## Section 4: Ascending to Emperor
2014-06-18 Author: Gu Zhenren
What is Luck?
Imagine two equally poor young men. Decades later, one becomes a millionaire, while the other is a beggar. No one would claim the beggar had better luck than the millionaire.
On a steep, straight mountain path, a brave person will charge forward, while a cowardly one will stumble and fall. Clearly, the brave one possesses greater Luck.
What is the Essence of Luck?
Luck is not some ephemeral concept; it is thought, intent, an intangible force.
Two scholars, with similar starting conditions, dedicate themselves to the same master. The one who strives fiercely will undoubtedly achieve better results than the lazy one.
The spirit of diligent effort is a form of Luck.
Experienced mentors know a truth: a hesitant junior can be emboldened to gain confidence through encouragement.
In dire straits, people often create miracles. Many things are not beyond our capabilities; rather, we lack the self-belief to achieve them. An individual’s positive mindset inspires effort, leading to more efficient change and ultimately, personal success. This is the Luck one cultivates.
However, the power of this self-generated Luck is minuscule and easily disrupted.
This is quite easy to understand. For instance, a very diligent person striving to achieve a goal might often fall short due to the interference of others. Actions stem from thoughts. Within the established order, everyone acts with intention. Positive thoughts directed inward lead to good fortune. One’s own efforts bring good luck, as do the appreciation and support of others. A beauty’s favor is called romantic luck.
Conversely, negative thoughts bring misfortune. The machinations of petty individuals and one’s own despair often lead to ruin. A lack of self-belief limits personal achievement.
When everyone, including yourself, believes in you, blesses you, and cherishes you, your Luck will flow unimpeded, and all endeavors will prosper. You are a favored child of destiny.
When everyone, including yourself, hates, detests, and curses you, you will face constant setbacks and be plagued by misfortune.
Of course, this World is not solely inhabited by humans; it also includes animals, plants, mountains, rivers, and seas. All living beings possess their own thoughts, goals, loves, and hates. These thoughts intermingle, forming a vast, invisible force. This force is so immense it can effortlessly extinguish individual efforts. This force, is Luck…
“Hoot!”
Exhaling a breath of turbid air, Chu Yun closed the book, “The Essence of Luck.” He had spent over 400 Contribution points to acquire it from the Star Saint Hall. Undoubtedly, this book provided him with immense enlightenment and revelation, like a skylight opening for someone trapped in a small room. It was like a whisk clearing the dust and doubts from his heart. Never before had Chu Yun felt so clear and transparent, understanding Luck so profoundly. Everything became crystal clear, and all interconnectedness was revealed.
“No wonder it requires collecting faith to advance from Emperor level to the Emperor rank. Faith is the unity of thought, and unified thoughts coalesce into immense Luck. Thus, Emperor level experts can glimpse the power of destiny; they are all individuals with overwhelming Luck. The Luck they embody is often tens, or even hundreds, of times greater than that of a Tribulation Demon.”
Chu Yun closed the book, lost in thought, sparks of wisdom constantly flashing. Something vaguely occurred to him, a brilliant inspiration flashed in his mind, like the most cunning and slippery dragonfish – he couldn’t grasp it despite his desperate efforts.
He continued reading. The latter part of the book indeed touched upon faith. Faith is conviction, reverence, and even fear. People believe in the strong, revere the wise, and fear celestial phenomena, miraculous demonic creatures, and so on. All of this constitutes faith. Believers encompass all things in the universe. Humans, animals, and plants can all generate faith. Even mountains and rivers, soil and lakes can generate faith. The objects of faith are also diverse. They can be people, demonic creatures, mountains and lakes, even a principle, or something that doesn’t exist at all.
“Humans and demonic creatures generate faith; I can understand that. But why can mountains and lakes also generate faith?” Chu Yun’s brow furrowed. “The Essence of Luck” began to seem profound; even with his intelligence, certain parts were difficult to comprehend.
He pressed on with his reading. The book divided believers into five levels: Non-believers, Pseudo-believers, Casual Believers, Devout Believers, and Fanatical Believers. Non-believers are beings with chaotic attributes, such as Innate Divine Demons, who are born without faith and will never have it. Additionally, it refers to all things possessing orderly attributes at specific times, like newborn infants or those whose original values have been shattered and whose thoughts are in disarray before a new value system is established. For the beings in the Immortal Pouch World, non-belief is a temporary state. Even if a person doesn’t believe in sages, strong individuals, or nature, they will still act according to their own values. This invisible value system is a form of faith. Non-believers do not generate faith.
Pseudo-believers, in essence, are those who present one face to the world and another in private. Generally, their faith power is weak. Casual Believers have superficial yet widespread faith. The smartest approach to gathering their faith is through sheer numbers. You Huang establishing the Wanderer profession in Xingzhou and Book Emperor founding Academies resulted in a majority of such believers.
Devout Believers have pure and high-quality faith. The faith power of one Devout Believer is generally more than ten times that of a Casual Believer. Unfortunately, the number of such believers is small; one in a hundred would be considered good.
