Transmigrating to another world, starting as a mountain god

It was late at night on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Li Yuan looked around and could still see many festive decorations and colorful lanterns on the streets.

In a few places, there are still snowdrifts and icicles.

Li Yuan was not discouraged even though he failed to see Mother Earth.

This trip is both a visit and an apology.

One must have some sincerity.

He sat cross-legged right next to the entrance of the Earth Mother Temple, waiting for the night to pass.

The next day.

Li Yuan remained seated cross-legged, his breathing steady and calm, showing no signs of agitation.

The morning light shone through the gaps between the buildings, illuminating Li Yuan and making his long robe appear as if it were a golden robe.

The old woman came from her home early in the morning, glanced at Li Yuan with a strange look, and then took out her key and opened the door of the Earth Mother Temple.

Ordinary people came one after another, but because of the turmoil in the Qian Kingdom, there were many more people coming to worship than usual.

There was some congestion in front of the Earth Mother Temple.

Many mortals looked at Li Yuan beside the temple gate with surprised eyes, as if wondering when a madman had appeared in the Mother Temple.

This person seems to have been waiting for a long time, but the temple gates are already open, so why not go in and offer prayers?

As the crowds surged, Li Yuan seemed to consider getting up, but after thinking it over, he decided to wait until most of the mortals had finished their worship.

If someone occupies a prayer mat in a temple, it will interfere with ordinary people's worship of Mother Earth, which is generally not good.

The sun was getting stronger, but the weather was still a bit chilly right after the New Year, sending shivers down one's spine.

A slight gust of wind and sand swirled up and pattered against Li Yuan's body.

Li Yuan allowed the wind and sand to get close to him without using his immortal body to block them.

"If believers have any troubles, they can go into the temple to confide in the temple."

The old woman looked out from the temple, seemingly unable to bear seeing Li Yuan suffer in the cold wind in front of the temple, and said softly.

Li Yuan opened his eyes and saw that most of the mortals had finished their worship. He then picked up the gift box next to him, stood up, and smiled slightly at the old woman.

"Thank you for your concern, host."

Upon entering the Earth Mother Temple once more, Li Yuan bowed respectfully to the Earth Mother statue again as he passed through the center of the green garden.

The scenery in the courtyard remains the same.

Green trees, a small pond, blue stones—everything is the same as yesterday.

But as Li Yuan strolled through the courtyard, he felt that the scenery there seemed to have changed.

"The leaves are like leaves, but the flowers are not flowers; the green stones remain the same, but the pond mud is new."

Li Yuan lowered his eyes, as if he had realized something.

"The leaves are like newly grown leaves, but the flowers are not the same as yesterday's flowers."

The elderly woman who presided over the ceremony stood at the entrance of the inner temple, her smile aged yet her eyes kind.

Li Yuan bowed respectfully from afar, saying, "Senior's realm is profound, and your words seem to have multiple layers of meaning. This junior should carefully comprehend them."

The old woman said nothing more, but turned and went into the temple.

Li Yuan walked out of the Green Garden and came to the front of the inner temple. As always, he lifted the hem of his robe and carefully stepped over the threshold.

He found a corner and silently knelt down.

He is a deity, and the moment he enters this temple, Mother Earth will surely notice him.

The fact that Mother Earth did not consciously appear indicates that Li Yuan's sincerity was not enough.

"I, a junior, am aware of my ignorance and sincerely beg Mother Earth's forgiveness."

Li Yuan silently recited this in his heart.

This time, he didn't resort to crying and pleading about poverty.

Some things can only be done once, not twice, and certainly not a third time.

The incense at the Earth Mother Temple burns continuously, and mortals come sincerely to kneel, worship, and pray.

Li Yuan knelt silently on the prayer mat in the corner, without uttering a word or showing any impatience.

His eyes were lowered, he knelt upright, his hands resting on his knees, as if waiting sincerely.

Another day passed quickly.

Li Yuan knelt again until late at night.

He never got up until Mother Earth's consciousness came.

Until the old woman cast a somewhat helpless glance my way.

Li Yuan smiled awkwardly before getting up, not wanting to make things difficult for the old woman any further.

Even after the temple gates were tightly closed, he remained sitting quietly cross-legged beside them.

On the third day, Li Yuan stood up again and walked into the green forest. Looking at the scenery, he seemed to have gained new insights.

It was the dead of winter, and the cold wind stung the skin on the street.

But this temple is always filled with spring-like scenery.

