diskusbooks Chapter 1399
Chapter 1399
The streets of Qingfeng City were several times more crowded than usual.
Qin He wore a bamboo hat with the brim pulled low, obscuring most of his face. The edge of his dark robe swept lightly through the crowd, standing out from the noisy atmosphere around him.
The aftershocks of annihilating the demons had not yet dissipated, and a faint aura of law still lingered in the air. However, this aura had been completely distorted in the mouths of the common people.
"It's the divine court showing its power!" An old man carrying a vegetable basket muttered as he walked, his face full of piety. "The evil spirits of the Soul-Eating Abyss have been entrenched for thousands of years, and countless cultivators have perished there. Only the divine court could send immortals to take action and rid the people of this scourge!"
“That’s right!” a woman beside her chimed in, still clutching a few sticks of incense in her hand. “The golden and black light that flashed in the sky just now must have been the divine power of the immortals of the Divine Court. We must hurry to the shrine to kneel and pray, to thank the gods for their grace!”
Similar words echoed one after another, and Qin He listened, his fingertips twitching slightly.
He expended his demonic energy to purify the miasma and slay demons, but in the end, all the credit went to the Divine Court.
This absurd feeling left him feeling very uncomfortable.
Following the crowd for about half an incense stick's time, the noise ahead grew increasingly intense. Qin He looked up and a magnificent building suddenly appeared at the edge of his vision—it was the Divine Court Shrine of Qingfeng City.
The shrine was built on a high platform in the center of the city. It was made entirely of white stone. Sunlight shone on the walls, reflecting a warm and holy light. The light was not dazzling, but it carried an inviolable majesty that enveloped the entire shrine.
Two gilded dragon pillars stand in front of the shrine, their bodies coiled around the pillars, their heads held high, each holding a pearl in its mouth. The halos emanating from the pearls intertwine with the holy light, forming an invisible barrier that keeps the noisy crowd several feet away.
Qin He walked slowly closer, his gaze piercing through the barrier and landing inside the shrine.
The light inside the shrine was dim, but it was illuminated by the holy light flowing everywhere.
Several towering statues, each several meters tall, stood there. The statues were made of a material that resembled neither jade nor gold, and were surrounded by a dense divine light of merit. Only their general outlines could be seen, while their faces were obscured by the divine light and remained indistinct. Only their eyes, which looked down upon all living beings, seemed to contain the laws of heaven and earth, inspiring awe in people.
On the altar in front of the statue, fresh fruit and incense were laid out, with wisps of smoke rising and intertwining with the holy light, turning into wisps of white energy that flowed into the statue—that was the merit formed by the people's prayers.
"This is the Shrine of the Gods."
The black demon banner in his sleeve was slightly warm, and Long Qingyun's voice came out, "You should know that gathering merit in private in this realm is a real capital offense, punishable by death, with no room for ambiguity."
Qin He remained silent, his gaze still fixed on the statue.
“The divine court has decreed that all cities within its territory, regardless of size, must have shrines dedicated to the gods.”
Long Qingyun continued, "These shrines are the foundation for the Divine Court to collect merits. They are maintained by special personnel from the city's government offices, and the Divine Court will also send envoys to inspect them regularly. No oversight is allowed."
He could sense something strange in Qin He's gaze and couldn't help but ask, "Why are you staring at the shrine for so long? What are you trying to do?"
"Gather merit." Qin He's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness.
"What?" Long Qingyun's voice suddenly rose, full of astonishment. "Are you crazy? Accumulating merit under the very nose of the Divine Court? That's impossible!"
“Every shrine is patrolled, and the government offices are watching over it. If you dare to have any thoughts of doing good deeds, it won’t be long before the divine court notices.”
Long Qingyun's tone was anxious, "You want to cultivate the Body of Merit? This path can indeed greatly increase your strength, but it is also very risky."
Qin He slowly shook his head: "The Divine Court controls merit, but it is not without its flaws. If they can gather merit through the shrine, why can't I?"
“You…” Long Qingyun was speechless for a moment, and after a long silence, he sighed softly, “Your personality is even more stubborn than mine was back then.”
He paused for a moment, as if making a decision, and his tone became serious: "If you can't beat them, join them. That's the only way."
Qin He raised an eyebrow slightly: "Explain in detail."
"The safest way to accumulate merit under the watchful eyes of the divine court is to have your idol placed directly into this shrine."
Long Qingyun's voice carried a hint of cunning, "As long as there are no problems with the merits collected, the Divine Court's inspections are mostly just a formality most of the time, and they rarely actually inspect the temples. If you can sneak your statue in, you can use the Divine Court's shrine as cover to quietly collect merits—that's called 'usurping the nest' and deceiving the heavens!"
Qin He's eyes lit up instantly.
This idea is indeed bold, yet full of creativity.
The shrine is an excellent vessel for accumulating merit. As long as one can implant one's own idol into it, one can accumulate merit quietly by relying on the people's thoughts, without having to directly conflict with the shrine, and still achieve the purpose of cultivation.
"Good idea." Qin He's lips curled into a smile, his gaze under the brim of his hat becoming even sharper. "Let's do it this way."