Chapter 151 Private Conferment of Divine Position

As soon as the news was announced, a sudden uproar broke out among the people below the dais.

The several local gentry and elders invited by Xu Changze looked at each other, their eyes filled with suspicion and uncertainty. They looked at the cracked golden statue on the high platform, then at the ragged, lame old man beside Xu Changze, unable to connect the two in any way.

"Lord Xu, this... this is simply... inconceivable. How can Old Wang the Lame take on such a heavy responsibility? This... this is a divine post!"

Finally, an old gentleman with white hair and beard plucked up the courage to speak with a trembling voice. Another gentleman immediately chimed in, his eyes sweeping over Old Wang the Lame with undisguised contempt.

"Indeed, Lord Xu, how exalted is the City God? How can... how can an ordinary person temporarily take his place?"

In the crowd, Chen Mu, dressed in the black official uniform of the Demon Suppression Division, stood silently in a shadowed corner, calmly watching everything happening in the hall.

He had changed his clothes and restrained all the abnormal aura brought about by the Perfection of the Hunyuan Wuji Calamity Body. At this moment, he looked like an ordinary Demon Suppression Division Squad Leader who had come on official business to inspect the scene, not attracting any attention at all.

His hands were clenched into fists, his brow slightly furrowed as he looked at Xu Changze with a hint of inquiry.

This move by Xu Changze had indeed exceeded his expectations.

He wasn't shocked that the other party dared to risk universal condemnation by forcefully creating a Puppet City God, but rather... why was there no movement from Jiang Xiong's side yet?

According to his deal with Jiang Xiong—or rather, Jiang Xiong's scheme—once he had slain the City God and seized the divine cache, Jiang Xiong should have immediately taken over to stabilize and even control the Yunmeng Underworld Bureau.

But now, Xu Changze had beaten him to the punch by pushing Old Wang the Lame forward and playing the trick of a temporary divine post. Was the Jiang Family too slow to react, or did they have other plans?

Or was Old Wang the Lame himself not as simple as he appeared on the surface?

Chen Mu's gaze turned slightly cold, and his vigilance toward Jiang Xiong increased by a few more points.

It seemed that when these great aristocratic families acted, they did so in layers upon layers, and they would never put all their eggs in one basket.

Facing the doubts of the gentry in the hall, Xu Changze's face showed no anger. Instead, he displayed a look of compassion and farsightedness.

He raised his hand to signal for silence, stopping the crowd's discussion. His voice was sonorous, carrying an official authority that made people afraid to disobey.

"Everyone, please remain calm. I understand your concerns, but in extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken!"

As he spoke, he paced over to Old Wang the Lame. Ignoring the sour, rancid smell emanating from the man, he actually reached out and patted the man's hunched shoulder, showing a bit of earnest sincerity.

"Though Old Wang comes from humble beginnings and is physically disabled, his Heart-Nature is pure. Moreover, he possesses a unique fate, being born with the ability to communicate between the realms of Yin and Yang and sense matters of the netherworld. This is something I have discovered through years of secret investigation; it is by no means an empty claim."

He then scanned the crowd, his eyes burning bright.

"Last night, the demons were fierce. To ensure our safety, the City God fought a hard battle and met with calamity. His divine body was damaged, and he has fallen into a deep slumber."

"However, Yin and Yang cannot be without order for a single day, and the incense must not be cut off for a single day. Otherwise, wandering souls will have no return, and malicious ghosts will breed. Our Yunmeng would face an immediate catastrophe."

"In this time of peril, how can we be sticklers for convention or restricted by one's birth? Old Wang possesses extraordinary talents and shares a profound, predestined affinity with the City God Temple. He is the perfect candidate to temporarily hold the divine post, maintain the balance of Yin and Yang, and protect the people of our Yunmeng!"

He then turned to Old Wang the Lame, his tone softening but still carrying an invisible pressure.

"Old Wang, I ask you, are you willing to temporarily hold the divine post of City God? With your ability to communicate with the underworld, you can organize Yin and Yang, guide the souls of the dead, and temporarily ensure the peace of our Yunmeng while we await the City God's awakening or a new decree from the Imperial Court?"

Old Wang the Lame had already been scared out of his wits by this scene. His entire body shook like a sieve, and his lips trembled so much he couldn't form a complete sentence.

He looked blankly at Xu Changze, then at the surrounding dignitaries in official robes, feeling as if the world were spinning.

