In These Parts, I'm More Useful Than the East Sea Dragon King!

"Yes, Exalted Lord!"

After speaking, the Earth God's figure flickered and vanished.

"Exalted Lord, please come into my residence for a talk!" The Well Dragon King gestured invitingly toward the mouth of the well.

"Dragon King, please wait a moment." Lu Chen waved a hand.

Only a few breaths later, the Earth God returned, carrying Lu Chen's backpack in both hands.

"Exalted Lord, your bag."

"Thank you for the trouble."

Lu Chen took the backpack and immediately removed two sheets of yellow paper, fixing them in midair with his magic power.

He then took out a cinnabar brush and began drawing upon the yellow paper, his strokes flying like dragons and serpents.

"This is..." The Well Dragon King and the Earth God exchanged looks, utterly baffled.

About the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Lu Chen's hands, swift as afterimages, finally came to a halt.

"I have come calling without warning today. These trifling gifts are hardly worthy of respect, but I hope you two will accept them!"

With that, he snapped his fingers.

The two sheets of yellow paper instantly burned to ashes.

Before the man and dragon could react, a set of magnificent robes and a pair of boots glittering with precious radiance appeared before each of them.

It was the same kind of art he had previously used to burn a Dragon-Phoenix Robe for Lord God of Wealth.

Its name was: Garment Transformation Art.

The Earth God and the Well Dragon King's eyes immediately widened.

"Exalted Lord possesses such divine abilities?!"

"Put them on and see." Lu Chen smiled and gestured.

"Alright!"

The man and dragon opened their mouths and inhaled, and in an instant, they were transformed.

The Well Dragon King wore a resplendent golden dragon robe, golden boots, and a tasseled crown. He looked imposing and dignified.

The Earth God, too, changed his appearance. Dressed in a russet robe, he had gone from an old peasant farmer to the very image of a wealthy landowner.

"Old loach, you look truly imposing in that outfit! You're practically the same as the Xu River Dragon King back then!"

"Hahaha, old fellow, you don't look bad yourself!"

The two inspected one another and traded compliments.

The corners of Lu Chen's mouth rose.

Sure enough, clothes made the man just as gold adorned the Buddha. Once they had changed into new outfits, even their spirit was different.

"Many thanks for your generous gift, Exalted Lord!" The man and dragon were beside themselves with joy as they bowed deeply to Lu Chen.

"There is no need for such courtesy. They are merely little trinkets."

"Exalted Lord, this way!" Dressed in new clothes, the Well Dragon King stood tall and straight, positively radiant.

This time, Lu Chen did not stand on ceremony. He stepped forward.

With a sweep of his wide sleeve, the Well Dragon King transformed the three of them into a streak of light that plunged into the dried-up well.

Before long, there was a whole other world beneath the well.

A Water Palace, clearly in disrepair, gradually came into view.

Yet the four gilded characters on the plaque above its main gate—Spring Source Water Palace—still gleamed brilliantly.

"Exalted Lord, please!"

The gates of the residence swung open, and the surrounding water automatically parted, forming a passage.

Lu Chen stepped onto it as though he were walking on solid ground.

Of course, the dragon himself looked so shabby.

Naturally, his home could not have been much better.

But even though Lu Chen had prepared himself mentally,

When he entered this Spring Source Water Palace,

he was still stunned by the sight before him.

It was the first time he had ever seen what it truly meant for a god's home to have nothing but four bare walls!

Other than a stone table, several stone stools, and a stone bed,

there was absolutely nothing.

"Dragon King, are you the only one in this residence?"

Lu Chen could not help asking.

In his view, no matter how poorly a Dragon King was doing, he ought to have at least a couple of shrimp soldiers and crab generals, right?

There were none!

Not even a single hair!

Was he really just a lone commander?

