Chapter 281: Annual Faith List
Facing Yuan Zhu’s forceful questioning, the passively inclined Nie Yin always answered every question and did so very comprehensively.
At this moment, her emotions were gradually becoming intense. She felt like she had been drawn into some dangerous incident, involved in a conspiracy of an ‘evil god illegally invading the real world’.
Am I now playing the role of ‘accomplice’? That’s really stimulating.
She glanced at Yuan Tang, whose gaze was full of curiosity, and calmly said: “First, cultivation should be stopped immediately!”
For dangerous ‘otherworld pollution seeds’ like these, once they actively cultivate, they will emit strong and unfamiliar pollution fluctuations, easily alerting the [Law Monitoring Network] that covers the entire city. Even with [haunted house] shielding and blocking, it’s not absolutely safe.
Of course, if the brother and sister were thrown into the [Disease Garden], it wouldn’t matter. Even if they broke through to [Heaven Rank] inside, it wouldn’t affect the present world.
Yuan Zhu, who had exchanged for a copy of the “Bubble Layer Smuggling Guide” in the [Happy Home], had some understanding of this and nodded, saying: “Don’t worry, the real world lacks the environment for them to cultivate. The ‘supernatural powers (Qi Refining Technique)’ they have mastered have entered a passive semi-dormant state.”
Yuan Zhu used [Anti-Law] to check the physical conditions of the brother and sister. The true qi in their bodies was currently in a background dormant state, operating at minimal power consumption to ensure the meridian system did not atrophy or degenerate.
As for breathing and exhaling to get stronger? Impossible. After leaving the ‘miasma pollution environment’, they could no longer cultivate and could only unilaterally consume their limited stock of true qi, unable to replenish it.
Good news: After leaving the [Eclosion World], their bodies no longer suffered from the negative erosion of the ‘doomsday environment’. Thus, there was no need to maintain the activity of ‘qi threads’ or remove various pollution erosions from their bodies.
The ‘true qi’ in their bodies could sustain them for a long time. There was no rush to find substitutes for ‘polluting energy’. Worst case, they could open a [Three Phases] and follow Yuan Zhu in cultivating the orthodox ‘Shadow/Holy Light Path’.
Seeing that the brother and sister had already actively restrained and suppressed the polluted aura in their bodies, Nie Yin thought these two ‘pollution seeds’ were sensible and teachable, so she continued: “Next, apply for legal identities for them and bind them. Then quickly fill out the [Faith Declaration] to obtain blessings from resident deities. This can greatly strengthen their connection with Du Ling Star, using the karma (connection) with the deities to shield external detection.”
Treat the brother and sister as heavily polluted hydrogen balloons with no ties to the present world. They could be rejected and exiled at any time due to [Ascension Impulse], floating away from the ground (present world) and disappearing.
Once they obtain legal identities, use the per-person dozen or so [faith slots] to establish connections with deities. It’s like ten not-so-sturdy thin threads anchoring these two large balloons to the ground.
These ‘thin threads’ might not be sturdy enough, but they’re better than doing nothing. With this layer of ‘faith connection’, it also adds another level of interference for better concealment in the human world.
This was also a method Yuan Zhu had learned from the “Handbook”, but he didn’t know the specific operations. Hearing Nie Yin explain it so clearly, he curiously asked: “Why do you seem to know so much about this? Have you been involved in similar incidents?”
Nie Yin nodded: “Different schools in the [Rain Courtyard] often have such cases. Some students with backgrounds smuggle and privately keep beautifully shaped ‘demonic creatures’ from the [Spirit Layers]. Additionally, some dangerous experiments transfer ‘polluted life’ to the present world and then use [faith] to cover it up. I’ve seen a senior student declare faith for a ‘demonic creature’.”
Yuan Zhu became interested: “Oh? So what recommendations do you have in this area?”
As a soul transmigrator of less than half a year, despite obtaining a large amount of supernatural knowledge and common sense through his predecessor’s memory fragments and channels like [Rain Courtyard, Happy Home],
he was still a blank slate when it came to interacting with ‘faith’ and deities. Those illusory memories were like flowers in a mirror or moon on water, lacking a sense of reality.
Personally, due to his transmigrator status, he worried about being detected by the outside world and was extremely cautious about contacting the ‘faith’ he had declared. Since descending, he had never actively contacted the [faith] under his name, nor enjoyed any ‘blessings’.
Nie Yin was unaware of her employer’s situation and introduced in a very casual tone: “The more powerful the deity, the fewer constraints after successfully declaring faith, but the benefits are poorer, and the obligations one fulfills and the attention received are also minimal.”
