Chapter 7: Humans, Immortals, Ghosts and immortals are all immortals

Chapter 7: Humans, Immortals, Ghosts and immortals are all immortals

Chen Changsheng asked, "Can the City God manifest a human body?"

The City God replied, "I won't hide it from you, Sir. Although the incense offering of this minor deity is meager, it's still possible for it to manifest its true form."

After hearing this, Chen Changsheng hurriedly waved his hand and said, "No, the City God has misunderstood. That's not what Chen meant."

The City God, however, seemed not to care and said, "It's true that the incense offerings are meager. Sir, there's no need to worry."

It seemed that he thought Chen Changsheng should say that he was.

After all, a noble immortal, how could he care about this tiny city God?

After hearing this, Chen Changsheng sighed again in his heart.

Who are you going to reason with?

Now that it has come to this point, there's no choice but to keep pretending.

"I'll offer you a toast, Sir."

The City God poured wine for Chen Changsheng.

Chen Changsheng didn't dare to be negligent either. After the two of them exchanged a drink,

The City God then called out to Chen Changsheng, saying, "Sir, have some vegetables."

"Ok."

Chen Changsheng nodded and tasted the dishes placed in front of him.

There are a total of thirteen dishes, including chicken, duck, fish and meat of all kinds. Not only that, but there are also fresh and sweet fruits placed on the side to relieve the greasiness after the meal.

Such a grand display really made Chen Changsheng feel rather flattered.

After tasting the dish, Chen Changsheng asked, "How many years has the City God been in office?"

The City God thought for a moment and said, "Probably, it's been about three hundred years. It's not that long. During my lifetime, I was the chief of the Qiuyue Workshop. I had accumulated good deeds throughout my life and still had merits. After my death, I succeeded to the position of the City God."

"But, Sir, please don't call me 'Sir' anymore. I really can't stand it."

More than three hundred years is not that long...

Chen Changsheng's eyes twitched slightly, but he quickly calmed down and continued, "How about Chen calling the City God the Old City God?"

"This..." The Old City God thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "That's fine too."

"Good."

Chen Changsheng placed the gourd at his waist on the table.

The Old City God specially attended a banquet to entertain Chen Mou and waited for three years. Chen Mou was extremely flattered. However, Chen Mou only brought a gourd of wine. I hope the Old City God will not look down upon him.

"How dare you! How dare you! It's already a blessing that I can drink with you, Sir."

The autumn moon wine was poured out. The City God smelled the aroma of the wine and took a sip.

Then he came to his senses and said, "Is this the Autumn Moon wine from Xiqiao Tavern?"

Exactly.

Chen Changsheng said, "The old man Zhang who brewed wine became acquainted with Chen Mou because of wine. Every time Chen Mou came here, he would beat a gourd."

The Old City God said, "Sir, you are truly easy-going. Wandering in the marketplace, you truly have the demeanor of a celestial being."

After hearing this, Chen Changsheng shook his head and said, "I'm not even considered an immortal."

The Old City God didn't think much and raised his glass, saying, "Let's drink together, Sir."

"Please."

The clinking of glasses and the exchange of toasts.

With the wine and the table full of dishes, the conversation was finally opened up.

Chen Changsheng and the Old City God chatted again about the Liuyun Temple.

The Old City God said, "During the heavy snow of the previous year, the abbot of Liuyun Temple took five impoverished children up the mountain from the local community. This can be regarded as a great merit."

"Five?"

Chen Changsheng couldn't help but say, "Are you all right now?"

The Old City God shook his head and said, "Among the five children, one froze to death when the snow melted, while the other four survived safely and are now in the Liuyun Temple."

One's life has been full of misfortunes. Chen Changsheng shook his head and couldn't help sighing.

The Old City God nodded and said, "Life and death have become the norm. Some people have such fates."

"Does the Old City God also believe in divination?" Chen Changsheng asked.

After hearing this, the Old City God paused for a moment. He thought that Chen Changsheng was testing him.

