Annexing the Neighboring Village, Completing Personal Quest

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

Every household in Li Family Village went to the Land God Temple to offer a stick of incense every morning and evening.

Even the young children were brought along by their parents to offer incense to the Land God.

Everyone was incredibly enthusiastic.

After all, ten days ago, Lord Zhangyue had manifested to Confer Temple Keeper Li Youming and bestowed favors upon the village chief and others.

In these ten days.

Lord Zhangyue had bestowed favors upon two more people!

The villagers discovered through observation.

Those two individuals were also exceptionally devout to Lord Zhangyue and were known for being kind to others in their daily lives.

This realization dawned on everyone.

To receive a favor from Lord Zhangyue, being kind to others and being exceptionally devout were the necessary conditions!

Although Li Youming had told them this early on.

But could what others said be the same as what one realized for oneself?

With this realization.

The atmosphere of the entire Li Family Village changed drastically.

The villagers began to treat others with kindness, wearing a cheerful smile whenever they met anyone.

Moreover, there was no need for Temple Keeper Li Youming to force anyone; everyone was exceptionally proactive in coming to offer incense every morning and evening.

Who wouldn't want to receive a favor from Lord Zhangyue and become a powerful Martial Artist?

At this moment--

In Chen Family Village, separated from Li Family Village by only a river, Li Youming sat with a bold and imposing posture.

Beside him sat the village chief, Li Deyang.

Behind the two of them stood Li Xiuwu, Li Deming, and eight other first-rank intermediate Martial Artists.

There were two other first-rank intermediate Martial Artists whom Li Youming had assigned to be responsible for the security of the Land God Temple.

Li Youming would absolutely not allow anyone to act recklessly at the Land God Temple.

"Are you really Li Youming?"

Chen Mazi, the village chief of Chen Family Village, looked at Li Youming in disbelief.

He was from the same generation as Li Youming and had often fought with him when they were children.

He had even seen Li Youming once two months ago.

Back then, Li Youming had a hunched back, a face full of wrinkles, and hair that was mostly white.

But now?

He looked vigorous and sturdy, his skin was ruddy and lustrous, and his hair was shiny black; it was as if he had been restored to his youth!

Could it be that the rumors coming from Li Family Village were all true?

Had the Land God of Li Family Village truly manifested?

Had Li Youming been Conferred as Temple Keeper by the Land God, turning his white hair back to black?

Impossible!

There were no such things as gods in this world!

He felt that Li Youming had most likely consumed some kind of heaven-sent treasure.

"Chen Mazi, I won't waste words with you."

"I came here personally to tell you that from this day forward, your Chen Family Village will be annexed into our Li Family Village!"

"The original statue in the Chen Family Village Land God Temple is to be dismantled, and from now on, you will worship Lord Zhangyue."

Li Youming said indifferently.

Having been the Temple Keeper for ten days, a sense of majesty had gradually begun to emanate from him.

"What did you say?"

Chen Mazi was stunned, wondering if he had misheard.

Annexation?

Li Family Village wanted to annex their Chen Family Village?

The surrounding clansmen of Chen Family Village were in an uproar, immediately becoming furious; if not for some elders holding them back, they likely would have rushed forward to start a brawl.

"You don't understand?"

"Deyang, make him understand a little better."

Li Youming said calmly, his expression not changing in the slightest.

Li Deyang stood up.

His face remained expressionless as he walked slowly toward Chen Mazi:

"Uncle Chen, logically speaking, you are an elder, and I should not raise a hand against you."

"But the Temple Keeper walks the mortal realm as the representative of Lord Zhangyue; the Temple Keeper's command is the command of Lord Zhangyue."

"My apologies."

His voice was calm.

"Li Deyang?"

"You intend to fight me?"

Chen Mazi, the village chief of Chen Family Village, laughed in fury. He pulled a wooden staff from the side and roared:

"You think because I'm old, I can't beat you, is that it?"

"Come--!"

"Let me teach you a lesson!"

As the words fell, he swung the staff toward Li Deyang!

As the village chief of Chen Family Village, he was a First-Order Mid-Stage Martial Artist whose blood and qi had transformed twice.

Although he was old, his experience was vast!

Bang--!

Li Deyang's expression was indifferent; he simply raised his hand and caught the incoming staff.

