Xu Zhengyang sat quietly on the sofa in the study, calmly flipping through the book "Secret Techniques of Daoist Immortal Cultivation".
Since the assassination attempt, Xu Zhengyang has finally found some free time. He intends to take a serious look at this Daoist Immortal Technique, to see what kind of cultivation method it teaches, and why so many believers are so obsessed with it.
Could it be that one can actually develop some special abilities through training?
Otherwise, why would believers still have faith? Moreover, based on current information, many of them are genuine intellectuals, and even government officials.
Are they stupid?
Looking at the somewhat mystical and mysterious cultivation methods and steps described inside, as well as the strange sensations and abilities one could gain after reaching certain levels of cultivation, Xu Zhengyang was even tempted to try it out and see if it really worked.
If it works, wow, wouldn't that completely overturn Xu Zhengyang's concept of a god?
Unfortunately, based on the time required for cultivation described in the book, Xu Zhengyang shook his head with a wry smile, "I don't have that much free time to experience it firsthand."
Xu Zhengyang picked up his phone from the coffee table beside him and dialed Chen Chaojiang's number.
"Asagao, where are we?"
"In Zhongzhou City."
"How about it?"
"There are many followers of Dao Xian Gong, and the exact number cannot be counted at the moment. However, the ghost messengers I arranged have discovered many gathering places of Dao Xian Gong here."
Xu Zhengyang nodded and said, "Here's what you do: find someone with a relatively high cultivation level according to their understanding, and see if he can really perform some supernatural feats... Oh, by the way, it seems they have many levels, each with different mysterious sensations and special abilities. You should look them up."
“Okay, I understand,” Chen Chaojiang replied. “Zhengyang, I think it’s necessary to inform the relevant departments above about this matter and have them pay close attention to it.”
"Yes, the higher-ups already know, and they are investigating in secret."
...
After hanging up, Xu Zhengyang closed his eyes and pondered for a while, then called out in his mind, "Yingying, come here for a moment."
Ouyang Ying quickly appeared inside the house, smiling excitedly as she asked, "Brother, what's up?" It was rare for Xu Zhengyang to call her over, so Ouyang Ying was quite happy and also a little surprised.
"Here's something for you." Xu Zhengyang smiled and waved his hand, handing over a piece of warm, smooth jade.
"A gift for me?" Ouyang Ying was even more surprised. She reached out and took it, curiously playing with it in her hands. What surprised and excited her was not that Xu Zhengyang had given her such a beautiful and exquisite jade, but that she, a ghost without a physical body, could so easily hold this jade in her hands.
Xu Zhengyang nodded and said, "It's been a while since I appointed you as a god, and you seem to be quite relaxed..."
"Hmph, don't think I don't know. I'm just a ghost messenger, like Wang Yonggan and the others." Ouyang Ying pouted, saying with a smile but dissatisfaction.
“Being a god is very busy.” Xu Zhengyang didn’t feel any guilt and said with a smile, “This thing I’m giving you is called a City Scroll. It’s a true divine artifact, containing all the information about the areas under the jurisdiction of each City God’s Palace…”
“I know,” Ouyang Ying said with delight, “Grandpa Judge has one of these treasures.”
Xu Zhengyang nodded and said, "For now, you, the God of Love, should not concern yourself with matters of love and romance. Your responsibility is to investigate the various attitudes of ordinary people towards the existence of gods in the jurisdictions of the City God's Offices, and summarize what they fear and what they hope for. Also... see if the vast majority of people have any other ideas."
"You're being too vague," Ouyang Ying said, pursing her lips. "Then how am I supposed to investigate?"
"To put it simply," Xu Zhengyang shook his head with a wry smile, "it's about making a list of what people think about the existence of gods."
"Brother, I'm afraid I won't do it well..." Ouyang Ying said timidly.
"You want to keep slacking off, don't you?" Xu Zhengyang waved his hand and said, "Go do it. If you have any difficulties, discuss it with your sister-in-law."
"Then, what about Xiaotian? Who will take care of him?" Ouyang Ying asked.
Xu Zhengyang didn't answer, but simply waved his hand, indicating to Ouyang Ying not to worry and to go ahead.
"But I don't have a divine office, I don't have divine power..."
"Go on, go on, it's already done." Xu Zhengyang smiled and waved again.
Ouyang Ying pouted and walked out.
