Chapter 107: Merit Aligned with Status

The moment the destiny of the Star Lord Wang intersected with the Golden Dragon, everyone on Mount Tianzhu felt it. The one who sensed it most profoundly was Daoist Ren of the Mount Dongyue Temple.

After Daoist Ren subdued the Mummy Buddha of Nanguo County, he had the assistance of Wang Yuanfeng’s men, so he was not overly burdened. Whenever they encountered malevolent spirits on Mount Tianzhu that they could not handle, they would recall Wang Yuanfeng’s instructions: if anything proved unsolvable, they were to seek out Daoist Ren.

Mount Tianzhu had been established as a stronghold, and with highly cultivated individuals guarding it, they did not stop their expansion despite Wang Yuanfeng not explicitly ordering them to do so. Driven by the human desire for advancement, they had conquered the surrounding counties within a few days. Encountering no bottlenecks, their momentum was unstoppable. Even if Wang Yuanfeng had wanted them to stop at that moment, it would likely have proven counterproductive. To accelerate the process, they had invited Daoist Ren to join them immediately after Wang Yuanfeng’s departure.

Daoist Ren did not refuse. His philosophy aligned with Wang Yuanfeng’s—both sought to re-establish the order of heaven and earth. Without a second word, he packed his belongings and arrived at Mount Tianzhu.

At this moment, everyone felt the shift in their own personal destiny. Daoist Ren, possessing the highest cultivation, had a premonition the moment the thought crossed his mind. The others, after consulting one another, realized they all shared the same sensation.

Inside the council chamber of Mount Tianzhu, Daoist Ren sat at the head of the table. Commander Wu, Jia Cai, Jia Cheng, Lou Jingou, the Great Gray Wolf, and several unfamiliar faces sat on either side.

Jia Cai, who generally handled internal affairs and held a high status here, was aware of his young master’s extraordinary nature and the art of divine ennoblement. Having felt these strange phenomena several times before, he finally decided to consult Daoist Ren.

Observing Daoist Ren, who sat composed and serene at the head of the table, dressed in a Daoist robe patterned with the Eight Trigrams and wearing a Five-Thunder Lotus crown, Jia Cai cleared his throat and asked, "Daoist Master, recently we have all felt a surge of vitality, increased strength, a sense of inner weight, and mental clarity. Do you know the reason for this?"

Daoist Ren did not answer immediately. He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the armrest of his chair, surveying the people below.

Everyone present looked toward him. Aside from Lou Jingou and Kui Mulang, the others had their own guesses, but due to their lack of understanding regarding the shifting of destiny, they remained somewhat confused.

As for Lou Jingou, his inherent nature dictated his attitude. Because of his absolute loyalty, he never questioned Wang Yuanfeng, whether the master was dealing with the poor or the rich, practitioners or commoners. He felt no doubt whatsoever.

Kui Mulang, the "big clumsy wolf of the north," was the type who cared for nothing as long as he had three meals a day. In folk legend, it was said he could sometimes be chased by a three-year-old child with a bamboo pole, yet if his pack were harmed, he would turn so ferocious that even tigers would fear him. He was currently in high spirits; since joining this collective, he had been treated like a lord. He sat with his legs crossed, humming what sounded like a simple tune.

However, the tune consisted of only a few repetitive notes. Daoist Ren’s gaze finally fell upon Kui Mulang, and he shook his head helplessly. He was truly speechless regarding the wolf and could not fathom how it had attained its current level of cultivation.

Daoist Ren felt that as the Divine Lord Wang Yuanfeng would have many tasks for his subordinates in the future, the Great Gray Wolf would fail to keep pace if he continued in this manner. He needed to be educated to ensure he did not become a liability.

"Kui Mulang," Daoist Ren said, looking at the smug wolf.

Kui Mulang continued to enjoy his tune, seemingly oblivious.

The atmosphere in the room solidified as everyone turned to look at the wolf. Daoist Ren’s face darkened. The others stared at the Great Gray Wolf, who was still humming with his legs crossed.

The wolf was currently contemplating whether to find a mate and raise a litter of pups, but he suddenly felt a chilling sensation. Unsettled, he circulated his internal energy to clear the feeling, but the sensation only intensified. He turned his head to see if others felt the same, only to find everyone staring at him. His heart skipped a beat; he realized he was in trouble.

"What is the matter with you all? Aha," the wolf said with a dry laugh.

He turned to Daoist Ren and, seeing the man’s terrifyingly grim expression, quickly stood up and said fawningly, "Daoist Master, what is wrong? Just tell me, Kui Mulang, and I will handle anything."

Daoist Ren shook his head, resigned. Knowing the wolf’s thick-skinned nature, he assumed the creature hadn't heard a word. If he didn't give him a scare, he would remain the same. "Do you know the origin of the True Deities of Heaven and Earth?" he asked.

"I know," the wolf replied without hesitation. "Every True Deity is created by the Young Master. As long as one's fate matches the position, it is the Young Master who grants the title."

The others present did not fully understand the method of divine ennoblement, but hearing this, they nodded in agreement, finding it logical.

"Ha!" Daoist Ren laughed aloud, then continued, "The Young Master governs the path of the Hunyuan and is in harmony with heaven and earth; thus, he can appoint the gods."

Before the others could react, he added, "However, this method only links one to destiny and provides the foundation for cultivation. One must still cultivate their own virtue to ensure success. If one’s character or fate falls, the corresponding divine position will be lost."

The group suddenly realized the truth. They had previously believed that once a title was granted, it was permanent. They had not realized that divine status could be stripped away.

Lou Jingou, who had been with Wang Yuanfeng for a long time, understood this principle. "If virtue does not match the position, one will inevitably fall," he said.

Commander Wu, who had been deep in thought, asked, "If one falls, can others take that position?"

"They can," Lou Jingou replied. Seeing the commander deep in contemplation, he explained, "As long as one has sufficient merit and the appropriate fate, the Young Master will naturally sense it. With sincere intent, the divine position will be bestowed."

The group still seemed slightly confused, so they looked to Daoist Ren. He nodded and said, "Lou Jingou is correct. If one lacks virtue, their destiny will be depleted. The Young Master can maintain their position for a time, but if their fate falls too far, even he is powerless. When a person of high virtue appears, heaven and earth will naturally bestow the position; even the Divine Lord cannot interfere."

He glanced at the Great Gray Wolf and said, "Therefore, we must not drag our feet. I will suggest to the Divine Lord that divine positions be granted to those with high merit and virtue."

The group was overjoyed, their hearts racing with excitement. They spoke in unison, "The Daoist Master is wise."

Some of them began to stare at the Great Gray Wolf with gleaming eyes.

The wolf felt a jolt of alarm. He had not realized this principle existed. Seeing everyone looking at him like a pack of wolves eyeing prey, he thought to himself, "This is bad. It seems many have their eyes on my position."

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He realized that holding a divine title did not mean he could rest easy. This was like sailing against the current: if one does not advance, one retreats. To maintain long-term stability, he had to change from the roots.

Only by developing a profound respect for the Great Dao could one maintain such a position forever. Thinking of this, he stepped forward and said fawningly to Daoist Ren, "Daoist Master, a message from Li Hualong has reached the north. He has gathered over ten thousand refugees. Our destiny has greatly increased, and our cultivation is growing on its own. Now is the perfect time to strike while the iron is hot."

He then cupped his hands and requested, "Kui Mulang asks for the command to guard the north, clear the path for our forces, and ensure our continued progress."