“Conversely, if the faith is in a relatively niche or weaker deity, the benefits enjoyed are higher and treated more seriously. But the corresponding obligations increase, restrictions are stricter, and outstanding behavioral performances can easily draw the deity’s attention. Gaining a deity’s favor is also a pathway into the supernatural domain.”
Hearing this, Yuan Zhu immediately thought of those ordinary people who steadfastly maintained faith in the [Holy Church] for decades without wavering, regularly visiting the church every month to worship. Once ‘faith accumulation’ reaches the required duration, they can get free aptitude testing; or recommend their own relatives.
Once approved, they can apply for the [Holy Mark Ritual] to become free Holy Light system consumables (human candles). Whereas Yuan Zhu could only spend money and pull strings to imprint a [Holy Mark], paying to become consumable.
He curiously asked: “Which faiths did you choose? What deities does the [Rain Courtyard] habitually use as shields for ‘smugglers’?”
Nie Yin: “I applied for 10 faiths this year: [Fate. Frog God], [Fate. Mother of the Black Goat], [Deep Sleep God], [Lord of Eye Protection], [Tuesday Discount Alliance (Deity System)], [Flying Instant Noodle God], [Sterilization and Cleaning Incantation], [Skilled Artisan], [Blood Ink], [Crimson Ripper].”
Yuan Zhu was completely dumbfounded; he didn’t understand but was greatly shocked!
Not just him; the brother and sister standing by, listening attentively, also wore the same awestruck expression. They looked at Nie Yin with admiration—she had a calm expression, head lowered, her neck-length short hair covering half her cheek.
Being so strongly observed by the three with full admiration, Nie Yin in the center position blushed slightly, her mental state extremely unstable. Her affection level fluctuated wildly up and down, reflecting her unsettled inner emotions.
This feeling of being the center of attention was so unfamiliar, something she had never experienced. Her mind went blank, body stiff, but her spirit was excited, somewhat enjoying it.
Yuan Zhu took the opportunity to ask: “I can understand you having faith in [Fate. Frog God], but how are there things like [Tuesday Discount Alliance, Sterilization and Cleaning Incantation, Blood Ink] that sound so mismatched? Can incantations be faiths too?”
Among the ten slots of Nie Yin’s faiths, only [Fate. Frog God] made sense to him; the other deity faiths all felt weird no matter what.
Candle: “Can you explain in detail? Let these two kids broaden their horizons and understand the benefits of [Righteous God faith].”
Nie Yin, greatly enjoying this feeling of being noticed and consulted, nodded reservedly: “Sure. [Tuesday Discount Alliance] is not a specific deity, but a [Commercial Deity System]. Any commercial deity holding a [brand. godhood] can apply to join. Faith in this [deity system] is equivalent to faith in countless commercial deities. Believers can go to shops enshrining any member of the [Discount Deity System] on Tuesdays to enjoy limited-time discounts.”
Under Nie Yin’s simple introduction, Yuan Zhu suddenly realized that this [Commercial Deity System] called [Tuesday Discount Alliance] had a bit of a ‘fantasy Pinduoduo, group buy’ flavor.
Rather than a [Commercial Deity System], it was more like a ‘commercial platform’ empowered by divine power. As long as believers pray daily, it’s like checking in on a mobile app, accumulating points (deity blessings).
In daily visits to shops enshrining any [Commercial Deity], they can use ‘blessings (point accumulation)’ for discounts on specific goods.
As for [Tuesday Discount], it’s similar to ‘KFC Crazy Thursday’. It’s a commercial tactic by the Commercial Deity System to expand influence and stimulate believer fervor. Regardless of whether you devoutly check in and pray daily, as long as you pray on every Tuesday, you can claim blessings like ‘limited-time discount coupons’ and redeem them at specific shops.
Since the [Tuesday Discount Deity System] is a super platform covering the New Federation with numerous joined [Commercial Deities], believers just need to mindlessly check in and pray to redeem goods from all [Commercial Deities] within the deity system using ‘discount coupons’—extremely high cost-performance and great influence.
As a poor ‘indebted student’, Nie Yin had long persisted in the [Tuesday Discount Alliance] faith, checking in daily, expert in various group buys and orders, saving a significant amount of expenses.
The brother and sister, who had occasionally entered the [Insect City Upper City District] market tunnels, naturally understood commercial transactions. Meanwhile, the underground world also had ‘deity faiths’.
Thus, upon learning that the [Tuesday Discount Deity System] had numerous joined deities, extremely low constraints on believers, only requiring devout prayer to accumulate ‘blessings (points)’ reductions; and crazy limited-time discounts every Tuesday, they immediately showed strong envy and desire.
