People worship their ancestors: I'm just burning some paper money, how did I become a Taoist ma

Li Mu's heart tightened. He knew that after burning so many things for the Wang family, there couldn't possibly be no reaction at all.

"Is the City God referring to the matter of a commoner helping others worship their ancestors?" Li Mu asked tentatively.

"Otherwise what?" The City God's smile vanished, his gaze sharpening. "Li Mu, I don't care if you help those wandering souls send down the offerings. That's worldly etiquette, and I can't interfere. But... you've burned so much money for them; Wang Zhengyuan is practically sitting on a mountain of gold and silver now. Have you considered the consequences?"

Li Mu frowned.

"This humble subject is ignorant and foolish; please enlighten me, City God."

The City God stood up and walked a few steps in the main hall with his hands behind his back.

"There are tens of millions of souls lingering in the underworld, all of whom died in the last few decades. The birth rate in the mortal world is low now, and the chances of reincarnation are extremely limited! These souls don't know how long they will have to wait to be reincarnated. They remain in the mortal world, retaining their memories of their previous lives. Apart from not having a physical body and being in a different place, their experiences are not much different from when they were alive. At most, they just live different lives."

The City God turned around and looked at Li Mu.

"Here, all the souls of the dead live similar lives, all rather bitter, everyone is the same; but now... some have received large amounts of gold and silver money burned down from the living, and are living a good life, no longer suffering from cold and hunger, what do the others think?"

Upon hearing this, Li Mu had a vague idea of ​​what the City God wanted to say.

"If everyone could live a life of luxury and wealth, like emperors, who would want to be reincarnated? Why reincarnate when you're rich? To start over in the mortal world, enduring hardship and suffering? Besides, these souls don't have the problem of a long lifespan!"

Li Mu fell silent.

What the City God said makes sense.

Although the underworld is different from the mortal world, wealthy souls don't have to live too badly.

"Does the City God mean... that sinners should stop performing sacrifices for others?" Li Mu asked.

"I did not say that." The City God sat back down behind his desk and looked at him. "Paying respects to one's ancestors is a matter of course. If I were to forbid it, that would be unreasonable."

He picked up the calligraphy brush on the table and twirled it between his fingertips.

"But you've burned way too much stuff for people."

Li Mu remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

"Gold and silver ingots, jade emperor coins, clothing, carriages... you've burned far too much for Wang Zhengyuan," the City God said, putting down his brush with a hint of displeasure. "You've been burning so much money for others so recklessly. While it may not seem like a problem now, it will definitely cause a lot of trouble in the long run."

Li Mu took a deep breath and looked up at the City God.

"Your Majesty, may I ask a question? Someone in the mortal realm has asked me for help. Should I help or not? I am a living person in the mortal realm; this is a matter of personal etiquette for me!"

The City God's eyes narrowed slightly.

The underworld officials on both sides of the hall looked over at the same time, their gazes cold and sharp.

Li Mu felt an immense pressure bearing down on him, like a mountain pressing down on him, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

He's right. This is a matter for the living world. No matter how powerful the City God is, he can't interfere in the affairs of the living world.

After a few seconds of silence, the City God suddenly laughed.

"Good, that's bold."

The pressure suddenly dissipated.

Li Mu secretly breathed a sigh of relief; his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

"I didn't say you couldn't help with the worship," the City God waved his hand. "But in the future, I hope you'll control the number of offerings burned; don't burn too many."

He paused, then emphasized his words.

"When people have money, they become reckless, and the same goes for the dead. If you help the Wang family burn a mountain of gold today, Wang Zhengyuan will be able to walk around freely in the underworld tomorrow. If you help the Li family burn one the day after tomorrow, and the Zhang family the day after that... before long, the underworld will be full of nouveau riche. Everything will be in chaos."

Li Mu nodded, understanding the City God's meaning.

"I understand. I will be more careful in the future."

The City God looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze.

"There's one more thing."

"Please speak, City God."

"Do you know any Taoist magic?"

Li Mu was shocked.

He didn't answer immediately, but remained silent for a few seconds before nodding.

"Yes."

"How could this be?" the City God pressed, his gaze sharp as a knife.

Li Mu raised his head and looked into the eyes of the City God.

"It's a secret, I can't tell you."

The City God stared at Li Mu for a long while, then slowly nodded.

"Fine, if you don't want to tell me, I won't force you."

"But Li Mu, let me remind you—Taoist magic is not child's play. If used well, it can save people; if used poorly, it can harm people. Do not use it recklessly."

As far as he knew, the transmission of Taoist practices in the human world had long been severed, otherwise so many living people would not worship their ancestors, while the ancestors in the underworld would know nothing about it!

But now, a young man suddenly appears who can use a Taoist technique that has long been lost, which is quite intriguing!

"This humble subject will remember this."

"Alright, go back now." The City God waved his hand. "Remember what I said, don't go too far."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Mu felt a sudden dizziness, and everything in front of him began to distort and deform.

The main hall of the City God's Office, the underworld officials on both sides, the City God behind the main altar... everything seemed to have been shattered by an invisible hand, turning into countless fragments and disappearing into the darkness.

……

Li Mu suddenly opened his eyes.

