Heaven's Will

In the distance from the Earth God Temple, a figure shrouded in a cloak, a Gray Shadow, stared intently in the direction of the temple, muttering to itself:

"The red qi is flourishing, the white has vanished. This Deity must have ascended to a great rank. Its current realm is roughly equivalent to mine, yet its power is thousands of times greater. Truly terrifying!"

This person was Yuheng. Although he was hiding in White Water Temple, biding his time and waiting for strong reinforcements, he was still paying attention to this matter. He had disguised himself and come to observe.

Yuheng had opened his spiritual eye and learned the art of observing qi, so he could naturally see things that ordinary people could not.

He saw that above the temple, red qi gathered, crisscrossing like a net, spreading throughout the entire temple and extending outwards, almost covering the whole county. Although the red qi gradually weakened as it spread out, about forty to fifty percent remained, a sign that its foundation was gradually stabilizing.

He felt a great shock.

After a moment, he saw the temple as if a fireball had fallen into it, intensely hot and blazing. Red qi swirled around, and within it, a figure could be vaguely seen, entirely like glazed glass, transparent inside and out. He was even more astonished: "Soul Yang Transformation... No, how can it be so enormous..."

The Taoist Sect also cultivated souls and spirits, but Yuheng was a core true disciple. After thousands of days and nights, countless times of refining and tempering, with constant guidance from his elders, and expending a considerable amount of merit and fortune, he had achieved Yang transformation. However, his size was more than dozens of times smaller than Fang Ming's. An uncontrollable sense of jealousy began to sprout in his heart, and this jealousy grew more and more intense, making him want to rush in and seize everything the other possessed right now.

"Not good! It's an external demon, actually taking advantage of my Dao heart's disturbance to sneak in and cause trouble!"

Yuheng was, after all, a core disciple of the Taoist Sect. He immediately realized something was wrong. He silently recited the "Heart Calming Incantation" several times and then took out a small bag from his bosom. After opening it, he saw a wooden box. Opening it again, he found a single yellow talisman lying inside.

The talisman looked quite old, even somewhat tattered. Yuheng looked at the talisman with a look of reluctance, but finally gritted his teeth and placed it on his forehead. Instantly, a yellow light flashed, and black qi dispersed from his body.

His mind calmed down, and he became completely clear-headed.

Yuheng gave a wry smile. Although he had dispelled the external demon this time, he had also consumed a precious treasure, and his cultivation had even regressed. He had truly suffered a hidden loss.

As he was about to look further, a long cry suddenly came from the temple, followed by a wave of red qi that swept towards him like ripples. Yuheng's eyes ached, his face turned pale, and filled with fear, he immediately concealed himself in the shadows and disappeared.

After Fang Ming's long cry, he thought, "I've managed to get rid of a bug!"

However, he wouldn't worry about that now.

"Although everything depends on myself, I should still make good use of the legacy left by my predecessor!" Even though he would have to advance on his own later, and no divine powers would descend, Mu Qing was a genuine seventh-rank City God. The great divine power he had ascended to this time, along with the City God's inherent divine powers, were still there – this was his final legacy.

Fang Ming first looked at the great divine power. The great divine power for this promotion to seventh-rank was "Open Samsara," which surprised Fang Ming. Although the City God was in charge of the underworld records, he hadn't expected this divine power to descend.

He thought, "The great divine power this time perfectly complements the great divine power I obtained during my last promotion. I'll try using them together next time!"

There were also several inherent divine powers of the City God. Because the City God was in charge of the Deities within his jurisdiction, the City God also possessed the inherent divine powers of his subordinate Deities. There were quite a few of them. Fang Ming picked out a few of the most important ones to examine.

Expel Epidemics: Can expel illnesses from people, consuming divine power based on the severity of the illness. This is an inherent divine power of the City God.

Prayer for Rain Spiritual Power: Can gather rain clouds and bring timely rain. This is a spiritual power of the river and water Deities under the City God, but there are restrictions. There must naturally be rain clouds in the sky, otherwise, it cannot be used. Furthermore, the more rain brought down, the greater the consumption.

