The male supporting character was actually myself.

He replied with utmost respect, not daring to look up at the other person's face. How could a celestial being descended to earth be desecrated by a mortal?

Upon hearing that the Taoist priest had temporarily sealed the divine sense of the Golden Bull Star Lord, Jiang Chen thought that even if he wasn't a bug who had come out of the mountains, he was still a powerful helper. He had to quickly rescue the Weaver Girl to prevent Mu Jiuxiu from causing any more trouble by using the protagonist's halo. So he lowered his voice and said, "Taoist priest, please appease the villagers and let's talk in private."

"Of course, of course. Please wait here for a moment, I will be right back." Daoist Chiling could vaguely guess what was going on, but now was not the time to speak.

After all, they had just subdued the magpie spirit and suppressed the old ox's consciousness to resolve the current crisis, but their accomplice still had a wandering ghost occupying the cowherd's body. At this time, the fake cowherd's stay in Peach Blossom Village was still a major hidden danger.

And since the young demon's identity has been exposed, I have to find a way to help him cover it up.

Human hearts are unpredictable. The little demon is kind-hearted and weak, and will not intentionally harm the villagers, but she must guard against the villagers having ulterior motives, especially the villagers in this poor and remote place. Who knows what they might do?

When you're determined to help someone to the end, you might have to go all the way and even see them through to the end, which inevitably involves making up a lie to cover it up.

"Gentlemen, I have captured the two evil demons who have occupied Peach Blossom Mountain." Facing the many villagers who were trembling with fear, curious but dared not step forward, the Red Ridge Taoist was full of pride and said loudly, "I have found out the truth. The girl is from a wealthy family. She was kidnapped to the deep mountains by the Old Bull Demon and the Magpie Spirit with magic and forced to become the Cowherd's wife."

All because of these two vicious and powerful monsters who roam the mountains and forests, our Peach Blossom Village has those terrible rumors that no one dares to go into the mountains to hunt or gather herbs.

In remote mountain areas, the gods inevitably lose their incense offerings. The local earth god, lacking the power of faith, couldn't defeat them. He could only try his best to extinguish the wildfire while the magpie spirit was away, protecting the villagers and saving an innocent girl…

He spoke as if it were the truth, then turned around, bowed slightly, and respectfully pointed at Jiang Chen, "That person is the embodiment of the Earth God. It was he who managed to hold back the magpie spirit and the old ox spirit, prevent the wildfire from spreading, and drive away the wolves to protect the safety of the people!"

"Oh my, there really are mountain gods and local deities in the mountains?"

"A long, long time ago, there was indeed a temple at the foot of the mountain, but it gradually fell into disrepair due to lack of worshippers."

"The local earth god can't defeat powerful monsters without incense offerings? Even gods have such a miserable life?"

"It must be a conspiracy by evil demons! They spread rumors that there are monsters in the mountains to scare us into not daring to go in. The local earth god has no incense offerings and can't defeat them. Won't Peach Blossom Mountain be taken over by evil demons?"

"The magpie spirit and the old bull monster are really wicked; they even falsely accused the local earth god of being a monster!"

"Fortunately, we have a Taoist priest who can distinguish right from wrong, otherwise how would we tell the difference between demons, gods, and immortals?"

…………

The villagers were stunned, watching Jiang Chen from afar and whispering among themselves;

Jiang Chen was also stunned. This suspected bug really does spout nonsense. What's the benefit of giving me a title like a mountain god or a local deity? I'm not real!

The Red Ridge Taoist stole a glance at the shocked little demon, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

Silly boy, the girl you're protecting is none other than the seventh princess of the Heavenly Palace descended to earth!

You rescued her from danger by accident. The merit of saving the Seventh Princess of Heaven is more than enough to earn you a minor mountain god or land deity title. Why would you need to work hard to cultivate?

In the future, as long as they shoulder their responsibilities, perform their duties, and protect the safety of the villagers in the mountains, they will naturally receive offerings.

You've secured a position in the Heavenly Court and temple worship all in one go, silly boy! I'm just giving the Seventh Princess a hint and helping you along the way!

"So this is a local deity. We, we are humble folks, have met the local deity!" The village chief reacted the fastest, especially since the Taoist priest Chiling had subdued the demon in no time, leaving no room for doubt. He hurriedly knelt down and bowed to Jiang Chen, "It is not that the villagers of Taoyuan are being disrespectful by not making offerings to you. It is mainly because we did not know that there were really gods in the mountains."

