God-Sealing Record

Gu Hengzhi frowned slightly, an unusual feeling rising within him. He sensed a mysterious ripple lurking deep inside his body ever since the awakening ceremony, like a faint wisp that flickered in and out of existence yet constantly stirred his soul. It was like an ancient dust-covered bell being gently struck somewhere far away—the sound was soft, yet it echoed through his mind for a long time.

He took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes, following that barely perceptible sensation as he immersed his consciousness in his sea of awareness.

Deep within his sea of awareness, chaos surged like tides, boundless and desolate.

At the far end of that empty, lonely ocean of consciousness, an ancient, weighty tome floated silently, like a divine relic capable of suppressing heaven and earth. It radiated an ancient, mysterious golden glow. Three words were written on its cover—God-Sealing Record. The archaic characters resembled chisel marks carved into stone, every stroke seemingly containing endless majesty that inspired awe.

The God-Sealing Record trembled faintly, as though responding to his arrival.

The book slowly opened. Though there was no wind, its golden pages began turning on their own, stirring waves of mysterious energy through his sea of awareness. Strands of golden patterns emerged in the void like ancient sacrificial inscriptions, descending from above and coiling like dragons and serpents as they formed a magnificent invocation:

"Gods were sealed in ancient times, and all spirits returned to their places. Stone shall be the body, soul the guide; faith the lamp, incense the bridge. Let the gods descend into the world, and let them walk among mankind."

Gu Hengzhi's pupils contracted slightly. It felt as though countless troops were thundering past his ears, followed by the resounding chime of bells and drums and the chanting of sacred hymns. Heaven and earth lost their color, while the whispers of gods echoed beside him.

The next instant, a phantom image abruptly appeared upon the pages of the God-Sealing Record.

The phantom sat high above the clouds, clad in golden armor, his brows carrying majestic authority like an emperor of the mortal world. Auspicious radiance swirled behind him, with dragon shadows, phoenix cries, and ever-drifting auspicious clouds. At his sides stood vague figures: ancient immortals in Daoist robes holding whisks; war generals standing in the wind with halberds in hand; aged shamans wrapped in beast hides; red-robed goddesses crowned with blazing flames and lotus blossoms blooming behind them...

Their features were hazy and indistinct, as though separated by an endless celestial veil, leaving only their outlines and bearing barely visible. Yet deep within his heart, Gu Hengzhi felt an inexplicable shock and reverence. He had never experienced such an aura from any cultivator or soul beast.

It was the aura of gods—true gods.

They were neither the Angel God nor the Sea God of the Douluo Continent. This was not a system of gods marked by the cold detachment and rigid order of Western divinity, but one born from the depths of Huaxia civilization, ancient and enduring through countless ages—

It ruled heaven and earth while overlooking all living beings; it could manifest miracles and grant blessings, yet it could also wield punishment across the cosmos.

Before Gu Hengzhi's gaze could fully focus, the pages suddenly trembled. All the golden radiance, phantom images, and divine inscriptions receded like a tide, vanishing in an instant as everything returned to stillness and fell back into slumber.

The God-Sealing Record slowly closed, as though it had never been awakened.

Within Gu Hengzhi's sea of awareness, only a lingering golden afterglow slowly faded. That strangely familiar divine voice rang out beside his ear once more:

"Carve gods into statues, offer thy body as sacrifice, and the sealing of gods shall begin... Await thy preparation..."

Then, the surroundings fell silent, and all sounds vanished.

Gu Hengzhi abruptly opened his eyes, his back already soaked in cold sweat. He gasped for breath, but there was not the slightest trace of fear in his eyes. In its place, after the boundless shock, rose a fervent hope and sense of purpose.

"God-Sealing Record... This book isn't merely a cheat. It might... want me to establish a true divine lineage!"

"Child... child, did you hear my call?" Matthew Nuo's voice was like a clear spring flowing into Gu Hengzhi's heart, gradually calming his restless mind. "Child, are you willing to join our Spirit Hall?"

"I... I am willing!" Gu Hengzhi's voice brimmed with uncontrollable excitement, like fireworks blooming in the night sky—brilliant and dazzling.

The door to the awakening chamber slowly opened. Su Yuntao hurried forward like an ant on a hot pan, his face full of nervousness as he approached Great Soul Master Matthew Nuo. "Master Matthew Nuo, what martial soul did Hengzhi awaken? Does he possess Innate Soul Power?" His voice trembled like a candle flame flickering in the wind.

Great Soul Master Matthew Nuo looked at him warmly, like the spring sun. "So it's Yuntao. Your rash temperament truly hasn't changed at all. This child Hengzhi awakened a damaged stone statue, but he possesses level five Innate Soul Power. That is indeed surprising! Hengzhi wishes to join Spirit Hall, so take him to complete the procedures."

"Well, well, kid, your Innate Soul Power is actually three levels higher than mine!" Su Yuntao excitedly patted Gu Hengzhi on the shoulder, with enough force to nearly shatter it. "Ow, easy, easy! Are you trying to pound me into a meat patty?" Gu Hengzhi grimaced in pain.

After completing the procedures to join Spirit Hall, Gu Hengzhi followed Su Yuntao back home.

"Hengzhi, there are still more than three months before Notting Junior Spirit Master Academy begins. What plans do you have for these next three months?" Su Yuntao asked with a broad smile.

"Mm, I plan to learn a meditation method for cultivation and strive to reach level ten as soon as possible, becoming a Soul Master." Gu Hengzhi scratched the back of his head. "And that novel—I also want to write as much of it as I can..."

"Very good. I can teach you the meditation method right now." With that, Su Yuntao had Gu Hengzhi sit cross-legged on a cushion. "First, quiet your mind. Use your will to sense the soul power drifting through heaven and earth, then draw it into your body through your breathing, through your nose and mouth, or through the pores all over your body."

Following Su Yuntao's instructions, Gu Hengzhi closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and tried to make his heart as still as water. Gradually, he seemed to enter an ethereal world, where everything around him became clear and perceptible. He could sense wisps of faint soul power in the air slowly gathering toward him.

Su Yuntao sent a strand of soul power into Gu Hengzhi's body and guided it through Gu Hengzhi's meridians. As the soul power flowed, Gu Hengzhi's body gradually grew warm, as though a current of warmth were running through him. He carefully sensed the path this power traveled, trying to remember every detail.

Under Su Yuntao's guidance, the soul power circulated through Gu Hengzhi's meridians for several cycles. Suddenly, the soul power within him seemed to be drawn by a mysterious force and began circulating on its own. Like a clear spring, it nourished his meridians and cleared the places that had once been blocked. Even the Eight Extraordinary Meridians that Tang Buddha had only opened through the Mysterious Heaven Technique became exceptionally unobstructed, allowing soul power to flow freely through them without the slightest hindrance.

Gu Hengzhi was delighted and focused even more intently on guiding the soul power, hoping to further increase his strength. As time passed, his soul power grew stronger and stronger, while subtle changes quietly began taking place within his body.