"I have made a fool of myself before you, Exalted Lord." The Well Dragon King looked embarrassed. "There are no attendants in this Water Palace. This humble dragon alone guards this poor dwelling. Your arrival today has made this humble abode shine with glory! Please, Exalted Lord, take a seat."

After the three were seated, the Well Dragon King served them clear tea.

"May I ask what brings you here today, Exalted Lord?"

Seeing his evasive gaze, Lu Chen understood perfectly. He decided to get straight to the point. "To be honest, I came to Dragon-Tiger County this time because of the matter of praying for rain."

"Praying for rain?" Though he had expected it, the Well Dragon King's expression still changed slightly at those words. With an awkward laugh, he said, "Exalted Lord, you may not know that Dragon-Tiger County has gone three years without rain because there are hidden reasons behind it."

The Earth God could not help interjecting, "Old loach, why pretend to be confused? Since I brought the Exalted Lord here, he naturally knows the whole story. Just give us a straight answer. Will you send rain or not?"

"Do not be insolent!" The Well Dragon King flew into a rage, but when he turned to Lu Chen, he quickly piled on a smile again. "Since the Exalted Lord knows the truth, you should understand this humble dragon's difficulties. It is not that I am unwilling, but that I truly cannot! The East Sea Dragon King acts with ruthless severity. Crushing this humble dragon would be as easy as grinding an ant beneath his fingers. I have survived here only to preserve my life and live in peace. Thus, regarding Dragon-Tiger County, I truly have the will but lack the strength."

"I naturally understand your difficulties." Lu Chen waved a hand calmly to indicate his understanding, but then changed the subject. "But if I have a way to keep the East Sea Dragon King from causing you trouble, would you be willing to help?"

As long as the Well Dragon King agreed to bring rain, Lu Chen believed his elder brother should be able to deal with the pressure from the East Sea Dragon King.

If even that could not be done, then this mission... might as well be abandoned.

"Exalted Lord can make the East Sea Dragon King back down?" The Well Dragon King was doubtful. "The Dragon King's thirteenth son—Ao Kun—was killed outright at Great Dragon Pool. How could the East Sea Dragon King possibly let the murder of his son go?"

"I have my own plans for this matter. If there is ultimately no room to turn things around, I will never force you against your will."

The Well Dragon King gave a bitter smile and cupped his hands. "Well... I deeply appreciate your kind intentions, Exalted Lord. But this humble dragon has hidden here only to stay alive. To be honest, not even the Xu River Dragon King of old ever discovered my whereabouts here."

"These long years have already passed in peace. Given the current situation, this humble dragon truly does not wish to take the risk."

"Even if the East Sea Dragon King does not pursue this matter now, once he learns of this humble dragon's existence, who can say he will not make a move next time?"

"By then, this humble dragon will be a turtle trapped in a jar, with no hope of escaping calamity. No, no!"

By the end, the Well Dragon King had risen and begun pacing back and forth, repeatedly waving his hands with an expression that made it clear that neither oil nor salt could get through to him.

"Old loach! You are a Dragon God, yet you can bear to watch the people of Dragon-Tiger County suffer this terrible drought? If the Dragon King had not placed a restriction that only the dragon race could bring rain, who would come begging this useless dragon for help!"

The Earth God said angrily.

Lu Chen quickly stopped him. "Earth God, that is not right. We came to ask the Dragon King for help. How can we force him into something he cannot do? Besides, his concerns are understandable. If I were in his place, I would not agree so easily either."

Hearing this, the anger on the Well Dragon King's face eased somewhat. Cupping his hands, he said, "Thank you for understanding, Exalted Lord. If not for the Four Seas Dragon Kings violating territorial boundaries, destroying palaces and residences, and slaughtering their own kind, this humble dragon would be willing to risk half his life to bring rain for the people of Dragon-Tiger County. But now there are pursuers before me and a fierce tiger behind me. This humble dragon truly lacks the strength."

Lu Chen raised a brow at this. "I understand the fierce tiger behind you, but what do you mean by pursuers before you?"

