Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Shrine Offering Glutton (2)
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Yuyeon felt troubled for the first time in ages.
Ever since losing her husband during her fetal days, she hadn't experienced this kind of embarrassment.
That was just how life was for the cherished young ladies of wealthy families—being adored was their greatest virtue. And Yuyeon had it even more than most.
On top of that, Yuyeon had one misconception. She relied on Divine Sense for information instead of sight. More precisely, her perception through Divine Sense focused mainly on compensating for her lacking vision.
Typically, Immortal Cultivators awakened Divine Sense at the Qi Awakening stage, using it primarily as a spiritual sense.
This was because reaching Qi Awakening meant shedding the Spiritual Body and attaining a Dharma Body. Much like a martial artist's bone refinement and rebirth, even if afflicted by heavenly punishment, a Qi Awakening Immortal Cultivator could shake it off, so there was no need for deficient senses. It was only natural to concentrate Divine Sense on aura detection.
But Yuyeon always used Divine Sense both to "see" and gather information, blurring the line between the two.
And people inevitably had some egocentrism, viewing others from their own perspective.
In that regard, Yuyeon had never been called out on this since Namgung Manor, so this time too, she judged without considering the distortion in mindset that came from substituting Divine Sense for vision.
She simply assumed the Shrine Maiden had spotted her just because eyes were on her.
But what about from Jang Jina's perspective? In truth, she couldn't even see Yuyeon. She wasn't even certain a god had come. It was just a desperate shot in the dark.
With no Spiritual Root, let alone Divine Sense, Jang Jina got no direct sensation from Yuyeon, who was concealed by the Concealing Form Formation. The only stimulus to her faint inspiration was the backlash from Yuyeon probing her with Divine Sense.
So if an experienced Qi Awakening Immortal Cultivator had been in Yuyeon's place... they would've wiped out the village in an instant.
If they exercised great compassion, they might shrink their Divine Sense range to sever her sensation. Then a worm like her would chalk it up to her own excited mistake or think the god had come and gone.
"O divine spirit, I am the Shrine Maiden of this village, instructed by my predecessor! If you would but show mercy, we shall never forget this day. We will hold sacrifices every year on this date, passing the tradition down through generations without fail."
If Yuyeon were truly a divine spirit, these words would hold considerable value. Though the false Shrine Maiden Jang Jina didn't know it, even so-called Divine Dao practitioners cultivated on the foundation of human Incense Fire Merit.
That's why her mentor, the previous shrine maiden, had taught her to say this. Jang Jina was mostly reciting what she'd learned, improvising on the fly.
For a Divine Dao Immortal Cultivator to receive grand annual sacrifices was like a mortal offering a spirit pill every year. Quite commendable.
But Yuyeon had no interest in Divine Dao, so she didn't grasp the value of those words. She just thought it was a mistaken plea.
Instead, she belatedly realized why the Shrine Maiden had sensed her. So Yuyeon pulled back her Divine Sense.
At once, the signal from the Shrine Maiden's exhilarated body—her inspiration freshly awakened and hypersensitive—cut off abruptly.
Jang Jina had been lost in the ritual dance and awakening trance, but with the inspiration severed, she snapped back to reality.
'Summoning a pure god that even shamans who've spent decades together can't guarantee... especially for something dangerous like slaying a Corpse Ghost. It's ridiculous to think I'd succeed right after taking the Shrine Maiden role.'
Though the drop from that euphoria to bitter failure stung, she quickly accepted reality.
She hadn't staked everything on success to begin with. Rather, for the god not to punish their insolence or cause chaos but simply observe and leave was something to be grateful for.
Still, human hearts being what they are, she felt a pang of disappointment. Her mentor had served that god with utmost devotion her whole life, and the villagers had never erred. Facing such a meager outcome despite that was only natural.
As the heat from her dance subsided, the Shrine Maiden composed herself. She rationalized it neatly: perhaps this was the divine spirit's greater will.
A Corpse Ghost had appeared in the village once; repelling it didn't guarantee it wouldn't return, or maybe it was too powerful, making a quick evacuation wise.
Once her thoughts turned that way, she decided good was good enough and let it go.
Though she hadn't summoned the god, she'd inherited her mentor's mantle, developed her unstable inspiration, persuaded the villagers to flee disaster, and succeeded in the summoning without penalty—exceeding her goals entirely.
