Lu Clan Temple, Bound to Be Mine!

"Mr. Lu, what happened to you?"

At that moment, Sun Yourong, who'd heard the commotion outside the hall, hurriedly ran in.

When she saw the pool of blood on the ground—

Her face immediately went pale. "A backlash from the prayer?!"

Lu Chen nodded and swallowed the blood in his mouth.

"How is that possible? This was only your first prayer. How could it trigger a backlash?"

Sun Yourong couldn't believe it.

Usually, a prayer backlash only happened when someone repeatedly failed to have their prayers answered, yet kept praying anyway, eventually angering the deity.

Like Tan Kun before.

Or if the wish made during prayer was too great, too excessive, causing the deity to feel affronted, that could also result in backlash.

But neither applied to Lu Chen.

It was only his first time praying to the Thunder Ancestor. How had he encountered a prayer backlash already?

The odds of that happening were ten times lower than succeeding on the first prayer!

"I don't know either. Maybe the Thunder Ancestor and I just aren't fated."

As he spoke, Lu Chen snapped all the remaining incense sticks in his hand without hesitation and tossed them into a nearby trash can.

"I'll go test my Divine Service Rating again."

Since he was already here, Lu Chen also wanted to test his Divine Service Rating with old King Yama and see whether it could break forty as well.

But Sun Yourong shook her head and said bluntly, "No need. You can't test it."

"Can't test it? What do you mean?"

"The Temple System never even installed modules for Underworld Office Yin Gods. How are you supposed to test it?"

Lu Chen: "..."

"Come on, sis. Isn't that a little unfair? You didn't even install the module?"

"Before you, what sane person would worship King Yama? No one worshipped him, so why would we install that module? Those modules are expensive—more expensive than building a main hall."

Sun Yourong was helpless too.

"Fine, then you'd better prepare a set in the future. Otherwise, it'll be such a hassle."

"Mm, my dad has already arranged it. But it'll still take at least a few days."

"What about other God Temples? Don't they have them either?"

"No. At least none in all of Jiang Province do."

"Not even Jiang Province has them? Then forget about other provinces."

As one of the country's top developed provinces—

Every standard there was among the highest in the nation.

"Fine, then I'll head back first. There's nothing else for me to do here anyway."

"Aren't you going to take a look?"

"Well... sure."

Lu Chen followed Sun Yourong to the Hall of Yama at the Sun Clan Temple.

Compared with that rundown place at the Zhao Clan Temple—

The Hall of Yama at the Sun Clan Temple had at least been freshly renovated.

Though it was still incredibly crude, it looked far better, at least.

"After you called yesterday, my dad arranged for ten workers to renovate it overnight. It's still nothing impressive, but at least it's presentable. It'll do for now."

Lu Chen gave a grunt of acknowledgment.

Who could've imagined that the Hall of Yama, once deserted and unvisited, would now welcome long lines of people?

"Son, I never dreamed I'd get to see you while I was still alive. Dad will come visit often from now on!"

From within the Hall of Yama came the heart-wrenching cries of worshippers reuniting with their loved ones.

It was enough to bring tears to anyone's eyes.

Lu Chen lingered for a while before preparing to leave.

Now that this seed had taken root, just how towering a tree would it grow into—

Only time would tell.

However, when Lu Chen spoke with King Yama, they had also agreed on one point.

Kind souls could communicate with the living.

But evil souls and vicious ghosts absolutely could not, lest they bring calamity upon the human world.

That was the principle, and the bottom line.

"All right, I'm leaving. I'll leave the rest to you."

"Stay for a meal before you go."

"No, I've got things to do. Next time."

Lu Chen was still anxious to return and have a proper talk with his elder brother.

"Fine, then I'll have a car take you back."

"Sure..."

On the way back, Lu Chen mentally went over what he needed to discuss with Lord God of Wealth later.

If the Netherworld Currency business received the full support of this Business Wealth God—

Then he truly wouldn't have to worry about money ever again.

This might be a world where martial strength reigned supreme.

But as long as economic activity existed, money's importance would remain irreplaceable no matter when.

Otherwise, why would so many people worship Zhao Gongming?

Just as Lu Chen was lost in thought—

A line of words suddenly entered his sight.

—Star-Sea Divine Service Watch.

"Pull over!"

The luxury car came to a sudden stop.

"What is it, Mr. Lu?" the driver asked, turning around.

"Drive me to that store."

Lu Chen pointed ahead.

The driver immediately drove over.

Li Ruoyi had been able to test her Divine Service Rating without using a display window before.

