Chapter 11: Divine Summoning
Chapter 11: Divine Summoning
At midnight, the moon was obscured and stars were sparse, making it difficult to see one’s outstretched hand.
The path beneath was steep and rugged, yet Li Yi strode along with large steps, as if walking on flat ground!
Deep within his pupils, a surging blaze still burned—dancing flames, sharp and brilliant—as though a roiling fire dragon lay dormant!
Balor’s Skull, much like the flesh of a prison dragon, was among the rare materials that could strengthen one’s Soul Origin. However, while dragon flesh focused on nourishment, Balor’s Skull excelled at refining, separating the pure from the impure!
By midnight, Li Yi had fully refined and absorbed everything stored in his belly.
The distractions, pressures, and various negative emotions in his heart seemed melted away in a blazing furnace, vanishing into smoke.
His entire soul became clear and unobstructed.
Furthermore, his body’s resistance to fire increased by about ten percent, while the night vision was merely an unexpected perk.
“My cultivation over the next half month is sure to be twice as effective!” Li Yi thought to himself, feeling impatient and walking briskly with vigorous energy.
Suddenly, a gentle female voice drifted into his ears.
The voice was calm, neither too loud nor too soft; hearing it alone evoked a sense of gentle grace.
Li Yi didn’t wish to complicate matters, yet he felt inexplicably drawn to glance over.
Instantly, his gaze stiffened!
In the hazy starlight, a woman sat cross-legged, her movements soft and methodical, seemingly arranging some kind of formation.
From her profile, her fair skin resembled fine jade, her gaze clear and bright as spring water.
Maybe it was the relaxed atmosphere, or perhaps Balor’s Skull was causing trouble; his breath hitched, and he felt a flutter in his heart.
Accustomed to Gu Yanran’s cold pride and Su Xuan’er’s biting sarcasm, this jade-carved beauty here gave him a uniquely different feeling.
If one were to quote a certain person named Gu, it would be—So pure, so genuine, so different from those flashy, pretentious ones!
Love at first sight?
Could something so romantic happen to him?
“I will pursue her!”
In an instant, he made up his mind.
Li Yi combed his hair with his hand and was about to approach. But his eyes lingered on the formation for a moment, and his expression abruptly changed, his movements freezing.
“A triple Divine Array—Crane Call, Mountain Suppression, and Sky Path! My god!” After another glance, confirming his suspicions, his face turned extremely grim. “Goodness, is this woman insane? Or… does she have some hidden confidence?”
This was not a magic array, but a Divine Array, and moreover, the highly forbidden kind—a Divine Summoning Array!
Gods existed in this world.
Famous ones like the “God of War” Yang Jian, the “Lord of the Sky” Jade Emperor, the “Karmic Flame Holy Lotus” Nezha, each possessed their own powers.
Below the gods, each also had Divine Attendants, whose abilities were similar to Mages, yet no less potent.
Their Divine Magic was certainly not inferior to Secret Arts!
For example, the Divine Magic of the God of War Yang Jian’s attendant—”Howl of the Heavens”—could fully rival “Dragon Fishing Art”!
However, Mages summoning gods was generally a major taboo.
Know this: a god is easier to invite than to send away!
When a divine will descends, it was like an unsheathed divine weapon demanding blood; sufficient tribute must be offered for the god to depart satisfied!
Otherwise, the punishment would be the summoner’s soul!
Bai Yun took a deep breath. A faint trace of determination crossed her delicate features, unwavering.
She knew she was being overly eager for quick success.
But Su Xuan’er’s rise put too much pressure on her!
Witnessing Su Xuan’er’s Spirit-God Aperture firsthand had already shaken her resolve. Recently, she heard Su Xuan’er had been chosen as Master Wu Yi’s assistant!
The stubborn resolve within Bai Yun, her unwillingness to lose, was completely ignited.
“My request is actually not too high, just for a new Bloodline Ability… it should satisfy the requirement, right?” she murmured inwardly.
She steadied her mind. Having already fasted and purified herself for three days, her spirit was at its peak.
Moreover, the “White Jade” bloodline was highly favored by gods, making it easier to obtain greater boons.
“Here goes nothing!”
Bai Yun’s lovely face, etched with fierce fighting spirit, gained an additional layer of beauty, appearing goddess-like.
She closed her eyes. Chanting sounds, clear and resonant, spread through the starless, moonless night.
Li Yi watched from afar, his expression complex.
After a while, the Divine Array brightened. Sacred Radiance spilled from the small altar at its center, like a round full moon!
_Hum!_
Li Yi’s eyes widened.