No matter how hard Chen Mazi strained, his face turning red, the staff did not budge in the slightest.

"Don't you dare bully my father!"

A roar came from the side as Chen Mazi's eldest son also swung a wooden staff with all his might!

Chen Family Village also had two Martial Artists in the Body Refining Realm.

One was the village chief, Chen Mazi.

The other was his eldest son, Chen Ergou.

Chen Ergou was burly and possessed immense strength.

But Li Deyang simply reached out again, caught the incoming staff, and it remained just as motionless!

"Let go."

Li Deyang chuckled.

Chen Mazi and his son Chen Ergou suddenly felt a massive force erupt from the staffs, and unable to keep their grip, they stumbled backward.

The webbing between their thumbs and forefingers split open, blood streaming down.

"You... you..."

Chen Mazi stared at Li Deyang as if he had seen a ghost, unable to believe it:

"First-Order Limit?!"

"You have actually become a First-Order Limit Martial Artist!"

"How is this possible!"

"Not long ago, you were just like my son, a First-Order Mid-Stage Martial Artist with only two blood and qi transformations!!"

His voice trembled.

He looked at Li Youming, then back at Li Deyang.

Could the legends be true?

Had the Land God of Li Family Village truly manifested?

"Chen Mazi."

Li Youming stood up:

"I have eight more First-Order Mid-Stage Martial Artists behind me, all gifted by the manifestation of Lord Zhangyue."

"Villagers of Chen Family Village, you should have all heard, to some extent, about the manifestation of our Li Family Village Land God."

"Some of you have even been to our Li Family Village Land God Temple to pay respects to Lord Zhangyue."

"But you are villagers of Chen Family Village, and Lord Zhangyue is the Orthodox Land God of our Li Family Village."

"The effect of crossing village lines to worship is not necessarily very good."

"It would be better to merge directly into our Li Family Village; from then on, you will all be under the protection of Lord Zhangyue, with no fear of Demonic Creatures or Evil Specters!"

"You might even receive the grace of Lord Zhangyue and leap into becoming Martial Artists yourselves!"

"Many of you know what those eight were like before."

"But now--"

"They are all God-gifted Martial Artists!"

As his voice fell.

Li Xiuwu, Li Deming, and the other six stepped forward, drawing the wood-chopping knives at their waists as their blood energy erupted—

Instantly, the blades were suffused with a crimson glow!

Slash—!

As the eight of them swung their knives, the air was torn apart, emitting a sharp, whistling shriek!

"They are all First-Order Mid-Stage Martial Artists!"

Chen Mazi and Chen Ergou exclaimed in shock.

The villagers who had gathered from all over Chen Family Village were in an uproar.

So many Martial Artists?

Were they all bestowed by the Li Family Village Land God?

Many gazes turned fervent.

In this era where Demonic Creatures and Evil Specters run rampant, Martial Artists are the most convincing proof of power!

Everyone wants to become a Martial Artist!

Only by becoming a Martial Artist can one stand against Demonic Creatures!

And now—

A path was laid out right before them!

Chen Mazi and Chen Ergou's expressions also shifted from shock to burning desire.

They, too, wished to advance further!

Just five days later.

Chen Family Village was officially merged into Li Family Village.

And Li Family Village was renamed 'Four Seas Village'!

It took its name from the saying: "The ocean is vast because it admits all rivers; greatness comes from tolerance."

Li Youming had already realized that his most important role as Temple Keeper was to develop more Believers for Lord Zhangyue.

The name 'Li Family Village' was unsuitable, as it carried the suspicion of favoring one family and one surname.

Therefore, he made a decisive choice and changed the name immediately.

Inside the "Divine Domain".

Li Yue looked at the [Personal Quest—II] that was now marked as complete, a smile appearing on his face.

Li Youming was truly excellent and possessed great courage.

To think he had directly annexed the neighboring village.

Seven days had passed since the annexation of Chen Family Village, and it had only been twenty-two days since he issued the divine oracle.

Li Youming had already completed this task.

"Mountain Leveling Divine Talisman..."

"I wonder what its function is."

"Can it level mountains and fill seas?"

He looked at the 'Mountain Leveling Divine Talisman' that had appeared out of thin air before him after he claimed the reward.