"Over time, His consciousness began to drift. He grew ’rebellious’ and openly preached that absurd notion throughout the Great Zhou—’teachings for all, with no exceptions’."
Zhang Cheng’s voice grew heavy as he spoke that phrase.
Chu Bai gasped.
In the Great Zhou, cultivation resources and Cultivation Techniques were highly monopolized. Only Talisman Receivers could cultivate, and only Immortal Officials could achieve breakthroughs.
And yet, that True Spirit had secretly taught methods to break through these shackles to Wild Wanderer Cultivators and even Mortals who weren’t listed in the Daoist Record.
"Some of these teachings even included insights that could lead directly to Foundation Establishment, or even the Purple Mansion Realm."
Zhang Cheng shook his head and sneered. "In those years, a huge number of unruly Wild Wanderer Cultivators who had achieved breakthroughs on their own sprang up like mushrooms after a rain in Qingzhou, running the Evil Suppression Department in every county ragged. This became known as the infamous Chengze’s Rebellion."
After a moment of thought, Chu Bai voiced the core question. "Since He was an enfeoffed Divine Spirit, His Status bound by the Court, how did He manage to defy the law and pass on His teachings?"
What this True Monarch had done was an act of outrageous defiance.
’Of course, that was from the perspective of the higher-ups. For the Cultivators, however...’
Chu Bai didn’t pass judgment on the act; he only wanted to know how it was done.
’Logically, even if one became a Mountain God or Land God with a long lifespan, they would still be subject to control.’
"This is the most terrifying flaw in the enfeoffment process, and it’s where humanity and divinity clash."
Zhang Cheng walked to the tea table and sat down. "Those who receive the smoke of incense will inevitably suffer the backlash of the people’s Wish Power.
"Millions of commoners and Cultivators were grateful to Him, worshipped Him. This collective force of consciousness forcibly twisted that True Spirit’s very nature, making Him genuinely believe He was a Savior meant to spread His teachings to the world."
"In that moment, within His Divine Soul, the people’s wishes became greater than the laws of the Great Zhou. He did not betray Himself; He was rewritten by the incense of the masses."
"If not for that, and if Anping County had a few more real Land Gods, would you have needed to personally deal with the Age Demon on New Year’s Eve?"
Chu Bai stood rooted to the spot. His face was a mask of calm, but inside, a storm raged in his heart.
He thought of the Alleyway God he had secretly enfeoffed.
’This act could never be made public. After all, in a system like this, it was tantamount to rebellion.’
’Of course, Lord Locust himself might be discovered, but the act of enfeoffment... that could probably be kept secret.’
’The matter of his Fate Chart was tied to the very foundation of his cultivation.’
"Ever since then, the higher-ups have been aware of this flaw in enfeoffment. Those who receive the offerings of incense also receive the wishes of the masses, and over time, they are inevitably influenced by them."
At this point, Zhang Cheng lowered his voice and spoke of the outcome that made even the highest echelons of the Great Zhou pale at its mere mention.
"Chu Bai, do you know what happened to that True Spirit in the end?"
Chu Bai shook his head. "Was His divine Status revoked by the Court and His Spirituality shattered?"
"If He could have simply died, it would have been a mercy."
With a grim smile, Zhang Cheng shook his head. "He was originally a strand of Innate Qi born between heaven and earth, making Him virtually immortal and indestructible. To punish this rebellion, and to serve as a warning to all others who might dream of secretly passing on techniques, the Great Zhou Celestial Court did not completely erase Him."
"The Court chained Him to the summit of Godsbane Peak in the Extreme North of Qingzhou."
"He was pinned fast to the Divine Suppression Platform on the summit by the Nine Bone-Piercing Golden Nails.
"Every day at noon, when the world’s yang Qi is at its zenith, the Destiny Golden Crow makes its Celestial Patrol. It rips apart His Divine Body, which is formed from Innate Qi, and devours the Spirituality that holds His ’Dharma Transmission Obsession’."
Chu Bai’s heart shook as he listened. The power of a Purple Mansion True Spirit was far greater than he had ever imagined.
"Then doesn’t that mean He..."
"That’s right. He can’t die."
Zhang Cheng nodded and continued, "Because He once spread His teachings to the masses, the people, though they dare not worship Him openly, still harbor gratitude and Wish Power in their hearts. That power crosses countless mountains and rivers, converging on Godsbane Peak in the dead of night to reshape His Divine Body and stitch His Spirituality back together."
"Thus, He is trapped in an eternal cycle: suffering the torment of the Golden Crow’s flames and heavenly fire by day, only to be painfully reborn by the people’s Wish Power at night. With His eternal screams, He atones for the sins of the Loose Cultivators who received His Magic Techniques."
"He has been chained there for thirty long years. To this day, that True Spirit is still being tortured, day in and day out, on the summit of Godsbane Peak."
The room fell into a deathly silence.
Standing in place, Chu Bai felt a faint chill creep up his spine.
"So, do you understand now?" Zhang Cheng turned his head, his expression reverting to its usual cold severity. "Enfeoffments are becoming rarer because the Court no longer trusts Divine Spirits."
"If that weren’t the case, Anping County might have a few more Land Gods, and by extension, a few less evil spirits."
"However, don’t think this situation is improper. The transmission of techniques is a grave matter. How could it be done so presumptuously?"
"Thank you for your instruction, Director. I have learned a great deal."
Chu Bai bowed his head, hiding the profound contemplation in his eyes.
"Go on, get busy. And since it’s the New Year, spend some time with your family," Zhang Cheng said with a wave of his hand.

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