I Went Crazy Killing in the World of Gods and Demons - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Xie Qingling shifted her gaze away from the glass bottle containing the white liquid, yet her heart continued to beat faster involuntarily.

She felt that even during her college entrance exams, she might not have been as nervous as she was now.

Like a diligent student, she obediently placed her hands on the table, adopting an attentive posture.

“Before we begin, I’ll first explain the concepts of Innate Spirit and Acquired Spirit.”

“First, Acquired Spirits start off as ordinary people with no special abilities or talents. To become Spirit Users, they need this bottle of medicine.” Ling Fang pointed at the glass bottle. “After drinking it, there are generally two outcomes—either life or death.”

“Life means cleansing the sinews and reforging the bones, being reborn anew, gaining the ability to control ‘Spirit,’ and possessing the power to slay ghosts.”

“But that’s all there is to it,” Ling Fang said. “Acquired Spirits typically manifest as having greater strength than ordinary people, enhanced endurance, and a stronger physique. Unfortunately, compared to Innate Spirits, Acquired Spirits are merely ordinary people with a sturdier constitution.”

Xie Qingling felt so tense that her mouth went dry. “Innate Spirits are stronger because they can receive Divine Blessings?”

“Correct.”

“Innate Spirits can obtain Divine Blessings through prayers. If a deity responds, they may bestow a portion of their Mystical Power, allowing the Spirit User to gain control over that power.”

“To receive Divine Blessings, a specific Ritual and an Offering are required.” Ling Fang pushed the bottle of white liquid toward Xie Qingling. “This is the Offering I’ve prepared for you.”

[Oh, humanity, arrogant humanity, you have cast aside your former companions, closed your ears to their calls, and forgotten the means to communicate with them.]

[Oh, humanity, clever humanity, your descendants have grown up in comfort, yet some remain sharp enough to sense danger. Who knows what price was paid, or how many generations it took, to rediscover the complex methods of communicating with the deities.]

[Offerings and Rituals—these seem to grant you the authority to draw power from the deities. The only question is whether you are fortunate enough to earn the favor of a god.]

Hearing the voice in her mind, Xie Qingling snapped back to reality.

She looked up at Ling Fang and asked, “What do I need to do to perform the Ritual?”

Her tone was as decisive as ever, without the slightest hesitation.

She didn’t even pause to think.

Or rather, her deliberation was brief, and she quickly made her decision.

Faced with Xie Qingling’s resolute and decisive demeanor, Ling Fang was momentarily taken aback and couldn’t help but remind her, “Won’t you reconsider? Even for Innate Spirits, there are risks when praying to the deities.”

“I know,” Xie Qingling replied, still firm and unwavering.

There was no trace of fear in her voice; she sounded utterly composed.

Xie Qingling said, “Everything has two sides; gains come with losses. Others risk their lives just to become Acquired Spirits, and I am no exception.”

“So, before we begin, I need to understand all the taboos, so I can proceed with extreme caution. And besides…”

She paused briefly, “I believe you will protect me and not let me die easily, right?”
A department with only six people—no matter how you looked at it—couldn’t possibly let her die at the final step, right?

This man was too cautious.

Whether it was the Life and Death Contract at the beginning or his long-winded emphasis on various risks now, he overthought everything and was burdened with too many concerns.

Xie Qingling, on the other hand, was the type to dare taking risks.

She preferred straightforwardness. If she had Ling Fang’s temperament—needing to thoroughly consider every detail and future possibility before acting at critical moments—she would have died countless times at the hands of the Mountain Goblin and Rakshasa Ghost long ago.

Ling Fang nodded, silently watching her as if lost in thought. After a while, he spoke.

“In that case…”

“There are two taboos. First, do not be greedy. Second, do not linger.”

“Do not accept blessings from two or more deities simultaneously. They are mutually exclusive when bestowing Godly Blessings.”

“Even if no deity grants you a blessing, do not cling to regret or unwillingness. If they show no intention to bless you, leave that realm immediately and return at once.”

“As long as you follow these two rules, you will be absolutely safe.”

After listening, Xie Qingling nodded and asked, “Any other instructions?”

“One last thing,” Ling Fang said. “This medicine is more precious than you can imagine. If you fail due to improper handling… you’ll have to work for a long time to repay the debt.”

Xie Qingling: “…”

“I understand. I’ll be careful.”

Damn it.

She felt like she hadn’t even started receiving her salary yet was already in debt to the company.

If she wasn’t careful, would she end up living a life of working to pay off debts?

Ling Fang reiterated a few more precautions before Xie Qingling left the office.

When she departed, she carried the Offering prepared by Ling Fang.

That night.

Xie Qingling did not return to her school dormitory.

She booked a room at a hotel in Central City.

Finding a quiet, undisturbed location had taken considerable effort.

Though Ling Fang could have arranged a venue, it would have required scheduling a day later. Xie Qingling chose to handle it herself.

Ling Fang had explained that prayer required a tranquil, interruption-free space. The school dormitory clearly didn’t meet these criteria, and the office lounge had to remain available for emergency medical treatments, making it unsuitable for rituals just in case.

After securing the location, Xie Qingling spent considerable time preparing for the Ritual, finally completing everything only now.

A bowl of raw millet with three lit incense sticks and one Offering placed before it.

This was Xie Qingling’s altar.

She then cut her index finger, squeezed out a drop of blood, and drew a peculiar symbol above the “altar.The symbol resembled two serpents coiled around each other’s tails, possessing a twisted yet strange beauty.

It somewhat resembled the emblem of Ling Fang’s department.

Xie Qingling had asked—this was the totem of the primordial deities, Fuxi and Nüwa.

Kneeling before the altar, she closed her eyes, pressed her palms together, and meticulously verified each step as taught by Ling Fang, ensuring utmost caution.

