Chapter 128: Suppression

The divine abilities and cultivation techniques inherent to the physical body cannot be utilized by the divine avatar. However, merit points and martial arts skills, which are rooted in the soul and consciousness, are accessible to the divine form. Fang Yue had previously attempted to summon the Merit System, only to find that apart from his merit points, everything else was blank.

"Does this mean the Merit System is tethered to my soul, while the abilities manifested from the jade pendant, bronze mirror, and rattle-drum are fused into my physical body rather than my soul?"

The techniques derived from the Deduction Ability are largely inherited by the flesh, granting the body the state and effects of thousand-fold tempering without the need for actual grueling practice. This effect cannot be transferred to the divine avatar. However, when the system completes a deduction and imparts the knowledge, it not only strengthens the body but also integrates and organizes the martial knowledge within the mind. This martial knowledge can indeed be utilized by the divine avatar.

Fang Yue had achieved a profound mastery of the Flame Palm, so during the time he spent waiting for Magistrate Wen and his ghostly minions to arrive, he quickly enabled his divine avatar to master the technique. Yet, the principles of divine power differ significantly from innate true qi. When Fang Yue learned the Flame Palm with his divine avatar, he did not follow the script blindly but instead made certain improvements to better suit the application of divine power. Thus, it would be more appropriate to call this technique the "Golden Light Palm." Every strike unleashed a brilliant, majestic golden radiance. When it struck Magistrate Wen, it was like plunging a red-hot iron into ice water, causing black mist to hiss and boil away instantly.

As Fang Yue struck blow after blow, Fang Baoliang tacitly began devouring the black mist spilling from Magistrate Wen’s massive form. After a while, however, Fang Baoliang stopped; he looked as if he were drunk, swaying unsteadily. He was full. Fang Yue shook his head but did not cease his movements, continuing to strike the shrinking Magistrate Wen with his palm, which was as wide as a doorframe. He used his divine power to imprison the remaining dissipating black mist, preventing it from vanishing into the world. This black mist was the resentment of the world; such things could not be destroyed as long as living beings existed. Generally speaking, the resentment and hostility in the world were constantly increasing.

After about the time it takes to brew a pot of tea, Magistrate Wen’s body had shrunk to the size of an adult’s fist, leaving only his essence. Fang Yue finally stopped, holding the magistrate in his palm, encased in golden light. He then turned his gaze toward the ghostly bailiffs; they, too, were frozen in place by his divine power, unable to move. These bailiffs had once invaded his dreams, trying to abduct him to serve as a registrar. That was not for his benefit, but a scheme to claim his life.

This grudge could not go unavenged. He had a use for Magistrate Wen, but these bailiffs were unnecessary. Fang Yue’s giant palm glowed with golden light as he struck them down, one by one. These bailiffs, whose bodies were so sturdy that ordinary swords could not harm them, did not even have time to groan before they were shattered into black mist. Chief Bailiff Sun was slightly more resilient, lasting three strikes before his body finally shattered into black mist. Fang Yue gathered all this black mist, along with the remnants from Magistrate Wen, and compressed them into a small ball held within his palm. Then, the golden light upon him faded, and his four-zhang-tall frame rapidly shrank back to the appearance of an ordinary man.

"Scholar, how did you..."

Fang Baoliang was currently digesting the black mist he had swallowed, and his own aura was growing stronger, quickly reaching the level of an innate realm practitioner. However, his martial cultivation remained stuck at the late Postnatal stage.

"We shall discuss this later. You have an excess of yin energy in your body. You need to improve your martial cultivation as soon as possible to neutralize it, lest your mind be influenced by the yin," Fang Yue said.

Fang Baoliang nodded, indicating he understood. In his heart, however, he cared little about whether the yin energy would affect his mind. He was more concerned with whether Fang Yue had become a god. If that giant, golden-shining figure wasn't a god, then what could he be? Although Fang Baoliang could not fathom what was happening, there was no doubt this was excellent news for him. He had always hoped that one day, Fang Yue could help him escape the terrifying monster slumbering on the seabed and avoid the fate of being completely assimilated by it. Yet, as his own strength increased, he realized just how terrifying that monster was—it was completely beyond the reach of human power. He had slowly given up hope, wanting only to look after his family in his remaining days and help Fang Yue watch over Fish Head Town. But tonight, Fang Yue’s sudden descent from the heavens in such a form, appearing like a deity, sparked a new hope in Fang Baoliang’s despairing heart.

Fang Yue was pleased with Fang Baoliang’s performance in Fish Head Town and said, "Tonight's events—you alone defeated these ghosts and protected Fish Head Town. Do you understand?"

Fang Baoliang paused for a moment before realizing that Fang Yue did not want others to know about his ascension. "But Scholar, when you appeared, you were several zhang tall and shining with golden light. People in town could see it from far away. With the ghosts attacking tonight, no one in town could sleep; many must have seen it."

Fang Yue replied, "That is no matter. Be ambiguous; do not state it clearly. This must remain a rumor and never be confirmed. Even if other acquaintances in town ask, maintain this stance."

Fang Baoliang nodded firmly. "I understand."

Fang Yue added, "If you need me, go to the Sea God Temple and pray; I will be able to sense it. Furthermore, I am suppressing the remaining black mist. Once you have digested what is inside you, come back to absorb the rest."

Fang Baoliang nodded once more. The next moment, Fang Yue had vanished.

...

Inside the Sea God Temple, Fang Yue channeled his divine power, completely isolating this small space from the outside world. Only then did he feel at ease and began to probe the memories of Magistrate Wen, who was now reduced to the size of a fist. At this point, the magistrate was merely a mass of essence and could not resist the intrusion of Fang Yue’s divine power.

After a long while, Fang Yue regained his senses from the magistrate’s memories.

"So that is how it is." Fang Yue frowned in contemplation. From the magistrate’s memories, he had learned much, gaining insight into the hidden side of this world. It was a fragmented world; the three realms had shattered, leaving only this broken human world overrun by demons and ghosts. As for the reason for the world’s fragmentation, it was beyond the level of Magistrate Wen, so Fang Yue could not glean it from his memories.

The good news was that the evil god behind Magistrate Wen was repelled by the world and could not easily manifest in the mortal realm. Moreover, should it appear, this world was not without forces capable of handling it. The bad news was that these evil gods, who relished chaos, seemed to be gathering to discuss something. Magistrate Wen’s claim that "the world is about to fall into great chaos" referred to this.

"Although it is said that when the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up, and those evil gods may not succeed, but..." Fang Yue did not like being passive. He did not want to pin his hopes on others; one must always take precautions.

In his palm, Magistrate Wen, having been probed, was mentally withered and chaotic. Fang Yue did not kill him immediately but suppressed him within the divine statue. This was to leave himself some leeway; after all, according to the definition of evil gods he had learned, he himself could now barely be considered one. When the time came, he would have to act out of necessity. In any case, it was truly hard to say what the real difference was between aristocratic families and evil gods.