Carving

The twilight had not yet fully faded, and the early-summer morning carried a faint chill. Gu Hengzhi stepped outside, his feet pressing into the damp grass. The morning dew had yet to evaporate, soaking the soles of his shoes.

His gaze fell upon a rocky slope behind Notting City, where stones of varying sizes lay scattered. Their surfaces were smooth, and the bluish-gray rock exuded a steady, cold aura. Gu Hengzhi approached and reached out to touch one of them. The rough stone made his fingertips tingle faintly, while also conveying a weighty solidity.

"How about this stone?" he murmured softly, carefully examining its grain and hardness. To him, it was far more than a mere stone. It was the foundation upon which a deity would manifest in the future, a medium leading to unknown divine power.

Deep within his sea of consciousness, the ancient golden book—the God-Sealing Record—suddenly emitted a faint golden glow. Like an undercurrent stirring, ripples spread outward in layers.

Gu Hengzhi closed his eyes tightly, and his mind slowly sank into that boundless sea of consciousness. His awareness passed through layers of mist, and the ancient seal-script characters on the God-Sealing Record's cover came into view. Their strokes flowed like drifting clouds, bearing the unchanging weight of a thousand years.

The pages turned slowly, and a line of vigorous large seal script emerged at the end of the scroll, radiating a solemn, dignified aura: "Form serves as the vessel, the soul as the guide; sincere wishes lead to communion with the gods."

Those seven words rang like thunder, low and distant, as though they were an oracle echoing through the eternal heavens. They told Gu Hengzhi that only by using "form" as a vessel, guided by sincere soul power, could he build a bridge of communication with the gods of Huaxia.

Vague divine figures faintly surfaced in his mind. These deities wore dragon robes and held jade tablets. Though their forms were indistinct, they carried an air of solemn mystery, like ancient divine souls guarding the mountains and rivers.

He slowly opened his eyes, his breathing gradually steadying. "Mm, then I'll begin by sculpting a deity. Jade Emperor, may you protect me!" Gu Hengzhi murmured, his eyes full of hope.

Gu Hengzhi took a deep breath and lifted the enormous stone, which stood as tall as half a person, onto the workbench. He half-closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and gently placed both hands upon the stone's surface, carefully sensing its veins and temperature. Inwardly, he recited the God-Sealing Record's description of the Jade Emperor: "Supreme sovereign of the Heavenly Realm, foremost among all gods, ruler of heaven and earth, sun and moon, and the stars. His majesty is unparalleled."

As his consciousness gradually focused, Gu Hengzhi slowly drew out his carving knife. Its edge glinted with a cold light beneath the morning sun, sharp and austere.

The blade lightly touched the stone, producing a faint scraping sound. Fragments of rock scattered like specks of starlight and fell silently to the ground. Although Gu Hengzhi no longer clearly remembered the Jade Emperor's face, an unseen guidance and the God-Sealing Record's prompt allowed him to devote himself wholly to the carving.

He first outlined the Jade Emperor's silhouette—a tall, imposing figure wearing a majestic crown, with a grave and dignified face. Those eyes, which seemed able to see through heaven and earth, gleamed with an unfathomable light.

Next, he began carefully carving the patterns upon the robes: flowing cloud motifs and symbols of thunder, representing the Heavenly Emperor's majesty and the power of nature. The blade wandered across the stone's surface, and the clouds seemed to drift faintly.

Time passed quietly in the stillness. Fine beads of sweat gradually formed on Gu Hengzhi's forehead, while his breathing became steady and rhythmic, as though he and the stone had become one.

Every strike and every cut was a devout tribute to the laws of heaven and earth. Finally, with the last stroke, a one-meter-tall statue of the Jade Emperor stood vividly before him. Though it had not yet been painted, it already radiated solemn divine majesty, as if the stone statue were silently guarding the order of heaven and earth.

Gu Hengzhi pressed his palms together and lowered his head, softly chanting, "God-Sealing Record, I humbly ask that you grant this statue divine radiance. May divine majesty protect us."

