Chapter 18: Divine Path

Everyone shook their heads.

"Law Enforcers and Law Officials – a single character differentiates them, yet the difference is monumental. This isn't a disparity in rank, but in power. A Law Enforcer is merely an ordinary person granted enforcement authority, whereas a Law Official possesses their own divine path to divinity."

"Legend has it that before the Great Cataclysm, there were eighteen distinct divine paths to godhood in the world. However, as eras passed and civilization declined, only fourteen of these divine paths remain today."

"These fourteen paths are:"

"Writing, Medicine, Military, Yellow, Green, Skill, Chess, Puppetry, Shamanism, Strength, Divination, Thievery, Prostitution."

"It is said that each of these divine paths leads to a 'divine position.' Completing all of them allows one to transcend the mortal realm and achieve godhood..."

"And in our Aurora Domain, the Law Enforcers are entrusted with the 'Military God Path,' one of the fourteen divine paths."

"According to Aurora City Law Enforcer regulations, every Law Enforcer, three years after becoming full-fledged, gains one opportunity to enter the 'Ancient Military Treasury.' If they pass the trials within the 'Treasury,' they have a chance to be chosen by the 'Military God Path' and formally embark on this divine journey."

"Once you embark on a divine path, Aurora City will change your status, promoting you from a Law Enforcer to a Law Official."

After listening to Han Meng's explanation, everyone's eyes lit up.

Complete the path, and you can ascend to godhood!

This held immense appeal for a group of recently adult young people!

The image of last night's battle between the red paper monster and Han Meng also automatically appeared in Chen Ling's mind... Han Meng seemed to have opened some mysterious domain, becoming extraordinarily fierce. Was that the power of the "Military God Path"?

"Excuse me, is entering the 'Ancient Treasury' the only way to obtain a divine path?" someone in the crowd cautiously asked.

"Theoretically, no," Han Meng shook his head. "The key to embarking on a divine path lies in gaining the 'Divine Path's' recognition. If you possess exceptional talent in a certain divine path, or if the divine path believes you were born to walk that road, it will naturally guide you... We call such individuals 'God-Favored Ones.'"

"I once saw a boy from the South Sea Domain. He started painting at three, self-taught, and at five, he casually drew a 'Hundred Boats Vying for Flow' painting on the ground using white porridge. He gained the favor of the 'Green God Path,' becoming the youngest Divine Path holder in history."

The entire hall erupted in an uproar.

"However, those chosen by a divine path are exceedingly rare. Most people who wish to embark on a divine path can only do so by entering an 'Ancient Treasury'... Of course, not all Ancient Treasuries are within human domains. Several are located at the intersection of the Grey Realm and reality, making them extremely difficult for ordinary humans to reach. This means very few can enter and pass the trials in those specific treasuries. To embark on these divine paths, the only way is to receive 'divine favor,' which is why the number of individuals on these paths is extremely small. For example, the Yellow God Path, the Puppetry God Path, the Thievery God Path, and the Prostitution God Path."

"In summary, these fourteen divine paths are the only transcendent roads recognized by the human domains. In the Aurora Domain, most people's only choice is the 'Military God Path.'"

"The only ones recognized by the human domains?" Chen Ling asked. "So, there are unrecognized paths?"

Han Meng glanced at him, remained silent for a moment, then replied:

"Yes... and quite a few. For instance, the 'Fusion Faction,' which attempts to abandon human identity and actively merge with calamities; and the 'Crimson Heaven Cult,' cultists who worship the celestial disaster, the Crimson Star... However, you must never touch these paths. Should anyone embark on these paths, there will be only one outcome: they will be hunted down by all human domains, and then... exterminated."

Hearing the words "exterminated," Chen Ling's heart skipped a beat.

If he wasn't mistaken, the "Audience" inside him was likely a "calamity." So, did that mean he had merged with a calamity?

Chen Ling didn't know, nor did he dare to ask. He suddenly felt that his earlier decision not to seek help from the Law Enforcers had been absolutely correct... If he truly was a fusion entity, the Law Enforcers' first reaction upon discovering it would likely be to eliminate him along with the calamity inside him.

