Is this what a zombie is?

132. An Unconventional Collection of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio

"But how can you be so sure that what you're seeing is divinity, and not some kind of highly concentrated energy aggregate?"

This is not a doubt, but a rigorous search for evidence.

After all, energy aggregates and divinity are two completely different concepts; the former is a quantitative change, while the latter is a qualitative change.

Different situations require different approaches to achieve better results with less effort.

Moreover, since divinity is involved, it's not an easy matter to resolve.

Jiang Chen shook his head: "I can't describe it with precise language, but it's completely different from ordinary spiritual energy, demonic energy, and resentment. It feels purer to me, like it transcends all emotions and energies, forming its own system."

"If I had to give it a definition, the first word that would come to mind is divinity, which I think is the most fitting."

Ai, who was standing to the side, was completely confused and couldn't help but interject.

"Divinity, divinity... if I keep talking about it, I feel like I'm going to become neurotic. Is there any standard for judging divinity, or does God really exist in this world?"

Dongfang Liang gave an ambiguous answer.

"Yes, and no."

"If we follow your conventional understanding of an omniscient and omnipotent being who creates everything, then the answer is no. At least I haven't found such a being in the family's records."

"But if we define it from the perspective of energy level and transcending life and death, then the answer is naturally there."

Dongfang Liang put down his wine glass, leaned forward slightly, and like a professor giving a lecture, he analyzed and explained things to Jiang Chen and Ai Yi.

"Human nature consists of seven emotions and six desires, including joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, grief, fear, and shock, as well as greed, anger, ignorance, pride, and doubt. These emotions generate energy fluctuations, both positive and negative, which intertwine with each other, thus forming the complex world we live in today."

"Spirituality is something that 99% of people are born with, but animals and plants only have instincts and vague thoughts. Objects need a long time to acquire even a little spirituality. This little bit of spirituality is very important to them; it is the foundation for them to become intelligent and have their own thoughts."

"And divinity..." Dongfang Liang's tone became low and solemn, "It transcends both of these. Under normal circumstances, it is unmoved by positive or negative emotions, and does not fall into the stream of the seven emotions and six desires. It is a higher-dimensional, almost absolutely stable energy state. You can understand it as the embodiment of a certain rule."

Jiang Chen astutely grasped a key point in the other party's words.

"Normal situation?"

Dongfang Liang's words still left a lot of room for interpretation.

"Yes, that's normal. Like a lotus, it rises from the mud unsullied and remains pure even after being washed by clear water. Divinity itself is pure, and it can resist a certain degree of erosion from negative energy."

"But what if this silt is bottomless, or even an abyss formed from accumulated negativity?"

"When the degree of pollution exceeds the threshold of purification, then... divinity will also be polluted, distorted, and even assimilated. A pure god will fall and become a completely evil god."

"Unfortunately, most people's faith is used to satisfy their own selfish desires and greed. If God accepts the offerings of these faiths and feeds on them, how can He guarantee that His divinity will not be eroded?"

These words made Jiang Chen fall into deep thought. God!

As a medical student, his original profession was known as snatching people from the clutches of death or the King of Hell.

But he never imagined that one day he would actually clash with an evil god. What a wonderful experience!

Dongfang Liang continued, "Based on the foundation's preliminary investigation and my indirect deductions, the divine entity in the urban village should be the Five Gods. Have you heard of them?"

"The Five Gods?" Ai nodded and said frankly, "I know a little about it. There were two movies about the Five Gods in a certain Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio series, but I skipped through them."

"..."

"..."

Jiang Chen and Dongfang Liang fell silent at the same time, because they instantly understood what Ai Yi was saying.

This Liaozhai series... it's not very serious.

The sense of mystery and oppression in the face of the unknown, as well as the profound exploration of worldview that had just been established, were instantly washed away.

The atmosphere became quite awkward at one point.

"I didn't expect you to like watching this."

Ai Yi shrugged nonchalantly, speaking with an air of self-righteousness, "Food and sex are basic human needs, what's the problem with that?"

No, you're right.

Dongfang Liang quickly steered the conversation back on track to prevent it from going off-topic.

"The Five Gods do indeed overlap to some extent with the image you understand. Its earliest origin is a mountain demon, belonging to the category of licentious worship, that is, a wild god that has not been officially recognized. What believers pray for is mostly marriage and romance, with wealth and sex undoubtedly being the top priorities."

"Later, as times changed, its function also changed, gradually evolving into a heretical version of the Five Gods of Wealth. Although it also corresponds to the Five Gods of Wealth in the east, west, south, north, and center, it mainly focuses on windfall and unexpected wealth. Those who seek it are mostly gamblers, those who engage in shady dealings, or speculators who hope to get rich overnight."

"It is both an evil god and a god of wealth," Dongfang Liang concluded. "What it attracts is always the most greedy and primal desires of human nature."

"Those who believe in it believe that they can acquire illicit wealth through special means, and thus develop a mature, even large, organization."

"What do you mean by 'special methods'?" Jiang Chen pressed.

"An ancient evil art—the Five Ghosts Moving Technique."

"They kill people according to the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, and then collect the vengeful spirits that the people become before they die, control and keep them, thus realizing the Five Ghosts Moving Technique."

"Based on my deduction, that organization probably used this kind of evil magic to create the illusion that the Five Gods were extremely efficacious in the urban village, attracting a large number of desperate and greedy people from the lower class to worship them, thus accumulating wealth like a snowball."

"Greed, jealousy, despair, resentment... these emotions eventually converge into the dark cloud you see."

"That concludes our intelligence report on the Foundation." Dongfang Liang looked at Jiang Chen with a solemn tone. "The follow-up investigation will be up to you. With Jiang Chen's Qi Observation Technique, I believe the investigation should proceed smoothly."

Yes, believe me!

"Remember, your primary task is to investigate and find out the other side's background and ultimate goal. Do not act rashly before you are absolutely certain. Preserving yourself is the top priority."

Dongfang Liang's instructions sounded reasonable, but Jiang Chen knew that it was just official rhetoric.

Once you're truly deep in the lion's den, many things are no longer up to you.