Chapter 628: Three River Dragon King

The destruction caused by three thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards spreading into a single city was astonishing; each was an Evolved One, capable of leaping across eaves and scaling walls with ease, and all had activated their Spiritual Mediums, rendering any ghost or demon utterly visible—merely by moving, they provoked fierce resistance from the city's incense deity.

"Who dares blindfolded, to cause trouble in my domain?"

A wisp of green smoke shot skyward from the city, then coalesced into the form of a middle-aged man—majestic in bearing, noble in status, a prince who, after death, was enshrined as a true deity, receiving incense offerings.

Never had he imagined that on this ordinary day, someone would come knocking at his door—this was simply absurd.

He was imperial kin, bound to the dynasty's fate; unless the realm faced its final collapse, he would forever rest in perfect security.

"I am True Person Taiyi, the current state advisor. Today, I lead three thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards, beginning from this city, to embark on the path of shattering mountains and toppling temples."

At this moment, Li Yi arrived, standing atop golden auspicious clouds, gazing steadily at the incense deity as he spoke.

"The state advisor? True Person Taiyi?"

The middle-aged man laughed. "Even if you were merely a state advisor, the current emperor himself would call me 'Uncle' upon seeing me. Take your men and leave this city at once—or tomorrow, your death date arrives."

Li Yi said nothing. His gaze flickered, and instantly a silver lightning bolt struck down—then he caught it barehanded. Crimson heart-fire wrapped around it, transforming the silver lightning into blazing crimson in an instant.

"We bear no grudge, but this world cannot accommodate so many incense deities. So please, die."

His expression was cold. He offered no further explanation—only raised his hand and hurled the searing lightning.

BOOM!

A thunderclap echoed through heaven and earth.

The incense deity's eyes shrank sharply. He tried to dodge, but years of pampered luxury had left him utterly unskilled in combat—he never even understood what was happening before the lightning struck him.

Aah!

A piercing scream echoed as the incense deity's body split open with a grotesque wound. Vast quantities of incense power scattered, filling the city's sky with a faint, sweet fragrance—as if temple sandalwood had just been lit.

Within the split body, heart-fire burned, causing unbearable agony.

"You—you actually dare strike me?"

The incense deity was both terrified and furious, but he was no fool. Seeing the Embroidered Uniform Guards smashing idols throughout the city, panic began to rise within him.

Could it be that the current emperor truly intended to carry out a monumental act?

But how dare Zhao Chenggan, that brat, do this? Does he not wish to remain emperor?

Even if he killed me, how could he kill every incense deity across the land? Would he even exterminate the Yin Emperor? That brat has reigned only a decade—his foundation is still unstable. Even if he trained three thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards, what good is that? One powerful incense deity could wipe them all out.

Is he relying on this True Person Taiyi?

Betting the throne, the nation's fortune, and his own life on this Daoist—could this Daoist possibly possess heavenly abilities to make Zhao Chenggan risk everything?

Having once vied for the throne himself, this incense deity connected the dots from what he now witnessed. Had he been in Zhao Chenggan's place, he would never have dared such a thing—so he had been certain this True Person Taiyi wouldn't dare harm him. But now that the man had truly struck, he was utterly terrified.

Li Yi had no patience to explain further. He pointed through the air—a golden light shot forth, transforming into a flying sword that descended from the heavens.

The sword struck a towering idol in the city.

One blow—and the idol instantly turned to dust.

With the idol destroyed, faith collapsed. The incense deity could no longer hold together—he roared, and his body exploded into nothingness.

In less than half an hour, every idol in the city was obliterated—except the current emperor's statue, untouched, for the purpose of shattering mountains and toppling temples was not to sever incense entirely, but to concentrate its power.

"Though the Embroidered Uniform Guards act swiftly, the realm is vast—it's impossible to eradicate all incense deities in a short time," Li Yi said, standing atop golden clouds, gazing calmly into the distance. "The best method is to make this matter explode—use myself as bait to lure out the powerful incense deities, then settle everything in one decisive battle."

"Once most of the powerful incense deities are slain, the rest will follow naturally."

So he was not in a hurry—he waited patiently for the right moment.

About an hour later.

The scattered Embroidered Uniform Guards rapidly converged and assembled; their mobility was exceptional, and they had completed their mission superbly.

"Depart for the next city," Li Yi said, once again summoning his cloud-walking technique, carrying all the Embroidered Uniform Guards toward the next city.

Incense deities have another major weakness: their temples are always built in populous cities. Though some minor earth shrines and mountain shrines exist in remote wilderness, they are trivial deities, receiving offerings only from travelers and mountain folk—barely any incense power. Li Yi's campaign naturally targeted the major ones.

Thus, his strategy was simple: circle the realm, focusing solely on populous cities.

Soon.

Li Yi, guided by the map in his mind, arrived at the second city: San Chuan County, named for the three great rivers flowing through it.

Here, deities included princes, river gods, city gods, and numerous historical figures.

