Ji Yuan understood that the question he asked was stupid, but it was something that had to be clarified sooner or later, and anyone who asked it was asking.
It's just that the old city god is inexplicably respectful again. This is a very subtle feeling. It seems that the old city god's words are not as casual as before.
The old city god was very organized and detailed some of the history he knew, mixed with some unofficial histories of the country's various dynasties and dynasties, as well as some local customs around the mountains and rivers, and also deliberately added some familiar place name changes.
Different from the previous confusion about fairy and monster things, this narrative has obviously given Ji Yuan a clearer understanding of the world, at least the understanding at the mortal level has become much more intuitive and clear.
The country we are in now is vast, with a total of thirteen states. This dynasty, Dazhen, has stood firm for two hundred years and has passed to the eighth generation of Emperor Qianwu. It has gone through nine dynasties such as Wu, Tong, Chu, and Kuang. Further ahead is part of the territory of a huge dynasty.
The Old City God paused slightly before speaking.
"According to historical records, that great dynasty was called the Great Zhou."
"Da Zhou?"
Ji Yuan was obviously refreshed, but he just smiled and passed away. This so-called Great Zhou was not the one he imagined. It was different from the mountains, rivers, geography, and historical changes.
The old city god stroked his beard and nodded.
"Yes, but the government and opposition have lasted for too long. Even people like us can hardly describe all the changes in the world. The world is so big that it is difficult to describe it in thousands of words. What's more, as the saying goes, there is a sky beyond the sky, and it is difficult to fully understand everything!"
Ji Yuan also nodded in agreement.
"What Lord Cheng Huang said is absolutely true!"
Ji Yuan learned from the exchange just now that the position of City God is the most entangled divine position in the world, and it also changes the most frequently.
Take Ning'an County as an example. The previous generation of Ning'an County Town God was still surnamed Li. Later, the current dynasty overthrew the old system. In addition, Ning'an County gave birth to Song Shichang, who served as an official in the dynasty and honored his ancestors. After the death of Lord Song, the emperor posthumously granted him the title. He was the city god of Ning'an County and ordered local officials to build temples and ancestral halls.
As for the original Old City God, if he has deep cultivation, he can find another way out. If he is not good at cultivation, he will only lose a little bit of the power of the incense. If he cannot advance but retreats, it is possible that he will disappear.
This is not to say that the emperor in this world has the power of edicts to follow the law. In the end, it is only the willingness of the people to offer incense and sacrifices that determines everything.
Of course, it is normal for many city gods to remain unchanged after several dynasties. Firstly, the emperor on earth is not so empty, which is a way to honor meritorious ministers. Secondly, the emperor on earth does not understand this supernatural thing at all.
Even so, the relationship between the city god in the world and the dynasty he belongs to is both prosperous and destructive. Although the yin and yang are separated, most of the city gods will try their best to protect the people on the land and water and avoid evil spirits from causing chaos.
After all, most of those who can be granted the title of City God, whether by imperial decree or by recommendation from the people to build temples, are famous and expected to be virtuous, and it is also related to their own cultivation.
But just like the official officials in the Yangshi world cannot take care of everything, the city god cannot fully investigate the hidden monsters, not to mention that sometimes it is difficult to resist.
What's interesting is that although the relationship between the city god and the dynasty is close, he is not a minister of the emperor after all. There is a separation between yin and yang, and he is not unruly at all.
To put it bluntly, even the most powerful people in the dynasty are just mortals. Their eyes cannot see ghosts and their divine power cannot break through yin and yang. Apart from seeing strange gods and strange things, there are very few people who even know about things like city gods, immortals and demons. For them, The words are just biographies in the clay sculptures in the temple.
…
Ji Yuan and Lao Chenghuang were chatting and drinking tea on the third floor of the building outside the temple. They were also admiring the scenery outside the building. The time passed unknowingly due to the harmonious conversation, and it was noon in the blink of an eye.
Ji Yuan got a lot of key information, and the old city god realized that he had a certain understanding of Mr. Ji, so the conversation was almost over for the day.
Originally, the old city god suggested that Ji Yuan have lunch in the building outside the temple, but while eating and chatting, the table of snacks and pastries was eaten until noon, and he didn't feel like having lunch at all.
Naturally, the two were ready to say goodbye as soon as they left the temple.
"Lord City God, thank you for your hospitality today!"
