For the next two days, Zhang Kai stayed away from the village, secluded in an abandoned Daoist temple, focusing on his cultivation. The villagers delivered food to him regularly and kept him informed about the news of the old teacher.
On this day, Zhang Kai finally left the Daoist temple and went to the village to join the others in welcoming the return of the old teacher's ashes by the roadside.
"Kai, why don't you stay in the village? There are so many mosquitoes in the mountains, and it's not convenient," Yun Xiyao said as she approached Zhang Kai once again, showing concern.
Zhang Kai smiled, "I've long been accustomed to a life of solitude. I feel uncomfortable in crowded places."
"Did you live like this before? Being a Daoist is such a hard life, Kai, have you ever thought about returning to the secular world? You're so young; you should be living in the city," Yun Xiyao said with a worried look on her face.
Zhang Kai smiled but didn't respond.
Did it benefit you for me to return to the secular world? Don't count on it.
"Hey, Kai, why do I notice that your skin looks even better after not seeing you for two days? Have you really not been using any skincare products?" Liu Xiaoyue also stared at Zhang Kai, her eyes filled with astonishment.
Yun Xiyao was puzzled at first, but then she looked closely and realized it was true. His skin had improved, becoming even more beautiful. It was like he had undergone some sort of beauty treatment. Both Yun Xiyao and Liu Xiaoyue couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy.
Zhang Kai touched his face with a hint of helplessness.
It couldn't be helped. Over the past two days, he had often gone to meditate by the icy pool, absorbing the cold energy. This had not only advanced his cultivation but also improved his skin. His pores had practically disappeared, leaving him with flawless and radiant skin. Zhang Kai had even become hesitant to look in the mirror, afraid of falling in love with his own appearance.
"Maybe it's because I've been a vegetarian for years and have been practicing in the mountains, away from the chaotic worldly influences. That might be why my skin has improved a bit. But it's just an outer shell; don't pay too much attention to appearances," Zhang Kai said with a smile.
The two girls were left speechless.
In this world, who doesn't care about appearances? If you didn't look this good, we wouldn't be so enthusiastic about you.
But your skin really does look amazing. If slapping you would grant me another year of life, I'd do it willingly.
Both girls looked at Zhang Kai with a hint of envy in their eyes.
Feeling a bit uncomfortable under their gaze, Zhang Kai secretly thought that he might consider learning some kind of disguise technique. Otherwise, revealing his true appearance would be like standing out in a crowd, as distinct as the difference between the moon and a light bulb.
This could create significant problems for his cultivation.
Just as he was indulging in vanity, Zhang Kai's expression changed as he saw several cars approaching in the distance.
The people he had been waiting for had arrived.
Shortly after, the convoy stopped, and a large group of villagers rushed over, offering condolences, comforting the family, and shedding tears. The atmosphere was somber.
Zhang Kai stood at the back of the crowd, silently observing.
The ashes of the old teacher were being carried by an elderly man, looking unremarkable.
With so many people around, Zhang Kai didn't want to do anything extraordinary.
Not long after, the crowd began making their way back to the village.
In this solemn atmosphere, the two girls refrained from continuing their playful banter with Zhang Kai.
Upon returning to the village, the ashes of the old teacher were placed in a well-maintained building.
This was the village shrine, known as Yang Family Shrine. It had once been the ancestral shrine of the Yang family, the wealthiest family in the village. However, due to the family's decline and the loss of their lineage in the village, the shrine had gradually become a place of worship for many respected elders who had passed away. Over time, an unwritten rule emerged: anyone who had made significant contributions to the village could be enshrined here, and the villagers came to pay their respects every year.
The ashes of the old teacher were now placed there.
Once the formalities were completed, the villagers, accompanied by local officials, went to inspect the village's situation, the school, and also took the opportunity to seek financial assistance.
Zhang Kai didn't participate. Instead, he discreetly left the scene, returning to the shrine.
At this moment, there was no one inside the shrine. Zhang Kai took out the Divine List, a nervous expression on his face.
Sealing gods might seem straightforward in movies and TV shows, but in reality, it was uncertain if it would work. He was truly venturing into the unknown.
Unfortunately, he still couldn't see spirits and had no idea if the old teacher's soul was even present. He hoped he wouldn't be disappointed again.
With great anticipation, Zhang Kai unfolded the Divine List, his consciousness merging with it. He began reciting the lines he had carefully considered for the past two days.
"In the mortal realm, there was a man named Cheng Aimin, dedicated to teaching and nurturing others, possessing both virtue and wisdom. Now that your accomplishments have reached their zenith, I, as the emissary of heaven, bestow upon you the divine position of the Village Scholar God. Spread knowledge, embody the essence of learning, and carry on the name of Cheng Aimin."
