Wandering Gods of Day and Night

However, with one Divine Status in his possession, it's still manageable. The other gods wouldn't dare to seize it.

But if he has too many Divine Statuses, the temptation becomes overwhelming; at least half of the other gods would make a move to snatch them."

Lord Jian added, "With a Divine Status in hand, one obtains the power to choose a god. If one's intentions are impure, favoring only close allies, they could select themselves a powerful helper. Who at the Heavenly Dome God Level wouldn't want a good ally?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan asked, "So your point is that Gong Zheng can only hold one Divine Status. Then who shall take the Divine Statuses of Ghost Hand and Peng Hou?"

"The Nuo God," Lord Jian replied. "Once Ghost Hand and Peng Hou fall, the Divine Statuses will be delivered by me and Lord Jian to the Zhou Family Ancestor Tree. The Ancestor Tree will naturally pass them on to the Nuo God."

With two Divine Statuses in the hands of the Nuo God, who at the Heavenly Dome Level would dare contend for them?

"Then why not hand all three Divine Statuses to the Nuo God? Why bother giving one to Gong Zheng?"

"Why does the Nuo God remain dormant? It is because His power is too immense. The restrictions of heaven and earth on Jing Country Continent don't allow Him to fully awaken. He can only rise during the most critical moments.

A Divine Status itself is an exceedingly potent force. If the Nuo God absorbs too many, His power would grow even further, potentially causing the continent's restrictions to make His awakening impossible. If this realm were without the protection of the last Heavenly God, would Buddha Country still invade in secret? No, they'd launch a full-scale assault."

Zhou Xuan found the argument compelling.

Three hundred years ago, during Buddha Country's first invasion, wasn't it likely a test of the Nuo God's prowess?

With just a storyteller's mask, the Nuo God blitzed nine hundred leagues and shattered the Three-headed Stone Buddha, proving to Buddha Country that this Fate God was someone not to be trifled with.

If the Nuo God cannot awaken, Jing Country will lack its most crucial shield, and the Buddha Country inhabitants would show the kind of cruelty Jing Country could hardly imagine.

"In that case, let's not burden the Nuo God too much."

Zhou Xuan said, "Follow your and Lord Jiu's plan. Deliver Ghost Hand's Divine Status to the Zhou Family Ancestor Tree, which will send it to the Nuo God. As for Peng Hou's Divine Status, I'll keep it."

"You'll keep it?"

Lord Jian was visibly surprised. While the Divine Status might seem like a prized treasure, in truth, it was a troublesome burden.

With only two sticks of incense's worth of power, Zhou Xuan insisting on holding onto the Divine Status would certainly attract a horde of gods eager to seize it. Gods are difficult to deal with. Even if they send Daoists, Zhou Xuan might not be able to endure it.

"Don't worry, Lord Jian. Try touching my forehead."

Though reluctant, Lord Jian extended his right hand, using his middle finger to press against Zhou Xuan's brow, his Perception probing deep.

Zhou Xuan did not resist and allowed Lord Jian's Perception to penetrate.

As soon as his Perception entered the Secret Realm, Peng Sheng's aura naturally blocked Lord Jian's exploration.

"Eight sticks of incense! What's hidden in your Secret Realm?"

"The youngest High Priest of the Tattoo Clan—Peng Sheng." Zhou Xuan smiled.

Lord Jian finally understood and said, "Xuan, I get it now. You want to let Peng Hou's Divine Status remain at the Tattoo Hall, but he's only a Divine Soul without a physical body. He can safeguard your Divine Status from being seized but cannot use it to become the next Great Ancestor of the Tattoo Hall."

"As for the physical body, that can be arranged."

Zhou Xuan's Secret Realm still housed Miss Qiang, and crafting physical bodies was this Jing Country originator of Blood and Flesh Mysteries' specialty.

Even Bone Elder was a manufactured creation.

"Alright, Peng Hou's Divine Status can stay with you."

