Earth Deity: Upper, Middle, and Lower Grades

He saw the feast hall filled with gods and ghosts.

Around them crouched fierce tigers, pythons several zhang long, and a massive blue bird. The tigers had bulging eyes, white foreheads, and mouths like blood basins. Li Bai startled at the sight, and only after a few breaths did he steady himself.

He slowly let out a breath.

A few days ago, discussing ghosts and gods with the Old Deer Mountain God had felt fascinating. Now, standing here in truth, seeing that the guests and attendants were all demon spirits, he felt a genuine chill.

He pressed closer to Mr. Jiang.

The Earth Deity hurriedly said, "I only briefly spoke of ways to escape chaos and confusion."

He paused, the black fur on his cheeks bristling. The Earth Deity Mountain Demon hesitated, hope flickering in his eyes.

He asked, "Immortal, what do you think of my cultivation?"

As soon as the words left his mouth.

Only then did the surrounding guests realize that the man in blue, treated with such reverence by the mountain god, was an immortal.

The tiger pressed down its claws, startled and flustered, a look of surprise spreading across its massive head like a human's. The bird also tilted its head, sizing him up cautiously. All the assembled spirits did the same. The mountain ghosts rose abruptly, bowing and saying:

"We failed to recognize an immortal's face—"

"Greetings, Immortal!"

Jiang She was studying the Earth Deity. The other man couldn't help tensing up.

This Earth Deity was born from mountain spirits, his form resembling a human. His stature was that of a giant, twice a man's height, with black fur on his face, a body like an ape, and reversed heels.

He was the mountain demon the villagers spoke of.

The villagers passed down tales, and scholars wrote them down. Legend said the mountain demon roamed the mountains, feared firecrackers, and was skilled at stealing things. It could speak human language, and if someone called its name in the wilds, the one who answered would often fall gravely ill. Sometimes it slipped down the mountain, entered homes at night, and snatched children to eat.

But the one before him had been enshrined as a god by a county magistrate from who knows how many years ago. Granted the title of Earth Deity, his aura was clear and pure.

He was a mountain demon with some cultivation.

Under the other's nervous gaze, Jiang She smiled.

"Not bad. You've entered the gate."

Hearing this recognition, the Earth Deity let out a huge sigh of relief, the black fur on his cheeks smoothing down. He hurriedly ushered the immortal to the seat of honor and quietly called for the spirit bird to fetch fresh wine.

He also called someone over to reset the dishes.

"Take these peaches away. Bring the Century-Old Vermilion Fruits."

In the bamboo grove, the surrounding guests all fell silent, no longer chatting as before. Only when Jiang She led Li Bai to their seats and took a sip of the spirit wine offered by the Blue Bird did they relax slightly.

"Excellent wine!"

Li Bai's eyes lit up as he held his cup, examining the clear liquid within, faintly shimmering with gold.

The aroma of wine hit his nose; one drink and he was deeply intoxicated.

"What wine is this?"

The Earth Deity said, "This is Pine Sap Wine. Unlike mortal brews, it's made from pine essence oil and pine pollen, supplemented with rare mountain spring water, and aged for a hundred years. I only have a few jars, and I wish to share them with you."

Li Bai said, "Thank you, Mountain Lord."

The Earth Deity said, "If a mountain spirit drinks it, it can replace a month of meditation."

Li Bai asked, "What about a human?"

"If a mortal drinks it, it can dispel chronic ailments and extend their lifespan a little." The Old Deer Mountain God stroked his beard beside them, smiling. "Little friend, you're quite fortunate."

"So miraculous?"

Li Bai was astonished.

Jiang She also savored the spirit wine, drinking half a cup. No wonder Li Bai was so impressed—the taste was truly excellent, cool and smooth, with a rich aroma.

As the wine went down his throat, the spiritual green energy within vanished like a drop of water merging into the Eastern Sea, gone in an instant.

But it was still fine wine.

Perhaps he could ask the Earth Deity for the recipe and try brewing it himself later.

Wind rustled the bamboo grove, accompanied by the sound of strings. The Earth Deity Mountain Demon, afraid of any negligence, summoned the mountain ghosts to play zithers and music. The sound was elegant, drifting through the air, harmonizing with the moonlight.

And on the feast table, there were no ordinary dishes—only rare mountain delicacies, spirit wine, and spiritual fruits, all exquisite.

If a mortal ate them, they could prolong their life.

Among the guests, many watched the head table from afar. The monkey loosened his grip on the wine jar, facing the rare delicacies and spiritual fruits, for the first time without the heart to feast.

