Chapter Thirty-Four: Great Leap in Strength

  It's already mid-June now.

  In the land of Fa, in a quiet room, Fang Ming sat cross-legged on his meditation mat.

  Her face was sometimes red and sometimes white, her body shimmering with an unstable light, as if she were undergoing some kind of transformation.

  After the surrender of the four families in Anchang, it has been a long time since the belief in the land god was gradually promoted by each family. The combined efforts of these four families account for about 40% of the power in Anchang County, and this move is naturally not trivial. Fang Ming's followers have doubled and are still growing.

  But to think of building a temple in the county town, it would have too much impact and wouldn't be good to say openly. So they could only let the four families bring back the image of the land god to worship and sacrifice, first letting their family members and relatives who had given birth to children offer sacrifices, which was an internal matter for each household, and the county magistrate also couldn't say much about it.

  And then centered on the county town, it spread to Anmin and Changyuan two towns. Among them, the four big families made great efforts, Fang Ming also kept his promise, collected some new dead souls of the four big families back to Qingshan Village for support, and established credibility.

  As these two villages did not have a spirit to worship, and the protective energy was very weak, Fang Ming's land god was welcomed as soon as he arrived. Almost every village built a temple for the land god, and the countryside also had this plan, and was preparing for it.

  Extended to now, Fang Ming's followers have grown from the original two thousand people or so to nearly four thousand people now, with a significant increase in daily incense and candle offerings supporting Fang Ming's advancement to an even higher level.

  But then it seemed like trouble had begun.

  Fang Ming did not expect that this promotion would be more difficult than the previous ones. The number of followers had doubled, and the aura they brought had already filled the golden seal to the brim, with red and white alternating, each occupying half, and the rest could only be transformed into red and white cloud gas, surrounding the golden seal, and there was also a loss, which made Fang Ming's heart ache.

  This is the fate of Ben Ming Qi, although someone has said that good deeds can change one's destiny, but the time is still short. Although Ben Ming Qi has a tendency to turn pure red, its essence is still red and white gas, at most it can only reach the rank of upper eighth grade, wanting to rise again is unsustainable.

  At this time, Fang Ming was in a state where his luck was greater than his fate. He felt that it wasn't just his Qi that was unstable, but also his divine power. It seemed to be stirring restlessly, as if the power was too great and he couldn't hold onto it, requiring an even higher divine position to suppress it.

  If things go on like this, it won't be good.

  Fang Ming looked up at the top, and the golden human dao gongde was still slowly infiltrating his Benming, changing his fate, making his Benming Qi turn red, but it was very slow, requiring a lot of time.

  "At this point, it's a matter of life and death, even if it's for personal gain, I won't care about it!" Fang Ming's heart suddenly became ruthless, as his thoughts changed, a large amount of golden merit was consumed, constantly pouring into his primordial energy. Before long, the golden merit was completely depleted, and the thin layer of golden light covering his aura disappeared."

  "Still not working?" Fang Ming sighed, saying that the virtues of humanity can change one's fate, but it requires a gradual and subtle process. As a deity, he could forcibly accelerate the virtues, although there would be considerable consumption and low utilization rate, but it could speed up the progress. At this time, having used up all his virtues, he still hadn't changed his original fate, leaving Fang Ming to sigh endlessly.

  At this time, something suddenly changed.

  Only to see the red and white primordial energy shook violently, suddenly bursting open, a pure red primordial energy emerged from within, standing upright and dominating all other energies.

  The appearance of the Golden Seal also changed greatly, expanding several times, its shape becoming more solid and substantial. Red and white energies swirled rapidly around it, filling the seal to about sixty percent full.

  Golden seal inside, red gas surrounds, dazzling light, only the bottom still has a layer of white. Red gas hangs down, surrounding Fang Ming's divine body, stirring up the transformation of divine power within.

  In Fang Ming's body, the white divine power suddenly felt a heavy pressure, and was compressed violently, transforming into red divine power. This transformation happened extremely quickly, in just the blink of an eye, seventy percent of the divine power within his body had transformed into red, as if it were an extension of his arm, moving at will, and the previous numbness was swept away.

