Chapter 1117: Chapter 621: Never Weighed on My Mind (Double Chapter)

"Who would have thought that among the Qin Family’s live-in sons-in-law, there would emerge a Living City God."

The voice, slightly tinged with surprise, sounded ancient, yet inexplicably familiar.

The musty smell of incense filled the nose, causing incessant coughing, almost as if the throat were clogged. However, within moments, all the incense was absorbed into the body, giving Chen Yi an unexpected sensation of satisfaction.

This was the peculiar trait of being a Living City God, able to digest ordinary human food and even absorb incense meant only for Immortal Gods, though not as potent as true Immortal Gods.

Before him stood a temple, ancient and majestic, with high pillars painted in red lacquer supporting its four corners.

Incense smoke swirled around, and the walls were decorated with intricate patterns of pythons, dragons, or qilins, predominantly depicting auspicious scenes. Upon closer inspection, its square layout resembled an enlarged version of the Qin Family’s Ancestral Temple.

The ancestral temple, known as "Shi Shi" in summer, "Zhong Wu" in Yin, "Mingtang" in Zhou, was referred to as the "Grand Ancestral Temple" in Qin Han. As an Outer Heaven Demon, Chen Yi had no ancestors in this matter, and despite living two lifetimes, it was his first time in such a place.

After surveying all directions, Chen Yi shifted his gaze toward the source of the voice.

Amid the dense, white fog that seemed impossible to disperse, a hand suddenly emerged from the mist. With a slight motion, a section of the scenery cleared.

Deep within, an elderly man with graying hair smiled and said, "Chen Yi, is that the name?"

"And you are?"

Perhaps because of severing the Three Corpses, Chen Yi was not overly surprised, and from the red golden-threaded python robe, he already had an answer regarding the man’s identity.

"I am Qin Xuzhi."

Chen Yi clasped his fists in salute.

The Emperor has nine temples, while feudal lords have five. The Qin Family’s ancestor Qin Xuzhi was ennobled and sent to the Southern Border, allowing the establishment of the ancestral temple’s rituals. Over three hundred years of incense offerings have preserved much of his spirit and vigor from life.

Qin Xuzhi descended from the divine platform, scrutinizing Chen Yi closely. His gaze was so casual yet carried an innate authority that commanded respect.

With a casual wave, suddenly, the sheep’s head on the altar flew before Chen Yi.

Among the three sacrificial animals offered to ancestors in the Grand Ancestral Temple, the sheep’s head ranked just below the ox’s head.

Chen Yi showed no surprise or awe, lifting it up and swallowing the entire sheep’s head in one gulp.

Because it was formed of spiritual energy, swallowing it was unusually smooth.

Qin Xuzhi laughed upon seeing this and said, "You’ve suffered as a live-in son-in-law, haven’t you?"

Chen Yi replied calmly, "I’m afraid I don’t even count as that."

"Oh? Truly?" The Qin Family ancestor gave a dubious look, seeing that Chen Yi seemed truthful, and skeptically asked, "How could Qing Luo reassure the ancestors then? She personally penned your name and hair, burned them to me, claiming you have a daughter together. Could it be she was deceiving the ancestors?"

Hearing this, Chen Yi abruptly raised his head, his fingers twitching slightly.

This subtle movement was naturally noticeable to Qin Xuzhi, whose discerning eyes were sharper than any. Chen Yi suspected that even before he appeared in the ancestral temple, Qin Xuzhi had detected his identity as a Living City God.

But, that was precisely his intention.

The Spouse Palace’s Sun transformed into a taboo, something real but nameless—the prophecy, the prophecy, verification, many a prophecy comes true, beyond what human strength can alter.

Yet, is it rare for him to venture to the Southern Border in vain, just to fulfill this prophecy?

Something real but nameless?

He had always been greedy, always attempting to swallow an elephant with a snake, wishing for the perfect ending, wishing for legitimacy.

Thus, Chen Yi replied in kind, "Junior Chen Yi greets Ancestor."

Qin Xuzhi was very pleased, waved his large hand, and also offered the pig’s head tribute from Qin Qingluo.

Chen Yi naturally did not stand on ceremony, opening his mouth wide, swallowing the pig’s head formed from incense in one gulp.

With the sheep and pig heads within his universe of a stomach, pure and dense incense fire divine power filled the surroundings, gathering and nourishing the Heart Lake, making him feel utterly elated. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

This feeling was indescribable; as Chen Yi savored it, he found that the Golden Core, previously shrunk to a mustard seed due to Zhou Yitang’s over-zealously helping hand, had expanded to the size of a fist.

Now, having had his meridians severed, his martial arts realm suffered greatly, making the growth in Taoist skills all the more significant.

Chen Yi looked up at the Qin Family ancestor; before he could express gratitude, Qin Xuzhi waved it off, saying, "No need for thanks, the usual three things, eaten for hundreds of years, I’ve grown tired of them."

The words sounded light, and for an ordinary person, it might have been passed off lightly, but Chen Yi knew these sheep and pig heads were not only delicacies offered in the autumn sacrifice but also incorporated long-consolidated incense fire divine power.

Qin Xuzhi regarded him, chuckled again, knocked on the ox head before him, and asked, "Do you want to gladly accept this ox head as well?"

Chen Yi blinked. Offering sacrificial animals during the autumn sacrifice in the ancestral temple, the ox head was the most revered, containing incense fire divine power that was undoubtedly incomparable to the previous two—in incorporating all three into the stomach, they complemented and reinforced each other and might have additional benefits.

All things considered, if he truly accepted all of them, wouldn’t Qin Qingluo’s autumn sacrifice offerings be to himself?

Thinking of this, Chen Yi chuckled and shook his head, yet made no refusal, saying, "Why not?"

"Refreshing." Seeing him not make any pretense, Qin Xuzhi said straightforwardly, "Giving you the three sacrificial animals isn’t truly dropping benefits into your lap, there’s no pie falling from the sky. Considering you’re the junior, the first two animals I won’t hold against you, but if you eat this third one, you’ll have to work and serve."

Perhaps because he emerged from humble beginnings and was hardened by military life, the Qin Family ancestor spoke with no roundabout words, nor did he beat around the bush, but was extremely down-to-earth.

"Working is doable," Chen Yi said slowly, "but I won’t sell my life."