Xu Changze did not wait for his answer—or rather, he didn't need one at all. He gave a look to a trusted subordinate nearby.

The subordinate immediately stepped forward, carrying a brocade tray. On the tray lay a cyan robe embroidered with cloud and wave patterns, as well as a somewhat crude black official hat.

"This is the robe for the temporary divine post. Although it lacks the majesty of the City God's formal regalia, it represents trust and responsibility."

Xu Changze personally picked up the cyan robe and draped it over Old Wang the Lame without allowing any refusal, then personally placed the black hat on him.

The robe did not fit; it hung loosely on Old Wang the Lame's hunched frame, and the black hat sat crookedly on his head.

Old Wang the Lame tried to dodge, but he was secretly held in place by two bailiffs on either side, unable to move. His face was a mixture of fear and confusion, along with a trace of twisted excitement, making him look exceptionally eerie.

Seeing this, although the gentry in the hall were still extremely resistant, they didn't dare to contradict him to his face after Xu Changze had shown such a firm attitude and invoked the threat of Yin-Yang disorder and impending catastrophe. One by one, they could only cup their hands and agree.

"Lord Xu is farsighted and acts for the sake of the people. We are both moved and impressed."

Only then did a trace of a satisfied smile appear on Xu Changze's face, and he then said solemnly.

"Since that is the case, there is no time to lose. I will immediately hold the ceremony for Old Wang to temporarily assume the divine post."

"Men, prepare the incense altar, offerings, cinnabar, and yellow paper!"

With the order given, the bailiffs immediately got busy. The shattered incense altar was carried away and replaced with a new one. Offerings were laid out again, including the three sacrificial animals, the six domestic animals, and seasonal fruits.

The cinnabar was ground, and the yellow paper was spread out. The main hall was soon arranged in a proper fashion.

Supported by two bailiffs, Old Wang the Lame stood trembling before the high platform where the original golden statue of the City God was located.

"Kneel!"

Xu Changze personally acted as the master of ceremonies, his voice solemn and majestic.

Old Wang the Lame had difficulty with his legs and was forced down to his knees by the bailiffs, facing the cracked golden statue of the City God.

"Bow!"

Old Wang the Lame kowtowed mechanically.

"Bow again!"

"Bow a third time!"

Three kneelings and nine kowtows, performed with meticulous care.

When the ritual was finished, Xu Changze stepped forward, picked up a brush soaked in cinnabar, and wrote with a flourish on a piece of special yellow paper.

It was not a common talisman, but a document for the temporary assumption of a divine post. It clearly stated the reasons, the recommender, and the name of the temporary appointee, and was stamped with the official seal of the Yunmeng County Magistrate.

Once the document was written, someone placed the yellow paper on the incense altar and lit it. As the blue smoke curled up, Xu Changze muttered something—not in the official language, but in obscure and difficult syllables that sounded like some kind of ancient incantation.

Chen Mu's gaze narrowed. Although he couldn't understand the content of the incantation, he could clearly feel the aura in the hall undergoing a subtle change.

The Yin Qi of the earth veins was quietly being drawn out, strands of it wrapping around the yellow paper that was about to burn out. Meanwhile, the weak but special aura on Old Wang the Lame seemed to be resonating with this Yin Qi.

After the incantation was finished and the yellow paper had burned away, Xu Changze brought over a bowl of clear water, paused for a moment, walked up to Old Wang the Lame, and lightly tapped the center of his forehead.

"In the name of the Yunmeng County Magistrate, inheriting the legacy of the City God, I permit you to temporarily hold the divine post of City God, to organize Yin and Yang, and to protect this region."

"Buzz—"

An extremely slight vibration rang out in the hall. Old Wang the Lame shuddered, and the spot of water on his forehead actually gave off a faint golden light. A flash of confusion crossed his eyes before he returned to his usual appearance.

But in Chen Mu's perception, Old Wang the Lame's aura had undergone a fundamental change.

He was still that same lame village guardian, but he now carried a wisp of authority that was faintly connected to the City God Temple.

With the ritual over, Xu Changze's face returned to its usual majesty. He instructed the temple priest to take Old Wang the Lame to the back hall to familiarize himself with divine duties, then turned and cupped his hands to the crowd.

"From this day forward, Old Wang shall temporarily hold the divine post of City God and preside over the affairs of the temple. I hope all of you, my fellow elders and neighbors, will give him your full support!"