Gazing at the large group of solemn and imposing Law Enforcers nearby, sweat began to seep into Chen Ling's palms.

Audience Expectation Value: 10Current Expectation Value: 33

Two lines of text flashed in the void before Chen Ling's eyes. He couldn't help but inwardly curse the "Audience" for their perversion; their joy was entirely built upon his life-or-death crises...

Despite the tension, Chen Ling wasn't all that afraid.

After all, Han Meng probably wouldn't even imagine that a fusion entity, instead of fleeing from Law Enforcers, would actually approach them and attempt to blend in.

"Then, is it possible for groups like the Fusion Faction and the Crimson Heaven Cult to master divine paths?" someone asked again.

"Almost impossible," Han Meng said indifferently. "No divine path would bestow divine favor upon monsters who embrace evil..."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Chen Ling's eyes.

As a transmigrator, he naturally hoped to possess power beyond the mundane. To be honest, he had been tempted when the divine paths were mentioned earlier... but if he truly was a fusion entity, that path was closed to him.

"Next, someone will assign each of you a task. Whether you can stay on in three days... that will depend on yourselves."

Han Meng finished his casual remark and turned to leave.

The crowd began to murmur again.

Following this, several Law Enforcers stepped forward and began announcing everyone's upcoming assignments.

"Jiang Lipeng, Nie Yining, you will assist in patrolling the Hanyun Street in District Three; Deng Feiliang, Gong Heng, you will assist in patrolling the Hanxue Street in District Three..."

Everyone present was only a reservist and lacked the ability to patrol independently. Therefore, they could only help official Law Enforcers with minor tasks. Those whose names were called first were fortunate; the later names were assigned to increasingly remote streets, and eventually, some were even tasked with crossing districts to support District Two.

"...Wu Youdong, Chen Ling, you will assist in patrolling the Bingquan Street in District Two..."

Hearing his name assigned to District Two, Chen Ling was slightly taken aback. He clearly remembered that no one had been assigned to patrol Hanfrost Street in District Three, and he himself lived on Hanfrost Street. Why were they specifically transferring him to District Two?

Although District Three and District Two weren't far apart, daily commuting would take at least four hours... Wouldn't that consume all of his personal time?

"The assessment begins today. Each of you now has three hours to go home and prepare. You must report for duty in three hours."

Once the Law Enforcer finished reading the list, he dismissed the group. Chen Ling vaguely felt that something was amiss, but couldn't quite pinpoint it.

"Brother, are you Chen Ling?" a slender young man cautiously approached Chen Ling.

"You are..."

"I'm Wu Youdong, I'm going with you to support District Two."

"Oh, hello."

Wu Youdong glanced around, then lowered his voice and asked, "Did you bribe them?"

"Bribe?" Chen Ling was taken aback.

"The Law Official who just read the names, Ma Zhong... He handles personnel assignments. He decides where we go and what we do." Seeing Chen Ling's reaction, Wu Youdong sighed helplessly. "By the looks of it, you didn't bribe him either... No wonder we're the unluckiest."

Hearing this, Chen Ling finally understood.

He suddenly recalled what the rickshaw puller had said on the way here... "If you don't have money, why become a Law Enforcer?"

"It seems Law Enforcers aren't good people either," Chen Ling sneered inwardly.

Even a rickshaw puller on the street knew the true nature of the Law Enforcers, which was enough to indicate the severity of the internal problems within the organization.

"Where do you live?"

"Hanfrost Street, Number 128."

"What a coincidence, I'm also on Hanfrost Street, but at the other end."

"Brother, we're in this together. When we get to District Two, let's help each other out." After a few words with Chen Ling, Wu Youdong hurried home to pack his things.

Chen Ling was the last to leave the headquarters. Just as he stepped out the door, a cold voice spoke from beside the entrance.

"Stop."

Chen Ling froze.

He slowly turned his head to see Han Meng leaning against the wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his eyes fixed on Chen Ling like a venomous snake.

"You are Chen Ling?"