strokinit Chapter 19 High Priest! Lin Shi's Path to Extraordinary Status!
Chapter 19 High Priest! Lin Shi's Path to Extraordinary Status!
Huh?
What's going on?
How can you see so far?
How can you see it so clearly?
Lin Shi was stunned for a moment. Just as he was about to look away, he suddenly realized that his vision was incredibly clear. The distant green mountains seemed to be right in front of him, and he could clearly see a small bird perched on a branch among the dense leaves of a large tree dozens of feet away.
By slightly lowering one's head, one can see the fine stitches on the collars of the kneeling villagers ten feet away, and even detect the slightest twisting motion of the incense smoke on the altar.
My hearing became exceptionally acute. The suppressed breathing of the villagers, the birdsong in the distant forest, and even the rustling of insects crawling underground all seemed to be right next to my ears, yet they were distinct and not noisy.
The various smells in the air—the sandalwood scent of incense, the earthy smell of soil, and the sweat of the villagers—became exceptionally distinct and easily distinguishable.
Lin Shi subconsciously flexed and extended his fingers slightly, feeling the hardness of his finger bones and a noticeable increase in grip strength. His legs felt solid and powerful, as if he could easily crush a loose clod of earth. The back pain accumulated from supervising the construction of the ancestral hall for days vanished instantly, replaced by a surge of energy.
Indirect nourishment!
Lin Shi pondered for a moment and then understood what was going on.
As the mighty torrent of faith flowed around the dragon god statue, I, as the chief priest, was immersed in this powerful energy field.
Ever since I learned that this world has faith, I have tried several times to bring it into my body, but it is like an invisible wind that passes directly through my body—intercepting and transforming my mortal body.
But now, this warm current truly rises and spreads from his limbs, from the depths of his dantian, and even from his bone marrow.
The feeling is like standing next to a surging waterfall of energy. Although you can't drink the water directly, the splashing mist continuously wets your body, providing nourishment.
Lin Shi felt a warm current, like soaking in a hot spring. The enhancement of his body was not an explosive burst of strength, but a gradual and solid improvement in his overall quality.
"My body cannot directly absorb and transform spiritual energy like a statue or a dragon, but being in the core of this highly efficient energy field is like plants growing in a place rich in spiritual energy. Even if I only absorb the scattered corners, I can gain tremendous benefits."
Lin Shi tried to guide a faint wisp of the residual energy flowing from the Jiao Shen statue closer to himself, but the pure energy remained oblivious to him, heading straight towards the deep pool. Only the nourishing aftertaste of the energy field continued to affect him.
Now, the nourishment from the "aftershocks of water mist" alone is enough to significantly enhance my physical condition.
What if we could find a way to turn my body into a container that can "receive water"?
Even, like a dragon's clone, could it directly absorb spiritual energy?
Lin Shi was deeply shaken, and an even bolder and more ambitious idea rose uncontrollably in his heart.
What would it be like if one day I were no longer just a fragile messenger or representative of the gods who needed to rely on the power of my clones, but an independent individual who could truly master extraordinary power and stand shoulder to shoulder with my clones?
Lin Shi's heart was burning hot, like boiling water, bubbling endlessly.
The sacrificial ceremony has ended.
The villagers did not disperse immediately; most remained immersed in the sacred atmosphere, some kowtowing repeatedly, while others gathered in small groups to recount the miraculous stories and wonders of the dragon god.
"Lin Shi".
"We have something to discuss with you."
Sun Ming walked up to Lin Shi and pointed to Xu Zheng, Bai Siqi, Lü Xing, and Zhuang Shifeng, who had come with him.
"What is it?"
Lin Shi was puzzled, wondering what Sun Ming and the others wanted to say to him.
"Today's grand ceremony was a testament to divine power, which we all witnessed. If it weren't for your interpretation of divine revelations, your presiding over the ceremony, and your supervision of the construction of the shrine and statues, how could our Shixi Village have such good fortune today?"
Sun Ming bowed respectfully to the ancestral hall, then turned to look at Lin Shi with great sincerity.
"As everyone has seen, Lin Shi, you've barely had time to tend to your own fields these past few days because of the God's affairs and for our village. Not only have you been presiding over the ceremonies, but you've also been managing all the details of building the shrine. Our Shixi Village has received such great favor from the God; we can't let down the heart of the God's 'representative' in the world!"
Sun Ming paused, looked at the villagers who had gathered around him, and raised his voice.
The villagers nodded in agreement.
"I discussed it with a few elders and we have a suggestion."
"From now on, Lin Shi, you no longer need to worry about making a living in the fields. Your food and clothing will be provided by all the families in the village, with a portion allocated from the village's communal fields. You can be freed from agricultural labor and devote yourself wholeheartedly to serving the Dragon God, presiding over sacrifices, studying the divine way, and becoming the dedicated 'representative' for our Shixi Village to communicate with the God!"
When Sun Ming made this suggestion, there was a moment of silence in the room, followed by enthusiastic applause.
"The chieftain is right! That's how it should be!"
"Lin Shi is someone the God-King values; how could he still be toiling in the mud like us every day?"
"Yes! By supporting Brother Lin Shi, we are essentially serving the God better!"