The next moment, it felt as if lightning had struck deep within his mind, and a violent tremor surged through him. The God-Sealing Record, which had been quietly dormant in his sea of consciousness, seemed to awaken under some mysterious force and slowly began turning its pages.

In an instant, golden light surged forth like a tide, illuminating his entire sea of consciousness. The pages seemed to come alive and turned by themselves to a certain place. Solemn golden text appeared before Gu Hengzhi like a descending oracle:

[The God-Sealing Pact is complete. The divine statue may serve as a vessel. To invite divine descent, rites must be prepared.]

[Required for the altar:]

—One cup of pure water, clear and transparent as a mirror, capable of cleansing the six senses and clarifying the spirit platform;

—Three incense sticks, their curling smoke rising straight upward, able to commune with spirits and gods, connecting heaven and earth;

—One serving of the five grains or common household dishes; though mortal things, they are filled with reverence and sincerity;

—One drop of sacrificial blood, bright red like the source of life, able to draw the gods' response (one's own blood may be used);

—One prayer composed in the heart; only sincere devotion can move the gods.

Ritual vessels must be kept clean to show respect for the gods. It is best to compose the prayer oneself. The gods will respond to the heart, regardless of form; only utmost sincerity is required.—God-Sealing Record · Initial Awakening Chapter

Gu Hengzhi stood frozen, his eyes fixed tightly upon the golden words, as though an invisible force had immobilized him. The golden pages of the God-Sealing Record in his sea of consciousness slowly closed, yet their lingering resonance remained like a fading melody that would not disperse, seemingly proclaiming the approval of some "rule" between heaven and earth.

"So... these are the conditions for inviting a god to descend?" he muttered, his voice carrying barely restrained excitement and solemnity. Illuminated by the firelight, Gu Hengzhi's figure appeared especially tall. He slowly rose, his movements grave and devout, like a believer setting foot upon a pilgrimage. Beneath the starlight, he took the first step toward preparing the sacrificial rite...

Night fell, and twilight deepened. Carrying a basket of offerings, Gu Hengzhi slowly approached the crude yet carefully arranged altar before him. Several simple but precious offerings were neatly placed inside the basket:

A bundle of green pine branches, symbolizing evergreen and undying vitality;

A flask of freshly brewed rice wine, clear and fragrant, praying that heaven and earth might become drunk together;

A stick of sandalwood incense, which, once lit, sent curling smoke upward and carried an ancient divine charm;

A plate of carefully cured preserved meat, symbolizing harvest and the continuation of the family line;

A bowl of clear water, crystal-clear and bearing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth;

As well as several freshly picked mountain walnuts and dates, symbolizing good fortune and well-being.

The altar was built from rough bluestones and covered with white cloth. Ancient auspicious-cloud patterns were embroidered along its edges, as though the spiritual energy of heaven and earth flowed through those lines.

Gu Hengzhi carefully arranged the offerings, then reverently tidied the incense burner and lit the sandalwood incense. He gently stirred the ash, and the smoke rose in winding streams like a lively dragon.

He knelt on both knees, slowly brought his palms together, and softly recited the prayer:

"Jade Emperor, sovereign of the Heavenly Realm, ruler of the Ninefold Heavenly Palace, I offer these mortal foods and garments in tribute today. May your sacred majesty shelter us, drive away evil, and grant us peace..."

Then, a sharp silver needle pierced the tip of his index finger without hesitation. A drop of bright crimson essence blood fell upon the altar. The surrounding air instantly congealed. A breeze passed by, and the pine branches rustled softly, as though heaven and earth were whispering under their breath.

The clear water atop the altar suddenly began to glow faintly. The rice wine released waves of enticing fragrance, while the scent of preserved meat spread through the air, as though a sacred symphony had begun playing between heaven and earth.

The light gradually intensified, and the Jade Emperor's phantom slowly appeared. His divine robes fluttered in the wind, his golden crown shone with dazzling brilliance, and his solemn divine majesty shook heaven and earth.

At that moment, the boundary between the mortal world and the Heavenly Realm seemed to blur. Faith and power intertwined here, jointly opening a passage for the descent of the gods.