"You recognize this?"

Slightly surprised, Li Tan looked down at Qi Xiu. He suddenly understood why, after waiting so many years, he had ended up with a small Dao-Entering Realm cultivator.

He really is somewhat out of the ordinary.

Gazing at the extremely beautiful features on Li Tan's face, Qi Xiu slowly nodded, "You could say we've met once before."

Back when he first arrived in the An'ning Holy Nation, he had once used the Observing Qi Skill in the grand hall of a county city's Golden Flower Maternal Sect temple and accidentally glimpsed the visage of the Golden Flower Old Mother.

If not for the protection of Human Path Merit that time... My eyes would likely have been blinded.

This alone was enough to show the terror of this Outer Realm Evil God.

And now, half of Li Tan's face bore the visage of the Golden Flower Old Mother. What exactly was the relationship between this man and the Golden Flower Old Mother? He claimed to be the Golden Flower Sect Leader. So why did it later become the havoc-wreaking Golden Flower Maternal Sect? What was the reason for this single-character difference?

"A chance encounter… and you're still alive, still yourself. My friend, you truly surprise me."

"Let's not rush the compliments; we don't have much time."

As he spoke, Qi Xiu subconsciously glanced over his shoulder. The unease in his heart and his perception of danger kept him constantly vigilant of the great door behind him.

It felt as if, in the next second, the source of the danger would cross that threshold and descend upon this place!

"Indeed, time is pressing, so I'll be brief. I was originally a wandering cultivator who, by chance, received the inheritance of the Middle-Ages Demon Sect All Things Path, and with it, I founded the Golden Flower Sect. I thought I could establish a sect and ensure its continuation, passing down the lineage of the All-Things Dao. Little did I know, it was the beginning of a nightmare."

Recalling the experiences from many years ago, a hint of fear and alarm still involuntarily flickered in Li Tan's eyes.

Years ago, he was an elder of a minor sect called the Heavenly Wolf Sect. While traveling, he accidentally discovered a cave guarded by a spiritual beast. After a hard fight, he slew the Exotic Beast and entered the cave. After navigating countless twists and turns, he arrived at an extraordinary place blooming with endless golden flowers. There, he obtained a scroll of the "Myriad Foster Origin True Scripture" and a treasure strategy.

"A treasure strategy?" Qi Xiu's eyes flickered.

"Mm, a treasure strategy that, for all cultivators under the heavens, even for the entire Cultivation Realm, could indeed be deemed top secret. It recorded another path, completely different from the current cultivation paths. Moreover, this path was more stable, safer. It's called… the 'Deification Grand Canon'!"

'Deification Grand Canon'? Could it be… using the power of incense and faith as the cultivation path?

Hearing the words "Deification Grand Canon," Qi Xiu's first thought was of the young County Magistrates he had encountered before he had even entered the Dao—people like Song Tingye and Li Jiufang.

Previously, he had discussed it with Tai Yin. Initially, the two of them speculated that these people were using a special Dharma Gate to cultivate rapidly by harnessing Human Path Merit. But later, while Qi Xiu was perusing ancient texts in the Shenxiao Sect's library, he had come across similar cultivation techniques.

These types of techniques were collectively referred to as the Incense God Path!

Those who cultivated the Incense God Path were utterly different from normal cultivators. They didn't rely on True Scriptures and Cultivation Techniques as their foundation, nor did they cultivate by absorbing nature's spiritual energy. Instead, they gathered the power of incense and Votive Force as their cultivation resources.

These individuals cultivated at an extremely fast pace, even surpassing those on the Demonic Path. As long as the Votive Force from incense was sufficient, one could potentially achieve a Dao Body in a single day.

But unlike cultivators who solely sought the Great Dao and aspired to a carefree existence, these Incense cultivators were firmly bound to a specific place due to the power of incense and Votive Force. After all, their power came from the vast faith of sentient beings. Once that faith crumbled, their power would dissipate, vanishing like a fleeting illusion. Therefore, they would do everything possible to solidify their current incense offerings while continuing to develop their faith.

The ultimate goal of a cultivator is to ascend in broad daylight and become an immortal on the spot.

But for these Incense cultivators, their limit… was to become a god!

So when Li Tan mentioned the "Deification Grand Canon," Qi Xiu quickly made the connection.

"You know about it too?" Surprise deepened in Li Tan's eyes. He suddenly realized he might have truly underestimated this young friend. "My friend, you are indeed well-versed and knowledgeable. That's right, this 'Deification Grand Canon,' as you said, follows the path of gathering the power of incense and Votive Force to achieve godhood through a physical body. When I obtained the 'Myriad Foster Origin True Scripture,' I had already been trapped in the Blood-Stained Realm for seven hundred forty-three years. If I couldn't break through to the Dao Body Realm before the age of eight hundred, my lifespan would be exhausted. I would have no choice but to reincarnate and start all over again.

Left with no alternative, I began to try cultivating that 'Deification Grand Canon.' Aided by the various divine marvels of the 'Myriad Foster Origin True Scripture,' I quickly garnered my first measure of the power of incense and Votive Force. Under this power, which I had never seen or experienced before, I truly felt the long-sealed shackles loosen ever so slightly. From that moment, the idea of creating my own sect began to take root. Since both these methods were obtained in that Sea of Golden Flowers, I named the sect I created the Golden Flower Sect.

