"This is—" Zhao Jiuyuan stared blankly at the spiritual talisman that had appeared in his hand.
It was a pale golden spiritual talisman, not dazzling, nor exuding divine power.
When this spiritual talisman appeared in his hand—he instinctively knew its name and function.
Cloud Mist Body Protection Talisman!
As long as he willed it, he could activate this talisman, gathering cloud mist to protect himself, capable of resisting attacks from Fourth-Class Low-Tier to Fourth-Class Mid-Tier demons!
And if it were a Third-Class demon, even a peak Third-Class demon, it could at least withstand half a day of attacks!
"It's the grace of the Venerable God!" He immediately reacted, his heart filled with excitement, and he quickly prostrated himself towards the Land Spirit Temple, kowtowing:
"Believer Zhao Jiuyuan, many thanks for the Venerable God's grace!" His voice was extremely devout.
He had never imagined that he would also receive the grace of the Venerable God, a True God!
How could this not make him excited and thrilled?
Moreover, with this 'Cloud Mist Body Protection Talisman,' his confidence in saving his grandson greatly increased.
Beside him, Zhao Yinian stared blankly at his father's actions.
What was his father doing?
He had seen his father kneeling before that exceptionally majestic Land God Temple earlier.
Now he was kowtowing in that direction again?
Could it be—he looked towards the Four Seas Village Land Spirit Temple, his heart pounding.
The legendary deity of Four Seas Village, did he truly exist?
Otherwise—how could his father appear so devout?
He didn't believe his father would be deceived by any demon.
Thinking of this, he immediately knelt down beside his father and kowtowed with him.
...
[Personal Task — Nine]
[Task Description]: You are already a High Rank 9 Land God, and the Godly Path Law has radiated across a thousand acres of land. Within the range of your Godly Path Law, yin and yang are separated, and the souls of deceased beings cannot go to the Netherworld on their own. To prevent souls from lingering in the human world, you need a strong team of Ghost Messengers to fulfill the duty of soul hooking.
[Task Goal]: Enfeoff fifty Class D or higher Ghost Messengers.
[Task Reward]: Twenty Second-Class 'Netherworld Soldier Artifacts,' three Third-Class 'Netherworld Soldier Artifacts,' and one hundred eighty God Power.
...
"The task of enfeoffing Ghost Messengers."
"Currently, there are only twelve Ghost Messengers, still lacking thirty-eight."
"Let's make it forty people." Li Yue pondered.
He gently waved his hand, and the 'land register' immediately flew into his hand, gently opening.
It clearly recorded the life stories and remaining lifespans of all the current villagers of Four Seas Village!
He planned to select forty Class B Believers whose lifespans were nearing their end.
Then he would have Liao Xiuer ask if they were willing to return their souls to the Netherworld Law Domain and become Ghost Messengers.
If they were willing, their mortal bodies would die, and their souls would be enfeoffed by him.
If they were unwilling, they would wait for their natural death; he didn't care.
Currently, Four Seas Village already had over five thousand Believers, among whom there were over eight hundred Class B Believers.
"These fifty-two people have less than a year left in their lifespans."
"Let's choose forty from these fifty-two people." Li Yue's expression was calm.
Regarding the birth, aging, sickness, and death of Believers, he would only manage 'sickness,' and even then, it wasn't that if you came to him with an illness, he would necessarily cure it for the Believers.
That would make it seem too cheap.
He was a God, not a nanny.
He planned to only use God Power to perform the 'Illness Dispelling Technique' during the two Great Sacrifices each year to dispel illnesses for the Believers.
However, dispelling illnesses did not mean increasing lifespan.
If the King of Hell wants you to die at the third watch, he will never keep you until the fifth watch.
The lifespans of mortals were already clearly recorded in the 'land register' in his hand.
Dispelling illnesses only prevented the body from suffering from pain.
But when the lifespan limit was reached, those who were meant to die would still die.
Only by becoming a martial artist could one change their lifespan!
