"Thank you for Lord Zhangyue's blessing!"
"May our Li Family Village worship Lord Zhangyue devoutly for generations to come, and may the incense never cease!"
Village Chief Li Deyang bowed in worship, overcome with emotion.
Tears welled in his eyes.
Heaven knew how much pressure he bore as a village chief in this world, where Demonic Creatures and Evil Specters lurked everywhere.
Every month or two, he would make a trip to the county seat.
Sometimes, he would hear terrifying news.
A specter had appeared in some village, and not a single living soul had made it out.
Or Demonic Creatures had emerged somewhere and devoured every last person within ten li.
He was terrified.
He feared that one day, Li Family Village would also fall prey to Demonic Creatures and Evil Specters.
That was why he had worked especially hard at cultivating the Martial Path.
He hoped to become stronger, so that if Demonic Creatures or Evil Specters ever came, he could protect the village!
But at thirty-five, his qi and blood had begun to wane. He had only completed two Metamorphoses of qi and blood, reaching the middle stage of the first rank.
Completing a third Metamorphosis of qi and blood seemed a distant dream.
It had often left him deeply worried.
But now—
Lord Zhangyue had manifested!
In an instant, he had completed two Metamorphoses of qi and blood, becoming a martial artist at the first-rank limit!
How could he not be moved?
How could he not be thrilled?
His devotion to Lord Zhangyue had grown even stronger. He believed in Lord Zhangyue with all his heart!
"Thank you for Lord Zhangyue's blessing!"
Li Deming could hardly believe it. Had he really just completed two Metamorphoses of qi and blood?
He was twenty-five, and his father, Li Youming, had personally taught him, yet he still hadn't completed even one Metamorphosis of qi and blood to become a martial artist.
To be honest, he had given up hope.
He had thought he would never become a martial artist in his entire life.
But now—
Lord Zhangyue had bestowed a blessing upon him!
He had become a middle-stage martial artist of the first rank in one fell swoop!!
"Thank you for Lord Zhangyue's blessing!!"
The other seven also bowed in worship, overcome with excitement.
They had never imagined that ordinary villagers like themselves could receive Lord Zhangyue's blessing!
Li Xiuwu was so moved that tears streamed down his face.
When he was seven, his parents had gone into the mountains to hunt and never returned, leaving him all alone as a child.
If the villagers hadn't pitied him and often invited him to their homes for meals, he would have starved to death long ago.
He had grown up on the charity of the whole village and had always felt inferior.
He had never imagined it.
He, too, could receive Lord Zhangyue's blessing and become a martial artist like the village chief and Uncle Youming!
"Eight more martial artists!"
"Deyang's strength has increased by leaps and bounds, too."
"This is Lord Zhangyue's power. His Divine Might is immeasurable!"
Li Youming was thrilled.
This time—
The strength of Li Family Village had been utterly transformed!
In this perilous world, they now had far more confidence to face danger!
"But—"
"Why were these nine the ones blessed by Lord Zhangyue?"
"Everyone else had just gotten up to leave. Only some people were still kneeling on the ground, the most devout..."
Li Youming glanced thoughtfully at those still kneeling.
He realized—
Of the most devout Believers of Lord Zhangyue, most of those who weren't elderly or women had received a blessing.
He understood.
Only those who worshipped Lord Zhangyue more devoutly had a chance of receiving his blessing!
As the Temple Keeper,
he had to make sure the villagers worshipped Lord Zhangyue with even greater devotion!
Two sticks of incense every morning and evening—no household could miss a single one!
Anyone who dared to skip a stick would get both legs broken!
Anyone who dared not worship Lord Zhangyue devoutly would get beaten to a pulp!
"They received Lord Zhangyue's blessing, too!"
"Lord Zhangyue has manifested again!"
"Deming and Xiuwu are both in their twenties. How could they receive Lord Zhangyue's blessing, too?"
"Why didn't Lord Zhangyue bless me?"
The other villagers cried out in astonishment. Some spoke with envy and jealousy.
Li Youming immediately strode forward and smacked one of them, roaring:
"You still haven't figured it out?"
"A bunch of pig brains!"
"They received Lord Zhangyue's blessing because they worship him devoutly!"
"You were all about to leave, while they were still kneeling and bowing in worship!"
"Do you understand now?"
"If you want Lord Zhangyue's blessing, you must worship him with exceptional devotion!"
"The gods have eyes!"
"Every move you make is right under Lord Zhangyue's nose. Those who worship him devoutly will surely receive his blessing!"
"If you don't receive a blessing, look for the problem within yourselves. Ask whether your worship has been devout enough!"
Everyone suddenly understood.
Many wore looks of deep regret.
Why hadn't they worshipped Lord Zhangyue more devoutly?
They made up their minds then and there.
Once they got home, they would work harder and make their worship of Lord Zhangyue even more devout!
No—
Their entire families would worship Lord Zhangyue with even greater devotion!
In the Divine Domain.
"Li Youming has been out in the world. No wonder he's so perceptive."
"With those words of his, the whole of Li Family Village will gradually grow more devout in their faith in me."
Li Yue was pleased.
The Land God Register for Li Family Village listed a population of two hundred and twenty-three.
Previously, the Believer Information interface had listed only one hundred and sixty-five Believers.
Eight villagers were away from the village.
Of the remaining two hundred and fifteen people, a full fifty hadn't even been Grade D Believers.
Of course,
some of those fifty were children under five, who could hardly develop faith, so they didn't count.
And now—
He opened the Believer Information interface and took a look.
[Believer Information] [Daily Incense]: 531 strands [Dao-Grade Believer]: 0 "Provides 100,000 strands of incense daily" [Heaven-Grade Believer]: 0 "Provides 10,000 strands of incense daily" [Saint-Grade Believer]: 0 "Provides 1,000 strands of incense daily" [Grade A Believer]: 2 "Provides 100 strands of incense daily" [Grade B Believer]: 26 "Provides 10 strands of incense daily" [Grade C Believer]: 102 "Provides 1 strand of incense daily" [Grade D Believer]: 50 "Provides 1 strand of incense every ten days"
"The total number of Believers has reached one hundred and eighty."
"Many Believers have been promoted to Grade C Believers."
"But word of my manifestation hasn't spread throughout the whole village yet. Quite a few people haven't come."
"In a few days—"
"The number will definitely rise again."
A satisfied smile appeared on Li Yue's face.
Manifesting at the right moment was unquestionably the best way to increase the devotion of Believers!
In just this short while, four more Believers had advanced to Grade B.
He stopped paying attention to the villagers outside the Land God Temple and opened the Personal Quest panel.
[Personal Quest I] had been completed.
A new Personal Quest had appeared.
He attached great importance to Personal Quests.
The reward for the first-rank Blessing Talisman made that clear.
A large part of the rewards from Personal Quests should be capable of strengthening the cultivation and power of his Believers!
[Personal Quest II] [Quest Description]: You now have a Temple Keeper. Have him recruit more Believers for you. [Quest Objective]: Reach a total of 300 Believers. [Quest Reward]: One Mountain Leveling Divine Talisman, five strands of divine power
Before you continue