The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

The elderly lady heard this, and the doubt on her face immediately dissipated.

She said excitedly, "Ah Fang, let me tell you, as long as you join our Heavenly Appearance Sect and practice diligently, it cures all ailments. We have a senior brother in our sect who had cancer a few years ago and was almost on the brink of death. But with the help of our Sect Hierarch, now he's lively and vigorous. Just last year, at the age of 70, he even had a big, bouncing baby boy with his wife..."

Such an outrageous pitch.

It left Chen Fang feeling embarrassed.

The elderly lady continued, "Yiru, Fang, it's not that I'm meddling. Not just anyone can join our Heavenly Appearance Sect. You must have an introduction from someone you know to participate. The government always treats us like a cult, so we have to be cautious."

"We understand, Auntie, we all understand."

Chen Fang quickly nodded in agreement.

Since their identities had been verified,

and it was about time,

under the elderly lady's guidance,

the three walked through a dark alley nearby.

Then, after winding and turning countless times, they finally stopped at the entrance of a small shop.

This was in a deep and secluded street.

There weren't any streetlights either.

In the middle of the night, this convenience store called "Sister Na's Convenience Store" wouldn't have a hint of business at all.

Yet its doors were open.

Something seemed off at first glance.

Inside sat a plump middle-aged woman, her eyes keenly scanning the quiet street.

"Hui Juan, who are these two young people behind you?"

The elderly lady hadn't had time to speak.

The plump woman in the store took the initiative to ask.

The elderly lady said with a smile, "Sister Na, this is my niece, and this is my niece's husband. My niece's husband's mother..."

In the time that followed,

the elderly lady elaborately retold the pitch she had just used on Chen Fang.

Although Sister Na still looked a bit suspicious,

since it was Aunt Hui Juan who introduced them,

they eventually passed the "review."

"Once inside, don't speak randomly, listen attentively to the lecture. Today, a Saint from Shangqing City is here to preach. It's a rare opportunity, and you're quite fortunate."

Sister Na said,

and opened a door behind her.

The elderly lady immediately got excited upon hearing this.

She led Chen Fang and Mei Yiru, walking through that door.

This was a corridor about ten meters long.

It was very cramped and crowded.

After finally making their way through the corridor,

suddenly, the space opened up.

In front of them was an area of more than a hundred square meters.

In the center of the space was a giant camphor tree. Around it, local residences surrounded this land, making it seemingly airtight.

In front was a self-built four-story building.

However, all the windows were pitch black, which looked quite eerie.

A queue of people lined up at the entrance, consisting of both men and women, young and old. Everyone was quiet, seemingly waiting for the door in the middle of the self-built building to open.

"Auntie, let me ask you a question, what is this Saint?"

Chen Fang lowered his voice and asked in the elderly lady's ear.

The elderly lady looked smug and said, "Let me tell you, this Saint is the leader of our Heavenly Appearance Sect in Shangqing City. The leaders of each province are called Immortal or Immortal Leader."

Upon hearing this, Chen Fang understood.

This must be the organizational structure of the Heavenly Appearance Sect.

He thought for a moment and asked, "Is there more?"

The elderly lady nodded and said, "Above the Immortal Leaders, there are seven Pharaohs. Above the Pharaohs is our revered Sect Hierarch; in the Heavenly Appearance Sect, his formal title is Heavenly Phase, which is the earthly embodiment of the Heavenly God."

Hearing this said,

Chen Fang felt like laughing inside.

The titles were somewhat strange, but this structure, isn't it just like the government's?

But then again, it made sense.

This Lin Run came from within the system himself, so his understanding was just that. Mirroring the government's structure to build a cult's structure was quite a normal thing to do.

"Yiru, Fang, let me tell you, this Saint Liu is someone we ordinary followers find very difficult to meet. Today, you're just lucky. So, make sure to listen devoutly to the lecture, understand?"

The elderly lady said earnestly.

Chen Fang and Mei Yiru exchanged a glance and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Auntie, don't worry, we definitely won't cause you any trouble."

With this promise,

the elderly lady was assured.

After waiting for about ten more minutes,

during which more people gradually arrived,

suddenly,

with a creak,

the wooden door in front opened.

A young man stood at the entrance, shouting loudly, "It's time, the teaching begins..."

After shouting,

he retreated into the room.

The dozens of people lining up outside filed into the room one after another.

Only then did Chen Fang and Mei Yiru realize that the room wasn't pitch black; the windows were covered with thick curtains.

This was why not a glimpse of light could be seen from outside.

Before their eyes was an empty living room.

On the floor of the living room, dozens of meditation cushions were neatly arranged.

At the very front was a low table, and behind it was also a meditation cushion. It was likely the position where the so-called Saint would preach.

The members who entered the church sat cross-legged on a cushion, as if accustomed.

Since it was their first time, Chen Fang and Mei Yiru sat at the back under the elderly lady's guidance.

Once everyone was seated,

Chen Fang secretly glanced around the room.

Only then did he notice that there weren't enough cushions for everyone.

Some people even sat cross-legged directly on the side aisles' floor, each with eyes slightly closed, murmuring something, as if possessed.

"Alright, now let us warmly applaud, to welcome our esteemed, approachable, kind-hearted, and benevolent Saint Liu to the stage to preach and teach."

The young man who opened the door shouted.

Applause erupted, echoing persistently.

Amidst the applause, a middle-aged man dressed in a pure-white long robe slowly emerged from a small door at the side.

He seemed to be around forty years old.

Sporting a small mustache.

With shifty eyes, you wouldn't assume he was anything good just by looking at him.

He stood pretentiously beside the small table, waving his hand at everyone, saying, "Okay, okay, no need for applause. Our Heavenly Appearance Sect doesn't engage in all these superfluous activities."

The applause abruptly ceased.

Then looking at these male and female followers, each one had an excited expression on their face, eyes glinting with fervor, as if wishing to rush up and worship before Saint Liu.

"The last time I visited our Qinggang Church was half a year ago. Today, seeing so many new faces in our congregation makes me very happy. It's proof that our Heavenly Appearance Sect is truly the divine orthodox, genuinely awakening many people in darkness..."

As Saint Liu finished speaking,

another round of applause ensued.