So many great deities serving around them, gifting various discounts and goods. This ‘upper realm life’ is truly too happy!
The predecessor’s memories had no information on the [Tuesday Discount Alliance]. But to Yuan Zhu now, it was just a primitive simple [Pinduoduo group buy platform], requiring no mobile phone or data signal—directly connecting to the [deity system] via ‘intracranial faith prayer’.
Additionally, senior believers (users) could periodically hear ‘divine oracles’. Translated, it’s like mobile app notifications about nearby merchants with discount activities, providing money-saving strategy intel. Aimed at stimulating consumption and enhancing faith positive feedback.
Yuan Zhu was stunned, then asked: “How effective is the faith in this [Commercial Deity System] at shielding smugglers?”
Nie Yin recommended: “The commercial deities in the [Alliance Deity System] are all weak individually, but together they form [powerful divine power], and due to the numerous joined deities, the faith mixing creates excellent interference. I personally recommend it.”
Yuan Zhu: “Great! What about [Sterilization and Cleaning Incantation]? Also a deity name?”
Nie Yin shook her head: “No, this is an on-campus ritual constructed by the [Rain Courtyard]. You can think of it as the [Rain Courtyard] constructing its ‘academy concept’ into a corresponding [godhood]. And [Sterilization and Cleaning Incantation] is a [divine art]. Normally, believers need very high faith intensity and prolonged prayer to convert into one use of [divine art]. But within the Rain Courtyard, as long as you declare faith in the [Cleaning Incantation], you can borrow the academy’s power for efficient sterilization and disinfection in laboratories.”
Yuan Zhu quickly understood that the [Rain Courtyard] was exploiting a loophole in the ‘commoner faith system’. Using virtual godhood technology to build a [ritual hub] on campus, allowing any campus student to borrow this [Cleaning Incantation] for efficient sterilization and disinfection in labs.
This saved massive expenses on ‘Holy Light system materials (holy water, ash)’. It also allowed students who hadn’t chosen a [supernatural system] and only studied supernatural knowledge to perform practical operations.
This was similar to him descending [Anti-Law], letting Nie Yin, Yuan Tang, and Yuan Tiao freely use [Shadow Power] without constraints or restrictions.
Yuan Zhu: “What about the other faiths? Introduce them.”
Nie Yin: “I’m a [Frog School] student, so naturally I have faith in [Fate. Frog God]. No problem, right?”
Candle thought of that statue she had sacrificed to and worshipped for many years, entwined with frog resentment and curses—the [Headless Skin-Peeling Frog God Bronze Statue]—and then nodded. It was clear this [statue of god] had been tempered to a high level by her as an ordinary human and was already bound and recognized its master.
Nie Yin continued: ” [Fate. Mother of the Black Goat] is my zodiac, so naturally I declare it, unchanged for so many years.”
Yuan Zhu indicated understanding; the predecessor seemed to have declared [Fate. Spider] as faith from childhood, his zodiac.
As for the brother and sister, they looked baffled. What is Fate zodiac? Is there [cicada]? (Yuan Zhu: No [cicada], but there is [great moth]. How about it? Surprised?)
“[Deep Sleep God] is a good faction ‘dream deity’ that can protect believers from [Nightmare Pollution] and improve sleep quality. The [Rain Courtyard] introduced the [Nightmare School] a few years ago, causing light erosion pollution in academy dorms. Many chose this faith to ensure sleep quality, relieve daytime pressure, and not carry fatigue to the next day.”
Yuan Zhu: “Awesome, universities are great. They even provide this kind of faith!”
[Sleep Aid God], the predecessor hadn’t even heard of it. But if you believed in this, could you still go wild in [Yellow Millet Town]?
“[Lord of Eye Protection] effectively protects believers’ vision. Additionally, the New Federation has three different ‘World Eye Health Days’. Faith in [Lord of Eye Protection] allows applying for three holidays a year.”
Nie Yin, who daily covered her right eye and revealed a ferocious scar, obviously had some issue. Choosing [Lord of Eye Protection] was probably not just for the three days of annual leave.
“[Flying Instant Noodle God] is a newly risen deity native to the West Coast. The benefits of faith in it are simple: do you know [Food Creation Art]? With sufficient devotion, you can accumulate one bucket of ‘instant noodles’ per week. Blessings can stack up, summoning food from any location where communication is possible. With a year of devout faith, you’ll have pre-stored 52 buckets of instant noodles in an unknown dimension to face any crisis.”
