In the bedroom.
Chen Yun talked with Wang Siyan for a moment.
Afterwards, the two talked about some events that occurred during the 18 years Chen Yun was not in Guangyin.
Wang Siyan said, "Although those divine soldiers and generals 'eat a lot,' their strength has increased rapidly. According to Master Jiao, some leaders like Qin Liang, Ji Xin, and Cui Ming have all become high-level magicians. The weakest divine soldiers have also become upper-level magicians. It is precisely because of this that the consumption of true incense has been increasing increasingly. I told you earlier that we only needed 20,000 taels of silver a year, but that was an underestimate."
Chen Yun nodded slightly and said, "Before reaching the level comparable to a true person, the path of the divine is especially fast. It can be cultivated by offering sacrifices day and night. If there is no financial means, using faith instead is also possible. For some families with many children and ancestral temples, if the whole family sincerely sacrifices to their ancestors, they may become divine beings. Of course, the process of becoming a family deity from a ghost may be incredibly difficult, but as long as one can touch the divine path and continue to offer sacrifices for decades or even centuries, it is possible to reach a level comparable to a patriarch. The key is maintaining the constant cultivation of faith and incense."
The cultivation of the divine way is indeed very fast.
However, how to enter the divine way, for most ghosts, is basically a huge problem.
The simplest method is to maintain an unbroken stream of incense and faith, thus condensing the divine body.
For instance, before Guan Yue became a deity, he relied on the continuous incense in the Shu region, then possessed "divinity," and shone brilliantly in the God Sealing Battle, being enshrined by Buddhism as a guardian of monasteries.
Most people don't enjoy such a vast amount of incense and faith, so wanting to enter the path of the divine is basically not possible.
The simplest point is that common people don't worship "useless" gods.
What does this sentence mean?
This means that if I offer you worship, and you never manifest your divine presence, then sorry, don't expect me to continue offering worship to you. In other words, if a deity does not respond to prayers or offerings, people are unlikely to continue supporting or venerating them.
To manifest oneself, it is only possible to do so if one has entered the divine way. Otherwise, it would lead to chaos of devils and ghosts.
Whether it's Guan Yu or Chen Yun's wild spirit avatar, they are all deities nurtured over years by the collective efforts of millions and even tens of millions of people, with their faith and incense offerings. Where can an ordinary ghost obtain so much faith?
Without faith, one cannot enter the divine way and thus cannot manifest oneself.
If one does not manifest, their faith and offerings will be cut off, thus creating a deadly cycle.
However, once one enters the divine way, the situation changes dramatically. As long as there is a continuous stream of incense power, or similar substitutes offered, such as genuine incense, then their strength will surge forward rapidly.
Chen Yun learned the ritual for consecrating protective deities from Master Zhang and his teacher. Although it cannot grant the ghosts the "innate divine abilities" like those of the wild spirit avatar, after the ritual, they can directly enter the divine path.
Of course, those 3,000 divine soldiers and generals could only raise their level from comparable to an intermediate-level magician to comparable to an upper-level magician within twenty years. Some of them even reached the level comparable to a high-level magician.
And if Chen Yun had enough financial resources to offer, in the next few decades, it might be possible for all these divine soldiers and generals to reach the strength of a patriarch.
As for reaching the level of a true person, that is a bit challenging.
Either the name is on the list of those who have obtained divine status.
Or they have a strong stream of incense power.
Or they have a special spiritual essence 'incense' that is continuously offered.
Chen Yun thought for a moment and asked, "How have the disciples and their spiritual beasts improved?"
Wang Siyan said frankly, "They have been improving at a relatively slow pace." Mr. Gong is now a high-level mage of the late stage, and has not made any progress for a long time. The four demons and Qin Ming are both late-stage upper-level mages. As for those bought to do work, although all of them have now entered the door, their cultivation levels vary greatly. Mei Junyan has the highest talent, and has already reached the late stage of medium-level mage after more than twenty years of cultivation. Others are not as fast, some are still in the middle stage of lower-level mage, and those with good talent have just entered the medium stage of mage."
She paused for a moment, "However, Zhang Qian and Lin Chen have made rapid progress in their cultivation. They are now at the early stage of upper-level mage."
