Dragon Tamer
Chapter 1382 - 1386: Golden Crow God City

Chapter 1382: Chapter 1386: Golden Crow God City

"Matters concerning the imperial family are well documented in the Ancestral Temple. Whenever their foundation grows unstable or their descendants falter, they will often come to seek aid at the temple," Nan Yuso nodded.

"I discovered that Empress Luoxiang has a temple near the Golden Crow God City too. Could you check whether they’ve made their offerings to you?" Zhu Minglang continued.

"Building a temple within the Divine City absolutely requires a visit to the Ancestral Temple, though I don’t usually concern myself with such trifles... Investigating it should be straightforward," Nan Yuso replied.

Following these two simple leads, several results quickly emerged.

Investigating the mortal emperors was critical, as Zhu Minglang believed that if Empress Luoxiang wanted to expand her faith, she would certainly start with the Imperial Family. That impulsive Guardian King couldn’t have been her first target.

"Found it. There’s a relatively new temple right in the Golden Crow God City, and peculiarly, it’s using the banner of Qi Xi’s magpie," Nan Yuso explained.

"Using the name of Weaver Star—this is faith theft at its finest!" Zhu Minglang stroked his chin, suddenly suspecting that this act might specifically target Weaver Star.

The two began their clandestine investigation and made their way to the temple built under the imperial orders of the Golden Crow God City, falsely claiming to represent the Weaver Girl of Qi Xi.

This temple was indeed bustling, situated in the liveliest district. It had even become a scenic attraction; people visited not just for faith but also drawn by the temple’s reputation and the enchanting legends surrounding it.

The deity worshiped inside was a Fairy wearing a veil, unwilling to reveal her true identity. Yet all the magic artifacts surrounding her—the musical instruments, the paired Immortal Birds swirling nearby, and the clouds she wove—clearly indicated she was none other than Weaver Star!

"What audacity! They’ve essentially constructed the temple to Weaver Star’s standards, even propagating the idea that this deity is the Weaver Girl herself. But in reality, she’s nothing but a fraud!" Nan Yuso exclaimed.

"No need to guess who’s the real benefactor behind all this," Zhu Minglang retorted.

"I’ll have this temple torn down immediately! All its offerings are going to that despicable Fox Demon, while those manipulated by this false faith suffer harm and curse other Qi Xi temples. No wonder Xuan Sang has been feeling off lately; someone’s clearly stabbing us in the back!" Nan Yuso raged.

"Don’t rush; it’ll alert the snake to our movements. Temples like this probably aren’t limited to just one or two. Think about it—they’ve managed to pull off something of this scale without catching the attention of any deity inspectors. How many people do you think are shielding Empress Luoxiang?" Zhu Minglang cautioned.

"True, even the Temple God Officers in the Golden Crow God City seem questionable... not to mention the managers under me," Nan Yuso admitted.

For such a temple to be approved for construction, the Temple God Officer must first consent, followed by approval from the Ancestral Temple, and then execution by mortal emperors. All three are deeply problematic.

While mortal emperors might have been misled or deceived, temple priests tasked with monitoring faith must have committed tremendous negligence to allow a Demon cultivator to pose as Weaver Star here, accumulating faith!

Zhu Minglang then sought to understand the narrative shared among common folk.

Visitors to the temple had already embraced a story claiming that the deity they worshiped was, in fact, the young Weaver Star, embodying pure innocence, youthful ignorance, and divine sanctity.

The tale recounted how the young Weaver Star once took the form of a mortal girl to wander among humans. During her journey, she unwittingly stumbled upon a flower festival hosted by nine young mortal emperors—all of whom instantly fell for her...

The nine emperors competed fiercely for her affections, hoping she would become the future Empress. However, the mortal incarnation of Weaver Star felt only affection for one emperor, earning the jealousy of the other eight.

Weaver Star’s time in the mortal realm was limited. After forming a deep bond filled with exchanges of wisdom with the young emperor she favored, she ultimately chose to leave without a word, retreating to the Immortal Court for three years of secluded cultivation.

During her absence, the other eight emperors, consumed by envy, conspired against her chosen friend. In less than two years, they toppled his rule, seized all his lands, and forced him and his nation’s people into grueling labor building temples.

Regardless, the young emperor held no resentment towards Weaver Star. On the contrary, while serving as a temple laborer, he secretly carved a stone statue of her—portraying the young Weaver Star with her veil, obscuring her true face.

The citizens despised him, cursed him.

His former peers derided him, tormented him.

From an emperor to a laborer, this man steadfastly preserved his faith and, every night, secretly lit a candle to converse with the stone statue.

Finally, the Weaver Star completed her cultivation in the Immortal Court.

Remembering the insightful young emperor, she decided to visit him in her true form.

What she discovered instead was shattering—the young emperor had become a laborer, his nation reduced to ruin...

However, upon seeing the stone statue, Weaver Star was profoundly moved. Utilizing her celestial powers, she punished the eight envious emperors, restored the nation using her divine reputation and followers, and bestowed the title of Youth Star upon this young emperor.

After hearing this poignant tale about platonic love and friendship, Zhu Minglang found himself nearly convinced it was real!

In essence, the story claimed that the young Weaver Star descended to the mortal realm, where she developed a romantic bond with a young emperor.

Bound by her divine status, she left the earthly realm, whereas the emperor faced jealousy, tremendous hardship, and loss. Yet despite his misfortune, he transformed his love and admiration into unwavering faith, immortalizing it within the temple!

The narrative certainly had an alluring charm.

The young emperor’s perseverance and faith were admirable.

Moreover, it implanted a subconscious reinforcement for everyone who came to worship—strengthening faith in their mysterious deity. It instilled the belief that, even if their faith faced trials or resistance, it would ultimately prove worthwhile...

"So, the current emperor of the Golden Crow God City is also highly praised and admired by his people?" Zhu Minglang asked.

"Of course! The city’s prosperity today is all thanks to King Jiang’s steadfastness back then!" said a young woman selling lotus lanterns by the temple.

Zhu Minglang nodded.

"These lotus lanterns were the parting gift Weaver Star left for King Jiang when she departed from the mortal world. I’ve told you so much, surely you’ll buy one now?" The lantern-selling woman said.

"No, thank you," Zhu Minglang politely declined.

As soon as he uttered those words, the woman’s face visibly paled with indignation!

With nonchalance, Zhu Minglang strode off, firmly unwilling to waste even a single coin on such unnecessary expenses.