72: The gods are so vast, how can they be controlled by mortals?

Three days later, as the morning sun began to rise.

Shen Jianxing sat still in a recliner in front of his house, enveloped by the warm sunlight, feeling utterly content and at peace, as if all the worldly clamor was shut out.

"Young Master, Young Master!"

A shout broke the tranquility as Zhao Tieying hurried into the courtyard, his dark face beaming with joy.

"What makes you so happy?"

Shen Jianxing lifted his eyelids slightly.

"Young Master, it's great news! Lord Chuping's new temple has been completed! Temple Official Liu just personally delivered an invitation, inviting you to attend the Deity Invocation Ceremony tomorrow."

Zhao Tieying excitedly pulled the invitation from his embrace.

"I went to the market this morning, and it was bustling!"

Shen Jianxing took the invitation, his fingertips caressing its delicate texture, and softly asked, "Are the villagers all discussing this?"

"Everyone has been looking forward to this day. You tell me, should we go tomorrow?"

Zhao Tieying finished speaking and then looked at Shen Jianxing with hesitation.

"Young Master, shall we go tomorrow?"

Shen Jianxing looked thoughtful, his gaze fixed on the invitation. After a moment, he said with certainty, "Yes, of course we must go."

Zhao Tieying lowered his voice slightly, a hint of mystery in his expression: "Young Master, I heard that a few days ago, the Wang family in the village lost a large number of people in their struggle for the position of Temple Official for this new temple. Even the head of the family at the time didn't escape. It is said..."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed to the sky, his expression full of reverence.

Shen Jianxing was incredibly intelligent and instantly understood, his reverence for Lord Chuping deepening.

In this vast world, there are always some arrogant people who, relying on their ignorance, act wildly, attempting to control everything, unaware that the Divine Power is immense and will not tolerate Mortals' blasphemy or coercion.

"I understand. You may withdraw now; don't block my morning light."

Shen Jianxing waved his hand, and Zhao Tieying, understanding, bowed and retreated.

***.

The next day, the sky was clear and bright. The plaza in front of the new temple was already teeming with people, bustling with activity.

Looking out, the dense crowd of villagers, dressed in plain but clean clothes, devoutly held incense and candles in both hands, waiting reverently for the Deity Invocation Ceremony to begin.

Shen Jianxing and his two companions slowly moved forward with the surging crowd, their ears filled with the villagers' continuous exclamations of praise.

"Lord Chuping truly manifested as a True God! If not for the Divine Power's sacred protection, our Chang Sheng Village would have been wiped out several times over!" an old man with white hair and beard said, leaning on his cane, his voice trembling.

"Who says otherwise!" a sturdy man next to him chimed in.

"From the Naked Ghost to the Black Bear Demon, and then to the Skeleton Monster, the demons Lord Chuping has suppressed are truly countless."

"You don't know yet? A Karma ledger has been set up in the newly built temple. Every evil spirit the Lord has slain is meticulously recorded on the bluestone tablet, carved with knives and axes!"

"Really? I must go and see it quickly! I'll tell my grandchildren later, so they know that our land is a blessed place protected by immortals, and they must never forget their origins for generations to come!"

"Let's go together! I heard that a scholar drew illustrations, so even those who can't read can understand by looking at the pictures. We farmers may be illiterate, but our eyes aren't blind!"

"Hurry, hurry, or we won't be able to squeeze through the temple gate later!"

"..."

Listening to these discussions, a ripple stirred in Shen Jianxing's heart, and he, too, felt the urge to go and investigate.

Suddenly, a commotion arose ahead.

The crowd automatically parted, and Liu Chunsheng, dressed in brand-new clothes and wearing a red silk crown, slowly walked forward.

Behind him, several respected elders of the village, their faces solemn and their steps synchronized, jointly carried a Divine Statue completely covered in red silk.

"The Divine Statue is moving! Bystanders, step back!"

Someone shouted loudly.

In an instant, everyone seemed to receive a divine decree, bending their knees and kneeling down in unison, as if they had practiced countless times beforehand.

