txolops Chapter 056, Temple 1
Chapter 056, Temple 1
【Duke Ling of Yi】
Rank: Rank 7 (True God)
Level: lv1 (1/3000)
Supernatural powers: None available
Ritual implement: Thousand-mile scroll
Rule: Feed on the earth's energy and nourish all living things with the earth's energy.
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[A Thousand Miles Scroll: A flawed imitation of a masterpiece, coveted by demons and monsters who yearn for a map of mountains and rivers. Using the temple as a focal point, one can survey a thousand miles in a single scroll, drawing upon the energy of the earth from all directions.]
"A Thousand Miles Scroll"
After returning home from the ceremony, Li Yue raised his hand and summoned a scroll, which was the ritual implement of the Duke of Yiling.
Once unfolded, the outlines of mountains and cities were vaguely visible, but they were covered by a layer of gray mist, as if shrouded in haze. Only one spot outside the county town shone brightly, like a beacon, revealing the scenery clearly.
According to the introduction, although this Thousand Mile Scroll is only a seventh-grade magic weapon, it is quite powerful.
With a panoramic view and a clear understanding of everything, isn't this just like a high-definition satellite?
The reason why immortals are called immortals is because they know everything.
In addition, this magical artifact has another powerful function: drawing energy from the earth.
Earth energy can be simply understood as the essence of the earth, just like the essence of the sun and moon, which is very beneficial to cultivation.
With the help of the Thousand-Mile Scroll, Lord Yiling could not only strengthen himself by drawing upon the earth's energy, but also refine objects. He could nurture and refine ordinary items into treasures.
After understanding the situation, Li Yue nodded repeatedly.
Although not a martial god and more focused on support, its abilities are indeed quite good and well-rounded.
"A temple?"
However, at this time the Thousand Mile Scroll was still shrouded in a gray haze, and temples were still needed to truly view the objects through the map.
Temples are the eyes; only when the temples of the local deity are located around them can the "Thousand-Mile Scroll" be effective.
A temple can illuminate a radius of ten miles. In other words, if Li Yue wants to truly survey a thousand miles and understand all things with this Thousand Mile Scroll, he must build many temples.
In the past, building a temple and establishing oneself would have been quite difficult, but now...
Li Yue couldn't help but smile; it was time for them to lend a hand.
On February 15th, the high-ranking members of the God Worshipping Cult held a "routine meeting".
Six high priests from the God Worship Sect arrived at Li Yue's courtyard under the cover of night.
With Chen Shouzhou's support, the God Worshipping Cult has grown rapidly, now numbering nearly six thousand, and the number of Grand Masters has increased to six.
Like a snowball rolling downhill, at this rate, it won't be long before it surpasses 10,000.
"From tomorrow onwards, I will no longer bestow blessings."
After the monks finished reporting their situations, Li Yue suddenly spoke up.
Upon hearing this, all six of them changed their expressions.
The reason why the God Worship Cult was able to develop so rapidly, reaching its current state in less than a year, is entirely due to the word "efficacy".
If Li Yue stops bestowing blessings and his efficacy ceases, how can he attract followers? Even the existing followers will likely gradually disperse.
"What are you panicking about? I haven't finished speaking yet."
Li Yue remained calm, summoned the Ruyi Scepter of Fortune and Misfortune, and casually stuffed it into the arms of a high priest in front of him.
Knowing that this was a blessing artifact, the high priest was startled and hurriedly hugged it tightly to his chest, afraid of dropping it.
"Starting tomorrow, you will take this treasure and bestow blessings upon yourselves."
"We? Bless ourselves!"
"The six of you will take turns using this service. If any more Grand Masters are promoted in the future, the same rotation will apply. Each person will use it for one day, and at most one hundred people can be blessed."
As the scale of the God-worshipping cult grows larger, the daily selection of only thirty people from various regions for blessings is becoming too small a proportion.
But if the proportion is increased, Li Yue will spend all his time bestowing blessings and won't have time to do anything else.
