Chen Zhou’s expression remained unchanged as his ghost domain expanded. Thousands of skeleton soldiers surged from the shadows, charging toward the giant python from five different directions.
However, these fourth-stage skeleton soldiers were far too fragile against giant claws unleashed with the three transformations of eerification.
With a simple sweep from the giant python, hundreds of skeletons were ground into dust.
Yet, their charge bought Chen Zhou precious time.
Chen Zhou raised his hand and clenched it, activating the Hate Prison. Bone spikes sprouted, instantly weaving into a spherical cage that trapped all five giant pythons within.
Upon those bone spikes, Hate Fire burned intensely.
This flame, fused with the divinity of resentment, ignored all defenses to directly burn the core origin of the severed claw.
The severed claw slammed frantically against the cage. The Hate Prison shuddered violently, and fine cracks began to appear on the bone spikes.
...
Beside the blood pond, at the moment Chen Zhou made his catch and was dragged into the battlefield, the three figures who had been silent opened their eyes simultaneously.
"Eh?" A flicker of surprise flashed in the eyes of the woman in palace attire.
"He hooked something that quickly? This youngster’s luck is a bit too good."
She had originally thought that with Chen Zhou’s strength, even with top-tier bait, he would need to spend at least several decades—if not a century—here before attracting even a shred of interest from the things within the pond.
One had to understand that the fish in this Wanchuan pond had very high standards; ordinary, mundane items wouldn't catch their eye at all.
Even the middle-aged man on the other side, who had been focused on his pottery jar, looked over slightly and spoke.
"That’s quite a commotion. Looking at the aura fluctuations, he might have hooked a remnant soul at the peak of the sixth-stage.
"Daring to challenge the might of the third transformation at the realm of the second transformation—this junior truly possesses formidable courage.
"But from the look of it, he might fail. He's still not steady enough."
Not long after, a small auspicious cloud appeared out of thin air above the Pure Soul Pond where Chen Zhou had been standing, with golden light flowing and auspicious qi swirling in a thousand strands.
At this, even the young man who had been sitting in meditation, seemingly isolated from the world, snapped his eyes open.
He stared intently at that auspicious cloud. "Auspicious clouds encircling the body, guarded by an auspicious god?"
He muttered in shock, "In this world, can there still exist someone born with the Guardian Auspicious God Destiny?"
His gaze was locked onto that auspicious cloud, his eyes filled with envy.
"This kid... truly has immense luck. With a guardian auspicious god protecting his life, nothing should go wrong in this battle."
He sighed softly. "If only the Lord could have had a guardian auspicious god back then..."
The young man did not continue, but both the woman and the middle-aged man understood the deep meaning in his words. Both fell silent, letting out long, drawn-out sighs.
The atmosphere became somewhat heavy for a moment.
Meanwhile, within the battlefield, Chen Zhou was unaware of what was happening outside.
He only knew that after several lucky, almost eerie dodges that saved him from the giant claw’s killing moves, he had succeeded.
By relying on the powerful control of the Hate Prison and the defense-ignoring burn of the Hate Fire, he had finally worn down and killed this tenacious, demonic severed claw.
Boom!
The massive severed claw completely disintegrated within the Hate Fire, exploding into two dazzling spheres of light.
Chen Zhou gestured with his hand, pulling the spheres of light into his grasp.
【You have obtained a sliver of broken divinity — destruction】
【You have obtained a sliver of broken divinity — decay】
"Not bad, two bits of divinity secured." Chen Zhou nodded with satisfaction; this endeavor was definitely worth it.
The remains of the severed claw were also gathered into his ghost domain. For sixth-stage flesh and blood, it was a decent gain.
After Chen Zhou finished gathering his spoils, the battlefield before his eyes shattered like a mirror, and he returned once more to the front of the Pure Soul Pond.
Just as Chen Zhou settled the qi within his body, a torrent of ancient memories flooded into his mind.
It was a vast legacy as boundless as the sea—majestic and profound, as if crossing eternal time and space to imprint itself directly onto the depths of his soul.