After founding the sect, I traveled far and wide, personally writing its doctrines. I led the disciples to punish evil and eliminate wickedness, ensuring the lands under our protection yielded bountiful harvests and enjoyed favorable weather. The incense offerings grew ever more potent and vibrant. But just as I had accumulated enough power of incense and Votive Force and was preparing to break through to the Dao Body Realm… she appeared."

"The Golden Flower Old Mother?" Qi Xiu furrowed his brows slightly.

"Mm, her appearance completely changed my fate. And it was only then I realized that my good fortune in obtaining the 'Myriad Foster Origin True Scripture' and the 'Deification Grand Canon' was actually all her arrangement. An Outer Realm Evil God needs an identity to set foot in the Home Realm. Otherwise, once detected by the Will of Heaven, it would be immediately devoured and assimilated; no matter how strong the Outer Realm Evil God, it could not escape.

And I was the pitiful soul chosen by the Golden Flower Old Mother. In the 'Myriad Foster Origin True Scripture' and the 'Deification Grand Canon,' the Golden Flower Old Mother had long since embedded a backdoor method. I couldn't even resist before I became her puppet. After that, she began modifying my doctrines, brainwashing my disciples. She turned my Golden Flower Sect into the Golden Flower Maternal Sect, gradually transforming it into the hideous mockery it is today. The reason she went to such great lengths to arrange all this was to completely seize my identity, thereby allowing her to descend upon this Home Realm!"

Slowly recounting his helpless and tragic life, Li Tan's starkly defined eyes stared intently at Qi Xiu.

"I can feel it. In no more than two years, she will have completely taken over my identity and will legally descend into this Home Realm. But while I was suppressed and unconscious, a voice kept reminding me. It said someone would come to find me, and that would be my last chance. Young friend, I believe that person is you."

After listening to Li Tan's entire story, Qi Xiu narrowed his eyes slightly, "So you want me to kill you, to break the Golden Flower Old Mother's encroachment and divestment of your 'identity'."

"That's right. Even for an Outer Realm Evil God like the Golden Flower Old Mother, it takes a very long time to erode an identity bit by bit to be recognized by the Will of Heaven. Once my identity is taken by her, it's not just a matter of life and death. My very existence will be directly erased by the Will of Heaven—a fate more tragic than having one's soul scattered to the winds. It will be as if I had never existed in this world.

Moreover, once the Golden Flower Old Mother occupies my identity and can lawfully descend into the Home Realm, not to mention Dianchuan Province, the entire Great Xuan Dynasty will likely face a catastrophe. By then, the number of dead will probably be in the billions."

Li Tan's expression was sincere and earnest. His request was not only for himself but also for the sake of countless innocent lives. To an Outer Realm Evil God like the Golden Flower Old Mother, life was merely a string of numbers. Given the current state of Dianchuan Province, when faced with such a formidable enemy, it was uncertain whether any Primordial Spirit Bosses could stand up and fight against her! After all, Primordial Spirit Bosses symbolize the foundation of great sects and are the main pillars defending their powers. If something unexpected happened in a clash with the Golden Flower Old Mother? No one would take that risk.

"If you die, are you sure it will thwart the Golden Flower Old Mother's plan?" Qi Xiu asked Li Tan, not acting rashly.

"Naturally. The Will of Heaven is boundless; any subtle change cannot escape its notice. Once I die, the Will of Heaven will sense it. If the Golden Flower Old Mother dares to encroach on my identity again, she will be detected by the Will of Heaven. At that point, even three lives wouldn't be enough for her to escape the Will of Heaven's judgment. Young friend, I, Li Tan, have done a fair number of good deeds in my time. Today, I only hope you can grant me a swift end."

Looking at Qi Xiu, Li Tan raised his hand in a salute. The process of being eroded by the Golden Flower Old Mother was more painful than being cut by a thousand knives. The feeling of watching oneself being erased bit by bit was enough to shatter one's sanity. The only reason he had held on until now was a single belief in his heart.

"Very well..." After a moment's hesitation, Qi Xiu nodded in agreement.

He was no great saint, but he also didn't wish for an evil god like the Golden Flower Old Mother to descend, causing widespread famine and turning the world into a living hell.

It seems my Broken Mirror Calamity Sequence is intended to thwart the Golden Flower Old Mother's plan of descent. And this Li Tan… he's the key to breaking this deadlock.

"Thank you, young friend." A hint of relief appeared in Li Tan's eyes as he continued, "My body has been eroded by the Golden Flower Old Mother for many years and cannot be killed by ordinary means. Young friend, do you see this golden altar beneath me? This altar was constructed by the Golden Flower Old Mother to block the Will of Heaven's surveillance. If you remove just one golden brick, the altar will instantly collapse, and I will be obliterated along with it."

Li Tan seemed to crave death, his eyes even sharpening with eagerness.

"It's that simple?" Gazing at the grand altar constructed from countless golden bricks before him, Qi Xiu slowly stepped forward.

"Yes! Any one will do."

Approaching the golden altar, which pulsed with faint streams of Divine Marvel light and had a surface that gleamed with an exquisite sheen, Qi Xiu glanced up at Li Tan on its pinnacle. He slowly bent down and pulled out a golden brick from before him.

The instant the golden brick was removed!

Qi Xiu's body shuddered violently.

Suddenly, a familiar, unbridled laugh echoed in his mind:

"HAHAHA! My young friend. You've finally been duped!"

...

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