Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 354 Child, Do You Like Arranged Marriages? [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

No... such a big box, is it just for one letter?
Zhou Yi felt that his grandfather was being a bit wasteful. He could have at least given him some cash. Wasn't he worried that he wouldn't be able to earn money and would go hungry?

Zhou Yi carried the box to the Sanqing Hall, sat on the futon, opened the envelope, took out several sheets of paper covered with dense writing, and then began to read them carefully.

"My child, by the time you read this letter, you should have already started a new life and gotten used to life without me... Aren't you happy that there's no more of this old geezer nagging around?"

The simple opening brought tears to Zhou Yi's eyes. The words seemed to have their own voice, and as Zhou Yi read them, he could hear his grandfather's kind voice in his ears.

Back then, Grandpa's favorite thing to do was to set out a plate of spiced peanuts and a bowl of white wine, sit in the courtyard, drink, and boast about his heroic deeds in his youth.

For example, eradicating unruly shamans, battling shamans, eliminating evil practitioners in the Taihang Mountains, and purifying evil spirits in the southwest...

Unfortunately, Zhou Yi didn't believe in this stuff at all back then, thinking that his grandfather was just a fortune teller with a stall. Looking back now, he realizes that his grandfather had already hinted that he had real skills.

"Is the roof of the God of Wealth Temple repaired? Once it's repaired, you won't be troubled by money anymore. There are many things that Grandpa can't tell you too much. You need to think more, understand more, and reflect more. Be down-to-earth and don't try to take shortcuts. Sometimes, what you think is a shortcut is actually the longest road."

This passage completely baffled Zhou Yi... How did Grandpa suddenly become a master of inspirational quotes?
However, after the Temple of the God of Wealth was completed, I haven't worried about money since. But what does it mean to think more, understand more, and reflect more? Could it be that these ancient people could bring themselves any benefits other than accumulating merit?

As for shortcuts and such, that's a philosophical question... It seems Grandpa didn't drink when he wrote this letter. If he had even had a couple of ounces of liquor, he wouldn't have written about such a mystical question.

"Many cultivators like to use fixed numbers to deduce variables, attempting to limit the variables to a controllable range, but ultimately they make things worse. Do not try to interfere with the Great Dao, and do not treat variables as insignificant minor changes... The Great Dao is fifty, and the Heavenly Evolution is forty-nine. It seems that the importance of fixed numbers and variables is forty-nine to one, but in reality, it is one to one. The higher the fixed number, the greater the variable!"

This... Zhou Yi felt like he'd been struck by lightning. He was indeed using fixed numbers to limit variables, such as writing names in the main hall and choosing people he liked to come to Hunyuan Palace. This was using fixed numbers to limit variables.

Upon seeing his grandfather's letter, Zhou Yi finally understood that the pilgrims should be allowed to come naturally. Forcing them to write their names might seem like a clever trick, but it would actually cause delays.

The fact that Zhuge Liang and Xie Daoyun have not yet appeared clearly indicates that the predetermined fate has triggered a backlash of unpredictable events.

From now on, we can't just write names randomly anymore. Let whoever wants to come, come. There are so many gods here. We can't let traitors, lackeys, and sellouts into being worshippers, can we?

"Your cultivation is different from others. There are no references or lessons to be learned. You have to walk all the paths yourself. I am not worried about your character, but I am afraid that you will slack off... Human merit is the foundation of your life. Do not be lazy. The harder you work, the easier your future will be."

Zhou Yi was somewhat bewildered by this. Aren't there people in the world who cultivate merit? Why is there no reference or model for this?
Are human merits and human merits not the same thing?

"Ever since the deduction team decided to adopt you, I've been worried about your future. So I've secretly trained a few followers and lackeys. They will appear by your side as fate dictates, protecting you. You can trust them, but don't depend on them. These people can only help you handle some issues; as for your own path, you have to walk it yourself."

Seeing this, Zhou Yi chuckled. Every time the blind man mentioned his grandfather, he was either a bitter enemy or a close friend. But to his grandfather, he was just a lackey, the kind of person whose name he couldn't even be bothered to write... If he told the blind man about this, he wondered if his Dao heart would shatter instantly.

Forget it, let's respect the elderly and care for the young, so let's not tell him this cruel truth.

"I can't say too much about your background. I can only tell you that since 1644, China has fallen and the earth has been covered in dust. The gods can no longer perceive the human world, let alone interfere in its affairs. You are the only link for the gods to perceive the human world, but I don't want you to use the power of the gods too much, as that will affect your cultivation."

What the hell?

Am I the link between the gods and the human world?

We can put aside things like family background, but isn't this connection a bit too exaggerated?

Grandpa is even more powerful than I imagined. It's a pity I found out too late. If I had known when I was in school, I could have learned to fly on a sword from Grandpa and saved so much on high-speed rail tickets and commuting costs... Zhou looked annoyed, feeling that he had missed out on too much.

Fortunately, it's not too late now. When I have accumulated enough merit, I'll try flying it. I wonder if Yunwu Mountain will be designated as a no-fly zone.

