"A true dragon?!"

In the City God Temple of Qingshan County, the City God, who was sitting peacefully in the blessed land, receiving incense offerings from believers and occasionally responding with divine power, suddenly looked up. His gaze pierced through the boundary between Yin and Yang and saw a purple dragon that had already flown over Qingshan County.

Although the sound was faint, almost nonexistent, the ethereal clouds and the unyielding, unmistakable dragon's might shook the City God. He could no longer sit peacefully in his blessed land. In the next moment, he transformed into a divine light, rose into the sky, and blocked the purple dragon that was about to enter the county town.

"But what is the purpose of His Highness of the Xuan Ting Dragon Palace's entry into the city?"

That dazzling purple color was an unmistakable identifier, and the City God of Qingshan County subconsciously assumed that this purple dragon came from the Dragon Palace of Xuanting Lake.

He didn't see anything wrong with a dragon running off to this remote corner of Qingshan County.

In his county town lives a powerful being who is suspected to be a reincarnated sage. So what if a dragon comes to visit him?

That makes perfect sense. If he weren't so proud, he would have considered visiting her a few days ago. But he still cares about his image and is too reserved; it's only a suspicion now, and there's no concrete evidence yet.

"Could it be the City God of Qingshan County?"

Like a majestic sacred mountain standing tall in the sky, the water spirit that had been blocked from its path had already begun to develop intelligence. Although it had only been a few days, it was already as eloquent as a child of a few years old.

"It is indeed I, Your Highness. You have come to see me?"

The City God couldn't immediately discern the true nature of the purple dragon before him. The dense dragon aura made the City God subconsciously believe that the dragon was a purple dragon of impeccable bloodline.

"That's right, my master sent me to find you, hoping you can help me find someone!"

The childish voice echoed high in the sky, leaving the City God somewhat bewildered.

Below, on the bustling streets of Qingshan County, none of the ordinary people could see the dragon and the god conversing in the sky above, each going about their own business.

"..."

The City God fell silent for a moment, unsure of what to say.

Judging from the shape of this purple dragon, one can tell what kind of esteemed position it holds among the dragons. But how can a prince of such high status have a master? What is the background of this master, and why would he send a dragon to find him?

"Young Master Feng?"

Suddenly, in a flash of inspiration, the City God thought of Feng Bingwen, the young master who had just returned a few days ago.

At that moment, he also noticed that the purple dragon in front of him was coming from the direction where that young master Feng lived.

"Yes, that's my husband!"

How could that be?

The City God was still not quite convinced. He still believed in his heart that the purple dragon in front of him had a significant blood relationship with the Dragon King of Dongting Lake.

That's why he found it so absurd. He had heard that the Young Master Feng helped Xuan Ting Dragon Lord achieve enlightenment and shielded him from the tribulation of enlightenment.

Even if it is the tribulation of attaining enlightenment, there is no need to use a descendant who also has a considerable dragon transformation to repay it. That doesn't make sense. True dragons are so proud, how could they do such a servile and obsequious thing?

"Your Majesty, are you listening to me?"

Seeing the powerful figure before her, who seemed to be immersed in his own world and not listening to her, Shui Ling, whose mental capacity was no better than that of an ordinary child, patted the dragon's tail, seemingly a little impatient.

This movement immediately alerted the puzzled City God of Qingshan County, who noticed something amiss. The clouds and mist surrounding Shui Ling dispersed, revealing a dragon claw with five distinct toes.

"A true dragon!"

Golden ripples of divine light spread from the City God's body, causing his divine form to tremble with shock.

"impossible!"

Although what he saw before him was utterly unbelievable, the City God, relying on reason, rejected this incredible possibility.

A true dragon?

How could it possibly be a real dragon?

Think about how many hardships and dangers the Dragon King of Xuanting Lake went through before finally succeeding in his transformation.

That Dragon Lord's background surpassed that of 99% of the water dragons in the world. He had a true dragon as his father, and after cultivating to the limit, he entered the secular dynasty of the human race. He used the divine path to increase his foundation and accumulated for three hundred years before taking advantage of the changes in heaven and earth to trigger the Dragon Transformation Tribulation in one fell swoop, and then succeeded in his water dragon cultivation.

Transforming into a dragon is so difficult. Even though the dragon race has existed for a long time and there are many true dragons in the world, the purple dragon in front of him could not possibly be a true dragon, even if it has five claws.

With the outcome determined, working backwards becomes very easy. The City God of Qingshan County quickly found the inconsistencies in the dragon before him.

For example, this dragon had no trace of bloodlust, but instead possessed an extreme spirituality that even dragons shouldn't have, and which even he could only look up to.

"I am not a real dragon!"

Seeing that the great deity in front of her seemed shocked by her appearance, Shui Ling spoke up in a childish voice, trying to clarify.

"I only have the appearance of a dragon."

"So it was a spirit!"

