The Way of Being a God

"Qingnü knows she was wrong!"

Yin Yunze couldn't help but feel fortunate once again. If it weren't for this twist of fate that led the City God to misunderstand, and if this matter had been taken seriously, he would have been severely punished, if not killed.

To err is human, to forgive divine!

Looking at Yin Yunze, the City God pondered for a moment and said, "Considering your youth, and to prevent you from going astray again, I will teach you the true way of being a god! The common people are all people who fear power but do not appreciate virtue. Rather than endlessly satisfying their greed, what we gods should do is to teach those people to be in awe and grateful!"

Let them be forced to trust us out of fear and for self-preservation! If we can keep those mortals living in constant anxiety, begging for our mercy for the safety of their own families, then why should we bother with any effort? Simply refraining from punishing them a few times will be enough to make these mortals grateful!

"This----"

Yin Yunze never expected that the way to become a god in the eyes of the City God would be in such a way!

"Qingnü, though you are a woman, do not be so sentimental!"

Seeing Yin Yunze's reaction, the City God misunderstood and continued, "I have ruled this place for over seven hundred years, witnessing the rise and fall of five dynasties! I have seen far worse scenes than this—"

These mortals are far stronger than you imagine, seemingly as weak as ants. But even the weakest ants have never been wiped out. No matter how difficult the times, mortals can always persevere— Qingnü, it is only because you are young and naive that I have told you so much—"

Listening to the City God talk about the way of being a god, Yin Yunze finally understood why the City God existed, with civil and Martial Judge, generals like Black and White Impermanence, Ox- Ox-Head and Horse-Face, and thousands of ghost soldiers.

However, evil spirits still roamed freely in the villages.

Because these evil spirits were simply allowed to roam freely by the City God, who turned a blind eye to them.

To put it bluntly, the City God is essentially engaging in something akin to harboring bandits to enhance his own power.

It is through the rampant presence of these evil spirits that the City God can achieve his goal of making the people believe in him out of fear, without damaging his own image.

Yin Yunze also understood where the lake-like resentment at the City God came from.

The City God has failed in his duty!

As the City God, his most important duty of protecting the territory and ensuring the safety of the people has instead become a means of manipulating them.

While these actions may compel people to believe in him out of fear, this Incense of Faith is distorted. Accompanying this distorted Incense of Faith is the resentment of the people.

The resentment of tens of thousands of people in this area over hundreds of years has coalesced into the resentment that fills that lake.

The common people are easily oppressed, but Heaven is hard to deceive.

Because of the City God's single thought, he allowed evil spirits to run rampant, generating a great deal of Karmic Force resentment, which ultimately converged on him, the culprit.

What the people resent is this rule that the City God set up for his own selfish purposes.

However, protected by the Dynastic Karmic Luck, these resentful forces, though constantly gathering, could never truly bring punishment upon the City God.

If that's the kind of god, then it's better not to be one at all!

Thinking this to himself, Yin Yunze couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

The gap in strength and status is so vast that even the real world is no longer an option, leaving Yin Yunze completely powerless to defy this rule.

Even if one understands that the City God's so-called Divine Dao is actually a heretical and crooked path.

But Yin Yunze still had to suppress his disgust and nod in agreement, as if he had learned a lot.

After finally waiting for the City God to finish speaking, Yin Yunze suddenly thought of the Tomb of Prince Jing and asked, "City God Majesty, do you know what's going on at the Tomb of Prince Jing? The drought here seems to be caused by that Tomb of Prince Jing— "

Glancing at Yin Yunze, the City God slowly spoke, "The person behind you didn't tell you, and I advise you not to get involved. That's not something you can meddle in! Enough, enough! If I don't explain, I'm afraid you little rascal won't know any better!"

Within the Tomb of Prince Jing, a Supreme Elder of the Yin Immortal Sect was performing the ritual of transforming a corpse into an immortal. Although a slight mishap occurred, it's not something a mere infant like you—in fact, even I, this official, am qualified to interfere!

As a local power, the Supreme Elder of the Yin Immortal Sect had also consulted with the City God about raising corpses.

After all, even if the City God wanted to help, he might not be able to. But if he wanted to cause trouble, he could simply adjust the landscape.

Even cultivators must be mindful of human relationships and social interactions.

However, having had contact with him, the City God was also aware of the gap between himself and the Supreme Elder.

