On Divine Temple Mountain, flowers blossomed.
Not the disordered, chaotic Black Flower, but pure white flowers that symbolized light and hope.
The pitch-dark color atop the mountain had been swept away, and the ancient talismans with their obscure, archaic script at the foundation of the Ancient Temple no longer had a purpose.
Because Gu Shen had devoured every last "Black Flower" on the entire mountaintop by himself.
Including that flower bed.
Gu Shen squatted in front of the flower bed, reached out with his palm, and effortlessly plucked the last "Black Flower" atop the mountain, swathed in Blazing Flame. He didn’t directly eat it but quietly watched the writhing strand of black, twisting matter in his palm.
He had consumed all the Black Flowers on Divine Temple Mountain’s summit.
A year ago, such a thing seemed unimaginable... Although Gu Shen had some expectations of Chi Huo’s "growth attributes," he hadn’t predicted that the little guy’s appetite would expand so swiftly.
This was a good thing.
The larger the appetite, the more Extraordinary Essence it could store.
Not only did Gu Shen’s own Extraordinary Cultivation rely on Extraordinary Essence, but the expansion of his Spiritual World and the nourishment of seeds also required a vast amount of Extraordinary Essence for support.
Compared to the start, Chi Huo had grown from a tiny wisp to the size of half a fist.
When fully materialized, Gu Shen’s forehead would be shrouded and covered by a large mass of Blazing Flame.
It looked, in fact, somewhat like a "Divine Crown," strikingly dazzling.
Li Qingci squatted in front of the flower bed.
With a smile brimming in her eyes, she looked at the last Black Flower and softly remarked, "I truly hadn’t expected that in just one year, the summit of Divine Temple Mountain could be restored to its original state."
Since the condition of Divine Temple Mountain began to improve.
Li Qingci’s complexion also improved a lot... She no longer utilized the Prayer Technique so frequently; her entire being’s spirit slowly recuperated over time. Now, she no longer looked gaunt or frail.
He twirled the Black Flower and slowly ate it... With this, the final strand of black on the mountaintop was vanquished. Even though after standing up and looking down, he could still see large swaths of black, the entire Divine Temple Mountain Territory remained covered with Black Flowers as far as the eye could see.
But at least now... the summit was "snow-white."
After clearing away the Black Flowers, without much planting, white flowers had sprouted up in the flower bed.
This mountain of despair began to nurture hope.
These snow-white flowers were no longer withering overnight... Among them, a few had sprung up a month ago and still stood tall and full of vitality.
Gu Shen and Li Qingci entered the ancient house.
In the four corners, three Copper Human Lamps were already in place: the "Joy Lamp," the "Lamp of Sorrow," and the "Joy Lamp" with just the "Anger Lamp" remaining... The wavering flame, albeit still illusive, was now filled with hope.
The smooth progress of the [Lamp Hunt] was well beyond Gu Shen’s initial expectations.
At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before the last Copper Human Lamp would be found.
The two walked out of the ancient house.
Li Qingci earnestly said, "Divine Temple Mountain owes its current state to Mr. Xiao Gu’s assistance..."
Gu Shen waved his hand dismissively with just a smile.
Through the Spiritual Link, Chu Ling’s voice came through.
"Someone has entered the ’Divine Temple Territory,’ a stranger."
As the Divine Embryo gradually awakened.
Chu Ling’s consciousness could now ignore the Spiritual blockade of "Divine Temple Mountain" and directly connect with Gu Shen.
No sooner had her voice sounded.
Li Qingci’s brow furrowed... As the Protector of Divine Temple Mountain, she had a complete view of the entire territory, the sole entrance being Highway 447. Over the past year, the only people that had entered this realm were her sister, Uncle Gao, and Gu Shen.
Li Qingci’s voice took on a tinge of nervousness.
As the Protector who cultivated the Prayer Technique, her intuition was very sharp... Perhaps due to the "extra gift" of this Forbidden Technique, whenever anything significant was about to happen, she could always vaguely sense it.
The visitor stepped into the territory and headed straight for Divine Temple Mountain.
Gu Shen and Li Qingci went down the mountain to meet the newcomer.
They met at the foot of the mountain.
The visitor was a middle-aged man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, his face strong and valiant. Upon seeing Li Qingci, he looked at Gu Shen next to her with some surprise... The middle-aged man produced a talisman, affirming his identity.
"Fourteenth Elder, Li Xuan."
Gu Shen stood quietly beside Li Qingci, saying nothing, glancing sideways to gauge her reaction...
Li Qingci appeared somewhat at a loss, clearly not recognizing this so-called "Fourteenth Elder."
Long ago, she had entered Divine Temple Mountain, and after becoming a Protector, she ceased to pay attention to the outside world.
From her reaction, it seemed this man must be a newly promoted elder of the Li Family.
Gu Shen found it puzzling... What exactly had happened?
If it were a minor matter, why bother to notify the "Protector" of Divine Temple Mountain?
If it were a major issue requiring the "Protector" of Divine Temple Mountain’s attention, then why send a newly minted elder?
An idea suddenly occurred to him about what Uncle Gao had mentioned a year ago...
"The illness of the Family Master... has reached its final stage..."
Li Xuan spoke, his tone wooden, the words that should have been filled with sorrow lacked any emotional fluctuation in his voice.