From the Carp that Brings Children to the Celestial Officials

Chapter 391 Another Shangsi Festival
Spring is in full bloom, and the warm breeze is gentle.

Inside Yuanling County, lanterns and colorful banners were hung high, and every household had willow branches and flowers in front of their doors. The streets were bustling with people.

It's that time of year again for the Shangsi Festival, which is almost the most lively day in Yuanling County besides the New Year.

In Yuanling County, this day is considered the day when the Goddess Bixia bestows blessings.

The Niangniang Temple on Yuanling Mountain hosts grand blessing ceremonies.

Early in the morning, countless people gathered at the foot of the mountain, climbing the newly repaired steps to pray for blessings.

These people included not only those from Yuanling County, but also a large number of tourists from other parts of Bingzhou.

After all, the reputation of the Niangniang Temple for its efficacy in granting children and for its unparalleled beauty has already spread.

Although Yuanling Mountain certainly doesn't deserve the title of "the number one mountain in Bingzhou," thanks to You Ming's continuous promotion and publicity, its reputation for unparalleled beauty has long been known throughout Bingzhou.

In particular, the poem "Viewed from the side, it's a ridge; viewed from the front, it's a peak; its appearance varies depending on distance and elevation" is closely associated with Yuanling Mountain.

The more widely this poem circulates, the more renowned Yuanling Mountain will become.

Before the worshippers arrived, a high platform had already been erected in the open space in front of the temple.

Red silk was laid out on the ground, and dozens of children dressed in blue and white robes, holding lotus lanterns, lined up from the mountain gate all the way to the main hall. Incense sticks on both sides were like dragons, and the lanterns were like stars.

Several senior temple keepers each held incense sticks and lit them over the candle flame.

The one leading the group was Ai Ping, the naive boy from back then. Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye, and he has now become a middle-aged man.

However, because he followed Youming the longest, he has now become the de facto ruler of this temple in the mortal world.

At this moment, he was dressed in a purple robe and wearing a crown with ingots on his head, reciting prayers.

After his series of ceremonies concluded, the people went up the mountain one by one, each holding flowers, fruits, incense, paper money, and colorful silks, to offer to the gods in the temple.

Young women pray for the health and well-being of their children, while the elderly pray for the longevity of their families, and scholars pray for success in the imperial examinations.

Some even seek wealth or good fortune, but since most of them harbor evil intentions, these wishes will naturally not be fulfilled.

"My lord, it is time to participate in the procession of the gods."

Within the primordial spirit realm, many deities also wore expressions of joy.

The Shangsi Festival is not only a day of celebration for humans, but also a time for deities to enjoy offerings and incense.

Youming decreed that all the incense offerings received on this day belong to the gods themselves and need not be handed over, which naturally delighted the gods.

"Let's go."

You Ming nodded. Today, he had specially changed into a bright red robe. The [Fetal Light Divine Contract] floated behind him, like a blazing sun.

The ethereal, otherworldly aura that had previously clung to him vanished, replaced by a solemn, divine majesty.

With a flick of his wrist, the endless incense in the temple began to boil, instantly splitting into dozens of streams that then spiraled upwards, transforming into sixty-two divine thrones.

You Ming took a step forward and sat in the head seat, while Wu Mo sat in the next seat, and the others took their seats in turn.

There were also many divine officials, who, although they were not listed in any particular order, stood in their respective lines to the side.

They also enjoy the offerings on this day.

You Ming sat high in the main position, looking down, and the figures of all the gods were reflected in his eyes.

Today, Yuanling Mountain has become a considerable force on the outskirts of Bingzhou.

He commands 61 deities, over 200 divine officials, and 500 divine soldiers, with approximately 250,000 living beings under his jurisdiction.

If it weren't for the fact that the local deities of Bingzhou felt threatened by You Ming and ordered local governments to strictly control population movement, the population of Yuanling Mountain would have been much larger. After all, You Ming's cheat codes were too powerful; the divine duties of ordinary deities were simply no match for him.

Since the use of religious authority requires the consumption of divine power and incense offerings, one cannot use religious authority without limit in order to ensure efficacy; that would be a losing proposition.

But Youming's cheat code, "Procreation Contract," is purely a risk-free business.

"Gentlemen, let's drink."

With a wave of his sleeve, You Ming conjured wine cups in the void. Wine was produced spontaneously within the cups, and they would automatically refill when the cups were empty.

At the same time, plates of spiritual fruits and precious medicines floated in mid-air.

Since You Ming established the [Medicine Garden] building in the cave, the time required to plant many spiritual herbs and plants has been greatly shortened, and their medicinal effects are excellent.

Many spiritual fruits that take many years to grow can ripen in him in just one year.

He was not a stingy person, so he generously shared with everyone on the Shangsi Festival.

The gods bowed respectfully to You Ming, then drank the wine in their cups and ate some spiritual fruit.

The atmosphere in the room gradually relaxed, and everyone whispered and talked among themselves.

"Dong dong dong."

On the main street of Yuanling County, suddenly the earth-shaking gongs and drums sounded, horns blared, and banners fluttered in the wind.

One by one, a group of wiry and strong young men, shirtless, filed out. They were covered in a layer of fragrant oil, which shimmered in the sunlight.

Each of them carried a sedan chair, on which were paper-mache and clay-sculpted deities.

Some were majestic lion gods, others were smiling and joyful. Their entourage, dressed as divine generals, clad in armor, wielding halberds, brandishing swords and spears, made a formidable display. The people knelt and prayed along the way, silently seeking blessings.

Although there are currently 62 deities on Yuanling Mountain, only 15 are truly qualified to enjoy formal sacrifices during the procession of deities.

In the current Yuanling County, the main core members are also these fifteen deities.

"On this Shangsi Festival, the people perform purification rituals, wishing for the elimination of epidemics, a bountiful harvest, and peace and tranquility in their homes!"

On such an important day, officials from the human world would naturally participate.

The county magistrate held the sacrificial text, reading it aloud as he prayed for peace. After finishing the reading, he threw it into the fire to burn.

"Boom."

At the moment the manuscript burned, the massive incense offerings, mixed with wisps of the imperial court's fortune, enveloped the gods like a giant canopy.

You Ming naturally took the lion's share, about 80%, while the other deities shared the remaining 20%.

The power of these incense sticks is incredibly pure. Ordinary incense requires ten sticks to be converted into one divine power, but these pure incense sticks only need about five sticks to be converted into one divine power.

At the same time, it can also extract strands of imperial fortune, which is truly a good thing for the gods.

It is a supreme and wondrous substance for stabilizing divine status and prolonging divine life.

Only true deities can obtain this item. For those who are self-made gods or evil spirits, this imperial fortune is not only not a precious medicine, but also a poison.

After the magistrate finished reading, the procession continued, with people from all over the city crowding around to support them.

Lion dance and dragon lanterns are performed together, with fire dragons spitting flames and dancing paper dragons winding like clouds.

Along the riverbank, people light river lanterns and let them float downstream, symbolizing the spread of blessings far and wide.

Wherever he went, people flocked to offer their prayers, creating a lively and bustling scene.

(End of this chapter)