Yin Yunze was taken aback upon hearing this, not expecting that even the City God admitted he couldn't handle this matter.

However, thinking of the devastation caused by the drought, Yin Yunze couldn't help but ask, "Then, how long will this drought last?"

"I do not know! Perhaps we can only reclaim the Authority over Drought God after the Supreme Elder has completed his transformation from corpse to immortality."

Upon hearing this, the City God pondered for a moment and said, "This timeframe could be as short as three to five years, or as long as three to five hundred years."

The timeframe could suddenly stretch from six months to at least three to five years, but Yin Yunze was anything but happy.

Looking at the City God, Yin Yunze asked somewhat impulsively, "City God Majesty, aren't you worried that the people will go hungry and affect your incense offerings—"

What am I worried about?

Upon hearing this, the City God said nonchalantly, "This drought isn't as terrible as you think. At most, it will only affect half of the prefecture by preventing rain. But the extra rain will fall elsewhere—"

A Gan River flows through this half-prefecture, and this is merely a leak of the Authority over Drought God; it has no effect on the Gan River's flow. When the time comes, simply relocate the people far from the Gan River to live and cultivate the land near the Gan River— "

The City God spoke lightly, but Yin Yunze knew very well that this seemingly simple statement would likely come at the cost of tens of thousands of lives.

Unfortunately, the Clear Creek Basin, which Yin Yunze currently controls, is located near the Tomb of Prince Jing and far from the Gan River.

Seeing Yin Yunze remain silent, the City God seemed to only then remember this, and looked at Yin Yunze with a smile, "I forgot about your Innate Holy Spirit. If you want to resolve this, just have the person behind you take action—"

To merely resolve the drought, there's no need to actually kill the Supreme Elder. Simply gather water from the four seas, use a purification ritual, and then pour it into the Tomb of Prince Jing to purify and seal it. Finally, bury the entire Tomb of Prince Jing ten thousand meters underground to dispel any remaining Evil Qi, and the influence of the Authority over Drought God on this half-prefecture will be eliminated—"

"Qingnü, the method isn't difficult, is it? I've already told you the solution! However, is the person behind you willing to offend the Supreme Elder of the Yin Immortal Sect for the sake of these half-mortals?"

Yin Yunze remained silent in response.

Not to mention, this is already beyond Yin Yunze's capabilities.

This wasn't a matter of whether he wanted to do it or not; rather, Yin Yunze simply didn't have any powerful backers.

The City God smiled smugly at Yin Yunze's silence.

In the eyes of the City God, Yin Yunze's silence was a silent answer.

Since he doesn't answer, it means he's unwilling. Therefore, the person behind Yin Yunze is not necessarily more noble than the City God.

"Alright, Qingnü, I've told you enough. If there's nothing else, you may leave!"

It was just a formality; not only did he suffer no losses, but he also gained a lot of information. However, Yin Yunze couldn't be happy at all.

However, Yin Yunze did not completely lose his manners, and still bowed his head to thank him, saying, "City God Xie."

"My lord, I have another matter to report."

At this moment, Judge Li, who had been observing, suddenly stepped forward and said, "This Qingnü is ignorant and rude; it took three decrees to bring her out! Such disrespect deserves your punishment, Your Honor!"

Yin Yunze was shocked to hear this. Hadn't everything been fine?! Why would Judge Li suddenly stab her in the back?!

Faced with Yin Yunze's surprise and doubt, Judge Li kept his eyes straight ahead, looking righteous and awe-inspiring.

"Judge Li, Qingnü is just a child, don't take it to heart."

Upon hearing this, the City God said dismissively, "Qingnü, you're asking all sorts of questions, but how could you forget to mention the important matters of your own household? Very well, this is a pardon; take it back, and it will lift the legal restrictions!"

As the City God issued a decree and tossed it into Yin Yunze's hands, Yin Yunze realized that Judge Li had deliberately brought up this matter because the City God seemed to have a fairly good impression of her.

What appears to be a matter of assigning blame is actually bringing up something Yin Yunze had almost forgotten before the City God.

After seeing that Yin Yunze had been granted a pardon, Judge Li stood back to the side and did not look at Yin Yunze again.

"City God Xie."

Yin Yunze nodded his thanks again in response.

"Alright, you may leave now!"

With these last words, the City God's figure was once again enveloped in black mist.