Worldwide Awakening: My Soul Kinds Are Lost-Chapter 508: The Attack of Human Association_1
"I have to say, the temple fair today is really lively." Wang Linchi blended in with the crowd, a pile of snacks in hand, munching away.
Processions of divine statues and flower-decorated floats paraded by; it was quite the spectacle.
However, it still paled in comparison to the grandeur of events like his own ascension, birthday, and deification ceremonies back in the day.
After all, this was just a city-level festivity, while his had been a national extravaganza. But back then, he was lying in a coffin, unable to see anything, which couldn’t compare to witnessing it with his own eyes now.
Ever since he transmigrated to the Soul Aspect World, he had never seen such a spectacle.
In the Soul Aspect World, such things simply didn’t exist. He had only spent a few days in the game world before getting caught up in playing, so he hadn’t witnessed any of this. In contrast, his life in this world was now much more comfortable.
"Wang Temple Master?" A voice interrupted Wang Linchi’s enjoyment of the spectacle.
Turning around, he saw it was the Temple Master from the Mysterious Tiger Temple who had previously invited him to the temple fair. The man’s secular surname was Fang, so Wang Linchi simply called him Temp Master Fang.
"Temp Master Fang, what a coincidence! You came to see the temple fair too?" Wang Linchi showed no sign of embarrassment.
Their understanding of the ’temple fair’ differed. What Temp Master Fang meant by ’attending the temple fair’ was to participate in a meeting, unlike Wang Linchi, who was just wandering around and enjoying himself.
Temp Master Fang hadn’t gone because he wasn’t eligible.
All those eligible to attend the meeting were Class A Temple Masters—in other words, the heads of the various Demon God Temples.
"Didn’t you say you were busy?" Temp Master Fang felt he had been played.
"Yes, I’m busy. I don’t have time to attend the temple fair; I have other things to do." Wang Linchi took another bite of his snack, speaking with righteous confidence.
Fortunately, Temp Master Fang didn’t press the issue. To him, Wang Linchi’s Divine Arts were superior to his own, so he had to show the proper respect.
"That’s indeed a pity. I thought..." Before Temp Master Fang could finish, a loud bang interrupted him.
Looking back, an explosion had occurred in a tall pavilion in the distance.
Wang Linchi was no stranger to this.
It was gunpowder.
Back in the Dajing era, the gunpowder controlled by the southern Liu Kou hadn’t developed further because Wang Linchi had, through his ’cheats,’ created steam machinery. Consequently, gunpowder technology was lost.
He hadn’t expected to witness a gunpowder explosion here, and its power was considerable.
At least the Divine Arts of the Temple Masters couldn’t match this power. Even the Spirit Masters of the past couldn’t have withstood an explosion of this magnitude, let alone the current Temple Masters.
His Underworld Soldier Passage Method was an exception; this Divine Art essentially summoned a Player.
"This is bad! Something’s happened!" Temp Master Fang’s expression changed, and he decisively ran towards the explosion.
Evidently, the incident had occurred where the Class A Temple Masters from the various Demon God Temples were meeting—naturally, to discuss the allocation of faith shares and the division of benefits from the Court for the coming year.
Only such a significant event could bring this group of Class A Temple Masters together; otherwise, there would be no reason for them to convene.
Where there are benefits, there is motivation.
This power... it seems to be an improved version of gunpowder, much stronger than before, Wang Linchi thought.
As for who could perpetrate such an act, Wang Linchi thought of an organization officially recognized by the Great Heng as a rebel group: the Human Association. Their primary activities involved sabotaging the various Demon God Temples and launching attacks against them.
It was simple for the Great Heng to label them as rebels. Firstly, the Court was already corrupted by the Demon Gods, so it was convenient to scapegoat the Human Association.
Secondly, if they dared to resist such powerful Demon Gods, wouldn’t they also dare to rebel against the Court?
The Court merely wanted to use them as a tool, a knife, without getting cut itself. Therefore, even before the Human Association could achieve victory, the Court had preemptively labeled them. If they did manage to overthrow the Demon Gods, they would still be considered rebels, allowing the Court to eliminate them and prevent future complications. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚
In short, the Court wanted to have its cake and eat it too. The idea was grand, but unfortunately, it was merely wishful thinking.
The Human Association, at least, dared to act. The Court, on the other hand, dared do nothing but send human sacrifices to these Demon Gods.
After the explosion, the entire street descended into chaos. Wang Linchi moved aside to avoid being caught in the turmoil.
He wasn’t afraid of the chaos, but any normal person would certainly try to avoid such a situation—just as most people would sidestep a pile of dog poop rather than step in it.
