The Marvels of Incense Offerings

Three days later, Seven House was restless.

Gu Hengzhi stood in the center of the dormitory like a steady mountain. His gaze was sharp as a blade as it swept over the more than twenty young Soul Masters before him. Though young, every one of them was deeply calculating. At this moment, they were uneasy inside, yet unable to resist Gu Hengzhi's overwhelming presence.

"From today onward, you must burn incense and worship this Earth Deity statue every morning and evening." Gu Hengzhi's voice was not loud, yet it carried an irresistible authority, as though it came from a deity high above the heavens. "Anyone who dares disobey will bear the consequences himself."

Before his words had even faded, the surroundings fell into dead silence, like frozen ground in the depths of winter—cold and oppressive. The roommates exchanged glances. Some clenched their teeth slightly, while others lowered their heads in silence, complicated expressions on their faces.

"This, this..." someone muttered softly, his voice filled with displeasure and fear, yet he did not dare openly challenge him.

Wang Sheng, who had once fought Gu Hengzhi, stood in the corner, his expression shifting slightly. Over the past few days, he had noticed that Shen Yan and the other two around him had made remarkable progress in cultivation. Their rate of improvement was astonishing. At first, he had thought it was merely his imagination, but with fact after fact laid before him, he had no choice but to believe it.

Could it... really have something to do with that statue? Wang Sheng frowned tightly as he pondered in secret. Their cultivation has accelerated... Perhaps worshipping the statue really works.

His stubborn refusal to admit defeat tangled with his wariness of Gu Hengzhi. At last, he could not hold back any longer and stepped forward toward the shrine. He gripped an incense stick tightly, a complicated gleam flashing through his eyes—hesitation, anticipation, and a trace of unwillingness.

For the sake of strength... so I won't lose face... Wang Sheng silently muttered to himself.

Seeing this, the other roommates gradually lowered their guard as well. One after another, they took out small personal items or dried fruits and devoutly burned incense before the statue, murmuring prayers as they silently made their wishes. Wisps of blue smoke rose and curled beneath the eaves, as though draping the ancient Earth Deity statue in a hazy, mysterious radiance.

Gu Hengzhi quietly watched it all, delight glimmering in his eyes. He knew that the amount of Incense Offerings on the God-Sealing Record's incense panel was rapidly increasing.

Before he knew it, he had accumulated ten wisps of Incense Offerings.

"Senior Earth Deity, can you help me purify these Incense Offerings and transform them into Faith Power?" His voice was low and resolute, as though he were swearing an oath to heaven and earth.

Within his sea of consciousness, the Earth Deity's phantom slowly emerged. His beard and hair were entirely white, and he resembled a wise elder weathered by countless years. His gaze was gentle, yet it contained endless majesty. With a soft sigh, the Earth Deity nodded slightly. "Very well. Though these Incense Offerings are sparse, they are enough to serve as a foundation. I will help you purify them."

Before his words faded, the Earth Deity extended both hands, a dense earthen-yellow glow faintly appearing in his palms. The faint Incense Offerings drifted into his hands as lightly as threads of silk, gradually gathering into a ball of dazzling, warm golden spiritual light. The radiance grew ever more intense, like dawn breaking over the horizon, while its aura became increasingly profound, as though it contained the mysteries of the universe.

"This is Tier-One Faith Power." The Earth Deity's voice was like a mountain spring, clear and pleasant, yet carrying a distant resonance. "The next purification must wait until half a month from now. When the next opportunity arrives, you must gather more than ten wisps of Incense Offerings beforehand."

Gu Hengzhi stared at the condensed power in his palm, an indescribable curiosity rising within him. He carefully placed the Faith Power into his sea of consciousness, yet he did not feel anything unusual.

"If that is the case, I might as well test it and see whether this Faith Power can nurture spiritual objects." His eyes gleamed with excitement, as though he had discovered an entirely new world.

He gently took an ordinary herb from his storage pouch. Its leaves were lush and green, like jade carvings, ordinary yet faintly brimming with vitality.

Gu Hengzhi took a deep breath and slowly infused the Faith Power into the herb's roots and stem. The golden spiritual light seeped through the soil like a tiny stream, like a fountain of life nourishing every inch of the herb.

In an instant, the herb seemed to sense an unprecedented power. Its leaves trembled slightly, as though cheering in delight. They gradually took on a golden sheen, as if kissed by sunlight, filled with life and vitality.

Its roots, too, sank deep into the earth like a dragon plunging into the sea, continuously drawing in the essence of the land. A faint spiritual aura misted around it like a veil of gauze, making the entire herb mysterious and captivating.

Gu Hengzhi sat leisurely at the table. A faint lingering fragrance still drifted before the statue, yet it was as though a stone had been tossed into his mind, sending ripples spreading through it. Faith Power, this mysterious energy refined from the thoughts of ordinary people, was far more profound and vast than he had imagined!

His fingers lightly touched the herb on the table. Its leaves, newly infused with Faith Power and glimmering faintly, seemed to dance joyfully beneath the lamplight, as though they contained the rhythm of life. If it could only upgrade herbs, that would indeed be precious, but it would merely be the tip of the iceberg.

If Faith Power could be infused into blades, swords, and weapons, would it make them more spiritual and increase their lethality as well? he pondered, excitement flashing in his eyes. On the battlefield, if spiritual weapons were strengthened by this power, their might would surely double!

He thought again of the statue he had personally carved. If the silent Earth Deity could use this power to awaken greater intelligence, perhaps he would take more initiative in protecting him. And if those unfinished spiritual weapons and spiritual medicines could thrive through Faith Power and become higher-grade spiritual objects, would that not be like adding wings to a tiger?

Suddenly, his thoughts flew to a patch of empty land. If he could infuse Faith Power into the soil and turn it into a spiritual field, then the spiritual energy between heaven and earth would gather there. Ordinary herbs grown there could naturally advance into spiritual medicines. That would provide another solid guarantee for his path of cultivation and allow him to cultivate even faster.

"If so, the foundations of the Huaxia Divine Way will take deep root on this continent. Every trace of faith will become power and help me travel farther." Gu Hengzhi's gaze was firm, and he had already formed his next plan.

With this in mind, Gu Hengzhi began to act. Early the next morning, he rushed to the administrative office and discussed matters with the dean, purchasing a plot of land on the academy's back mountain. This marked the first step in preparing to transform the land and cultivate spiritual herbs and medicines in the future...