He gazed from a distance at the man in blue drinking his wine, sitting together with the Earth Deity Mountain Demon and the White Deer Mountain God. Many of the spirit creatures had sharp ears and eyes; watching from afar, they could see the Deer Mountain God speaking to the immortal. Though they couldn't hear the words, they could see the reverence in his expression.

Beside the immortal sat a man in white, also raising his cup and laughing.

The monkey couldn't help murmuring aloud.

"A true immortal in person, a true immortal in person..."

"An immortal, after all..."

The striped tiger beside him glanced over, covering its massive mouth with a tiger paw, trying to keep a low profile and not appear so terrifying or conspicuous.

The tiger lowered his voice.

"The Lumen Mountain Deity, the Black Rock Ridge Mountain Lord... these days they've been lecturing among us in the mountains. When did they ever make friends with figures like that?"

The monkey and the fox beside him felt a reverent awe.

At the table, a mountain deer who had taken human form, appearing as a youth, had some connection to the Old Deer Mountain God. He stole a glance and blurted out, "I've seen that one before."

The other spirits pressed him eagerly.

"When?"

"Tell us quickly!"

"Who is that person?"

The youth pondered, speaking slowly: "I remember that exalted one taking shelter from the rain in a temple. Yes, and I've seen that one in white robes too—he came to the mountain often!"

"Is that so?"

"Why would an immortal need to take shelter from the rain?"

The youth didn't know. He was a descendant of the Old Deer Mountain God from countless generations back; the bloodline had long since thinned. He only had a bit of luck in talent, having taken form early.

He thought hard but couldn't recall the reason.

Instead, he remembered another urgent matter. He glanced left and right, set down his chopsticks, and lowered his voice.

"The Old Ancestor's heavenly lifespan is nearly spent. He's been seeking methods to extend it. These past two years, he's rarely come out to move about, let alone lecture on the Dao." He spoke carefully. "I heard the Old Ancestor managed to extend his heavenly lifespan by another ten years. His mind has opened up, and only these days has he been teaching us many techniques."

"To extend one's heavenly lifespan—I wonder what profound Daoist arts that requires. It must be tied to that immortal."

After achieving success in cultivation, one could see their own lifespan and vaguely sense when death would come. Some cultivators, seeing their lifespan run out, would choose the path of the Yin spirit.

Becoming a city god, or a Yin spirit.

Such was the way of ghosts and gods.

But the Deer Mountain God was not among these. He was originally a mountain god and earth deity, unable to extend his life through the divine path. Unless he was willing to become a ghostly body, to enjoy Yin energy, and serve as an official in the underworld.

That was something the Old Deer Mountain God did not wish to see.

The path of cultivation for mountain spirits followed the earth veins. Once they abandoned the earth veins and turned to the ghostly path, their past cultivation would scatter like smoke and clouds, forcing them to start over.

The Blue Bird couldn't help but gasp: "Able to extend heavenly lifespan?"

Several spirits were like the Blue Bird, holding wine cups and chopsticks, their hands loosening involuntarily, their gazes flickering, lost in thought.

"Shh!"

The youth warned: "Immortals and gods hold noble status. Don't you think too much. Even my family's Old Ancestor, a Mountain Lord enfeoffed by the emperor, treats them with reverence and respect."

"If you act rashly and run into an immortal or god, the immortal won't care about the earth deity's face. All of you, be careful. Put those thoughts aside. Don't blame me for not warning you!"

The serpent hissed, its tongue flickering: "So such a divine being exists in this world... We understand."

The tiger nodded along, its tiger head bobbing up and down.

On the other side, the Earth Deity poured wine for Jiang She.

His gaze carried a hint of expectation.

"Born as a different kind, cultivation is difficult. This minor deity counts himself lucky, having gained an official temple and stepped onto the path, yet still lacking the proper fate, muddling through cultivation on my own... Could the immortal grant, grant a little guidance..."

His voice grew softer and softer.

"Let me take a look."

The Earth Deity was overjoyed at this.

Li Bai and the Old Deer Mountain God sat nearby, eating and drinking, watching from the sidelines.

Jiang She set down his chopsticks.

Before the Earth Deity Mountain Demon could relax, he looked at the Earth Deity and spoke in a leisurely tone, asking:

"The highest grade of earth deity can move earth veins without harming people or property. The middle grade protects a region's land and water. The lowest merely enjoys blood sacrifices."

"Which are you?"

Every time I think of a chapter title, it's a struggle...