Crack!
With a sharp sound, a Rift spread across the barrier surrounding the Divine Statue.
Chen Cuo's will had crossed the barriers of time and space and descended upon the Divine Statue. Its clay eyes slowly opened, taking in every Image within the temple.
Two men stood in the hall, both dressed like distinguished scholars in tall hats and broad sashes. Yet each held a court tablet, and their robes bore embroidered designs—
One was embroidered with a city, the other with mountains and rivers.
The man whose robe bore a city had a face like polished jade and a long, five-strand beard. The one whose robe bore mountains and rivers was tall, with a face full of Curly Beard.
Chen Cuo drew his gaze back and looked at his clay body.
A faint glow enveloped the Divine Statue, cutting off its connection to the Incense from outside.
Ordinary deities needed to spread their names and receive worship from believers. To be remembered, they needed a recognizable Image.
Thus, the Divine Statues enshrined in temples were exceedingly important to them.
With a single glance, Chen Cuo realized these two had come with ill intent. They were well versed in the Way of Incense: by sealing a Divine Statue with divine power, they could effortlessly shake a Deity's foundations without being easily discovered.
Before long, that Deity would weaken.
But to break free of the River Domain, Chen Cuo had been sensing the changes in his believers' thoughts almost constantly. With his Incarnation's help as well, he had detected the disturbance at once and arrived in time.
"The New Deity has descended."
The two men in the hall looked up at the Divine Statue. Far from surprised, they showed a trace of appreciation.
They knew that although the Golden Light Formation