Lord God of Wealth

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Jun Cai (Chai Rong)
Alias(es)	Lord God of Wealth; Lord Jun Cai; Emperor God of Wealth; Business Wealth God
Species/Race	Deity / acquired immortal
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Heavenly Court; Wealth Department; Incense Office
Occupation/Role	Orthodox God of the Wealth Department; overseer of incense affairs and heavenly stipends
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 2 (identified at Zhao Clan Temple) 2

Background / History

Jun Cai was Chai Rong in mortal life: Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou during the Five Dynasties. Legends identify him as the Heavenly Wealth Star Lord descended into the mortal world. Before taking the throne, he engaged in trade; as emperor, he promoted waterworks, official kilns, commerce, and policies intended to enrich the populace. He was later worshipped as a Wealth God and known among the people as Prince Chai. 4

In the Heavenly Court, he is an Orthodox God of the Wealth Department and is described as the foremost among the Five Roads Wealth Gods. He presides over fortune, specializing in mercantile and business wealth rather than broad windfall blessings. 4 123 420

Despite his status, Jun Cai's worship had declined severely. By the time Lu Chen found his statue in Zhao Clan Temple's rear courtyard, he had not received mortal incense for many years, leaving his divine power diminished and his hall sparsely attended. 3 11 26

Lu Chen's knowledge of Jun Cai's history and rank earned the god's favor. Jun Cai granted him a fortune blessing, then accepted extraordinary offerings of Heavenly Gold, immortal garments, and merit—though he initially condemned the offering as bribery because of his principles as a former ruler who punished corruption. The merit revitalized his divine consciousness and power. 4 10

Moved by Lu Chen's sincerity and offerings, Jun Cai proposed that they swear brotherhood. He thereafter regarded Lu Chen as his sworn younger brother, granted him treasures, encouraged him to invite the deity home for worship, and became increasingly invested in Lu Chen's plans to build a temple and expand the Netherworld currency business. 11 35 36 52

Appearance

Jun Cai is depicted as an imposing, richly dressed immortal whose divine presence is associated with gold light and auspicious radiance.

• Wears luxurious immortal robes, including garments received through Lu Chen's offerings. 10 26
• His divine light can manifest as golden radiance surrounding his statue or body. 81 211
• His restored bearing evokes the high-spirited, ambitious merchant-ruler he was before becoming a god. 52
• His divine hall was once bleak and quiet, but later became filled with five-colored auspicious clouds and overflowing incense offerings. 81

Personality

Jun Cai is principled, generous, and deeply conscious of dignity. His first response to Lu Chen's Heavenly Gold was outrage: he viewed accepting wealth in exchange for favor as corruption, directly conflicting with the integrity he upheld as a mortal emperor. He relented only after recognizing the offering's immense merit and Lu Chen's genuine intentions. 10

He is also pragmatic and politically capable. While willing to use Heavenly Gold to secure Star Lord of Water Virtue's intervention, he understands the limits of his authority, the importance of favors, and the risks of overstepping into another department's affairs. 54 63

Lu Chen's ambition rekindles Jun Cai's own. Initially resigned to obscurity, he resolves to compete for incense and standing rather than retreat before Zhao Gongming's dominance. 52 His attachment to Lu Chen develops into overt protectiveness; he mobilizes allies and confronts powerful figures when Lu Chen is endangered. 81 208 211

Abilities & Skills

Fortune and Mercantile Blessings

As a Wealth God, Jun Cai governs fortune connected to commerce, business, and material prosperity.

• Can grant temporary surges of wealth fortune; his first blessing to Lu Chen resulted in a golden rain and a ten-thousand-yuan bill. 4
• His authority is particularly suited to business success and the smooth flow of commercial fortune. 11 420
• His blessings are more specialized than Zhao Gongming's broader wealth blessings. 420
• His ability to directly improve a Spirit User's combat strength is limited by his role as a support-type Wealth God. 11

Divine Power Through Incense and Merit

Jun Cai's strength is sustained and restored by incense offerings and merit.

• Merit-based deities risk losing divine power and eventually lifespan when deprived of merit. 10
• Lu Chen's offerings strengthened Jun Cai's divine consciousness and supplied merit comparable to the incense offerings of ten thousand people. 10
• The renewed incense at his divine hall later accelerated his recovery of divine power. 81
• His power had declined enough during his obscurity that he doubted whether he could surpass widely worshipped gods such as the Four Seas Dragon Kings through divine power alone. 63

Heavenly Court Influence

Jun Cai holds significant institutional influence despite his formerly weak incense base.

• Oversees the Heavenly Court's Incense Office and the distribution of immortal salaries. 211 323
• Manages Heavenly Gold, the universally recognized currency of the Heavenly Court. 54 168
• Can call on old friends and accumulated favors to protect Lu Chen or assist his plans. 36
• Successfully secured Star Lord of Water Virtue's intervention in the Dragon-Tiger County drought by offering ten thousand taels of Heavenly Gold. 53 54

Celestial Alliances and Force Projection

Jun Cai can draw on his relationships with other Heavenly Court figures in a crisis.

