The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 128 is out? (3k views)

Did they leave no trace of their family or friends?

Was it a deliberate attempt to sabotage their setup, or was it an attempt to seize the opportunity ahead of time?

Or something else?
The two Taoists were filled with countless thoughts.

In the end, it was the Taoist priest with the whisk who whispered to the Taoist priest with the sword:

"Senior brother, perhaps these ordinary people are unaware of the true nature of things. Maybe that person surnamed Zhang hasn't been appointed yet?"

"Even if someone were to seal it off beforehand, we might still be able to force them to switch sides. After all, in the current situation, even if that person were to actually grant it official status, it would only be through the combined power of Heaven's mandate and the people's respect."

Of the three main methods for establishing deities, only two are currently feasible: Heaven's intervention and the people's veneration.

Regardless of how the other party lends their assistance, these two situations are merely acts of kindness, not definitive conclusions.

Therefore, they still have a good chance of bringing this person under their wing.

After all, who wouldn't want to have a powerful backer?
The swordsman nodded slightly at these words. Seeing this, the other party added:
"Moreover, even if these two theories are feasible and legitimate, very few people can actually implement them or borrow them."

"So, junior brother, I think that the other side might have used some unorthodox methods, which is why those wild gods and these ignorant country bumpkins are still gloating and unaware of their own ignorance, and they need our help!"

The swordsman immediately said:

"Junior brother is absolutely right."

The Taoist priest holding the whisk immediately addressed the young swordsmen:

"Quickly take us to see that shrine! You people lack eyesight and cultivation. You might cause trouble without even realizing it!"

Upon hearing this, the chivalrous men assumed they had committed some wrongdoing and hurriedly called upon the homeowner to lead the way.

Along the way, they spread the word and gathered all the villagers they could find—hoping that everyone could hear what these two newly arrived immortals had to say about how to worship the statue.

When the two Taoist priests were led to the place, they saw a brand-new shrine.

The red cloth was hung high again, and the drooping weeds had already been cleared away.

The area in front of the shrine was filled with incense sticks and offerings, arranged in abundance.

Muramasa also asked cautiously, with his hands hanging down:
"Please, for the sake of the two young immortal masters, is there... is there something amiss here?"

No one doubted Du Yuan's appointment, nor did anyone doubt that Elder Zhang was worthy of being the mountain god of Xiao Zhang Mountain.

They suspected that something had gone wrong with their ritual.

The two Taoist priests raised their eyebrows slightly as they watched.

After exchanging a glance, they made their judgment.

It is absolutely not a heretical shrine or cult created using unorthodox methods.

So, did they achieve this by leveraging external resources, just like them?

Then it certainly doesn't qualify as a disaster.
The Taoist priest holding the whisk coughed lightly, then changed the subject and asked:
"How long have you been offering sacrifices?"

The village head's face flushed red, and he stammered:

"It's been cut off for many years. Only during festivals do we have someone to take care of the shrine for Old Master Zhang and offer incense."

The two Taoist priests felt a jolt in their hearts upon hearing this.

"It's been interrupted for many years?!"

The village head and villagers felt increasingly ashamed and bowed their heads.

"Yes, it has been many years. That's why everyone brought out things they usually wouldn't eat to apologize to Old Master Zhang."

Muramasa hurriedly pointed to the offerings laid out in abundance, trying to explain.

But what the two Taoists were concerned about was what if the incense here had been cut off for many years.

This means that the method of sealing the throne that they had prepared could not be accomplished in one fell swoop.

It would take at least several months, or even years, of painstaking work.

After all, the core of the method of becoming a god through the worship of all people is that it requires not only the worship of many people, but also the worship of many people day after day, year after year.

Only in this way can clay figurines be transformed into deities.

If the family line has been broken for many years, then this saying is like a rootless duckweed, a castle in the air.

However, the virtue of this person with the surname Zhang was not enough for Heaven and Earth to directly bestow upon him the title of god.

Therefore, in their initial calculations, they intended to use the fragments of the golden statue they brought, along with the incense offerings from the local sacrifices over the years, to elevate the other party to the status of a legitimate ruler.

But now.
His lips twitched slightly. Then, thinking of a possible Taoist priest, he asked:
"How did that expert manage to promote this person to the position last night?"

Muramasa pondered for a moment and said:

"Well, it means that they were going to officially recognize Lord Zhang's title, and then they read out an imperial edict, and that was it."

The two Taoist priests were even more horrified:

"that's it?"

Their appearance frightened the village head so much that he dared not answer and could only stammer. Finally, a villager shouted:
"No, there is more."

These words were like a lifeline for the two Taoist priests, who breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that things wouldn't be that simple.

Unexpectedly, the other party said:
"As the immortal was speaking, golden words appeared in front of him!"

"Yes, yes, and this too!"

"Is that the edict for the investiture of gods?"

The villagers chattered amongst themselves, while the two Taoist priests felt a chill run down their spines.

This sounds like the last of the Three Righteous Paths.
Moreover, even with the last method of bestowing titles by imperial decree, they had never heard of a divine edict!

No, it's not that such things don't exist, but rather that they wouldn't happen to such minor deities! For example, the Three Mountain Lords were bestowed the title of Dongji Mountain, the Lanze Water Lord was granted the title of Cangjiang Great River, and King Wujingwei was posthumously granted the title of Beique Mountain.
Each of them not only became the master of a great river and famous mountain after death, but was also a renowned master cultivator during their lifetime.

