Chapter Twenty-Five: Establishing Authority!

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Seeing that the Immortal Master was indeed interested, the two ghost messengers had no reason to keep the technique secret. They immediately recited every incantation in full. Yang Nan questioned several other ghost messengers in succession and discovered that all of them had received exactly the same formula.

The Supreme Golden Body Method seemed to be a Buddhist cultivation art. Yang Nan carefully examined the incantations and was horrified to find that this widely circulated formula truly possessed astonishing power.

The Supreme Golden Body Method was divided into three realms: Pale Gold, Radiant Gold, and True Gold. It gathered the power of faith to forge a golden body; the deeper its color, the greater its magical power. In simple terms, cultivation involved two steps.

First, establish a divine altar and gather believers.

Second, collect the power of prayer and refine oneself with it.

The greater the power of prayer, the stronger the magical power. If one could eventually occupy the entire world and command hundreds of millions upon hundreds of millions of believers, the resulting power would be unfathomable—and terrifying.

Once the Supreme Golden Body was cultivated, it could first use endless prayer to protect its bearer from destruction, and second, use countless stray thoughts to disrupt the souls and hearts of others.

“Gather the thoughts of the multitude, forge the divine body, draw upon a billion sources of power, push open the Gate of the Other Shore, and let three thousand golden wheels illuminate all living beings of the Six Realms…”

Yang Nan softly recited several lines of the incantation and tested the Supreme Golden Body Method within his spiritual sense. Yet all he could see were its benefits; he could find no drawbacks at all. Had he not already been certain that this cultivation art was profoundly sinister, he might have believed, like everyone else, that it was a rare path to immortality.

The Supreme Golden Body Method concerned itself neither with mystical transformations nor with the level of one’s magical power. The stronger the power of prayer, the stronger the golden body became, much like the Buddhist sect’s Unmoving Vajra Body and Indestructible Vajra Body.

The Buddhist sect’s Indestructible Golden Body still required bitter cultivation of Buddhist teachings and the integration of one’s spiritual path. Only after several centuries could one achieve a modest degree of success. Yet the Supreme Golden Body could reach the same result within a few years.

However one looked at it, this technique exuded an uncanny aura.

And yet, despite Scarlet Sun’s vast experience and Yang Nan’s intelligence, neither of them could find any flaw in the Supreme Golden Body Method. They pondered it again and again inside the Land God Temple, but still could not understand where the key to its mystery lay.

“Could this truly be a method of immortality?” Yang Nan and Scarlet Sun frowned. Though they sensed that something was wrong, they could not unravel its secrets. Ox-Head and Horse-Face, standing nearby, merely laughed.

“Young Immortal Master, there is something you do not know. Unless one cultivates this technique, one cannot understand its wonders. But once cultivation begins, it flows endlessly and cannot be stopped. When the power of prayer accumulates sufficiently, it can surpass a century of arduous cultivation. It is truly extraordinary.”

Yang Nan’s eyes lit up. “You mean that once this cultivation method is begun, one must continue cultivating it? What happens otherwise?”

Ox-Head rubbed his great head and gave a simple, foolish grin. “If one keeps cultivating, one’s magical power will become boundless. But if one loses one’s believers, one’s power will suffer a tremendous decline. In severe cases, even the power originally cultivated will be drained away by the Supreme Golden Body. Still, as long as one has territory, such a thing will never happen.”

In Ox-Head’s mind, the power of prayer came from human beings. Since humans made up the majority of the world’s races, how could there ever be a shortage of prayer unless every human being died?

Even if there were too few humans under one’s rule, one could simply seize more territory elsewhere.

“Perhaps… I can test the Supreme Golden Body Method as well?”

A thought stirred in Yang Nan’s heart. He suddenly took a length of Purple Jade Bamboo from the Landscape Ring. He refined it into the shape of a human figure, infused it with a thread of spiritual sense, and then activated the Divine Art of the Indestructible Yin Wheel, controlling the Purple Jade Bamboo to cultivate the Supreme Golden Body Method.

Using purple jade to refine a mindless, senseless substitute, then dividing off a strand of spiritual sense with the Indestructible Yin Wheel, he created a substitute entirely unrelated to his true body. It looked almost like a living magical treasure.