"If Mr. Ji is there, it's a blessing for Ning'an County that he comes to live here for a short time. The books you need will be sent to Ju'an Xiaoge as soon as possible. Please rest assured, sir!"
"Thank you, Lord Chenghuang!"
"Okay, let's talk about it some other time, let's just say goodbye now!"
As the old city god spoke, he slightly bowed his hands towards Ji Yuan, and Ji Yuan also waved his hands away.
“Let’s talk about it another day!”
After bowing and nodding to each other, the Old City God walked towards the City God's Temple with a free and easy gait. Ji Yuan watched the Old City God walk halfway before smiling and turning around to go home.
Although the City God's Temple was a lively place, the temple fair was at night, and he didn't need to go to offer incense. It was only right to go home, brush his teeth, and wait for the book to arrive.
'I wonder if the book that the City God gave me will be special. Can I read it directly with my almost blind eyes? If not, I have to find someone to read it, or I can ask the City God to ask someone to help me. '
At the entrance of an alley not far away, Yin Zhaoxian was about to hold Yin Qing's hand and walk out, but Yin Qing suddenly held on to his father's hand and refused to leave.
Yin Zhaoxian felt being held back by his son, and turned to look at Yin Qing with a frown.
"What's wrong?"
"Dad...over there, that big gentleman is over there!!"
Mr. Big
Yin Zhao first looked in the direction of the building outside the temple that his son was pointing at. He didn't know who the so-called big gentleman was, but his attention was immediately attracted by Ji Yuan and Lao Chenghuang. It was really the demeanor and demeanor of these two people. Like standing out from the flock.
"Qing'er, who is the Mr. Big you are talking about? Have you seen clearly? Don't admit your mistake."
"The one in the green robe, the one holding hands with the old gentleman! I can see clearly, I will never admit my mistake!"
Yin Qing was standing behind his father, looking out across the alley, looking at both Ji Yuan and the old man.
Yin Zhaoxian looked at the two people outside the temple building. They were already separated. One was heading towards the City God's Temple, and the other was leaving from another way. They seemed normal, but since the son was afraid of being a father, he would still worry about his son's feelings.
"Okay, now that they're gone, let's go to the City God's Temple!"
"Um!"
Yin Zhaoxian sighed, and now he suddenly felt that his son might have been dazzled before. The two people were very unfamiliar, but they had great bearings, and they didn't look like sinister people.
'Who is this old man? I should recognize all the prominent people in Ning'an County. Is he also a foreigner? '
Holding Yin Qing's hand, they walked out of the alley and headed to the City God's Temple. In front of their eyes, the father and son could still see the old man in black robes who had bid farewell to Ji Yuan.
The father and son were in a certain subtle state of mind, and their pace quickened slightly, as if they were getting closer to the old gentleman.
"Selling incense, the best sandalwood!! Go to the temple to worship the city god, offer three sticks of incense, and sell the best sandalwood!!"
There are vendors selling sandalwood at the entrance of the temple.
"Bring me three sticks of incense."
"Okay, here, be careful not to break it!"
Yin Zhao first gave the merchant a penny. From paying the bill to collecting the incense, he mainly focused on the old man in front of him. After collecting the incense, he took Yin Qing to the temple.
"Huh? Gone? Qing'er, did you just see where he went?"
"No, I didn't see him when I entered the temple...Dad, could it be a ghost..."
"What nonsense are you talking about! This is the City God's Temple!"
Yin Zhao first criticized Yin Qing severely, and then pulled him towards the main hall. This City God's Temple was not big.
However, after passing through the front hall, I didn't see the old man either. The number of people coming and going to burn incense and worship the City God was not small but not too many. I didn't see anyone. I looked at the back door on the corner side of the temple. There were two doors. The wooden door was closed, and it didn't look like someone was going out. Moreover, it was Miao Zhu's residence over there, so no one would pass by casually.
'How strange...'
Even in the City God's Temple, Yin Zhaoxian was a little nervous.
"Qing'er, let's pay homage to the City God!"
Yin Zhaoxian put aside the random thoughts in his heart, took Yin Qing into the main hall, and lit the sandalwood incense candles from the temple on one side.
First, they put sandalwood incense on the Incense Burner Mountain, and then the father and son knelt on the cushions and prayed devoutly.
After paying homage to the City God, when Yin Zhaoxian stood up to leave, he found that Yin Qing was still kneeling there, staring blankly at the clay sculpture of the City God.
"What's wrong Qing'er?"
"Dad...it seems..."
Yin Qing said very quietly.