"This Li Youming is not bad."
"Young and intelligent, he studied in a private school for three years and has been adventuring outside for twelve years. He is highly respected in Li Village."
"When he was young, he successfully cultivated the 'Stone Splitting Palm', and his Qi and blood transformed twice, making him a 'Body Refinement Realm' martial artist."
"His temperament is also quite good; he has never done anything harmful or immoral."
Li Yue nodded, deciding to choose this Li Youming to be his temple guardian.
Among the five Class B believers, Li Youming was the only one who had ventured outside and had considerable experience.
He looked towards the outside of the Earth God Temple.
It was already past the hour of Chou (1–3 AM).
Evidently, his Godhood promotion had taken up a lot of time.
Li Village seemed peaceful and serene; now, in the depths of the night, it was even more tranquil.
Simple earthen houses were scattered in an orderly manner within the deep mountains, each family having cultivated fields in front of their homes.
Now that the New Year had just passed, some fields still had remnants of unmelted ice and snow.
Li Yue stepped out from the Earth God statue.
When he was a 'Wild God', the 'Divine Domain' within the Earth God statue was like a prison, and he could not leave.
But after being promoted to a 'Ninth Rank' Proper Earth God, he could now leave his 'Divine Domain' within the Earth God statue.
"There's a sense of being grounded..."
He sighed.
Looking at the dark, deep mountains surrounding the village, he chose a direction and walked.
However, after walking only about half a kilometer, he stopped.
Ahead was already a small mountain, and behind the small mountain were continuous, undulating peaks.
This was the boundary of Li Village.
And he had a sense of palpitations; he would become extraordinarily weak if he walked out.
"Gods become weak once they leave their 'Jurisdiction'."
"All Divine Arts require 'Tenfold Divine Power' to be cast."
"Moreover, the 'God Rank' will also temporarily drop by one level."
Li Yue murmured in his heart, deeply looking at the undulating peaks before him.
Unless absolutely necessary, he would not leave his 'Jurisdiction'.
The 'God Rank' dropping by one level and the need for 'Tenfold Divine Power' to cast Divine Arts were too fatal.
Then—
He took a few steps and returned to his 'Divine Domain' within the Earth God Temple.
As for the other directions of the village, there was no need to test them.
As a Proper Earth God, he clearly knew how large his 'Jurisdiction' was.
He just wanted to feel the sensation of standing at the edge of his 'Jurisdiction'.
He looked towards Li Youming's home.
At this moment—
Li Youming had already fallen into a deep sleep.
Li Yue stretched out his right hand and gently pointed towards Li Youming.
A stream of Divine Power gathered on his fingertip, casting the Divine Art 'Dream Manifestation'.
…
Li Youming stood blankly in front of the Earth God Temple.
He didn't know why he would dream of the Earth God Temple.
Could it be because of the grand ceremony during the day, where that precious 'Body Strengthening Grass' was enjoyed by Lord Zhang Yue?
To be honest—
He was still somewhat skeptical.
Although his belief in Lord Zhang Yue could be considered devout—
He was also knowledgeable and knew what the outside world was like.
He only believed in Lord Zhang Yue because he yearned in his heart, yearning for the day when a God would descend, exorcise demons, and allow the world to live in peace!
But do Gods really exist?
He didn't know.
"Li Youming—"
Suddenly—
A voice rang out, lofty and containing endless majesty.
Li Youming looked around:
"Who's calling me?"
Only then did he realize—
How could this dream be so real today?
But he also knew that he was dreaming.
This feeling was very strange.
"Li Youming—"
The lofty voice filled with endless majesty rang out again.
It seemed to be coming from the sky!
Li Youming was startled and looked towards the sky above the Earth God Temple.
There, a huge and indifferent face emerged, its eyes filled with majesty, looking down at him from above.
It was exactly the same as Lord Zhang Yue enshrined in the Earth God Temple!
"Lord Zhang Yue!"
Li Youming was shocked and quickly knelt on the ground.
He was extremely excited in his heart.
Lord Zhang Yue had manifested!
After so many years, he finally saw Lord Zhang Yue manifest!
"Li Youming."
"I am the Proper Earth God of Li Village, and I should protect Li Village."
"But the Divine and the mortal are different and cannot be spoken to lightly."
"Are you willing to become my temple guardian and walk the earth on my behalf?"
The majestic and indifferent voice rang out, filling the entire world, vast and mighty.
That was the might of a God!
"Believer Li Youming is willing!"
Li Youming was extremely excited and quickly kowtowed.
"Kowtow to me at the hour of Chen (7–9 AM) tomorrow, and you shall become my temple guardian."
"Do not forget."
The majestic voice faded.
Then, the entire dream world shattered.
…
Li Youming opened his eyes and suddenly sat up.
The words "Do not forget" were still echoing in his mind.
"Lord Zhang Yue manifested and gave me a dream?"
He murmured.
The memory in the dream was too clear.
It even felt like it wasn't a dream but a scene he had truly experienced!
That huge face of Lord Zhang Yue that blocked half the sky—
Those lofty eyes—
And the voice filled with endless majesty—
All of this was so real that it couldn't be more real!
"What's wrong?"
"The rooster hasn't crowed yet. Why did you get up..."
His wife, Zhao Jiuhua, opened her sleepy eyes and muttered.
"Jiuhua, Lord Zhang Yue gave me a dream just now."
Li Youming's voice trembled.
Only he knew how much excitement was contained in that voice!
"Huh?"
"Lord Zhang Yue gave you a dream?"
"Go back to sleep. Maybe you'll dream that Lord City God will give you a dream later."
Zhao Jiuhua turned over and continued to sleep.
"Fine, don't believe me."
"I'm telling you, Lord Zhang Yue gave me a dream and asked me to become the temple guardian, representing Lord Zhang Yue to walk the earth from now on!"
Li Youming's voice trembled even more as he spoke.
He was obviously extremely excited.
After all, that was representing the Earth God to walk the earth.
What kind of existence was Lord Zhang Yue?
That was a Proper Earth God!
From now on, he, Li Youming, would be representing a Proper God to walk the earth. What a supreme position this was!
"Go to sleep."
"Don't make noise."
"If you sleep a little longer, you can become the Earth God yourself."
Zhao Jiuhua said impatiently.
She didn't believe in any Earth God.
If the Earth God really existed, why would her third child have gotten sick and died?
At that time, she and Li Youming had prayed to the Earth God.
But was it useful?
Her third child still died of illness.
"Ignorant woman with no vision."
"I'm too lazy to say more to you."
Li Youming snorted and immediately got up and put on his clothes.
He wanted to prepare in advance and immediately go to the Earth God Temple to become the temple guardian as soon as it was light!
Even considering that the Earth God Temple was small, he also planned to build a simple shed outside the Earth God Temple to be the place where he, the temple guardian, would work.
In less than an hour—
The sky had already begun to brighten.
Li Youming immediately took his tools and kicked his two sons awake from their sleep, going to the Earth God Temple together.
"Uncle Youming, what are you doing?"
Seeing Li Youming carrying many tools, with his two sons behind him also carrying ladders and stools, Village Chief Li Deyang asked curiously.
"It's Deyang."
"I'm telling you, Lord Zhang Yue gave me a dream last night and asked me to become the temple guardian, representing Lord Zhang Yue to walk the earth from now on!"
"Don't be too envious of your Uncle Youming."
Li Youming said smugly.
"? ? ?"
Village Chief Li Deyang looked astonished.
Lord Zhang Yue gave a dream?
Representing Lord Zhang Yue to walk the earth?
He looked at Li Youming as if he were looking at an idiot.
---