Transmigration

In the ninth year of Yongan, on the first day of the third month. Great Gan, Anchang County, Qingxi Township, Qingyu Village.

At this time, the sky had not yet brightened, and the world was shrouded in a dusty mist. On the outskirts of Qingyu Village, a semi-transparent "figure" was performing a ritual. Upon closer inspection, it was a youth with delicate features. However, looking beneath him, his feet were suspended an inch off the ground, and his entire body was enveloped in a layer of mist, a truly terrifying sight.

After the youth completed the hand seals, he uttered the word "Hasten." Instantly, a point of white light floated from his hand and flew towards Qingyu Village.

Fang Ming looked at his increasingly transparent body after performing the ritual and forced a smile. He murmured, "This time, I've consumed a trace of divine power. I can only exist for five more days. I hope this endeavor succeeds!"

The white light flew into the bedroom of an ordinary farming family. A couple lay asleep, wrapped in straw mats. It was still early spring, and the weather was cold. They could only sleep by snuggling together for warmth.

The woman was likely in her mid-thirties or early forties, with streaks of white already appearing at her temples. The white light circled her once, flashed slightly, and entered her forehead.

The woman immediately had a dream. In her dream, she found herself in a desolate field, nervously looking around. Suddenly, golden light flashed, and a golden-armored divine being flew before her, its features vaguely resembling Fang Ming's. It spoke, "Are you the faithful believer Qi Qinshi?" Amidst the shimmering golden light, the surroundings instantly changed, with a hundred flowers blooming and a fragrant aroma filling the air. Qi Qinshi was startled and couldn't help but say, "Your humble servant is indeed Qi Qinshi. May I know who you are, sir?"

"I am the Earth God of Qingyu Village."

"Greetings, my lord!" Qi Qinshi knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing.

"No need for formalities. This god is in charge of the peace of this village's households, the increase of population, the prosperity of livestock, and other matters, and I also dispense justice for the common people. Seeing that you have always been kind to others and your heart is pure, I have specifically come to inform you that the bronze hairpin you lost is located by the large willow tree half a mile east of the village, beneath a brown stone. Have you remembered?"

Upon hearing the word "hairpin," Qi Qinshi was startled and quickly asked, "Is my hairpin really there?"

The golden-armored divine being let out a cold snort, "A god's words are never idle!"

This unintentional display of authority sent a chill down Qi Qinshi's spine, and she dared not ask further, only kowtowing, "Thank you, my lord, thank you, my lord."

The golden-armored divine being continued, "Whether it is true or false, you will know tomorrow. After you retrieve your hairpin, you may burn incense and pray silently under the tree for a moment. If your heart is sincere, I will continue to bless you in the future. Go back now!"

As the voice faded, Qi Qinshi felt her body falling and couldn't help but cry out, "Ah!" She immediately woke up. By then, the sky had begun to lighten. It was just a dream. She quickly woke her husband, Qi Da. As soon as Qi Da woke up, he said, "You foolish woman, why are you bothering me? You just lost a hairpin worth thirty copper coins yesterday, and now you're disturbing me again today."

"I'm not bothering you, I had a dream."

"What's there to talk about a dream? There's a lot to do today, and we have to offer sacrifices to the ancestors in the morning. Let me sleep a little longer."

"But I dreamed that an Earth God told me the hairpin is under the large willow tree half a mile east of the village!" the woman said.

"What, what, Earth God? What is that? You've been restless since you lost your hairpin, and you even went out to look for it in the middle of the night. Aren't you afraid of being eaten by ghosts? Have you been possessed by something? You need to be sincere during the ancestor worship today; it can drive away evil." Qi Da then fell back asleep.

Qi Qinshi looked at her husband, wanting to speak but hesitating.

The sky was now bright.

On the threshing ground of Qingyu Village, all fifty-seven households, a total of three hundred and twelve people, from infants in their mothers' arms to elders leaning on canes, were gathered without exception. They were arranged in order of rank and age, their expressions solemn. Even crying children were quickly hushed by their parents.

The village chief, dressed in blue and with a robust physique, stood at the very front of the queue. Before him was a small earthen altar in the center of the field, marked with traces of smoke and fire. The village chief solemnly chanted, "Present the offerings!"

