Water elemental became a god, ultimately becoming the master of heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers

Chapter 189 New Divinity, Guardian Deity

Thick golden light poured down like a celestial river, completely enveloping Chen Shun'an and the divine palace.

The shrine, which occupied only one acre and was somewhat cramped and compact, suddenly trembled.

At first, it was just a faint hum, but in an instant it transformed into a sky full of golden light, subtly dyeing the surrounding desolation and ruins with a dazzling color.

On the palace walls, ancient patterns suddenly lit up, as if flowing light was moving between the bricks and stones, and the palace seemed to extend outward as if being inhaled.

The vermilion pillars rise higher and higher, the jade railings meander and extend, and even the white jade square in front of the hall is widened several times in the golden light.

A faint trace of divinity emanated from the cracks in the floor tiles.

The entire temple eventually shrunk to more than three acres, its imposing size awe-inspiring.

It was only then that Chen Shunan discovered that his temple actually consisted of various palaces, halls, and pavilions, making it extremely complex.

The mountain gate is majestic, with the four ancient characters "Shuiyuan Divine Palace" engraved on the lintel, glowing with a faint blue light;

The Dharma Hall is located in the center, with incense smoke faintly swirling from the incense burner inside.

The Sutra Repository, the East and West Side Halls, and the Cloud and Water Hall are scattered throughout, forming ten layers from the outside in. The eaves and window patterns of each layer of the palace are different, clearly corresponding to subordinate deities of different ranks.

The outermost palace houses a lowly, grass-roots deity, the [Water-Splitter Who Collects Dew].

The levels progress inwards, corresponding to the ninth rank, the eighth rank, and so on, until Chen Shun'an's Water Element Emperor Divine Image.

This refers to the time when the shrine was upgraded and further subdivided into various palaces, temples, and halls.

A strange sensation came from Chen Shunan's body, and then a figure flew out from his legs and from the center of his forehead.

They even ended up in the divine palace.

Qing Ji, wearing a green lotus leaf on his head and riding a palm-sized treasure fish, flew joyfully out of the spiritual light, spinning in the air, his small limbs outstretched, as if he was particularly delighted with this divine palace.
Ran Yiyu had two legs growing from its belly, its body covered in bruises, and its eyes were lifeless as it stared blankly at the divine palace before it.

Then, the two gods transformed into spiritual light and fell into the outermost palace. Each found a spot, leaped onto the offering table, and transformed into two grass-headed gods.

"The divine physiognomy has returned to its rightful place and entered the divine palace?"

Chen Shunan was somewhat pleased to see this.

Chen Shunan clearly remembered that if Qing Ji wanted to upgrade to the Divine Horse, he needed to have it made into a golden statue and truly invited into the Divine Palace.

That is, the 'Investiture of the Gods'.

A true deity bestowed with imperial authority.

If nothing unexpected happens, Ran Yiyu and other subsequent Divine Appearances will also have similar requirements if they want to upgrade to Perfection.

Currently, both deities are made of clay and grass, and do not have a golden body.

The step of gilding the statue is still missing.

The golden statue here is not simply made by mixing gold and mercury to form a mercury paste and applying it to the statue.

Rather, it is a state of transcending calamities, witnessing something solid and indestructible, where divinity remains undying and the essence of metal is immortal, regardless of countless changes.

Of course, according to Chen Shunan's guess, a mere grass-roots divine form should not be too complicated or cumbersome, and it is not worthy of being called immortal.

But the general meaning should be similar.

"But what happens after the divine image enters the divine palace? What effects and mysteries will it have?"

Although the return of the divine images gave Chen Shunan a kind of collecting obsession, he felt a sense of satisfaction from collecting all the true spirit positions.

But Chen Shunan is a pragmatist who has always believed in the principle of "take what you need and use it."

That is, in the instant his thought arose.

A string of words flowed into his eyes.