Furthermore, the people who sealed them off were even more formidable.

Therefore, they were all granted imperial edicts when they were conferred titles.

But what's going on here?

Or is it still under the current circumstances?
After his lips twitched for a long time, the sword-wielding Taoist could no longer bear it and immediately bit his tongue. He spat out a mouthful of blood and used it to draw a talisman on his fingertips.

Finally, using his palm as a talisman, he shouted towards the shrine:

"By the decree of the Three Mountain Gods, I command you to appear at once!"

As soon as the palm was extended, the two Taoists and the villagers saw a slightly illusory figure begin to appear in front of the shrine.

He eventually transformed into an old man named Zhang, who was ten feet tall.

Looking at this towering statue.

The two Taoist priests nearly popped their eyes out of their sockets. They hurriedly pointed to Xiao Zhangshan beside them and asked:

"Are you the mountain god of this mountain???"

The old man, puzzled, cupped his hands and said:
"This humble god is indeed the mountain god of Xiao Zhang Mountain. Are there any problems, you two junior immortals?"

What's the problem?
This is a huge problem.

Your merits are not very high to begin with, and this small mountain is even less impressive, so what's the deal with your 10-foot-tall Dharma image?

You, you, you shouldn't even be as tall as a person, right?
The gods enshrined in such a small shrine, let alone cultivating a ten-foot-tall statue, would be considered remarkable if they could even be indistinguishable from ordinary people.

Normally, they should all be elderly people who are as short as children!

And this one
To put it bluntly, if the other party were willing to risk everything, they could fight them both to the death.

After staring at each other for a long time, the two Taoists could only think of one possibility—could this be some kind of patriarch who has escaped?
"Two junior immortals?"

Seeing that they remained silent, the old man thought something was wrong and hurriedly asked them what was going on.

Unexpectedly, his approach caused the two to react like startled birds, gripping their magical weapons tightly and taking a step back in unison!
The other party's background is currently unclear; who knows if they might suddenly launch an attack and kill them?

The most frustrating thing is—at this moment, they really can't win!
The thought made the two Taoists feel even more suffocated. Shouldn't this be the time for them to roam freely and triumphantly?

In the past, there were many learned predecessors and countless talented peers, so being constrained at every turn was tolerable. How is it that even now, after the great calamity has passed, we are still struggling to move forward?

"this?"

Seeing their reaction, the old man became even more at a loss.

The two Taoist priests realized their lapse in decorum and cleared their throats as if to cover it up. The sword-wielding priest composed himself before asking:
"May I ask that senior who was appointed to your position, um, did he leave any record or source?"

The old man shook his head resolutely and said:
"The immortal has never told us about our origins, and we don't even know our names."

The Taoist priest, unwilling to give up, asked:
"Did he give you any instructions on what you should do in the future?"

The old man nodded and said:
"May the immortal grant me the order to take good care of this place and not to indulge in pleasure!"

"That's all?" A hint of disbelief flashed in the Taoist's eyes.

"That's all!" the old man said confidently.

It's over. The swordsman's heart sank. Either the opponent was incredibly cunning, with hidden strategies in their moves; or... he'd stumbled upon some patriarch who acted on a whim!
Regardless of that, they're all going to be in trouble!

After a long while, my lips and heart twitched.

The two Taoist priests bowed in unison and turned to leave.

A group of villagers were left bewildered.

Upon reaching the main road, the Taoist priest, who had caught sight of the tomb, suddenly said:
"Senior brother."

The swordsman said helplessly:
"Junior brother, you don't need to say anything more. We really can't do this. Don't worry, as long as we explain the truth, I think the patriarch won't blame us."

If we can't even beat them in a fight, what can we do but try to sabotage them? We can only hurry back to report to our sect elders and let them decide.

But to everyone's surprise, the Taoist priest holding the whisk said with a hint of unease:

"Senior brother, I... I meant to say that the mountain god of Xiao Zhang Mountain didn't seem to have been summoned by the decree of the Three Mountain Lords."

"Um?!"

The swordsman suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Seeing him turn around, the Taoist priest behind him braced himself even more and said:

“Normally, a minor deity summoned by the deity’s decree should be very surprised. But he, junior brother, seems to have come out on his own after hearing the noise.”

The swordsman's lips twitched as he said:

"Nonsense! The Three Mountain Lords have been on good terms with our sect for many years, and thus have bestowed upon us disciples the privilege of using His esteemed position to command the mountain gods of various regions. With His high esteem, how could a mere country god not be summoned? Even if that senior's cultivation is extraordinary, he cannot interfere in the affairs of the mountain god lineage."

If this is true, wouldn't that mean that the minor deity is backed by a powerful deity as formidable as the Three Mountain Lords?

He was already incredibly lucky to have encountered a kind and respected senior who bestowed a title upon him.

What, could he possibly run into another extremely powerful figure who would lend him a hand?

Does he even have the nerve to do that?

"Besides, didn't he arrive right after I issued the imperial edict? Don't spout such nonsense!"

The Taoist priest holding the whisk hurriedly agreed:

"I think my senior brother is absolutely right. I must have been overthinking it!"

"Go, hurry back and report to your sect."

(End of this chapter)