Chapter 4: Jiang Zhi

"This student has extraordinary talent!"

Beside the podium, a white-haired elder frowned as he watched the boy on stage.

How exceptional was Lu Ran’s talent?

Even the demonic race couldn’t resist appearing openly under daylight to snatch away followers!

The school judges a student’s talent through physical data, martial skill, theological knowledge, and level of faith.

Generally, the higher your comprehensive evaluation score, the more likely you are to catch the favor of the front-row deities.

But this evaluation system pales compared to the deities’ own judgment!

Yes, in a certain sense, what humans call “demons” are also deities.

Yet this kind of “evil deity” must never be worshipped!

Privately, you’ll be controlled by the evil deity, lose yourself, and become a puppet.

Publicly, joining the demonic race means standing against both human and divine races.

"Principal Zhou!" A male teacher hurried to the elder’s side, his face tense,

"Should we pause the worship ceremony?"

Pause?

The demon has arrived—how can we stop it now?

Everything hinges on Lu Ran’s single thought.

Principal Zhou’s expression turned grave: "Sound the horn, maintain order—it’s merely a phantom of the demon, no need to panic."

"Yes!" The male teacher waved his hand, and a phantom horn swiftly formed.

"Wuuu~~~"

The deep horn blast pierced the sky, and the chaotic campus gradually calmed.

On the podium, Lu Ran gazed upward in stunned disbelief.

Honestly, the demon Jiang Zhi was kinda... pretty.

It was a massive female phantom.

She wore an exquisite phoenix crown and a crimson bridal veil, like an ancient bride.

Elegant, noble, and graceful!

Yet her face was unnaturally pale, like paper, making her even more terrifying against the vivid attire.

"Jiang Zhi." Lu Ran, finally recognizing her, felt overwhelming mixed emotions.

Fear was inevitable—but deep inside, a flicker of excitement stirred.

It wasn’t because Jiang Zhi still held charm.

But historically, there had been a few cases where worshipping a deity summoned evil spirits.

Every human who could attract demons was, without exception, a prodigy!

So Lu Ran was genuinely thrilled!

But within seconds, he was left utterly bewildered.

Precisely because such humans possessed explosive talent, demons rushed to claim them—and deities also frequently appeared to compete for followers.

But with Lu Ran,

why was there only one demon—Jiang Zhi?

Where were the deities?

Lu Ran stared up at the gray, hazy sky, frantically searching through the misty rain for any sign of the deities.

Come out already! Stop hiding!

Don’t tease me like this!

If you wait any longer, I’ll really be dragged off to marry a spirit bride!

"Boom!"

Dark clouds churned, thunder roared.

To everyone’s shock, the demon Jiang Zhi lowered herself.

She slowly bent down, her vast phantom hand reaching toward Lu Ran on the stage.

In the worship ceremony, deities appearing is a favor granted to you.

Then, humans must kneel in devout worship to possibly become a follower.

But Jiang Zhi’s fingers crept inch by inch toward Lu Ran, as if trying to absorb the tiny human into her fingertip.

"Sis, stop it!"

Lu Ran nearly cried, stepping backward as the pale-faced beauty drew closer:

"New account, only seventeen—don’t mess with me!"

Through the rain, his homeroom teacher Li Yan stood firm against Jiang Zhi’s terrifying pressure, shouting urgently:

"Don’t be deceived! Don’t believe any promise she makes! Lu Ran, don’t do anything stupid!"

Fortunately, though humans held low status, becoming a deity’s follower was a mutual choice.

"Lu Ran!"

"Reject her, Lu Ran!" Worried voices pierced the rain, surging toward the center of the podium.

"Wuuu~~~" The deep horn blast never ceased, carrying a unique sorrow.

At Principal Zhou’s signal, the male teacher continuously chanted a unique divine technique to calm everyone and soothe Lu Ran’s spirit.

"We’re not compatible, Sister Jiang." Lu Ran begged repeatedly, "Can’t I burn you a perfect husband tonight?"

Below the podium, a chubby boy was frantic.

How much does a paper doll even cost?

When is this the time to be stingy?

Qian Hao shouted: "Burn more than one!"

"Open Your Mindset"

Lu Ran suddenly understood: "Right! I’ll burn you two! Three!"

"One per day!" Qian Hao fumed—did he have to teach him step by step?

"Yes yes yes, one per day!" Lu Ran nodded eagerly, "There’s a tall guy in my class named Kou Yingquan—strong yang energy, fiery vitality!

