Houtu, this world also has Houtu

  Heaven is yang, earth is yin, and later the land became the female deity in charge of the great earth, mountains and rivers.

  "Taizu sacrifices to the earth, and later matches the sacrifice", this is a record of the ancestor of Chu Taizu sacrificing to the post-earth, but there is no record of her incarnation in the six paths, protecting all living beings, and simply being the goddess of the great earth.

  Moreover, for the people, Hou Tu Temple is not common, Fang Xin also learned from the county records that there is a Hou Tu Temple on Fengtun Mountain outside the city.

  After learning about it, although there were still eight days before the county examination, since Jiangfu was the county city, there was no need to rush far away. He immediately told his mother, He Shi, and left the door.

  Left the city, hired a cattle cart. The cattle cart was slow, although Fengtun Mountain was not very far away, it took two hours to get there. I couldn't help but sigh: "It seems that in ancient times, transportation was a big problem. Leaving the city is like this, let alone traveling all over the country? No wonder those who can travel all over the country are mostly exceptional people."

  Arrived at Fengtun Mountain, I found that the mountain is not high, about 300 meters. The stone pavilion at the foot of the mountain was already crowded with people. On top of the pavilion, there were tea vendors selling coarse tea to travelers for a small amount of money to quench their thirst.

  In the center of the pavilion, however, was a group of Confucian-robed men, among whom stood a middle-aged man in his forties, yet he was surrounded by them like stars around the moon, occasionally addressing him as "Your Excellency", apparently an official.

  Fang Xin naturally couldn't go forward to disturb them, these people were all dressed in green robes, obviously they had official titles and ranks. Compared to Fang Xin at this time, there was a difference in status and identity. At the moment, under a tree far away from the pavilion, he found a stone to sit on, took out a piece of money, bought a cup of coarse tea, the cup was made of bamboo, Fang Xin drank it, the entrance was bitter and astringent, but afterwards there was some fragrance, not good tea, but it quenched his thirst.

  At this time, the dignitary in the pavilion was sitting alone at a stone table, seemingly saying something. Fang Xin could hear it although he didn't want to use his spirit to listen carefully. Occasionally hearing a few words, they were nothing more than traveling up the mountain and holding a poetry party. It seemed that this dignitary was very important, so these scholars and talents could only fawn on him.

  Fang Xin, however, paid no attention to him. After finishing a cup of tea, he got up and headed up the mountain. The mountain path was paved with stone steps, which he followed upwards. Along the way, he saw some wild trees and flowers scattered about on both sides.

  In the empty mountains, no one is seen, but I know there are still fragrant orchids.

  The flowers bloom unseen, their fragrance is pure and delightful.

  Rushing streams swirl down steep rapids. Occasionally, crosswinds block the way.

  The fragrance has long since faded, and the deep mountain path is shrouded in sorrow.

  The grass is so green, spitting out bright red in the morning mist.

  How can it be so close, yet seem as distant as heaven and earth?

  A zither is placed on white stone. At dusk, three sighs of sorrow.

  For some reason, Fang Xin suddenly remembered this poem and recited it immediately. Although he felt that the poem was familiar, he had even forgotten the author's name. Fang Xin rubbed his head. It must have been something he saw casually on Earth, otherwise, it wouldn't be like this. Because afterwards, everything else, he remembered very clearly.

  However, the empty mountain has no one, flowers and grasses open by themselves. It's really hard to express the desolation. I only feel that these flowers and grasses are like most people's lives, all too short-lived, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Either indulge in life, lest today's blossoms wither tomorrow, or pursue eternity, so as to be forever present. With feelings in my heart, words come out naturally.

  But unexpectedly, an old man who was slowly climbing with the crowd heard this poem and was suddenly startled. He looked up again but only saw a young boy. Looking at his back, he had a refined and elegant appearance, yet also seemed solemn and serious. The old man's heart skipped a beat, and he turned around to ask a middle-aged man: "Sir, what do you think of this young man?"

  "How strange! Judging by his aura, it's radiant and extraordinary, not ordinary at all, forming a qilin shape. However, looking at his facial features and bone structure, he's just an ordinary official." The middle-aged man fell silent, then said.

  "Haha, it's rare for Mr. Yan to have someone who can't be defeated for a moment, it's really interesting, I didn't expect to meet you today, so what do you think of the people waiting at the foot of the mountain?"

  As for the people at the foot of the mountain, Mr. Yan said calmly: "These people, their aura and facial features are compatible, among the 16 people, 9 have official appearance and some future prospects, and there are six people who, without special opportunities, have already stopped by now, and the last one, in a few years, will have a fatal disaster, let's see if he can survive."

  A single word can change one's life; a single sentence can determine one's fate.

  "That's so, this kid is really interesting." The old man chuckled.

  Fang Xin, however, was unaware of this interlude and continued to climb the mountain. When he reached the top, he was shocked to find that there was no Hou Tu Temple, but instead a magnificent Buddhist temple surrounded by large quantities of flowers and trees for tourists to admire.

  Many people bring their whole family, carrying their children, strolling through the temples, both worshiping Buddha and spending a leisurely day, so incense guests are flowing in continuously.

