Since there really is a dragon in the West River, and the archway really is magical, Wen Yan felt that he'd better take the legend seriously. Maybe the West River Dragon God really did have four siblings that hadn't revived yet.

And maybe they even have a parent with even higher status…

Proud and rebellious—if they haven't harmed anyone, then you can only say they're a bit too willful.

Quietly sneaking his tools home, Wen Yan thought he really needed to prepare well. Luckily, he hadn't planned on contacting that Dragon God directly from the start.

The next day, Wen Yan drove himself to the Dragon Mother Temple, one of the few temples in Nanwu County that's survived through countless years.

Even before the resurgence of spiritual energy, it had huge cultural significance. Every year on the Dragon Mother's birthday, tons of people who'd been living elsewhere or even emigrated from Divine Land would come here just to worship.

People from Nanwu County—even after moving elsewhere—still have these customs and culture in their bones. They just can't forget.

It happened to be the off-season for tourism, so there weren't many people around. Wen Yan walked around the place and also joined in the worship. While he was praying, he silently wished for everything to go smoothly and for Virtue City to always stay peaceful and steady.

The last mass evacuation, when you couldn't even order takeout, he really never wanted to go through that again.

Thankfully, at least there was still water and electricity then—otherwise, with no power, no water, no internet, it would've felt even worse, like ants crawling all over your body.

Back in Virtue City, at night, after everyone walking or sipping tea and chatting by the river had left, Wen Yan went to the riverbank, took out the notice Zhang Laoxi had prepared, used his own Yang Energy to activate it, and set the rolled-up silk talisman on fire, then tossed it into the river.

The flame burned underwater, quickly reducing it to ashes. The message it contained flowed with the river, turning into information any creature qualified to receive it could understand, dispersing through the waters.

The gist was: the Water God of this area turned evil, and has already been brought to justice. Now, this stretch of water has no Water God.

I, Wen Yan, proud homeowner in Virtue City, heard that just a few days ago, someone drowned here.

Just thinking of my friends and family, my own young kid, all living by the river—what happens if they're ever in danger?

I tossed and turned, sleepless for days, and finally made a tough decision.

I gave up using my merits in the Scorching Sun Department to trade for treasures, gave up the chance at financial freedom.

Instead, I got myself a document, letting me build a temple by the riverside next to Virtue City.

Now, I need a Water God willing to protect this stretch of river. Any ghosts, monsters, or spirits may come.

I'll pick the one I'm most satisfied with, and build a temple by the river in their name.

Wen Yan waited by the riverbank for a while—half an hour or so—but saw nothing come. He wasn't in a rush, and left.

On the third day, same time, he came again and saw that a few demons and ghosts had already gathered there to wait.

There was a massive grass carp capable of making fishermen get so lost they wandered outside for three days, a non-venomous water snake, and a turtle demon—the patterns on this turtle demon, Wen Yan took a close look, were definitely the same as the one sent by the Dragon God in that video the other day.

Wen Yan had indeed intended to fish for someone working under the Dragon God, but didn't expect that the turtle demon would show up on the very first day.

Clearly, he still underestimated just how tempting a riverside temple could be for all the creatures in the West River Water System.

Aside from the turtle demon, there was also a soaking wet water ghost, wearing festive clothes, a big red flower on its chest, and a hat adorned with a big red flower on its head.

Wen Yan thought for a moment and decided not to beat around the bush with these guys—he asked the turtle demon first.

"Did your boss know you came here?"

The turtle demon tried hard to open his wide, small eyes, and nodded as if it were obvious.

"Of course our Dragon King knows. He didn't stop us from coming at all—he even told us to give it a shot. If there's a chance to have a temple, we should definitely try."

As soon as the turtle demon started talking, the water ghost next to him widened its eyes, looking like it wanted to leap up and slap the turtle demon hard.

First thing out of your mouth, and you sold everyone out!

Sure enough, Wen Yan heard that and looked at the remaining three, a little surprised.

"Us? So you're all under the Dragon King?"

"Yeah." The big grass carp that made those fishermen so happy stared with blank fish eyes—pure stupidity shining in them—still not sure what was going on.

The water snake also raised its head and nodded.

The water ghost was a bit speechless and could only nod along too.

Wen Yan almost burst out laughing. Damn, King Guilong sure is straightforward—something good comes up, and he genuinely lets all his underlings take a shot at it.

No wonder he'd felt something was off earlier. How did even the turtle demon get lured here, but apart from the turtle demon, only three more came?

The message he'd sent out wasn't hard to understand at all—anyone with spiritual intelligence living in the West River Water System, any sort of ghosts or monsters, should have received that message.

It was basically a broadcast.

He'd even waited two days to give those far away a chance to make the journey, yet in the end, only four had come.

The West River Water System spans five commanderies—there should be tons of creatures living in it now.

He'd originally estimated he'd at least get twenty-some showing up.

Earlier, he thought maybe some heard too late, or were just too far away to make it in time.

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