Ji Yuan’s mind stirred, but his expression remained calm as he looked at the Fuyuan River Zhengshen before him.
Instantly, the relevant intelligence provided by Lin Yubai flashed in his mind. However, there was no information within it concerning any connection between the other party and the Xuantian lineage.
As if sensing his thoughts, the Water God merely smiled faintly, offering no further explanation.
This attitude only deepened Ji Yuan’s suspicion. He silently pondered the veracity of the other party’s statement, wondering if there truly was a connection to the Xuantian lineage’s founder, or if it was merely a casual remark meant to sow confusion.
"Leave here for now. What is yours will not be taken away."
The Fuyuan River Zhengshen spoke, "Once this matter is concluded, the divine position of Linfu River will still be yours, or you can give it to that little flood dragon if you wish."
This deity offered an assurance: with their existing ties to the Xuantian lineage, they would not interfere with the ownership of the local divine position, and would even offer further assistance.
Such a statement was akin to a ruler granting a fiefdom to a vassal, effectively carving out a piece of their territory to bestow upon another.
Ji Yuan’s eyes flickered, neither agreeing nor refusing. He simply gazed at the Fuyuan River Zhengshen before him, a multitude of thoughts flashing through his mind.
The young man, seeing this, let out a helpless chuckle. He then rose and walked to the edge of the divine realm.
"Consider it carefully. You still have some time."
Without looking back, he spoke, then flicked his sleeve.
A trace of divine law emerged, and the sealed divine realm was suddenly opened, a passage appearing. He vanished within it like an imperceptible streak of light.
Witnessing this, Ji Yuan’s brow immediately twitched. He was clearly surprised by the other party’s ability to effortlessly open another deity's divine realm.
After a moment, sensing no trace of the other party’s presence, he slowly channeled a surge of divine power, resealing the divine realm. He then employed his own methods to meticulously investigate.
After only half a day, he had exhausted all the techniques he knew. Yet, he found no hidden traps or lingering influences.
The Zhengshen of Fuyuan River seemed to have genuinely come only to deliver a reminder, without any further actions.
However, in the current situation, few would believe that a deity of such standing would dispatch a clone solely for a benevolent reminder.
At the same time, Ji Yuan was contemplating whether there were any hidden meanings within the deity’s words.
"Fuyuan River Water God?"
On the other side, Lin Yubai’s expression immediately turned perplexed upon hearing this.
Jiang Yunzhou shared the same sentiment, unable to comprehend why the Zhengshen of this river would suddenly dispatch a clone to the Linfu River Temple.
It was akin to a high-ranking prefect suddenly and quietly descending upon the yamen of a third-rate county town, leaving everyone baffled and unable to grasp the underlying significance.
Few would believe that the deity had no other motives, especially given the current timing, which was far too coincidental.
As for the claim of having ties to the Xuantian lineage, at least until it could be confirmed as true, the three of them would only regard it with a degree of skepticism.
"Things are getting more complicated…"
Ji Yuan sighed softly.
Initially, they had believed that as the situation developed, it would gradually become simpler.
Even if the forces behind the mastermind were powerful and intricate, with the attention of the Prefectural Government, various factions, and the Nine Xuan Sect, they would be swiftly uprooted.
However, it now seemed that events were not unfolding as they had initially anticipated.
First, a prominent figure from the Prefectural Government appeared, followed by the City God of Liyang City and a host of other deities. Now, even a clone of the Fuyuan River Zhengshen had intervened.
It appeared that everything was gradually beginning to slip out of their carefully constructed framework.
"Let’s all be more careful,"
Jiang Yunzhou sighed. "Once the City God of Linfu County awakens, some things will inevitably surface."
The currently dormant City God and his subordinate spiritual officials had become the focal point.
The mastermind had risked danger to order the River God to destroy the county yamen, ostensibly to silence witnesses. This indicated that they possessed something of critical importance.
If any of the three parties involved were problematic, they would certainly not allow the Linfu County City God to awaken or to reveal any earth-shattering secrets.
However, they were unable to fathom what means the mastermind would employ to succeed under such scrutiny.
Currently, the City God Pavilion was crowded with several beings of the Third Realm, both divine and immortal, none of whom were ordinary individuals.
The difficulty of preventing the Linfu County City God from speaking further under such circumstances could only be imagined.
While they worried about these matters, several days passed.
During this time, with the efforts of the county yamen and the people themselves spreading the word, the incense offerings within the City God Pavilion grew increasingly abundant and concentrated.
The statues, now integrated with the golden bodies of several deities, gradually began to emit a soft divine light. Waves of divine power were brewing within them, suggesting that the awakening of the City God and other deities was imminent, likely within the next day or two.
The atmosphere within the entire City God Pavilion grew increasingly solemn. Even the city guards had been heavily deployed here, significantly enhancing the internal and external defensive forces.
As the time approached, Ji Yuan’s divine avatar emerged from his divine realm. However, he did not leave the territory of the Linfu River, merely gazing from afar in the direction of the county town.
Suddenly, his expression shifted. He turned his head towards the moonlit land, where a human figure was rapidly approaching.
Before long, the clone of the Fuyuan River Zhengshen arrived outside the temple, standing shoulder to shoulder with Ji Yuan at the main entrance.
"From now on, do not leave this temple. This clone is sufficient to ensure your safety."
The young man spoke slowly, making his final plea, "It is best that your main body, along with the disciples of the Nine Xuan Sect, leave the county town and take refuge in the River God Temple."
He candidly stated that failure to do so might lead to fatal consequences from what was about to transpire.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan’s gaze deepened. Since the other party knew that he possessed both a main body and an avatar, they would naturally be aware that among the Nine Xuan Sect disciples, there was a peak Third Realm cultivator.
To put a being of such cultivation level at risk of death…
It was imaginable how perilous the upcoming events would be.
He still neither agreed nor immediately refused. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "What exactly is going to happen?"
Something that caused even a Zhengshen of a major river to be so grave, and which even a peak Third Realm cultivator could not protect themselves from.
Given the current situation in Linfu County, Ji Yuan truly could not fathom it.
"You still don't think that what's happening now is merely some force plotting in secret, harming others for profit, do you?"
The young man beside him chuckled, his tone laced with a hint of helplessness.