Spirit Field Takes Shape

Nuoding Academy—Rear Mountain

Gu Hengzhi stood quietly before the newly opened hillside, his figure like a statue. His left hand formed a spell seal while his right slowly opened. In his palm, an almost imperceptible wisp of golden light emerged like a faint flame.

This wisp of Tier-One Faith Power was the fruit of his months of diligent cultivation, every trace condensed from his blood, sweat, and effort. Now, to verify whether this land could be transformed into a Spirit Field, he decisively chose to take a gamble.

"Go."

He shouted softly, his voice seeming to pierce through the barriers of time and space, carrying a trace of resolve and determination. The wisp of Faith Power descended like a dazzling shooting star and slowly struck the ground beneath his feet.

The golden light instantly seeped into the soil. At first, it caused only a faint tremor, as though the earth were quietly breathing. Then, a ring of faint spiritual energy rippled slowly outward from the surface, as if some slumbering power were being awakened.

A glint of delight flashed through Gu Hengzhi's eyes, and anticipation rose in his heart. He crouched down and gently parted the soil with his fingers, trying to sense the changes in the earth's energy. Yet after only a few breaths, his expression stiffened slightly.

Spiritual energy was indeed stirring, but it seemed to be blocked by an invisible membrane, unable to penetrate deep into the land. His brows furrowed faintly, and confusion showed in his gaze.

He closed his eyes and formed another seal, pouring more Faith Power into the ground. Yet no matter how hard he tried to guide it, that wisp of Faith Power only formed a layer of floating light across the surface, illuminating the surrounding ground but never truly penetrating the Earth Vein or stirring life within it.

"...Something's wrong."

He slowly rose to his feet. The brightness in his eyes had faded, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his temples.

This was his first attempt at nurturing land with Faith Power. He had been full of confidence, but now, it felt as though that hard-won wisp of Faith Power had sunk into the sea without a single response. Though the spiritual energy between heaven and earth gathered toward the rear mountain's slope like a tide, it merely floated atop the ground, far less dense than he had hoped.

He stood in the mountain wind, silent for a long while. Bathed in the pale golden afterglow, his face looked especially pallid, as though all life and vitality had left him.

He murmured softly, a trace of weariness appearing between his brows. Yet it did not linger on his face for long. He took a deep breath, as though expelling all his exhaustion, then strode firmly toward the statue at the foot of the mountain.

The statue stood quietly at the mountain's base like an ancient monument, tall green pines rising behind it as though guarding this land. Its expression was kind and gentle, with a faint smile at the corners of its mouth, as if silently watching his every move.

Gu Hengzhi arrived before the statue and bowed respectfully. His tone carried both an earnest plea and the stubbornness unique to youth.

"Earth Deity, this disciple is foolish. I beg you to guide me and tell me how to begin cultivating a Spirit Field." His voice echoed through the mountains, carrying a devout force.

The mountain wind shifted slightly, and the leaves in the forest rustled, as though adding a touch of mystery to his plea. Then, the statue's brow suddenly lit up faintly, and a deep yet gentle voice, seeming to come from ancient times, slowly echoed within Gu Hengzhi's sea of consciousness.

"Young friend... this is not your fault. Merely scattering Faith Power over the land is far from enough." The voice seemed to contain endless wisdom, inspiring reverence.

"You lit a fire on the surface, but failed to let it burn into the heart of the earth." The Earth Deity's words were like a sharp sword, piercing through the fog in Gu Hengzhi's heart. He shuddered, and light gathered in his eyes once more. Like someone who had found a glimmer of light in darkness, his expression grew increasingly animated.

"Please enlighten me, Earth Deity!" His voice brimmed with longing, as if awaiting a baptism.

Within his sea of consciousness, the Earth Deity's voice remained gentle and calm, yet every word rang as clearly as a great bell, deafening and enlightening.

"The root of a Spirit Field lies in the Earth Vein. If the earth's energy is blocked and spiritual energy merely drifts about, it will vanish in an instant."

"You must use Faith Power to penetrate the Earth Vein, then nurture it with spiritual energy. Only then can this land truly come alive."

Gu Hengzhi was suddenly enlightened. It felt as though a heavy hammer had struck his heart, and he gritted his teeth inwardly. I was too impatient... I thought that injecting Faith Power would be enough to create a Spirit Field, but I overlooked the workings of heaven and earth at their source. He steadied himself, clasped his hands, and said in a low voice, "Please grant me guidance, Earth Deity, and help me open the Earth Vein here."

The mountain wind suddenly fell still, as though heaven and earth themselves had held their breath and quietly awaited this moment.

In an instant, the statue seated at the mountain's foot shone with a gentle golden radiance, like a brilliant rising sun scattering endless light. A warm, substantial divine power poured down from Gu Hengzhi's sea of consciousness like spring rain. It was heavy without being oppressive, warm without being scorching, like an ancient tree taking root in the soil and spreading as it grew, endlessly alive.

The Earth Deity's figure seemed to step out from the divine statue, flickering in and out of sight. His face, framed by white hair and beard, bore a tranquil smile. He held a jade ruler tightly in his hand, its end planted firmly against the ground.

"I will lend you a hand."

Before his words had faded, the jade ruler swept lightly through the air like a feather and struck the hillside with perfect precision.

In an instant, a ring of dazzling golden patterns rapidly spread from the point of impact like golden ripples. A low hum suddenly came from the previously silent mountain, as though a sleeping beast had been awakened. Immediately afterward, a second wisp of Faith Power condensed in Gu Hengzhi's palm. It was like a faint candle flame, yet carried his unwavering determination.

"Please!"

He tightly formed the spell seal with both hands and cautiously guided that wisp of Faith Power into the previous spot. Beside him, the Earth Deity focused completely on assisting him, guiding the Faith Power as it slowly yet steadily sank underground.

Unlike before, when it had drifted without direction, this time the Faith Power seemed to have found its way home. Following the path guided by the Earth Deity, it steadily sank into the depths of the Earth Vein.

A moment later, the ground trembled faintly.

A fresh and boundless surge of spiritual energy rose from underground like a spring. It first spread gently like a thin veil, then rapidly expanded like raging waves, covering the entire hillside in the blink of an eye.

Gu Hengzhi stared at the ground beneath his feet. The once dry, withered soil had become moist and full of vitality, glowing with a faint azure light. He could even vaguely smell the subtle fragrance of spiritual energy rising from the earth.

"This... this is the scent of a Spirit Field!"

His eyes widened, undisguised delight gleaming within them. He even crouched down instinctively, grabbed a handful of soil, and gently rubbed it between his fingers—the earth was damp and warm, as though a faint, indistinct trace of spiritual energy danced at his fingertips.

At last, he understood. This was not some "illusion" forcefully infused through superficial power, but a sign that the earth itself had truly begun to come alive.

The Earth Deity nodded slightly, his gaze as loving as an elder looking upon his grandson. He slowly said:

"This land is now connected to the Earth Vein, and spiritual energy will flow forth without end. Only then can it become a 'field.' After fifteen days, inject another wisp of Tier-One Faith Power, and it will truly stabilize."