  The red gas surged and wrapped around the divine seal, as it continued to merge, the divine seal was enveloped into a spherical shape, like a fireball suspended in mid-air, with crimson flames rising, emitting a white-red glow that was mesmerizing.

  In an instant, the red light flashed and the divine talisman also took on a reddish hue, its appearance greatly changed, with several mysterious symbols added, and a stream of information floated into Fang Ming's mind: "From the seventh rank of land god, governing Qingxi, Anmin, Changyuan three townships, half of Anchang county" And it also gave birth to a new great divine ability, causing Fang Ming's face to be overjoyed.

  At this time, the promotion of the divine position has ended, but Fang Ming has not moved, closing his eyes to savor the epiphany of the divine character's promotion. This is a special rule at the time of heaven and earth's interaction, which also carries the law of the previous world, and even has some variation in space-time shuttle, very mysterious, greatly enlightening Fang Ming.

  After a long while, he finally made up his mind to keep the feeling in his heart and not forget it, then got up and went out.

  "Please use it, sir!" Pearl had been waiting outside the door for a long time and saw Fang Ming coming out. She handed him a hot towel and waited on him with great care.

  Fang Ming, although a deity, enjoys the pleasures of mortals. Although these things can be achieved with just a thought from a deity's mind, it is still more comfortable to have physical objects, and also a nostalgia for his previous mortal life.

  After washing and dressing, Fang Ming instructed: "This time the master has made great gains in his closed-door meditation. Let it be known that a grand banquet will be held, and the master has something to announce!"

  "Yes!" Pearl nodded and went out to pass on the order. The servants waiting outside would deliver it.

  Since Fang Ming's continuous promotion, there are more subordinates. In this jurisdiction, the number of people serving and guarding day and night has also increased, and it will not be like before when there were only a few people added together, and Fang Ming had to go in person to pass on orders.

  At night, the Land Temple of Qingxi Township was brightly lit inside the main hall.

  At this time, the banquet had already started, and Fang Ming's subordinates, as long as they were considered leaders, had all arrived.

  In front of each person, there is a long table with fine wine and delicacies, fruits and desserts, everything is available. The dishes are exquisite, and from time to time, maidservants come forward to change plates and offer delicious food.

  These delicacies were actually made by Fang Ming from the wandering souls he had taken in some time ago, and they were indeed exquisite, fragrant and appetizing, no less than those served at the Welcome Inn.

  He was originally the head chef of the Zhou family and also a collateral relative. He passed away recently, coincidentally catching up with Fang Ming and the four families' appointment, considered to be a lucky person.

  Also selected some maidservants and menservants, filled with land law domain errands. Not to mention that they are not clear about raising them, let them do their best.

  At this time, Fang Ming finally had a taste of being a landowner, looking at the full hall of subordinates, strong soldiers and horses, more importantly, his divine position was elevated, and his magical powers were increasing day by day. He was truly delighted, raised his cup and drank heavily, his subordinates saw that their master's mood was very good, and they also kept toasting, enlivening the atmosphere, for a time, both host and guests were joyful.

  When the banquet is over and the guests have dispersed, it's time for discussion.

  After the servants had cleared away the cups and plates, and tidied up a bit. The officials stood solemnly in two rows, civil on the left and military on the right. Fang Ming looked at his subordinates, who were also quite talented, and was very satisfied with the atmosphere of the hall.

  At this time, Fang Ming asked on one side: "Gu Ling Nü, you are well-versed in Taoist magic, what do you think of my master's destiny and aura?"

  Gu Xianglian considered it for several days and still joined the ranks of Fang Ming. In this world, which was still a feudal agricultural society, men were superior to women, and women naturally could not hold official positions, except within the imperial palace, where there were some female officials.

  Fang Ming also didn't want to bear the world's dislike, so he sealed off a land deity position and followed him closely, often participating in important decisions, considered a high-ranking advisor.

  Gu Xianglian came out, made a curtsy and said: "The method of watching the air is not a profound skill that can be cultivated, it must be obtained by being taught the law, my humble Taoist skills are too shallow to see the master's aura, but there is still a way to feel the air, which can slightly observe one or two, just to amuse the master!"

