Gu Zhao finally pinpointed the key detail and understood what had felt so off earlier.
The three Golden Wind Sect Ghosts who attacked today were about as strong as the black-robed ghost I encountered chasing the White Fox. On top of that, each of them seemed to carry a Magical Artifact.
In contrast, the Golden Wind Sect Divine Maiden I killed right after I first transmigrated was the weakest of all; she died from a single strike of my Palm Thunder.
However!
The black-robed ghost had no Magical Artifact. And while these three Ghosts held Magical Artifacts, my Thunderbolt destroyed the wooden staff and the red gauze, leaving only the four metal bracelets.
Compared to how fragile those Magical Artifacts were, the Wood Carving I had taken from the Golden Wind Sect Divine Maiden remained perfectly intact. Moreover, using my Divine Soul to sense it, I could feel that the energy contained within the Wood Carving was far denser than in the other three items.
'If I'd never seen any of this world's Magical Treasures or Magical Artifacts, it would be one thing. But since I saw them today, and thinking back on that day's events...' That was why Gu Zhao had instinctively sensed something was wrong.
Now, after hearing the White Fox's explanation, everything became crystal clear.
He had unintentionally killed the Golden Wind Sect Divine Maiden who was passing through the village. He'd then taken the Wood Carving—their Incense and Candle Divine Statue—sent it over to Blue Star, and promptly forgotten about it.
The black-robed ghost sent to investigate had discovered the White Fox at the Golden Wind Sect's base in Xiuyue County. A misunderstanding led him to pursue her, only for him to run into Gu Zhao and be killed. From the Golden Wind Sect's point of view, this only cemented their belief that the White Fox had stolen the Divine Statue and murdered the ghost.
At this thought, Gu Zhao couldn't help but look at the White Fox with a hint of embarrassment.
"What are you looking at me like that for?" Bai Ke misinterpreted his gaze and bared her fangs. "I'm not a thief! I didn't steal their Incense and Candle Divine Statue! That thing is infused with the Golden Wind Sect Leader's Curse Technique. If I dared to use it, I'd become his puppet!"
Gu Zhao nodded instinctively, then pointed at the White Fox. "But you said it yourself. You went to their place to 'leech' some Incense."
"That was stray, ownerless Incense!" Bai Ke's tail puffed up as she bristled in anger. "It was only a little bit!"
"Alright, then what's the deal with the Incense and Candle Divine Statue?" Gu Zhao asked, probing for more information.
Bai Ke looked at Gu Zhao as if he were an idiot.
This time, Gu Zhao understood her look perfectly. He formed another Celestial Thunder Seal with his left hand.
"The Golden Wind Sect Leader was originally an Evil Ghost," Bai Ke explained. "He had a stroke of luck and began proselytizing in the counties around Changping Prefecture. He built Divine Altars, erected Divine Statues, and collected the Incense and Candle Telekinesis from his followers. Then, he absorbs the Power of Incense and Candlelight from the statues to nourish his Divine Soul and increase his Divinity."
Gu Zhao gave a slight nod, keeping a straight face.
'I can understand every word, and I think I get the general idea, but I still feel a bit lost.'
"If they're preaching in Changping Prefecture and absorbing Incense from followers, shouldn't they be keeping the region safe? But they act just like a Cult!" Gu Zhao recalled the words and deeds of those Ghosts—they treated humans like dirt. "Doesn't the Court do anything about it?"
"The Court?" Bai Ke scoffed. "The Court is the ruler in name only. The Xuanwei Divine Sect, which is supposed to protect the nation, has been all but driven south of the Wanling River. The Spirit Court, which patrols the realm, rarely shows up anymore. These days, they're lucky if even three of the Jiangzhou Eight Prefectures still heed the Court's commands."
Gu Zhao nodded, feigning understanding. He didn't ask any more questions, afraid he would reveal his ignorance.
Still, he could deduce a few things from the White Fox's words.
First, the Xuanwei Divine Sect and the Spirit Court were likely factions loyal to the Court.