He’s always staring at others, desperate to find a partner—I’ll burn him to you too!

You’ll be satisfied!"

Qian Hao: "."

Kou Yingquan: ???

He turned livid, roaring: "Lu Ran, you’re asking to die—"

Before he finished, Kou Yingquan fell silent.

The moment he insulted Lu Ran, Jiang Zhi whipped her head around 180 degrees!

And she turned only her head—not her body.

The scene was horrifying.

Her enormous, dazzling eyes fixed on the towering Kou Yingquan.

"Ah!" Kou Yingquan screamed, trembling violently, his legs buckling as he collapsed onto the muddy ground.

"Splat!" Mud splashed everywhere.

Only now did the students realize how immense the courage was to face the demon Jiang Zhi directly.

On the worship stage, Lu Ran, though seemingly weak, never once wavered his legs, and kept refusing her.

"Huuu!!"

Suddenly, a powerful surge of energy rippled from high above.

Jiang Zhi immediately turned, gazing forward.

There, above Lu Ran’s back, a luminous white figure rapidly materialized!

"Ah! Here it comes, another—"

"Is it a god or a demon?" No one dared guess what Lu Ran had summoned.

"Xiang Xianyang? Is it Lord Xiang Xianyang?"

"Woo! It is! It’s really Xiang Xianyang! Finally, a deity has come to save us!"

"Xiang Xianyang! White Jade Xiang Xianyang!"

The luminous white figure was profoundly uplifting.

It was like a beam of light piercing through rolling dark clouds, breaking the suffocating atmosphere of heaven and earth.

Inside and outside the school, an unprecedented roar of cheers erupted.

The deity Xiang Xianyang had appeared!

Standing upright, its hind hooves hovered in midair, forehooves clasped together before its chest as if in respectful greeting.

Clad in a white jade robe, luminous and smooth as sheepfat jade, it glowed with an otherworldly radiance in this dim world.

"Lord Xiang Xianyang! Lord Xiang Xianyang!"

"Xiang Xianyang! Xiang Xianyang! Xiang Xianyang!"

Honestly, Lord Xiang Xianyang probably hadn’t received such a welcome in a very long time.

Because he was the last deity in the ninth row.

“Jiang Xianyang, Lu Ran! Quickly pay homage to Lord Xianyang!” the homeroom teacher shouted loudly.

Lu Ran acted with decisive urgency, showing not the slightest disdain—he turned and bowed deeply to Xianyang.

“Thank you, Lord Xianyang, for saving me from ruin! Please, take me in quickly!”

“Hurry up! I’m going to die, I’m going to die!”

In an instant, mutual intent was established.

Lord Xianyang swiftly released threads of divine mist, surging toward the human students on the stage.

Seeing this, the Vermilion Paper Woman slowly straightened her body; her gaze at Lu Ran held none of the cruelty he had expected.

Instead, it carried a hint of sorrowful resentment?

But when she turned her eyes toward Xianyang, crimson light flared violently within them—her gaze brimmed with murderous intent!

“Huu~”

A chilling wind swept through, and the Vermilion Paper Woman vanished silently.

Heaven and earth fell into stillness; countless people across the campus and beyond exhaled in unison.

Principal Zhou, his expression grave, spoke: “Bring the homeroom teacher of this student here.”

“Yes!” The male teacher stopped blowing his horn and departed on orders.

Principal Zhou Shengchang sighed deeply, puzzled.

If Lu Ran possessed such exceptional talent, why had no gods come to claim him as a disciple?

In the end, it was the ninth-rank, lowest-tier god—Xianyang—who came to take him.

Was it because of his personality?

Of course not!

Many gods had descended upon Great Xia, each with vastly different temperaments.

Besides, look at God Yu Fu and Jiang Ruyi—their personalities clearly clashed.

Yet the cold Yu Fu had chosen Jiang Ruyi for her talent; her personality mattered little.

Thus, the only remaining explanation for why no gods appeared was this:

Lu Ran’s heart lacked sincerity!

This was further confirmed by Lord Xianyang himself.

Xianyang was the gentlest, most tolerant, and most inclusive god among all gods of Great Xia!

Without exception!

So, was the reason all gods shunned him simply because Lu Ran lacked proper reverence?

Principal Zhou frowned, unwilling to accept his own conclusion.

“Principal Zhou,” Li Yanzhu approached the white-haired elder respectfully.

Zhou Shengchang: “Tell me the full details about this student.”

Li Yanzhu immediately replied: “His name is Lu Ran. His overall academic ranking is top five in his class. He specializes in blade techniques and aims to become a disciple of God Yu Fu.”