  She quietly operated the mysterious power, contemplating the heavenly gate. This lineage had a method that could see the general trend of the aura, and at this moment, she felt a red glow surrounding her, with a strong crimson energy that almost made her heart palpitate, and she couldn't help but say: "The master's body is surrounded by crimson energy, it must be due to his great progress in his cultivation. It's faintly forming a full moon shape, this is an auspicious sign! I congratulate the master!"

  "Oh!" Fang Ming's interest was piqued, it seemed that the Taoist techniques of this world were indeed unique. After some contemplation, he asked: "How would you rate my current magical powers among the major sects?"

  "The master bears the hopes of the people, carrying the fate of all living beings. Where is this something that an individual can resist? The great sects of Taoism have many precious treasures that suppress the fate and bring long-lasting blessings..." This was a big truth, but what remained unsaid, Gu Xiaolian dared not speak.

  "Haha... the treasure of the Taoist sect, often worshiped and having great luck, but I must avoid its sharp edge. There's nothing to be ashamed of!" Fang Ming knew what Gu Xiaolian wanted to say, but didn't think much of it.

  Since taking in Gu Xiaolian, Fang Ming gained a deeper understanding of the world's Taoist sects. The Taoist sects focus on individual cultivation and not only cannot accumulate good fortune, but will also consume blessings, so whether it is the previous life or this life, there is a saying that cultivating the Tao can bring ruin to one's family.

  People in the Taoist school envy the aura of government offices, so they often send out disciples to take charge of official duties and absorb the aura for cultivation, but due to entanglements with karma, it's also troublesome.

  The greatest wish of the Taoist is to assist the hidden dragon in ascending to the throne, and to be appointed as the national master, absorbing the country's energy and becoming an immortal. Of course, throughout history, emperors have only conferred a few true men with positions, without giving away their own country's destiny.

  The Taoist himself had real power, and within the scope of Yangshi, there were records of hundreds of Jia Shi surrounding and killing Zhen Ren.

  As for the Taoist arts and magical powers, they are greatly reduced in effectiveness against those with a strong and dense aura. A Taoist practitioner using their own power to resist the collective aura of all people under heaven will find that even if their cultivation is extremely high, it will be gradually worn away, resulting in a significant reduction in their Taoist accomplishments.

  Fang Ming's current magical powers, although slightly inferior in quality to those of the core disciples of the major sects, far surpass them in quantity and can exhaust them to death. However, if he were to face a Supreme True Person, it would still be a force to be reckoned with.

  As for the Qi Yun treasure, it is used to suppress the root of the sect's Qi Yun. It will not be used until the sect is on the verge of destruction. As long as Fang Ming does not provoke other sects, there is no need to worry about it.

  Those below bowed down, hearing the conversation, knowing that their lord's power had greatly increased, all of them hurriedly bowed to congratulate.

  Fang Ming smiled in response, and after the ceremony was over, he smiled and said: "Today's promotion is indeed a joyous and congratulatory event. You have all worked hard together, bravely opening up new lands, and the fragrance of incense has spread far and wide. This makes me very pleased, and we should discuss rewards for your merits!"

  "Wang Liu Lang, you have been diligent and loyal in your duties, following me for a long time, and are also able to bring blessings to the people. Today, I appoint you as the White Stone Village Land God of the 9th rank, I hope you can continue to bless the people and protect this land!" White Stone Village is a village under the jurisdiction of Anmin Township.

  "Ah!" The people below were in an uproar, marveling that the lord had even bestowed a divine position. As subordinates for a long time, how could they not know the preciousness of a divine position? Now seeing the lord truly bestowing a divine position, the hearts of the people below couldn't help but burn with fervor.

  Wang Liulang's head spun, his heart burning with emotion. Looking at the encouraging gaze of his lord, he felt that all the grievances of being excluded from the army and allowing Xie Jin to gradually take over had melted away like snow in spring breeze with his lord's words.

  Kneeling down with force, making a bow, and saying: "Thank you, sir!"

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