Lu Chen had been dying for that feature. Now that he had money, he had to get one no matter what.

The car stopped in front of the store.

Lu Chen got out and walked straight inside.

"Hello, welcome to the Star-Sea Divine Service Watch Flagship Center."

A salesperson immediately came up with a bright smile.

Lu Chen got straight to the point. "Which watch has the most complete features? Preferably one with modules for Netherworld Yin Gods."

"Netherworld Yin Gods?"

Sure enough, the staff member froze for a moment. "Please wait, sir. Manager, there's a gentleman here. Please come receive him."

The manager hurried over soon afterward.

Lu Chen repeated his requirements.

After listening, the manager nodded eagerly. "If that's the case, sir, then only our highest-end Divine Pantheon Series can meet your needs. If you don't have high requirements for the Divine Service Rating cap, the entry-level model will do. It only costs 780,000."

"What's the maximum Divine Service Rating the entry-level model can test?"

"Forty-five percent."

"Too low." Lu Chen frowned.

"Too low?" The manager and salesperson both froze.

Forty-five percent was considered low?

Who exactly was this young man?

"What's the highest?"

"Seventy percent—the flagship product of our Divine Pantheon Series."

"That's more like it. How much?"

"Two million. But we're currently running a promotion, so the lowest price is twenty percent off."

"So, 1.6 million?"

It really wasn't cheap.

After all, Li Ruoyi's had only cost a little over sixty thousand. He could buy a whole stack of them for 1.6 million.

Still, this had become a necessity for Lu Chen.

To do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools.

Buy it!

Lu Chen pulled out his card. "Give me one."

"Ah, you're really buying it?!"

Lu Chen: "..."

"Why would I come to your store if I wasn't buying?"

The manager waved his hands repeatedly. "That's not what I meant, sir. But this flagship watch isn't currently in stock. It needs to be preordered, and it'll take around seven days."

"Then order it. It's not that urgent."

Lu Chen decisively paid a deposit of three hundred thousand, took the receipt, and then left the store surrounded by the entire staff.

Watching the taillights disappear into the distance—

The manager stared at the receipt in his hand, his face full of question marks.

"Delivery address: Cloudtop Manor? Just who is this young man? Anyone who can afford an All-God flagship is either rich or noble. But Jiangdu City doesn't seem to have any prominent family named Lu?"

"Yeah, Manager. Judging by how lavishly he spends, even some ordinary New Nobility lineages—or even top-tier New Nobility—might not be able to throw money around like that."

"Could it be... another new New Nobility lineage is about to emerge in Jiangcheng City?" The manager's expression turned solemn.

"Elder brother, that's roughly what happened."

At the Lu Family home.

After returning home, Lu Chen immediately invited Lord God of Wealth over and recounted almost everything that had happened yesterday.

The divine statue remained silent. Only after a long while did it let out the sound of a deep inhale.

"No wonder I smelled that Underworld Office Netherworld stench... smell. So that's what it was."

"Worthy brother, you've truly done something that leaves me utterly dumbfounded. How did you think of connecting the Netherworld to the mortal world in this way?"

Lu Chen smiled at that.

What a damn information gap~

This sort of thing was nothing more than a sheet of window paper.

Before thinking of it, it seemed unimaginable.

Once you thought of it, it was nothing much at all.

"Elder brother, I merely put forward my own needs from the perspective of a mortal."

"Worthy brother, if this succeeds, it will surely be a deed of boundless Merit!"

"You flatter me, elder brother. Then regarding my Netherworld Currency business?"

"Don't worry. I've said it before: as long as it's honest wealth, business wealth, I will ensure your fortune flows freely."

"Thank you, elder brother!"

Though it was what he'd expected, Lu Chen still secretly breathed a sigh of relief after receiving a definite promise.

"Worthy brother, there's something I'd like to ask you."

"Please, elder brother. Speak freely."

"You are so persistent in pursuing wealth. What exactly is it... for?"

Lu Chen smiled. "Elder brother, have you forgotten? Your little brother wants to build you a temple and cast you in gold! If I don't rise to become New Nobility, where would I get the qualifications to establish a temple? But to become New Nobility, money and military merit are both indispensable!"

"Worthy brother, you... truly mean that?"

Lord God of Wealth had thought Lu Chen's earlier words were merely casual remarks. His own feigned excitement had only been polite courtesy.

Who would've thought...

"Elder brother, a true man's word is a nail once spoken. Since I've made a promise, I will naturally fulfill it."

Lu Chen's gaze was firm as iron. "This Lu Clan Temple is bound to be mine!"