Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 511 The White Snake's Yearning for Love: The Goddess Appears!

Everyone was surprised by these words.

Even Yang Chen, whose expression had remained unchanged, frowned slightly. How could a stone statue made in a kiln have an enlarged belly?

[It should be known that the deity worshipped here is a righteous god, the river god of the Yanghua River, which is not comparable to any frivolous worship.]

The fact that it enjoyed eight hundred years of flourishing incense offerings in the State of Chen is a testament to its extraordinary origins!

This so-called White Snake Lady is actually the Mountain God Zheng Shuo, who has been officially registered in the Imperial Register with the permission of Fangcun Mountain, the true ruler of this river.

Hero scratched his head and couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that the White Snake Lady is also in love?"

[After hearing this, Jian Susu covered her mouth and smiled.]

Yang Chen slammed his teacup down heavily: "Junior Brother Hao, watch your words."

"This White Snake Lady is not some evil spirit. Her previous incarnation was a valiant disciple of Fangcun Mountain who sacrificed herself to protect the sect. Her primordial spirit remains in the mortal realm to perform the ritual of bestowing titles."

Who knew the White Snake Lady had such a background?

Upon hearing this, everyone except you and Qi Ling looked surprised.

[As you perused the books in the library, you learned that Fangcun Mountain governs a vast territory. Besides sending disciples who haven't yet broken through to the Dao embryo stage down the mountain to spread their influence, it also establishes numerous temples throughout famous mountains and rivers.]

The four mountain gods of the east, west, south, and north guard the four directions, while the river gods and stream gods manage the waterways, each fulfilling their respective duties.

These officially appointed deities wield immense power; even the Fangcun Mountain must show them deference.

Because they also represent the approval of this world, and only then the approval of Fangcun Mountain.

The gods in these places are chosen by Heaven and the people, they are ordained by Heaven, and even Fen Cun Shan cannot interfere.

However, almost all of them were disciples of Fangcun Mountain.

They either perished while protecting the Dao, or their merits reached their peak, ultimately receiving the blessings of heaven and earth and the offerings of countless people. Fangcun Mountain, acting on behalf of heaven, bestowed upon them the title of guardian deity, ensuring their eternal protection in this region.

Before his departure, Yang Chen had already verified that this White Snake Lady was a true disciple of the Inner Mountain Sect, who had fought alone against a horde of demons in the Chen Kingdom years ago, dying from exhaustion.

Because of his loyalty and bravery, which moved Heaven and Earth, he was granted the position of water god of the Yanghua River basin, and his incense has been offered to him for eight hundred years without interruption.

The patriarch of the Xu family continued, "This White Snake Goddess is of noble status. Every spring, our Xu family must offer sacrifices of three kinds of livestock and six kinds of gifts, without daring to be the slightest bit negligent."

"When the Empress perished, she was already at the Dao Embryo Realm. Although she has now attained a golden body, her cultivation has stagnated."

Yang Chen nodded to himself. Although this kind of sealing technique could extend the life of the deceased through divine means, it had three limitations.

Firstly, once the primordial spirit enters the golden body, the path of reincarnation is forever severed, and there is no longer any chance of being reborn and cultivating again.

Secondly, one's cultivation level remains fixed at the moment of death; no matter how prosperous one's incense offerings become, one will ultimately find it difficult to break through the realm of that time.

Thirdly, even with the worship of countless people, one's lifespan is only extended by eight hundred years; when the time comes, one's soul will still return to heaven and earth.

[With such a price to pay, it's no wonder that those cultivators who truly aspire to the Great Dao would rather perish and reincarnate than accept this title.]

You grasped the key point, but remained silent.

Yang Chen also sensed something was amiss and frowned, asking, "Didn't this White Snake Lady already have an eight-hundred-year lifespan in the underworld? Why is she still enjoying offerings in the mortal realm?"

The old man then spoke slowly, "Last year's winter solstice should have been the day the goddess's golden statue shattered."

"But the statue did not collapse; instead, its divine light became even more solid. Reflected in the moonlight on the Yanghua River, it revealed a hundred-foot-long serpent shadow, as if a true deity had descended to earth."

"We burned incense and submitted a memorial to Fangcun Mountain, but it was like a clay ox disappearing into the sea."

"Thinking that we've lived peacefully with this White Snake Lady for eight hundred years," he shook his head with a wry smile, "I...didn't pay much attention to it."

Yang Chen couldn't help but ask, "After you reported it, Fangcun Mountain didn't respond at all?"

The old man nodded slowly. "A whole year has passed without a trace."

A sharp glint flashed in Yang Chen's eyes. The expiration of the lifespan of a deity was a major event, and according to custom, a gatekeeper's envoy should arrive with a jade tablet.

[Whenever a righteous deity passes away, the lineage from which they originated will invariably send disciples to see them off. This may involve severing ties with the mortal world, passing on the lineage, or at the very least, reclaiming their divine status and golden body; they would never simply ignore them like this.]

Moreover... some spirits, unwilling to dissipate, often begin to cause trouble in their final years.

