"Long live the Heavenly God."

"Kneel before the Heavenly God, he will ensure our future prosperity and wealth."

After witnessing the miraculous event of the "Water Dragon Ascending to the Sky," the crowd knelt before the Heavenly God's Fire, praying devoutly.

...

The God of Suffering never expected that his fire would suddenly burn so intensely.

The Wish Power, from the various great sinkholes in Mingxi District, transformed into invisible flying smoke, gathering and surging toward him.

"Wow, such sudden overwhelming fortune."

The flame transformed into a little person, spreading its arms to embrace the abundant Wish Power smoke.

...

On East Market Street, a line of people stood in front of the Zhou Family's Jingyi Shop.

Zhou Xuan, Yun Ziliang, Lady Hong Guan, Little Fuzi, Sister Cui, Mu Hua, and Zhao Wuya all gazed up at the Water Dragon in the sky.

"It's done, Peng Sheng and the Music Master have succeeded."

Zhou Xuan exclaimed first.

"Mortals do not burn nine sticks of incense for no reason; they have become gods. The Music Master and Mr. Peng have indeed created a miracle."

Yun Ziliang said.

Zhao Wuya gave Yun Ziliang a shove and said, "Old bullnose, you're talking nonsense. Clearly, it's Brother Xuan who created the miracle."

"Damn it, where's my knife?" Yun Ziliang didn't find his knife, so he took off his shoe and chased after Zhao Wuya.

Everyone burst into laughter.

"Ya Zi, you shouldn't run your mouth like that, or you'll get in trouble again."

Zhao Wuya was hopping around to avoid being hit on East Market Street, with Yun Ziliang in hot pursuit, providing quite a spectacle.

Sister Cui first laughed, and then said to Zhou Xuan, "Brother Zhou, Mr. Peng and Mr. Le have done a good deed. For the past few days, I've been hearing guests talk about how some Watermen from Mingjiang drowned in the sinkholes and lowlands. Those people are also unfortunate,

and no one with a decent meal needs to risk their lives earning money to salvage bodies."

"Now it's better; the water in the sinkholes is gone, the bodies are found, and the Watermen can take the money they've earned these days, go home in one piece, and enjoy the warmth of their wives, children, and cozy hearths."

Sister Cui cupped her hands to her forehead, shielding her eyes as she gazed at the skyward Water Dragon, truly happy for those Watermen.

Lady Hong Guan then said, "Young Master, the Master from the Bitter Ghost Hall, the 'Island Master,' invites you to Huangyuan Water Village to witness your glory."

After the Water Dragon soared skyward, Lady Hong Guan received a secret message from the hall, asking Zhou Xuan to visit Yellow Field Prefecture.

Besides the Bitter Ghost,

"Mr. Ye," "Liu Shou," "Heavenly Eye Temple," "Dragon Seeking"… also through various connections, sent secret messages, extending grand invitations to Zhou Xuan, inviting him to tour the main halls of these places.

Why didn't the Painter stand under the eaves to watch the Water Dragon?

Because these hall connections mostly sought him out.

The Painter was inside, busy condensing secret messages, responding to the hall leaders.

"Huangyuan Prefecture, I'll go there in a few days; I should give the Bitter Ghost some face."

Zhou Xuan agreed to the Bitter Ghost's invitation because the "Bitter Ghost" hall was the only one that fully aided Mingjiang Prefecture during the great flood.

Of course... The lack of the "Bitter Ghost" name on the Will Heavenly Book's signature was also a crucial reason for Zhou Xuan's favorable reception.

Having secured Zhou Xuan's agreement, Lady Hong Guan was naturally pleased, while the Painter inside the house asked loudly, "Young Master, just now the 'Shaman' from East Gate Mansion also invited you to visit their hall, ensuring they will treat you with the highest courtesy."

"No, no, I'll only visit the Bitter Ghost Hall; I have no relations with the other halls.

Besides, with all these hall invitations, if I were to visit each one, it would be like touring all nine prefectures of Jing Country. There's no time for that."

Zhou Xuan still refused.

"Those halls detected the Divine Power manipulating the Water Dragon in Mingjiang. They guessed and guessed, knowing that the Young Master possesses the Divine Pointing technique, so they're all trying to curry favor."

After returning a diplomatically declining secret message to the Shaman, the Painter wiped a sheen of sweat from his brow.

For the first time, he realized how exhausting it was to continuously send secret messages.

"In the past, they never reached out, but now they come with greetings when there's a benefit. This is the reality of the world."

Zhou Xuan certainly understood the reason behind these halls' grand invitations... They've all become aware that a mere mortal like him can perform Divine Pointing.

They also know that Zhou Xuan still has a third Divine Status, which is in the hands of the Nuo God, and no one dares to snatch it away.

