Three hundred years passed quickly, allowing a minor river deity to attain the late stage of the second realm.
On his own territory, his power would receive a considerable boost, making him equivalent to a cultivator at the peak of the second realm.
However, most divine beings, lacking high-grade cultivation techniques or divine artifacts, possessed true combat power that was several notches weaker than cultivators of the same realm.
Yet, three hundred years of incense offerings were enough to accumulate two or three divine artifacts.
It was precisely because of this that this river deity was like a local emperor in the Linfu County area.
He had committed countless vile deeds in secret; abducting young boys and girls for his pleasure was considered the least of his sins.
With his divine abilities, combined with years of cultivated connections and influence, he had severely harmed the local populace, even manipulating official appointments and dismissals within the county yamen.
"As a deity officially recognized by the imperial court, you should be protecting the region's prosperity and smooth weather. Instead, you act like a tyrant and harm the people."
At this point, Mo Yiyan couldn't help but shake his head, a trace of anger rising in his heart.
However, he dared not let his emotions influence Ji Yuan's judgment, so he suppressed his anger as much as possible.
"According to the intelligence gathered, an unknown number of innocent bones have accumulated at the bottom of the Linfu River."
He paused before continuing to relay the information he had gathered.
The bones at the riverbed were mostly those of young boys and girls, all of whom had been murdered. The rest were of young men and women.
In addition, there were the remains of cultivators and martial artists who had stumbled upon the truth and sought to eliminate the wicked for the sake of the people, only to meet their own doom.
Their souls were also suppressed at the riverbed by the river deity's divine powers. Some had transformed into water ghosts, serving him and continuing to harm the populace.
Furthermore, he had subdued many mountain and wilderness monsters to consolidate his power.
It was rumored that in the River God Temple, every night was filled with singing and dancing, with more than a dozen monsters and the very deity meant to protect the region reveling and wantonly tormenting the mortals they had abducted.
"Originally, the sect on this mountain was annihilated because they angered this river deity."
Mo Yiyan's expression darkened. With Linfu County as the center, all martial arts forces and sects within hundreds of miles had to obey the river deity's commands, or face the wrath of complete annihilation.
The sect that originally occupied this mountain had angered the river deity. Most of its disciples were secretly murdered, and in the end, they were forced to sell their ancestral property and flee this place of strife.
"If that's the case, the county magistrate's parting words become quite intriguing."
Ji Yuan gazed at the burning candlelight before him, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Was it possible that the magistrate intended to use him as a tool to confront the river deity who was harming the local people?
But how could that person be so certain that he, a novice who had just condensed his divine form, could contend with a deity who had enjoyed centuries of incense offerings?
Even though the Water God Temple now housed many second-realm cultivators like Mo Yiyan, in a real fight, their side would still be at a disadvantage.
Even with a suicidal struggle, they might not be able to slay the river deity.
They might not even be able to inflict significant damage upon him.
After all, he not only commanded loyal martial artists and cultivators but also a large number of vengeful spirits, water ghosts, and over a dozen subdued mountain and wilderness monsters.
Moreover, as a regional deity, the River God Temple's rank entitled it to a subordinate deity and four divine soldiers.
"This river deity has operated here for so many years. The visible and hidden forces under his command are definitely not few, and he has powerful backing from above. Dealing with him will not be easy."
Mo Yiyan said gravely.
He also expressed his concern that their recent reconnaissance activities might have already been discovered by the river deity.
"Originally, when we established the temple without any deity manifesting, he might not have paid us much attention."
After a long silence, he continued, "But now that Master has condensed his divine form, he will surely react. Perhaps some action will be taken next."
In the river deity's eyes, the incense power they had gathered could be taken away at any moment, so there was little point in interfering.
After understanding the full situation, Ji Yuan couldn't help but sigh. It seemed there were many troubles ahead.
Regardless of the young county magistrate's intentions, if he wished to cultivate peacefully and gather incense offerings in this region, he would first have to deal with the river deity who was harming the people.
Even if it weren't for his own cultivation matters, if he had merely passed by and heard the truth, he would have no hesitation in acting, considering it an act of eliminating evil for the people.
However, given the current circumstances, doing anything would be somewhat troublesome.
Having operated for centuries, the river deity had undoubtedly filled the area with informants. Any action he took would be immediately reported to him.
This would result in a loss of initiative, and any attempt to act would lead to a passive situation.
"Master!"
As Ji Yuan was deep in thought, Li Buwei, Zhu Tao, and Liu Qi arrived in the main hall.
He had summoned the three who were resting in their rooms through divine sense transmission.
At this point, Mo Yiyan reiterated the situation to the three of them.
About half an hour later, all three wore grim expressions, having also realized the trouble involved.
However, they had no way back. The mountain could be sold again, but the divine form they had already condensed could not be moved.
"Why don't we just attack them directly? With our strength, we might not necessarily lose!"
Liu Qi blurted out without thinking.
Of the original nineteen mountain and wilderness cultivators, fifteen were gathered in the divine temple, all of them in the early stage of the second realm. Li Buwei and Mo Yiyan were even in the middle stage of the second realm.
With such strength, even a direct assault might not be without hope.
"If you don't know what to say, then speak less."
Mo Yiyan glanced at Liu Qi before gravely stating, "We still don't know the true extent of the opponent's power or what hidden trump cards they possess. If we were to attack directly, we might not even know how we died!"
Moreover, they would be on the enemy's territory, and as a regional deity, he would receive extremely powerful enhancements.
And although the divine path had declined, as a deity, he would undoubtedly possess many divine abilities and techniques. Acting rashly before understanding them would only bring disaster.
Even taking a step back, even if they were to win, how many would survive this battle? How many would perish in this struggle?
"Mo Yiyan, take a few people and investigate the lairs of those mountain spirits and monsters."
Ji Yuan suddenly turned and said to the people before him, "Li Buwei, take people to the county yamen. You must clarify the county magistrate's intentions. I grant you the authority to make decisions and negotiate with him as you see fit."
"Liu Qi, you will be responsible for investigating the vengeful spirits and water ghosts in the Linfu River, determining their general numbers and strength, and the amount of resentment they have accumulated!"
"Zhu Tao, take the remaining people and do your best to protect the visiting pilgrims, preventing them from being harmed!"
Within a few miles of the mountain, with his current divine powers, he could sense any abnormalities in the area. The thoughts of any ill-intentioned person could not escape his divine authority.
However, beyond that distance, Ji Yuan felt somewhat powerless. He strongly suspected that if the river deity were to test them, they would likely target the visiting pilgrims from the very beginning.
"As ordered, Master!"
In the main hall, the men clasped their fists and accepted the command, suddenly feeling a surge of spirit and enthusiasm.