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He had thought of this plan in an instant. By using the Substitute Talisman from the General Principles of the Nine Heavens Marvelous Art to cultivate this sinister technique, he could not only observe its strangeness but also investigate its true nature. If the technique proved harmful, he could simply destroy the substitute talisman.

It was much like how he used the Indestructible Yin Wheel to convert demonic energy and refine the Xuanming Yin Fiend Banner. Without the converted demonic energy, he could not command the two Xuanming Yin Spirits. Even if the Xuanming Yin Spirits rebelled, it would have nothing to do with his true body.

The so-called Supreme Golden Body Method was strange and perilous. Although Yang Nan knew there was something sinister about it, he would never have dared to experiment with this demonic art so readily.

All of this was possible only because of the Divine Art of the Indestructible Yin Wheel, which could freely convert the spiritual energy of the world.

However, if he wished to cultivate the Supreme Golden Body Method, he needed believers. Where could Yang Nan possibly find believers at present?

Yang Nan crooked a finger. The Purple Jade Bamboo substitute instantly transformed into a living person identical to Yang Nan. The only difference was that the substitute wore purple Daoist robes, utterly unlike Yang Nan’s white robes. Its expression was solemn and dignified, giving it a trace of divine majesty.

Yang Nan swept the surroundings with his spiritual sight. The instant the substitute began cultivating the Supreme Golden Body Method, strands of golden light flew from above the heads of the several dozen ghost messengers nearby and continuously entered the substitute’s body.

How could these ghost messengers possibly hold thoughts of faith toward him?

Yang Nan carefully considered the matter and soon understood. The Supreme Golden Body Method absorbed not only the power of faith and prayer, but also the emotions and desires of others—their fear, awe, reverence, trust, and more. As long as anyone harbored any thought whatsoever toward the practitioner, the Supreme Golden Body would absorb it.

The more thought-power it gathered, the stronger its magical power became. Whether benevolent or malicious, the Supreme Golden Body accepted everything without distinction.

If, in the future, these countless chaotic thoughts turned against the cultivator, even the most powerful practitioner would become a demon.

After cultivating the Supreme Golden Body Method, Yang Nan suddenly understood everything. The Supreme Golden Body Method truly was a demonic art—indeed, a demonic art that could be controlled by others. Once cultivated, it might not grant immortality at all. Instead, it could turn the practitioner into a puppet of the power of prayer.

Otherwise, how could such bizarre phenomena as declining magical power and indiscriminate absorption of thoughts occur?

The Supreme Golden Body could protect its master, but it could also devour its master.

No matter how powerful an immortal might be, none could withstand countless millions of endless thoughts.

Fortunately, Yang Nan possessed the Indestructible Yin Wheel and the Substitute Talisman to protect him. Even if the substitute cultivated the Supreme Golden Body Method, there would be no great danger. The Purple Jade substitute was originally without desire or consciousness. Even if it were completely filled with stray thoughts, it would not lose its original self.

Unless, one day, the substitute’s stray thoughts grew stronger than the cultivation of Yang Nan’s true body. At that point, it would become difficult to control.

“This demonic art must never be cultivated. A-Nan, let us first destroy these divine statues, then discuss the affairs of the Southern Continent.”

Scarlet Sun was even more resolute and decisive. He understood the mystery in an instant. He knew Yang Nan was cautious by nature and would never rashly experiment with the technique. Still, the Substitute Talisman was truly wondrous; after only a brief period of cultivation, several points of golden light already flickered across its body. It looked exactly like an evil cultivation art.

Where in the world was there a cultivation method that could be mastered the instant one began practicing it? Those cultivators who had no hope of immortality were merely indulging in wishful thinking.

“Rest assured, Big Brother. If anything goes wrong, I will simply destroy this Substitute Talisman.”

With a turn of his hand, Yang Nan put away the Purple Jade substitute. The mysteries of the Supreme Golden Body still required further study. Had he not possessed the supreme Kunlun arts, he would never have dared to experiment with it.

Yang Nan waved his magical weapon. Several streaks of baleful energy flashed through the air, and with a succession of explosive cracks, the two divine statues atop the altar were cut into pieces.