Chen Yun nodded and said, "Their cultivation is the Yin God Method, which is a forbidden and esoteric path. Its early stages do indeed improve very rapidly. However, once one reaches the level of an upper-level mage, it becomes difficult to make further progress."
This can be seen from his previous encounters with Yin Wuxi, who is quite gifted but has not broken through the upper-level mage barrier after over a hundred years. It can be imagined how difficult it would be to make further progress with the Yin God Method.
As for the early stages, as long as one perseveres, someone with poor talent can take up to a few decades to advance to the level of an upper-level mage.
If one has superior talent, it might only take ten or so years to advance to the level of an upper-level mage.
Zhang Qian and Lin Chen may not have the highest talent, but they had some fortunate encounters in the past, obtaining some 'genuine incense' containing spiritual essence. Naturally, they could cultivate to the level of an upper-level mage in more than twenty years.
"And the spiritual beasts..." Wang Siyan tilted her head and recollected, "The tiger spirit hasn't made much progress. The flying snake and the little white monkey might be descendants of divine beasts, as they have made remarkable progress. One is now comparable to an upper-level mage in the late stage, and the other is even comparable to a high-level mage in the early stage."
Chen Yun didn't expect that so many of his disciples and spiritual beasts had improved during this period.
In fact, if you think about it carefully, it is also a matter of course, as eighteen years have passed.
This is definitely a very favorable thing for him.
When the potential enemies are dealt with, he will have to participate in the divine war and joining the ranks of the gods. The stronger his disciples and spiritual beasts are, the better it is for him.
As for the cultivation levels of Bá and Jiáo Long, Chen Yun didn't even need to ask. At the level of a patriarch, it's almost impossible to make any breakthroughs in just a few years.
……
Mount Kunlun, Star Constellation Sea.
Another neurotic Shen Xiu just finished cultivating the Starry Heaven Spiritual Power and has emerged from seclusion.
Ever since two years ago, she used the Starry Heaven Sword of the heavens to blow up Chen Yun, and after returning, she has been devoting herself to diligent cultivation.
The main reason is that Shen Xiu heard from the Yinshan Sect that they have seemingly found the reincarnation of Xie Wuming.
She wants to further improve her cultivation so she can better protect her "husband."
Here, Shen Xiu has just emerged from her seclusion.
Suddenly, a third-generation disciple of the Star Constellation Sea walked into the garden from outside.
The seventeen- or eighteen-year-old female disciple entered and bowed, saying, "Uncle Third, Master calls for you."
Shen Xiu looked over, "Dad, what important matter does he call me for?"
The female disciple quickly said, "I heard that someone from the Yinshan Sect has come, and Master wants you to meet them."
Someone from the Yinshan Sect has come?
Should she meet them?
Shen Xiu's heart suddenly leaped, thinking that maybe her beloved husband has been reincarnated.
At the thought of this, she could no longer contain herself and rushed out.
Not long after, Shen Xiu arrived at the guest hall of the Star Constellation Sea sect.
Before she walked in, she saw that Yinshan Old Master Xie Wuyang was carrying his daughter Xie Lingxiao and a young man inside. Her adoptive father Guo Teng Dao Ren and her two elder brothers Xuan Zhen Zi and Dong Miao were all present.
Shen Xiu secretly looked at the young man and found him to be handsome, causing her heart to rejoice subconsciously.
She acted as if she knew nothing and slowly walked into the guest hall, bowing and saying, "Daughter greets her father, two brothers, respects Master Xie, and Master Xie."
Xie Wuyang was in a good mood and raised his hand, "Niece, you may be excused."
Guo Teng Dao Ren was smiling and waving, saying, "Xiu, come over. I'll introduce you to your father."
Shen Xiu approached and asked, "Father, who are you introducing?"
Guo Teng Dao Ren pointed at the handsome young man and said, "Do you know who he is?"
Shen Xiu actually had an idea who he was, but pretended not to know, saying, "I don't know."
Guo Teng Dao Ren laughed loudly, "He is your longing brother who you have been thinking about day and night."
Indeed!
Indeed, it is Xie Wuming!
Shen Xiu's heart was pounding with excitement, but she still maintained composure and offered a respectful bow, "Daughter Shen greets Brother Wuming."
