“Did you see it? The Power of the Divine Repository arises from within, returns to within, and thus circulates endlessly. Gradually accumulating, it strengthens the self, turning from external to internal use.”
Master Feng demonstrated to the crowd the correct method of acquiring the Power of the Divine Repository. In everyone else's eyes, the power indeed seemed to emerge from within the body. Yet Jiang Li saw differently.
In his vision, Power of Virtue was born out of emptiness, descended upon Master Feng, and then entered his body, transforming into his own strength. It matched exactly the process described in ancient scriptures—the descent of the Power of Virtue. Ordinary cultivators would never perceive such a thing.
Only those at the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, who had touched upon the path of immortality, could glimpse it. Moreover, the Power of Virtue could not be used by another; it was of exclusive nature. No wonder the followers of the Divine Repository Cult firmly believed that this strength originated from their internal “Divine Repository.”
They only ever saw the final result. Someone among them suddenly turned ashen and tried to run. That man had done many wicked deeds—murder and looting—and offended countless people.
He had only come here after hearing that this was a mysterious and powerful organization. He wanted to join so he could have a sheltering backer. As for this so-called Divine Repository Venerable, he scoffed at such nonsense.
Who would have guessed that this organization had such an outrageous way to test one’s faith? He prided himself on being skilled in escape arts; among Spirit Transformation Cultivators, few could stop him. But just as he dashed out, several Inner Members of the cult suddenly moved to block him.
Each one unleashed the Power of the Divine Repository with Spirit Transformation cultivation, and in mere moments, they caught the fleeing cultivator and slaughtered him. Then, they divided his so-called Divine Repository power among themselves. Seeing how swiftly two had been slain, the rest dared not act rashly.
Not until Master Feng was about to casually pull someone from the group did one finally step forward, claiming he believed in the Venerable of the Divine Repository and had no doubts. He killed a man—but still did not gain any Divine Repository power.
“I—I do believe in the existence of the Divine Repository Venerable!” the man hurried to insist.
“Believing in His existence is not enough,” Master Feng said with a sigh, shaking his head slightly.
“You must also believe that the Venerable is the only one. Your faith must be free of any blemish.”
Then he patted the man’s shoulder.
“But do not worry. The Divine Repository Cult is not an utterly evil Demonic Path sect that kills indiscriminately. We believe you merely need time to adapt. You’ll serve first as an outer member. Consider this a test from the Venerable, all right?”
“Yes…” the man replied weakly.
Master Feng smiled gently.
“Go wait aside for the third stage ceremony.”
Jiang Li, watching quietly, noticed what was really happening. Some of the cult members standing aside were performing “Threaded Sound Transmission,” sending their voices straight to Master Feng, whispering who to kill and who to keep. But using this technique before Jiang Li was like shouting through a trumpet—he heard every word crystal clear.
“Little Feng, kill that one.”
“Little Feng, keep this one.”
These Spirit Transformation Priests were experienced; with a single glance they could tell who half-believed, who merely pretended, and who was truly devoted. They tested four more in succession. None reacted, and none received any power.
But these were judged “faith unstable yet improvable,” so they were classified as outer members. The first-stage ceremony was proving very useful. Then came Cheng Ziqi—the one who had come in with Jiang Li.
Before killing, he asked, “Master, just now you said one must believe the Venerable is the only one—what does that mean exactly?” Master Feng put his palms together, bowed toward the towering bone statue of the Divine Repository Venerable, and answered solemnly, “Sleep, eat, marry, earn money, cultivate—all things must revolve around the Divine Repository Venerable.
All that exists is but an expression of the Venerable’s will. The Venerable is your all.”
“So even you conducting this initiation rite right now—is that also the Venerable’s will?”
“All of it is the manifestation of the Venerable’s will.”
Jiang Li frowned slightly. The standard for joining this Divine Repository Cult was absurdly high. To think that one had to possess such fanatical enlightenment!
Even if he admitted this so-called Venerable existed, there was no way he would believe that everything he did was inseparable from Him. Moreover, why must the Power of Virtue come through this “Venerable”? What kind of mysterious immortal was behind this?
A bold suspicion began to form in Jiang Li’s mind—one so outrageous that even he didn’t want to believe it. Cheng Ziqi seemed to have some realization. He decisively killed a man, and golden light wrapped around him.
He was the first among them to gain the Divine Repository Power. All the Spirit Transformation Priests smiled slightly. At last, a good seedling appeared.
Next was Jiang Li. Every priest could see that this “Long Li” fellow before them didn’t believe in the Divine Repository Venerable at all—he didn’t even bother pretending. Still, the ceremony couldn’t be interrupted.
The priests exchanged silent agreement: as soon as this man finished his killing, they would strike together and cut down this faithless bastard who dared to mock the Venerable. Good… he’s killed… now make a move—wait. How does he have the Power of the Divine Repository?!
For the first time, the priests doubted their eyesight. After Jiang Li’s killing, Divine Repository Power actually appeared on him! Of course, Jiang Li had Power of Virtue stored up.
He had taken plenty after that old man exploded into a sphere of light. Though he couldn’t use it directly, it was enough to make a convincing show. Then came the little girl—Ji Kongkong.
Earlier, during the first ceremony, she had been doodling, playing with knotted string, and even napping. There was no way she truly believed in any Divine Repository Venerable. The priests opened their Divine Senses wide, determined to witness her kill without gaining power.
They refused to believe they could be fooled twice! But they watched in disbelief as radiant light—the Divine Repository Power—burst forth, wrapping Ji Kongkong across her body.
“You… passed,” Master Feng said, looking conflicted.
Ji Kongkong looked dazed. She hadn’t even touched her knife. How did she pass?
Because she was cute?
“Hehe, this is the Free Illusion Tribulation—it lets one undergoing tribulation freely enter illusion realms,” the Ruyi Gourd said proudly through Threaded Sound Transmission.
“I just threw them into a shared illusion where they saw you gaining the Power of Virtue.”
“You’re amazing, Gourd.”
Ji Kongkong’s little mouth opened in awe, and she patted the purple-skinned Ruyi Gourd.
“I’m telling you,” the gourd preened, “follow me and you can wander the world as you please, do whatever you want!”
Ji Kongkong’s eyes sparkled.
“Are you as powerful as Human Emperor Jiang?”
That was her greatest wish—to become as strong as Jiang Li.
“... Why do you think I’m not at my master’s side right now but here instead?”
Master Feng brought forward the initiates—one true believer, five temporary believers, two complete pretenders—and made them stand several steps ahead, under the gaze of the Venerable’s statue. He lifted eight bowls filled with some form of blood.
“Now comes the third ceremony—the final stage. A vow made with water.”
“This is the Holy Water, blessed personally by the Venerable through our Cult Master. It carries the power of silence and restraint. After drinking it, you will be unable to reveal any information about this cult by any means.”
“Cheng Ziqi, Long Li, Long Kongkong—the three of you have demonstrated unwavering faith in the Venerable and have earned qualification to become Evangelists of the faith.”
He picked out three bowls separately.
“These three are a bit different. Once you drink, you may reveal some limited matters of the cult. Do you have any questions?”
Jiang Li’s lips curved into a mild smile. He raised his hand politely.
“No other questions—just one. Where might our Cult Master be?” —— (End of Chapter)