When humans encountered disasters or sufferings, they would seek help from the gods. That was how the gods were able to increase their followers.
The human race in the past was so weak that the gods did not even need to create trouble for them to come and seek help from the gods automatically.
However, as the years went by, the number of cultivators continued increasing among humans.
The humans gradually relied on the gods less. Naturally, the gods would not sit by and watch this happen when they discovered this.
Hence, many acts of suffering were concocted by the gods to regain the people's faith.
The Ice God would create blizzards, the Storm God would create hurricanes, the Sea God would stir up tsunamis, the Underworld God would release his ghouls and minions to take the lives of those humans…
The endless suffering made the humans miserable.
They could only seek help from the gods again and again.