Zhang San slapped his thigh hard, the force so great that he winced in pain, but he didn't care at all.
"Oh dear! I've missed out on an incredible fortune!"
He let out a wail, and without bothering to explain, he turned and ran wildly towards the market.
His home was in a remote area, a good two miles from the main market in the east of the city. When he dragged his whole family back, panting, to the corner they had just been, there was no stall left.
The floor was spotless, without a single drop of oil left.
"It's all gone, everything's gone!" Zhang San collapsed to the ground, filled with regret, wishing he could slap himself twice.
They arrived late, but someone else seized the opportunity.
Not far away, several ragged little beggars were gathered together, one of them carefully opening a small wooden box in his hand.
A soft white light flashed, and a brand-new cotton-padded coat lay quietly inside the box.
In another corner, a bookish man with a worried expression opened the blind box he had bought.
Inside was a rare copy of "The Strategy of Qingzhou," which he had been searching for for many years but could not find. He was so moved that he burst into tears on the spot.
There was also an old lady who opened a small bag of plump wheat seeds, which were said to be able to take root and sprout in barren land.
These things are not earth-shattering, but they are exactly what the people of Bailing Kingdom need most at this moment.
The people were filled with emotion.
By the roadside, several scholars gathered together, stroking their beards and sighing as they gazed at the scene before them.
"We had only heard that divine messengers had descended upon the Peacock Kingdom to punish evil and promote good, and we thought it was an exaggeration," a scholar in a blue robe said, shaking his head.
"Having witnessed it today, I realize that divine might is as vast as the sea and divine grace as profound as a prison. We mortals are truly like frogs in a well, looking at the sky from the bottom of a well."
“Yes,” his companion chimed in, “with such unfathomable abilities, she performs acts of universal salvation. How could she be a divine messenger? In my opinion, that girl setting up the stall must be the true form of the Mountain Goddess, a deity walking among humans to personally understand our suffering!”
Upon hearing this, the surrounding crowd was stunned for a moment, and then burst into thunderous cheers!
"Mountain Goddess! The Mountain Goddess has come to see us!"
"We are saved! The gods have been watching over us!"
…
Unlike the bustling streets of the two countries, the temple atop the distant Tianyu Mountain was utterly tranquil.
The area is shrouded in mist and clouds, exuding an ethereal aura.
Yu Luo wore a moon-white divine robe, the hem of which was embroidered with patterns of mountains and rivers using extremely fine gold and silver threads.
With her movements, it was as if thousands of star rivers flowed.
She wore no makeup, yet her skin was as smooth and lustrous as jade. Her clear eyes gazed quietly at the enormous panoramic map formed by divine power before her.
The map clearly shows everything that just happened in the Peacock Kingdom and the Hundred Spirits Kingdom.
Every scene was captured in my view.
Yu Luo smiled faintly.
Beside him, the system, which had transformed back into a little sprite, flew over.
[Host, the faith points of the Peacock Kingdom and the Hundred Spirits Kingdom are soaring!]
Yu Luo nodded slightly, then tapped her jade finger lightly, and the panoramic map changed. It was no longer the small capital of the Peacock Kingdom and the Hundred Spirits Kingdom, but a panoramic map overlooking the entire land.
On the map, the territory of the Liang Kingdom presents a thriving scene.
The New First Army has become a joint force of various countries. Under Ling Xian's command, it is disciplined, reclaims wasteland for farming, builds water conservancy projects, and factories have sprung up everywhere. The people's faces are filled with smiles of peace and contentment.
The Empress of Yan is learning from the new policies of Liang and working diligently to govern the country.
The barbarian kingdom, which was once most ravaged by the messenger of the God of Healing, has now returned to normal.
Under the leadership of Tong Yiwen and the rescued time travelers, a new medical system is being established and is showing great vitality.
Looking at this land that was gradually emerging from the shadows of disaster and evil, Yu Luo's eyes revealed a hint of relief.
“System,” she suddenly said, “once these disasters and threats are all quelled, we will gradually disappear.”
"Hide?" The system's voice carried a hint of confusion.
"Why? Host, you are the only true god in this world who protects them. They believe in you and provide you with faith points. This is a natural cycle."
"It's only natural?" Yu Luo shook his head, his gaze deep. "No, this is not a long-term solution. Look at the people of the Peacock Kingdom. They cheer because of divine punishment and are grateful for divine gifts. But what if one day I stop sending down divine punishment and stop bestowing wealth?"
The system fell silent; its database held no answers.
Yu Luo turned around and slowly walked out of the temple, leaning on the railing to gaze at the misty sea of clouds.
"The prosperity of the nation and the wealth of the people should never be the responsibility of the gods. If the gods intervene in everything, rewarding the good and punishing the evil, in matters big and small, then the people will lose their ability to think, their motivation to create, and their courage to face difficulties. They will place all their hopes on vague prayers instead of their own hard work."
Her voice was soft, yet it possessed a power that transcended time and space.
“If this continues, this country and this civilization will rot from the root and eventually perish. I can shield them from the sea god's invasion and purify the source of the black energy, but I cannot walk every step of the future for them.”
"The only ones who can save them are themselves."
Yu Luo's gaze pierced through the clouds, seeing the figures sweating on the land of Liang, the apprentices learning new medical techniques in the barbarian kingdom, and the thriving Yan kingdom.
"Only by learning how to save themselves can they truly survive and create a brighter future for themselves. My existence is simply to give them an opportunity and environment to save themselves. Faith should ultimately return to their love for life, their hope for the future, and their trust in themselves."
“Look at those gods who were banished. Didn’t they see this point? Their greed grew bigger and bigger, and they forgot where they came from, which is why they became like this.”
"Although I have become a god, I should not forget my original intention. I should go and train for a while longer."
The system remained silent for a long time before finally nodding repeatedly.
"That's right! What we should have the most faith in is our own hands!"
The system sprite quietly flew onto Yu Luo's shoulder, and together they watched the continent gradually prosper.
(End of article)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
