"I heard that a Wolf Demon is wreaking havoc in Thousand Wolf Mountain, harming the common people."
"Since you are my Temple Keeper, you should naturally slay demons and eliminate harm for the people."
"Within ten days, enter the mountain and slay the Wolf Demon."
A majestic and vast voice came.
Li Youming kowtowed respectfully, devoutly saying:
"Li Youming reverently obeys Lord Zhang Yue's divine edict!"
As the words fell.
The dream world before him immediately shattered.
…
In the room, Li Youming woke up.
The majestic voice of 'within ten days, enter the mountain and slay the Wolf Demon' still echoed in his mind.
That voice possessed immeasurable divine power.
Simply hearing it made one unable to harbor any distracting thoughts!
"This is the second divine edict issued by Lord Zhang Yue…"
"I must execute it flawlessly."
Li Youming's eyes sparkled as he slightly clenched his fist.
As a Temple Keeper, completing the divine edict issued by the God was the top priority!
Everything he had—
came from the God.
Currently, he was the only Temple Keeper.
Would there be other Temple Keepers in the future?
The more perfectly he handled things for Lord Zhang Yue now, the more secure his position would be, even if other Temple Keepers emerged later.
He would still be the Temple Keeper most valued by Lord Zhang Yue!
Be prepared for danger in times of peace.
He had always understood this principle.
As for how to execute this divine edict flawlessly?
He pondered for a moment and already had an idea.
Opening the door, he looked at his eldest son, who was still waiting outside, and said:
"Go and call Village Chief Li Deyang and the Deputy Village Chief over."
The Village Chief of Four Seas Village was naturally Li Deyang, and the Deputy Village Chief was Chen Mazi, the former Village Chief of Chen Family Village.
Soon—
Li Deyang and Chen Mazi rushed over.
"Uncle Youming, what's the matter?"
The three sat down in the room, and Li Deyang said in a deep voice.
Chen Mazi also looked at Li Youming.
They both knew that unless something major happened, Li Youming generally wouldn't seek them out.
Regarding village affairs.
Li Youming only managed faith, ignoring all other matters.
However, in the village.
Li Youming's status was undoubtedly the highest!
"Lord Zhang Yue has issued a divine edict!"
Li Youming said with a solemn expression.
Divine edict!
Li Deyang's expression immediately turned serious, and he even stood up.
Chen Mazi also stood up.
Seven days had passed since Chen Family Village merged into Four Seas Village, and three days prior, he had personally witnessed a divine blessing.
A middle-aged man, originally an ordinary person, knelt before the Land God Temple to offer incense.
A white light flew out from the Land God statue, and in the blink of an eye, this middle-aged man became a First Rank Mid-level 'Body Refinement Realm' Martial Master!
Witnessing this scene firsthand, he no longer had any doubts about the existence of Lord Zhang Yue, this God.
Therefore—
He was also very excited about Lord Zhang Yue's divine edict.
He yearned.
To receive Lord Zhang Yue's blessing and become a First Rank peak Martial Master like Li Deyang!
Even—
A glimmer of ambition to become a Second Rank 'True Qi Realm' Martial Master arose in his heart!
"Lord Zhang Yue has commanded me to ascend Thousand Wolf Mountain and slay the Wolf Demon within ten days!"
Li Youming said solemnly.
Upon hearing this—
Li Deyang and Chen Mazi immediately gasped.
Go slay the Wolf Demon?
Both their eyes showed both fear and excitement.
After all, the Wolf Demon of Thousand Wolf Mountain had existed even before they were born!
Every three years, nine people from the four villages would be eaten by the Wolf Demon; this had been happening since they could remember.
And now—
Was the slaying of the Wolf Demon finally about to begin?
The three-year period was almost up; as long as the Wolf Demon was slain, they would no longer have to suffer nine people being eaten by the Wolf Demon every three years!
As for the fear.
It was naturally due to the Wolf Demon's power.