Expel Mountains Spiritual Power: Can alter terrain within a small area. This is a spiritual power of the mountain Deities under the City God. The greater the terrain alteration, the more divine power consumed.

These three divine powers were the ones Fang Ming valued the most. There were other scattered divine powers that he didn't have time to sort through.

"This Expel Epidemics divine power is different from the previous inherent divine power of the Earth God, which could only cure livestock. This one can cure people, which is a big difference. It seems it doesn't need to be used as a wish fulfillment. I can grant it to the Temple Keeper and label it with the names 'Minor Rejuvenation Talisman' and 'Major Rejuvenation Talisman.' This way, believers will know of the City God's divine power, and it will increase incense and fire to sustain the operation of the earthly temples."

Fang Ming believed that good deeds should be known. After all, the story of Zigong receiving an ox had been passed down for so many years.

If believers got sick, they would worship the gods and take medicine, and when they got better, they wouldn't know which one was effective, so their faith wouldn't be pure. But if they recovered after drinking the talisman water from the Temple Keeper, they would naturally know that the City God had saved them, greatly increasing their faith.

It could also increase some income, as the number of Temple Keepers was growing, and Fang Ming had to support them all.

"Huh!" Fang Ming suddenly exclaimed, remembering that in his previous life, many rebellious Taoist priests began by "curing illnesses with talisman water, becoming living Buddhas for thousands of households."

Zhang Jiao at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty called himself the "Great Virtuous Teacher" and used talisman water to cure illnesses, gaining popular support. When the time came, he appointed commanders and shouted the slogan, "The Azure Sky is Dead, The Yellow Sky Shall Rise, The Year is Jiazi, The World is Greatly Auspicious," and began his rebellion. Although he was eventually suppressed, he greatly weakened the Eastern Han Dynasty, and the chaos of the Three Kingdoms began.

"Although this theory of Five Virtues fits this world well, the other methods seem to be helping me rebel! Could this be the will of heaven? Haha..."

Fang Ming was thinking casually with a smile, but he suddenly connected it to Su Xia's mention of a dragon emerging in Wunan. After thinking carefully, cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"That's right! I've spread Temple Keepers throughout the county. They have the power of divine striking and can cure illnesses with talisman water, gaining popular support. Once a chaotic era arrives and people suffer, if someone rallies them, they will surely succeed. These Temple Keepers are ready-made leaders at all levels, forming an organization. With unified faith, they can gather people to attack cities, and the entire county will fall, and Wenchang will be devastated!"

"But in ancient Chinese agricultural society, how could such a theocratic regime conquer the land? This isn't the Western world. Therefore, even if they could conquer Wenchang Prefecture, it would be the best they could do. In the end, they would be wiped out. At that time, with Wenchang completely devastated, the Hidden Dragon could gather refugees, reclaim wasteland, and use it as a base, rising up to carve out a territory!"

The more Fang Ming thought, the clearer it became, and the more cold sweat dripped down his face. This was not something he could control; it was as if a great hand was manipulating everything from behind the scenes. This was the entanglement of fortune, causing confusion.

As long as one Temple Keeper rebelled, the others would be implicated. To absolve themselves, they would have no choice but to rebel as well. Then, all of Fang Ming's followers would be swept up, and ultimately, Fang Ming himself would be forced onto the battlefield. Under the influence of fortune, the chances of this happening were the highest.

"No wonder most of my time in this world has been smooth sailing and rapid development. It turns out that in a sense, I have destiny on my side! Although, it's the destiny of paving the way for the true lord."

A bitter smile appeared on Fang Ming's lips, but it gradually turned into a cold sneer.

"It's just that if you want me to pave the way for the Hidden Dragon, what kind of reward can I expect?"

The Hidden Dragon's nature was to press forward relentlessly, with the power to kill or spare as he pleased. How could he tolerate a god suppressing him? Even if the entire Wenchang Prefecture were offered, it wouldn't be enough! Moreover, with White Cloud Temple assisting him, there would be no place for Fang Ming.

