Cloud Top Villa.
Lu Chen and his group, having returned from City God Street, sat down on the sofa.
Before them, Qiu Qianluo still lay unconscious on the ground, tightly bound.
“General, General!”
Xie Qingyi dashed to the table in a single stride, staring eagerly at the spread of snacks, so greedy he was rubbing his hands.
Lu Chen couldn’t help but laugh. He walked to the table and chanted the [Life-Extracting Incantation].
His magic power rippled across the table like water, and all the food instantly transformed into yin food.
“Bring it over. Let your dad and Eighth Uncle try some too.”
“Yes, General!” Xie Qingyi immediately peeled a banana and began wolfing it down.
Ox-Head and Horse-Face helped move the entire spread of snacks to the coffee table by the sofa.
Xie Bifan unwrapped a chocolate biscuit. The moment it entered his mouth, he was captivated by its rich aroma and squinted slightly.
“Not bad! Really not bad!”
Lu Chen sat down boldly and looked around at the yin officials: “Everyone, what are your thoughts on this trip to City God Street?”
Xie Bifan put down the biscuit and said seriously: “Reporting to the General, frankly speaking, this trip did surprise me somewhat. I never expected that City God Li would go so far as to sacrifice his lifespan to use a City God secret art to catch the culprit for you, General.”
Fan Wujiu stuffed a segment of orange into his mouth and mumbled: “Yeah. From what I know of these City Gods, if they’re willing to spend so much, there’s definitely something more behind it.”
As he spoke, his gaze flicked toward the divine statue on the altar, and he seemed to secretly breathe a sigh of relief: “Thank goodness you invited King Yan and Lord Wealth God, General. Only then did I dare speak so freely. Otherwise, discussing a City God within Jiangdu’s territory—we really wouldn’t dare.”
The other yin officials nodded one after another.
Lu Chen frowned: “What do you mean? You only dare speak because the statues are here? If they weren’t, you’d be afraid he could hear you?”
Xie Bifan gave an awkward smile: “We really would be afraid! General, you may not know, but a City God oversees a city’s underworld affairs and has the right to monitor all the people in the city. If someone shows disrespect to the City God, there’s no guarantee he won’t hear it. If you get on his bad side, big trouble is guaranteed. A little bad luck would be the least of it.”
Lu Chen’s pupils contracted slightly: “A City God has that kind of ability? Well, that makes sense. After all, he is a City God. But then, isn’t that ability similar to the duties of the Four Time Merit Officers?”
Xie Bifan shook his head: “Not at all. The Four Time Merit Officers monitor everything around the clock, without blind spots, and record words and deeds for archival review. A City God only hears in real time. If he isn’t paying attention, it passes. The difference between the two is considerable.”
Hearing this, Lu Chen relaxed slightly.
If he were truly being monitored at all times, even if City God Li meant to be friendly, he still couldn’t accept it.
“So you’re saying, as long as there is a divine statue in the home, he cannot hear or see?”
“Exactly.” Fan Wujiu explained: “There are three situations in which a local City God cannot spy: First, being inside a temple, because temples enshrine only orthodox gods of the Three Realms. Naturally, a City God cannot, and dares not, spy there. Second, like you, General, when a home enshrines gods and immortals, within a hundred meters around it, there can be no spying. Third, when a higher-ranking orthodox god than the local City God is present.
Apart from these three, a City God can freely observe through his divine office—which is exactly why I dared to speak just now.
Otherwise, City God Li is, after all, a State City God. I really couldn’t afford to offend him.”
“Dad, with the General here, what are you afraid of?” Fan Rusong couldn’t help saying when he saw his father being so cautious.
“Yes, yes, yes. Song’er is right.” Fan Wujiu scratched his head and chuckled.
Lu Chen felt somewhat reassured.
Not because he thought City God Li would monitor him—after all, the man currently needed a favor from him.
But knowing this rule was never a bad thing.
“General, what exactly did City God Li talk about with you just now? I saw his attitude was especially respectful,” Xie Bifan asked.
“Yeah, yeah. I thought he was about to kneel. Good thing you stopped him quickly, General,” Xie Qingyi chimed in while chewing on bread.
“Nothing much.” Lu Chen smiled, then his expression turned a bit more serious: “This City God Li wants the position of Prefectural City God. He hopes I can put in a few words with the Plague Emperor and ask the Star Lord to speak favorably on his behalf with Emperor Fengdu.”
The moment those words landed, Xie Bifan and the others all froze mid-bite.
Fan Rusong widened her beautiful eyes: “So that’s what he was after!”
Xie Bifan gasped: “This City God Li… truly far-sighted! No wonder he was willing to shorten his lifespan to investigate the case for you, General. He wanted you to owe him a favor and pave the way for today!”
Lu Chen nodded: “If I hadn’t made things clear today, sooner or later he would have brought it up. This City God Li’s scheming runs much deeper than the previous Prefectural City God.”