Two young men quickly placed the offerings one by one. The village chief chanted again, "First, we offer to Green Mountain!" Green Mountain referred to the mountain range surrounding Qingyu Village.

Instantly, the entire village bowed respectfully. After three bows, they heard the village chief's vigorous voice, "Second, we offer to Changyuan!" Changyuan River flowed through Qingyu Village, irrigating the land of both villages. Another three bows followed.

"Third, we offer to the ancestors!" everyone bowed again.

Then, a sacrificial text was brought out, which read:

"Between heaven and earth, across eight directions and ten thousand miles, with a sincere heart, a mortal sings. For a thousand autumns of sacrifice, for ten thousand generations of reverence;

First, we offer to Green Mountain, for timely winds and rain, for phoenixes dancing and dragons soaring. Second, we offer to Changyuan, for its unending flow, benefiting all directions;

Third, we offer to the ancestors, for fortune and strength to walk together, for prosperity and power. We come with awe and gather with gratitude. We reverently implore you to accept."

"It's this." Fang Ming, who was observing from the village entrance, clearly saw a white light rising from the altar, radiating outwards. It seemed to resonate with the Green Mountain range and the Changyuan River, firmly pinning Fang Ming outside the village.

At this moment, Fang Ming's Sea of Consciousness suddenly rippled, and a line of runes appeared. This line of runes contained only a few words, yet they shimmered with a faint light, displaying their extraordinary nature. A sense of urgent need clearly emanated from the runes, causing Fang Ming to let out a bitter smile.

Black qi occasionally emanated from around the village, and the screams that could be heard intermittently made Fang Ming break out in a cold sweat. He was especially shocked when he saw Old Master Wu, who had taught him so much knowledge yesterday, disappear into thin air.

"I really am dead, have I become a ghost? Or a ghost from another world." Fang Ming's heart gradually came to a realization.

He was originally a scholar from Huaxia. During a visit to an Earth God Temple, he was struck on the forehead by a suddenly collapsing statue of the Earth God. When he woke up, he was here, with only the runes in his mind. Now, it seemed to be the Earth God's Divine Position Talisman?

Old Master Wu had told him that people in this world directly became ghosts after death, and ghosts would dissipate after seven days if they didn't encounter a great opportunity. Living ghosts could not approach people, let alone villages, otherwise, great disaster would surely follow.

Old Master Wu, who was fifty-three years old, had already come to terms with life and death. However, he couldn't let go of his young daughter at home. Today, he had gone against his own words, wanting to take just one last look from afar, and unexpectedly met his end like this.

Fang Ming watched as Old Wu's ghost melted away with a flash of white light, and his body couldn't help but tremble.

Facing the surging white light, Fang Ming began to struggle. Since ancient times, death had been the most difficult thing to face. Although he had already died once, he did not wish to be utterly annihilated.

Suddenly, the Earth God's Talisman? in his mind shone brightly, firmly protecting Fang Ming and allowing him to escape the calamity.

His body could move again, so he quickly turned and ran.

He ran for several miles, and finally, the oppressive feeling disappeared. He let out a sigh of relief.

He took a brief look around and forced another bitter smile.

He saw that the divine power within his body had decreased by another trace.

The day before yesterday, when he woke up, he had discovered seven strands of white qi within him. Yesterday, there were only six strands left. Combining this with Old Wu's explanation, one trace of divine power could sustain him for one day. Performing the ritual this morning had consumed another trace, and saving himself had cost another. He now only had four days left.

However, if yesterday's matter could be accomplished, today there would be a harvest.

Fang Ming's thoughts sank into his Sea of Consciousness. The Earth God's Talisman? resided in the center, with flashes of light occasionally appearing, indicating its spiritual nature. One of the symbols suddenly flickered with white light. It was the method of sending dreams that he had used yesterday. Through the talisman's? induction, Qi Qinshi had already arrived under the large willow tree.

Qi Qinshi laboriously moved a brown stone. Reaching underneath, she discovered the bronze hairpin and was overjoyed.

The hairpin was crudely made and still had a faint layer of rust, yet it had cost thirty copper coins, which was the betrothal gift on the day of their wedding.