Zhou Shengchang listened in silence.

Li Yanzhu hesitated slightly, then said: “His father was a believer of Yu Fu—named Lu Xing.”

Zhou Shengchang’s expression froze: “Lu Xing?”

“Yes!” Li Yanzhu nodded. “The late Mr. Lu Xing, who died in the line of duty four years ago.”

Hearing this, the old principal’s frown deepened.

If he was the child of a martyr, this made it even more inexplicable.

Li Yanzhu continued: “Influenced by his father, Lu Ran deeply reveres God Yu Fu and has long dreamed of becoming his disciple.”

In terms of mindset, he has no issues whatsoever!”

“Principal Zhou, his summoning of a demon today must be some kind of misunderstanding.”

As they spoke, Lu Ran was led away by two teachers toward the pavilion behind the podium.

Zhou Shengchang watched Lu Ran’s retreating figure: “I understand. Go with him to complete the paperwork, monitor his mental state, and comfort his emotions.”

“After receiving the shrine and divine statue, take him home immediately and help him properly enshrine the god.”

Clearly, Principal Zhou wanted Lu Ran to establish a connection with Lord Xianyang as soon as possible and hear the god’s teachings.

“Understood.” Li Yanzhu departed at once.

One hour later, Yuxiang Family Community.

Lu Ran stood at his front door, watching his homeroom teacher leave before closing the door.

“Huu…” Lu Ran exhaled deeply.

His teacher’s words of advice and reassurance still echoed in his ears, yet his heart remained unsettled.

“What a disaster,” Lu Ran returned to his small bedroom and slumped onto his desk chair.

That morning, he had been full of ambition.

Now, back home, he was a broken wreck.

On the shelf to the right of the windowsill sat an antique wooden shrine, housing a small jade carving of a goat.

Ninth-rank god: Xianyang.

The lowest-tier god in Great Xia’s divine hierarchy.

Low rank was no problem.

Every god was unique, each possessing their own divine art.

From the human perspective, as long as you trained hard enough and mastered your god’s unique art, you could become a peerless champion!

Moreover, Lord Xianyang was the only god who had appeared to rescue Lu Ran from ruin.

How could Lu Ran harbor even a single word of complaint toward his savior?

If his rank is low, then we climb higher!

If my strength grows great enough to make the Xianyang sect shine brightly, more believers will naturally come to worship Xianyang.

The more believers, the greater the faith-energy flowing to Xianyang.

Then, perhaps my Lord Xianyang’s rank might rise!

Undeniably, Lu Ran now felt a flicker of anger.

A cold truth lay before him:

Lu Ran had been rejected by every god within Great Xia!

Not just the third-rank Yu Fu he longed for—even if any eighth-rank god had appeared on the altar, Xianyang would never have gotten the chance.

And even among the ninth-rank gods, Xianyang occupied the very last position.

In other words, Lu Ran had been rejected by every single god in the lowest tier!

He didn’t understand.

He couldn’t understand at all!

What followed was an intense desire to prove himself—and to repay his debt.

“Crack!”

Thunder crashed outside, rain poured heavily.

“Huh?” Lu Ran’s eyes narrowed—he nearly thought he was hallucinating.

Inside the small shrine, the goat’s jade carving had turned black.

In that moment, the statue seemed to awaken—its utterly black eyes fixed silently upon Lu Ran.

Lu Ran: !!!

He felt as if plunged into an ice tomb—every hair on his body stood on end!

Those black goat eyes radiated an indescribably chilling aura.

It was as if—

Those black goat eyes were a door.

Behind it lay a wind-swept graveyard, a land of bleached bones and hellfire!

“This…?” Lu Ran’s face turned pale.

The statue I brought home—wasn’t it Lord Xianyang?

That can’t be right!

Whether it’s jade or not doesn’t matter—ultimately, I bowed to God Xianyang on the altar!

Even if I picked up a stone from the street and brought it home to worship, the spirit within must be Xianyang!

Unless—

I never worshipped Xianyang at all?

So, there were two gods on my altar.

One was a demon god—and the other… also a demon god?

It seemed a god came to save me—but it was actually a trap on both sides?

This fucking—

Where’s the fucking way out?!

Thank you all for coming to support me—deeply grateful!

Special thanks to Sisi for the patronage! Boss, you’re generous! Thank you for your support!

May Sisi grow ever more beautiful, become rich daily, rejoice every day, and revel in joy every night!

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(End of Chapter)