126: Earth Core

“Host, you guessed correctly, but it’s not just people.”

The System’s voice echoed in his Sea of Consciousness, carrying a gravity Lin Chuping had never heard before.

Lin Chuping sighed inwardly.

He gazed at the hazy Yan Province territory in the distance, where the sky seemed to be covered by a shroud of Death Qi, so oppressive that even birds avoided it.

The green grass beneath his feet withered eerily near the Yan Province border, forming a clear demarcation line.

Even if a powerful Corpse Demon had emerged in Yan Province, it shouldn't have completely extinguished all life, right?

“System, are you mistaken?”

If people were gone, couldn’t a portion of the population just migrate there?

Lack of water wasn’t an issue either; he could cosplay as a Rain God, and it wouldn’t be a problem to make it rain every other day.

Before Lin Chuping could figure it out, the System’s mechanical voice explained everything.

“The Yan Province earth vein is broken, and its Spiritual Qi has dissipated. Even if the surface appears calm, life is gradually fading. Furthermore, the lingering dark Qi will continuously erode the minds of living beings, and over time, it may lead to further disaster.”

The System’s mechanical voice suddenly became exceptionally clear, each word like a heavy hammer striking Lin Chuping’s heart.

“Are you saying that the emergence of a Corpse Demon in Yan Province was not accidental?”

Things like a broken earth vein and dark Qi were beyond Lin Chuping's scientific education, but he understood the System's words: this place would continue to breed evil.

Lin Chuping frowned; he hadn't expected the problem in Yan Province to be so complex.

He had originally thought it was just a simple case of evil spirits at work, but now it seemed the Karma involved was far beyond his imagination.

“Can’t I just kill them as they appear?”

He could just camp out in Yan Province, like in a game, and as soon as a monster spawned, he’d unleash a combo. Wouldn’t that make obtaining Faith Value a piece of cake?

“Host, this is not a long-term solution.”

The System responded, “Even if you can slay all existing evil, the Yan Province earth vein is broken, and the environment where Spiritual Qi and dark Qi intertwine remains, so new evil will continuously breed. Moreover, the erosion of living beings’ minds by the dark Qi is subtle. By the time people discover the problem, it may be too late.”

“Then, according to you, is Yan Province beyond saving?”

Lin Chuping asked in a deep voice, a surge of unwillingness rising in his heart.

Though he was not a savior, since he had encountered it, he could not stand idly by.

Besides, such a large piece of land, it would be a pity not to develop it for planting.

“It is not beyond saving.”

The System paused, then continued, “You need to find the earth vein core and reconnect the earth vein to restore Yan Province’s Spiritual Qi circulation. At the same time, purifying the lingering dark Qi is necessary to completely solve the problem.”

“earth vein core? What is that?”

Lin Chuping pressed, if there was a solution, he would try it.

“The earth vein core is the essence of the earth, crucial for maintaining the vitality and Spiritual Qi of a region. With the Yan Province earth vein fractured, its earth vein core has also been lost.”

“Key point: it’s sold in the System Store.”

Lin Chuping almost bit his tongue, the solemn atmosphere instantly shattered.

“Tong Ge, wasn’t that last sentence the key point? Look at my empty Faith Value. How can you say something so cruel?”

As soon as Faith Value was mentioned, Lin Chuping’s voice lost its assertiveness.

Alas, it was all due to poverty.

He hadn't expected to change worlds and still be unable to escape the fate of being poor.

“System, settle the Faith Value.”

“Ding! Congratulations, Host, for slaying a Demon General-level Corpse Demon. Reward: Faith Value +20 million.”

“Ding! Congratulations, Host, for slaying Corpse Demon soldiers * 3480. Reward: Faith Value +348,000.”

Not bad, this Corpse Demon was indeed powerful, rewarding much more than when he killed the Blood Fiend.

Lin Chuping opened his personal information panel.

“Host: Lin Chuping”

“Rank: Ninth-Rank Land Deity”

“Jurisdiction: Qing Province”

“Divine Power: 0”

“Divine Arts: Enter Dream, Blessing, Thunder Punishment lv2, Rain Summoning Technique, Amulet, Nine Revolutions Soul Return Pill, Star Isolation Grand Formation”

“Cultivation Technique: God Cultivation Art”

“Believer Cultivation Technique: Faith Cultivation Art”

“Faith Value: -960 million (Can be used to convert Divine Power, purchase Divine Arts)”

“System Store: lv2”

Lin Chuping only glanced at the number -960 million and felt his eyes ache. Moreover, he couldn't convert Divine Power, and his Cultivation speed had completely slowed down.

The time for his God Cultivation Art to Breakthrough also became indefinitely distant.

Looking at it this way, the joy of defeating the Corpse Demon vanished in an instant.

“Tong Ge…”

He stroked a leaf vein, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible, “If… if Yan Province completely perishes, what will happen?”

The System was silent for a long time, so long that Lin Chuping thought it wouldn’t answer.

It wasn’t until the moonlight was obscured by dark clouds that a line of blood-red text appeared in the darkness:

“The Qing Province under the Host’s jurisdiction is connected to the Yan Province earth vein.”

Lin Chuping shot up, his pupils contracting violently.

“I… Bleep… Bleep.”

A curse word slipped out.

He finally understood where that inexplicable palpitation came from—it wasn't fear, but the Ninth-Rank Land Deity’s instinctive sensing of his jurisdiction.

Lin Chuping sighed deeply, rubbed his throbbing temples, and pondered how to fill this huge Faith Value deficit.

“Tong Ge, aren’t you giving me hope only to plunge me into despair? The earth vein core is in the store, but I don’t even have the right to look at it.”