[Unlock New Divinity]

[Blessing the World's Dharma Protectors: How can the Water Emperor, who roams the world, be without Dharma protectors? He can command divine forms to bless all sentient beings and guide them to become Dharma protectors of the world.]

[Note 1: Dharma protectors are divided into worldly and otherworldly protectors. Worldly protectors have a lower status and have not yet transcended the three realms; otherworldly protectors have a higher status, have eradicated afflictions, and attained sainthood, and can serve as objects of reliance for sentient beings in their esoteric practices. Currently, our divine status is insufficient, and we can only guide worldly Dharma protectors.]

[Note 2: Guardian deities have no power to betray or retaliate, but unlike believers, they cannot provide incense offerings and can distort the mind of the deity.]

Guardian deities?
Upon seeing this, Chen Shunan's eyes lit up, overjoyed.

What does "prestige" mean?

The image of the deity's procession instantly flashed into his mind—

Dragons and phoenixes serve as mounts, while guardian deities either wield ritual implements, fly and hover, or display the appearance of having three heads and six arms, clearing the way and subduing demons for believers to admire.

This is the proper decorum for Shinto!

After a long while, he suppressed his joy.

Looking at the shrine, both in scale and status, it far surpassed the previous one.

With his hands behind his back, Chen Shunan walked past every palace, temple, and monastery.

Chen Shunan was extremely satisfied.

The hibiscus oil that almost filled the shrine before could all be contained in a secluded temple.

Besides that, the biggest feeling Chen Shunan has about the current state of the shrine is...

vitality.

Although the shrine was vast, it contained only him and two clay statues made of straw.

Yet it gave him a feeling of vibrant life, always moving upwards.

The former shrine was like a lifeless object.

Even Chen Shunan was unwilling to stay there for long, feeling that it was a forgotten place abandoned by time and unable to perceive the passage of time.

Now, as Chen Shunan walked among them, it felt as if he were strolling through a spring mountain field. He could smell the delicate fragrance of newly blooming flower buds, hear the babbling of a stream, and even his consciousness felt lighter, free from the oppressive feeling that had been forgotten by time. However, it seemed that something was still missing, like soil that had longed for rain and moisture, capable of nurturing life but still parched and frozen.

It is likely because it lacks the 'Mysterious Dao Water Element' rank.

Outside the shrine, the desolate land remains shrouded in sacred decrees.

The drizzle has been falling since time immemorial, the raindrops carrying a sense of decay and gloom, as if trying to devour all life.

This Water Elemental Palace, however, is like the only ball of light in the midst of annihilation, using its own divinity to resist the raindrops, becoming the only pure land in this void.

It subtly resists the deathly silence of the outside world.

Chen Shunan's mind raced, and information appeared in his field of vision.

[Authority: The Trinity]

[Revived Ranks: Qiankun (1), Yushengmie (1)]

[The essence of the divine way: Xu Fire Graveyard (one of the four graveyards of the Earthly Branches), Yuanming Fetal Birth (one of the twelve life stages)]

As expected, the Yuanming Taisheng (元命胎生) is one of the twelve stages of life, belonging to the position of "Controlling Life and Death".

The Twelve Life Stages represent the cycle of the Five Elements, with the ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches corresponding to different states of growth, prosperity, and decline.

There are twelve types: Longevity, Bathing, Crowning, Official Appointment, Emperor's Prosperity, Decline, Sickness, Death, Tomb, Extinction, Conception, and Nourishment.

'Yuanming Taisheng' refers to the fetal fortune.

The Water Element Emperor is a trinity, and this divine palace is also based on the three elements of Qiankun, Yushengmie, and Miaodao Shuiyuan.

Now that two of its rank have been restored, the Divine Palace is complete with only the 'Mysterious Dao Water Element' as its foundation.

"There is hope for the divine path, and the future is promising..."

……

The mind returns to reality.

The divine palace mentioned in the imperial edict has undergone earth-shattering changes.

But only a few breaths had passed in the outside world.

The morning sun was casting dappled patterns of light on the ground through the broken windows of the abandoned rice warehouse.

