Ji Yuan gazed at the two figures that suddenly appeared in the sky, never expecting things to conclude this way.
Half an hour prior, an elder and a middle-aged man had materialized above Lin Fu County, their immense spiritual pressure, both at the Golden Core level, instantly enshrouding the entire area.
The two then acted in succession, separating the warring parties, and subsequently, with a single finger, dispatched the demonic middle-aged man.
No matter how proficient he was in the Yin-Yang Sect's secret arts, capable of transforming his body into countless paper scraps to evade fatal attacks,
in the face of a Great Cultivator of the Golden Core stage, all such efforts proved utterly futile. In an instant, he was utterly annihilated, not even his magical artifacts left behind.
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
Jiang Yun Zhou and Lin Yu Bai, along with eight inner disciples, bowed in unison towards the elder in the sky.
Meanwhile, Zhou Wen Tao and the others, who had ceased their fighting, also paid their respects to the middle-aged man, addressing him as, "Lord Prefect."
Indeed, the middle-aged man clad in peculiar robes was none other than the Prefect of Fei Yun Prefecture, and also the one with the highest cultivation realm among the four prefectures of Ling Yang.
If Ji Yuan recalled correctly, this person was named Jiang Ming Yang. His ancestors were all residents of the prefectural city, and relying on his own talents, he was ultimately granted trust by the Prefect of the Prefecture and assigned to Fei Yun Prefecture as its Prefect.
Among the four prefectures of Ling Yang, this individual possessed the highest cultivation realm and was the most capable in all aspects.
Never did he imagine he would witness his true form in Lin Fu County tonight.
At the same time, Ji Yuan finally understood that perhaps only with the appearance of this person in the entire Fei Yun Prefecture could the Water God of Fu Yuan River have taken such solemn notice.
"Disperse now. Today's matter ends here."
Prefect Jiang Ming Yang spoke, his voice deep and filled with authority.
As his words fell, Zhou Wen Tao and the others naturally dared not defy him. After acknowledging his command, they immediately turned and left without any hesitation.
"Little Yuan Mountain Water God, can you now withdraw the river waters?"
He turned his gaze, a smile suddenly appearing on his face.
Upon seeing this, Ji Yuan's heart leaped. He then nodded with a composed expression, cupped his fists in agreement, and with the authority in his hand, commanded the river waters that had engulfed Lin Fu County to recede.
It was estimated that soon these waters would return to the Lin Fu River, though some negative impacts were unavoidable.
"Lord Prefect, do you know what you are doing?"
The City God of Li Yang City suddenly spoke, his words carrying a hint of accusation.
As these words were uttered, the expressions of everyone present shifted, clearly sensing something unusual.
Hearing this, Jiang Ming Yang merely cast a casual glance, causing the five deities to dare not speak further. Under that faint gaze, they felt as if struck by lightning, their very golden bodies almost collapsing.
If the Second Realm could possibly contend with the Third, then in the face of the Golden Core, even a peerless prodigy at the peak of the Third Realm would have no chance of resistance.
Even if the opponent possessed merely a seven-colored Golden Core.
"When has the divine path been able to dictate my actions?"
The calm words were spoken, yet they contained immense authority.
The five deities said no more. After a bow, they transformed into streaks of light and departed.
Since the Prefect had already decreed that the matters here were concluded, they naturally had no reason to linger any longer.
Ji Yuan's true form had long since appeared, standing alongside the disciples of the Nine Xuan Sect. At this moment, they exchanged bewildered glances, all feeling a sense of unreality.
Just moments ago, they were engaged in a life-and-death struggle, and now their opponents were departing one by one, leaving them in a sudden state of bewilderment.
What was the purpose of their persistence?
As everyone's thoughts were in disarray, the Prefect had already turned and left, transforming into a beam of light and disappearing into the night sky.
"Martial Uncle! What exactly is going on?"
Jiang Yun Zhou stepped forward, equally befuddled.
The elder who descended from the heavens and finally landed on solid ground first took a drink from his gourd, then said with a smile, "It's all laid out before you. Everything here is concluded."
He told everyone not to rush, assuring them they would understand in a few days, and then led his disciples to find an inn in the county town to stay.
The tense situation had suddenly vanished as if it had never existed, concluding anticlimactically.
Throughout the night, Magistrate Zhang Qing Yang did not rest well. He ordered people to clear the ruins of the City God's pavilion while anxiously awaiting the will of heaven.
Ji Yuan, who had vaguely guessed some things, had his divine avatar escort the River Duke back to the temple beside the Lin Fu River.
As for the awakened City God and his officials, they could only temporarily reside in the county yamen.
"It seems the Prefect has made his decision."
In the divine realm of the River Duke's temple, the avatar of the True God of Fu Yuan River, the young man, spoke slowly.
After listening to Ji Yuan's description, he was able to surmise the Prefect's thoughts. While not entirely accurate, it was close enough.
"Pitiful. Controlled for over three hundred years, committing so many actions against his own conscience."
After a sigh of emotion, the young man glanced at the old man beside him.
At this point, Ji Yuan also understood that from the moment he became a god, he had been secretly harmed by members of the demonic path, who had implanted a restriction in his soul, rendering him unable to refuse any of their commands.
However, these restrictions had now all been severed, and he had regained his freedom.
Yet, regardless, even if he was under control, some responsibility for his past actions still fell upon him.
Perhaps for the River Duke, he was indeed somewhat innocent, but for the common people who had suffered, wasn't it the same?
"I only wish that this body can still do something for the people to atone for past sins."
Sun Da Gui lowered his head and muttered to himself.
He was no longer the River Duke. His divine position and divinity had been inherited by the Flood Dragon under Ji Yuan.
Even his divine name had been stripped away by the True God of Fu Yuan River just now.
Now, he was merely a golden body formed by incense and wish power, possessing nothing else.
"How do you plan to handle this?"
The young man turned, his gaze filled with meaning.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan immediately understood his intention. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Are you willing to become the Stove God of Lin Fu County, protecting every household and ensuring peace?"
According to the regulations of the Great Yu Dynasty, each county, in addition to the City God, should have three to four divine positions, but due to various reasons, most of them remained vacant.
Although Ji Yuan did not possess the authority to officially confer divine titles, since the True God of Fu Yuan River had spoken, and the current City God of the county owed him a favor,
a divine position of Stove God was not a difficult matter.