48: A brilliant plan from the City God Temple! May the River God of Jingyue River grant his blessing!
The Underworld Official couldn't help but shiver, a sense of dread welling up in his heart as he looked at the statue.
This felt somewhat unbelievable.
It was just a crude statue carved by a Mortal, yet it could make him feel this way!
He was a bit unconvinced, so he stepped into the ancestral hall, ready to take a closer look.
However.
The Underworld Official had just put half a foot over the ancestral hall's threshold.
A gust of wind swept through the ancestral hall.
"Roar!"
In the depths of his mind, a roar echoed in the Underworld Official's ears.
The statue seemed to come alive, and a gaze that struck fear into the Underworld Official's heart fell upon him.
A faint sense of oppression descended, making it hard for the Underworld Official to breathe.
A look of horror appeared deep in his eyes.
It was just a statue, yet it almost made his soul body unstable!
This snake demon has grown powerful!
The Underworld Official was greatly alarmed, turned around, and ran.
He rushed out of Jiangning Village at top speed, and just as he was about to burrow underground, his body suddenly froze!
A powerful restraining force descended, pinning him in place.
"Who's there! How dare you attack an Underworld Official!"
The Underworld Official turned his head, his voice faltered, his face turned pale, and he couldn't utter another word.
In the distant jungle, a pair of indifferent golden eyes were silently staring at him.
Dark light glowed in the slit pupils.
The owner of the slit pupils used a Divine Ability, directly snatching the Underworld Official into the jungle.
The Underworld Official looked at the enormous creature before him and almost fainted from fright.
He immediately reacted, plopped down on the ground, and kowtowed vigorously.
"Snake King, my lord, this humble one had no intention of offending; please spare my life, Snake King!"
Most Underworld Officials were minor clerks in the yamen when they were alive, skilled at handling affairs, and never hesitated to yield when necessary.
Xu Qing's eyes were calm, and dark light glowed within them.
The Underworld Official couldn't react at all; he flew up and disappeared into the gaping maw.
Segments of memory then appeared before Xu Qing's eyes.
He didn't want to waste words with a low-level Underworld Official; it was better to simply swallow him and review his memories.
This Underworld Official was named Zhao Yong, and he was a minor clerk in the government when he was alive.
Before his death, he bribed his superior to secure a position at the City God Temple, allowing him to avoid Reincarnation and continue his duties as an official.
Scene after scene unfolded before Xu Qing's eyes.
Not long after.
Xu Qing understood Zhao Yong's purpose for coming here.
"So they've discovered the Incense Offerings problem in these villages, have they?"
"That Fengyang City God is quite sensible, knowing to investigate the situation first..."
The green giant snake murmured to himself.
"And that White Lotus Holy Cult, they're not peaceful either; it's as if they'd die if they didn't rebel."
Xu Qing turned and returned to the jungle.
As the Mountain God worshipped by the villagers, Xu Qing had a special connection with his statue.
Therefore.
When Zhao Yong stepped into the ancestral hall, he sensed it.
He happened to be patrolling his territory, so he came to investigate the situation.
As a result, he encountered Zhao Yong, who was preparing to flee.
His massive body quickly moved through the edge of the jungle.
Xu Qing concealed his aura, using the Earth Hearing Technique, and any movement within a radius of more than ten li could not escape his ears... Meanwhile, on the other side.
Underworld Officials returned to the Fengyang City God Temple one after another.
Various fragmented pieces of intelligence were presented before the Underworld Officials of the Underworld.
The Fengyang City God's expression gradually grew solemn.
Especially when news of the Mountain God's manifestation came, his expression became even gloomier.
That snake demon was indeed collecting Incense Offerings!
This had already crossed their bottom line!
They had to find a way to resolve this matter.
"Everyone, what good strategy do you have?" the Fengyang City God asked.
The Underworld Officials below fell silent.
What good strategy could there be?
They had caused trouble for the other party twice before, resulting in heavy losses and many deaths.
Especially the second time, the bald monks from Xuanyang Temple even came to block their doors, demanding an explanation.
Later, they had to use a lot of persuasion to get those bald monks to go back.
What could they do now?
If they gathered forces from multiple sides to attack, would they still capture the White Lotus Cult demons?
"All the populations of those villages combined are no more than ten thousand; it's nothing significant, so why don't we... just forget it?"
A Judge cautiously spoke.
The faces of the Underworld Officials grew even uglier.
A sense of humiliation surged in their hearts.
When had their City God Temple ever suffered such indignation? Before, when they encountered anyone daring to gather Incense Offerings without authorization, they would directly send people to apprehend them.
This approach was truly unfeasible now; that snake demon was too powerful, and they alone were no match.
The only way was to find help.
Reporting to the Prefecture Government was the last resort.
It was precisely the time to capture the White Lotus Cult demons, yet a wild god gathering Incense Offerings appeared in Fengyang; wasn't this giving their superior a reason to criticize them?
Would they have a good outcome in the future?
"My Lord, do you remember the Jingyue River God!"
Just then, a Captain spoke.
The Fengyang City God's eyes lit up.
"The Jingyue River God reached Fifth Rank many years ago, and we have some acquaintance with her. If we can persuade her to act, the matter will surely be resolved easily!" the Captain continued.
Immediately, the other Underworld Officials nodded in agreement.
"You're right! Although the Jingyue River God is not under our jurisdiction, as a River God appointed by the Fengxian Division, she is considered our colleague!"
"Reasonable. It is said that the Jingyue River God loves jewelry. If we send her a few boxes, we will surely be able to persuade her to act!"
"If that still doesn't work, we'll share some Incense Offerings with her next year!"
"That snake demon only has a thousand years of Cultivation Level; wouldn't it be an easy matter for the Jingyue River God to deal with?"
The coldness on the Fengyang City God's face slowly dissipated. He smiled and nodded, saying, "What you all say is absolutely correct. Quickly prepare some jewels; this official will set off immediately!"
...Jingyue River.
As one of the East River's tributaries, the Jingyue River flows through Fengyang County, and many villages are built alongside it.
Many common people rely on the Jingyue River for survival, so it's natural for them to have a tradition of offering sacrifices to the River God.
The Jingyue River God was officially enfeoffed by the Great Gan Dynasty, making her a legitimate Water God who could openly collect Incense Offerings from the people along the riverbanks.
At this moment.
Inside an Immortal Cave at the bottom of the river, adorned with luminous pearls.
A big-eyed girl with delicate features and a slightly youthful appearance, her long hair tied into a braid behind her head, looking only sixteen or seventeen, was warily looking at the Fengyang City God before her.
"Huang Yushu, what are you doing here?" A trace of vigilance flashed in the girl's eyes.
"Jingyue River God, we're old neighbors after all. I've come to visit, and I've brought a small gift."
The Fengyang City God, Huang Yushu, was all smiles. With a wave of his hand, the large boxes behind him opened, revealing them to be filled with various jewels.
The girl's big eyes immediately brightened, but then, a deep sense of wariness surged in her heart.
This fellow Huang Yushu, with his fat head, big ears, and lewd smile, clearly had ulterior motives – like chewing on a stinky bug, he wasn't up to any good!
Although This Young Lady loves jewels, I'm not stupid!
Her two long braids swayed slightly, and the girl asked cautiously, "Speak directly; I still have to go play with the children by the riverbank."
Huang Yushu's smile grew wider, and he began to explain his purpose.