The River God's skin was grayish white, with fine cracks across its face. This was a body molded from incense ash.
It stood on the Long River, drawing strength from the river water while opening its mouth to inhale wisps of blue smoke from the air-the Incense Power it had accumulated over many years.
With both sustaining it, its skin gradually grew rosy and supple, and the cracks on its body closed.
It had clearly paid a considerable price to return to the water.
But whatever the case, it was back, like a tiger returning to the mountains or a dragon entering the sea.
Amid wild laughter, the River God's aura began to surge. The blood-colored river water beneath its feet rose higher and higher, exceeding a thousand meters in the blink of an eye, like a section of a stairway to heaven.
It towered like a mountain range, steep as a peak.
As the river water rose, its blood-colored shadow spread across the land, soon enveloping a group of Spirit Treasure Sect disciples and Netherworld Messengers, pressing down on them until they could barely breathe.
Xiaoyaozi and Zou Lianshan's expressions changed drastically. They waved their hands, trying to sweep everyone up and flee.
But at that moment, the ground beneath their feet abruptly split open. Streams of black water surged out, forming a cage that imprisoned them all.
Another figure appeared on the Long River.
Old and stooped, holding two pieces of turtle shell, he was none other than the River Earl.
He had stayed out of sight until now, but his first move was astonishing, making the Mount Tai King and the other two by the East Sea frown deeply.
The River Earl was far too devious.
Killing that group of Netherworld Messengers just now would have been