Chapter 9: The Three Temples

After giving Li Mingxing all the rewards he was supposed to receive, Raymond did not rush to assign him another mission. Instead, he gave Li Mingxing three days to finish building his temple, after which he could return and see what new tasks awaited him.

Seeing how relaxed Raymond was, Li Mingxing knew that no one would be able to take his position from him for the time being. He was only too happy to take a break, so he brought Zheng back to his city to oversee the construction of the temples.

When Li Mingxing returned to his city, he found that it had changed completely. The enormous Sphinx was gone, but three towering temples had appeared within the city.

Before Li Mingxing could find out what had happened, Zhao Wenbin hurried to his side.

“My lord, you really must do something. I only asked them to build one temple, but they insisted on building three.”

“Wasn’t this supposed to be under your supervision? How could you—”

“I had no choice,” Zhao Wenbin said helplessly. “The moment these people start talking about gods, they forget everything else. I simply can’t compete with them. Besides, they said that if the gods were placed together and started fighting, the entire city would be destroyed.”

Hearing this, Li Mingxing could only sigh. He shook his head and said, “Forget it. Just put some thought into arranging the temples properly.”

With that, Li Mingxing walked toward the three temples.

The temple nearest to him appeared to belong to Kong Xuan, the Peacock Bright King and Mother Buddha. Its walls were white and its roof was covered in golden tiles. Aside from the radiance of Buddhism, it also carried an unmistakable Taoist air. The surrounding walls were decorated with all kinds of birds and floral designs, giving the temple a magnificent appearance.

As soon as he entered through the main gate, Li Mingxing saw a statue twenty meters tall. It portrayed a Chinese warrior from ancient times, clad in silver armor and holding a crescent-bladed halberd. A layer of pure spiritual energy surrounded its body, while five faint rays of light continually flickered behind it.

Behind the enormous statue stood three medium-sized ones. One depicted a peacock. Another portrayed the Peacock King, seated upon a golden peacock, with four arms holding a lotus flower, a myrobalan fruit, an auspicious fruit, and a peacock feather. The third was the figure of a Taoist in a blue robe.

At a glance, Li Mingxing understood that these represented several of Kong Xuan’s true forms. He showed little reaction, merely bowing respectfully to the four divine statues.

At that moment, several Red-Crested Goose People who had been worshiping inside the temple approached him. They had changed completely. Their former white garments were gone, replaced by long yellow robes.

The moment they saw Li Mingxing, one of them said, “My lord, the High God is very pleased with our temple, so the divine blessing has already descended ahead of schedule. This blessing protects the land within fifty miles of the temple from attacks by earth-element spells and magical treasures.”

Li Mingxing was startled at first, but then he recalled the function of Kong Xuan’s Five-Colored Divine Light. He suspected that this blessing was a manifestation of the yellow light among the five divine radiances.

He politely expressed his gratitude before Kong Xuan’s statue. He then took out some spirit coins and placed them before the temple, instructing the Red-Crested Goose People to use them to purchase additional offerings.

After leaving Kong Xuan’s temple, Li Mingxing thought for a moment before heading toward the temple of Houtu. He had already gained some understanding of the blessing granted by Di Jun, and now he wanted to see what benefits Houtu would provide.

If Houtu could grant a blessing that strengthened earth-element spells and magical treasures, it would be ideal for Li Mingxing. He would then be able to research earth magic within his city and thereby improve his overall strength.

But when he reached Houtu’s temple, he immediately realized that something was different. In front of the temple stood two small earthen mounds. As he walked past them, he caught glimpses of gemstones, crystals, and metal gleaming within the soil.

After entering the temple, Li Mingxing was surrounded by an overwhelming earthy atmosphere. Everywhere he looked was a heavy, solemn yellow, with none of the splendor found in Kong Xuan’s temple.

Li Mingxing understood that this might simply reflect Houtu’s nature.

After walking a few steps farther, he did not see the ancestral goddess Houtu as she was described in the novels. Instead, he saw a twenty-meter-tall female statue. If not for its enormous size, the miniature map of Li Mingxing’s city beneath its feet, and the Six Paths of Reincarnation held in its hands, he might not even have paid attention to what appeared to be an otherwise ordinary figure.

Perhaps all he would have noticed were the woman holding a golden measure behind the statue, or the man carrying a scepter.