Second, the realm was clearly in turmoil, with intense conflict, both open and hidden, between local powers and the Court.
Third, Xiuyue County was part of Changping Prefecture, which in turn was one of the Jiangzhou Eight Prefectures. This area was south of the Wanling River, where the Court's influence was weak.
Fourth...
Gu Zhao asked, "If the Golden Wind Sect needs followers to provide Incense, why are they so brazen about treating human life so cheaply?"
"The Golden Wind Sect Leader calls himself the Golden Wind Divine King, but he's really just an Evil God who gets Incense by deceiving his followers," Bai Ke said with contempt. "Naturally, the Ghost Gods serving under him are no better."
'I get it now. The classic Cult playbook. It's the same in every world. Outwardly, they wear the compassionate face of a savior, but who knows how twisted and corrupt they are on the inside.'
Of course, neither the Xuanwei Divine Sect nor the Spirit Court had anything to do with him at the moment. His main concern was whether the Golden Wind Sect would find their way back to this mountain village.
"When a Guardian from the Golden Wind Sect found me, he called out my identity and captured a wisp of my aura," Bai Ke said, shrinking back. "But since those three Guardians already brought that wisp of aura here with them, they won't be able to find me again."
"That black-robed ghost, and these three Ghosts... they were all Guardians of the Golden Wind Sect?" Gu Zhao asked.
Bai Ke nodded emphatically. "The Golden Wind Sect has one Sect Leader, two Divine Consorts, and eight Guardians."
Gu Zhao teased, "You seem to know a lot about them."
"That's because they've all been made into Divine Statues and placed on the Golden Wind Sect's Divine Altars for people to worship," Bai Ke said, as if it were obvious.
Gu Zhao was speechless. "Worshipping living... wait, no, they're already dead... but that's not right either. If they're dead, why haven't they gone to the Underworld?"
Bai Ke looked at him. "What's the Underworld?"
Gu Zhao fell silent. This world might look a lot like ancient Celestial Xia, but it was full of differences. For instance, it clearly had no Daoists, and now it seemed there was no Underworld, either.
"When a person dies and becomes a ghost, do they all just linger in the Mortal Realm?" Gu Zhao asked.
Bai Ke gave Gu Zhao another strange look. This time, before he could even form a Celestial Thunder Seal, she quickly answered, "Normally, when people die, their souls just dissipate. That's true for everyone, even Mages and us Fairies. Only those with incredibly deep obsessions and resentments, or those empowered by a Divine Power, can become ghosts.
It used to be that, aside from a few stray ghosts in the wild, only those blessed by the Xuanwei Divine Sect could become ghosts. They would then receive Incense from believers to practice Divine Cultivation and solidify their souls. This not only allowed them to appear during the day, but their strength also wasn't weakened by the sun.
But later, as the Court's power weakened, ghosts and monsters rose up all over. They started setting up their own altars to preach and absorb the Incense of belief, becoming gods and wielding Divine Power. That's how the world ended up with so many Ghost Gods."
"So, gods are just ghosts?" Gu Zhao asked. That was similar to the legends from his own world; even in The Investiture of the Gods, you had to die first to be deified.
"Not necessarily," Bai Ke explained. "Some Fairies also follow the Divine Cultivation Dao, but only as a supplement to their Divine Soul cultivation. Most rely on their own Demon Power as their primary source of strength. Only Fairies with naturally weak bodies would focus on the Divine Cultivation Dao."
"For example, I don't follow the Divine Cultivation Dao. At most, I'll absorb a bit of stray Incense to replenish my Divine Soul." Bai Ke swished her tail. "I wasn't even planning on finding someone to cultivate in Harmony with, but then I met the Silk Embroideress."
This time, without waiting for Gu Zhao to ask, Bai Ke explained on her own, "Harmony can only occur between a human and a Fairy, or a human and a ghost. If their Divine Souls are especially compatible, they can cultivate in Harmony. It's beneficial for both parties, and the more compatible their Divine Souls, the faster their cultivation speed."