In this world, one copper coin could buy a coarse grain bun. Although rough, it was filling and represented a day's food for an ordinary farmer. Thirty copper coins, plus some wild vegetables, could sustain a family of three for a month.

The woman's feelings upon losing the hairpin back then are easy to imagine.

Now that it was found after being lost, Qi Qinshi was overjoyed and also remembered the Earth God's words from last night, "Whether it's true or not, you'll know tomorrow. After you get the hairpin, you can burn incense under the tree and pray silently for a moment. If your heart is sincere, I will continue to bless you in the future."...

Thus, sacrifices were made on the first and fifteenth of each month, and everyone burned incense, so incense sticks were prepared in every household. Qi Qinshi touched the copper hairpin in her bosom, and no longer hesitated. She lit three incense sticks and inserted them into the soil in front of the willow tree, closing her eyes and praying silently.

In the unseen, a white thread above her head passed through the void and connected with the Earth God's divine seal within Fang Ming. As the incense and fire spread, Fang Ming was instantly enveloped in a strange sensation.

When Fang Ming came back to his senses and looked carefully, he found a trace of divine power had appeared within his body, and there was a new white thread on the divine seal. Through the void, he could vaguely see images of Qi Qinshi's activities. He knew he had his first believer.

March fifth.

There was already a spring atmosphere, and green could be seen on the willow trees. Some incense ash had already accumulated on the ground beneath the tree. Fang Ming sat cross-legged on the ground, his body gradually becoming more solid. Qi Da and his wife were kneeling in sacrifice, and several other farm women were also burning incense nearby. They acted as if Fang Ming were invisible. Occasional conversations could be heard:

"I heard there's an Earth God here who specifically bestows wealth. Look at Qi Da's family, they're already eating steamed buns made of white flour!"

"What does an Earth God do? Isn't it just a tree spirit?"

"You're talking nonsense. Be careful not to offend the Earth God. You see vengeful ghosts eating people, but you never see them bestowing wealth. If you really gave me ten taels of silver, I'd worship a ghost!"

"Ten taels, even one tael would be fine..."

Since Fang Ming had guided Qi Qinshi to find the copper hairpin four days ago, Qi Qinshi's faith in him had greatly increased, and she became a believer. Qi Da was still half-believing, half-doubting, but he no longer said anything about being possessed.

Fang Ming, possessing the divine position of an Earth God, naturally had efficacy. He knew the location of buried objects underground like the back of his hand, but for now, his power was only effective within his line of sight. Thus, he used the method of sending dreams again, drawing Qi Da and his wife into their sleep.

Since Qi Qinshi was already a believer, this time it only cost a trace of divine power. In the dream, he pointed out several places to the couple, allowing them to find nearly a hundred coins, which led them to worship here frequently and gain some incense and fire. However, Fang Ming was cautious and did not point out the locations where silver was buried.

Fang Ming discovered that as more people offered sacrifices, the gray energy on his body gradually turned white, and his divine power accumulated to twenty-seven strands. This was due to Qi Da's loose lips spreading the news, and farm women seeking wealth, thus the incense and fire grew more numerous. Fang Ming found it both amusing and exasperating.

He thought to himself: I'm not a god of wealth, and there are almost no places left to bury copper coins. I can't possibly give them the silver. Besides, no matter how much money there is, there will come a day when it's all dug up, and then it will be difficult to handle. Just then, his heart stirred.

"Get out of the way, get out of the way, let me take a look."

A Big Man, with his bare shoulders, pushed through the crowd, saying, "Qi Da, I heard you've struck it rich lately. Why haven't you come to show your old brother some respect?"

Qi Da was startled. This man was Wang Er, a notorious scoundrel in the village, known for petty theft and other low-class activities. He felt miserable inwardly, but said aloud, "What riches? The Earth God pointed them out to me. You're being very rude, be careful not to offend the Earth God, or you'll be sorry!"

Wang Er laughed heartily and said, "What Earth God? I'm not afraid of it. I'll give you until the day after tomorrow to give me fifty coins, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Er shoved Qi Da aside, stomped out the incense, and swaggered away amidst the stunned onlookers.