Even if they cooperated for a while, there would inevitably come a day when "we drink from the same golden cup, but our swords will not spare each other."

"Heh heh... The general trend of the world is beyond my control, but the general trend of Wuzhou must be considered in light of the world's trend. There is much that can be done in this regard."

Heaven's will cannot be defied, this saying is largely true. In Fang Ming's opinion, those who shout about defying heaven without the power to do so are all idiots and fools. You don't even know what heaven is, so how can you defy it?

According to Fang Ming's worldview, only by understanding the rules—obeying the rules—utilizing the rules—breaking the rules—and creating the rules is the true path of the Heavenly Way. He couldn't guess the realms beyond that with his current cultivation.

Fang Ming could utilize the rules now.

The world falling into chaos and Flood Dragons vying for supremacy is the general trend of the world. Fang Ming had no ability to change it, but he knew that the dragon qi rules of Wuzhou must obey this trend.

As long as someone from Wuzhou appeared to be more powerful than the Hidden Dragon, better at gathering people, and had a greater chance of becoming a True Dragon, and then defeated the Hidden Dragon, the dragon qi of Wuzhou would reluctantly part with the Hidden Dragon and pledge allegiance to the new master.

At that time, the general trend of the Hidden Dragon would naturally collapse on its own.

However, it is easier said than done. Fang Ming only had a general idea about this; how to proceed still required careful consideration.

After all, this was about altering the general trend of a prefecture. Even White Cloud Temple only dared to seek out and support the Hidden Dragon. The difficulty involved was immeasurable.

Putting his troubles aside for the moment, Fang Ming noticed that today's rituals were nearing their end.

"I never expected to have to change my appearance again, and this time even my title has to be changed!"

Fang Ming smiled, and his divine power surged.

Immediately, the Earth God Temple erupted in red light.

This startled the crowd below who were performing the rituals.

Amidst the swirling red qi, the young statue on the altar seemed to come alive.

The youth's body was like glazed jade, enveloped in red clouds in a full moon shape, emitting a crimson flame that illuminated the entire hall with a brilliant red glow, clearly indicating great power.

The youth's voice, clear as jade, resonated downwards: "Today, I achieve the divine position of City God of Anchang County, overseeing floods and droughts, plagues, and the underworld records. I shall protect the city and bless the common people!"

This was Fang Ming's first appearance in the mortal world in his true form, vastly different from his previous possessions and dream visitations.

The pilgrims and believers below prostrated themselves one after another, murmuring:

"The Earth God has manifested!"

"Not the Earth God, it's the City God now! May the City God bless us!"

"Is this real? Am I dreaming?"

To those with knowledge, their astonishment was even greater.

Zhou Biqing rubbed his eyes vigorously, muttering, "Manifesting in daylight," as if in a daze.

He knew that for any ghost, Ghost Cultivator, spirit, or monster, manifesting in daylight was a major hurdle in cultivation. Once overcome, they would become immensely powerful! For fierce ghosts, it meant reaching the Fierce Ghost rank, capable of destroying a county or devastating a prefecture, like Li Heibao of Linjiang Prefecture.

Moreover, even Fierce Ghosts did not manifest with such grandeur and soul-stirring spectacle.

Fang Ming smiled and waved his hand, covering the statue and the plaque outside with red light.

A moment later, the red light dissipated. The statue's appearance remained unchanged, but it was now adorned in the official robes of a seventh-rank official, adding to its majesty. The plaque outside the temple had also changed to read "City God Temple" in bold, flowing calligraphy, exuding an air of grandeur.

The believers bowed again, and soon, a vast crowd knelt before the altar.

Fang Ming looked at the scene and smiled faintly, disappearing amidst flashes of red light.

In the following days, the City God Temple's incense and fire flourished, and the miracle of Fang Ming's daytime manifestation was gradually spread by those who paid attention.