Thinking about all these random thoughts, Zhou Yi continued reading:

"Child, soon after you see this letter, a group of undead with money-tailed tails will come knocking on your door. You must find a way to kill them. The more gruesome their deaths, the safer you will be in Cloud Mist Mountain. As for the cleanup after the killings, someone will take care of it for you, so don't worry..."

No, Grandpa, you even know this, so how come you didn't calculate that you would die from alcohol-induced heart disease?
If you had drunk less, we could have discussed things face-to-face now, instead of relying on the ancient form of communication like letters.

At the end of the letter were the old man's words of advice:

"Live your life well and don't keep reminiscing about me. Grandpa was just a tool to guide you onto the right path. From now on, you'll have to walk your own path... Oh, and I was worried you'd be lonely on your journey, so I took the liberty of arranging a group of wives and concubines for you. Consider it Grandpa's last act of care for you. I hope you won't blame me for arranging this marriage."

Zhouyi: "..."

So, the fact that Wu Zetian and the others were able to come was actually arranged by you in secret?
Arranged marriages are indeed a feudal practice that is unacceptable, but after all, it is the elders' good intention. We have been so filial since we were young, and we cannot go against their good wishes.

After reading all the letters, Zhou Yi saw Wu Meiniang standing beside him and handed her the letters: "Take a look. Anyway, we are now completely bound together. Nothing about Hunyuan Palace will be kept from you."

Wu Zetian accepted the letter with both hands, carefully read it through, and then this empress turned into a walking encyclopedia of questions:
"Grandpa even knows about the future, so is he really dead?"

Has he mentioned anything about immortals to you before?

"This is the first time I've heard of the concept of 'human merit.' Does 'human' refer specifically to the Han Chinese?"

"It was all arranged by Grandpa that I was able to come to Hunyuan Palace... If I kissed you the first time we met, would you summon divine lightning to strike me?"

"Since you are the link between the gods and the human world, does that mean everything you do is under the watchful eyes of the gods?"

"It feels like Grandpa still has a lot to say, but he didn't say it... Immortal Master, do you think we'll ever see Grandpa again?"

"When those rats with money-tailed tails arrive, I will fight alongside you!"

"..."

Zhou Yi stood up and said:

"No need, I haven't used my eighth-grade lightning strike technique yet, it's time to give out some red envelopes."

He asked Wu Meiniang to keep the letter and began to study the iron box. The box was more than one centimeter thick and seemed to have a hidden compartment. However, Zhou Yi studied it for a long time but had no clue. He had no choice but to put it back in the room and wait until he was less busy to use a cutting machine to pry it open.

Before noon, the small courtyard that Grandpa had built years ago was completely demolished. Wu Aiguo called several 8-wheelers and bulldozers to clear away the construction waste. By lunchtime, the construction team had already started using lime to mark the lines of the foundation trenches.

Big Head Yang cooked a big pot of stew, mixed pig's ears and a vegetarian platter, providing both rice and alcoholic dishes. The town's steamed bun shop delivered freshly steamed hot buns, and everyone sat at several tables, eating and drinking in a lively atmosphere.

Liu Lei, with his sleeves rolled up, kept waving his left hand while eating, constantly showing off the bracelet on his wrist:
"See this? I got this from Xiao Yi. It's been blessed, and it's incredibly effective. After wearing it, my back pain stopped, my leg pain stopped, and it even cured my insomnia..."

Wang raised his glass and clinked it against his:
"Why are you making this sound like a pyramid scheme? Instead of helping Xiao Yi promote his business, I think you should get a statue of the Fire God and put it at the gas station. With a deity protecting it, the probability of accidents at the gas station will be greatly reduced. It's more effective than wearing a tattered bracelet."

Upon hearing this, Liu Lei was actually intrigued. He picked up his bowl and went to Zhou Yi's table, excitedly asking:

"Xiao Yi, can I have a statue of the Fire God at my gas station?"

Zhou Yi has some questions:

"The Fire God is usually invited from boiler rooms or similar places, where the fire will only burn brighter and brighter. If you invite the Fire God, aren't you afraid that he might get so happy that he'll send down a string of sparks?"

Liu Lei blinked:

"Then tell me, which deity should I consult?"

"Just invite the God of Wealth. One civil God of Wealth can bring wealth and prevent fire, it has everything."

Big Head Yang was a little confused:

Does the God of Wealth also oversee fire?

Zhou Yi nodded:

"In the Five Elements, wealth belongs to water. The more wealth one has, the stronger the water element becomes, which can naturally prevent fires from occurring."

Upon hearing this, Liu Lei immediately decided to place a statue of the God of Wealth at the gas station.

Xue Guoqiang, who owns a large pharmacy, asked:
"Xiao Yi, who should I invite to my place? Is he also a God of Wealth?"

Zhou Yi shook his head:

“Pharmacies definitely can’t invite the God of Wealth; they have to invite the Medicine King, the Great Savior from Suffering, or the Medicine Buddha of Buddhism.”

Xue Guoqiang decided to invite Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun back to oversee things. According to the online saying that the longer the name, the more powerful it is, Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun is absolutely ridiculously powerful.

And just like that, in the time it takes to eat a meal, two people requested statues of the God of Wealth... After the temple of the God of Wealth was repaired, they were indeed no longer poor!
(End of this chapter)