During this month.
Four Seas Village had also completed its transfer of power.
Li Youming was the Temple Keeper and, without question, stood at the very top of the power structure, directing everything in Four Seas Village.
Zhang Ronggui assisted Li Youming.
Li Deyang was the village chief of Four Seas Village, responsible for its day-to-day affairs.
Chen Mazi and Liao Jinxian were deputy village chiefs, assisting Li Deyang.
Li Xiuwu and Li Xiuling each led fifteen Martial Artists, forming two hunting teams that spent their days hunting in the mountains.
The remaining ten Martial Artists all belonged to the Temple Guard. They were responsible for patrolling and guarding the Land God Temple, as well as patrolling and guarding the village.
A month ago, the village had only twenty-six first-tier mid-rank Martial Artists.
But over the past month, another fourteen had received Lord Zhangyue's blessing and become first-tier mid-rank Martial Artists.
On top of that, they had gained another first-tier peak Martial Artist, Chen Ergou, who had become captain of the Temple Guard.
At present—
Four Seas Village had seven first-tier peak Martial Artists and forty first-tier mid-rank Martial Artists.
"Temple Keeper, are we ready to act?"
Li Deyang looked at Li Youming, who sat at the head of the table, his eyes shining.
Below him sat Chen Mazi and Liao Jinxian.
Across from them sat Zhang Ronggui, Li Xiuwu, Li Xiuling, and Chen Ergou.
"Yes."
"There are only two months left before the deadline in the Divine Oracle."
"We must not only fulfill Lord Zhangyue's oracle—we must do it as well as we possibly can."
Li Youming regarded everyone gravely.
"Temple Keeper, just give the word."
"Tell us what to do, and we'll do it!"
Chen Mazi said, his blood boiling.
The village was going to grow its population. As a deputy village chief, his own standing would naturally rise along with it!
"Ever since the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty fell,"
"Demonic Creatures have run rampant across the land, and Evil Specters are everywhere."
"Everyone is too busy looking out for themselves. The county seat has practically become self-governing."
"Even the villages and towns are acting entirely on their own."
Li Youming's gaze swept over the group.
"Forget the rest of the world. Just look at the areas around Cangmu Town—countless members of the Human Race are suffering at the hands of Demonic Creatures."
"To spread faith, we must first clear the way with force!"
His voice carried a hint of grim menace.
Everyone's eyes burned with excitement, their blood running hot.
"Deyang, how many of the new houses I asked you to build are ready?"
Li Youming looked toward Li Deyang.
"One hundred and twenty have been built. They're only simple wooden huts, but they'll keep out the wind and rain."
Li Deyang answered at once.
It was the result of a month of hard work by everyone in the village.
They had the many Martial Artists to thank for it. They could carry logs weighing hundreds of pounds and race down the mountain, greatly improving efficiency.
"Keep building."
"What about food?"
Li Youming turned to Liao Jinxian.
"We still have over four thousand pounds of the wolf meat we salted and stored. The hunting teams have also brought back quite a haul this month, so we now have more than seven thousand pounds of salted meat in total."
"We've also stockpiled over sixty thousand pounds of grain."
Liao Jinxian replied solemnly.
They had only managed to buy this batch of grain from the town after spending a month selling their game and scraping together the money.
They had even sold two of the wolf carcasses that had shown signs of demonic transformation.
Li Youming nodded.
Shelter and food were some of the things he could use to draw outsiders into Four Seas Village.
In this age, having a roof to shelter beneath and enough food and warm clothing was the greatest wish of many.
Those two things were also the main reason he had waited a month.
"Ronggui, Xiuwu, Xiuling, come with me out of the village."
"Bring both hunting teams."
He gave the order.
"Yes, Temple Keeper!"
The three immediately accepted.
In the "Divine Domain."
"Has it begun?"
Li Yue watched Li Youming lead his people out of Four Seas Village, his expression calm.
