Divine Transcendence

After examining the black incense with his divine consciousness, Yuan Ming found that it still had no spiritual power fluctuations. Just like his previous research, there should be no spiritual materials in the ingredients. Even so, there were countless types of mundane objects in the world, how could he be certain?

He carefully recalled every detail of the two previous instances when he had lit the incense and possessed a body.

Yuan Ming sat quietly, not eating or drinking, as if he had lost his mind.

One day, two days, three days.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Dragging his weary body, Yuan Ming got up to open the door. Wu Sang walked in and happily said, "I have identified another ingredient this time, it’s very similar to pine wood powder."

"Similar to pine wood powder? I see, thank you for your hard work, Mr. Wu Sang." Yuan Ming nodded, but there was no joy on his face.

In his previous hundreds of attempts, he had already added pine wood powder.

Even if it was pine wood powder, what difference would it make?

"Yuan, forgive my frankness, this black incense may seem ordinary at first glance, but after my exploration, I believe it’s extraordinary. As long as you put more thought and time into it, you will eventually succeed. Don’t be too anxious." Wu Sang comforted.

If he had been helping Yuan Ming purely for money before, at this moment, he had truly developed a strong interest in the mysterious black incense. The appearance of the black incense had reignited his desire to win.

Yuan Ming forced a smile. His time away from the sect was limited, and he couldn’t stay in Jiuli Temple for long.

Once he returned to the sect, it would be almost impossible to purchase countless incense-making materials for experiments. Plus, he had many other things to do, so there was no hope of successfully replicating the incense in the short term.

Forget it, forget it, it’s time to return to the sect.

"My friend, heed my advice. You seem a bit impatient. Incense making is a slow and meticulous process. Why not go out and clear your mind, then come back when you’re calm? Today is the annual Dog Tooth God Festival in the temple, you can go and pay your respects." Seeing Yuan Ming silent, Wu Sang hesitated before speaking.

Yuan Ming was not interested in these mundane worships of gods and spirits, and did not believe they truly existed.

He shook his head, about to refuse, but then swallowed his words.

To the common people, wasn’t he, a cultivator, also considered a god in the legends?

"The Dog Tooth God resides in the Cloud Palace and can observe everything. If you pray sincerely, perhaps he can cast his gaze upon you and help you with your incense making." Seeing Yuan Ming wavering, Wu Sang added, "Can the Dog Tooth God help me?" Yuan Ming asked with a hint of mockery.

"Sincerity is the key, why not give it a try?" Wu Sang said with a smile.

"Hehe, I’ve been staying in the temple for several days, it’s only right that I offer some incense." Yuan Ming also laughed. He had indeed been somewhat obsessed with incense making these past few days, almost to the point of madness. Watching their superstitious rituals might help him clear his mind and calm his emotions.

So, under Wu Sang’s guidance, he came to the main hall and found that there were noticeably more people offering incense today than usual.

In front of the statue of the Dog Tooth God, a ritual platform had been set up. A temple priest wearing a ceremonial robe and a tiger head mask was dancing on it. Sometimes he waved his hands, sometimes he stomped his feet, and sometimes he knelt down to worship the statue of the Dog Tooth God.

Yuan Ming knew that this was a dance to honor the gods in the Southern Border, only performed during grand celebrations or festivals.

"The ceremony is currently in progress." Wu Sang explained softly.

Yuan Ming nodded slightly and joined the crowd offering incense.

On the offering table in front of the statue of the Dog Tooth God, bundles of incense sticks were inserted. The rising smoke obscured the face of the Dog Tooth God, adding a sense of mystery.

Batch after batch of Southern Border people came forward to offer incense and pray sincerely. The entire courtyard was enveloped in a solemn atmosphere. Yuan Ming, standing among them, couldn’t help but feel moved.

He recalled the scene he had seen outside the City God Temple when he had possessed Wang Shun’s body, where the common people were praying for blessings. He seemed to have experienced the same indescribable emotions that day.

He looked at the people of the Southern Border around him, their faces solemn and their expressions devout. Some held their hands together at their foreheads, others held their fists at their chests. It seemed that they all had something to ask for, and they all revered the gods sincerely.

As the crowd surged, one worshipper after another took turns to offer incense to the statue, kneel in worship, and then leave.

Everything was orderly, without anyone needing to say or do anything. Everyone followed the rules and dared not show any disrespect to the gods.

Yuan Ming also moved forward with the crowd.

Unlike others, what he held in his hand was a stick of incense that he had made himself. After lighting it on a candle, it emitted a slightly unique fragrance with its white smoke.

Yuan Ming imitated the common people, pressing the incense against his forehead and bowing three times to the statue of the Dog Tooth God before inserting it into the incense burner.

Because he used a bit too much force, both of his little fingers were completely pressed into the incense burner, getting quite a bit of ash on them.