  Fang Xin did not expect to see this temple, furrowed his brow and sensed it, but only felt the Buddha's light. At that moment, he smiled and saw that the Buddha's light in the temple was dim, knowing that the disciples inside had already been drunk by the incense money and wealth, with no one sincerely worshiping the Buddha or monks wholeheartedly practicing meditation. Some of the light came from considering the guests who burned incense.

  He then sensed the same kind through the light of Hou Tu within his own body, and indeed sensed it. He turned to a side of the mountain behind him, and found an old dilapidated temple of Hou Tu there. The temple seemed to have very little incense, but a bit of spiritual light remained. Fang Xin entered, and saw an old man.

  "Should we offer incense to the goddess?" The old man asked, speaking in a local dialect that Fang Xi barely understood. He looked at the old man and felt a connection of some sort, knowing that if it weren't for this person, the earth temple would have been abandoned.

  As the embodiment of the Six Paths, holding the power of the earth and controlling the gates of life and death, the Hou Tu goddess was unexpectedly deserted, it's simply unthinkable. At this time, Fang Xin said: "Is there lamp oil and water?"

  Yes!

  "Bring it here!" Fang Xin said, tearing off a piece of cloth. He saw that the old man had brought over half a basin of water and frowned. The old man said, "Good sir, it's not that I'm stingy, but transporting water up to the mountain costs money, and now the incense is not selling well, I've grown old, I can't carry the water myself, and I don't have any money, so I can only do this much." Fang Xin coldly smiled and didn't say anything. He soaked the cloth, carefully wiping the altar clean, then wiped down the mud-covered statue. Seeing that the gold plating had all been stripped off, he again wiped it with lamp oil, poured in the oil, and lit it.

  "Dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth, the soul returns to the afterlife. However, you do not need to suffer and grieve, death is a cycle of life, without any concealment, hypocrisy or darkness."

  I have transformed into the Six Paths, just to prevent you from dispersing and falling. The Way does not despise, it is for the sake of the Primordial Chaos, looking down from above, even more so without despising, the high is not for abandoning the low to exist, but only for guarding and guiding, to let you know that you are eternal seeds, I am your father and mother, guiding you on the path of true righteousness. Before this, I wish to be reborn lifetime after lifetime, guarding over you.

  "This vow is my great practice and also my fundamental dharma gate."

  Fang Xinmeng prayed silently, and suddenly the Hou Tu Sacred Power of this body resonated with a spark of divine light in front of him. The light started as a thin line, but gradually thickened until it merged with the statue above.

  However, Fang Xin still controlled the light intensity. This world could truly take shape and attract too much holy light, which would be astonishing. For now, he kept the holy light concentrated within a range that was invisible to the naked eye, and further concentrated it in this small space.

  After a moment, the statue shone brightly, and a holy light dwelled within it, apparently restored to normal. Fang Xin then opened his eyes to see the old man kneeling on the ground with a "pu" sound.

  "You serve the princess first, after a while, I will find a way to get some money for you to rebuild your golden body and temple. For now, just take these two coins!" Although he had attracted the attention of Hou Tu's holy light, Fang Xin didn't show any joy at all.

  As soon as he went out the door and returned to the front mountain, he saw people worshiping Buddha, wearing new clothes, supporting the elderly and carrying the young, with happy faces all over. It turned out that a Buddhist ceremony was being held, and the monks were striking the bell and playing music while walking slowly. There were also monks holding incense burners, with smoke curling up. This was completely different from before. Fang Xin had no objection to worshiping Buddha, but in comparison, he felt somewhat downcast.

  Not wanting to see anymore, Fang Xin descended the mountain, passing through a bamboo forest. It was August, the height of summer, but Fang Xin's sweat had stopped, and although this body couldn't possibly have three stages, condensing sacred power could also be like this.

  The sound of chanting sutras in the temple on the mountain is faintly audible, and the flowers in the forest are blooming profusely, with green bamboo like jade. There is a kind of serene beauty. When going down the mountain, there were seven or eight people slowly climbing up the small path between the mountains, who were the old men from just now.

  When going up the mountain, he didn't notice, but when coming down, Fang Xin swept his eyes and was shocked. The people in front of him were not simple, especially the old man, who had a faint purple aura.

  The purple air also has many kinds, but this person, some are indeed noble air.

  This noble air is indeed rare, with just a hint of it, one can become rich and noble. If it's like the old man's, at least it's a marquis title.

  Fang Xin was unwilling to get involved, so he stepped aside immediately. At this time, there was an ancient pine tree by the road, and the pine tree happened to have a stone, so he sat on it. Anyway, he was just a commoner, while the other party, although not revealing his identity, could be seen as a noble or rich person at a glance, and yielding did not seem abrupt.

  Moreover, the mountain forest has wind, gently blowing, and sweeping away, making one's clothes flutter. Even if Fang Xin didn't feel the sweltering heat, he felt that this was truly refreshing for the mind and spirit, gradually having a desire to leave worldly affairs behind.

  But little did he know, the old man saw him and smiled slightly, also coming over himself.