As the Orthodox Land God of Four Seas Village, he could only receive Incense Wish Power when his Believers offered incense within his "Jurisdiction."
In other words—
The "Divine Domain" was the Core Region enveloped by the Divine Path Law.
The "Underworld Dharma Domain," on the other hand, was the Outer Region enveloped by the Divine Path Law.
As for the "Jurisdiction," it could only be considered an area reached by the Divine Path Law's influence.
That meant—
Outside his "Jurisdiction," there was no Divine Path Law.
So offering incense outside his "Jurisdiction" would not generate Incense Wish Power.
Without Incense Wish Power, how could he receive any?
"This month, though, I've gained fifty-two units of divine power."
A satisfied smile touched his lips.
From the "Regional Chat," he had learned that the Believers of the other Blue Star Deities did not number nearly as many.
He could now receive 1,922 units of Incense Wish Power each day.
As for the Blue Star Deities—
Most received only six or seven hundred units of Incense Wish Power a day.
Some received just three or four hundred.
"This shows how important it is to slay demons with the majesty of heaven, shaping the image of an invincible Deity."
"It also shows what a difference it makes to bestow a total of forty-seven first-tier 'Blessing Talismans.'"
He smiled.
Even the other Blue Star Deities who had completed "Personal Quest—III" could have no more than seven first-tier "Blessing Talismans" in their possession.
The fewer Divine Graces they bestowed, the weaker their Believers' faith would naturally be.
On top of that, they had to draw Demonic Creatures into their "Jurisdiction" before they could slay them there.
And the Demonic Creatures were no weaker than the Deities. If a long battle dragged on, even a final victory would damage the Deity's image.
Of course—
It all depended on how each person put their abilities to use.
Some people were born to become Deities. For all he knew, they were already gaining more Incense Wish Power each day than he was.
"But that doesn't matter—"
"In less than four months, it'll be time for another Grand Sacrifice..."
"Grand Sacrifice offerings, hundredfold amplification..."
Anticipation gleamed in his eyes.
He had not sent Li Youming a Divine Oracle about offerings.
After all—
Offerings could not be tainted by even the slightest direct Causality with a Deity.
If he conveyed the matter of offerings to Li Youming as a Divine Oracle, it would create direct Causality.
So—
Li Youming had to come up with offerings on his own!
But he thought—
Li Youming had been a very capable Temple Keeper. Surely he would prepare some decent offerings for the second Grand Sacrifice of the year.
Then—
He opened the "Regional Chat" interface and entered another message:
"Looking for a batch of Spirit Rice Seeds. Any variety. Contact me if you have some."
Over the past month, he had sent out a message almost every day.
After all—
He had obtained a "Spirit Field Divine Talisman" and still hadn't used it.
Because he didn't have any Spirit Rice Seeds.
He had also considered having Li Youming find a way to acquire some.
But Spirit Rice and Spirit Rice Seeds were different things.
The Spirit Rice occasionally sold in the county seat could not be used as seeds.
Spirit Rice was special. Of each harvest, only certain individual grains could be used as seeds.
Those seeds were sure to be carefully selected.
They were the lifeblood of the county seat's most powerful faction. There was no way they would ever sell them to outsiders.
He wasn't the only one looking for Spirit Rice Seeds in the "Regional Chat" interface, either.
Over the past month—
Some Blue Star Deities had also completed "Personal Quest—III" and slain Demonic Creatures.
Completing "Personal Quest—III" earned a "Spirit Field Divine Talisman."
Once they had a "Spirit Field Divine Talisman," they naturally needed Spirit Rice Seeds. Otherwise, there would be no point in opening a Spirit Field.
He hadn't expected anything. He was simply sending out another routine message.
Unexpectedly—
Almost at once, a female Deity named Chu Yue contacted him:
"I have a batch of White Jade Spirit Rice Seeds. Twenty units of divine power. Interested?"
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