Grandma Gongsun nodded repeatedly, her old eyes sparkling with an unprecedented brilliance.

"The Mountain Goddess is merciful and possesses great supernatural powers! We must not let down the Mountain Goddess's kindness!"

…

Meanwhile, at the foot of the barren mountain.

The convoy of the General Who Protects the Nation finally arrived at its destination after kicking up a trail of dust.

However, the moment the carriage curtain was lifted and the General looked out,

Even though he was used to the bloodshed on the battlefield and the intrigue in the palace, his pupils suddenly contracted and he gasped.

The barren mountain before us—where is there even a trace of barrenness to speak of?

The entire mountain range was lush and vibrant with life.

Especially on the mountaintop, a dense golden light surrounded it, almost solidifying into a tangible form.

It was as if a bright sun had descended to earth, its auspicious aura soaring to the heavens, inspiring awe in all who beheld it.

From the foot of the mountain upwards, it was densely packed, a dark mass of people!

Thousands of believers, with devout expressions, knelt or bowed, chanting incantations.

The prayers, merging into a thunderous roar, resonated deeply in the hearts of everyone who arrived there for the first time.

"This, this is the desolate mountain?"

The deputy general beside the Grand General was so astonished that he couldn't close his mouth and muttered to himself.

He had only ever heard of such a grand spectacle in those distant, legendary holy lands.

The Grand General took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart.

He came here with the intention of befriending the mountain god and even seeking his protection.

"Pass down the order: everyone dismount, remain silent, and follow me..."

Before he could finish speaking, an elderly woman dressed in simple clothes but with a sprightly spirit, holding an ordinary wooden cane, blocked the way.

The old woman's eyes were piercing as she swept over their group. Her voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.

"Who goes there? This is a sacred place in the desolate mountains. All those who wish to worship must dismount and walk, with a devout heart, and must not disturb the goddess's peace!"

"There are guides ahead who will arrange for you to line up and wait. Do not act rashly!"

Upon hearing this, the guards of the Grand General of the State immediately showed resentment.

Their status as generals was such that even when the emperor was still alive, they were not subject to such constraints.

However, the General of the State waved his hand at the guards.

He said in a deep voice, "What the old man said is true. We have come to pay our respects to the Mountain Goddess, so we should abide by the local rules."

After saying that, he dismounted first and straightened his clothes.

Seeing this, the deputy general and his guards had no choice but to dismount and follow behind the general.

Some believers from the desolate mountains saw that the group had an extraordinary bearing and knew that they were not ordinary people, so they took the initiative to step forward and offer them several prayer cushions.

"If the general wishes to pay homage, he may join us here. The Mountain Goddess is merciful, showing no favoritism; sincerity is key."

Looking at the simple prayer mat and then at the sea of ​​kneeling believers around him, the General of the Nation felt a subtle sense of embarrassment.

He was a great general who protected the country, second only to the emperor. When had he ever knelt down with these peddlers and rural women?

But then I thought about the purpose of my trip.

Looking again at the devout believers covering the mountains and the dazzling golden light on the mountaintop, he nodded cautiously.

"Thank you for your trouble."

He took the prayer mat, and imitating the people around him, lifted the hem of his robe and slowly knelt down.

Dozens of armored guards could only follow suit and kneel down behind their general, creating a rather peculiar scene.

The General Who Protects the Nation knelt on the prayer mat, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the mountain peak.

Just then, he clearly saw the rich golden light on the mountaintop ripple slightly.

Then, several strands of soft yet extremely dazzling golden light separated out, as if they had a life of their own, and drifted down leisurely.

These golden rays of light merged precisely into the brows of some devout kneeling believers below.

The believers, bathed in golden light, had a holy halo instantly appear on their faces.

Their faces, which had looked tired and sallow from work or illness, were now visibly radiant and full of vitality!

Even more remarkably, an elderly man, leaning on a cane and panting heavily, threw away his cane after being touched by the golden light!

The other person stood up shakily, tears streaming down his face, and kowtowed repeatedly!

"A miracle! This is a true miracle!"

The General's heart pounded, his eyes filled with disbelief and shock.

He had spent his life on the battlefield, and what strange and wonderful things hadn't he heard? But witnessing such a scene, which seemed like a blessing from the gods, was a first for him!

The Grand Preceptor of Yan was said to possess great supernatural powers, yet he abandoned his people in the face of natural disasters.

Yet this mountain deity was able to evoke such extraordinary phenomena, bringing blessings to believers!

The difference in quality is immediately apparent!

At this moment, the General Who Protects the Nation felt no more hesitation or embarrassment.

He unconsciously straightened his back and, imitating the believers around him, bowed deeply.

"We pay our respects to the Mountain Goddess, and pray that your divine power will endure forever, bringing blessings to all people!"

The moment his forehead touched the ground, he knelt down again in devout worship.

An indescribable warm current, as if descending from the heavens or rising from the earth, instantly enveloped his entire body.

The troubles of the world, the memories of battle, the intrigues of the court...

At that moment, it seemed as if everything had drifted away from him.

His heart was filled with an unprecedented peace and tranquility, as if he had returned to his mother's embrace, warm and serene.

After an unknown amount of time, when he slowly rose up with the crowd again, he subconsciously moved his right wrist, which had been severely injured on the battlefield and would ache faintly on rainy days.

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