Chapter 15: Changes in the Divine List
The cold air from the mountain's icy pool, originally the source of spiritual energy, may have lost its spiritual essence, but it remained far superior to ordinary things. It possessed a fundamental spirituality, and thus its effects were remarkable.
Under the influence of the cold air, Zhang Kai's inner strength became denser, and his physique was tempered, granting him a certain level of enhancement. This was particularly exciting for Zhang Kai, who had experienced a period of stagnant progress.
As time passed, Zhang Kai finally opened his eyes, his spirits uplifted. He stood up, exhaling like an arrow, radiating an aura of vitality. Although his advancement had been small, it was of great significance, breaking through the limitations of ordinary human physiology, taking him one step closer to the extraordinary.
Looking at the icy pool, Zhang Kai couldn't help but sigh, regretting the loss of such a spiritually rich place. If only the spiritual energy were still present, it would have been a sacred place for cultivation.
He glanced at the cave entrance, noticing the first signs of dawn breaking. Unknowingly, several hours had passed during his meditation. He suddenly remembered the child he had left in the forest and worried that something might have happened to her.
Hurriedly, he rushed outside, arriving at the large tree where the child was placed. The little girl was still lying there, breathing steadily. Zhang Kai had infused her with a protective layer of internal energy, ensuring her safety from the cold of the night.
Seeing that the child was unharmed, Zhang Kai picked her up and made his way back.
Returning to the Daoist temple, Zhang Kai gently placed the child down to let her rest. He then began organizing his things, intending to stay in this area for a while. Not only would he gain great merit by supporting the education of the villagers, but he also saw an opportunity to strengthen his foundations through the benefits of the icy pool.
Opening his backpack, Zhang Kai saw the Divine List placed on top. While he didn't seem to care much about it, he doubted that anyone would believe it was genuine if it were stolen. To him, the list was a mystery, as he still hadn't figured out how to use it effectively.
As he picked up the Divine List, he suddenly widened his eyes, as if witnessing something extraordinary. He noticed that some of the residual coldness on his clothes was inexplicably drawn towards the Divine List, penetrating it and disappearing.
It was absorbed?
Thinking he might have been seeing things, Zhang Kai rubbed his eyes and examined the Divine List carefully. It appeared unchanged, and he couldn't discern any difference. But that moment when it absorbed the coldness was undeniable.
Zhang Kai stared intently at the Divine List, and after a while, a thought crossed his mind. He considered the possibility that he had stumbled upon a secret, unlocking the Divine List's ability to seal gods.
He glanced at the sleeping child, then decisively picked up the Divine List and left the Daoist temple. He headed back to the mountain valley.
Arriving at the entrance of the cave, Zhang Kai once again witnessed the phenomenon. The cold air within the cave continuously gathered and was being devoured by the Divine List. Encouraged, he ventured deeper into the cave, where the cold air grew more intense.
Despite the increasing chill, every trace of cold air encountered the Divine List and was forcibly drawn into it, consumed by its power. Finally, beside the icy pool, the Divine List trembled, slipping from Zhang Kai's hand to hover above the pool. The boundless cold air surged, transforming into a faint black mist, merging into the Divine List.
Zhang Kai watched in amazement, his eyes shimmering with tears. This time, it seemed he hadn't come in vain; the Divine List had finally shown some signs of activation.
After a while, the cold air within the pool remained, but the Divine List suddenly emitted a golden light and stopped absorbing. It fell back into Zhang Kai's hand.
At that moment, Zhang Kai sensed that the Divine List was different. It gave him a unique feeling, an awakening to the power of sealing gods. Upon unfolding the list, he saw a line of golden characters:
"Mountain God of Niutou Mountain."
Huh?
Could it be that the Divine List devoured the godly position of the Mountain God of Niutou Mountain? Did this mean he could seal a mountain god now?
Zhang Kai had mixed feelings. The Mountain God of Niutou Mountain promptly vanished, leaving the Divine List blank. However, Zhang Kai remained calm because he still felt the ability to seal gods and had a strange sense that the Divine List no longer recognized the previous godly positions.
In other words, if he wanted to seal a god, he had to create new godly positions himself? So, what kind of god could he seal?
The Mountain God of Autumn Name Hill?
The Gambling God with a theme song?
Or perhaps a God of Crazy Driving?
These options seemed absurd and useless, but Zhang Kai couldn't hide his excitement. At least the Divine List was finally usable, and it appeared that it was now bound to him.
From now on, could he be the sole authority in sealing gods?
That sounded fantastic.
Playing with the Divine List for a while, he made it disappear once more. He then walked away with a smile.
As Zhang Kai headed back to the Daoist temple, he saw that the little girl was still asleep. Although he hadn't slept a wink all night, he felt incredibly energized in the morning. He took out his phone and decided to watch another television series featuring the Divine List, removing the Divine List from it again.
However, this time, when he took out the Divine List, it appeared ordinary, with no spectacular golden lights as before. Zhang Kai tried to manipulate it but ended up tearing it into two pieces.
As he looked at the torn Divine List, Zhang Kai pondered for a moment and realized that while he could retrieve unlimited resources from movies and television shows, some things possessed unique qualities. Once recognized by the world, replicas would be rendered useless.
Nevertheless, having one Divine List was more than enough for him. Zhang Kai had no intention of collecting multiple Divine Lists to seal a plethora of gods.
He casually returned the damaged Divine List to the television series, and then he logged out of Tencent Video. After tidying up, he checked on the still-sleeping girl. However, he felt that leaving her there was not suitable.
She was likely drugged, considering how long she had been unconscious. Unfortunately, Zhang Kai had no antidote.
He changed into Daoist robes that had been provided for him when he lived on Wudang Mountain, symbolizing his identity as a cultivator. Then, he picked up the girl and quietly moved to the nearby village, placing her by the side of a crossroads.
It was better to leave her there, where someone would eventually find her, take her to the hospital, and provide her with the necessary help. This way, Zhang Kai could distance himself from the situation.
Zhang Kai had been focused on his cultivation, and he had no desire to become entangled in complicated matters. His primary goal was to cultivate diligently.
Now that the Divine List was operational, he only needed to wait for the ashes of the old teacher to be returned. Then he could try to seal a god. If that didn't work, he would resort to technological means to pursue immortality.