The little Lan Jing fluttered around Ye Fan like a mischievous sprite, eventually landing atop his head like a crown, observing the mortals below who worshipped it devoutly.

The pale blue radiance illuminated the entire underground space. Though small in size, the little Lan Jing had inherited the power of the larger blue crystal, gaining self-awareness, transforming from an inanimate object to a conscious life form.

"Ooh la la..." The inhabitants of the underground kingdom knelt in fervent reverence before Ye Fan, even the arrogant woman earlier was now on her knees, bowing her proud head.

"I am not your deity," Ye Fan stated, "I am merely a traveler, here to find an artifact, and once found, I shall depart!"

His words were beyond the comprehension of the underground people; they simply continued to kneel, vocalizing "Ooh la la." Eventually, Ye Fan tucked the young girl under his arm, descending directly from the air, whereupon the elderly woman stood first, approached without malice, and knelt at Ye Fan's feet, kissing his shoes.

This was the most devout form of worship, expressing her reverence for Ye Fan as a "deity."

Ye Fan set the girl down, unraveling the blanket around her, and she hurriedly re-covered her face with cloth, her gaze showing subtle changes when looking at Ye Fan.

Finally, the woman approached, saying: "Lord Deity, we are your most devoted subjects. Since you have graciously descended into this mortal realm to converse with us, please come inside; we have prepared the most sumptuous offerings..."

At this moment, Wu Ding and Li Zhaojun approached, Wu Ding from afar with a mocking tone said, "Junior brother, how predictable you've become a god here, haha, it's not a good thing, seems you'll have more burdens again."

The woman glared at Wu Ding, scolding, "Who are you, and why do you slander our Lord Deity?"

Ye Fan gestured with his hand, saying, "Madam, I must correct you; I am not a deity. Also, they are merely my friends and mean no harm."

Only then did the woman relent, and turned to the ordinary underground inhabitants present, speaking in a bizarre language seemingly instructing them to leave, yet the inhabitants remained kneeling, unwilling to depart.

The elderly woman said, "Honorable Lord Deity, please come inside to speak. We have prepared for you the Shrine of the Lord Deity, where your honored likeness is venerated!"

At this moment, Ye Fan merely wished to retrieve the Copper Mirror Protector Bell hanging on the girl's neck, which related to the completeness of the Copper Mirror within him, yet he could not forcibly take it and simply nodded.

"Welcome the Lord Deity to the mortal realm..."

With the elderly woman's words, two lines of boys and girls emerged from around the palace, one line of boys and one of girls, all aged around thirteen or fourteen, first stood at the sides of the road, then approached closer, suddenly lying on the ground straight-backed, forming a human path. The elderly woman turned to Ye Fan, saying: "Lord Deity, please enter the Shrine of the Lord Deity..."

Ye Fan, however impolite, would never tread upon people's bodies for his path, which would be highly disrespectful, but the path was prepared for him, not walking might seem dismissive of the devout believers.

With a light step, he leaped over their bodies, surprising the underground kingdom inhabitants.

"Lord Deity, slow down, here I come,"

The elderly woman, without daring to exert any Spiritual Energy before Ye Fan, merely leaned on her Magic Wand, slowly approached Ye Fan. At her side was the previously fierce woman willing to push her daughter to death, while behind them was the girl Ye Fan rescued, along with members of the underground kingdom's royal family, some male, some female.

Ye Fan had discerned that this underground kingdom seemed to be a matriarchal society where women held higher status than men, perhaps because women's bodies were more suited to cultivate Spiritual Energy emitted by the blue crystal.

Suddenly, the fire basins around the palace lit up, and several Luminous Pearls began to shine, restoring light to the once pitch-dark hall.

"Lord Deity, follow me this way, ahead is your Shrine of the Lord Deity..." The elderly woman followed devoutly alongside Ye Fan, passing a large gate ahead, inside was equally radiant, walls lined with murals, and beneath the facing main altar stood a statue, a man holding a sword but seen only from the back, face covered with cloth, faintly resembling Ye Fan's silhouette.

This should be the "Lord Deity" venerated by the underground kingdom.

The elderly woman suddenly knelt and offered Ye Fan a bow: "The Lord Deity above, your subjects dare not sculpt your visage without knowledge of your identity; we merely carve your likeness based on ancient texts passed down."

Wu Ding approached, laughing: "Junior brother, not only does it resemble you, even the sword seems to resemble your Fire Dragon Sword."

Ye Fan scrutinized it and there was indeed some similarity. He chuckled, saying, "People can be similar and objects can be alike!"

"The Lord Deity above, please listen to our praises..." The elderly woman, as the State Preceptor of the underground kingdom, seemed like the guardian of its religion, as even though the fierce woman was the kingdom's queen, in the event of the "Lord Deity's descent," the elderly woman held the leading authority.

The boys and girls who previously laid out the path came alongside, standing, and began chanting a peculiar melody, sounding pleasant yet slightly somber, likely similar to hymns in religious ceremonies.

The elderly woman wished to say more, but Ye Fan raised his hand to stop her, saying, "Enough, I don't wish to hear more. Since you insist on considering me the Lord Deity, I won't argue; now I simply wish to ask for something from you..."

"The Lord Deity above, your believers, whether in possessions, bodies, lives, or souls, all belong to you; please guide us with divine instruction!" The elderly woman kneeled again, worshipping Ye Fan.

Ye Fan glanced sideways at the girl, who, caught by his gaze, lowered her head submissively.

Previously, she told her mother, matters regarding deities were fabricated, indicating that though she was the "Princess" of the underground kingdom, she didn't fully subscribe to the deity beliefs.

Without Ye Fan needing to speak, the elderly woman seemed to understand, raising her hands, saying: "The Lord Deity above, your worshippers willingly offer the most devout service to you. Escort Princess Anla to the deity's chamber!"

With the elderly woman's words, over ten girls appeared, re-wrapping the girl in blankets, carrying her overhead like an Imperial Concubine from ancient times, ready for her night service.

"Let go of me, you rogue, you're not a god, you have no right to claim my body!" the girl thought Ye Fan intended to possess her, she cried indignantly.

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