The True Lord has arrived

Chapter 86 The Ancient God
clack.

The old man's hand trembled, and the fish basket fell to the ground, scattering the fish he had caught. As the giant python burst out of the water, the Jing River surged and the fish flapped their tails, struggling to swim back.

The Earth God looked down at the fish.

At this moment, however, he still had the leisure to indulge in wild thoughts.

Well, another empty basket today.

My wife is going to nag me when I get back.

The giant python slowly lowered its head. When the Earth God saw the people coming down, he vaguely sensed a trace of fire and earth divine nature on the young man. His expression changed slightly, and after seeing everyone come down, the giant python hissed softly.

The water and light converged and transformed into the appearance of an old man.

Upon closer inspection, the landman saw the true faces of the group.

My heart skipped a beat.

A large black horse, a self-aware ghost, a 'walking corpse' that can still move for some reason, a middle-aged man with a missing arm but a terrifying aura, and in the middle is a boy carrying a bundle.

The boy's clothes were already torn in many places.

But when surrounded by people, I have an inexplicable feeling, like a heavy sword without an edge, its power dissipating.

The giant python, which was almost transforming into a dragon, turned into an old man dressed in green robes with a hemp rope wrapped around his waist. He faintly exuded a water-attribute divine aura and stood beside the young man, speaking in a gentle voice:

“Young master, this place is only thirty miles from Wugong Town, not far from the beach meeting place, this gentleman…”

He looked at the old land.

The local earth god recognized the giant python and politely bowed with his hands clasped, saying, "I am the local earth god of Liuxi Ferry in Wugong Town. I have come to greet the water god and the mountain god."

"Gentlemen, are you here for the Wugong Town Beach Gathering?"

Zhou Yan looked at Shen Cangming, who nodded slightly, indicating that Zhou Yan would be in charge of the liaison.

Shen Cangming was a fierce general in the border army, known for his bravery. He didn't know much about these gatherings of spirits and monsters. His strengths lay in close combat and the ability to survive on the most brutal battlefields.

Zhou Yan said yes.

The man who worked there looked like a middle-aged man in his forties, kind and gentle. Looking at the empty bamboo basket, he smiled and said:
"Haha, please excuse my rudeness. I was originally fishing here, but my wife insisted on eating fish today. It's a pleasure to meet you all, my distinguished guests."

"It can be considered a blessing in disguise."

Zhou Yan said, "Elder Ao."

Ao Xuantao took a light step, and the Jinghe River spun and turned, the water flowed apart, and fish flew out one by one, all landing in the bamboo basket, which was quickly filled.

The Earth God was taken aback at first, then his smile grew wider and wider.

The smile on the Earth God's face gradually increased as the weight of the fish basket grew.

Finally, looking at the overflowing catch—the largest he'd ever made in a century—a smile spread across his face, almost impossible to suppress. He thought to himself that he absolutely had to take a stroll around Wugong Town and get lost in the area.

"Haha, my lord, you're too kind."

"you are welcome."

As he spoke, he lifted the heavy fish basket with both hands and pulled it toward himself.

"You all look unfamiliar. Is this your first time visiting Wugong Town?"

Zhou Yan said, "We are passing through your area and have heard that the Hedong Beach Fair in Wugong Town is the most prestigious beach fair in the entire Central Plains and among the human race. We are looking to buy some things. Do you have any advice, Earth God?"

He picked up a plump fish and placed it on the nearly overflowing fish basket.

Zhou Yan's lips curled up, and he said gently, "Tell us about it?"

The Earth God picked up the heavy fish basket and tried to pull it over, but found that Zhou Yan's hand was on the basket and he couldn't move it. So, without changing his expression, he chuckled and said, "What advice do you have? Mountain God, you're being too polite."

"You're too kind."

"However, even in crowded places, there are still unwritten rules."

"Moreover, this place is not inferior to Chang'an or Luoyang. Although Wugong Town is not comparable to Chang'an or Luoyang now, it can be considered one of the origins of humankind. In ancient times, floods raged and Guanzhong was desolate."

"Houji was born in Wugong Youtai. On this high platform, he personally demonstrated the art of farming, taught the people to sow various grains, and domesticated wild rice and millet into superior varieties. He was then worshipped as the god of agriculture."

Zhou Yan said, "The God of Agriculture?"

He thought of the jade talisman with the character "泰" (Tai).

The old man proudly declared, "The god of agriculture, the 'Ji' of the state."

"Unfortunately, that was a very ancient era. Only the [Jiaojia Terrace] remains, spanning thousands of years. It is the most valued sacred place in Wugong Town."

The legend of the god of agriculture is too ancient, and the divinity it embodied has long since disappeared.

Zhou Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

Otherwise, he would be worried about whether the Master of Qingming would come.

Land justice:

"This place is full of demons, spirits, ghosts, monsters, goblins, demons, and spirits."

"There are even hidden divine and natural spiritual entities that come here to trade, so there are some taboos and suggestions. I think if you guys are going, you should wear something to conceal your aura."

"The area around Hedong Beach is too chaotic with people coming and going."

"This is to protect ourselves, and it's also a rule of the beach association."

"Also, they don't accept human currency here."

"As dynasties rise and fall, money quickly becomes worthless. The only hard currency in the world is gold."

Zhou Yan asked curiously, "Gold? Do fairies and immortals also use gold?"

The Earth God chuckled and said, "Young master, you are unaware of something."