Since the local earth god has shown his power by putting out the fire, holding back the monster from harming the village, and driving away the wild wolves, please be magnanimous and don't blame us for our ignorance!

"When I get back today, I'll lead everyone to build the Earth God Temple. May it flourish and may you continue to bless us!"

May the Earth God protect us!

May the Earth God bless us!

The villagers all knelt down in unison. Jiang Chen's head was buzzing, and he could only twitch his lips and say a few polite words, "Please rise, everyone. From now on, Taoyuan Mountain will not be occupied by any monsters. Everyone can live off the mountain. I will do my best to protect the safety of the villagers when they enter the mountain. Please also pay attention to the use of fire in the mountain to avoid causing disasters."

After everyone thanked the local earth god and got up, they were called aside by Taoist Master Chiling to give him some instructions.

At first, the Weaver Girl was a little confused, but then she realized that the Taoist priest was paving the way for Jiang Chen. By eliminating the magpie spirit, the Golden Ox Star Lord could cut off the transmission of messages to the outside world. No matter who planned the conspiracy, they would not know that it had been exposed at this time.

As long as she can wait for rescue, she can return to the Heavenly Palace and continue being the Seventh Heavenly Princess.

Although Jiang Chen was just a small tree spirit with weak magic power who had just cultivated into human form, he was kind-hearted and had saved me. When I returned to the Heavenly Court to settle my rewards and punishments, with this as a prelude, Peach Blossom Mountain was also free from the jurisdiction of any mountain god or land deity. The Jade Emperor would naturally go with the flow and appoint him as a local land deity, directly placing him in the ranks of immortals.

"Thank you for saving me, Earth God!" After understanding Master Chiling's plan, she smiled and bowed.

Jiang Chen: ...

Don't rush into things. This is just a mirror world, and we don't know if there will be any follow-up. If Mu Jiuxiu's plan to play the cowherd fails and he leaves to return to reality and tries to seduce the puppet girl Yi Mei, we definitely can't stay. Wouldn't that mean that Taoyuan Mountain would be without land to supervise and protect the people?

"Seventh Princess, you flatter me." Taking advantage of the crowd chattering around the Red Ridge Taoist, he said with a wry smile, "Let's go check on the old ox. It fell from such a height; it's old, we can't let it break its body. If we want to find the Seventh Princess's fairy robe, we have to start with it."

They waded along the stream, one foot in deep water and the other in shallow, to find the old ox that had fallen.

Master Chiling insisted on continuing his charade to the end, lest the news leak out and cause unnecessary trouble.

"Everyone, what happened in the mountains today must not be spoken of when we return to the village! The local earth god appeared and averted a huge crisis, but if others find out that the old ox is a monster, there will probably be some bad rumors."

With the local earth god protecting these mountains from now on, everyone can go in to gather herbs and hunt to sell in town. This is another great way to get rich, so we can't let spirits and monsters stop us from making money!

"Master, I don't understand. What does an old ox have to do with getting rich?"

"I didn't understand either. Are we not allowed to tell our wives when we go back to the village?"

The village chief glared at them. "If the Taoist priest forbids us to talk, then you should all keep your mouths shut. Do you still want to go into the mountains to make money? How much grain can you grow on such a small plot of land? From now on, we can go into the mountains, and we'll have many more ways to make money!"

"Please be patient and listen to my explanation," said Daoist Chiling, waving his hand dismissively. "We mustn't let this matter of spirits and monsters be revealed to everyone, lest the news leak out."

Think about it, how could a demon who has cultivated for so many years not have any relatives or friends?

Everyone watched as I, with the help of the local earth god, subdued them, but the other demons didn't know. If word gets out and rumors spread to the other demons, what if they want revenge for the magpie spirit and the old ox demon?

At that time, I will be far away in Nanlang Mountain and will not be able to get here in a short time.

The local earth god of Taoyuan Mountain has been without worshippers for many years and his power is weak. How could he possibly be a match for the monsters?

Moreover, that old ox has been hiding in the village for so many years. If others knew that a monster had stayed in Peach Blossom Village, not to mention whether they would dare to buy the things you sell, I'm afraid girls from other villages wouldn't dare to marry into the village!

