This is my third time posting on Jinjiang, and I’m still just as nervous. As usual, I’ll start by beating myself up a bit. Writing this piece was quite painful for me; I tried a lot of new things, but my abilities fell short of my ambitions, and what I ended up with is still not quite what I wanted. Through the writing process, I realized a lot of my own shortcomings. I don’t know how it’ll look to you in the end, so please be prepared for something different from what you might expect—actually, it’s best not to have any expectations at all. In other words, you won’t be seeing another "Scum Villain," and certainly not another "Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation." After all, this is a brand new journey.

Volume One: Crimson Rain Sought Flower

Chapter 2: The Ragged Immortal Ascends the Celestial Capital for the Third Time

"Congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Hearing this, William Carter looked up, smiling before he spoke, and said, "Thank you. But may I ask what exactly you’re congratulating me for?"

Edward Carter stood with hands behind her back and said, "Congratulations on taking first place in this cycle’s ‘Most Anticipated God Official to Be Banished to the Mortal Realm’ ranking."

William Carter said, "Well, no matter what, first place is still first place. But since you’re congratulating me, there must be something worth celebrating, right?"

Edward said, "There is. First place on this ranking earns you one hundred merit points."

William Carter immediately said, "If there’s ever another ranking like this, please be sure to include me again."

Edward said, "Do you know who came in second?"

William Carter thought for a moment and said, "That’s too hard to guess. Honestly, if we’re talking about ability, I could probably sweep the top three all by myself."

Edward said, "Pretty much. There is no second place. You’re so far ahead, no one else can even compare."

William Carter said, "I really don’t deserve that. So who was first place in the last cycle?"

Edward said, "There wasn’t one either. Because this ranking only started this year—more precisely, it started today."

"Huh," William Carter was taken aback and said, "So this ranking was made just for me?"

Edward said, "You could also think of it as you just happened to catch it at the right time and took the crown by chance."

William Carter smiled and said, "Alright, thinking of it that way makes me a bit happier."

Edward continued, "Do you know why you took first place?"

William Carter said, "It’s what everyone wanted."

Edward said, "Let me tell you the reason. Please look at that bell."

She raised her hand and pointed. William Carter turned to look and saw a breathtaking scene: white jade palaces, pavilions and towers, immortal clouds swirling, flowing springs and flying birds.

But after looking for a while, he asked, "Are you sure you’re pointing in the right direction? Where’s the bell?"

Edward said, "I’m not mistaken. It’s right there, do you see it?"

William Carter looked carefully again and honestly said, "I don’t see it."

Edward said, "That’s right. There used to be a bell there, but you knocked it down when you ascended."

"......"

"That bell was older than you, but it was lively and loved a good commotion. Whenever someone ascended, it would ring a few times to join the fun. The day you ascended, you shook it so hard it went crazy, ringing nonstop, and finally fell off the bell tower, which was the only way it quieted down. When it fell, it even hit a passing god official."

William Carter said, "So... is it alright now?"

Edward: "No, it’s still being repaired."

William Carter: "I meant the god official who got hit."

Edward said, "It was a martial god. He immediately split it in two with a backhand. Next, please look at that golden hall over there. Do you see it?"

She pointed again, and William Carter looked, spotting a dazzling glazed golden roof amidst the drifting clouds. He said, "Ah, I see it this time."

Edward said, "It’s actually not right that you can see it. There wasn’t anything there before."

"......"

"When you ascended, you shook so many god officials’ golden halls that their golden pillars toppled and their glazed tiles shattered. Some couldn’t be repaired right away, so they had to throw together a few temporary ones to make do."

"Is that my fault?"

"It’s your fault."

"Hmm..." William Carter confirmed, "So did I offend a lot of god officials as soon as I got here?"

Edward said, "If you can make it up to them, maybe not."

"So how can I make it up to them?"

"Simple. Eight million, eight hundred and eighty-eight thousand merit points."

William Carter laughed again.

Edward said, "Of course, I know you can’t even come up with a tenth of that."

William Carter said honestly, "Well, to be honest, even if you only asked for a ten-thousandth, I couldn’t come up with it."

The faith of mortal believers is transformed into the divine power of god officials, and every bit of incense and offering they receive is called "merit."

After laughing, William Carter asked seriously, "Would you be willing to just kick me down from here right now and give me eight million, eight hundred and eighty-eight thousand merit points?"

Edward said, "I’m a civil god. If you want someone to kick you, you should find a martial god. The harder the kick, the more you get."

With a long sigh, William Carter said, "Let me think about what to do."

Edward patted his shoulder and said, "Don’t worry, the cart will find its way around the hill."

William Carter said, "For me, the boat always sinks at the bridge."