Only after confirming no mistakes had been made did she softly recite the incantation she had learned earlier that day.
“Within the three realms, from primordial chaos.”

“Embracing all things, nurturing yin and yang.”

“Welcoming myriad deities, demons and ghosts vanish without trace.”

“Mystical Power reflects and covers, yin and yang shift, revealing light…”

In an instant, Xie Qingling felt a sudden enlightenment washing over her from the crown of her head.

Though her eyes were tightly shut, she saw images flashing through her mind.

Though outside was the noisy, bustling city street filled with traffic, her ears could hear the faintest pin drop in absolute silence.

She felt her body, or perhaps her soul, being pulled into an unfathomable and mysterious place.

Everything about her physical form seemed separated from the mortal world.

She appeared to be in the mortal realm, yet not entirely present.

[After countless ages, the vanished witch has returned to the altar, praying to the heavenly deities and all divine beings, exchanging hard-won Offerings for Divine Blessing.]

[Your sincerity and Offerings have opened this long-sealed door. You have entered another world, where newly awakened deities from the chaos examine you, casting probing gazes upon you.]

Xie Qingling opened her eyes.

With this single glance, she saw…

a bizarre and fantastical world.

Xie Qingling’s body seemed to freeze, standing rigidly in place like a block of wood. It felt as though the concepts of body and spirit no longer existed, with self and object forgotten, leaving only an almost intuitive intense sensation governing her actions.

Xie Qingling stared unblinkingly at this world before her.

This world seemed to have no distinction between heaven and earth, no separation between day and night.

Indescribable, beyond words.

While she curiously explored this world with her gaze, she felt the weight of numerous intense stares pressing upon her – stares that felt almost physical.

Those were “Them” scrutinizing her.

What she saw was dreamlike and illusory; what she heard resembled celestial music and Buddhist chants. Being here, she couldn’t utter a word.

Xie Qingling withdrew her freely wandering gaze.

Ling Fang had said that after stepping into that world, waiting was the only thing she could do.

So, Xie Qingling waited quietly.

Waiting for the deity who would bestow upon her the Mystical Power, or waiting for the moment to turn and leave if not chosen.

Suddenly, from among the myriad deities, a bright sphere of light began drifting slowly toward her.

The sphere drew closer and closer, gradually taking shape into a figure with head downward and feet upward.

[Zhang Wulang who overturns altars and temples, before whom beasts retreat and snakes hide. One overturn shakes heaven and earth, two overturns turn all vegetation yellow. Hands supporting the ground, feet pointing to heaven, subduing dragons and tigers, overthrowing altars and temples. The later incarnation of Chi You, Zhang Wulang approaches you. As the progenitor of Meishan Witchcraft, “His” inverted eyes cast a scrutinizing gaze upon you.]

Zhang Wulang?

Xie Qingling thought for a moment, but found no knowledge of this deity in her mind.

Well, her understanding of deities was pitifully limited anyway. In this vast universe, there would always be things she didn’t know.

Had Zhang Wulang chosen her?

Though she knew nothing about witchcraft, simply entering this world without failing was already quite an achievement.

Since a deity had chosen her, she wouldn’t need to leave for now.

She slowly raised her head, preparing to receive the Divine Blessing, when suddenly another crimson figure appeared in the distance.

As the figure gradually approached, Xie Qingling began to clearly discern “His” features.

[Clad in bear skin with four golden eyes, donning black robes and vermilion skirts, wielding spears and raising shields, Fangxiangshi who leads hundreds of subordinates in seasonal exorcisms to sweep dwellings and expel epidemics comes charging toward you. “He” leads hundreds of attendants and youths to vanquish evil and drive out ghosts, quelling temporal calamities.]

Zhang Wulang continued moving upside down, his hands never ceasing their motion, his path unwavering.

Fangxiangshi, with his ferocious and intimidating countenance, also brandishing spears and shields while shouting reprimands, rushed forth at full speed.

This was…

Had both chosen her?

Xie Qingling bit the tip of her tongue, the slight pain sharpening her awareness.

Ling Fang had said: one must not be greedy.

One must not accept Godly Blessings from two or more Spirits simultaneously.

So, which one should she refuse now?

Or rather, could she even refuse a Spirit?

As Xie Qingling pondered her strategy, a low chant—seemingly existing since primordial times—suddenly echoed through this realm.

The sound wasn’t particularly loud or piercing, yet it felt profoundly ancient and lingering, shaking one’s very soul and freezing them in place.

From body to spirit, everything was cleansed by this vast, distant hymn.

Then, Zhang Wulang vanished. Fangxiangshi disappeared as well.

“They” seemed to have been driven away by this deep, eternal chant.

In their place emerged a massive figure shifting from indistinct to clear.

…No, it should be called a Spirit.

“He” had seven arms behind him, two of which held white soaring snakes. His upper body was human, while his lower body consisted of a serpent’s tail. As he moved, golden scales shimmered with a living radiance.

The Spirit coiled his tail and sat upright, his upper body remaining still as the serpent tail slowly slid forward, gradually wrapping around Xie Qingling’s wrist.

The touch wasn’t as cold as expected; instead, Xie Qingling felt a warm energy spreading from the serpent tail throughout her body.

“He” gazed at Xie Qingling, his eyes both compassionate and detached—fleeting images and shimmering tears coexisting within them.

Xie Qingling instinctively held her breath.

[Houtu, Mother of Mountains and Rivers, opened her eyes from chaos and immediately selected her chosen agent. As the Earth Spirit governing yin-yang and fertility, having manifested the Six Paths and mastered the Authority of Reincarnation, Houtu is about to bestow upon you one of her Mystical Powers.]