After inserting the incense stick, Yuan Ming held his fists at his heart, knelt on the cushion, and bowed his head in prayer while silently praying in his heart for his parents’ safety, successful cultivation, and the ability to turn misfortune into fortune.

Strangely enough, after going through this ritual, Yuan Ming’s original restlessness and impatience disappeared. It was as if his soul had been soothed and his mind had become surprisingly calm.

When he finished his final bow and raised his head, his gaze involuntarily fell on the statue of the Dog Tooth God on the high platform.

At this moment, the statue was surrounded by smoke, and its face was even more blurred under the cover of the smoke.

Just as he was lost in thought, the people of the Southern Border behind him were already quietly urging him to move.

After getting up, Yuan Ming walked towards the temple gate.Wu Sang was standing there waiting.

"How did it go? Did you receive any revelation from the Canine Tooth God?" Wu Sang asked.

Yuan Ming didn’t speak, he just shook his head.

"Perhaps the time isn’t right, or maybe the Canine Tooth God hasn’t felt your sincerity yet." Wu Sang glanced at Yuan Ming, implying something with his sigh.

Sincerity leads to success, and money gets things done?

"Perhaps... Wu Sang, have you ever heard the guidance of the Canine Tooth God?" Yuan Ming asked back.

"The Canine Tooth God never speaks to people, but his guidance is in the rustling wind, in the surging clouds, in the stars of the night, in the dreams of the lost." Wu Sang was taken aback, then shook his head and laughed. This was something he had always heard from the temple priest, and it came out naturally.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ming neither agreed nor disagreed, "No matter how beautifully you praise the gods, they can’t hear you. If the gods were effective, you wouldn’t have lost everything and be hiding here!"

Wu Sang’s smile disappeared instantly, he muttered, "No, no, it’s because I’m not devout enough..."

Just then, a crisp and pleasant bell sound rang out. The sound was very penetrating, as if it could strike the soul directly.

Yuan Ming looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tall figure wearing a dog-headed mask and a ragged robe stitched with various colored strips. He was holding a brass bell in one hand and a delicate brass sword in the other, hopping and jumping his way over from outside.

"Brother Ga Long is about to perform the exorcism dance, make way for him." Wu Sang said, pulling Yuan Ming aside to avoid him.

The people in the temple also scattered to the sides, leaving the central area open.

The masked Ga Long hopped into the center of the square, chanting unintelligible prayers while dancing and ringing the bell.

Yuan Ming understood the language of the Southern Border, but he couldn’t understand the unique rhythm and tone of the prayers. However, the slow ringing of the bell struck his heart one after another.

It reminded him of the Bi Luo Cave and the soul-captivating silver bell.

After watching for a while, Yuan Ming was about to leave, but was stopped by Wu Sang.

"Once you start watching the exorcism dance, you must watch it to the end. This is a rare moment when the Canine Tooth God descends. Leaving now is taboo and will bring bad luck." Wu Sang said seriously.

"I don’t believe it." Yuan Ming said.

Would a gambler who had already bet his soul truly have a devout heart?

Thinking of this, Yuan Ming couldn’t help but chuckle.

Amid the rhythm of the prayers and the bell, Yuan Ming slowly focused his gaze on the incense burner on the altar.

The long incense sticks inside were slowly emitting smoke, and the burnt incense ash was slowly falling, settling in the incense burner. The incense burner on the altar had accumulated nearly a hundred years of incense ash!

He couldn’t help but clench his fist, feeling the incense ash that had just touched his skin.

At this moment, a flash of insight seemed to pass through Yuan Ming’s mind like electricity.

That insight completely controlled Yuan Ming’s thoughts and dominated his body. The next moment, he stepped forward, his body moving like a swimming fish, passing by the dancing Ga Long. Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, he arrived at the side of the incense table.

Ga Long also stopped his dance involuntarily, while Wu Sang was too stunned to react.

Ignoring the reactions of others, Yuan Ming inserted a finger into the incense burner. The storage ring on his finger shone brightly as he collected some incense ash, then he turned and ran out of the square, disappearing from everyone’s sight in a puff of smoke.

The hall was silent for a moment, then erupted into chaos.

The worshippers had various expressions, some were confused, some were angry and accusatory, some knelt down to pray, begging for the gods’ forgiveness.

Everyone was puzzled by what the young man had done and why he had suddenly acted this way. Some people began to curse in low voices.

Ga Long had never seen such a situation before, he was stiff, not knowing whether to continue dancing or not.

Wu Sang, not wanting his benefactor to be expelled, temporarily put aside his devotion to the gods and stepped forward to say loudly:

"Everyone, don’t panic. He may have been guided by the gods. This is the blessing of the Canine Tooth God, descending once again."

Upon hearing this, the crowd stopped their anger and began to kneel and pray. Ga Long breathed a sigh of relief, continued to shake the brass bell in his hand, and began to dance again, chanting under his breath.

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