Of course—as the master of the 'land register' and the Land Deity in charge of a village, he naturally had the ability to change the lifespans of mortals.
But this required consuming God Power.
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't do this.
Life and death are fated!
To go against it would be against the Godly Path!
Whoosh—his gaze fell upon the 'Netherworld Law Domain' deep underground, beneath the 'Divine Domain'.
He gently waved his hand.
Ninety God Power flew out, instantly merging into this 'Netherworld Law Domain'.
Immediately—this 'Netherworld Law Domain' began to expand.
From its original size of ten meters long, ten meters wide, and three meters high, it expanded to a space thirty-three meters long, thirty-three meters wide, and three meters high.
The area was more than eleven times larger than before, appearing much more spacious and empty.
After all, if fifty Ghost Messengers were to work and live there, it naturally couldn't be too cramped.
"Liao Xiuer." His majestic voice resounded in Liao Xiuer's mind:
"Four Seas Village is gradually expanding, and the villagers are increasing daily. I command you to establish the 'Soul Hooking Department,' specializing in the matter of soul hooking."
"You shall temporarily serve as the Inspector of the 'Soul Hooking Department,' and Li Youtang shall temporarily serve as the Deputy Inspector of the 'Soul Hooking Department.'"
"The 'Soul Hooking Department' is temporarily set at fifty Ghost Messengers. I will give you a list of Believers whose lifespans are nearing their end. You shall ask them if they are willing to serve in the 'Soul Hooking Department,' entirely on a voluntary basis."
With more Ghost Messengers, an organization was naturally needed.
So he directly established the 'Soul Hooking Department.'
In the 'Netherworld Law Domain,' Liao Xiuer, upon hearing this, immediately knelt on the ground, overjoyed, and respectfully said:
"Your subordinate will definitely manage the 'Soul Hooking Department' well and diligently fulfill the duty of soul hooking!"
She was very pleasantly surprised.
Previously—she was only the leader of the Ghost Messenger team.
But now that the God Lord had established the 'Soul Hooking Department,' she instantly became an Inspector, which meant she had an official position!
Perhaps—she would also have a chance to become a God in the future!
Thinking of this, she became even more excited, secretly vowing to work even harder to fulfill her soul-hooking duties and ensure no problems arose.
Soon, it was nighttime.
Liao Xiuer did not delegate the task but personally went to inquire whether the Believers on the list were willing to join the 'Soul Hooking Department.'
...
Li Youjin was also one of the earliest elders of Li Family Village.
He and Temple Keeper Li Youming and Li Youtang were of the same generation, and even shared the same great-great-grandfather.
In other words—his grandfather and the grandfathers of Temple Keeper Li Youming and Li Youtang were biological brothers.
"Li Youjin."
"Li Youjin—" Li Youjin was sleeping in his house when he suddenly heard someone call him.
He groggily opened his eyes, only to find that the room was hazy with a lot of mist.
He took a couple of shallow breaths and found the mist very comfortable.
"Who's calling me?" he asked, trembling as he sat up from the bed, looking towards the doorway.
The mist was thicker there, and he vaguely saw a figure dressed in a Ghost Messenger uniform with a soul-locking chain hanging from his waist.
Seeing this figure, Li Youjin's heart immediately jolted.
This was a Ghost Messenger!
Temple Keeper Li Youming had long told all the villagers that if they saw a Ghost Messenger at their door, it meant their lifespan was up, and they should not resist but simply follow the Ghost Messenger.
He had also drawn the image of a Ghost Messenger for all the villagers to see.
That's why he could immediately recognize the figure at the door as a Ghost Messenger.
Now that a Ghost Messenger was at his door, he was probably already dead.
He just hadn't had time to say goodbye to his children.
However, dying without pain or disaster could be considered a happy event.
He stood up, unhurriedly, and bowed to the faintly visible Ghost Messenger at the door:
"This old man is indeed Li Youjin. Thank you, esteemed Ghost Messenger, for coming to guide me."
At his age, he no longer feared death.
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