Reciting these somewhat pretentious lines, Zhang Kai completed his speech, and with a wave of his hand, the Divine List levitated.
In the next moment, the Divine List emitted a shimmering golden light, and golden characters appeared on its surface.
"Village Scholar God, Cheng Aimin."
He had done it!
Zhang Kai's eyes lit up with excitement.
Then, a golden radiance materialized from the ashes of the old teacher's urn, coalescing into a human figure. This figure had a goat-like beard, wore old-fashioned glasses, and had thin white hair.
The newly formed god seemed confused at first but appeared to receive some kind of information. He descended and respectfully clasped his hands together, saying, "I am the humble Village Scholar God, Cheng Aimin. I pay my respects to the celestial being."
Zhang Kai had done it. He had successfully sealed a god!
Feeling both thrilled and awestruck, Zhang Kai suppressed his emotions. He looked at the old man and waved his hand, saying, "Village Scholar God, there is no need for excessive courtesy. Your accomplishments in teaching and nurturing others, as well as your moral character, deserve recognition. I have acted on behalf of the heavens to grant you this divine position. Now, what are your thoughts?"
Cheng Aimin smiled bitterly and replied, "Celestial being, forgive my confusion. I suddenly departed from this world and became a god. I am still somewhat bewildered. I never imagined that there were true immortals in this world, and that I, too, could be among them. I am truly filled with both humility and fear."
Zhang Kai smiled and said, "Throughout your life, you have dedicated yourself to teaching and nurturing, enlightening the people and benefiting the region. This is the reward you deserve. Please don't worry. I hope that as the Village Scholar God, you will continue to uphold your divine duties and protect the pursuit of knowledge."
Cheng Aimin immediately showed reverence and replied, "Rest assured, celestial being. This humble god will not fail the responsibilities entrusted by the heavens. I will wholeheartedly guide and educate the students."
Satisfied with his response, Zhang Kai smiled and said, "Very well. For now, you may return and familiarize yourself with your divine responsibilities. I will continue to reside in this area for some time, and you can come to me with any questions."
"As you command, celestial being," Cheng Aimin said before transforming into golden light and returning to his urn.
Zhang Kai turned and left the shrine. After sealing a god, he had also gained a wealth of information, all provided by the Divine List's feedback.
This information was extensive and needed to be organized.
Upon returning to the Daoist temple, Zhang Kai sat down cross-legged and began sorting through the information gleaned from sealing a god.
After a long time, Zhang Kai opened his eyes with a burning gaze, mixed with a hint of seriousness.
It seemed that sealing gods wasn't all positive.
Summarizing the various pieces of information, he arrived at a few key points:
Firstly, the successful sealing of a god meant that the divine path had been opened. This divine path was entirely new and had to adhere to reality. Randomly sealing gods would not be recognized by the Divine List. A god like the Village Scholar God, rooted in education and knowledge, fell within reasonable boundaries and gained recognition. This led to the creation of a series of ranks. Although they all bore the title of "Village Scholar God," their ranks varied, much like the distinction between primary, middle, and high school teachers. The highest-ranked Village Scholar God could even bear the title of "Wise Sage" and have authority over all Village Scholar Gods.
Secondly, with the opening of the divine path, spiritual energy was gradually being restored. However, this initial restoration was minimal and dependent on the circumstances of god-sealing. The higher the god's rank, the more extensive the spiritual energy restoration. When god-sealing was complete, spiritual energy would experience a full-scale resurgence. This might appear as a positive outcome, as Zhang Kai gained control over the restoration of spiritual energy. However, there was also a downside. All the former gods, deities, and mythical creatures from ancient times who had found ways to escape their fates and hide would now resurface. They would be reborn with the resurgence of spiritual energy. But what they would become after losing their divine statuses remained uncertain, posing a hidden danger.
Thirdly, in order to seal higher-ranked gods, it would be necessary to take their positions away from previously high-ranking deities. Only by obtaining the corresponding divine positions could the sealing of higher-ranked gods be achieved. This was a constraint imposed by the laws of heaven and earth, a way to innovate while staying grounded in the original framework. Self-initiated efforts to find and confront former deities and seize their authority would be required for anyone seeking to seal higher-ranked gods. Without this, spiritual energy restoration couldn't progress further, and the dream of attaining immortality would be restricted.
Furthermore, gods sealed by the Divine List had time limitations, ranging from a hundred to a thousand years, based on their virtue and accomplishments. If they didn't meet the standards, they could be removed from their divine positions.
In conclusion, a new set of rules had been established, combining mythical god-sealing from legends with the laws of the real world. It would require Zhang Kai's exploration and understanding. Regardless of the challenges, it was better to have a path forward. As long as he made good use of the resources from movies and TV shows, his future would be bright, and the path to immortality was within reach.