Some steal the blood and food of mortals to prolong their lives, while others incite disasters to forcibly seize the power of wishes. No matter how brave and fearless they were before their deaths, and how much they were recognized by heaven and earth, they will cherish life even more after dying and being reborn.

At this point, Fangcun Mountain must be used to slay the god and restore order to the world.

It was already afternoon outside the hall, and a somewhat dusky light had settled over it.

Several servants of the Xu family filed in carrying gilded candlesticks. The blue flames of the candles illuminated the hall, and the flickering light danced among the carved beams and pillars, creating a somber atmosphere.

[Qi Yunfeng's other disciple, Tao Ziming, remained indifferent.]

Yang Chen suddenly asked, "Back then, which lineage of Fangcun Mountain did the White Snake Lady belong to?"

The old patriarch stroked his beard and pondered for a moment: "According to the traditions passed down from our ancestors, it should be the lineage of Little Green Peak."

Upon hearing this, strange expressions appeared in the room; at least Haojie, Tuxing, and even Qiling seemed somewhat embarrassed.

Both Xu He and the Xu family patriarch believed that your group originated from the Qi Yun Peak lineage.

"Hearing this reminds you of Little Green Peak eight hundred years ago? ...That was where the previous peak master was located, when the sect was at its peak."

Yang Chen nodded silently, then asked about the important matter, "Then why did Senior Brother Xu just say that this matter is related to your grandson?"

This time, the old man didn't speak; instead, the woman from the Xu family spoke.

"You all may not know this, but my child..."

[She had barely opened her mouth when tears streamed down her face, and she began to sob uncontrollably.]

The middle-aged man quickly supported his wife's trembling shoulders and apologized to everyone: "Please forgive me, esteemed immortals. My son is the only son of the Xu family, and my wife is truly..."

The old man's face also showed distress.

This whole ordeal has only deepened your confusion.

After the woman had barely calmed down, she said, "This matter goes back to last year. Last spring, as usual, we went to the White Snake Temple to pray for blessings."

"My son is sixteen years old. Although he doesn't like cultivation, he has an extraordinary talent for firing kilns and making wares. In the thirty-six kilns of Xuyang County, every master craftsman praises him for surpassing his predecessors. My wife and I are far inferior to him."

"At the temple fair, he personally crafted a blue-and-white porcelain statue of the White Snake Goddess."

"The White Snake Goddess was overjoyed, and the statue even emitted a spiritual light, bestowing sweet dew as a blessing. My husband and I thought it was a stroke of good fortune."

"That night, at midnight, my son rose as if possessed, and followed a glowing white snake into the underwater palace of the Yanghua River."

The middle-aged man suddenly said in an angry tone, "We searched for three whole days! We finally found it in the temple..." His voice trailed off.

The woman suddenly covered her face and wept bitterly, “The child lay naked and cold before the shrine, his eyes vacant, he seemed to have lost his mind.”

[“When we examined his body, the child had already lost his virginity, and he said that he had become the White Snake Lady's groom…”]

[The hero's eyes widened, and he blurted out, "Good heavens! How old is this White Snake Lady? She seems to prefer young women."]

Qi Ling turned her head and glanced at them, "Junior Brother Hao!"

[Haojie finally realized what had happened and said sheepishly, "Look at my mouth, I'm so sorry, everyone."] [The Xu family didn't seem to mind.]

[You seem a bit puzzled. The situation is fairly clear now, but where is the evil spirit?]

Even if the White Snake Lady "defiled" the men of the Xu family, it doesn't count as demonic possession.

[Furthermore, the White Snake Lady only possesses a Yin spirit; how could she cultivate alongside a male cultivator? This doesn't make sense!]

The old man, seemingly noticing the confusion in the crowd, continued, "From that day on, my grandson locked himself inside the kiln."

"The belly of the statue of the White Snake Goddess began to swell day by day, and fishermen on the Yanghua River began to die daily, sometimes dozens a day."

Yang Chen said, "You suspect that this White Snake Lady has fallen into evil?"

The old man nodded and said in a deep voice, "This White Snake Lady has reached the early stage of the Dao Embryo realm. We are no match for her, which is why we sought help from the mountains."

Yang Chen stroked his chin. This plump senior brother Qi Yunfeng, after several days of getting to know him, seemed calm and thoughtful.

[Now, both he and Tao Ziming are at the mid-stage of the Dao Embryo realm, so dealing with the White Snake Lady, who is only at the early stage of the Dao Embryo realm, is a piece of cake.]

However, the most troublesome aspect of these divine cultivators lies in their control over a region of heaven and earth—within this hundred-mile stretch of the river, the spiritual power that the White Snake Lady can mobilize is probably no less than that of a cultivator in the mid-stage of the Dao Embryo realm.

Yang Chen pondered for a moment, then said, "Shall we go check on your grandson's condition first, and then make a decision?"

The old man nodded. "Xu Ci... has been locking herself in the cave and won't come out. I'll have to trouble you all to make the trip."

You frowned slightly after hearing this.

The elderly Xu and his middle-aged wife led the way, heading towards the back of the Xu family's mountain.

[Looking at this vast Xu family mansion, apart from a few maids moving about, doesn't it feel somewhat empty?]

