Fu Ruhai's words made Liu Sandao's heart skip a beat.
This was not a good omen. With the God of Death arriving in Sandong City, it would surely be a bloody battle.
"Then why are you here! I advise you to leave quickly!"
Fu Ruhai shouted with a divine riddle.
Apart from Liu Sandao and the God of Death, no one else could hear anything.
"Hahaha, ridiculous! Do I need your permission to come? I'm curious, why are you here?"
The arrival laughed heartily, and his entire figure suddenly appeared in the air.
Now, he was dressed in a suit and held a cigar.
Gone was his former attire of wide black sleeves and a grotesque face.
On the contrary, he was exceptionally handsome, with not a trace of ugliness or malice.
If not for the chilling aura he naturally exuded, one might not even realize: this was the God of Death.
Fu Ruhai did not answer the arrival's question, but instead assumed a posture of guarding human lives, standing in mid-air.
That was his dharma body; his physical body remained standing at the doorway, expressionless.
Although Liu Sandao stood on the ground, his attention was focused on the sky.
As for the mortals on the ground, they were left to their clamor and curses.
Fu Ruhai did not respond to the arrival's words, but his face, previously full of smiles, was now calm. This was not how the God of Fortune should look.
Seeing his silence, the arrival smirked strangely and said:
"Heh, if you don't speak, you think I won't know?
Hmph! You must have been scolded when you returned to heaven this time. If you don't have a solution within a month, you'll be kicked out!"
"I can't be bothered to argue with you. If you're here, it can't be good! Let me tell you, as long as I am here, I will never allow you to harm the innocent!"
Fu Ruhai's expression was solemn, though his words sounded a bit hesitant, despite his outward demeanor.
In contrast, the arrival was relaxed and at ease, smiling broadly and occasionally puffing out smoke rings.
"Hahaha, you? Can you stop me?"
The arrival ceased his laughter and, with a flick of his wrist,
his suit instantly transformed into a long robe, with a three-foot-long slit on the left sleeve.
"Quack! Quack!"
A piercing caw echoed from his sleeve.
Then, hundreds of crows flew out together, blotting out the sun.
Liu Sandao, standing on the ground, saw a dark cloud charging towards Fu Ruhai.
Someone cursed, "Damn it, what bad luck! Even the sky has turned dark!"
Apart from a strong gust of wind, there was no other change.
"You few, go inside and search. Take anything valuable you find!"
The bald man commanded the others, and also kicked the old man.
"Ouch!"
Perhaps the kick was too hard, and the old man couldn't help but cry out.
Liu Sandao quickly snapped back to attention, helped the old man up, but did not stop the others from ransacking the house.
In truth, in this dilapidated home, what valuables could there possibly be?
At this moment, in the sky, Fu Ruhai saw hundreds of crows flying towards him and hastily dodged.
These were no ordinary birds; they were pets raised by the God of Death, feeding on the decaying flesh of the dead.
Having followed the God of Death for so long, they had also acquired a malevolent aura.
This aura could kill mortals with a mere touch.
Even gods had to avoid it, or they would suffer at least thirty percent loss of immortal energy, or worse, their immortal bodies could be destroyed.
Fu Ruhai naturally dared not be careless!
But he was merely a minor deity, his divine powers not particularly extraordinary.
In the past, whenever he encountered the God of Death, he would merely bestow his blessings, ride his auspicious clouds, protect himself with the Book of Fortune, and quickly flee.
As for the opportunity to fight the God of Death, it was practically nonexistent.
However, ever since that arrival became the new God of Death, specifically after Sandong City was brought under his jurisdiction, his days in heaven had been anything but good.
More importantly, that arrival was unlike the previous Gods of Death, who merely went through the motions in their heavenly posts.
He, this one, possessed considerable skill.
It was rumored that many deities several ranks higher than him had been severely injured by him.
Therefore, in this first encounter, Fu Ruhai had no choice but to proceed with extreme caution.
Although the "Records of Chaos" contained accounts of Liu Sandao's origins, his cultivation level remained unknown.
The flock of crows did not simply charge past; upon missing their target, they inexplicably flew back and charged at Fu Ruhai once more.
Fu Ruhai could only rely on his understanding of the "Book of Fortune," muttering incantations silently.
A golden light immediately shot out from the book, enveloping Fu Ruhai.
Shortly after, it transformed into a pillar of light.
Around the pillar of light, scattered fruits began to form.
Liu Sandao recognized them as Fortune Fruits!
Could Fu Ruhai be preparing to use Fortune Fruits against the crows?
The crows seemed undeterred; they were messengers of the God of Death, and life itself was their prey!
However, Fortune Fruits were, relatively speaking, too pure!
But the attack was inevitable!
The flock of crows charged into the light pillar laden with Fortune Fruits.
The Fortune Fruits on the light pillar began to sway, like children on swings.
The Fortune Fruits kept shaking, and faint specks of light appeared, slowly growing in number, more and more.
The crows plunged in and disappeared within.
Liu Sandao thought the crows had been annihilated, as there was no reaction for a long time.
Fu Ruhai, however, kept his eyes tightly shut, his lips continuously chanting spells.
The God of Death, the arrival, remained relaxed, not showing any tension, even a hint of enjoyment.
The light pillar of Fortune Fruits began to spin, carrying the cloud-like radiance formed by the light spots, rotating ceaselessly.
With a "Quack! Quack!"
The crows burst out again.
The arrival stifled his laughter and said, "Do you think this can save your life?"
One by one, the Fortune Fruits on the light pillar fell. The moment they touched the ground, they vanished into nothingness.
Fu Ruhai stopped his incantations, and the radiance immediately disappeared.
The "Book of Fortune" instantly returned to its original form and was absorbed back into Fu Ruhai.
If the God of Death released his crows one more time, Fu Ruhai would surely be killed on the spot.
But would the God of Death let such an opportunity pass?
That was impossible.
Indeed, as soon as the arrival finished speaking, he waved his right hand and released another swarm of dark creatures!
"Screech! Screech! Screech!"
It was a swarm of bats, black and numbering in the thousands.
This was even more daunting than the previous flock of crows.
Wherever they passed, nothing was left untouched.
For ordinary gods, it was like being crushed by a powerful force.
Heard it said that the arrival harbored great ambitions; it seemed to be true.
This time, Fu Ruhai was somewhat helpless.
The previous flock of crows had greatly damaged the essence of the "Book of Fortune." If it was not repaired, he probably wouldn't be able to bestow a single Fortune Fruit this year.
The consequences of that would be dire.
But if he could not withstand the God of Death, how could he possibly have the life to bestow Fortune Fruits?
His millennia-long existence might end today.
"Come on, even if I die, I will retain my last shred of dignity! I am the God of Fortune, Fu Ruhai!"