Xie Wuming seemed to have had his memories retrieved by the Yinshan Old Master with a secret method. He also offered a long bow and bowed respectfully, saying, "I, Xie Wuming, greet Sister Shen."
Just after recognizing each other, Xie Wuyang couldn't wait to say, "Guo Teng, since I have found Wuming, do you think this marriage agreement..."
Guo Teng said, "The marriage contract should be completed as soon as possible. You find someone to act as a matchmaker, and I'll prepare the dowry. How about we get married in one year?"
Xie Wuyang said, "Very good!"
At this point, Guo Teng finally looked at Shen Xiu and Xie Wuming, "Do you two have any opinions?"
Shen Xiu said shyly, "It's all up to Father and Uncle Xie."
Xie Wuming looked at Shen Xiu with a smile and seemed very satisfied.
Upon hearing Guo Teng's question, he quickly responded, "Uncle Guo, a year is too short. Can we not extend the time a bit more?"
At these words, Shen Xiu, who had been blushing, suddenly glared fiercely at Xie Wuming and demanded sternly, "Xie Wuming, do you not want to marry me?"
Upon hearing Shen Xiu's words, Xie Wuyang and Xie Lingxiao both furrowed their brows, seeming surprised that Shen Xiu was so "odd."
On the contrary, Guo Teng, Xuan Zhen Zi, and Dong Miao have already grown accustomed to this behavior and show no surprise at all.
Xie Wuming was also caught off guard by Shen Xiu's sudden change in attitude, and he was so startled that he immediately waved his hands, saying, "Xiu'er, please don't misunderstand. I certainly want to marry you, but in my previous life, I was killed by someone. My revenge has not yet been avenged. How can I marry so soon?"
"Oh, you're talking about this matter," Shen Xiu became soft and gentle once more, her voice carrying a hint of coquetry, "Brother Wuming, please rest assured. I have already killed that Chen Pu pest two years ago."
Xie Wuming was taken aback, "You killed him two years ago?"
Shen Xiu said with a smile, "Yes."
Xie Wuming made a sound of disbelief, "But I heard that just a few days ago, Chen Pu was still making a spectacle in Guangling, taming a leopard spirit and capturing the Thin West Lake Demon King Wei Shu?"
"Um?" Shen Xiu became erratic again, "That's not possible! Impossible! I blew him to smithereens long ago. You're lying! You're lying! You don't want to marry me, do you? Do you?"
Her tone was extremely agitated, as if she was about to draw a sword and slay someone!
Xie Wuming only then realized that Shen Xiu might indeed be a "neurotic" person.
At the thought of marrying a neurotic as his wife, his face turned green with shock.
"Xiu!" Guo Teng spoke to stop her, "Wuming hasn't lied."
Shen Xiu hurriedly looked over, "Father, two years ago I indeed used the Starry Heaven Sword of the heavens to kill him. How can he possibly still be alive?"
Guo Teng Dao Ren laughed uncontrollably, "Actually, I've already received this news seven days ago. But at that time, you were in seclusion to practice the Profound Skills, and I couldn't tell you then. Now that you have emerged from seclusion, it's all right. As your father, I will explain it to you thoroughly."
Shen Xiu listened intently.
Xie Wuyang and Xie Lingxiao remained expressionless, as if they had already known about Chen Yun's situation.
Xuan Zhen Zi and Dong Miao looked at Shen Xiu with worried eyes, as if they were afraid she might go berserk upon learning the news.
Guo Teng Dao Ren slowly explained, "I have deduced that the reason Chen the scoundrel has come back to life is because he possesses a immortal grass that defies heaven's will, called Nine Dead Reviving Grass. After that, he pretended to be dead for more than two years and heard that he had cultivated a Buddhist great dharma, apparently the Golden Body Dharma. And your Starry Heaven Sword of the heavens has a unique ability to bind people's souls. If he has truly cultivated the Golden Body Dharma, its power might be halved when faced with your sword, so you shouldn't go after him anymore. Wait until he enters the Battle of Godhood. Your father and Xie elder brother will handle it personally."
Shen Xiu was somewhat crazy, "How can I marry my brother if I don't kill him? Father, don't try to persuade me. I'm going to kill this dog thief on Qingcheng Mountain right now!"
(The end of this chapter)
