Chapter 2947: The Aftermath of the Battle of the Earth Mother

This time's Godslayer, there was even an additional Red General.

Strictly speaking, Jialou Tian did not die at the hands of the Nine Nether, but was personally finished off by the Red General. Someone who could duel and kill the second-ranked Great Heavenly God of the Lingxu masses — what kind of divine figure was this!

Thus the historical legends of Panlong City and the Red General also began to spread wildly across the continent; somehow the information was extraordinarily detailed. After archaeological investigation, the world discovered that there was actually such a hidden big BOSS on the Panlong Wasteland, who killed the God of Death, Mitiian, two hundred years ago.

Then her appearing two hundred years later and immediately using Jialou Tian as a sacrificial offering to heaven — that doesn't seem strange at all, does it?

For the stories of the strong and heroes, people never tire of telling them; ten times, a hundred times, it's never enough.

Cangyan's Prime Minister Du Shan reported to He Lingchuan via long-distance, his mouth nearly splitting with laughter.

When the bad news of the Emperor's passing came from the Battle of the Earth Mother Plains, Du Shan felt as if struck by five thunderbolts. Although the Emperor had left a will early on, he knew very well that the Great Emperor's prestige, status, and ability — no one in the Cangyan Empire could replace him!

Without the Great Emperor, which way would this great ship of Cangyan sail? Du Shan had not a shred of confidence in his heart.

Later, when Ling Jinbao flew in with the good news that the Emperor had died and resurrected alongside the Panlong heroic spirits, Du Shan immediately plopped down on his butt, his legs trembling, unable to stand.

Thank goodness, thank goodness, thank goodness!

Although the Great Emperor had not yet returned to the country, spontaneous celebrations erupted everywhere across the nation; people sang and danced, celebrating the Emperor's latest battle achievements.

In the rapidly spreading rumors, the number of enemies killed by the Nine Nether Great Emperor and the Red General also inflated rapidly; the count of Great Heavenly Demons killed went from three to five, then to seven, ten, fifteen, while the Heavenly Demons who died on the Earth Mother Plains went from nearly a hundred to two hundred, three hundred, five hundred... even Du Shan didn't know how high the number would inflate before it stopped.

Countless scholars were inspired by this world-shaking battle; storybooks and stage plays within Cangyan erupted like a spring, vivid and embellished. But it didn't matter — as long as they were entertaining, as long as they were satisfying. One reckoned it wouldn't be long before masterpiece works about the Battle of the Earth Mother Plains would appear.

"Also, the orders for Dragon God statues received by Songyang Prefecture and Lianqing Workshop have exploded." This was originally a minor matter, but Du Shan thought it very representative. "Songyang Prefecture took orders for 700,000, Lianqing Workshop took orders for 550,000; there are domestic and foreign orders, all specifying they must be consecrated in the Dragon God Temple."

"Your Majesty, the Dragon God's believers are surging."

Who could have imagined that Dragon God statues would actually become Cangyan's number one single-item export by volume this month?

Buying Dragon God statues from the Dragon God's nation — reasonable.

These statues aren't rough fakes that villagers can just pick up a block of wood and carve; they are proper magical artifacts manufactured by famous artisan sects. Placed in the home, they have real effects of warding off evil, driving away ghosts, and suppressing monsters. And after being consecrated at the Dragon God Temple, the statues emit a faint glowing halo at night, bringing peace of mind.

The statue business isn't Songyang Prefecture's main trade; previously selling a few thousand a month was considered impressive, after all the price wasn't cheap. This explosion of orders truly left the two sect workshops scrambling.

He Lingchuan pressed his temples.

Du Shan noticed he had been making this gesture often recently: "Does Your Majesty still feel unwell?"

"Much better now, just occasional headaches." As time passed, the memories he pieced back together became more and more numerous, more and more complete, and more and more coherent. He remembered his origins, his original aspirations, the hardships of the past several decades of struggle.

Those past anger, sorrow, emotion, and pain also slowly returned.

And the belief that supported him in creating miracle after miracle.

His heart gradually was no longer hollow.

Although some trivial fragmented memories still remained unsorted, they were no longer important.

"Then you rest first; I'll come again tomorrow morning..."

"No need." As his memories recovered, He Lingchuan handled government affairs with increasing ease. "Tell me about Beka's latest situation. I had you investigate the disappearance of artisan families around Lingxu City — any word?"

This intelligence received a few days ago, he later felt a vague unease, and still sent Du Shan to investigate.

"Only tracked down one vague lead." Du Shan reported immediately. "The Shan clan of Jia Yu County, the clan head visited Jialou Tian's temple half a year ago, and less than three days after returning, left with the clan's master artisans, telling the other clan members only that they had received a secret commission with very high pay. In Beka, these skilled artisans always get all sorts of strange jobs, many employers demand strict confidentiality, so the clan members didn't ask further at the time."

He Lingchuan pondered: "Went to worship at the temple?"

"Yes. Following this lead further down, we discovered at least three artisan clan leaders had visited temples or met with temple priests before leaving." Du Shan had some regret. "Currently we've only reached this point; can't push the investigation further."

The events occurred around Lingxu City, which is not Cangyan's home turf; investigating isn't so convenient for them.

"The other side is also very careful." He Lingchuan stroked his chin. "So the temples are secretly recruiting these artisans? Want them to build some secret hall?"

They're being this covert — looks like they don't want the Lingxu City authorities to know.

If not for Li Qingge's tip-off, which happened to be about several artisan clans she was in contact with stopping work, how could a few artisan families going out on business in the vast Beka attract official attention?

Du Shan guessed: "Are they planning to build a hiding place for the God-Discended Body, or perhaps a dedicated venue for the Lingxu Saint's descent?"

Who knows how the Lingxu Saint will descend — maybe it requires a tedious ritual, maybe it requires a specially constructed venue?

"Makes sense." He Lingchuan pointed at him. "Continue the investigation."

"Yes!" Du Shan continued reporting. "Three more matters. One: the Myriad Gods Hall on Mount Xushan has not opened since the statues of Jialou Tian and over a hundred Heavenly Demons shattered. Jialou Tian's exclusive temple on the mountain also hasn't opened."

The few Great Heavenly Gods of the Lingxu masses, besides being enshrined in the Myriad Gods Hall, each had their own separate temples on Mount Xushan to receive the people's incense. Now that they've perished and their statues shattered, the Heavenly Court is in an awkward spot:

Should these Great Heavenly Demons' temples still be opened? Should their statues continue to be enshrined in the Myriad Gods Hall?

The dead Dragon God is still worshipped to this day, highly respected, and there's even a grand Dragon God Temple outside Lingxu City;

But dead Heavenly Gods — their temples' incense plummets, and they soon close for good.

The people's starting point for worshipping them is different:

Worshipping the former is worshipping a hero, believing they remain a god after death, blessing the world for ten thousand generations;

This is faith.

Worshipping the latter is worshipping the strong, hoping to borrow their strength for protection. Once the strong perish, they have no value to them.

This is mere utility.

(End of Chapter)