Outside the window, sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting a bright patch of light on the floor.

It was already broad daylight.

Li Mu lay on the bed, panting heavily, his heart pounding rapidly.

He raised his hand and looked at the back of his hand.

There was nothing on it.

But the feeling of being watched by the underworld officials still lingered in him, refusing to go away.

"City God..." Li Mu murmured, turning over and sitting up.

It's definitely not a dream.

He remembered every single word the City God said.

Including those warnings, those reminders, and the final phrase, "Don't go too far."

Li Mu sat on the edge of the bed and remained silent for a long time.

He began to re-examine his situation.

He previously thought that helping people worship their ancestors and accurately delivering the offerings to the underworld was just a small matter.

But now he knows that things aren't that simple.

The underworld has its own rules, and the City God has his own considerations.

If he recklessly helps people burn money and causes trouble and distress to those below, the City God will definitely not sit idly by.

Although the City God's position is not high, he is a genuine god, not someone a mere ordinary person like him can easily provoke!

It seems I need to be more restrained and controlled when helping people with ancestral worship in the future, so that those people can burn as much as they want!

The main hall of the City God's Office, the underworld officials on both sides, the City God behind the main altar... everything seemed to have been shattered by an invisible hand, turning into countless fragments and disappearing into the darkness.

……

Li Mu suddenly opened his eyes.

Outside the window, sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting a bright patch of light on the floor.

It was already broad daylight.

Li Mu lay on the bed, panting heavily, his heart pounding rapidly.

He raised his hand and looked at the back of his hand.

There was nothing on it.

But the feeling of being watched by the underworld officials still lingered in him, refusing to go away.

"City God..." Li Mu murmured, turning over and sitting up.

It's definitely not a dream.

He remembered every single word the City God said.

Including those warnings, those reminders, and the final phrase, "Don't go too far."

Li Mu sat on the edge of the bed and remained silent for a long time.

He began to re-examine his situation.

He previously thought that helping people worship their ancestors and accurately delivering the offerings to the underworld was just a small matter.

But now he knows that things aren't that simple.

The underworld has its own rules, and the City God has his own considerations.

If he recklessly helps people burn money and causes trouble and distress to those below, the City God will definitely not sit idly by.

Although the City God's position is not high, he is a genuine god, not someone a mere ordinary person like him can easily provoke!

It seems I need to be more restrained and controlled when helping people with ancestral worship in the future, so that those people can burn as much as they want!

The main hall of the City God's Office, the underworld officials on both sides, the City God behind the main altar... everything seemed to have been shattered by an invisible hand, turning into countless fragments and disappearing into the darkness.

……

Li Mu suddenly opened his eyes.

Outside the window, sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting a bright patch of light on the floor.

It was already broad daylight.

Li Mu lay on the bed, panting heavily, his heart pounding rapidly.

He raised his hand and looked at the back of his hand.

There was nothing on it.

But the feeling of being watched by the underworld officials still lingered in him, refusing to go away.

"City God..." Li Mu murmured, turning over and sitting up.

It's definitely not a dream.

He remembered every single word the City God said.

Including those warnings, those reminders, and the final phrase, "Don't go too far."

Li Mu sat on the edge of the bed and remained silent for a long time.

He began to re-examine his situation.

He previously thought that helping people worship their ancestors and accurately delivering the offerings to the underworld was just a small matter.

But now he knows that things aren't that simple.

The underworld has its own rules, and the City God has his own considerations.

If he recklessly helps people burn money and causes trouble and distress to those below, the City God will definitely not sit idly by.

Although the City God's position is not high, he is a genuine god, not someone a mere ordinary person like him can easily provoke!

It seems I need to be more restrained and controlled when helping people with ancestral worship in the future, so that those people can burn as much as they want!

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Mu felt a sudden dizziness, and everything in front of him began to distort and deform.

The main hall of the City God's Office, the underworld officials on both sides, the City God behind the main altar... everything seemed to have been shattered by an invisible hand, turning into countless fragments and disappearing into the darkness.

……

Li Mu suddenly opened his eyes.

Outside the window, sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting a bright patch of light on the floor.

It was already broad daylight.

Li Mu lay on the bed, panting heavily, his heart pounding rapidly.

He raised his hand and looked at the back of his hand.

There was nothing on it.

But the feeling of being watched by the underworld officials still lingered in him, refusing to go away.

"City God..." Li Mu murmured, turning over and sitting up.

It's definitely not a dream.

He remembered every single word the City God said.

Including those warnings, those reminders, and the final phrase, "Don't go too far."

Li Mu sat on the edge of the bed and remained silent for a long time.

He began to re-examine his situation.

He previously thought that helping people worship their ancestors and accurately delivering the offerings to the underworld was just a small matter.

But now he knows that things aren't that simple.

The underworld has its own rules, and the City God has his own considerations.

If he recklessly helps people burn money and causes trouble and distress to those below, the City God will definitely not sit idly by.

Although the City God's position is not high, he is a genuine god, not someone a mere ordinary person like him can easily provoke!

It seems I need to be more restrained and controlled when helping people with ancestral worship in the future, so that those people can burn as much as they want!