Now all she wanted were just two things: First, not to drag anyone else into inheriting the profession of Water Ghost; second, deliverance.

Or rather, it's really just one thing.

He had no reason to say anything or prevent anything just because of his own feelings.

He took out his Scorching Sun Department-issued phone and hurriedly searched what exactly this so-called ascension meant.

After looking it up, there wasn't any clear answer. He considered it, then thought, why bother checking?

He simply dialed the Fuyu Mountain hotline using the number Qin Kun had given him.

...

At the same time, on a platform by the riverbank in the Luoyue County stretch of the West River.

The Dharma Altar was already arranged here. At its center stood a half-person-tall ancient incense burner, with wisps of smoke drifting ceaselessly from within.

An elder wearing a purple robe stood at the altar, holding a strip of brocade inscribed with a prayer written in cinnabar, in clerical script.

The elder's face bore a solemn expression, his eyes filled with divine radiance as he recited the prayer aloud.

A crowd of Taoists surrounded the platform, each forming hand seals, chanting in low voices together.

Outside the platform, Cai Qidong, now changed into formal attire, stood stone-faced with one hand behind his back, silently observing.

As the ceremony proceeded, ripples began spreading across the previously calm West River, while clouds rapidly gathered in the once cloudless sky.

Water vapor rose, transforming into white whirlwinds, spiraling into the sky.

Soon, the blue sky was completely covered, the clouds thickened, gradually morphing into ominous, pitch-black thunderclouds.

On the platform, the purple-robed elder's long robe whipped in the wind; the brilliance in his eyes only intensified as he faced the raging river and the leaden clouds above. His chanting grew ever louder.

"Boom..."

A deafening thunderclap erupted, lightning spreading through the black clouds.

Outside the platform, some people flinched in fear and stepped back, but Cai Qidong's face remained set; he did not budge, suddenly radiating a mountainous, unfathomable presence.

When the old Taoist finished chanting, Cai Qidong waved his hand, produced a thick stack of red-stamped official documents, and strode onto the platform.

"I, Cai Qidong, Minister of the Nanwu County Scorching Sun Department, on behalf of the Scorching Sun Department and the Divine Land, hereby announce the following decision."

"The participation of Dragon Tiger Mountain in presiding over the Ascension Ceremony is permitted. Water Ghost King Wang Xueqi (ID number: 4401xxxx...), is authorized to ascend!"

He stepped forward and tossed the documents into the giant incense burner.

Flames roared within the great incense burner, and amidst howling winds, black ashes spiraled upward into the heavens.

Cai Qidong stepped to the platform's edge, gazing at the surging West River. The oppressive aura around him thickened, and even his waning energy seemed to ignite and burn once more.

He looked to the river's surface, sweeping his gaze side to side, a chill in his expression.

"Anyone with an objection, show yourself."

...

At the heart of the Water Ghost Domain, dark clouds pressed low. A jagged lightning bolt suddenly crashed down, striking the pool directly.

The Water Ghost Domain, which never appeared in daylight, was forcibly torn open, and even the space here began to warp and shift.

Who would have thought Cai Qidong would go this far? Ordinarily, just finding a reliable Taoist priest would suffice to transcend someone.

Cai Qidong straight-up called in a Purple Robed Boss from Dragon Tiger Mountain—this was going all-out.

This was like swatting a mosquito with an anti-aircraft gun. With such a huge deployment of resources, any Water Ghost Domain would simply be crushed.

Inside the pond, Wang Xueqi appeared in daylight, drifting downstream from this little tributary into the river.

Jiang Yanyan naturally sensed all of this. As River God—well, acting River God for now though he still wielded a river god's authority—it was all his territory.

This was his turf, and Cai Qidong got a Purple Robed Boss to conduct an almost-heaven-sacrificing-level, absolutely by-the-book ritual.

He heard it all, and even if he couldn't understand the exact words, the meaning was plain enough.

Now, Dragon Tiger Mountain, allied with the Scorching Sun Department, plus the Divine Land Government, had officially approved the process of Wang Xueqi's ascension—and were helping her ascend. This directly involved everyone in the West River water system.

Who was in favor? Who was against?

Jiang Yanyan didn't really get what all that meant, but none of it mattered—he just needed to know Wang Xueqi.

He swam to Wang Xueqi's side. Before she could ask, he spoke in human language.

"My brother is Wen Yan. I'm Jiang Yanyan, the local River God."

"Uh, hello, I'm Wang Xueqi."

"I'll give you a ride." Jiang Yanyan didn't really understand the situation, but seeing Wang Xueqi's hopeful look and bold stride, and recalling from stories that ascension meant becoming an immortal or something—

He didn't overthink it; cheerfully, he helped Wang Xueqi along, borrowing the river god's power to conjure a surge of water, propelling her upstream, personally sending her out of his domain.

Unfortunately, his abilities weren't nearly enough to manifest a Golden Body, nor was his power sufficient to transform his form.

If he had a Golden Body, of course he'd take her all the way.

Once Wang Xueqi left Jiang Yanyan's territory, nothing much hindered her progress; though the river here was a bit restless, it was nothing compared to the open sea.

All sorts of creatures in the river, be they water gods, demons, or ghosts, dared not, at this moment, risk offending the local commandery's Scorching Sun Department Minister.

But traveling ever upstream, once she left Nanwu County, wherever the eye could see, dark clouds loomed overhead, and demon aura seethed along the river, as if the whole Great River brimmed with irrepressible malice.

Wang Xueqi pressed on through the water, just like a fish swimming upstream against a raging current—it became ever more arduous.

And the malice gathering here only grew thicker and thicker.

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