By the time they reached the courtyard, dark clouds had already swallowed the waning moon.

Large raindrops suddenly pounded down, striking the blue tiles with a sound like dense drumming.

Inside the dark, imposing mansion, countless streams of water cascaded from the eaves, shattering the shadows of the crowd.

Rainwater gathers into streams on the stone steps, yet evaporates into white mist just three inches away from you—those who cultivate themselves are not afraid of the storms of the mortal world.

[Walking through the rain to the back of the mountain, you see the entrance to the cave dwelling, which resembles the open mouth of an animal.]

[Upon stepping inside, a wave of heat hit me, mixed with the distinctive, slightly fishy smell of porcelain clay.]

[Tu Ying suddenly took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with a sharp light: "Such pure Wu Earth essence! This kiln fire."]

【"who--"】

A man's panicked and frightened voice came from the cave entrance.

The woman hurried forward, her voice barely audible: "Ci'er, don't be afraid, it's your mother."

Xu He had already pushed open the half-closed kiln door. With a creaking sound, you saw a scene of utter chaos—the potter's wheel overturned, porcelain blanks shattered into dust, and various pottery tools scattered everywhere.

Deep within the cave, a bed draped in a plain white gauze curtain stands out conspicuously.

The gauze curtains moved without wind, and a huddled figure could be vaguely seen trembling violently.

As you approached, the figure trembled violently and buried its face even deeper into its knees.

This was a cultivator whose cultivation had reached the Solidifying Spirit Realm, yet at this moment, his spiritual energy was as chaotic as boiling water, and his divine sense fluctuated like a candle flame in a storm.

You could see his fear; he must have witnessed something extremely horrifying.

Xu He crouched down, his hand hovering over the man's trembling back, but ultimately didn't dare to strike: "Ci'er, can you hear Grandpa?"

The person looked up, and you saw their face clearly—

A face of unparalleled beauty came into view; skin as white as fresh snow reflecting the warmth of a kiln fire, lips as red as cinnabar touched with rouge. What should have been a captivatingly beautiful, delicate face was marred by two sharply angled eyebrows that swept slant upwards towards her temples, transforming any seductive charm into a touch of fierceness.

Hero muttered to himself, "No wonder the White Snake Lady chose him!"

[You release your divine sense to carefully sense this person; indeed, their heart meridian is unstable, and fear is evident in their eyes.]

Yang Chen made a finger gesture, and a wisp of green light coiled around the young man's wrist three times like a snake. After examining him closely, he said, "His physical body is unharmed, but your grandson's body is weak, and his mind has suffered a great shock."

Yang Chen's arrival proves at least one thing: Xu He and the others were not lying.

Even if the Xu family is the one seeking help, they cannot be entirely trusted.

With Xu Ci's situation, the Xu family can no longer stand with the White Snake Lady.

Suddenly, Xu Ci's face showed extreme fear, and she stammered, "Run! You all have to run!"

The woman gently stroked his head, and the boy gradually calmed down.

As everyone left the inner room, you keenly noticed the remaining half of a blue-and-white porcelain snake statue on the floor, which gleamed eerily in the dim candlelight.

Lightning bolts danced wildly outside as torrential rain poured down.

[At this moment!]

[In the torrential rain three zhang away, a slender figure appeared out of nowhere. Her plain white robe was completely dry, as if an invisible barrier was holding back the rain curtain.]

Yang Chen's eyes narrowed.

Xu He was utterly shocked.

A soft, damp laugh pierced the rain: "The Xu family, oh the Xu family," the voice was like a venomous snake's tongue, sending chills down one's spine. "I, out of consideration for my husband, have repeatedly forgiven you..."

In the instant the lightning crackled, the blue scales on her neck gleamed eerily: "How dare you come to Fangcun Mountain to plot against me!"

[The identity of this person is becoming increasingly clear—the White Snake Lady.]

Tao Ziming's inner magical power surged subtly, his aura contained yet not revealed, like a bowstring half-stretched.

Yang Chen, however, had already moved a step ahead of her, slightly shifting his stance to block the crowd.

[In contrast, among the Xiao Qingfeng group, only Qi Ling had already unleashed his magic weapon the moment the white snake appeared, his body radiating fire-elemental energy.]

[Haojie and Tuying were clearly a beat behind, frantically performing hand seals to guide their qi.]

Jian Susu's breathing was now disordered, and she was practically cowering behind Yang Chen.

You observe the White Snake Lady discreetly—she knows the disciples of Fangcun Mountain are here, yet she dares to show herself and confront them.

What's even more intriguing is that amidst the fear of Xu He and his family of three, there was a hint of inexplicable guilt.

Yang Chen's expression grew increasingly solemn.

Tao Ziming's usually aloof expression was now marred by a furrowed brow.

[Amidst the torrential rain, the White Snake Lady's aura surged, breaking through the shackles of her Dao Embryo and directly entering the Heavenly Gate Realm!]

Raindrops condensed into twisted, serpentine ripples around her, each wave radiating a suffocating pressure.

"Then we must all die today!"

(End of this chapter)