As the saying goes, gossip is a fearsome thing; who knows how things will turn out if words are spread around?

I, a humble Taoist priest, have given you a kind and gentle explanation, all for the sake of the people of Peach Blossom Village. Please remember this well. When you return today, just say that the Earth God appeared and helped me capture two wicked monsters. As for what kind of monsters they are, just say that they look frightening and I have not yet seen their true forms.

If you want to brag, you can bring in the banished wolf king, but there's one thing—don't give anyone grounds to say anything, don't reveal the truth about the magpie spirit and the old ox, and definitely don't let the cowherd know.

The old ox was someone he'd always kept, someone who'd helped him find a wife and even imprisoned him. The Cowherd must know a lot about the old ox! If he finds out we've captured it, and he has some other tricks up his sleeve, we'll be in big trouble.”

The group whispered among themselves for a moment, figuring out the interests and intricacies involved.

In short, they pushed all the blame onto the local earth god and the Taoist priest of Chiling, clearing Taoyuan Village of any involvement and avoiding any resentment. Moreover, these matters could only be discussed within a small circle within the village, and they would keep quiet about them to the outside world!

Go into the mountains to collect herbs and hunt when you need to, and sell what you need to sell for money. Making a fortune quietly without delay is the right thing to do.

If the Earth God Temple is built, the incense will burn brighter, and even if evil spirits come knocking in the future, the Earth God will be there to protect you!

As for the Cowherd, it's even simpler—everyone went up the mountain and didn't see the old ox or any girls. If you're so capable, go find him yourself. Anyway, Peach Blossom Mountain won't be a place you can enter and enjoy all by yourself anymore!

Chapter Thirty-Four: The Cat and Dog Duo

After a series of persuasive words and a combination of red dates and sticks, Master Chiling finally convinced all the villagers who had come with him.

First, they agreed on what to say to the villagers when they returned; then they consulted a Taoist priest about how to build a temple and statue for the local earth god. Only after all the issues were resolved did the village chief lead everyone down the mountain, looking back every few steps.

From now on, no more monsters will occupy Taoyuan Mountain. Everyone can go into the mountain to find some side jobs and earn some money to supplement their family income. This is a great joy for the villagers in the poor and remote area who have relied on the mountain for many years but cannot make a living from it.

Many young people even started planning on the way, trying to befriend the old hunters and learn hunting and trapping skills so that they could have wild rabbits and pheasants on the dinner table to improve their family's meals.

"Greetings, Seventh Princess!" After the villagers descended the mountain, Daoist Chiling turned to the Weaver Girl and bowed. "I wonder why the Seventh Princess has fallen to the mortal realm? Is there anything I can do to help?"

Weaver Girl had just helped Jiang Chen find the old yellow ox that had fallen on the riverbank. It was clear that the ox possessed profound magical power and had not been injured even when it was struck down from the sky by Daoist Chiling.

However, its consciousness had been sealed, and the large, slightly cloudy bull's eyes no longer held the bright, human-like gaze, but only the original honest look of a livestock.

Upon hearing that the Taoist had directly exposed her identity, the Weaver Girl quickly returned the bow and shook her head, saying, "It's a long story. There's no need for such formalities, Taoist. I'm no longer the Seventh Princess."

"Please sit here, Daoist Master. The Seventh Princess's ordeal is something that would take a while to recount. Why don't we brew some tea and tell her slowly?" Jiang Chen wanted to probe the source of the suspected bug, and if he confirmed it was a bug, he would still have many things to ask.

They've been busy resolving the spiritual issues of the magpie spirit and the Golden Ox Star Lord, so they deserve a cup of tea and a rest.

As demonic energy rose, the small bridge and stream around the big locust tree gradually disappeared into the mist. If any villagers returned, they would certainly not be able to find this thatched cottage in the fields. Even if demons and monsters came, they would have to break the demonic energy barrier first to serve as a warning, since what they were about to discuss was a grand conspiracy involving heaven and earth!

"Meow~ No wonder Erlang Shen said you're a silly dog!" The round, fluffy ball of fur squatted on the head of the Howling Celestial Dog, its face drooping and its eyes rolling in anger. "At crucial moments, we still have to rely on my tail ball clone. Relying on you, you silly dog? Meow meow, my host will be waiting for the monkey month and the horse month for support..."