"Lord Chuping, protect us! Lord Chuping, protect us!"

The shouts rose and fell, converging into a soul-stirring wave of sound that rushed towards the sky, as if to convey this gratitude to the Nine Heavens.

It was at this moment that the surging public sentiment reached its peak.

Hidden above the temple, Lin Chuping's consciousness was immediately filled with the System's mechanical voice.

[Ding! Detecting Faith changes. Current Rank: Wild God --> Ninth-Rank Land Deity. Promotion complete.]

[Host: Lin Chuping]

[Rank: Ninth-Rank Land Deity]

[Jurisdiction: Chang Sheng Village, Nan Shu Village]

[Divine Power: 2140]

[Divine Arts: Enter Dream, Blessing, Thunder Punishment lv2, Rain Summoning Technique, Amulet, Nine Revolutions Soul Return Pill]

[Cultivation Technique: Cultivate Art, Faith Cultivation Art]

[Incense Value: 20,000 (Can be used to convert Divine Power, purchase Divine Arts)]

[System Mall: lv2]

Lin Chuping: "..."

"Tong Ge, tell me seriously, are you being abstract?"

He could barely console himself with the words "Wild God," thinking that Lin Chuping was a God outside the official establishment, and perhaps he was already very powerful.

But Ninth-Rank Land Deity, Ninth-Rank Land Deity!

It sounded utterly weak!

Especially under the influence of Journey to the West in his previous life, a Ninth-Rank Land Deity was equivalent to a neighborhood mediator auntie in a political System!

It was completely different from what he had imagined!

"Tong Ge, just tell me, have you ever seen a Land Deity who can summon Thunder Punishment?"

"Can your Land Deity summon Thunder Punishment?"

"Can it? Can it?"

"Tell me!"

Lin Chuping could calmly accept the words "Wild God," but "Ninth-Rank Land Deity" truly broke him!

Brothers, who can understand!

At that moment, he was hidden high in the sky, full of soaring ambition with nowhere to place it, only to be suddenly told that he was actually just a low-level piece of trash!

He felt cold from head to toe!

[Host, although your Rank is low, you have great potential for promotion!]

"Tong Ge, so this is how you want to play!"

"If you play like this, just watch me max out your promotion potential in the future!"

"I'll leave you speechless!"

Lin Chuping fiercely scorned the System. The Deity Invocation Ceremony below was still in full swing, and he had no time to argue with the System.

This thing was like a lump of iron; arguing with it until his legs broke would be useless!

At this moment, the Deity Invocation Ceremony was almost at the point for Lin Chuping's appearance.

Liu Chunsheng walked steadily to the temple steps, his posture tall and straight, like a pine or cypress.

Then, he slowly turned to face the crowd, his gaze sharp like a torch, his voice resonating like a great bell: "Today, Lord Chuping's new temple is completed, ten thousand people worship, and Divine Grace is vast!"

"Divine Grace is vast!"

The villagers responded in unison, their voices shaking the ground slightly, rising to the clouds, as if to convey this gratitude to the Nine Heavens.

Liu Chunsheng's gaze swept across the entire scene, and he continued to proclaim loudly:

"Lord Chuping protects our Chang Sheng Village's peace, expels evil and averts disaster, and bestows Blessing upon all living beings. Today, we sincerely invite Lord Chuping to enter the new temple to bless us with favorable weather and flourishing descendants!"

After speaking, he took a deep breath, turned around, and respectfully, slowly, unveiled the red silk covering the Divine Statue with both hands.

In an instant, golden light poured out like a waterfall!

The Deity Invocation Ceremony was a success!

The Divine Statue, carved entirely from what appeared to be fine jade, glowed with a warm luster. Its face was benevolent yet majestic, its eyes slightly lowered, as if containing all the phenomena of the world, and yet seeming to gaze down upon all living beings, revealing profound compassion.

Even Lin Chuping had to admit that this carving was truly exquisite; compared to its original clay sculpture, this one looked like the genuine article!

"The final step: Lord Chuping will designate the Temple Official!"