Chapter 156 - 155: Conferment of 800 Earth Deities!
These sweet potatoes were brought by him from the real world, they are high-yield hybrid sweet potatoes, and under normal circumstances, the yield should be around 6,000 catties.
In this Journey to the West World, it is a world with spiritual qi after all, so the yield should be higher, not lower.
After thinking for a bit.
Xuanqing asked again:
“I would like to ask you, besides the fertility and barrenness of the land, is there any other difference between the land with a yield of 2000 catties per acre and the land with a yield of 8000 catties per acre?”
As soon as these words came out.
Gentleman Bai She fell into deep thought.
He had never really thought about this problem before, not because he didn’t care, but because he was too busy with other things, running the entire Black Wind Town’s government office and still finding time to practice.
“Speaking of differences, the closer to Black Wind Town, the higher the yield. Among them, the land with 8,000 catties per acre is the closest to the small town.”
“And those with low yields, the vast majority are villages. The farther away the village is from the small town, the lower the yield!”
The closer to the town the higher the yield, the farther away from the town the lower the yield?
Hearing this conversation.
Xuanqing’s heart moved, and a guess emerged in his mind.
The difference between Black Wind Town and those villages lies not in the fertility of the land, but in the presence of an Earth Deity.
It should be known that this is a world with divine power, and although Earth Deities are not highly regarded among immortals, there are many things they can do.
Its main power is to manage leylines.
With that thought in mind.
Xuanqing immediately offered the Immortal Official Document again, activated the summoning charm for the Black Wind Town’s Land God, and asked him to come to the courtyard.
After a while.
Black Wind Town’s Land God arrived.
“The little god pays respects to Sir and Daoist Qingxu!”
“I just asked Qingxu about the yield of grain per acre. I found that….”
Xuanqing recounted what happened earlier, and then asked:
“Do you know why there is such a huge difference in yield?”
Hearing this.
The Earth God was slightly taken aback, and then explained: “Sir, the higher yield of land near Black Wind Town is because the little god will periodically manage the leylines and perform the Abundant Five Grains divine technique!”
“However, the little god’s power is low and the territory is limited, so the farther away from Black Wind Town, the lower the yield.”
As expected.
Xuanqing understood in his heart.
As he guessed, the difference in yield was related to this Earth God.
The Earth God in this world has two most typical and universal techniques that every Earth God can master automatically.
They are: Abundant Five Grains and Prosperous Livestock!
The former increases agricultural output while the latter protects the health of the livestock raised by the people. Both techniques are very practical and closely related to the people’s livelihood.
In this way.
Xuanqing had a plan in mind.
If he wants to develop Black Wind Town, he needs more population, and in order to support a larger population, he has to ensure an abundant supply of food.
“Qingxu, go and collect virtuous souls who have reached the end of their lives. As for the number… eight hundred!”
Xuanqing ordered firmly.
If they were going to do it, they would do it big. His vision was not limited to a small Black Wind Town.
That’s right.
He wanted to appoint eight hundred Earth Gods in one fell swoop, first expanding the scope, and then finding a way to recruit people from the neighboring Wusi Tibetan Empire and the Western Hami Empire.
Eight hundred virtuous souls at the end of their lives were not a small number.
With the size of Black Wind Town, it was not possible to gather that many virtuous souls that were approaching the end of their lives.
Gentleman Bai She first asked the Black Wind Town Land God to find local virtuous souls and send them to more remote places to search for virtuous souls.
Some village in the hinterland of Westside Hami.
The place where the last virtuous soul was found.
“Hoo~”
“Thank you, Mang Village Earth God. I shall take this person’s soul!”
Qingxu slightly bowed, his duster trembling in his hand as he hooked the old man’s yin soul over.
“Daoist Qingxu, you’re welcome. This little god is just acting on Sir’s orders!” The Mang Village Earth God happily clasped his hands together and returned the gesture.
“Please convey my thanks to your Sir; as soon as I have collected the eight hundred souls, I shall be on my way to report back!”
While he spoke-
Gentleman Bai She, treading on Qingfeng, soared into the sky and headed in the direction of Black Wind Mountain.
In just two days-
He traversed the entire Western Hami Country and gathered the eight hundred good souls Sir had assigned him.
The reason for such speed-
Was the Ascension Banquet. The entire Western Hami and Wusi Tibetan countries, along with the majority of the remaining mountain and Earth gods and City Gods, had all attended and enjoyed Ginseng Fruit porridge tea at the banquet.
As the saying goes, you owe someone a favor if you take something from them, and you feel obligated if you eat their food.
Having enjoyed the benefits, the gods eagerly offered their help when they heard Daoist Xuanqing was searching for good souls.
Therefore, they were able to collect eight hundred good souls at the end of their lives in just two short days.
Black Wind Mountain-
Within the courtyard of the Taoist temple-
Gentleman Bai She held a locust tree in his hand, from which hung various souls: old people, young people, and women. These were the eight hundred good souls they had searched for.
“Reporting to Sir, I have brought the eight hundred good souls!”
“Good, well done!”
Xuanqing smiled slightly and encouraged him.
Of all his subordinates, Gentleman Bai She was the most capable in terms of getting things done.
“Prepare the altar; 1 will consecrate these eight hundred good souls as the
Earth Deities of Black Wind Town in one go!”
“Yes, Sir!”
Gentleman Bai She carefully put down the locust tree, then soared into the sky, preparing for the ceremony.
This locust tree was about six or seven meters tall, laden with countless souls hanging upon it. It looked quite unsettling.
“Faces truly reflect their hearts. As expected of souls at their lives’ end, they all have kind and gentle appearances!”
Looking at the many souls hanging on the locust tree-
Xuanqing couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.
While ugly people are not necessarily evil, the vast majority of good people have kind and gentle faces, which are pleasing to the eye.
In a short while-
Gentleman Bai She finished preparing for the ceremony.
Behind him followed the eager Black Bear Essence, Earth God, Water God, and other subordinates.
Everyone swiftly set up the altar and then stepped back, their eyes filled with anticipation.
Consecrating eight hundred Earth Gods at once was unprecedented in the Three Realms and could not be missed.
“Sir, everything is ready.”
“Good!”
Xuanqing nodded slightly and approached the altar.
With a thought-
A token emitting a blue light flew out, originating from the same source as the Immortal Official Document, but a little different.
This was a token bestowed by the Donghua Emperor, granting direct access to the Central Hub of the Fate Palace in the Heavenly Court Registration Office.
“I, Xuanqing, Taiji Left Palace in charge of Immortal Officer Shangqing Destiny Signing Secretary Leiting Commander, sympathize with the hardship of the people in the Land of Black Wind and the chaotic leylines…”
As Xuanqing intended to save time and consecrate eight hundred Earth Gods at Black Wind Mountain all at once-
Elsewhere-
In the central hub of the Fate Palace in the Heavenly Court Registration Office-
An immortal official wearing a black gauze cap and a long robe held an imperial decree, his expression extremely troubled.
“This….”