"I told you so! I told you so! Who dares to doubt me now? Who dares to say I'm crazy? A bunch of jerks! I was right! Wudang Mountain does have martial arts, no, it has immortals!" In a bedroom, Yun Chuan, who was browsing videos, suddenly came across a video showing the golden light soaring from Wudang, and after the initial shock, he started searching for more videos, getting more and more excited until he couldn't hold back his cursing.
Bang! Bang!
"What are you yelling about? Keep it down! Are you looking for another beating?" A shout came from outside the door, it was his father's voice.
Yun Chuan instinctively shrank his neck and couldn't help muttering stubbornly, "Just you wait! I seriously suspect that this is the beginning of a resurgence of spiritual energy. Joining a major sect is the best choice now. If you block my path to cultivation, you'll regret it in the future. My future has been ruined by you."
After muttering to himself, Yun Chuan continued to browse videos, growing more discontent as he did so.
In retrospect, he was the first to discover the Purple-robed Immortal, which meant he had a connection with immortals. If it weren't for the police getting in the way, he would have been one of the people to observe the Purple-robed Immortal up close. He might have even met the immortal and been accepted as a disciple, becoming one of the first beneficiaries of this resurgence of spiritual energy.
Now, he was locked in a room, unable to go anywhere. It was too frustrating.
They said that when opportunity knocks, you must seize it yourself.
By complaining now, he might end up resenting it in the future.
No, he had to make another attempt.
With this thought in mind, Yun Chuan walked to the window and looked down.
This was a hotel, and his room was on the third floor. Looking down... Gulp! From this height, he probably wouldn't die, right?
...
"It's really lively here. I'm starting to wonder if this Purple-robed Immortal and the golden light soaring into the sky are just marketing gimmicks from the Wudang Mountain scenic area. Look at the popularity, the scenic area must be raking in the cash these days." On an observation platform, Zhang Kai looked at the throngs of tourists and chuckled.
"Mr. Zhang, did you also see that golden light? Do you think something like that could be created by ordinary technology? It almost shot up into the sky! The strength and impact of it... Heh, I could do something like that when I was young." A frail, elderly man with sunglasses, dressed in an old-fashioned robe, and sporting a goatee, replied with a smile.
Zhang Kai looked at the frail old man and said, "It's hard to say, technology is advancing rapidly. In the few months I've been staying in Wudang Mountain, I've already upgraded my phone twice."
"Hehe, Mr. Zhang, let me tell you, I'm quite curious. You're young, wealthy, and have a handsome appearance, why did you choose to live in seclusion at Wudang Mountain at your age? At your age, 99% of people are either chasing women or on their way to chase women. Could it be that you're..." The frail old man grinned, implying something.
"Shame on you, you brat. My kidneys are in good shape, my orientation is normal, and I came to Wudang Mountain to get close to nature and experience Taoist culture. There are all types of people in the world, and I'm probably the one percent you mentioned." Zhang Kai retorted, not mincing words.
"Young people shouldn't pretend to be tough. Remember, youth doesn't last forever, and old age comes with tears. Let me tell you, before I became a fortune teller, my family practiced traditional Chinese medicine for three generations, and we have a secret formula called 'Vitality Reviving Soup' in our family. If you're willing to pay a good price, I'll sell you the formula. What do you think?" The frail old man looked at Zhang Kai expectantly.
Zhang Kai smirked, "Old man, keep it for yourself. I'm tired, I'm going back to take a nap."
With that, Zhang Kai leisurely left, ignoring the fortune teller's calls.
It had been three days since he obtained the God-Sealing List. On the first day, Wudang Mountain was buzzing with investigations, almost leading to a closure of the mountain. Unfortunately, nothing was found. The second day saw a sudden surge in tourists.
This felt like the stock market, manipulating a concept, and the retail investors came pouring in with money.
However, Zhang Kai had no connection to all of this. Even though he had created the commotion, he had already secured his protection. The investigations hadn't touched him at all.
