After Gu Hengzhi and Su Yuntao left the Soul Hunting Forest, they went to Spirit Hall that very day to register. After the test, Gu Hengzhi's Soul Power Level was determined to be level 12.
After returning to Nuoding Academy, Gu Hengzhi began cultivating diligently while also preparing the materials to carve the next deity.
As for Tang San, he returned the day after Gu Hengzhi did. Just like in the original story, Xiao Wu got into a conflict with the noble students of Nuoding Academy, and Gu Hengzhi went over to take a look as well. What surprised him slightly was that Tang San had still managed to obtain a Century Soul Ring even without the Mandala Snake Soul Ring, and it seemed to have significantly enhanced his Blue Silver Grass. The Soul Power patterns on the Blue Silver Grass gave off a faint golden glow, and his first soul skill was still Entanglement. Then again, as the chosen son of this world, it would have been stranger if Tang San had absorbed a Ten-Year Soul Ring.
With his Century Soul Ring, Tang San naturally defeated the noble students led by Xiao Chenyu as easily as chopping vegetables. Gu Hengzhi did not pay Tang San much attention, but ever since Tang San had decided that Gu Hengzhi had earned a death sentence, he had kept a closer eye on him. To his surprise, this allowed him to discover the location of the Spirit Field.
As night deepened, a breeze swept past, carrying a trace of coolness. It passed through the branches, rustling the leaves like nature's whisper. The cicadas chirped one after another, as if recounting the clamor of summer.
On the back mountain of Nuoding Academy, the bamboo grove swayed in the wind as though dancing gracefully. "Rustle..." A small, thin figure slipped over the bamboo grove like a ghost and passed through the brush. That figure was Tang San.
Determination and curiosity flickered in his eyes as he silently pondered, Gu Hengzhi, you come to the academy's back mountain every few days. What exactly are you up to? I want to see whether you're using some evil method to cultivate. Otherwise, how could you raise your Soul Power by five levels in a single year? Tang San moved lightly, as if he had merged with the night itself. He walked carefully, afraid of being discovered.
At last, he arrived at the herb garden Gu Hengzhi had cultivated. At the sight before him, his eyes widened in astonishment. "Century Lingzhi! Ten-Year Qi-Gathering Grass! And..."
The corner of Tang San's mouth lifted into a smug smile. "So you cultivated so quickly by relying on medicinal herbs. But now they all belong to me. Consider them the price of your life. Hahaha!" His laughter echoed through the night, carrying a hint of arrogance and confidence.
With these medicinal herbs, the hope of reviving the Tang Sect has grown even greater! Gu Hengzhi, don't worry. I'll definitely put these herbs—oh, and this grass carp, a False Soul Beast—to proper use. This is simply making the best use of everything! Hahaha! Tang San muttered to himself, his eyes shining with determination as though he could already see the Tang Sect's future glory.
"Punish evil and promote good"—those four words were branded deeply into Tang San's heart. They were the original purpose and mission behind the Tang Sect's founding!
Without the slightest hesitation, Tang San swept through every medicinal herb in the garden like a raging wind, along with that grass carp, the False Soul Beast. Then he turned and sped away like lightning.
The next morning.
"Tang San!!! Fuck your mother!!!" Gu Hengzhi's face was livid, as though covered in frost. Standing in the herb garden on the back mountain, his eyes blazed with fury and his teeth clenched tightly, as if he wanted to swallow Tang San alive.
He had identified Tang San as the suspect so quickly because, in the entire academy, the only people who might recognize the herbs in the garden were Tang San, Yu Xiaogang, and Xiao Wu. Yu Xiaogang had been bitten by the Mandala Snake and was still recovering from his injuries. Xiao Wu, meanwhile, was a troublemaker who spent all day causing mischief around the academy, leaving her no time to commit the crime. Only Tang San had not only the time and ability, but also the motive.
Tang San had looted every useful thing in the herb garden clean, truly leaving nothing behind. The losses were not small, especially the precious Century Lingzhi. Fortunately, before Tang San had stolen from him, Gu Hengzhi had already sold most of the herbs in order to gather enough materials to carve the next deity, so the losses remained manageable. Even so, unless he gave Tang San a brutal beating, the hatred in Gu Hengzhi's heart would be impossible to quell.
"Earth Deity, senior! Earth Deity, senior!" Gu Hengzhi anxiously called out to the Earth Deity resting within the God-Sealing Record, his voice carrying a trace of urgency.
The Earth Deity slowly opened his eyes. Looking at Gu Hengzhi before him, he asked with a smile, "Why are you in such a panic?"
Gu Hengzhi hurriedly said, "Senior, my Spirit Field has been robbed! I cultivated it with great care, yet it has suffered such misfortune. I beg you to help me think of a solution."
The Earth Deity furrowed his brow and stroked his white beard. After pondering for a moment, he said, "A petty thief actually dared to steal? Truly hateful! I have a formation called the Mountain-Suppressing Maze Formation. This formation can be arranged using the Earth Vein nodes of this Spirit Field. Then, if statues of myself and Xiao Qing—the Mutated Earth Azure Bull, my mount—are placed to guard the formation nodes, intruders will be trapped amid dust and wind, lose their sense of direction, and be blocked by its defensive effects as well. This formation will grow stronger along with your cultivation. At the very least, only someone two major realms above you may be able to break it."
A flash of delight passed through Gu Hengzhi's eyes. He quickly thanked the Earth Deity. "Thank you for your guidance, senior! This formation is truly miraculous. If I can successfully arrange it, my Spirit Field will surely remain safe."
The Earth Deity smiled and nodded. Then he took an ancient book from his robes and handed it to Gu Hengzhi. "This contains the method for arranging the Mountain-Suppressing Maze Formation. Study it carefully and set it up step by step. Of course, if you can add a wisp of Tier-One Faith Power, its strength and effects will naturally improve further. If you have any questions, come find this old man again."
Gu Hengzhi accepted the ancient book as though it were a priceless treasure. After bowing to the Earth Deity once more, he hurried away and began arranging the Mountain-Suppressing Maze Formation. He knew that only by completing the formation as quickly as possible could he restore peace to the Spirit Field. Throughout this process, he would also continue raising his cultivation, making the Mountain-Suppressing Maze Formation even more powerful.
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