He turned toward the gathered ghost messengers and said, “Since you are the City God’s ghost messengers, I may have need of you in the future. You may remain in this City God Temple and await my orders. Inform the people of this city that from now on, they are not to worship any gods. For the time being, this Purple Jade substitute will be enshrined in the City God Temple. If the people wish to burn incense, let them come. If they do not wish to, do not force them.”

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Ox-Head and Horse-Face watched the Immortal Master suddenly destroy the divine statues and abandon the cultivation of the Supreme Golden Body Method. They could only answer with bitter expressions.

They had cultivated this technique before, and now that its source of faith had been severed, their cultivation would begin to decline. Fortunately, they had not cultivated it deeply. Otherwise, they would have been reduced all the way to the realm of Yin Spirits.

Yang Nan waited in the City God Temple for a long time before Old Crab, Great Roc, and General Octopus finally returned in haste with two thousand demon soldiers.

Behind them came a mixture of demons and humans: all the Land Gods from every town within Hot Spring City. These cultivators flew swiftly through the sky, and dark winds swept across the heavens above Hot Spring City. The celestial phenomena were bizarre, while the common people were struck dumb with fear, hiding inside their homes and not daring to go outside.

Even the magistrate of Hot Spring City trembled uncontrollably within his residence. The ordinary soldiers had nearly abandoned their weapons and fled home to escape the disaster. Only after the dark clouds dispersed and silence returned in every direction did the magistrate remember to visit the Land God Temple to burn incense and pray for divine protection.

“Young Master, I’m back! Those mangy little demons ran faster than rabbits the moment they saw us coming. Fortunately, I had made preparations in advance, or we really wouldn’t have been able to bring these great deities here!”

Old Crab wiped his broad mouth and cackled. Judging from his appearance, those Land Gods who had failed to recognize the situation had long since entered his enormous belly.

Yang Nan sat upon the central seat of the City God Temple and looked down at the hall filled with Land Gods. A faint smile touched the corners of his lips.

Most of the Land Gods below were only at the Master level. Looking up at the numerous Grandmasters and the thousands of ferocious Master-level demon soldiers, they felt deeply uneasy.

Everyone already knew what had happened in Hot Spring City that day. Several Grandmasters had been slaughtered to the last man. How could minor demon masters like themselves possibly oppose countless Master-level demon soldiers and so many Grandmasters?

Whether they were to be killed or butchered, they had no choice but to bow their heads and accept their fate.

“Everyone, since you serve as the Land Gods of your respective regions, you should ensure the peace of those regions. There is no need to continue cultivating the Supreme Golden Body Method. Inform the people that from now on, they need not enshrine divine tablets in their homes. Is that clear?”

Yang Nan’s divine gaze swept slowly across the faces of the Land Gods, making them tremble with terror and sweat profusely.

“The Immortal Master has spoken. We are all willing to obey.”

The Land Gods responded unevenly.

“Some of you are dissatisfied, are you?”

Yang Nan gave a cold laugh. A murderous glint flashed through his eyes as he waved his hand.

“Old Crab, kill every demon in this group whose head still bears the aura of blood. Refine their souls and devour their corpses.”

Old Crab was overjoyed when he heard this. “Old Crab obeys!”

He swept out a great hand, and dozens of demon soldiers charged into the crowd of Land Gods. They knocked to the ground those whose heads still carried the aura of blood.

Old Crab had already reached the Grandmaster realm. Facing such minor demons, he did not need to expend the slightest effort. Before long, he had killed every one of the dozens of flesh-eating demons.

He summoned the Nine Heavens Blood Corpse, which opened its enormous maw and swallowed dozens of souls in a single feast. The baleful aura surrounding the corpse grew even heavier.

These dozens of demons were merely a handful of evil creatures among the several hundred Land Gods. Yang Nan’s display of killing a few to frighten the rest left all the Land Gods trembling with terror. This time, every one of them submitted completely, and their former reluctance diminished considerably.

The situation was stronger than the individual. If they refused to submit, thousands of demon soldiers could slaughter them all in an instant.

The Daoist seated above them possessed an elegant and scholarly appearance, but his methods were utterly merciless.