He dispatched the three thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards again, then, accompanied by a few remaining Golden-Eyed Guards, ascended above San Chuan County, sensing the celestial and terrestrial energies, waiting for a powerful incense deity to reveal itself.

And this city was no ordinary place.

A spirit had emerged from the great river—an alligator that had cultivated into a demon, known as the San Chuan Dragon King. It had several dragon king temples, receiving incense offerings from passing boats and city residents. But this spirit was not an official court deity; it was ignored because its power was great yet its ambitions were low.

When the Embroidered Uniform Guards began destroying the Dragon King temples, the alligator demon initially stayed hidden. Only when the third temple was smashed could it no longer endure—it stirred up storms, whipped up gales, gathered dark clouds, and prepared to kill the guards destroying its temples.

Though the Embroidered Uniform Guards were at the Spiritual Perception realm, they were powerless against a spirit empowered by incense.

On the great river, waves rose thirty meters high, threatening to swallow the guards on the shore.

But the next instant—

From the sky, a brilliant fist of light struck, accompanied by the roar of dragons and tigers. The thirty-meter waves instantly reversed, the river turned crimson, and a massive black figure exploded from the water.

A colossal alligator, resembling a dragon-jiao, lay stranded on the shore—its back bore a fist imprint, shattering its spine, blood spurting, its aura instantly withering.

Though it was strong—

Unfortunately, it had met Li Yi, who was stronger. One strike—and it was defeated.

"What a huge alligator—is this the San Chuan Dragon King?"

One Company Commander, seeing this monstrous beast, couldn't help but blink in astonishment.

"Don't waste time—the True Person Taiyi is watching from above. Finish your duty quickly," another Embroidered Uniform Guard urged.

They didn't linger to watch—they saw the danger pass and immediately smashed the last Dragon King idol, then swiftly withdrew, destroying earth shrines along the way.

"I am the San Chuan Dragon King. I have never done evil; instead, I have helped the court quell river disasters and control floods. Why kill me today?"

The man—now revealed as a thirty-year-old, handsome youth—emerged in his spiritual form, his incense aura rising skyward. He glared at Li Yi, filled with outrage.

Incense deities had endured so long precisely because they were not all evil. To receive worship, they had to serve the people—otherwise, why would anyone offer incense?

"I'm sorry," Li Yi said calmly—and actually apologized.

The San Chuan Dragon King was stunned.

How could this sudden enemy be so courteous?

But Li Yi continued: "This is my fault. You may be innocent—but this conflict concerns the entire realm's incense. I must err on the side of killing rather than letting any slip away. Had you hidden deep in the mountains, I might have spared you. But your Dragon King temples spread across San Chuan County have disrupted the court's incense authority. Today, you must perish."

"So the court is stepping in to claim incense?"

The San Chuan Dragon King was no fool—he instantly understood. He saw his body wounded, his idols shattered, the Embroidered Uniform Guards acting without restraint—clearly, this was imperial order, not personal whim.

"Daoist, could you grant me a chance? I offer to submit, aiding the court in subduing all incense deities. Your power is great, but your numbers are few. I swear my life to you—for a single thread of survival."

He took a deep breath, bowed deeply, and knelt before Li Yi.

Having lived for centuries, what hadn't he seen? He knew full well: under overwhelming tide, a local dragon king dared not resist—only submission was the true path.

Li Yi paused, then fell into thought.

Incense deities submitting was not in the original plan—but the San Chuan Dragon King's words had reminded him.

The realm was vast; the way of incense ran deep. Not all incense deities could be exterminated—some must remain, to help stabilize the land.

With this thought—

Li Yi nodded. "Very well. Seeing your sincerity, I accept your submission. From now on, follow me. Aid me in shattering mountains and toppling temples, subduing all incense deities. If you succeed, a true deity title as Dragon King awaits you. But if you harbor treachery, I will kill you instantly."

"Thank you, True Person," the San Chuan Dragon King breathed a huge sigh of relief.

At least his life was saved—for now, other matters could wait.

"False Daoist Taiyi! I am the Marquis of Guan Nei, enshrined by the late emperor! How dare you destroy my temple and sever my incense? You seek death!"

It was Marquis Guan Nei Wu Jin—after death, enshrined as a true deity, receiving incense for nearly a century. Now that his temple was shattered, how could he endure it? He burst forth in fury.

Li Yi said nothing. He stepped on auspicious clouds, turning into a streak of golden light and striking out instantly.

BOOM.

Heaven and earth roared—the Marquis Guan Nei's body exploded, incense scattered, spiritual fragments flew wildly.

"You dare come at me with such power?" Li Yi roared, clenching his fist and stepping through empty air. Lightning wrapped his body, dragon and tiger energy coiled around him, aura brimming with killing intent.

This sight sent shivers through the nearby San Chuan Dragon King.

This Daoist's power was truly terrifying—he had held back when fighting me. Had he used his full strength, my true form would have exploded like Marquis Wu Jin's.