However, thinking of Lord Zhang Yue, the God, they no longer felt any fear.
Before a God, what was a Wolf Demon?
"Then, Uncle Youming, you called me here for…"
Li Deyang asked, his heart surging.
"Thousand Wolf Mountain threatens not just our Four Seas Village."
"There are also Zhang Village and Liao Village."
"You go to those two villages and inform their Village Chiefs and villagers—"
"Tell them that I, Li Youming, the Temple Keeper appointed by Lord Zhang Yue, will enter Thousand Wolf Mountain to slay the Demon seven days from now, by divine edict of Lord Zhang Yue!"
"Let them feel free to enter the mountain to observe the battle."
"If they dare not enter the mountain—"
"Then we will drag the Wolf Demon's corpse back to the village, and they can all come and see it."
Li Youming said, his eyes sparkling.
What was merely entering Thousand Wolf Mountain to slay the Wolf Demon?
This was Lord Zhang Yue's divine edict, and to complete it flawlessly, he also needed to use this event to merge Zhang Village and Liao Village into Four Seas Village!
To make the villagers of both villages Believers of Lord Zhang Yue!
And his early notification—
was to ensure that his entry into the mountain to slay the Demon seven days later would be widely spread in Zhang Village and Liao Village.
The more people who questioned and disbelieved, the better.
Then, after he slays the Demon, Li Youming's prestige would instantly reach the pinnacle of both villages!
"I understand."
"I will personally attend to this matter immediately."
Li Deyang nodded, and he and Chen Mazi quickly left.
Watching their retreating figures, Li Youming sat down cross-legged and continued his cultivation.
…
Seven days passed in a flash.
During these seven days, the news of Li Youming entering Thousand Wolf Mountain to slay the Wolf Demon spread like wildfire in Zhang Village and Liao Village.
Even five-year-old children knew about it.
Few people believed it.
After all—
That was the Wolf Demon of Thousand Wolf Mountain!
According to the elders in the village, it was a terrifying Demon that had plagued the four villages for over sixty years!
Who could slay such a Demon?
"Impossible."
"In earlier years, several Martial Master adults from the County Town also entered the mountain, claiming they would slay the Wolf Demon."
"What was the result?"
"None of them came out alive; they were all eaten by the Wolf Demon!"
"Since then, no one else from the County Town has come."
Zhang Ronggui, the Village Chief of Zhang Village, sighed deeply, shaking his head repeatedly.
He didn't believe it at all; Li Youming could slay a Demon?
Although Zhang Village and Li Family Village were a bit far apart, with five to six li (about 2.5 to 3 kilometers) of mountain road between them, he and Li Youming were relatively familiar.
After all, he was also a Martial Master in his youth.
Among these four villages, there were only a few Martial Masters, so they naturally knew each other.
And an old man, just like him, whose vitality was declining, actually boasted about going to slay a Demon?
This was probably just going to be food for the Wolf Demon.
"Uncle, I heard that Li Family Village… no, it's called Four Seas Village now; their Land Deity has manifested."
"Li Youming even became a Temple Keeper, and it's rumored that he received a blessing from the Land Deity and has reverted to youth!"
A young man nearby said.
"Do you believe that?"
Zhang Ronggui curled his lips and sneered.
Land Deity manifesting?
Reverting to youth?
He must have listened to too many storybooks!
"Of course I don't believe it."
"Isn't it being spread with such vivid detail?"
The young man chuckled.
"If Li Youming can slay the Wolf Demon, then from now on, he's my father!"
Zhang Ronggui snorted coldly.
Just then.
Several young men ran over, panting heavily as they quickly said:
"Uncle Ronggui! Li Youming has entered Thousand Wolf Mountain!"
Everyone was shaken.
Zhang Ronggui was even more astonished.
He really entered the mountain?
Was Li Youming tired of living?
For so many years, not a single person who entered Thousand Wolf Mountain had come out alive!
---