Chapter 203 Approaching the Divine (25)
"The Divine Temple is in Xuan Thirty-Nine City's market. If you need anything, you can come find us," Tian Shikang instructed the old man when he sent him back to Silver Ginkgo Village.
"Xuan Thirty-Nine City's market? It seems... I've never heard of it before." The old man suspected he had slept too long in the fields and his mind was muddled.
"This is a newly built market, specifically established for the Divine Temple," Shikang Divine Official patiently explained. "There are simply too many people who come to worship at the Divine Temple every day, and it's currently undergoing expansion."
Upon hearing this, the old man's dazed eyes suddenly brightened, and he nervously rubbed his dark, rough hands.
"Shikang Divine Official... I want to ask, even though I'm old, I still have a lot of strength. I wonder if I could... have a chance to help with the construction of the Divine Temple?"
Shikang Divine Official smiled kindly: "You're too polite, old man. Of course, you can. Anyone who participates in our Divine Temple's construction will receive free food and lodging."
"Oh, besides building the Divine Temple, you can also farm for the Divine Temple, and that also includes free food and lodging."
At this moment, the two happened to pass the entrance of Silver Ginkgo Village, and several gaunt old farmers passing by overheard them and gathered around.
"Young man, where can we farm for free food and lodging?" one of the old farmers asked.
"Yes, our fields have been barren for a long time. Every day we can only eat some grass and dig up wild vegetables... We're starving."
This was the truth. After the frequent outbreaks of weird objects, many able-bodied young people had already fled, and most of the farmland was abandoned.
Of those who remained, they dared not go out casually unless they were extremely hungry. But now, their stored food was gradually running out, so of course, they were curious when they heard there was a place recruiting people to farm with free food and lodging.
"Our Divine Temple has acquired hundreds of acres of land in Liantang Village, and we have already recruited many skilled farmers among the common people."
One old farmer asked worriedly, "But... how is the situation in Liantang Village? I heard there are many weird objects there, just like in our village."
The other old farmers shivered upon hearing this.
If there were weird objects, how could anyone live there, let alone farm in peace?
"Don't worry, old man. The weird objects in Liantang Village have been completely cleared by our Divine Temple's Grand Divine Official. It has now been brought under the Divine Temple's protection, with three Divine Officials guarding it in shifts. Any weird objects that appear will be promptly eliminated."
"That good..."
"So, you Divine Officials can really clear weird objects?"
"Don't worry, I was just saved by this Divine Official," the old man who had been silently standing by suddenly spoke.
Only then did the others notice the old man, covered in mud and ash. They carefully identified his face, which was caked with yellow earth, and even found him somewhat familiar.
"You, aren't you Old Wei Biao? Weren't you missing?"
"Indeed! I was buried in the field. Ah, it's a long story, but in short, it's all thanks to the Divine Official."
Old Wei Biao felt troubled, but his face was expressionless, mainly because the dried mud caked on his face hindered his facial expressions.
"Rest assured, all of us Divine Officials have abilities bestowed by the Earth Mother, which are sufficient to protect everyone."
Shikang Divine Official himself had a refined, gentle appearance, looking nothing like someone who would deceive old people.
This was also an important factor why Liu Sheng felt Tian Shikang had potential for missionary work.
Thus, these old people nodded, half-believing.
"I believe you, young man."
"But, what kind of ability are you talking about? Can we see it?"
Shikang Divine Official smiled gently: "Of course."
Saying that, he pointed above his head.
"It's been above your heads all along, didn't you see it?"
Everyone looked up, only to see a pair of feet hanging above their heads.
Their gaze moved upwards, revealing a bent neck, a long tongue hanging down, and a pale face looking at them with malevolence.
"Ah ah ah ah ah—!"
...
Liu Sheng shook her head speechlessly.
Tian Shikang just loved to play pranks; hopefully, he wouldn't scare these old people into having heart attacks.
At this moment, she and Yanran Divine Official had already reached the foot of Xuan Mountain, just in time to see a man and a woman descending from the mountain.
Upon seeing Liu Sheng, the two quickly bowed in greeting.
"Grand Divine Official."
"Greetings, Grand Divine Official!"
Liu Sheng nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
They were newly recruited probationary Divine Officials. The middle-aged man was He Shan, and the younger woman was Qing Cong. Today, they were exploring the borders of Xuan Mountain separately with her and Yanran Divine Official.
Seeing that they were about to report the situation, Liu Sheng directly interrupted: "It's fine, I already know the situation on your side. We're returning to the city now."
The two exchanged glances, and then Qing Cong said with an admiring expression: "As expected of the Grand Divine Official, your Divine Ability is extraordinary."
He Shan was more silent, but his face was also full of reverence, not daring to look directly at Liu Sheng.
Of course, Liu Sheng knew through the power from the Earth Mother—Little Tentacle "Mama"—hidden within the weird objects they carried.
A portion of her consciousness resided in each Little Tentacle.
Through this method, her consciousness was dispersed with these Divine Officials to every corner of Xuan Thirty-Nine City.
So she could see Shikang Divine Official in Silver Ginkgo Village recruiting farmers, she could see the exploration status of various borders, she could see whether the three Divine Officials on duty in Liantang Village were neglecting their duties, she could see Dawn Priest supervising the progress of the Divine Temple's renovation in the Xuan Thirty-Nine City's market...
Moreover, no matter who encountered trouble, they could summon her to act.
This feeling seemed to be getting closer and closer to an omniscient and omnipotent god...
Furthermore, as her grasp of this world deepened, she was increasingly able to vaguely sense things at the data level. The spacetime in her eyes had entered another dimension.
Just like the small white flower she saw on the top of Xuan Mountain earlier, she could sense that the code constituting that small flower was subtly different from the code of the same wild flower in her space.
That's why she wanted to touch it, and as she expected, that flower belonged to outside this realm.
She began to ponder if this meant that the data in each space had a unique identifier?
Then what was the meaning of doing that?
If they couldn't leave here.
But Liu Sheng had only thoroughly walked the entire map today and had no idea how to proceed next.
And she also knew that she was getting closer and closer to the limit of faith in this world.
Like the human-shaped weird objects that could still be saved, which Shikang Divine Official encountered today, were becoming fewer and fewer.
And those few old farmers who had not yet joined the Divine Temple were also rare.
Speaking of which, Shikang Divine Official's Luck was quite good. Could he be the potential Child of Luck in this world?
Liu Sheng led the three Divine Officials back to the city, but as soon as they entered, she suddenly felt a sensation.
"Yanran, go back to the Divine Temple and tell them to send five Divine Officials to Liantang Village," Liu Sheng said to Yanran Divine Official, her brows tightly furrowed.
"You two, follow me," she then said to Qing Cong and He Shan.
"Yes, Grand Divine Official," the three replied in unison.
Yanran Divine Official was the first to follow the Grand Divine Official and trusted Liu Sheng unconditionally, knowing that something extremely troublesome must have occurred. She immediately took the order and left.
Meanwhile, Qing Cong and He Shan followed Liu Sheng, turning towards the East Gate.
"Grand Divine Official, has something happened in Liantang Village?" Qing Cong, being young and curious, quickened her steps to catch up with Liu Sheng and asked boldly.
"Yes."
Qing Cong saw the Grand Divine Official's tense expression and understood that this matter was no small feat, but she still asked curiously: "But, aren't there three Divine Officials there? Can't they handle it?"
Liu Sheng sighed softly: "Yes, because an extremely dangerous Rank weird object has appeared there."