Become My Temple Keeper, Walk the World for Me

"This Li Youming is not bad."

"Young and intelligent, he has studied in a private school for three years and spent twelve years venturing out into the world, earning him high prestige in Li Family Village."

"In his youth, he achieved success in the 'Stone-Splitting Palm' and underwent two transformations of his blood and qi, becoming a 'Body Refining Realm' Martial Artist."

"His character is also quite commendable; he has never committed any heinous or wicked acts."

Li Yue nodded, deciding to choose this Li Youming as his Temple Keeper.

Among the five Grade B Believers, only Li Youming had ventured out into the world and possessed considerable insight.

He cast his gaze outside the Land God Temple.

It was already past the Hour of the Ox.

Clearly, his previous promotion in divine rank had consumed quite a bit of time.

Li Family Village appeared peaceful and serene, and at this late hour, it was wrapped in profound silence.

Simple earthen houses were scattered in an orderly fashion deep within the mountains, with fields cultivated in front of every household.

Since the New Year had just passed, some fields still held remnants of unmelted ice and snow.

Li Yue stepped out from the Land God statue.

When he was a 'Wild God', the "Divine Domain" within the Land God statue had been like a cage; he could not leave it.

But after being promoted to a Subordinate Ninth Rank Orthodox Land God, he was finally able to leave his "Divine Domain" within the statue.

"It feels good to have my feet on solid ground..."

He sighed with emotion.

Glancing at the pitch-black mountains surrounding the village, he chose a direction and began to walk.

However, he stopped after walking only about a mile.

Before him lay a small hill, and behind that hill were rolling, undulating peaks.

This was the boundary of Li Family Village.

He felt a sense of trepidation; he knew that if he stepped beyond this point, he would become exceptionally weak.

"Once a deity leaves their 'Jurisdiction', they become weak."

"All divine arts require 'ten times the divine power' to manifest."

"Furthermore, one's 'Divine Rank' will temporarily drop by one level."

Li Yue whispered to himself, taking a long, deep look at the rolling peaks ahead.

Unless absolutely necessary, he would not leave his "Jurisdiction".

A drop in "Divine Rank" and the requirement of "ten times the divine power" to cast divine arts—these were far too fatal.

Following this—

He took a few steps and returned to his "Divine Domain" within the Land God Temple.

As for the other directions of the village, there was no need to test them.

As the Orthodox Land God, he knew clearly how large his "Jurisdiction" was.

He had only wanted to experience the feeling of standing at the edge of his "Jurisdiction".

He turned his gaze toward Li Youming's home.

At this moment.

Li Youming had already fallen into a deep sleep.

Li Yue extended his right hand and pointed gently toward Li Youming.

A strand of divine power gathered at his fingertip as he cast the divine art, 'Dream Projection Art'.

Li Youming stood blankly before the Land God Temple.

He did not know why he was dreaming of the Land God Temple.

Could it be because of the Grand Sacrifice during the day, where that precious 'Body Strengthening Grass' was consumed by Lord Zhangyue?

To be honest.

He remained somewhat skeptical.

Although his devotion to Lord Zhangyue could be considered pious.

He was a man of experience, knowing well what the outside world was like.

He worshipped Lord Zhangyue only because of a yearning in his heart—a yearning for the day when a deity would descend to drive away evil and demons, allowing the world to live in peace!

But did deities truly exist?

He did not know.

"Li Youming—"

Suddenly.

A voice, high and mighty and filled with endless majesty, rang out.

Li Youming looked around:

"Who is calling me?"

Only then did he realize with a start.

Why did this dream feel so real today?

Yet he knew he was dreaming.

This feeling was extremely strange.

"Li Youming—"

The high and mighty voice, filled with endless majesty, sounded once more.

It was as if it had descended from the heavens!

Li Youming was startled and looked up above the Land God Temple.

A massive, indifferent face appeared there, its eyes filled with majesty, looking down at him from on high.

It was identical to the Lord Zhangyue enshrined within the Land God Temple!

