."

If he had guessed correctly, the "Audience" inside him was probably a Calamity. Did that mean he had merged with a Calamity?

Chen Ling didn't know, nor did he dare ask. He suddenly felt that choosing not to seek help from the Enforcers earlier had been an extremely wise decision... If he truly counted as a Fusionist, then the Enforcers' first reaction upon learning of it would probably be to kill him along with the Calamity inside him.

Looking at the large group of solemn, imposing Enforcers not far away, sweat began to seep from Chen Ling's palms...

[Audience Expectation +10]

[Current Expectation Value: 33%]\n

Two lines of text flashed through the void before Chen Ling's eyes. He couldn't help cursing the Audience's perversity inwardly. Its pleasure was entirely built upon his life-and-death crisis...

Still, nervous as he was, Chen Ling wasn't all that afraid.

After all, even Han Meng probably would never have imagined that a Fusionist could not only refrain from running upon seeing the Enforcers, but instead actively approach them and try to blend in among them.

"Then could groups like the Fusion Faction and the Crimson Heaven Cult possess Paths to Godhood?" someone asked again.

"Almost impossible." Han Meng replied blandly. "No Path to Godhood would bestow God's Blessing upon monsters that embrace evil..."

A trace of disappointment flashed through Chen Ling's eyes...

As a transmigrator, he naturally hoped to possess power beyond the mortal world. To be honest, when they had spoken of the Paths to Godhood just now, he had been tempted as well... But if he truly was a fusionist, then this path was closed to him.

"Next, someone will assign each of you a task. Whether you can remain here after three days... will depend on yourselves."

After calmly delivering those final words, Han Meng turned and left.

The crowd began discussing things again.

Next, several Enforcers stepped forward and began announcing everyone's upcoming assignments.

"Jiang Lipeng and Nie Yining will assist with patrols on Cold-Cloud Street in District Three; Deng Feiliang and Gong Heng will assist with patrols on Cold-Snow Street in District Three..."

Everyone present was still a trainee and lacked the ability to patrol independently, so they could only help official enforcers handle miscellaneous tasks. Those called first had it relatively good, but the streets assigned became increasingly remote as the list went on. By the end, some were even assigned to cross districts and support District Two.

"...Wu Youdong and Chen Ling will assist with patrols on Ice-Spring Street in District Two..."

Chen Ling was slightly stunned when he heard his name assigned to District Two. He clearly remembered that no one had yet been sent to patrol Frost Street in District Three, and he himself was from Frost Street. Why had they specifically transferred him to District Two?

Although District Three and District Two were not far apart, commuting every day would take at least four hours... Wouldn't that squeeze away all his personal time?

"The assessment begins today. Everyone has three hours to return home and prepare. Three hours from now, you must report to your posts."

After the Enforcers finished reading the list, they dismissed everyone. Chen Ling vaguely felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"Brother, are you Chen Ling?" A slight, skinny youth cautiously approached Chen Ling.

"You are...?"

"I'm Wu Youdong. I'm the one going to support District Two with you."

"Oh, hello."

Wu Youdong looked around, then lowered his voice. "Did you slip them any money?"

"Slip them money?" Chen Ling was taken aback.

"The Law Enforcer reading the list earlier, Ma Zhong... he handles personnel transfers. Where we go and what we do are all up to him." Seeing Chen Ling's reaction, Wu Youdong sighed helplessly. "Judging by your expression, you didn't pay either... No wonder the two of us got the worst assignments."

At last, Chen Ling understood.

He suddenly recalled what the rickshaw puller had said on the way here... "How can you become one of the Enforcers without money?"

Looks like the Enforcers aren't good people either, Chen Ling sneered inwardly.

Even a common laborer pulling carts by the roadside knew what the Enforcers were like. That alone was enough to show how serious the problems within this organization were.

"Where do you live?"

"128 Frost Street."

"What a coincidence. I live on Frost Street too, just at the other end."

"Brother, we're both in the same miserable boat now. When we get to District Two, let's look out for each other." After chatting with Chen Ling for a few moments, Wu Youdong hurried home to pack his things.

Chen Ling was the last to leave headquarters. The moment he stepped outside, a cold voice rang out from beside the doorway.

"Stop."

Chen Ling froze.

He slowly turned his head and saw Han Meng leaning against the wall, a cigarette between his lips, his eyes fixed on Chen Ling like those of a venomous snake.

"You're Chen Ling?"