You've only been cultivating for a few years, and you're already talking about cultivating

The giant turtle nodded vigorously: "When I saw the immortal master dealing with those two vicious fish, I thought this was an opportunity."

"If the immortal master can rid the villain's henchmen, perhaps I can reclaim my home."

"Let's be happy again!"

It looked at Qi Fei, its small eyes full of expectation: "Immortal Master, can I take back my cave dwelling?"

Qi Fei stopped worrying about the name "Happy Turtle" and looked up at the sky.

In the night sky, the "moon" and the jade bracelet were still chasing each other.

The jade bracelet controlled by Yun Qiyue drew ever closer, its halo darting left and right, yet it couldn't shake off its pursuers. They drew streaks across the sky, their interplay of light illuminating the night sky with flickering brightness.

almost.

Qi Fei squinted, watching the distance getting closer and closer.

As long as the jade bracelet covers that "moon", Yunqiyue can reclaim its Taiyin form.

At that time, the water goddess in this river will cease to exist.

He looked up at the giant turtle: "Whether we can get our cave back depends on her!"

The key to this battle is whether Yun Qiyue can reclaim her Taiyin form.

The giant turtle also stretched its neck to watch the chase in the sky, its tiny eyes filled with tension.

"Go, Immortal Master!" it boomed, "Quickly subdue that villain!"

In the sky, the cold moonlight and the murky shadow were still chasing and entangled.

The moonlight sometimes shone brightly, sometimes dimly. The shadows sometimes drew near, sometimes retreated. The jade bracelet swirled and danced in the air, but it could never capture the ever-changing moon.

Yun Qiyue sat cross-legged on the riverbank, her eyes closed, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

The moonlight shone on her face, highlighting her pale skin. Her lips trembled slightly, and her breathing gradually became rapid.

Clearly, she expended a lot of energy.

This is a tug of war.

Whoever can't hold on any longer will lose.

Just as the two sides were locked in a tense standoff, a small boat suddenly drifted by on the distant river.

The small boat traveled upstream, its hull as light as a leaf, gliding silently across the water. A person stood at the bow, hands clasped behind their back, clothes fluttering in the breeze.

He began to sing, his clear and melodious voice echoing across the water:

"A light boat floats on the waves, overlooking the vast ocean; holding the water as a balance, I question the mysteries of the universe. Where did I come from, and where will I go? I hold the long river in my hand, witnessing the vicissitudes of life."

The melodious singing pierced through the night and reached everyone's ears.

As the small boat drew closer, the person became clearer and clearer.

He was slender, dressed in a blue robe with a white silk sash tied around his waist. His long hair was loose and fluttered in the wind, and he wore a faint smile, exuding an indescribable air of elegance.

It was as if a renowned scholar had arrived under the moonlight.

It was as if an immortal had descended to earth.

The small boat stopped at the riverbank, and the man stepped onto the gunwale, lightly leaped, and landed on the sand.

He looked up at the chase in the sky, then at Yun Qiyue sitting cross-legged, and finally his gaze fell on Qi Fei and the giant turtle.

He smiled slightly and said:

"I am the River God of the Ruyin River. You two, why don't you give me some face and stop?"

River God.

Originally, this term referred to those who dredged rivers, repaired them, and built dams. They controlled the water for the people, bringing benefits to the region, and were revered as river gods after their deaths.

Later, the River God truly became a god, managing the waters of the river and governing its inhabitants.

Qi Fei turned his head and looked at the giant turtle.

Do you know this person?

The giant turtle shrank its neck and whispered:

"This person came with bad people. When he arrived, he drove away all the former water gods."

Qi Fei raised an eyebrow, realizing something.

"Oh? You water gods also wage war against each other?"

The giant turtle nodded, then shook its head.

"There wasn't before," it said, a hint of confusion in its voice. "But recently there have been more fights. Not just among us in the river, but also among those in the mountains."

It paused, then added:

"Fighting is happening in many places. They're fighting for territory, for cave dwellings, for places of cultivation. We're lucky here, only two have come..."

Qi Fei listened, his gaze falling on the man who called himself the River God.

The man stood with his hands behind his back, a smile on his face, exuding an air of nonchalance.

"The Water Goddess accepted the gift before allowing him to cross the river." Qi Fei looked at him and suddenly asked, "Was it your idea, or his?"

The River God of Ruyin River smiled, a smile that carried a hint of self-righteousness.

"Between heaven and earth, mountains and rivers, all have gods." He spoke slowly, his voice clear and melodious. "Every inch of land, every river, has its master."

"When you're on someone else's turf, isn't it only natural to leave some benefits behind?"

"If mortals treat others' territory this way when passing through, how much more so should deities?"

Qi Fei frowned slightly: "Then why did you raise the price on the spot?"

The River God's smile deepened, and there was a hint of amusement in it.

"Those who pass through my territory naturally follow my rules."

He said arrogantly, "Thunder and rain are all divine grace. Today I am in a good mood and will only accept some money. If I am in a bad mood, I may take your life, and you will have to accept it."

He stood with his hands behind his back, his clothes fluttering in the night wind, exuding an air of superiority.

Qi Fei remained silent.

He just stared at the River God, the light in his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

He wanted to see through the River God's true intentions.

In his eyes, the appearance of the River God gradually changed.

That elegant face, that blue robe, that ethereal, otherworldly aura—all faded away like mist. In their place, a wisp of incense smoke lingered.

The incense smoke, like smoke and mist, intertwined in wisps, faintly tinged with gold.

That's human desire!

When countless people burn incense and make wishes, the sincere thoughts in their hearts come together and become this kind of power.

Belief is also a kind of power.

Incense is the carrier of this power.

This kind of power is similar to Zhu Yixin's "magical power" at the time; both appear powerful but are actually ethereal and extremely fragile.

River God isn't that strong!

He Bo felt uncomfortable under Qi Fei's gaze.

The light in those eyes seemed to see right through him, to see through him, to see the parts of him he didn't want others to see.

The smile on his face gradually faded.

"Such rudeness," his voice turned cold, "is truly despicable!"

He waved his hand.

A huge wave suddenly surged up on the river, several meters high, covering the sky and crashing down on Qi Fei and the others!

As the giant wave surged towards them, the giant turtle suddenly shifted its massive body and blocked Qi Fei and the others.

The waves crashed against its back, splashing water everywhere, but they didn't hurt the people behind it in the slightest.

Qi Fei turned to Steward Zhou and said, "Go back. This is not a place for you to interfere."

Manager Zhou wanted to say something, but looking at the still rolling giant wave and the straight figure on the back of the giant turtle, he finally just nodded and led the caravan to retreat hastily.

Qi Fei flipped himself onto the giant turtle's back.

He stood atop the enormous tortoise shell, the night wind ruffling his robes, the light in his hands growing ever brighter.

"Refining Shadows".

The light surged from his palm, like mercury spilling onto the ground, enveloping the River God.

Wherever the light shone, the River God's expression changed.