The Well Dragon King flicked his dragon robe and sighed. "Exalted Lord, you may not know this. This humble dragon has gone more than a hundred years without incense offerings. My magic power is now less than one-tenth of what it once was. Even if the external threat can be resolved, this crippled body cannot shoulder such a great responsibility. Riding clouds and spreading rain may be the dragon race's instinct, but it still requires magic power to sustain it. Given the vastness of Dragon-Tiger County, even if this humble dragon gave his life... I fear I could bring rain only two or three times at most!"

At those words, the Earth God had been about to urge him again, but the words reached his lips and were swallowed back down, becoming a long sigh.

Clearly, he also understood his old friend's difficult circumstances.

But at that moment, Lu Chen suddenly laughed.

The man and dragon both looked toward him.

"Why are you laughing, Exalted Lord?"

"I wondered what difficult problem it was." Lu Chen spoke calmly. "If that is all, Dragon King, then you need not worry. Is it not merely a lack of incense offerings? From this day onward, I can have the people of Dragon-Tiger County worship you alone as their Dragon King. The incense offerings of several hundred thousand believers will be enough to fill your belly. And if you still feel your strength is lacking, that is no matter! I can first grant you a great measure of merit to help you recover your cultivation. Then riding clouds and spreading rain should be no difficult task."

"Grant merit first?" The Well Dragon King froze on the spot.

Merit was the supreme virtuous karmic power of Heaven and Earth. How could it be granted merely because someone said so?

But when he lowered his head and saw the dragon robe flowing with radiance upon his body, his heart stirred again.

This man's methods were unfathomable. Could he truly... act against the heavens?

Seeing that the Well Dragon King was clearly tempted, Lu Chen pressed the advantage. "How about this, Dragon King? If you are willing to leave this place, I will resolve the trouble with the East Sea Dragon King. If there truly is no way to turn things around, I will never force you."

"After all, the lives of Dragon-Tiger County's people are lives, and your life is a life as well. I will never favor one over the other."

"But if the trouble is resolved, then I ask that you ride the clouds and spread rain for Dragon-Tiger County."

"As for your current lack of cultivation, I will naturally find a way to help you recover.

"As long as you follow my commands. When I tell you to show yourself, you show yourself. Naturally, I will be able to cloak you in merit and make your magic power flourish like a withered tree meeting spring."

"After this is done, I will also have Dragon-Tiger County build you a temple and cast you a golden statue."

"Then, you will become the new Xu River Dragon King! From this day forward, I will ensure that your incense offerings never run dry!"

"What do you say?"

"Xu... Xu River Dragon King!"

Those four words struck like thunder in his ears, shaking the Well Dragon King's soul and making his pupils tremble violently.

"Old loach, what are you still hesitating for! The Exalted Lord has said this much already. If you do not agree now, then when will you?"

The Earth God's face flushed red with excitement as he abruptly rose to his feet.

The Well Dragon King stared straight at Lu Chen. There was not the slightest evasiveness in the other's eyes, only confidence and assurance that came rolling toward him.

He took several deep breaths and swallowed several times before cautiously asking, "Does the Exalted Lord truly mean this?"

"My word has always carried the weight of nine tripods!"

"Good!" The Well Dragon King slapped the table and rose. "If the Exalted Lord can truly help me escape this cage, regain my freedom, and restore my incense offerings, then protecting Dragon-Tiger County and ensuring timely winds and rains is a duty this humble dragon will not shirk!"

"This humble dragon is not boasting. Though I am only a Well Dragon King, in these parts, I'm more useful than that East Sea Dragon King! Once all my shackles are gone, I will make sure Dragon-Tiger County gets wind when it wants wind, and rain when it wants rain!"

Hearing this, Lu Chen also rose sharply. "Is that true?"

The Well Dragon King raised a hand toward the heavens. "Not a single false word!!!"