Fanatical Believers are the most devout among the devout. The faith power of each Fanatical Believer is often more than a hundred times that of a Devout Believer. However, they are even rarer; perhaps one in a thousand.
“Wait!” Chu Yun’s expression suddenly jolted, his eyes radiating unprecedented brilliance. He had finally grasped the slippery inspiration in his mind!
He put away “The Essence of Luck” and rushed into the Immortal Pouch World, approaching the nearest city.
Ranching City.
This city, nestled within vast grasslands, with its lush, fertile meadows, was home to various steeds, flying eagles, and wolf packs. Ranching City, as its name suggested, was primarily focused on the cultivation of fine horses. Ranching City was originally a city within the Immortal Pouch World of Melon Emperor in Tuo Zhou. After a series of changes and developments, it now had a population of about 300,000.
“Outsiders stop. Entry into this city requires a toll of three bolts of silk.” The guards at the city gate, their faces devoid of emotion, stopped Chu Yun. Tuo Zhou differed from Xingzhou. While Xingzhou used Disha Stone Coins and Tiangang Stone Coins as currency, Tuo Zhou used silk.
Chu Yun smiled. “I don’t have silk. Would this suffice?” He spread his hands, but the guards saw nothing; Chu Yun was empty-handed.
The guards flew into a rage. “Kid, are you trying to mock me?!”
Chu Yun smiled faintly. A beam of white light shot from his index finger, hitting the guard right between the eyebrows. The guard’s cultivation was not even comparable to a Prodigy level Beast Tamer. Upon being struck by this white light, his expression changed, and he immediately fell to his knees before Chu Yun, kowtowing with his entire body. He then crawled towards Chu Yun, kissed his boots, and shouted excitedly, “Sage walking the earth! You are the father of Heaven and Earth, the lord of all creation! You walk the land, bringing blessings to all beings. Your humble servant welcomes your arrival!”
“Xiao Qiang, Xiao Qiang, what’s wrong?!” Another guard by the city gate, witnessing this scene, cried out in shock and alarm.
Chu Yun’s gaze shifted to this shouting guard, a glimmer of silvery-white light flashing in his eyes. The guard’s cries abruptly ceased, and he froze like a wooden puppet. His expression of shock and panic vanished, replaced by tears streaming from his eyes. He looked at Chu Yun with adoration, also kneeling on the ground, too overcome with emotion to speak.
“What’s happening?” The guards’ strange behavior drew the attention of nearby people, who whispered amongst themselves, casting bewildered glances at Chu Yun. Chu Yun’s smile deepened. To deal with Great Emperors, he needed to project Immeasurable Dao directly onto their brows for his Innate Divine Ability to take effect. However, against these extremely low-level Beast Tamers, it wasn’t nearly as complicated.
Disregarding the surprised stares of the crowd, Chu Yun calmly walked into the city. Simultaneously, a faint, silvery-white glow began to emanate from him. Under the radiance of Immeasurable Dao, the onlookers’ expressions quickly shifted from surprise to fervor, adoration, respect, and excitement. A merchant caravan entering Ranching City descended into chaos. The Beast Tamers riding their steeds jumped off, falling to their knees before Chu Yun in worship.
As he walked further into the city, a young couple was passionately kissing. The radiance shone into the man’s eyes, causing him to tremble violently. He then shoved the woman to the ground. “Are you crazy?!” The woman, bewildered, angry, and surprised, watched as the man prostrated himself on the ground. She turned and saw Chu Yun, and her face instantly lit up with infatuation and adoration. “Great Sage, you are omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. I praise your might, your benevolence, your justice, your holiness, and your mercy…” she murmured, trembling with excitement, sweat beading on her brow.
The bustling, lively Ranching City underwent an unprecedented transformation. After a brief period of confusion, fervent praises, prayers, and exclamations erupted, growing louder and louder until they formed a tidal wave that swept through the entire city. Whether in the crowded marketplace or the elegant, tranquil city gardens, wherever Chu Yun went, praises echoed. Finally, he reached the city’s center and, as if stepping on invisible stairs, ascended into the sky. He looked down upon Ranching City spread beneath him, countless people prostrating themselves in worship. Some had already fainted from sheer emotion. Chu Yun slowly closed his eyes, his radiance intensifying, the light of Immeasurable Dao enveloping the entire city. In a short while, all over 300,000 inhabitants of the city became his most loyal and fanatical worshippers.
As if a veil had been torn, Chu Yun’s body suddenly trembled. A new, transcendent power erupted from the deepest core of his Spirit. The aura of this power was still weak, but it already surpassed that of a Great Emperor. Undergoing a qualitative change, a pressure far vaster, grander, more profound, and more majestic than Emperor level Spirit pressure emanated from Chu Yun. Emperor level Spirit Pressure!
“Hahaha, my guess was correct. Under the effect of Immeasurable Dao, most humans will transform into my Fanatical Believers.” Chu Yun let out a resounding laugh. At this moment, he had ascended to Emperor rank!
(To be continued)