Fortunately, though the chaos erupted swiftly, it was also quelled quickly.
Large numbers of Catching yamen runners emerged to maintain order, and with some Temple Masters using their unique Divine Arts to intimidate the crowd, everyone soon calmed down.
Fortunately, nothing too serious happened, Wang Linchi muttered to himself.
All aspects were handled efficiently. After several hundred years under the dominion of the Demon Gods, their influence was deeply ingrained. As soon as the Temple Masters took action, everyone became compliant.
Well, time to head back. Nothing else for me here. Wang Linchi planned to leave the city and return to Dai Temple.
The excitement was clearly over, so why should he stay? He certainly wouldn’t bother getting involved in resolving this incident.
He knew that if he went to the scene, he might stumble upon some minor opportunities; the Destiny of Bai Changsheng was still active for him.
However, the greatest opportunity, the Nine Extremes, was already in his possession. He doubted anything could be more useful than that.
Besides, if he got involved, who knew what might happen?
"The city is sealed! No entry or exit allowed now!"
Upon reaching the city gate, he was stopped by the soldiers on guard.
Wang Linchi immediately revealed his identity as a Temple Master and said, "My Temple is outside the city. Are you planning to stop me?"
He didn’t really want to make things difficult for them; he just wanted to be allowed to return.
Leave quietly? Why should I?
I came openly, so why should I sneak away now?
Doing so would only make him look suspicious.
"Well... allow me to report this to my superior," the soldier replied. He was only responsible for guarding the gate; letting people pass was not his decision.
The soldier soon invited Wang Linchi inside, offering him tea and refreshments—a clear sign that this ’reporting’ would take some time.
Wang Linchi waited for about half an hour before Temp Master Fang arrived.
"Temple Master Wang," Temp Master Fang began, clearly on a mission, "you intend to leave?"
"Yes. There’s no more excitement to see, so of course, I’m going back." Wang Linchi’s expression dared him to object.
Temp Master Fang felt somewhat helpless. Based solely on Wang Linchi’s Underworld Soldier Passage Method, he was a Class A Temple Master, on par with Fang’s own direct superior. The fact that Wang Linchi was even willing to converse with him was already quite something; Fang dared not push further.
However, his superiors had ordered him to bring Wang Linchi in for questioning, which truly put him in a bind. Thus, he could only try to persuade him politely.
"Such a serious incident has just occurred. Your departure now might not be appropriate," Temp Master Fang said. "Why not come with me to rest for a while? It won’t be too late to return tomorrow."
"Over there? Where? I have a child at home to take care of; I’m afraid I don’t have time," Wang Linchi countered with another excuse.
Temp Master Fang knew Wang Linchi had adopted a child, but he couldn’t help thinking, And yet you still have time to be out enjoying yourself...
"It’ll be quick," Temp Master Fang pressed. "If Temple Master Wang wishes to leave, it would be best to speak with the Temple Masters from the other temples." His implication was clear: Wang Linchi could leave if he wanted, but Fang couldn’t authorize it; someone with higher authority had to.
Upon hearing this, Wang Linchi laughed.
"So, you suspect I’m the one who caused the explosion?" Wang Linchi said teasingly.
"We wouldn’t dare, we wouldn’t dare! We’re merely inviting Temple Master Wang for tea and a chat," Temp Master Fang hastily replied. How could he voice such an accusation? That would be courting death.
"What’s there not to dare?" Wang Linchi retorted, finishing his tea. He then stood up. "If you truly didn’t dare, you wouldn’t have sought me out. Alright then, let’s go. I’m curious to see what these people are up to."
They don’t really think I’m a pushover, do they?
Temp Master Fang was unsure how to respond to that.
So, he awkwardly changed the subject, "This way, please. I’ll take you."
Actually, Wang Linchi *is* a pushover, Temp Master Fang thought. All the other Demon God Temples are major powers. How can his dilapidated Dai Temple possibly compare?
The Demon Gods are the true orthodoxy. The Lord of Mount Tai, whom Dai Temple worships, is a relic of the past. So what if he was once the Holy Emperor? That was then, this is now.
Besides, which of the current Demon Gods doesn’t bear a grand title, something with ’God’ or ’Emperor’ in it?
Your incense offerings might not be abundant, but your title *must* be imposing. Otherwise, you’d seem inferior from the outset—what a terrible disadvantage!
That’s why the title ’Lord of Mount Tai’ seems rather plain, and many Demon Gods look down on him.
However, what these Demon Gods didn’t know was that the Lord of Mount Tai had once been the Heaven Equivalent Holy Emperor—a title signifying equality with Heaven itself.