• Maintains a respectful alliance with Star Lord of Water Virtue. 53 81
• Called upon the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions during the confrontation with Li Heavenly King. 211
• His arrival with the Plague Department and Water Department placed heavy pressure on the Military Department during the Cloud Tower conflict. 212
• His ability to contact Lu Chen can be severed by punitive decrees, as demonstrated when incense repeatedly extinguished during their attempted communication. 254 270

Divine Gifts

• Fortune-Bringing Gold Ingot — Granted to Lu Chen after they swore brotherhood. It increases the success rate of Lu Chen's business ventures by 30%, with the potential for a guaranteed success. 11
• Treasure Appraisal Eye — A divine ability bestowed on Lu Chen that reveals the monetary value of mortal objects; divine statues cannot be appraised by mortal standards. 11 12
• Additional Divine Power for Home Worship — Jun Cai states that if invited into Lu Chen's home, he can leave at least 20% more divine power with every offering than he could in another temple. 11

Relationships

• Lu Chen — Sworn younger brother and principal worshipper. Lu Chen's offerings restored Jun Cai's power and revived his hall's incense; Jun Cai provides him with treasures, connections, counsel, and protection. 11 36 81
• Star Lord of Water Virtue — Heavenly Court ally and friend. Jun Cai sought his help to end the Dragon-Tiger County drought and later turned to him when Lu Chen was in danger. 53 54 210
• Plague Emperor — Fellow Heavenly Court power with whom Jun Cai forms an alliance centered on their mutual connection to Lu Chen. Jun Cai approached him respectfully, repaid a longstanding debt in Heavenly Gold, and later discussed the secrets behind divine offices. 125 126 416
• King Yama — Fellow supporter of Lu Chen. Jun Cai and King Yama both back Lu Chen's temple and Netherworld currency ambitions. 35 400
• Well Dragon King — Jun Cai offers to accept him as a Golden Dragon Guardian, securing the dragon's safety and future. 53
• Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions — Celestial associates who congratulate Jun Cai on his restored incense and agree to assist Lu Chen if needed. 81
• Li Heavenly King — Political opponent during the Cloud Tower incident; Jun Cai directly confronted him to protect Lu Chen. 211
• Matchmaker God — Longstanding acquaintance and fellow acquired immortal. Jun Cai sought him out regarding Sun Yourong's corrupted marriage thread. 271

Story Role / Major Arcs

Obscure Wealth God of Zhao Clan Temple

Jun Cai is initially one of Zhao Clan Temple's neglected “cold stoves.” Lu Chen deliberately chooses to worship him rather than the mainstream Zhao God of Wealth, recognizing his hidden status as the Emperor God of Wealth. 2 4

Sworn Brotherhood and Home Worship

After receiving Lu Chen's unusually valuable offerings, Jun Cai swears brotherhood with him and grants him the Fortune-Bringing Gold Ingot and Treasure Appraisal Eye. He also urges Lu Chen to invite his statue home, where their connection can provide stronger divine-power transfers. 10 11

Revival of Lord God of Wealth Hall

Lu Chen's worship, merit, and commercial plans revive Jun Cai's divine hall from near-abandonment. The once-quiet hall later attracts numerous immortals and receives flourishing incense, restoring Jun Cai's confidence and divine power. 26 52 81

Dragon-Tiger County Drought

Jun Cai intervenes for Lu Chen's rain-prayer mission by appealing to Star Lord of Water Virtue. He spends Heavenly Gold to secure assistance and offers the Well Dragon King protection as his Golden Dragon Guardian. 53 54

Heavenly Court Alliance and Cloud Tower Conflict

Jun Cai approaches the Plague Emperor over Lu Chen's affairs, helping establish a wider alliance of gods connected to the mortal youth. When Lu Chen is trapped by the Military Department, Jun Cai urgently seeks aid, confronts Li Heavenly King, and summons the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions. 125 126 208 211

Divine Offices Investigation

Jun Cai and the Plague Emperor eventually uncover that Lu Chen's growing collection of divine offices may be tied to hidden schemes involving merit, incarnations, and the three paths to sainthood. Jun Cai becomes notably more cautious after learning these implications. 416

Notable Quotes

“Men fight for a breath of pride; gods fight for a stick of incense!” 52

“This Lord shines with the sun and moon alongside Zhao Gongming! What is wrong with competing with him!” 52

“Should you encounter any difficulty in the future, come find me at any time.” 36

Trivia

• Jun Cai once humorously questioned whether he or Lu Chen was the true God of Wealth after receiving ten thousand taels of Heavenly Gold from a mortal. 10
• He rewarded his remaining loyal attendants with hundreds of taels of Heavenly Gold after his fortunes improved. 26
• He regards Lu Chen as unusually capable despite his ordinary mortal background, praising his intelligence and stratagems before the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions. 81
• During the New Year bonus story, he invites the other four Wealth Gods to join him in bestowing prosperity blessings through Lu Chen. 324