After carefully observing for a moment and eliminating the interference of the dragon's aura, the City God finally confirmed the true nature of the purple dragon in front of him. It was a rare water spirit, but compared to a real dragon, it was nothing.

"That's understandable."

The City God of Qingshan County nodded to himself. He could accept this result. It was just a water spirit that had the form of a real dragon. There was nothing strange about it. Although he had been the City God for hundreds of years, he had never seen one before.

"What are your master's orders?"

"I wouldn't dare give orders, but the master needs your help with something!"

"Please speak."

The City God of Qingshan County agreed almost without hesitation.

He had actually been under tremendous pressure these past few days, for no other reason than that young master Feng, who had returned and was clearly transformed, and who was very likely to have regained the legacy of his past life.

Whether it was the government officials in the mortal world or some ghost and god friends who were familiar with him, they all reminded him, openly or secretly, to find an opportunity to visit that Young Master Feng and find out more about him.

However, he withstood the pressure and remained unmoved. He never accepted such treatment during his lifetime and even confronted the emperor in court, which led to his being sent to various posts outside the capital multiple times. But this also earned him the love and respect of the people. After his death, he was remembered by the people and became the city god of a region.

Of course, the main reason he withstood the pressure and did not visit Feng Bingwen was because he was proud and unwilling to bow down so easily. But if you were to ask him what he was thinking, he would naturally want to have some contact with that reincarnated sage.

I have no other reason than to have a casual chat with that sage and to witness the demeanor and bearing of the ancient sage.

"My lord wishes to find a Taoist priest who practices corpse refining. This priest is currently digging up ancestral graves. I humbly request the City God's assistance in finding him."

"Digging up graves?"

Upon hearing this, the City God immediately became serious. As a deity, he was particularly sensitive to such matters.

But why would a reincarnated sage seek out such heretical and unorthodox methods? What is the rationale behind it?

"Any other news?"

His name is Jiang Yang.

"Um!"

The City God nodded, gazing at the purple dragon less than three zhang long before him, signaling him to continue. However, the purple dragon blinked its crystal-clear eyes, staring at him innocently.

"It's gone."

That's it?

The City God felt a little numb.

"There's only one name, and all people know he's digging up graves and refining corpses?"

"right."

"...Do you know which prefecture or county the other party is from?"

"It's probably from Yunze Prefecture!"

Recalling the message conveyed by her master before her departure, Shui Ling replied.

"Yunze Prefecture? A prefecture?"

"Perhaps in a neighboring large state."

"...I can try sending a message, but I can't guarantee whether I can find it!"

The City God was completely dumbfounded. In several provinces, to find a minor evil cultivator who refines corpses? This was giving ghosts and gods far too much credit. Did they really think they were omnipotent?

That would be good.

Shui Ling was somewhat delighted, judging from the words of the great master in front of her, it seemed that she no longer needed to run around.

"Then, Lord City God, I will return to report to the Master now."

"Um."

The City God nodded, watching the purple dragon, which, at first glance, was indistinguishable from a real dragon, fly towards the direction of Fengjia Village.

Then, he transformed into a beam of divine light and returned to his blessed land. After pondering for a moment, he released several beams of divine power, conveying Feng Bingwen's needs to the government in the mortal realm, as well as to the City God of the Prefecture, who was on a higher level.

Like a stone thrown into a still pond, Feng Bingwen's request was conveyed by the City God of Qingshan County. Countless people and even ghosts and gods throughout the Great Gan Dynasty paid close attention to it, pondering the information contained in the request and sharing a common doubt.

"What exactly does this reincarnated sage want to do?"

"A heretical Taoist priest who digs up graves and refines corpses? Since he has attracted the attention of a reincarnated sage, received special instructions, and even had his name spread, he must have something special about him."

"Find him, even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find that corpse-driving Taoist priest named Jiang Yang."

"This Jiang Yang might have obtained some extraordinary Corpse Demon Path inheritance, which has alarmed even the sages!"

"I'm afraid that's the case!"

At this moment, Feng Bingwen, who was at home and placing high hopes on the group of ghosts and gods, naturally did not know that he only wanted to eliminate a few simple karmic burdens.

After the news got out, a group of self-proclaimed knowledgeable and erudite "big shots" had a discussion and came to a nearly identical conclusion.

In Yunze Prefecture and the surrounding continents, an ancient corpse-refining lineage has appeared in the world and was obtained by a person named Jiang Yang. Because the divine power contained in this lineage is so astonishing, it alarmed the reincarnated sages, who specially instructed the ghosts and gods.

"Hurry, hurry, we can't be slow. We must find Jiang Yang before the sages do."

"Now that the ancient heritage has been revealed, how can we allow sages to erase it?"

"Activate all our hidden agents. Even if we have to search every inch of Yunze Prefecture, we must find that kid."

"Since the sage desires it, then find him. We can also use this opportunity to get to know the sage. If we can make friends with him, that would be wonderful."