Fortunately, the power was delegated, which freed him up.
"Thank you so much for your congratulations..."
After hearing Li Yue's explanation, the six chief priests were all overjoyed and excited, and were about to bow in gratitude.
But the next moment, Li Yue flipped his hand, and the Ruyi Scepter returned to his grasp.
"I permit you to bestow blessings upon yourselves, but not to abuse them. This is my treasure; you can use it freely, and everything will respond accordingly. If I find out that you have not acted according to my instructions, you know the consequences."
By the end, Li Yue's voice had turned chilling, and his gaze was like a sharp blade.
"We dare not."
The six chief priests shuddered and hurriedly bowed their heads.
"Dare not? Hmph, do you think I don't know what you've done?"
Li Yue snorted and casually pulled out a booklet, throwing it on the ground.
The six priests exchanged glances, squatted down to pick up the items, and upon opening them, their expressions all changed drastically.
"Ouch! Please spare me!"
The booklet contained records of their deception of superiors and subordinates, their greed for money and their exploitation of women.
Li Yue remained expressionless as he looked at the six priests kneeling before him, trembling all over.
He spoke again after a short while.
"The next priority for the worship of gods is to build numerous temples dedicated to the local deity, Yi Ling Gong."
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"You go and make the arrangements; make sure there's a temple every ten miles."
"A temple every ten miles..."
The six chief priests were all taken aback, and their faces showed reluctance.
Hedong County alone spans no less than two or three hundred li from east to west and north to south. If there is a temple every ten li, wouldn't there be hundreds of temples dedicated to the local deity within the county alone?
Moreover, the worship of gods has already spread to surrounding prefectures and counties.
How much money would it cost to build so many temples?
"You are the chief priests, so set an example and each of you should donate thirty temples."
"Thirty seats!"
The priests, their eyes wide open, exchanged glances as they knelt there.
Even if a temple costs 100 taels, 30 temples would cost 3,000 taels!
"What, you're not willing?"
Before they could shirk their responsibility, Li Yue spoke again.
"What's recorded in that book is probably only a tenth or a twentieth of what you've done. In the past six months, the benefits you've gained from the church amount to far more than ten thousand taels. Now that you're only asked to contribute this small amount, you're already hesitant. This shows that you're not sincere."
"No, no, no! Congratulations, please don't misunderstand, we'll donate! We'll donate!"
Not sincere? That's the biggest accusation against a believer. Once someone is deemed insincere, they will be expelled from the sect, because sincerity is the most important quality for a believer.
If they are expelled from the religion, they will have nothing left.
They can still distinguish between losing flesh and losing their lives.
"Remember, one temple every ten miles. Each of you donate thirty temples. As for the rest, you can have your junior priests donate or mobilize believers to contribute. I don't care. But if I find out that anyone is profiting from this or is diverting their share of the temple donations, hmph."
Li Yue didn't say it explicitly in the end, but just snorted coldly, which said everything.
"We dare not, we dare not."
The six priests were filled with fear again and shook their heads repeatedly.
"That's good."
Li Yue nodded slightly, his expression improving somewhat. With a wave of his hand, the Auspicious and Inauspicious Symbol reappeared in the hand of a high priest.
Upon seeing their "returned" baby, the Dazhu family members, who had just been filled with trepidation, instantly broke into beaming smiles again.
With this treasure in hand, no amount of money could buy it!
Having given his orders, Li Yue waved his hand, and the six chief priests, carrying auspicious symbols of good fortune and misfortune, took their leave.
"grown ups."
Qianqian revealed herself, glancing at the door with a gloomy face.
"Those people probably won't be so obedient."
"More than that, some people might already be plotting to get rid of me."
"They have such audacity!"
"Indeed, it's also my fault for being too polite to them."
Li Yue's face darkened as he looked at Qianqian.
"Go and give them a good talking-to. If any of them have truly harbored ill intentions towards me, send them to their next life!"
"Yes, sir!"
Qianqian was filled with excitement and immediately flew out of the house.