The sounds of hawking, shouting, and children chasing and playing mingled together, creating a continuous cacophony.

Chen Shunan ignored the commotion from the outside world.

As expected of a celestial destiny, both the [Azure Fire] and the [Undying Metamorphosis] had an immediate effect on Chen Shun'an's progress in the divine path.

He couldn't help but think of the [Li Tan Flag] in Zhao Guangxi's hand, the [Divine Might Purple Thunder Cannon] in the hands of the Guolu Society and others, and the whisk in the hand of that Tianxuan Saintess.

My heart is itching.

It's heartbreaking to see your own treasures fall into the hands of others.

The "Undying Molt" is a traditional talisman of the Red Forest Sect.

If we add the Qinggang Sect corresponding to the Qinggang Fireworks and the Huaguang Method corresponding to the Divine Might Purple Thunder Cannon...

Chen Shunan has now come into contact with three different lineages.

So, why does Chen Shunan feel that these lineages are at odds with the Holy Dynasty?
Whether it's for smuggling hibiscus oil or setting fire to mountains and turning corpses into spirits, it's all digging up the roots of the Holy Dynasty.

"As expected of my great Holy Dynasty, it has incurred the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people, causing disunity and alienation. Outsiders and even our own people are digging at its roots... But it also proves how terrifying the Holy Dynasty is, having stood firm for over nine hundred years."

"That emperor lived for a full nine hundred years, outliving countless princes..."

Chen Shunan silently sighed a couple of times.

However, barring any unforeseen circumstances, there are also differences in quality among those destined for immortality.

For example, the [Li Tan Flag] is probably the lowest-ranking one among all the immortal destiny.

Currently, it seems only eerie winds and ghostly fire can be seen.

Moreover, Zhao Guangxi is his boss after all, and the essence of Li Tanqi is most likely unrelated to Qiankun, Yushengmie, and Miaodao Shuiyuan.

Chen Shunan then had no intention of taking what others liked.

Instead, he focused his attention mainly on Tianxuan Saintess's whisk.

"Not only has Chen slain five thieves, but his divine palace is also nearing completion. He possesses the divine nature to be close to the spirits of the water and to be blessed by the guardian deities. In addition, he has the Heart-Piercing Nail by his side. If we include his martial arts skills such as Formless and Invisible, and Chicken-in-Egg..."

Chen Shunan silently calculated his chances of winning against the formidable enemy, Tianxuan Saintess.

"About 90%... No, what if that whisk is as troublesome as the [Undying Molting Insect Solution]? It might cause more trouble."

"However, if we bring out the guardian deity's blessing, and then rely on the power of water to fight in the water, we can increase our chances of success."

"Of course, if I can really kill the six thieves and even become a martial arts grandmaster, I think my sense of security will increase greatly. The Purple Iron Calamus Milk... should also be contested."

"Moreover... the four major academies are in the midst of the year-end festival, where one can enter the Dao through martial arts, open the meridians and cultivate immortality. Even Zhao Guangxi, who once reached the level of slaying two thieves, failed to pass the year-end festival. It seems that simply slaying a few thieves is extremely risky. It would be best to be a martial arts grandmaster, right?"

Chen Shunan silently assessed his own strength and planned for the future.

In the following days, Chen Shunan mostly stayed at home and rarely went out.

Aside from daily gambling and checking the accounts at the well, he spends the rest of his time studying martial arts and blessing the world's guardian deities.

He declined all banquets and social engagements. Even at Zhao Guangxi's formal inauguration banquet and the opening ceremony of Guangxi Bank, he only made a brief appearance, speaking cautiously and acting somewhat aloof.

If someone else did this, they would inevitably be labeled as arrogant and haughty.

But now, he is a renowned "elderly prodigy" in Wuqing County.

Chen Shunan's actions, on the contrary, made Shui San'er, the other shopkeepers, and the major forces in Wuqing County look at Chen Shunan with higher regard.

(End of this chapter)