What bothered Zhang Kai was that while the God-Sealing List was indeed effective and had shown supernatural effects, he couldn't use it to seal gods. No matter what method he used, he couldn't add his name to it. Even if he wrote it in ink, it would quickly fade away, rendering it useless.
This left Zhang Kai feeling very troubled. He couldn't think of a solution, which was why he had come out to relax and chat with the fortune teller he had met during his time at Wudang Mountain.
To be honest, the fortune teller wasn't an ordinary person. Claiming to have been a doctor in his family for three generations was nonsense, but his seniority at Wudang Mountain was quite high. Zhang Kai had even observed a middle-aged Taoist at Wudang Mountain respectfully calling him "Senior Uncle."
However, after observing him for a while, Zhang Kai realized that the fortune teller was a complete fraud. He might have some skills, but they were far from extraordinary.
Strolling back to the courtyard, Zhang Kai took out his phone and started browsing a forum.
This was a forum that had recently gained popularity. Originally a gathering place for martial arts enthusiasts, it had now become a hub for discussions about the Purple-robed Immortal and the golden light phenomenon. After all, it was all about staying current with trends.
As he casually browsed, Zhang Kai stumbled upon an interesting new post.
"If the God-Sealing List were to happen in modern times, which people would qualify for the list?"
Could this be the solution to my problem?
Zhang Kai was pleasantly surprised. He had considered seeking advice online before but ultimately gave up. The reason was simple: leaving any traces behind might expose him. If the God-Sealing List's usage was discovered, any past online inquiries would become a clear clue, potentially revealing the existence of the God-Sealing List.
So, even though he was troubled, he decided not to leave any traces.
His time at Wudang Mountain had allowed him to maintain a more balanced mindset, enabling him to think rationally and lay a basic foundation for his future cultivation. His goal was simple: low-profile cultivation for immortality.
He didn't want to dominate the world or become an overlord; he just wanted to become an immortal wealthy man, living freely and happily. Thus, there was no need to expose himself.
Seeing the post, Zhang Kai immediately opened it to take a look. The post was quite casual, speculating about which individuals would be considered for godhood if the God-Sealing List were to appear in modern times. The individuals mentioned were all influential and respected figures, some of whose names even Zhang Kai dared not utter. The mention of their names commanded deep respect, making them unworthy of the God-Sealing List in Zhang Kai's opinion.
However, Zhang Kai was more interested in the replies from the forum's users, which were the source of his inspiration. The absurd and imaginative ideas proposed by these users were truly fascinating.
As the saying goes, two heads are better than one, and a crowd can pick up more firewood. There's wisdom in the collective, and Zhang Kai had always considered this ancient wisdom his secret weapon.
After browsing for a while, one reply caught Zhang Kai's attention. It read:
"If the God-Sealing List were to appear in modern times, the criteria for sealing gods might be different, considering that people's desires have evolved. In the past, the common people sought food and clothing, praying for good weather from the heavens. Nowadays, the pursuit is all about money, believing that wealth can solve everything. So, the God of Wealth might become a super deity. Furthermore, those who don't worry about their daily needs might have different aspirations, such as a Car God. In ancient times, ox carts and horse carriages were luxuries, but now they're everyday tools. Thus, the Car God would rise to prominence, and his temples would flourish. Similarly, the Food God, who was once just a common cook, would now have a different status. In the past, people prayed for enough food, but now they seek delicious food. Then there's the Medicine God. Modern healthcare is a major challenge; people's health is worse compared to ancient times. Additionally, the problem of credit is significant in the modern world. Debtors are everywhere, and someone who specializes in resolving these issues might become a deity. There are many possibilities; I won't go into detail, but you can use your imagination."
This reply sparked some inspiration in Zhang Kai.
Could it be that I can't add myself to the God-Sealing List because I lack the qualifications?
After all, the God-Sealing List, while effective, was still operating under the rules of the current end-of-times era. Therefore, entering the list might require certain conditions, such as accumulating enough merit?