If You Do Not Reject Me, I Wish to Take You as My Adoptive Father!

Damn!

Why was every PY deal like this?

These immortals always had to make a point of saying how kind-hearted they were...

If this kept up, my reputation as a good man would be completely established.

Lu Chen was instantly overjoyed. He cupped his hands and bowed. "Many thanks, Your Majesty. I often read in books that among the Ten Kings of Yama in the Netherworld, Your Majesty alone was most devoted to rewarding good and punishing evil, compassionate toward all beneath Heaven! Seeing you today, I can see that your reputation is well deserved. This disciple has learned much!"

King Yama smiled. "Kid, spare Me the flattery. I want a promise from you. If you can agree to it, then what you seek will surely come true as you wish!"

"Please instruct me, Lord Yama!"

"You said the Sun family is willing to build Me a temple and cast Me a golden statue. Then tell Me—will I be able to receive ten thousand sticks of Incense Fire every day in the future?"

"T-ten thousand sticks of Incense Fire?"

Lu Chen's pupils contracted, and his expression changed drastically.

Ten thousand people making offerings every day?

What kind of international joke was this?

Brother, you were King Yama! You weren't the Wealth God!

What normal decent person would worship a living King Yama every day?

"Well? If you agree to this, then I... naturally will not disappoint you!"

This King Yama's tone was practically seducing Lu Chen.

Good heavens, he had to admit it.

Employees under fierce workplace competition really had a hundred more tricks up their sleeves than laid-back employees.

Lu Chen had thought that building a temple and casting a golden statue would be enough to hook him.

Who would have thought the other party would suddenly pull a reverse grab, catching him completely off guard?

"What if I find some shills?"

A thought sprang up in Lu Chen's mind.

He could have Sun Qingcang find ten thousand people every day—or simply hire someone to burn ten thousand sticks for him daily.

"Kid, I advise you not to play clever little games. Do not think I am unaware of your mortal tricks of hiring people as shills. Let Me tell you, My methods for people who go to hell because of such things are usually..."

The ghostly figure struck several poses.

Lu Chen sucked in a cold breath, his heart instantly filled with dread.

Who would have thought that while mortals strategically despised the Netherworld, the Netherworld was keeping up with the times when it came to mortals!

It even knew about hiring shills.

"Looks like this path won't work."

For a moment, Lu Chen scratched his head anxiously. After pondering for a while, he said, "To be honest with Your Majesty, ten thousand sticks of Incense Fire every day truly puts this disciple in a difficult position. Although this disciple knows that Your Majesty is compassionate toward all beneath Heaven, impartial and incorruptible, and hates evil as though it were an enemy, the people of the world are ignorant. Most are wary of the gods of the Netherworld. Getting them to come offer incense every day would probably... be rather difficult."

As he spoke, Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly realized something.

He felt that this old King Yama wanted so much Incense Fire most likely not for his own enjoyment alone.

"Could it be... he wants to open up the mortal offering market for the Netherworld, to carve out territory and establish divine positions for the Netherworld's underworld gods?"

Good heavens, if this succeeded!

It would be an epic undertaking that shook the Three Realms!

When the Netherworld's three-thousand-year term came to an end, forget the Five Ghost Emperors—even Great Emperor Fengdu, this old King Yama would be qualified to take that position!

Thinking of this, Lu Chen quietly drew in a breath.

"You said I was audacious enough to cover the heavens, but it turns out your guts have already covered the heavens!"

Still, ambition was a good thing.

Lu Chen had truly been worried that this old King Yama was some rule-abiding, honest ghost.

Hearing this, King Yama's attitude softened somewhat. "Then tell Me. What amount do you think is suitable? Let Me hear your thoughts."

Lu Chen said, "Th-this... well, I..."

King Yama said, "What's with all this hemming and hawing? Spit it out if you have something to say!"

Lu Chen took a deep breath. "What do you think of this amount per day?"

Lu Chen raised both hands.

King Yama said, "One thousand?"

Lu Chen shook his head.

King Yama said, "One hundred?"

Lu Chen still shook his head.

King Yama said, "Don't tell Me you mean ten sticks of incense a day?"

Lu Chen chuckled. "Lord Yama is truly brilliant, but it is not ten sticks every day. It is a guaranteed minimum of ten sticks, with no upper limit!"

Whoosh!

A yin wind howled!

The surroundings seemed to freeze in an instant.

Lu Chen could even hear the bone-chilling sound of teeth grinding.

"Kid, you truly are audacious enough to cover the heavens. I said ten thousand sticks of Incense Fire, yet you want to cut it down to ten sticks a day. Then what use would I have for this golden statue and temple? If the other Kings of Yama found out, would they not laugh Me to death? Quickly report your name to Me. I very much wish to see where your ancestors of eighteen generations are in the Netherworld right now!"

Lu Chen said, "..."

Hey, what was that for...

Just talk things over. Why drag my ancestors into this?

He hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed. "Lord Yama, please quell your anger! Lord Yama, please quell your anger! But forgive this disciple for speaking frankly: offerings are absolutely not something that can be achieved overnight. This disciple does not wish to deceive Lord Yama. With so many immortals in the Heavenly Court, there are still popular altars and cold stoves. How much more so for us Netherworld underworld gods, who are inherently at a disadvantage? How could we gain such vast Incense Fire in a short time? This... this disciple cannot do it!"

"Fine. If ten thousand sticks will not do, what about five thousand?"

"Is there any difference, Your Majesty?"

"What about three thousand?"

"I can't do it!"

"One thousand!"

"Too difficult, too difficult, too difficult!"

"Then let us not discuss it anymore. This will not do, that will not do—are you feeding ghosts with a mere ten sticks?"

Lu Chen said, "Uh..."

Wasn't that exactly what it was—feeding ghosts...

"You are simply wasting My time. Come back once you have thought it through!"

Having said that, King Yama prepared to return to the Netherworld.

"Wait!!"

"Hm? What else is it!?"

Lu Chen was anxious now as well. No! I can't let him go back just like that!

An opportunity missed would never return!

He had to secure him now!

Lu Chen looked behind him and found that black mist shrouded everything, as though this area had become a separate space. Not the slightest trace of the outside world could be seen.

He gritted his teeth and cupped his hands again. "Lord Yama, this disciple has an unreasonable request. Though this disciple cannot make mortal worshippers offer incense to Lord Yama in the short term, this junior has other methods to let Lord Yama enjoy Merit! Moreover, this junior is willing to invite Your Majesty into my home and make daily offerings! Then, by extending from oneself to others, more people can come to understand Lord Yama and understand the Netherworld. I believe that once they understand Lord Yama, they will surely be willing to make offerings to you. Then one will spread to ten, ten to a hundred, and a hundred to a thousand! Ten thousand sticks of Incense Fire will surely be within reach!"

This was the last method Lu Chen could think of for now.

Since he had figured out what Lord Yama truly wanted,

he would simply go along with his wishes.

Did he not just want to open up a blue ocean market?

Fine, he would help him!

To be honest, Lu Chen himself did not really care.

Clear Breeze Temple had a Hall of Yama too, and he used to offer incense there every day.

But things were different now, after all.

He worried that his parents and younger sister would feel uncomfortable.

After all, who invited King Yama into their home?

How unsettling would that be?

But with matters having reached this point, Lu Chen could only cast out this final bait.

Still, he was more or less worried that this old King Yama would open his mouth like a lion and would not agree easily.

"Fortune-Bringing Gold Ingot, you had better come through! Your guaranteed hit rate! Get yourself together!"

Lu Chen complained inwardly.

Perhaps his complaining had worked.

Or perhaps the Fortune-Bringing Gold Ingot did not display its miraculous effects until now!

Within the Hall of Yama, silence reigned for a long time.

Not only did the yin wind dissipate, even the ghostly wails and wolfish howls vanished.

Only after a moment did King Yama's voice drift out faintly. "Kid, do you truly wish to invite Me into your home and support Me?"

Lu Chen wore an utterly sincere expression. "Absolutely, Your Majesty!"

King Yama's tone was suspicious. "You... do not find Me inauspicious?"

Lu Chen laughed. "How could I, Your Majesty? You are not Broom Star, so how could you be inauspicious? Besides, as King Yama of the Underworld Office, you occupy a position of great authority. My admiration for Your Majesty is like the surging river, endless and unceasing! If Your Majesty does not reject me, this disciple would gladly take Your Majesty as my adoptive father!"

With Lord God of Wealth as precedent,

Lu Chen was now brimming with Zhao Zilong's courage!

Since Lord God of Wealth was willing to become sworn brothers with him,

then as Lord God of Wealth's sworn younger brother, it was not excessive for him to take King Yama as his adoptive father, was it?

Whether he agreed or not was his business.

It was not as if Lu Chen would lose a hair.

When doing things, having a little more nerve was better than anything else!

Clearly, King Yama had never imagined that in the middle of their conversation, this mortal boy would suddenly want to take him as an adoptive father.

After a moment of stunned silence, he suddenly burst out laughing. The ghostly figure slowly extended a finger and pointed at Lu Chen. "You sly little brat, your tongue is slick with oil. Not only have you set your sights on My Book of Life and Death, you have even set your sights on Me?"

Lu Chen chuckled. "Your Majesty sees clearly. Every word this disciple spoke came from the bottom of my heart."

King Yama gave a cold laugh. "We can discuss this matter another day. If you truly wish, with a mortal body, to become My adopted son, then show Me some results. Do not merely indulge in the pleasure of talking."

After a pause, his tone shifted. "Seeing how filial you are... very well. Quickly report that person's name. Let Me investigate first before we speak further!"

Lu Chen's pupils suddenly contracted.

Did that mean... he had agreed?!