Xu Zhengyang sighed. Since Ouyang Ying and Li Bingjie already had some ideas, he might as well go along with them. However, to be a god, one always had to do something; being idle wasn't impossible, but not right now. Xu Zhengyang had far too few people he could trust.
Some were selfish, and some abused their power.
However, Xu Zhengyang didn't care about this. Anyway, if they weren't suitable in the future, he would just remove their authority.
Let's train them now...
Sigh, there's so much to do, even my wife has to help out.
A moment later, there were two knocks on the door. Xu Zhengyang smiled and said, "Come in."
The door opened, and Li Bingjie led Xu Xiaotian in.
"Zhengyang." Li Bingjie smiled and sat down on the sofa, saying, "I've said before that I can help you in some way..."
Xu Zhengyang nodded and said with a hint of guilt, "I really can't handle it all by myself, and you'd better get used to your divine status as soon as possible."
"Don't be biased," Li Bingjie said with a joking expression.
"Nonsense," Xu Zhengyang said helplessly. "I prepared this for you long ago." As he spoke, Xu Zhengyang took out another jade scroll and handed it to Li Bingjie. Then, with a serious expression, he said, "Although you have a calm personality, you are much clearer about people and things than others. And most importantly, you never lose your composure under any circumstances..."
Li Bingjie showed no discomfort at being praised, and still smiled as she said, "Tell me, what do you want me to do?"
“You are a god, so there are some things you can’t do yourself, which is why you’ve entrusted them to Ouyang Ying. However, she’s not mature enough and doesn’t have enough confidence, so she inevitably consults you on many things… Could you help her make decisions and also keep her in check?” Xu Zhengyang said.
"Hmm, anything else?"
Xu Zhengyang considered for a moment and said, "Focus on the ghosts of officials or capable people who have died in various places, especially those with outstanding abilities like Grandpa and Wan Yun, as well as Gong Xinhao... You know my personality, preferences and thoughts, so select the ghosts that are suitable for my use."
"Grandpa and Wan Yun are better than me, aren't they?" Li Bingjie said calmly.
“It’s different.” Xu Zhengyang shook his head. “Besides, they are all busy and have a lot to think about. Of course, you can also discuss the selection with Grandpa.”
"I understand." Li Bingjie nodded slightly. "Then Xiaotian..."
Xu Xiaotian had already taken the jade from his mother's hand and was playing with it. Hearing his mother mention him, he looked up at Xu Zhengyang and said with a grin, "Dad, you're being unfair! Aunt Ouyang and Mom both have jade, why don't you give it to me?"
"Xiaotian," Xu Zhengyang's expression turned serious as he said, "You've grown up now and understand quite a bit. Daddy is going to confine your consciousness within your body, so you won't be able to leave your body to play anymore..."
"Why?" Xu Xiaotian asked pitifully, pouting.
Li Bingjie, standing to the side, was both amused and exasperated. Her child wasn't even a year old, yet his father was saying he was all grown up and understood a lot. If word got out, how many people would be shocked? But this wasn't an exaggeration; it was the truth. For every month this child grew, his mental maturity was equivalent to a year's growth for an average child.
"Listen to me, you'll understand when you're older." Xu Zhengyang rarely showed such a loving expression, his fatherly love overflowing as he reached out and stroked his son's head.
However, his right hand, which was resting on his son's head, exuded powerful divine strength and intent, resonating with the necklace and bracelet on the child's neck and wrist.
Soon, even more divine power was infused into the two simple artifacts, the necklace and the bracelet.
As Xu Xiaotian's mind matures, his divine power also increases. Therefore, more divine power is needed to empower the artifact in order to bind his consciousness and prevent him from leaving his body.
This seems somewhat cruel, depriving a child of an innate skill and interest, which is certainly not conducive to the child's growth.
However, Xu Xiaotian is no ordinary person; his mind is now like that of a ten-year-old child.
So, he nodded sensibly at his father's serious yet unusually loving care, without protesting. Xu Zhengyang and Li Bingjie were also not worried that their child would develop serious violent tendencies again because his consciousness was bound and he could not leave his body to play, as he had done before.
After doing all this, Xu Zhengyang sighed with some guilt, pulled the child between his legs, and said softly, "When the child turns one year old, let's send him to kindergarten."
"Is this appropriate?" Li Bingjie asked helplessly.
"Change the age on the household registration..." Xu Zhengyang said casually, but looking at his son's height, which was still that of a normal baby under one year old, he said helplessly, "According to his mental maturity, he should be starting elementary school."