With someone willing to spread the burden of the Divine Status, preventing the Nuo God from absorbing excessive power, Lord Jian couldn't have hoped for a better arrangement. Now that Zhou Xuan had volunteered, someone with a reliable reputation, Lord Jian wouldn't refuse.

"Then it's settled. I'll first fetch Ghost Hand's physical body and then summon Peng Hou."

Zhou Xuan embarked on another day trip, this time heading to East River Town.

...

In the floodwaters of East River Town lay Ghost Hand's corpse.

Lord Jiu stood amidst the Bright Moon's reflection, pointing his finger toward a paper banner. The banner, covering half of East River Town, extended a crimson tongue that slithered into Ghost Hand's body, retrieving a radiant golden branch from within.

This was Ghost Hand's Divine Status.

Lord Jiu stretched out his hand, letting the tongue toss the Divine Status into the air, where it landed securely in his palm.

"Everyone, since this Divine Status is of great importance, I won't stand on ceremony. I'll deliver it directly to the Nuo God."

He flicked a finger at the Bright Moon's reflection, and the golden branch disappeared into it. When it emerged, it was already resting in the Zhou Family Ancestor Tree.

The Zhou Family's willow extended countless branches, cradled the Divine Status, and emitted a radiant glow before absorbing it into its trunk.

Zhou Lingyi smiled bitterly. "Now that the Ancestor Tree has received the Divine Status, it's grown stronger, but the Nuo God is even less likely to awaken."

"Master Zhou, do not overly despair. With just one Divine Status, the Nuo God can manage."

"My little brother intends to claim one Divine Status as well. His ambition is certainly vast." Zhou Lingyi thought of Zhou Xuan and smiled.

If both Divine Statuses were claimed by the Ancestor Tree, who knows how difficult it would be for the Nuo God to awaken.

"It's fortunate my apprentice is here. His appetite is big; he can definitely handle it."

Understanding an apprentice better than anyone,

Yuan Buyu said, "I've figured out my apprentice thoroughly. The things he does may seem unconventional, but he always has a plan. If he aims to take a Divine Status, he'll be able to succeed. Master Zhou, rest assured."

"Indeed, I have no doubts."

...

Lord Jiu delivered Ghost Hand's Divine Status into the Zhou Family's troupe.

Following that, Zhou Xuan embarked on another day trip.

"Gentlemen, I'm taking Ghost Hand's corpse now. Don't mind me."

Zhou Xuan clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.

The surrounding You Shen from the Ping Shui and Mingjiang prefectures had no objections. To them, without Zhou Xuan, how could two God-level beings manifest?

Without Zhou Xuan, Mo Tingsheng's plans would likely have succeeded long ago. Both publicly and privately, the Divine Corpse's rightful owner was naturally Zhou Xuan.

Bolstered by the surrounding You Shen's support, Zhou Xuan summoned the Blood Well to feast voraciously.

But this time, something unusual occurred. Divine Revelation Black Water, which had always consumed sacrifices by taking only bones and avoiding blood and flesh, changed its behavior.

In Zhou Xuan's view, Black Water had no need for flesh,

Yet this time, Black Water, representing the Nuo God's will, and the Blood Well jointly began to devour Ghost Hand's flesh and blood.

"Black Water, you traitor with thick brows and big eyes, even you've turned?"

Zhou Xuan was mid-reproach when Miss Qiang interjected, "Ah Xuan, your Lantern Bride, as your guide, has completed her mission and vanished. You've successfully completed the advancement ritual for your second stick of incense, though it hasn't entirely burned down yet."

"What does this mean for Black Water and the Blood Well?"

"They're using this God-level flesh and blood to assist your ascent in Incense Fire Levels."

"So this means I'm ascending to the third stick of incense now?" Zhou Xuan pondered but felt something was off.

He was already close to reaching the third stick of incense. If God-level flesh and blood could only accomplish this, wouldn't the utilization rate be quite low?

"The Well God and Black Water God are aiming for something we cannot fathom. Let's quietly observe; there might be unexpected surprises…"

Miss Qiang suggested.