Ordinary people are ignorant and unaware, seemingly unable to perceive the mystique involved.

"The Earth Mother possesses boundless virtue; her heart remains eternally like spring..."

Li Yuan bowed respectfully to the stone statue in the garden once again before entering the inner temple.

This kneeling lasted for an entire day.

Li Yuan still did not receive a response.

Late at night, amidst the old woman's sighs, Li Yuan rose from the prayer mat once more, bowed respectfully, and left.

After several days of setbacks, Li Yuan couldn't help but open the "Hundred Records of Immortal Life" that he always carried with him.

There are also records of methods for accidentally offending the Queen Mother.

To Li Yuan's surprise, the book says: Mother Earth is kind and never holds grudges.

If you are unable to meet him, you can simply visit him sincerely again after some time has passed.

However, Li Yuan frowned slightly, unwilling to do as described in the book.

"If one's will is not firm, how can one speak of sincerity?"

Li Yuan put away the thick book and sat cross-legged firmly.

This process lasted for forty-nine days.

The whole of Fuyuan City was filled with laughter, saying that a foolish child had come to the temple of the Earth Mother. He seemed to be a believer of the Earth Mother, but he was quite different from the other believers, which was rather strange.

Li Yuan didn't care; he was determined and only wished to gain the Earth Mother's forgiveness.

On the fiftieth day, Li Yuan estimated the time and entered the Earth Mother Temple again.

The Green Garden is still the same Green Garden, but outside the temple, the ice and snow have melted, and a light drizzle is falling.

The green garden within the temple also seems to have been rejuvenated, becoming even more eye-catching.

The tender leaves are even greener, and the flowers are even more vibrant.

Most of the bluestones in the garden are covered with moss, but some of the stone surfaces are as smooth as new.

The small pond remained as calm as ever, but when dew dripped from the branches and leaves, it broke the mirror-like surface of the water, creating ripples.

Li Yuan had some insights, but it was as if there was always a thin veil of mist between him and the feeling, making it impossible for him to fully understand it.

The old woman, dressed in simple hemp clothing, added incense and candles to the temple. She was used to seeing Li Yuan come again.

Li Yuan respectfully bowed to the statue of the Earth Mother in the inner temple, then bowed to the old woman, and continued to find a corner to kneel in.

But this time, just as he found an empty prayer mat and was about to kneel down, he suddenly realized that all the mortals in the temple had unknowingly left.

Why bother?

The old woman looked out of the temple, gazing at the boundless sky, and suddenly sighed.

Li Yuan was not surprised at all: "Since I have done something wrong, I should apologize to you, senior."

The old woman walked slowly to the entrance of the inner temple.

"If I do not come for many years, what will you do?"

Li Yuan thought for a moment, then smiled slightly:

“The Earth Mother is kind and benevolent. She came to see this humble mountain god on the very first night. I am aware of this.”

"Since you haven't truly shown yourself, it's because I, as a junior, haven't been sincere enough."

As he spoke, Li Yuan took out the gift box.

Enveloped in the golden light of merit, the fruit inside remained perfectly fresh, just as it was when it was picked.

Li Yuan respectfully placed the gift box under the incense offering table in the temple and bowed deeply to the 'old woman'.

The old woman glanced at the gift box but didn't make a move.

Instead, he said something whose meaning was unclear:

"What do you think of the flowers and leaves in the courtyard, and the blue stone pond?"

Li Yuan blinked slightly: "Very good."

The old woman frowned slightly:

"I'm asking, what are your thoughts?"

Li Yuan thought for a moment, his expression showing a hint of contemplation:

"The Flower and Leaf Stone Pond is truly wondrous. But... I am foolish and have never grasped its true meaning."

"Through diligent study and contemplation, one gains insights daily, and these insights lead to transformations."

"Today's understanding is different from yesterday's, and will also be different from tomorrow's."

Therefore, this humble deity dares not speak recklessly.

"I dare to say only this: the cycle of all things, the way of life, is perhaps ever new."

The old woman listened quietly without responding, but instead flicked her sleeve slightly.

Time and space seemed to rotate at this moment.

In the blink of an eye, Li Yuan found himself standing outside the Earth Mother Temple.

The gates of the Earth Mother Temple were tightly closed, as if it no longer wanted Li Yuan to enter.

Li Yuan bowed respectfully without showing any displeasure.

After a long while, a gentle voice came from inside the temple:

"What remains timeless is the stubborn bluestone, and also the silt in the pool."

"Are you a bluestone or a muddy silt?"