Chapter 631: Heaven and the Underworld

Shangwu City.

Fang Xing slightly altered his facial features, making him appear even more refined and jade-like, wearing a faded blue robe and carrying a half-worn bamboo book basket as he entered the city gate.

"Stop. Where's your pass?"

At the city gate, several soldiers lazily called out.

Fang Xing could tell these soldiers all had solid foundations, and their laziness was like a tiger dozing—resting, conserving strength. One man, clearly their squad leader, had eyes like a hawk, scanning every entrant.

"The Zhou Shenchao still has ample martial virtue…"

He subtly shifted his thoughts and handed over his identity papers and travel permit.

"Fang Yun, native of this province, disciple of the Zajia, currently traveling for study?"

The soldier glanced once and saw the description matched Fang Xing—not just similar, but identical.

"That's right…"

Fang Xing bowed properly, exuding the air of a scholar.

"No need. Enter."

The soldier stepped aside.

In the Zhou Shenchao, there was no entrance fee to enter the city.

Fang Xing walked in and saw a street wide enough for several carts to pass side by side, shops lined up like fish scales, crowds jostling shoulder to shoulder—thronging with life.

"What a vibrant scene…"

He smiled and blended into the flow of people.

The identity of "Zajia disciple Fang Yun" was naturally acquired through that cultist of a demonic deity.

The man was real—but had been dead for some time, his documents falling into the hands of demonic heretics.

As long as Fang Xing knew disguise techniques, impersonating him posed no difficulty—and was flawless… well, unless that family exposed him.

"But even if they do, it doesn't matter—I'm best at nesting identities…"

"Beneath this Zajia disciple's skin lies a heretic secretly practicing Origami Art…"

Origami Art is widely known; occasional demonic heretics in the Zhou Shenchao learning it is perfectly normal.

Moreover, Fang Xing's Spirit Illusion Paper House Realm proves he's long been immersed in this art.

"Peel back my heretic skin, and you'll find I'm still a great Druid of the Outer Lands…"

"Peel back that Druid's skin, and you might discover my divine identity…"

"Crucially, beneath my divine identity lies another: a visitor from another world…"

Then again, I don't need to go that far—my innate ability of "Beyond Divine Sight" and my heroic luck alone should be enough to prevent me from even losing the first layer…

"Besides, this identity is just for casual use—I'll discard it afterward."

Fang Xing tightened his bamboo basket.

This Fang Yun was unlucky—he was meant to be a Zajia disciple, traveling to gain experience, then entering the provincial academy.

The Zhou Shenchao requires all entrants to pass exams; only those who gain admission to the provincial academy and obtain "academic status" gain true "spellcasting rights," allowing them to learn supernatural abilities without being branded heretics.

Those who excel in provincial academies may then sit for the entrance exam of the "Taixue" in the Zhou Shenchao's capital!

Graduating successfully guarantees at least a Gao Jie-level career.

Uh, this Gao Jie level, in the Outer Lands, corresponds to the Yin Shen Zhenren rank.

Moreover, after graduating from Taixue, one can directly become an official.

Officials of the Zhou Shenchao enjoy many benefits, but most crucially, upon death they are posthumously enshrined as city gods, land spirits, or other earthly deities.

If one "enshrines the flesh" while alive—converting yang lifespan into yin lifespan—one can extend life manyfold, in ways both mysterious and profound.

"This is why Outer Lands cultivators admire the Zhou Shenchao—it's all about tangible benefits…"

"Yet this Shenchao still has starving corpses and unspeakable horrors…"

Ancient dynasties—even those hailed as golden ages—were never much better.

Far inferior to modern or even interstellar-era productivity.

The Zhou Shenchao has deities and supernatural powers—so it's better off, but… it's precisely because of these deities that things go wrong.

Fang Xing suddenly reached into his robe, pulled out a wooden stick, and tapped a filthy little hand.

The hand had just been about to slip into his waistband and steal his money pouch.

*Snap!

The hand recoiled as if shocked. Fang Xing looked and saw several ragged children vanish into the crowd, using their familiarity with the alleys to disappear in an instant.

"But… trying to hide from a legendary Druid's perception?"

He smiled, kept his pace unchanged, yet his speed inexplicably increased as he entered an alley.

Soon, faint voices came from ahead:

"That guy hit me hard!"

"Damn it, we misjudged—he's a martial artist!"

"We didn't make enough today. Hu Ye won't spare us."

…

Ahead, several ragged children gathered, each with a grim expression.

One of them carried a faint supernatural aura.

Fang Xing glanced and saw he possessed a spell-like ability similar to "Agile Hands"—perfect material for a thief.

"Interesting! He's actually cultivated a minor spell… no, this feels more like a divine gift?"

