CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 29 RONGRONG: 20 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL BLUFFING (2 UPDATES)_1

"Quiet down, everyone!"

Tushan Rongrong retracted her nine fluffy, sky-obscuring fox tails and squinted. She looked down at the eager crowd, gently lifted her hand, and silence fell. Everyone watched her, their gazes burning with anticipation.

Tushan Rongrong said, "Believing in my God is simple. Everyone, just pray with me once."

"Yes, God’s Envoy," everyone roared in unison.

Excitement.

Elation.

Passion boiling over.

Dongfang Duyue, members of Wang Quan’s Family, and other powerful experts from the One Qi Daoist Alliance, along with the Southern Poison Emperor and the Northern Mountain Demon Emperor from the Demon Race, did not pray. They fixated their gazes on the praying masses, deciding to observe a bit longer.

「A moment later」

After everyone had prayed once, the world fell into a deathly silence. However, this was merely the calm before the storm. The very next moment, the crowd erupted.

"Ah!"

"My cultivation level has broken through!"

"Me too!"

"My heavens, I’ve advanced three years of cultivation!"

"I’ve advanced ten years!"

Human cultivators and demons alike exclaimed in ecstasy, one after another.

"Damn!"

"I’m going to do it again!"

Suddenly, a chorus of prayers rose and fell, echoing above Tushan, reverberating through the empty valley, lingering for a long time.

"Prayer can improve one’s cultivation level?"

The Master of Divine Fire Manor, Dongfang Duyue, watched the frenzied scene before him in disbelief. They could understand when divine blessings were bestowed upon believers, causing their cultivation levels to soar. But what sort of power was this, where simply praying brought divine favor? Was the Divine Spirit not worried about operating at a loss?

"I’ll try it!"

Curiosity gleaming in her beautiful eyes, Dongfang Huaizhu prayed once. She discovered that her cultivation level had genuinely improved, and even her control over the Demon-slaying Pure Sunfire had increased.

"It truly can improve cultivation level! And I feel no ill effects whatsoever; the foundation is very stable, just like mana gained from my own hard practice—if not even purer!" Dongfang Huaizhu said in shock. This deity is indeed too generous.

It wasn’t just Dongfang Huaizhu. Wang Quan Baye, Wang Quan Zui, Huandu Qingtian, Northern Mountain Demon Emperor Shi Kuan, Northern Mountain Chicken Master, and other powerful figures from the Human and Demon Fishes all prayed once upon seeing that it could increase their cultivation.

Their cultivation levels had all improved.

Northern Mountain Chicken Master and other powerful experts from the Human-Demon Fishes, who had been injured earlier when they rushed the altar, found their injuries healed as well. One by one, they were rendered speechless by shock, emotions churning within them like a storm.

"God’s Envoy, can I now become a believer of the Upper God?" At that moment, Ximen Chuisha’s voice, filled with anticipation, rose.

He didn’t continue praying, knowing that becoming a true believer of the Divine Spirit and clinging to the God’s Envoy’s coattails was paramount. The divine grace obtained from prayer was, relatively speaking, the most basic boon, available to everyone.

WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH.

All gazes snapped towards her. Ninety-nine percent of those present yearned to become believers of the Upper God, for this would not only grant greater benefits but also allow them to latch onto a patron mightier than heaven itself.

"Believer?"

Tushan Rongrong squinted, a charming smile playing on her lips. "Aren’t you already followers of my God?"

"Hmm???"

Ximen Chuisha’s pupils constricted. The others were also puzzled.

Already followers? When did that happen?

"Not just you, all of you!" Tushan Rongrong smiled. "The moment you prayed to my God, you became followers of my God."

"I see."

The crowd had a sudden realization. They had all received divine grace; if they weren’t followers of the Upper God, what were they? Moreover, if they weren’t His followers, why would the Upper God bestow divine grace upon them? How foolish they had been!

"Do you think that believing in the Upper God means giving up everything and serving Him for a lifetime?"

"Perhaps that’s true for those evil gods!"

"But my God is great and benevolent!" Tushan Rongrong’s voice grew increasingly fervent and reverent. "As long as you chant the name of my God and pray devoutly, that is enough! My God’s divine grace will envelop all believers who worship Him."

"Thank you, God’s Envoy, for clarifying our doubts!" Ximen Chuisha and the others cupped their hands respectfully. "Our God is truly great! We thank our God."