Before the little white cat could finish complaining, the celestial dog, who had been sniffing around with its head down, barked and ran off without even taking a step. The fluffy little cat was so frightened that it meowed and skillfully grabbed the dog's ear to avoid being thrown off.

Above the celestial realm, all that could be seen was shrouded in ethereal mist. If the silly dog ​​were to abandon it, the little white cat figured that with its intelligence, it would most likely be unable to descend to the mortal realm and return to its host.

A day in heaven is a year on earth. Without a cute, cuddly, and adorable little white rabbit by your side who can assassinate and loves to warm your bed, can the host find a wife on his own?

The fluffy ball expressed doubt about this.

After receiving the note that appeared out of nowhere, Xiaotian Dog did not make any rash moves.

It immediately used its bond with its master to transmit information, receiving the order to continue the investigation in the heavens, while Erlang Shen was free to handle matters in the mortal realm.

"Woof~ It's that stupid, clumsy, and oblivious Liu Chenxiang again!" Xiaotianquan found a trace of life and grumbled under his breath as he ran wildly, "He's driving my second master crazy! Woof! And then this strange and bizarre thing happened. I, the loyal Xiaotianquan, will try my best to take on more of the burden so that my second master can have a little easier time."

As Erlang Shen's most loyal confidant, Xiaotianquan naturally knew his plans.

On the surface, all the pressure was actually to make Liu Chenxiang grow up quickly and rescue the Third Holy Mother from the seal, so that she would not have to suffer any more.

Unfortunately, Liu Chenxiang was not Yang Erlang of yesteryear. He had a good-for-nothing father and a clueless mother, and his son was even more useless.

Erlang Shen paved all the roads for him to walk on, but he still couldn't make a decent progress!

"Woof! Fairies, please wait!" The Celestial Hound was extremely anxious, wanting to quickly find out the situation in the Heavenly Realm and return to help his master. Suddenly, he saw two celestial maidens with flowing robes passing by amidst the swirling celestial mist. He ran and shouted, "Fairies, please wait!"

Two celestial maidens dressed in fairy robes and with their hair styled in flying buns stopped in their tracks upon hearing the shouts. They turned around, covered their mouths, and laughed, "Who do we have here? It's the Celestial Hound! Why isn't he with Erlang Shen? Why is he running around in such a hurry?"

Another fairy maiden hurriedly took a pastry from her flower basket and waved it over, saying, "These are some fancy pastries I just made. Try them and see if you like them."

There are many kinds of mounts in the celestial realm, and many immortals are even animals who cultivated themselves to become immortals, but the Howling Celestial Dog is a typical exception.

The other mounts and attendants either served the immortal lord or could only move freely within a certain range. Whenever they went out, they would transform into human form and act as immortal children.

Only Erlang Shen's celestial dog, Xiaotianquan, rarely transforms into human form and is free to do as he pleases. As Erlang Zhenjun's capable assistant, Xiaotianquan possesses unfathomable magical power and can go almost anywhere.

What's more, it's incredibly beautiful with its pure white fur and sweet mouth. Who could resist such an adorable little dog that's both cool and sweet, incredibly strong, and knows how to be cute and charming?

"Thank you, fairies! Woof~ Such delicious snacks!" The Celestial Dog swallowed the plum blossom-shaped snack in one gulp, wagging its tail and showering the two fairies with praise, making them beam with joy. Then, it changed the subject and asked, "Have you two fairies seen the Seventh Princess of the Heavenly Palace, who is in charge of weaving clouds and mist?"

The fairy maid carrying a flower basket covered her mouth and smiled, "I saw the Seventh Princess riding a horse by the Milky Way yesterday. I was busy making pastries today and just went out, so I haven't seen her yet. If you want to find her, you can go to the Milky Way to take a look."

“I didn’t see the Seventh Princess, but I did see the other six princesses rushing off somewhere.” Another fairy thought for a moment and pointed in a direction. “Look, it hasn’t been long since they left. They probably have some urgent business to attend to in the upper heavens.”

"Tell your sister quietly, did you bite off Erlang Shen's immortal robe and now you need to beg the Seventh Princess to mend it for you?"

"The Seventh Princess has the best cooking skills, and she also has the best temper. If you beg her, she definitely won't tell Erlang Shen!"

"Yes, yes, yes, we'll keep your secret!"

…………