"I agree! My family is willing to contribute an extra half-dou of rice!"
"My family can produce that too!"
The villagers nodded in agreement.
"Lin Shi, you bear the heavy responsibility of communicating with the Divine Lord, and you really shouldn't be burdened by worldly affairs anymore. Although the village isn't wealthy, if we save, we can still support you. What do you think?"
Sun Ming looked at Lin Shi with anticipation.
Lin Shi's mind raced with thoughts.
Becoming a full-time spokesperson for the Jiao God means being completely freed from the pressure of survival, having more time and energy to study faith, guide faith, plan for the future, and even try to explore the possibility of self-enhancement and direct use of power.
This will undoubtedly greatly accelerate my plans.
Lin Shi was tempted.
"What virtue or ability does Lin Shi possess to receive such deep affection from the villagers? Since everyone trusts and respects him, in order to better serve the deity and bring blessings to the village, Lin Shi humbly accepts this honor."
"I will do my utmost in the future to live up to God's grace and the trust placed in me by my fellow villagers."
Lin Shi suppressed the turmoil in his heart and showed a proper expression of solemnity and humility.
"good!"
"From this day forward, Lin Shi will be the chief priest of the Dragon God Shrine in Shixi Village, dedicated to serving the deity! All offerings will be borne by the village through public discussion!"
Sun Ming was overjoyed and exclaimed loudly.
"Greetings, High Priest!"
Sun Ming took the lead in bowing, and the villagers followed suit, their eyes filled with respect.
Lin Shi accepted the greeting, straightened his clothes, and bowed deeply to Sun Ming and the many villagers.
night.
All sounds are silent.
North end of Shixi Village
Lin Shi finished his meal early and sat on a rock in front of the fire, concentrating on carefully experiencing the changes in his body.
The "nourishing aftereffects" of the daytime had not completely faded, but were slowly circulating within the body, continuously strengthening the physique. During the daytime ritual, there were too many people around, so one could only catch a glimpse of them. Now, with only oneself, the mind was completely calmed, and astonishing changes suddenly appeared as one perceived the surroundings.
The rustling of insects crawling among the grass dozens of steps away, the soft snoring of an old man in a village more than a kilometer away, and the low moaning of the undercurrents in the deep pool further away... all could be heard clearly.
It can even roughly distinguish the direction and distance of different insect sounds.
These sounds intertwine to form a fine web, bringing the entire nighttime dynamics of Shixi Village to life in my mind.
There are no stars and no moon.
Everything within a radius of several hundred meters was clearly visible, even the dust particles floating in the air were nowhere to be hidden.
The darkness could no longer completely block his vision.
Even more amazing is a vague "spiritual perception" or "sixth sense" that transcends the five senses.
Once attention is focused on the direction of the Jiao Shen Shrine at the village entrance, even from a distance, one can faintly sense the gentle and continuous faint spiritual light emanating from the statue of the Jiao Shen, as well as the invisible energy flow between it as a hub of faith and the deep pool.
This feeling is not about seeing or hearing, but a direct, spiritual "knowing".
"Is this the result of being indirectly nourished by a high-concentration field of information energy?"
"Not only has it strengthened the physical foundation, but it has also enhanced the level of perception."
Lin Shi suppressed his joy and, with a thought, amplified his senses by at least ten times, projecting them into the distant darkness and the mountains and forests outside the village. Although he couldn't see anything clearly, he could vaguely sense a chaotic and dangerous "aura" lurking there, completely different from the peaceful atmosphere of Shixi Village.
A wild beast?
Monsters or other ominous creatures?
Lin Shi's expression was solemn.
My judgment was correct!
The surrounding area is filled with countless unknown dangers. Huang Xian is just the first, and will not be the last. Without taking the risk and using the Jiao Shen statue to replace the stone toad to directly absorb the power, we cannot quickly increase the strength of the Jiaolong or even get rid of it. If there is an evil creature far stronger than Huang Xian, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Lin Shi opened his palm, revealing his unyielding nature.
Lin Shi focused his mind and immediately discovered that inside the Reverse Scale, there seemed to be an extremely faint energy pulse that originated from the same source as the dragon's clone, resonating more clearly than ever before with his skin, blood, and even something deeper.
Huh?
Could it be that this can absorb spiritual energy?
The reverse scale belongs to the dragon!
If a dragon can directly absorb spiritual energy, why can't a dragon absorb reverse scale energy?
The body cannot directly absorb spiritual energy, but what about using the reverse scale as a medium or converter?
The reverse scale is intertwined with one's own flesh and blood, and connected to one's soul.
Doesn't this mean it can absorb information?
Even if this isn't the body directly absorbing the power of faith, it's still much better than just being nourished by the power field around us!
Or, as the body is continuously nourished and transformed, will there come a day when the mortal body undergoes a qualitative change, generating a container capable of containing and transforming faith power?
"Could this be my path to extraordinary status?"
Lin Shi's eyes widened suddenly, and one crazy thought after another popped into his mind. A brand new door was opening, and his heart burned ever hotter. Deep down, he was no longer satisfied with being just the controller and representative of the dragon's avatar in the human world. He began to crave extraordinary power for himself.