Tushan Rongrong nodded. "My God is great and benevolent. Regardless of whether you are demon, human, or any other living being, as long as you believe in my God, you are His follower and will be enveloped by His divine grace. As long as you spread the glory of my God or offer sacrifices to Him, you can also receive His divine blessings."

Tushan Rongrong’s gaze swept over the experts from the One Qi Daoist Alliance, Huandu Qingtian, the Northern Mountain Demon Emperor, and other members of the Human and Demon Fishes. "For millennia, conflict and slaughter have been constant between the Human and Demon Fishes. Ultimately, it is both these Fishes that suffer."

The pupils of all the experts constricted, their hearts leaping into their throats. They knew the crucial point was approaching.

"Therefore, today, I, from Tushan, establish the Hongmeng Divine Sect here to spread the faith of my God and promote peaceful coexistence between the Human and Demon Fishes! Anyone, human or demon, who disrupts this peace is an enemy of our Divine Church!"

As she spoke, a terrifying aura emanated from Tushan Rongrong, pressing down on them. Even powerful experts like Huandu Qingtian and the Northern Mountain Demon Emperor felt as if they were crushed beneath a mountain, unable to move.

"However, as long as you believe in my God, you are His followers and will receive His divine protection. We welcome experts from both Human and Demon Fishes to join the Hongmeng Divine Sect! For the glory of our God, and for the peace of the Human and Demon Fishes!"

Tushan Rongrong’s voice was stirring and impassioned, making the blood of all who heard it boil with fervor.

"For the glory of our God, and for the peace of the Human and Demon Fishes!" Ximen Chuisha, waving his feather fan, called out fervently.

This fellow is quite useful! Tushan Rongrong squinted at Ximen Chuisha, nodding inwardly with appreciation.

Feeling Tushan Rongrong’s gaze, Ximen Chuisha grew even more ecstatic. He, Ximen Chuisha, the Jade-Faced Paragon, felt his luck had finally turned! Instantly, as if injected with chicken blood, he became tremendously excited, his voice booming louder. His shouts, mingling with the surrounding voices, formed a deafening torrent that thundered to the heavens, echoing across Yunxiao.

"Family Head Wang Quan, what do we do now?" the Master of Zhang Family from the One Qi Daoist Alliance asked, his face bitter. From this day forward, the One Qi Daoist Alliance’s prestige would undoubtedly plummet; its very existence was now questionable.

"What else can we do? If we cannot resist, then we must integrate," the Family Head of Wang Quan Family said with a heavy sigh. Thinking of that majestic and terrifying Divine Spirit, and of the Divine Spirit’s generosity, he suddenly felt this might not be such a bad thing after all. With the Divine Spirit’s protection, what did outsider creatures amount to? Hadn’t they seen how the Third Young Master of Aolai Country, who thrashed those outsider creatures until they couldn’t lift their heads, was easily suppressed by the Divine Spirit? Nowadays, Tushan Honghong and Tushan Yaya could probably sweep through the lands beyond the borders, let alone Tushan Rongrong, who had received two Divine Skills and a hundred thousand years of cultivation level. Simply terrifying. The only unsettling part is that a Tushan Fox Demon has become the God’s Envoy. Our Human Race will definitely be subordinate.

He swept his gaze over Wang Quan Zui, who was cheering and praying not far away. Even though Wang Quan Zui wore a mask, did they really think they could fool them? A thought suddenly emerged in his mind. It’s good to have connections above. Maybe he could... Offer her as a sacrifice!

Indeed, quite a few humans and demons shared his thoughts. Many even wished to offer themselves. But they knew there must be stringent requirements for such sacrifices; not just anyone would qualify. Otherwise, if anyone could be offered, wouldn’t God’s kingdom become a dumping ground for refuse?

"God’s Envoy," Dongfang Duyue stepped forward to ask, "if my Divine Fire Manor joins the Divine Church, will our members be dispersed and managed centrally by the Divine Church? Or will we operate like the One Qi Daoist Alliance, as part of a larger coalition yet maintaining our independence?"

As he spoke, the experts from the One Qi Daoist Alliance and the Demon Race instantly tensed. This question was not only Dongfang Duyue’s concern but theirs as well. It pertained to their vital interests and was of utmost importance.

Tushan Rongrong smiled faintly, clearly prepared for this question. She replied, "The purpose of the Hongmeng Divine Sect is to spread the glory of my God and foster peace between the Human and Demon Fishes, not to rule the world."

...