"Didn't expect a small city to have something like a thieves' guild…"

If only Fang Xing's avatar were present, he wouldn't know.

But Fang Xing has his true self—and instantly recognized: the thief's spell-like ability came from divine bestowal!

He was a follower of the "God of Shadows and Thieves."

This "God of Shadows and Thieves" is a true deity in the Zhou Shenchao pantheon—weak, having been beaten by Asta.

"His domains are 'Shadows' and 'Thieves'… so he needs society to have darkness…"

Even the local authorities, out of respect for his divine patron, dare not interfere lightly.

And thieves easily breed all manner of evils.

Like stealing children, teaching them theft, even maiming them to fake begging…

Similar to ancient "Cai Sheng Zhe Ge," in the Zhou Shenchao, it merged with thieves' guilds.

No mistake—every word here is true!

"This is undoubtedly a tumor, hindering societal progress—but the Zhou Shenchao can't eradicate it… why? Because the 'God of Shadows and Thieves' is one of us… Even the main deity of the Zhou pantheon is helpless and must yield!"

"In the Zhou pantheon, even the weakest true deity, if hidden within his divine realm, is safe—doesn't need to fear the chief god… or rather, the pantheon is a corporation, the chief god like a chairman, and the God of Shadows and Thieves is at least a minor shareholder…"

"Even if the chairman seems to hold all power, if he ignores minor shareholders' interests, they might unite and overthrow him…"

"Thus, the Zhou Shenchao cannot sever ties with them… similarly, the God of Lust and Love…"

Fang Xing quietly walked away, with no intention of helping.

These thieves seemed to be doing fine—even some had already converted to the God of Shadows and Thieves.

Interfering would only expose him, with no benefit.

"So the gods' rules have become obstacles to the Zhou Shenchao's further advancement?"

Fang Xing murmured to himself, then arrived before a temple.

This was the City God Temple of Shangwu City—crowds flowed constantly, incense thick and thriving.

Countless prayers, incense, and burning spirit money coalesced into a colorful web of divine law, spreading across every corner of the city.

At its center, the City God himself faintly possessed the combat power of a Yang Shen.

"More crucially… with a single thought, he can link to other earthly spirits of the Zhou Shenchao—or even report directly to Heaven."

"With such a vast earthly divine realm, who could possibly overthrow it?"

At least, Asta before had seen no hope whatsoever.

Even sneaking around to harvest benefits got him nearly destroyed.

If it were Fang Xing's true self now, he'd never be so reckless.

"The Zhou pantheon's Heaven is overwhelmingly powerful, suppressing all demons and monsters… unluckily, I'm one of those demons…"

"On earth, the earthly spirit system is like a net—though a few pests and tumors remain, they don't truly hinder anything."

After all, most people in the world just want to get by; as long as life is bearable, they won't rebel.

The current Zhou Shenchao calls itself the "Earthly Divine Kingdom," ruled by divine descendants.

Though imperfect, life is certainly bearable—even the poor, when sick, can visit churches and chance upon a kind priest for salvation.

Compared to true pre-modern feudal societies without any supernatural power, it's vastly better.

And the ruling class is overwhelmingly strong—no one would dare rebel now.

In short, except for a few bleeding points like the Outer Lands, it has no real weaknesses—instead, it's immensely powerful.

"Though only a single leaf, I already know autumn…"

Fang Xing did not enter the City God Temple; instead, he found a way out of the city: "Heaven and the mortal realm… both are nearly flawless."

"Perhaps I should seek an opportunity to visit the Underworld?"

If Heaven is the upper realm, then the Underworld is the lower realm.

This world's Underworld is unique: it has eighteen layers, called the "Eighteen Hells," specifically designed to punish the faithless.

True believers ascend directly to their deity's divine realm.

So... this world has no concept of reincarnation? Each fetus is a completely new soul... and when life ends, it goes to its final destination based on faith—either heaven or hell?

Even if one goes to hell, there's no notion of being reborn as a pig or dog or beast.

It's nothing but endless torment, torment... until the soul dissipates entirely, becoming soul and spirit scattered—only then is one freed from suffering.

Yet, for a soul to reach the Underworld is simple; for a living person to go there is extremely difficult.

Without the power of a Yangshen Realm cultivator, it's pure fantasy.

Even Yangshen True Lords have a high chance of never returning.

"Fortunately, my true body is a True God—I know exactly how to retrieve someone from the Underworld..."

"Otherwise, the followers of the Killing Sect and the True Demon Lord would be utterly miserable..."

Although some evil gods are untrustworthy, Fang Xing still has strong commercial integrity.

At the very least, he always strives to fulfill his promises.

(End of Chapter)