As in Kong Xuan’s temple, all the Red-Crested Goose People here wore yellow robes. There were five of them in total, and one stepped before Li Mingxing to explain the blessings obtained from worshiping Houtu.

According to the Red-Crested Goose Person’s explanation, Li Mingxing should originally have received only one divine blessing. However, because he had arranged the relationship between his chief god and subordinate gods so well, he had received two blessings this time.

The first was a blessing derived from Houtu’s control over the Six Paths of Reincarnation and Yunxiao’s dominion over fertility. Within fifty miles of the temple, the birth rate of all races would increase by approximately twenty-five percent.

The second came from Houtu’s control over the earth, combined with Hades’s dominion over underground wealth and the influence of Bigan, the God of Civil Wealth. Two earthen mounds had appeared before Houtu’s temple, and Li Mingxing could send people to excavate them continuously for gemstones, crystals, metals, and other mineral resources.

These two blessings were different from what Li Mingxing had expected, but they were even better than Kong Xuan’s gift. Both would bring tremendous benefits to his city.

The increase in the birth rate alone would allow Li Mingxing to accelerate the recruitment and training of his troops, thereby raising the overall level of his city.

Once he understood this, Li Mingxing solemnly bowed to Houtu and the other three divine statues. He then left behind some spirit coins and instructed the Red-Crested Goose People to purchase additional offerings.

After visiting the first two temples, Li Mingxing approached Di Jun’s temple with even greater anticipation. He was eager to see what it looked like and what kind of divine blessing Di Jun would grant him.

When he arrived, Li Mingxing was stunned. The entire temple was shrouded in golden light. After stepping inside, he could see almost nothing clearly before several Red-Crested Goose People dressed in golden robes came forward to greet him.

“My lord, forgive us, but it is difficult to see clearly in here. Please follow behind me.”

Though somewhat helpless, Li Mingxing followed the Red-Crested Goose Person and walked a few steps forward.

Only then did he see a massive golden throne at the center of the temple. Countless three-legged Golden Crows were carved across it. A statue of a middle-aged man sat upon the throne, and Li Mingxing realized that even while seated, the figure was more than twenty meters tall.

Besides radiating dazzling light, the figure also emanated an overwhelming presence. Li Mingxing recognized it as the aura of an emperor. It was nothing like his own first-level imperial aura; this presence had to be at least sixth level.

Three other figures stood behind the emperor. Under the immense pressure, however, Li Mingxing could only spare them a brief glance.

Even so, that single glance revealed that the three were far from ordinary.

One was a man with a human torso and a serpentine lower body. His presence was nearly equal to Di Jun’s imperial aura, but what was most unforgettable were his eyes. They seemed capable of seeing every change in the world.

Beside him stood a woman. Li Mingxing noticed that she was the only person in the entire temple who was not touched by the intense sunlight.

At her side stood a young Taoist in ceremonial robes, carrying a gourd. Although his face showed no expression, Li Mingxing could clearly see the faint smile that appeared beneath Di Jun’s radiance.

While Li Mingxing was observing the three figures, he suddenly felt a gaze upon him. He looked up and found that Di Jun’s stone face, which had previously appeared entirely lifeless, now carried the faintest hint of a smile.

Li Mingxing nodded toward Di Jun’s statue, then turned to the Red-Crested Goose People.

“Bring five more people here later to conduct the worship.”

The moment he said this, the sunlight nearby seemed to react, contracting slightly. Then a golden banner appeared at the entrance of Di Jun’s temple, and twelve Heavenly Generals clad in golden armor appeared within it.

“This is the second divine blessing granted to you by the Great God Di Jun,” the Red-Crested Goose Person explained when it saw Li Mingxing’s puzzled expression. “That golden banner is the Banner of Demon Gathering. It allows you to control twelve fifth-rank upper-grade Demon God Generals and command them in battle. They are powerful and reliable, so you may use them without concern. Even if all of them are killed, it does not matter. As long as you possess sufficient divine blessings, new Demon God Generals will be replenished at any time.”

Li Mingxing’s heart nearly leaped from his chest when he heard this.

He felt that even if he had received none of the previous blessings, this one alone would have been enough. His former subordinates had numbered only a handful, even among fourth-rank troops. Now he suddenly possessed twelve fifth-rank upper-grade soldiers—and even if they all died, they could be freely replaced.

How could that fail to stir his heart?