Jang Jina removed her disheveled silk hat and untied the hairstring pulling at her scalp from the dance. Her long black hair cascaded freely.
Though Yuyeon couldn't see this or extend Divine Sense, her ears were open, and she sensed the ritual ground calming.
Realizing the Shrine Maiden had given up her plea to the god during the sacrifice, Yuyeon hesitated.
Not about helping the village, but whether to extend Divine Sense again. Having lived in a four-zhang world, returning to one zhang felt stifling.
As trivial as debating a bathroom break during university class, but important to her.
For the record, Yuyeon wasn't one to hold it in.
Yuyeon extended Divine Sense again to observe the villagers and shaman. She jolted in surprise: the Shrine Maiden and villagers were silently bowing toward her.
This was utterly unexpected for Yuyeon. She'd ignored the plea—why bow?
This was because she was an Entrance Stage pretender with zero understanding of Divine Dao. Not that she meant to slander it; Divine Dao methods were so unique that few Immortal Cultivators comprehended them.
Even so, a knowledgeable Daoist would know ritual sacrifice from the Immortal Cultivation Compendium or, if more learned, the God-Binding Technique among exotic arts, gaining insight thereby.
God-binding meant forcibly summoning a Divine Dao practitioner. Immortal Cultivator methods varied, but theirs used the god's name and history to draw voluntary cooperation.
Like shouting at an office: "You from wherever, parents from wherever, job this, kids that!" No god with any shame could ignore it.
Naturally rude, the summoned god might harbor grudges or even shatter Dao Heart with killing intent. Without countermeasures, god-binding was just combat practice.
Mortals' god-summoning was gentler but similar: instead of threats, they invoked shared history like offerings to pester politely. Not commands or demands, but pleas for mercy or trades, so backlash was milder.
Yet mortals risked life for even that; if they could god-bind, some might as well go big.
With her keen mind, Yuyeon could've grasped this with basic Divine Dao knowledge.
Without even fragments, and insight favoring results over causes, she could only speculate wildly.
Yuyeon figured they saw the ritual as successful since the god appeared, interpreting it as entrusting the task to her, hence the bows.
This realization startled her. Simultaneously, burden and a strange thrill mixed. Her mental agitation rippled her Divine Sense.
Jang Jina sensed the divine presence again. But Yuyeon's probe was lighter now, and her inspiration had cooled from the spirit dance, so she only felt the existence, not details.
Jang Jina thought this divine spirit truly benevolent. Unaware of Yuyeon, she assumed it was the one her mentor served, responding to the summoning.
The rite was done, villagers had nothing more to offer. Yet it lingered over the village in mercy—likely guardian for over a century, its virtue profound.
She imagined understanding why her mentor served so devoutly.
From her view, with shrine garb and tools inherited from great-grandmother via mentor, it made sense.
If it had been a real divine spirit, that is. Regrettably, Yuyeon was a cunning Ghost Dao pretender fresh to the village, coveting the altar feast.
Anyway, the Shrine Maiden bowed deepest in thanks, and villagers—especially elders—followed suit. Though never witnessing a summoning, tales and intuition led them to mimic her toward the god's direction.
Curiosities abounded: the god came, confirmed by her reaction. But did it accept the deal? What was said? She stayed mum.
As she wrapped her now-truly-hers ritual tools in white cloth and straightened her shrine garb, they took it as the rite's end and tidied up.
Finally, an impatient youth sidled up, subtly probing the outcome.
"Jina... Shrine Maiden. Will the divine spirit grant our plea?"
"Silence that irreverent mouth."
Still sensing Yuyeon, Jang Jina sternly rebuked him. She wanted to shout him down but, long past wild days, comported herself meekly before the god.
This marked the villagers truly accepting her as Shrine Maiden.
As an aside, after cleanup, all eyed the sacrificial meal. Made assuming they'd eat it, they'd spared no ingredients. Unable to abandon it, they hovered until Jina's fierce glare swept the crowd, quelling them with one line.
"This was offered to summon and honor the divine spirit—its tribute. The spirit must savor it, so we all turn away."
Screens were for this, originally to shield the altar under the sacred tree.
But with only one screen insufficient for all, they agreed to head home.
Of course, Yuyeon watching from nearby pondered if she could eat it.