I Contracted All Ancient Divine Artifacts

Han Zhan silently picked up the silk thread, which was even finer than a strand of hair.

As a shelter, the granary’s walls must be exceptionally sturdy.

It couldn’t possibly collapse so easily due to the blessings of the Star Official upon the citizens.

This was the most unreasonable aspect of the whole situation.

An external factor.

Combining the question his master Jiang Ziya had asked him before, the answer seemed to be almost self-evident.

”Many thanks to the Divine Envoy for saving our lives!”

”Thank you, Divine Envoy!”

”Thank you...”

Just as Han Zhan was staring at the silk thread in his hand in a daze, a crowd of citizens suddenly surged toward him from behind.

They thanked Han Zhan excitedly, with some even kneeling to express their reverence.

Tong Yi and Tong Er stood proudly by the side, seemingly seeking credit.

It was their spreading of Han Zhan’s invincible heroism and divine justice that made the citizens understand the course of events immediately.

Han Zhan opened his mouth, just about to say there was no need for such a grand gesture, when an unexpected, intangible force suddenly poured into his body.

Following this, in the sea of gold in his consciousness’s treasure trove, the number of Golden Profound Texts began increasing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In the blink of an eye, the Golden Profound Texts grew from twelve to three hundred and sixty, multiplying by thirty times!

Not only the Magic Gate, the Magic Gate also provided feedback simultaneously.

The Creation Skill and the Circulation Technique both received enhancements that even surprised Han Zhan.

This is... Han Zhan felt the changes in his body, his astonishment evident.

”Quite surprising, isn’t it.”

At this moment, another voice sounded in his ear.

Fourth Senior Brother Chang Hao appeared beside him.

”You arrived a long time ago.” Han Zhan didn’t answer his question but said instead.

”Yes, almost simultaneously with you. How could a junior complete a sect mission without someone nearby to support?”

Chang Hao shrugged.

”Why didn’t you step in right away?” Han Zhan asked again.

This time, Chang Hao’s response was quicker; he pointed at Han Zhan and then at the kneeling citizens.

”Isn’t the answer obvious?”

”Public opinion, faith, incense?” Han Zhan murmured, and after speaking, he remembered what his master Jiang Ziya had said before.

In order to solve the dilemma, strive to become the king of this world.

At that time, he didn’t quite understand what this meant.

Not until now did he gain some insight.

The strongest in this world are the Celestial Gods. The Celestial Gods are high above, overlooking the mortal realm; they are mighty and ruthless, yet command reverence.

The more so, the more followers, fervent believers, and worshippers they have.

Besides the Celestial Gods, the most powerful should be the earthly monarchs. Because all under the heavens submit to the king, and the subjects also provide faith and wish power.

”No wonder the ancestral temple’s doctrine is to serve the people; the benefits of helping citizens are indeed immense.” Thinking of this, Han Zhan couldn’t help but sigh.

”It seems that you have already understood; yes, the respect and admiration from the citizens feed back into the Great Dao, aiding our cultivation.”

”However, there’s another point: the amount and extent of feedback relate to the life energy. The more life energy, the better the feedback effect. This is also why the ancestral temple seeks disciples with abundant life energy.”

Chang Hao’s explanation finally completed Han Zhan’s understanding loop about cultivation in this world.

The power of the Celestial Gods, the necessity of becoming a king, the awe or worship of the masses, the feedback to the cultivated Great Dao, and the life energy amplification effect...

”I understand.” Han Zhan nodded slightly, expressing his gratitude to Chang Hao for clarifying matters for him.

”No need to thank me, I also have my own selfish motives.” Chang Hao laughed twice and waved his hand.

”Initially I thought you wouldn’t be able to resolve it so quickly, so as the senior brother to support the scene, naturally I could also gain some feedback from the faith.”

”However, you are stronger than I imagined, not even giving me the chance to step in.”

Chang Hao let out a deep sigh.

Han Zhan shook his head, not responding further.

The riot problem at the granary was resolved, and the subsequent comforting work proceeded smoothly.

The first attempt at using the Creation Skill and the Circulation Technique, using both at the same time, though receiving faith feedback, still left him somewhat weary.

Han Zhan said his farewells and left first.

After returning to his original room, he took out the fine silk thread he found at the site of the collapsed wall again.

Could it be a clue?

”Fourth Senior Brother is lying.”

”He arrived even earlier than I did, not at the same time. Because of the passive effects of the Creation Skill, when I sensed his presence, he was already on the granary’s roof.”

”However, Fourth Senior Brother’s explanation made sense. If the master wanted me to resolve the riot and gain faith feedback, then indeed, he couldn’t intervene; standing by isn’t beyond explanation.”

”But, this silk thread very much resembles the one seen on the Star Official Puppet. The granary shouldn’t have anywhere using such fine silk thread.”

One of the secret techniques of Yanshi Puppets involves connecting tens of thousands of silk threads on a puppet, allowing the Yanshi to manipulate it like an extension of their limbs.

These threads must be extremely fine; otherwise, if each were as thick as a hemp rope, it wouldn’t be a Yanshi Puppet, but a zongzi (rice dumpling).

Moreover, Fourth Senior Brother also said that Yanshi can simulate ordinary human puppets, realistic enough to deceive even the Celestial Gods.

So is it possible that a puppet simulated by a Yanshi mingled among the people, stirring trouble, and then punched the wall down?

”Originally, I couldn’t understand the purpose of doing this.”

”However, if helping the citizens resolve the riot could harvest the feedback of faith, then the motive seems apparent.”

The tasks of resolving the riot should originally fall to Fourth Senior Brother Chang Hao.

Thinking this way, the hypothesis that Fourth Senior Brother Chang Hao orchestrated this riot becomes immediately reasonable.

Does the master know about this? Han Zhan asked himself internally again.

He might know, or he might not. But the probability of knowing should be greater.

It’s even possible that allowing the Star Official to grant blessings on a large scale, creating optimal conditions for a citizen riot, was a result of Master Jiang Ziya’s opportunistic actions.

”But no matter what, I should report this finding to the master, and then let him decide.”

After making a judgment in his heart, Han Zhan carefully kept the silk thread, intending to return to the Ancestral Temple to find Jiang Ziya after dawn in Xiqi.

After resting with his eyes closed for a while.

The eye in the sky disappeared, replaced by total darkness.

The daytime belonging to Xiqi had arrived.

At the same time, urgent footsteps sounded outside, accompanied by Tong Yi’s panicked voice:

”Chicken Hair, it’s not good; Tong Er has been taken away! There are still bad people in the granary!”