Fan Wujiu said in a low voice: “City God Li does indeed act steadily.
Looking across Jiang Province, if one were to promote a Prefectural City God from among the State City Gods, he has the strongest chance.
That is because the two strongest cities in Jiang Province are the provincial capital Qianjiang and Jiangdu.
And nationwide, Jiang Province is also one of the top three super-strong provinces.
Even among Prefectural City Gods, the weight of a prefectural seat in Jiang Province is very different.
I’m afraid even the Capital City God would regard it highly.”
“Indeed.” Lu Chen nodded: “City God Li also said that after the Jiang Province Prefectural City God was killed, the Capital City God personally went to the Supreme One to complain, but was suppressed by the Supreme One.”
“That precisely shows the Plague Emperor’s face is big enough!” Xie Bifan smiled: “No wonder City God Li wanted you to speak for him, General. He’s working both fronts, determined to get the prefectural seat.”
The yin officials all agreed.
Lu Chen asked casually: “By the way, what exactly is the difference between a Prefectural City God and a State City God? Besides being a direct superior, what special authority does the position hold?”
Since someone like City God Li was so eager for it, Lu Chen couldn’t help but wonder just how much weight this prefectural seat carried.
Xie Bifan smiled: “General, the position of Prefectural City God is no small matter.
He not only governs a province’s City Gods, yin generals, and yin soldiers, but also holds absolute power of appointment and dismissal over the province’s yin officials.
To put it without exaggeration, whoever he wants to be a City God can become one.
Even if he took a fancy to a dog and wanted it to become a yin officer, yin general, or even a City God, it would be no more than a word.
This power of appointment, in a sense, even the Capital City God far away in the capital may not necessarily match.
Tell me, is this authority great or not?”
“What!” Upon hearing this, Lu Chen’s brows instantly tightened: “A Prefectural City God actually has such great authority?!”
“Exactly. General, have you ever heard anecdotes—for example, stories of a renowned scholar who died unjustly or for some other reason, and after death was appointed as a City God?”
“Mm, I’ve heard of such things.”
“To put it plainly, in most cases, it was likely the local Prefectural City God who took a liking to that person and granted him the grace, ordering him to bring fortune to a region.
And although a State City God is only one rank lower, compared with a Prefectural City God, the difference is like heaven and earth.
What is a frontier official?
It is precisely this kind of yin official who can decide the future of those under his rule and influence the fate of a whole region—only such a one deserves that title!”
Xie Bifan’s words made even Lu Chen feel a stir of excitement.
He smiled: “If that’s the case, then if I really help him take the prefectural seat, couldn’t I also get myself a State City God position?”
Fan Rusong said urgently: “General, do not entertain such thoughts. A City God is ultimately a ghost immortal position. Your future is boundless, General. Why set your sights there?”
Lu Chen waved his hand and smiled: “Just saying. But if that day really comes, and any of you want to be a City God, I can put in a word for you.”
“Thank you, General!” The yin officials all straightened when they heard this.
Fan Wujiu pressed further: “General, do you mean you’ve decided to help him?”
Lu Chen: “Helping him a bit won’t hurt. After all, gifts accepted mean favors owed. But I’ve made the ugly truth clear upfront: whether it works or not, I, the General, cannot guarantee.”
The yin officials nodded: “That is fine as well. If you truly help him ascend to the prefectural seat, then in Jiang Province from now on, you will have no small backing.”
“Right, that’s what I was thinking too.” Lu Chen nodded and stood up: “It’s getting late. I still need to invite City Lord Yu over. Thank you all for your help today. Seventh Master, Eighth Master, a small token of my gratitude. Please accept it.”
Lu Chen took out five million underworld coins, transformed and burned them, and handed them to Xie Bifan and Fan Wujiu.
“General, how can this be!” The two were startled at such a generous gift.
“A small token. You two need not decline. Last time at City God Street, I relied entirely on your desperate help. I remember that kindness.”
“This…” The two Impermanence officers exchanged a glance, bowed, and cupped their fists: “If you have any commands in the future, General, we are willing to serve with all our strength!”
“Good. Then I won’t see you off.”
“General, please stay!”
Blue smoke drifted apart, and the yin officials’ forms gradually faded, returning to the underworld.
Lu Chen glanced at the unconscious Qiu Qianluo on the ground, then dialed Yu Feng’s number…
A moment later, a fiery red cloud streaked across the sky from horizon to earth.
“Knock, knock, knock!”
Urgent knocking sounded outside the door.
“Coming.”
Lu Chen opened the door. Yu Feng looked solemn and strode in with several guards.
Looking at the bound Qiu Qianluo on the ground, Yu Feng raised an eyebrow, clapped Lu Chen heavily on the shoulder, and laughed loudly:
“Good lad! I knew it—coming to you is always the right call!!!”