He thought carefully and then replied, "Believe it or not, the fate of ordinary people has long been a law, but there are also those who break through their fate to achieve success, just like Sir, who is outside of fate."

The fate of the little deity, on the other hand, awaits the day when his merit and virtue are fulfilled. With good fortune and honor upon him, he will be reborn in the cycle of rebirth and perhaps enjoy a lifetime of good fortune.

After hearing this, Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and shook his head, saying, "Does the Old City God still think that he has escaped his destiny?"

The Old City God nodded and said, "Even if I become the City God, I still cannot escape this fate." "

"I won't hide it from you, Sir. I have been guarding this place for over three hundred years. Although there is incense and a golden statue, from beginning to end, I have never been able to leave here." "

"I tried every possible way to invite you over, also hoping that you could show me a clear path on how to break free from this fate." "

Chen Changsheng was also well aware that this disaster was bound to occur today.

But to be honest, how could he understand all this?

All that talk about fate and immortality is nonsense. He is just an ordinary person. What could he possibly understand?

What should I do?

Chen Changsheng was somewhat at a loss in his heart. He calmed himself down and began to think of countermeasures.

"Mr. Chen?"

Seeing that Chen Changsheng remained silent for a long time, the Old City God took a step back and said, "Perhaps I was too abrupt, Sir. Please don't blame me."

Chen Changsheng raised his head and said, "Not at all."

If he doesn't answer today, he might be suspected. Besides, Chen Changsheng came today for some reason and couldn't just let this opportunity slip away.

Immediately after, Chen Changsheng spoke up, "In fact, in Chen's opinion, perhaps you, the Old City God, have made a mistake."

Upon hearing this, the Old City God immediately became excited and hurriedly asked, "May I ask, Sir, where is the difference?"

"Fate is predestined by heaven, but..."

Chen Changsheng said, "Does the Old City God think that becoming a City God is also within his destiny?"

The Old City God paused for a moment, his expression bewildered. "Sir, what do you mean..."

Chen Changsheng continued, "Perhaps that's not the case."

The saying goes, "The Great Way is fifty, Heaven's transformation is forty-nine, and man's escape is one. There is a glimmer of hope. The old City God did good deeds and accumulated virtue during his lifetime, and thus had the opportunity to become the City God. Isn't this also finding that glimmer of hope among millions of people and transcending one's fate?"

Life and death are impermanent, and the character "仙" (immortal) also acquires that glimmer of hope from among those millions of people. In essence, there is no difference between the two.

Immortals cultivate themselves, using the primordial energy of heaven and earth to enter the five internal organs, thus achieving immortality. Ghosts and gods, on the other hand, cultivate themselves, feeding on incense and fire to protect all nations, thus accumulating merit and virtue within their bodies, creating a golden body of merit and virtue, and attaining the path of longevity.

The Old City God pondered over Chen Changsheng's words carefully.

His brows were furrowed, as if he couldn't quite figure out the reasoning behind it.

Chen Changsheng then continued to speak, "Immortals taking their spirits into their bodies is a form of cultivation. Ghosts and gods taking incense and fire into their bodies, isn't that also a form of cultivation?"

The Old City God was greatly shocked upon hearing this.

He raised his hand and said, "Sir, do you mean that ghosts and gods also have the chance to become immortals?"

Chen Changsheng nodded and said, "The reason you can't get out of here is actually just like an immortal with insufficient cultivation, unable to see a higher level. Once your incense and merit make further progress, where in this world can't you travel?"

The Old City God let out a sigh, but then he thought for a moment and asked again, "But over the years, the merit of my incense offerings has not increased much. What should I do?"

Chen Changsheng said, "Immortals have a heart of the Dao. With a firm heart of the Dao, they can forge ahead without hesitation. But, Old City God, you haven't been resolute in your own heart of the Dao."

"Ask the Old City God one question, Chen Mou."

"Human immortals are immortals. Then, aren't ghost immortals also immortals?" "

The Old City God froze on the spot.

His lips were slightly parted and he was somewhat unable to speak.

(End of this chapter)