His hairs stood on end, his soul trembling faintly with the innate reverence inspired by a deity. A chill spread through his body.
Li Yi clearly sensed a vast, imposing, ancient will sweep across the sky above, like terrifying dark thunder prowling amid clouds.
Reaching the point above the altar, the divine will descended vertically. It carried the force of the collapsing sky, plunging everything into gloom, dimming the stars and moon!
Within the altar, countless rays of divine light outlined a hazy humanoid figure.
“This… is the power of a god?”
Li Yi held his breath. Even with this tiny Divine Summoning Array, the summoned divine fragment was likely less than one billionth of its whole.
Yet its oppressive might already rivaled the aura of a Dragon!
“Would the power of a god be enough for me to return?” The thought involuntarily sprang into Li Yi’s mind.
However, it probably wasn’t very likely.
Lost in these thoughts, he suddenly heard music playing in his ears—heavenly melodies that lingered sweetly, mesmerizing and enchanting.
_Gong, Shang, Jue, Zhi, Yu_—the five tones all played together, each marvelous in its own way!
High and low, light and cheerful, slow and gentle, crisp and clear, or deep and resonant—each note seemed to reach the pinnacle of pleasantness, making one ecstatic.
_Thump! Thump! Thump!_
Li Yi looked down. His heart was like an impassioned war drum, bursting with powerful vitality!
Not just his heart, but all his internal organs felt invigorated, pulsing to the music, full of life.
Even his soul seemed cleansed of evil thoughts, becoming righteous and wholesome.
Carrying the five virtues—Benevolence, Propriety, Trust, Righteousness, and Wisdom—his soul became clear, resilient, and upright, as if resonating with heaven and earth.
Li Yi knew that in such a state, his meditation speed would increase at least tenfold!
“I wonder, could I create a Dao Transformation Armament based on the rhythm in these five tones? What to name it? ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ or perhaps the more fitting ‘Sound of Music’?”
“Such thoughts might be premature…”
“Heh, does this count as ‘not having the life of an Armament Master, yet suffering the Armament Master’s afflictions’?”
His thoughts also became detailed and nimble, countless ideas flashing through his mind in an instant.
He had recognized which deity this was.
One of the Ancient Gods, the Master of Melody—Kui!
This ancient deity once stood beside Emperor Shun. The Shao music, which allegedly made Confucius forget meat’s taste for three months, originated from him.
“What tribute does this Ancient God require?” Li Yi’s eyes were doubtful, a slight frown forming on his brow.
He had some knowledge: modern gods, due to shallow accumulated faith, were more materialistic, demanding rare tangible offerings.
Ancient Gods, however, were different; their demands were often bizarre and unusual.
“Praise me!”
The spectral deity raised its head. Though it didn’t open its mouth, an authoritative voice reverberated in the minds of those present.
“Yes!”
Bai Yun bowed respectfully and drew a bamboo flute from her wide sleeves.
Her expression was visibly nervous; her pale, smooth hands trembled slightly.
“This is a new piece I composed, titled ‘Melody Amidst Bamboo’…”
Li Yi suddenly understood, nodding slightly. So this was the Master of Melody; its tribute, fittingly, was music!
Delicate jade hands holding the bamboo flute, Bai Yun’s expression held trepidation.
At this moment, she suddenly felt she had acted too hastily. The quality of this “Melody Amidst Bamboo” seemed somewhat… lacking?
But the arrow was already on the bow; she had to release it!
Her pale hand swayed, crimson lips parted, and a melodious flute sound drifted up.
Her expression also became focused, ethereal and divine.
After listening for only a short while, Li Yi involuntarily clenched his fist, internally groaning in dismay.
The melody itself wasn’t bad, but it was too simple, essentially a single phrase repeated over and over.
Yet before her stood a god of music!
Such a piece could hardly satisfy it.
Just as expected, when Bai Yun lowered the flute, the scene before her remained utterly silent.
“Praise me!”
Red light swirled on the altar. Kui’s voice sounded again.
Clearly, a sign of dissatisfaction.
Bai Yun’s face instantly turned deathly pale. Regret and despair flooded her heart!
She had only prepared this one piece! She had been far too foolish.
But now, what medicine for regret was there?
“Praise me!”
The crimson radiance deepened, flames shooting skyward. Kui’s voice grew louder! Fear gripped her heart. The sudden urge to flee gripped her.
Yet reason told her: fleeing before a divine will was a joke!
“Could it be… I die here?” Thoughts flickered through her mind; her expression began to verge on despair.
At that moment, a soft song drifted from afar:
“When will the bright moon appear? With wine I ask the azure sky…”