I am a demonic cultivator, not a capitalist with a conscience.

Chapter 268 The Encounter Between Two Temple Keepers (16)

Taking a deep breath, Yan Ye exclaimed, "I knew something was wrong! You always make excuses when it comes to reimbursing invoices, but you gave me the bonus so quickly today. So you were prepared to die! When did you find out about the Outer Gods' arrival?!"

"The day I gave you the message but you didn't come. Originally, I wanted someone else to take on this task, but that person was also stubborn and wanted to die with us, so he simply broke his own leg."

"That guy has too many interest-free loans. He's going to die anyway, so he might as well die with you guys!"

"Don't think so badly of your colleagues."

"I'm that kind of person, so I have to think the worst."

The temple keeper wanted to teach Yan Ye a lesson, but felt he couldn't manage it.

Because what she said makes a lot of sense.

With a sigh, the temple keeper said to Yan Ye, "I'll give you a resignation certificate to prove that you resigned voluntarily. But I can also give you some severance pay. Anyway, we're all going to die, so there's no point in keeping the money. I was thinking of taking out some small loans, but those small loan companies know that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva can't be saved, so they won't lend us any money."

"How can these loan sharks be so wicked! We're just not paying back the money, why won't they lend to us?"

"Indeed. Alright, Yan Ye, among the temple keepers of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, you are the smartest and also the most despicable. With you as the seed of revival, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva should be able to preserve some embers. In the future, when you think of us, remember to erect a monument for us, so that our time as colleagues will not have been in vain."

Seeing the temple keeper process his resignation, Yan Ye wanted to speak his mind and give the old man a good scolding.

But when the words came out, they turned into a sob: "Temple keeper, I don't want to leave! Or can't we leave together?"

“No,” the temple keeper said with a smile. “For you, being a temple keeper is just a job. For me, it’s a faith. In this day and age, faith is laughably dismissed. But for me, it’s the only meaning of my existence.”

With her head tilted back, Yan Ye tried hard not to let her tears fall, and said stiffly, "That's right, it's just a job, I'm leaving now!"

"Take this with you before you leave."

Taking out his Human Emperor Banner, the temple keeper said, "The two thousand ghost cultivators you graduated from are all stored in this Human Emperor Banner. Take them out and find a place to settle them. If they are willing to stay, they can prepare to lie low with you. As for the remaining ghost cultivators, I will find a way to ensure their safety."

"Are those Outer Gods really that terrifying?"

The temple keeper frowned and pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "The outside world is the void, and we don't know what's beyond the void. But those who can cross the void to reach this world must be powerful. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is a combination of human and god, and has only existed for tens of thousands of years. He is no match for that outer god."

"Then let's run too!"

"If you surrender without even fighting, others will only look down on you more. This battle is not fought for us, but for you and for all living beings in this world."

"Why aren't the other star deities showing up?"

The temple keeper remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Among the other star lords, there are also outer gods. Moreover, the mutual devouring of star lords can also strengthen the Heavenly Dao of this realm. As long as it doesn't escalate, the other star lords will basically not take action."

Yan Ye already knew that Xingjun was complicated, but she didn't expect him to be this complicated.

Various forces converge here, and the appearance of peace is merely a fusion of their interests. The intertwining of the power of the Star Lord and capital has created the complex world we see today.

After receiving the Emperor's Banner, Yan Ye asked again, "So how do you plan to fight this battle?"

"The temple priests of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and the ghost cultivators from Fengdu University will enter the divine realm of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. We will start a war there and fight against that outer god together. If the ghost cultivators here do not want to participate in the war, they can choose to graduate directly. The reason for asking you to urge those ghost cultivators to graduate is to help you gain merit, improve your moral score, and allow you to be favored by the Heavenly Dao, so that your luck can also improve."

"I understand. Then I'll stay a few more days, say goodbye to my colleagues, and then..."

"Heh, do you think I don't know what you're up to? It seems you've been hanging out with the ghost cultivators at Fengdu University for too long, and you've picked up their atmosphere. Go on, go to the place you want to go most."

With a single palm strike, Yan Ye was utterly powerless against the temple keeper, a Golden Core cultivator, and was sent straight to the lower realm.

In an instant, she felt the world turn upside down and the stars shift. Before she could react, she saw the bright sky of the mortal world and towering trees reaching into the clouds.

"Temple keeper, where have you brought me?" "This is Sangmu City. Have you just returned from fulfilling your filial duties?"

"You're the one who's being filial! I am the temple keeper of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva! Although it's the former one."

Turning her head, Yan Ye saw a capable young woman in front of her, her jet-black hair styled into a ponytail, making her look youthful and efficient.

The other party's Taoist robe was mainly blue, with a blue dragon mark embroidered on the edge of the cuffs, which could be seen as a symbol of the Wood Virtue Star Lord.

The other party was very young, and Yan Ye was quite surprised to find that he was already the temple keeper of the Wood Star Lord.

She bowed again and said earnestly, "I am Yan Ye, the temple keeper of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva."

"Xu Youran, the temple keeper of the Wood Star Lord."

The relationship between Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and the Five Virtuous Star Lords is generally neutral, and this is also the relationship between most star lords.

The relationship between the Star Lord and the corresponding Temple Master affects the relationship between them, so the two were not too intimate or hostile when they met.

After exchanging names, Xu Youran spoke first: "This lady..."

Do you think this is appropriate?

After glancing at Yan Ye for a moment, Xu Youran nodded apologetically and then said, "Brother..."

"...Just call me by my name."

"Okay, Yan Ye, I wonder where you're going? Perhaps we can go the same way."

Yan Ye looked at the sky.

She started working at Fengdu University right after graduation and has dedicated thirty years of her life to it. Now she doesn't even know where to go next.

She now knew neither the road ahead nor the way home. Under the vast sky, she found herself with nowhere to go.

After pondering for a while, she finally said, "I want to go to Tianyuan."

"That's perfect, I want to go too. I've been walking for almost half a month, but I still haven't arrived. Tianyuan is really far away, I estimate it will take another half a month."

"Is it?"

Yan Ye opened her phone, brought up the navigation, and pointed to a spot 500 meters away, saying, "It's over there. We'll go down the mountain and take a longer route, then we can get in. What was wrong with you before? Didn't you notice it?"

"...It's a ghost wall."

"If only your IQ were half as good as your shamelessness."

"I already said it, it's a ghost wall."

"If only your IQ were a quarter of your self-esteem."

Xu Youran glanced at Yan Ye, shook her head slightly, and then walked towards Tianyuan.

Just a few minutes later, she slowly walked back and said to Yan Ye, who was standing still, "Did I go the wrong way?"

"If only your sense of direction were half as good as your IQ."

　I'll update three chapters first, and continue this afternoon.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)