But just possessing that one Divine Status means that as long as Zhou Xuan is willing... a new God-level entity will surely emerge among the human world's halls.

With great power in hand, it makes sense for all to try and gain favor.

"What's that saying again? In a bustling market, even wielding ten steel hooks can't draw close kin, while wealth in secluded heights won't break ties with distant friends."

"When I had no incense or fire, no one paid me any mind. Now that I have incense and fire, invitations pour in from everywhere... I have no openings in my schedule."

Zhou Xuan feigned a sigh, which made Zhou Lingyi, who had been observing the Divine Pointing situation, laugh aloud.

"Brother's sighing face is really so amusing."

...

Under the Ancestor Tree of the Zhou Family's Troupe,

Zhou Lingyi, like the Painter, received numerous hall invitations, with many even expressing a desire to collaborate with Zhou Family's Troupe, promising to take their business to new heights.

Zhou Lingyi, too, declined each offer, just like Zhou Xuan.

Yuan Buyu watched angrily and said, "Damn it, when Mingjiang Prefecture was besieged by three God-level entities, not a single big hall took notice. We had to rely on the You Shen from Mingjiang and Ping Shui Prefecture to hold out,

Now, seeing that the disciple has the potential for Divine Enthronement, they're all piling in with smiles, trying to cozy up.

In my opinion, the teachings in those good books, Liang Zhi's principles, are never wrong — 'Poor in bustling cities, no one asks; rich in remote mountains, relatives abound.'

"The world is bustling, all for profit. A hall, in a sense, is just a big business, and merchants chasing profit is only natural."

Zhou Lingyi removed the link from her wrist and approached Lord Jian, who sat beneath the tree, dejected.

From the moment he lost his Divine Bow and sought a Divine Status from Gong Zheng to now, it wasn't long, just an afternoon.

But in Gong Zheng's eyes, this time felt like decades, with a few silver threads added to his hair.

"Lord Jian, matters of heavenly gods are matters of heavenly gods. As long as the disciples of the Divine Arrow Hall are not coerced into acting against the people's will, the Divine Arrow Hall remains the Divine Arrow Hall."

"Ah, I never thought Gong Zheng would be such a lowly person."

"Having a Dharma Body severed by my brother, he must harbor resentment. If he descends to the human world to target my brother..."

"If he dares to come to the human world, the 'Divine Arrow' hall will need a new god."

Lord Jian's sorrow turned to anger, and he picked up two wooden boxes and headed toward the Zhou Family's Troupe's gate.

"Lord Jian, if you have the chance to become the new god of the Divine Arrow Hall, would you be willing?"

"Whether I'm the new god of the Divine Arrow Hall or not doesn't matter; as long as the god is no longer Gong Zheng."

Saying this, Lord Jian looked up at the Heavenly Dome, tightened his fist...

...

On East Market Street, a gentle rain fell,

It wasn't that the sky wanted a light rain, but Zhou Xuan wished it to rain.

"In autumn, it's either heavy rain or blazing sun, lacking the atmosphere brimming with autumnal melancholy."

Zhou Xuan hoped for a gentle rain on East Market Street to moisten the haze, and listen to the sound of rain pattering on the roof tiles, to refresh his spirits.

Peng Sheng naturally fulfilled Zhou Xuan's wish, bringing a gentle autumn rain to East Market Street.

At this moment,

most of the people had left,

The Music Master, Painter, and Lady Hong Guan each took their leave. Peng Sheng played chess with Yun Ziliang,

While Zhao Wuya and Zhou Xuan sat under the eaves, listening to the rain.

Zhou Xuan extended his hand, feeling the gentle rain on his palm's warmth, and said, "What a wonderful rain it is, quenching the impatience in my heart."

Then, he turned back and said to Yun Ziliang, "Lao Yun, today I went to divine and cast two hexagrams. The first hexagram showed my incense rising and taught me the Dragon Walking Technique."

"Oh."

Yun Ziliang pondered the chess moves, responding to Zhou Xuan.

A hexagram that elevates incense is exceedingly fast, yet if it were anyone else, Yun Ziliang might have exclaimed, "What? So quickly?" but since it's Zhou Xuan, he merely found it—unremarkable.

"For the second hexagram, I encountered a tricky one. The Gua Master spoke to me, 'Even King Yan points this hexagram, Mr. must not decline.'"

Zhou Xuan said.

Hearing this, Yun Ziliang abruptly turned, a handful of white stones in his hand, asking, "Have you finished that calculation?"

"Not yet, I've come back to ask you, haven't I?"

Zhou Xuan pointed at Zhao Wuya, "The Gua Master appointed by King Yan is Ya Zi..."

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