Li Bingjie suggested, "Why don't we hire a tutor for the child?"
“No.” Xu Zhengyang shook his head in denial, saying, “Children should always be sent to school to experience life more. Otherwise, they will not be able to integrate into normal social life in the future.”
After saying this, the couple exchanged a knowing glance.
Given this child's growth rate, is he... going to keep skipping grades? Will he go to university at a very young age?
He's an outcast; how can you help him integrate into normal society?
In this way...
Xu Zhengyang and his wife couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness and guilt. They were so sorry for their child!
He was destined never to experience the ordinary joys of childhood like other children.
Xu Xiaotian, unaware of what his parents were thinking, had already broken free from his father's side, jumped onto the chair in front of his father's desk, and started playing Minesweeper with the mouse.
Volume Six, Chapter 357: Ye Wan, who only made things worse and caused more trouble.
Jiangjing City, around 10 a.m.
For southern cities, the weather is already showing signs of heat this season, and some people who can't stand the heat have already put on summer clothes such as short-sleeved T-shirts and skirts.
The city streets are bustling with traffic and pedestrians hurrying by.
After driving a black SUV through a traffic light, Ye Wan slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road. He then looked around to make sure he saw the landmark building next to him before turning right into a narrow street that was about five or six meters wide.
The street is lined with lush green trees on both sides. There are three residential complexes with many residents along this street.
After turning right and driving south along the street for about a hundred meters, you'll see the gate of a residential complex on your left. The words "Jingyi Residential Complex" are printed on the tiles next to the gate, and next to it is a bright yellow sheet of paper with the title "Dao Xian Gong Teaching Class" clearly written on it, with the words "Shi Ji Xing" densely written below.
Ye Wan pursed her lips and snorted softly, then turned the steering wheel and drove into the residential area.
She has already found the nearest "Taoist Immortal Cultivation Class" in Jiangjing City to her residence online.
With nothing to do and having just finished her postpartum confinement, she didn't want to go to work for the time being, and she also had other plans in mind, which is why she specifically sought out the "Taoist Immortal Kung Fu Class".
These days, Ye Wan has finally begun to feel the joy of a liberated serf singing songs of triumph.
To be honest, given her personality and preferences, her postpartum confinement period in Shuanghe Village was almost unbearable. However, her mother-in-law's excessive care and attention made her too embarrassed to do anything that would cause her mother-in-law distress or worry. She could only stay cooped up at home. The joy and happiness of becoming a mother for the first time were merely a small consolation to herself.
Raising children is truly a stressful and tiring task.
After the baby's one-month celebration, she eagerly took the baby and asked Chen Chaojiang to take her to her parents' home.
Her family had made preparations long ago, hiring a nanny to take care of the child. Moreover, after Chen Chaojiang sent her and the child to Jiangjing City, he received a call from Xu Zhengyang the next day. After explaining to Ye Wan briefly, he drove away from Jiangjing City in a hurry.
Ye Wan had no complaints about this. She said that it was already good enough that her husband had been able to stay by her side since she gave birth.
Moreover, Xu Zhengyang never urged Chen Chaojiang to do anything.
Ye Wan now knows many secrets, including that Chen Chaojiang has acquired a unique identity similar to Xu Zhengyang's. It wasn't that Chen Chaojiang or Li Bingjie intentionally told her; rather, she had a conversation with Li Bingjie earlier this year, mentioning that Chen Chaojiang had been acting strangely lately. Xu Zhengyang overheard this and calmly told Ye Wan in his study about Chen Chaojiang's current identity and responsibilities.
Ye Wan was quite surprised when she first heard this, but after thinking about it, she understood.
In any case, Xu Zhengyang's identity was no longer a secret among people like them, and his brotherly relationship with Chen Chaojiang was probably only a matter of time. However, Ye Wan later wondered if, with such abilities, Chen Chaojiang might no longer have to face death in the future.
So after I die, won't he have to marry another wife?
Ye Wan angrily grabbed Chen Chaojiang and made him swear that even hundreds of years later, if he was still alive and she was dead, he would still marry the girl she had been reincarnated as! He couldn't marry anyone else...
Of course, this was a joke, and Ye Wan was just being herself; she wasn't really that unreasonable. However, after the joke, she asked Chen Chaojiang quite seriously, "If you and Xu Zhengyang are gods, can you live forever?" Chen Chaojiang shook his head and replied that he didn't know either.
Ye Wan then asked, "What are the requirements to become an immortal?"