132: Such a large piece of land

It could not understand.

The System completely failed to grasp why its Host was so driven.

With such a long life, why bother confining oneself to rules and regulations?

If it remembered correctly, it had bound itself to a free Soul, not a wind-up machine.

Before the System could figure this out, it heard its Host speak again.

"Tong Ge, I want to include Yan Province in my jurisdiction."

System: ??

"What's this for now?"

Lin Chuping squatted at the boundary line, his fingertips tracing the division between lush green and withered yellow, as if caressing a scar on the earth.

"Tong Ge, you don't understand."

"Such a large piece of land, I can't just watch it go to waste."

The System would never understand the Chinese people's love for land, a passion that flowed slowly within the agricultural genes in their bones and blood, a deep-seated bond with their Soul.

Even after Lin Chuping's Transmigration, this remained true.

Although the System had previously analyzed that Yan Province currently held little value for jurisdiction, Lin Chuping still wanted to try.

Most importantly, he wanted to personally visit Yan Province.

The System popped up a giant question mark emoji, the kind with 3DStereo surround effects.

"Host, have you been Possessed?"

"Does this System need to activate a virus scan?"

"Or have you finally had your brain corroded by ill luck?"

"Get lost."

Lin Chuping laughed and cursed, but his gaze never left the distant, hazy Yan Province territory.

"I just feel... this place shouldn't be like this."

"Ding!"

A crisp System notification sound suddenly rang out, interrupting Lin Chuping's thoughts.

A translucent light screen appeared before him, golden text shimmering on it:

"Detected Host's strong desire, triggering hidden mechanism."

"Special Mission 'Earth Vein Revival' activated."

"Mission Content: Repair the earth vein core."

"Mission Reward: Include Yan Province in jurisdiction, pre-advance earth vein core (valued at 500 million incense points), to be deducted upon mission completion."

Lin Chuping's eyes widened, his fingers unconsciously trembling.

He reread it three times, confirming he hadn't misread.

"How much pre-advanced?"

"500 million?"

"Tong Ge, aren't you overestimating me a bit?"

At this moment, Lin Chuping suddenly felt he also had the potential to be a deadbeat; the more debts, the less pressure, the more lice, the less itchy.

However, being a deadbeat was impossible; the incense points System was entirely controlled by the System, and Lin Chuping had no way to interfere.

"Pre-advance? System, when did you become so generous?"

He asked suspiciously, "It wouldn't be another trap, would it?"

"Host may choose to decline."

The System replied coldly, "The mission must be completed within one year after acceptance."

Lin Chuping gritted his teeth.

He knew this cunning merchant System too well; normally, it would haggle over even a single incense point, so its sudden generosity definitely meant trouble.

"Accept mission."

He finally clicked confirm.

"But Tong Ge, let's be clear first, how exactly do I 'repair the earth vein core'?"

As soon as Lin Chuping finished speaking, the golden text on the light screen suddenly twisted and deformed, reorganizing like quicksand.

The System's mechanical voice had a rare stutter: "Host's access to Yan Province has been granted. The method of repair... requires the Host to personally go there and place the earth vein core."

"What?"

"Friendly reminder: The earth vein core is located within the Yan Province volcano. Current environment Rank: Dangerous."

Only access to Yan Province?

Lin Chuping tried it; after entering Yan Province, he could only retrieve items from the System space but couldn't use Divine Arts like Thunder Punishment.

"System, how is the 'environment Rank: Dangerous' assessed?"

"Based on the Host's own strength."

"Okay, Tong Ge."

"Thank you, Tong Ge. Since it's dangerous, I'll wait until I level up before going."

Lin Chuping didn't consider himself that reckless, to knowingly walk into danger.

Besides, there was still a year!

Let me mess around for a bit... ah no, practice the awareness of fighting using the God Cultivation Art.

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"

"Items: Amulet, Nine Revolutions Soul Return Pill, Star Isolation Grand Formation * 1, earth vein core * 1"

"Cultivation Technique: God Cultivation Art Second Layer"

"Believer Cultivation Technique: Faith Cultivation Art"

"Incense Points: -1.43 billion (can be used to convert Divine Power, purchase Divine Arts)"

"System Mall: Lv2"

Lin Chuping merely glanced at it before continuing to Cultivate cross-legged.

* * *

At this moment, in a study not far from the new temple in Prefecture City.

The head eunuch, Li Dequan, leaned close to Li Shun's ear and whispered a few words.

Li Shun's fingertips paused, the vermilion pen bleeding a blood-like red mark onto the memorial.

He stared at the guard kneeling in the shadows, his voice steady, his emotions unreadable.

"You said Minister Shen went where?"

"R-reporting, Your Majesty..."

The guard's forehead was pressed to the ground, beads of sweat dripping from the tip of his nose.

"Lord Shen left the study... went straight to the temple... and only emerged three quarters of an hour later."

Li Shun paused, then continued to hold his pen and annotate: "Since that is the case, the few of you should also go to the temple to worship. Remember, you must be sincere and not overthink it."