"These monsters and mountain spirits don't need gold, but sometimes they do need things from humans. For example, they might want to buy top-grade medicines made by human alchemists, as well as human wine and various household items," said the Earth God, carrying his fish basket.

"We still have to live our lives."

"When they get hungry, they transform into human form and go to the human world to eat some delicious food, drink some wine, and buy some beautiful clothes, rouge, and jewelry; that's why many mountain gods and water gods are willing to befriend humans."

"In addition, human Xuan officials also need to live in the human world and need gold, so the demons and spirits who want to trade with them have gradually recognized the value of gold."

"However, this only applies to ordinary things."

"My lord, this is truly a fine thing, a precious treasure."

"Money can't buy it."

When the local deity said this, Zhou Yan wanted to ask more questions, but the deity just laughed and said that it was hard to explain, and that he should go to the beach fair and see for himself.

After arriving in Wugong Town, Yin Zichuan seemed somewhat absent-minded.

Zhou Yan learned from the local earth god where to enter the Tanhui. The earth god took out a wooden plaque and handed it to Zhou Yan, saying that by holding this wooden plaque and infusing it with magic power, he could enter the Tanhui left behind by the god of agriculture from the Jiaojiatai in Wugong Town.

Shen Cangming said, "The Teaching Platform..."

Zhou Yan asked, "Does Uncle Shen know?"

Shen Cangming said, "It is the foremost of the four famous platforms in the world, and also the oldest place. Although the God of Agriculture is not here, there is agriculture and sericulture everywhere in the world. According to the Xuan Guan's concept, even if the God of Agriculture himself is not here, there will be very special rules here."

When Zhou Yan was unsure, Shen Cangming said:

He pioneered the path of agriculture and sericulture.

Zhou Yan understood.

The place where the progenitors of the human race and top figures spread their teachings.

As long as there are still people farming and cultivating the land, even if the God of Agriculture is not seen on the [Farming Instruction Platform], this place will still be extraordinary. Zhou Yan said, "However, among so many spirits, haven't any of them used their abilities to snatch treasures?"

The land deity replied, "Of course."

"However, they will be punished."

Zhou Yan asked curiously, "What kind of punishment? Will it take the other person's life directly?"

The Earth God said cheerfully, "How could that be?!"

"After all, Houji was an ancient civil official."

"It's not that brutal."

Zhou Yan asked, "What could it be?"

The Earth God replied, "I've heard that you'll be pulled into a cyclical illusion left behind by the God of Millet, where you'll toil for eternity without ever escaping. It's probably like, whether you're a god or a demon, you'll be forced to farm until you die."

Zhou Yan's lips twitched.

It's hard to put it, but it has a kind of brutal yet mysterious feel to it.

Is this the charm of ancient civil officials?
Zhou Yan learned about the Hedong Beach Meeting, where there were rules left by Hou Ji, making transactions at least absolutely safe. Zhou Yan saw the absent-minded Yin Zichuan and said, "Zichuan."

Yin Zichuan was in a daze when he heard the voice and subconsciously looked up: "Huh?"

Zhou Yan said, "Didn't you say your home isn't far from here?"

A glint of light appeared in Yin Zichuan's eyes.

Zhou Yan smiled and said, "Take us to see it."

A brilliant light flashed in Yin Zichuan's eyes. Zhou Yan reached into his pocket and threw a pile of money at him. Yin Zichuan accepted it with a smile. On the way, the scholar reverted to the talkative person he had been when they first met.

He kept talking about his wife and children.

However, most of the time was spent talking about Lianniang, while the son was treated as if he were a gift.

"I haven't seen Lianniang for a while. I really hope she's doing well. However, when I left, she had already recovered her spirits. There's still time for her to make amends."

"My mother Lian's cooking is delicious."

"Hehe, my lord, you can have a good taste of it later!"

"Lianniang is extremely pretty. I've liked her since I was a child, hehe, but I'm too embarrassed to mention it. She doesn't know that I've beaten up all those boys who wanted to propose to me."

"I really hope I can see Lianniang again in my next life."

Zhou Yan and his group arrived at the Ancient Locust Village in Youfeng Town. There was an old locust tree there. Yin Zichuan walked the road to his home with familiarity. He wanted to knock on the door, but since he was in the body of a ghost, he said many nice things and let Zhou Yan knock.

Zhou Yan knocked on the door and asked, "Is anyone home?"

The door opened.

Yin Zichuan's face was full of anticipation for seeing him again, but he also became nervous. Zhou Yan laughed and said that he had the courage to fight monsters when he encountered them, so why was he being cowardly now?

Yin Zichuan just chuckled dryly. "How can they be the same, my lord?"

Zhou Yan knocked on the door, and an old woman with gray hair came out and asked, "Who is it?" She was wearing a gray cloth dress, her eyes were somewhat dim, and she was leaning on a cane.

Zhou Yan asked, "Grandma, is there a woman here named Lian Niang?"

Where is it?
Did they move?
An old woman with gray hair and a wrinkled face looked at him and said:
"That is me."

Zhou Yan paused.

Yin Zichuan's smile froze in that instant. His eyes were unfocused, as if a giant chisel had pierced his heart. In the emptiness of that daze, memories surged up: going up the mountain, meeting Huiniang, being swallowed by the woodcutter...

Ah... everything is going so smoothly.

It made him almost forget.

It turns out that that happened forty years ago.

(End of this chapter)