"Lord Zhangyue!"

Li Youming was shocked and hurriedly knelt on the ground.

His heart was filled with incomparable excitement.

Lord Zhangyue had manifested!

After so many years, he had finally witnessed a manifestation of Lord Zhangyue!

"Li Youming."

"I am the Orthodox Land God of Li Family Village, and it is My duty to protect this village."

"But gods and mortals are distinct; one must not speak lightly."

"Are you willing to become My Temple Keeper and walk the mortal realm on My behalf?"

The majestic and indifferent voice rang out, filling the entire world, vast and mighty.

That was the power of a deity!

"Believer Li Youming is willing!"

Li Youming was extremely excited and hurriedly kowtowed.

"Kowtow to Me at the hour of the dragon tomorrow, and you shall become My Temple Keeper."

"Do not forget."

The majestic voice faded away.

Then, the entire dream world shattered into pieces.

Li Youming opened his eyes and sat up abruptly.

The words "Do not forget" were still echoing in his mind.

"Lord Zhangyue manifested and sent me a dream?"

He muttered to himself.

The memories of the dream were too clear.

It felt as if it hadn't been a dream at all, but a scene he had truly experienced!

That face of Lord Zhangyue, so massive it obscured half the sky—

Those eyes, looking down from on high—

And that voice, filled with endless majesty.

Everything was as real as it could possibly be!

"What's wrong?"

"The rooster hasn't even crowed yet, why are you sitting up..."

His wife, Zhao Jiuhua, opened her sleepy eyes and mumbled.

"Jiuhua, Lord Zhangyue just sent me a dream."

Li Youming said, his voice trembling.

Only he knew what kind of excitement was contained within those words!

"What?"

"Lord Zhangyue sent you a dream?"

"Go back to sleep; who knows, maybe you'll dream of the City God bestowing a vision upon you later."

Zhao Jiuhua turned over and went back to sleep.

"Fine, don't believe me then."

"I'm telling you, Lord Zhangyue appeared in my dream and commanded me to become the Temple Keeper, to walk the mortal realm as his representative from this day forth!"

As Li Youming reached the end of his sentence, his voice trembled even more violently.

He was clearly beside himself with excitement.

After all, this meant representing the Land God himself in the mortal world.

What kind of existence was Lord Zhangyue?

He was an Orthodox Land God!

From now on, he, Li Youming, would walk the earth on behalf of a true deity—what an incredibly prestigious status that was!

"Go to sleep."

"Stop making noise."

"Keep sleeping and you might just become the Land God yourself."

Zhao Jiuhua said impatiently.

She didn't believe in any Land God.

If the Land God truly existed, why had San'er fallen ill and died back then?

She and Li Youming had begged the Land God for help at the time.

But did it do any good?

Her San'er still died of his illness.

"Ignorant, short-sighted woman."

"I can't be bothered to talk to you anymore."

Li Youming huffed, climbed out of bed, and put on his clothes.

He needed to prepare in advance; as soon as the sky brightened, he would head straight to the Land God Temple to become the Temple Keeper!

Considering how cramped the Land God Temple was, he even planned to build a simple shed outside to serve as a workspace for him, the Temple Keeper.

Less than an hour later.

The sky began to turn a faint gray.

Li Youming immediately grabbed his tools, kicked his two sons awake from their slumber, and headed toward the Land God Temple together.

"Uncle Youming, what are you doing?"

Seeing Li Youming carrying a pile of tools with his two sons following behind carrying ladders and stools, the village chief Li Deyang asked curiously.

"Ah, it's you, Deyang."

"Let me tell you, Lord Zhangyue appeared in my dream last night and commanded me to become the Temple Keeper, to walk the mortal realm as his representative from this day forth!"

"Don't be too envious of your Uncle Youming."

Li Youming said smugly.

"???"

Village chief Li Deyang wore a look of utter astonishment.

Lord Zhangyue appeared in a dream?

Walking the mortal realm as his representative?

He looked at Li Youming as if he were looking at a complete fool.