The core of this legacy concerned the use of faith.
In Chen Zhou’s understanding, faith had always been quantified by the system as Evil God Points, a currency used for shopping and upgrading buildings.
But at this moment, this legacy revealed another, more fundamental use for the power of faith.
【Divine Path Authority: Faith Conferment (Fragmentary)】
The legacy's true name thundered in Chen Zhou’s sea of consciousness.
It told Chen Zhou that faith was not just cold numbers.
The divine path originates from the Way of Humanity.
It is the bloodline flowing through the mortal world, the condensation of the thoughts, prayers, awe, and hopes of all living beings.
It is a vast river of stars woven from the light of billions of souls.
Gods are not isolated beings that stand above all life for no reason.
They are born from the resonance of world rules, originating from the laws and principles etched deep within all things since the dawn of creation.
They take shape according to the thoughts of the masses, their foundations rooted deep within the myriad spirits inhabiting this world.
If a god is willing to listen to the sorrows and joys of the mortal world, willing to carry the expectations of all beings, and willing to protect this realm with divine might...
Then, the Way of Humanity will respond generously, willingly gathering its light of thoughts and power of prayers into a river to be entrusted to the god.
Gaining the wishes of all beings, offering one's own power.
The legacy's Divine Path Authority was divided into two aspects.
First: 【Divine Grace for Self-Use】.
The legacy allowed the burning of the power of faith contributed by believers—namely, Evil God Points—in a special way to greatly amplify one's own power in a short time.
This enhancement was comprehensive.
Strength, speed, mental power, techniques, and even control over the ghost domain and death qi would all experience a qualitative leap.
It was like a short-term burst state, though the cost was the consumption of massive amounts of Evil God Points.
Second: 【Conferring upon Believers】.
This was a more exquisite use. The legacy could connect one's own divine power with the faith of a believer, consuming faith to bestow a divine seal upon them.
The effect of the conferment would change based on the believer's level of devotion and their own abilities.
For example, for a Devout Believer, a bestowed divine seal could grant them stronger attack and defense in battle.
For a Fanatic Believer, it could allow them to briefly borrow a sliver of his power, unleashing combat strength far beyond their own realm.
As for a Saint like Jian Huaishuang, the effect of the conferment would be even more powerful, potentially allowing him to break through the limits of his stage for a short duration.
"I see..." Chen Zhou slowly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing within them before vanishing. "This is what the means of a true god should be."
The system quantified faith, but this legacy taught him how to transform those quantified numbers into real combat power.
The harvest from this fishing trip was far more precious than several sets of sixth-stage materials.
He looked up at the three figures still fishing in the distance, his gaze becoming complex.
Who—or what—exactly were these people?
And how many such divine path legacies were buried within this Wanchuan pond they guarded?
"Youngster, how do you feel?"
The woman’s voice came again, carrying a hint of a smile. "The things in my Pure Soul Pond are relatively mild, aren't they?"
Chen Zhou suppressed the shock in his heart and cupped his hands toward her again. "Thank you for your guidance, senior. I have benefited greatly."
"Don't mention it." She waved her hand. "You still have one more chance. Whether you stop while you’re ahead and leave now, or take another gamble—that’s entirely up to you."
"But I suggest you try the fifth-stage Wanchuan pond. You’ve already used up your sixth-stage opportunity. Although the harvest in the fifth-stage pond won't be as great, at least you won't leave empty-handed."
The woman looked toward a further pond and offered sincere advice.
Chen Zhou’s gaze followed hers.
Having the experience of the first time, he knew that each catch was not just divinity and materials.
It was also a test, and a corresponding legacy that went with it.
The sixth-stage Pure Soul Pond yielded a remnant corpse of the three transformations of eerification, granting the 【Divine Path Authority】 regarding the use of faith.
So, what about the higher-stage ones?
Chen Zhou felt that he still had strength to spare, and now that he had gained a burst ability, wouldn't it be a waste not to try and surpass his limits?
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