Chu Zheng''s expression slightly stunned, his pupils dting, a trace of shock suddenly surging out.


    ...


    ...


    In the Cangyun Realm, Taixuan Holy Land.


    Within the secret chamber, Chu Zheng suddenly opened his eyes, raised his hand to his chest, his expression undergoing a drastic change.


    He felt a throbbing, a faint connection,ing from a distantly twinkling star, establishing a link with him.


    Within his spiritual tform, the Yin Yang Divine Infant trembled slightly, stretching out and imparting a gentle warmth.


    He had received a thread of Incense Fire Willpower.


    But... how was this possible?!


    Chu Zheng''s heart pounded like a drum, his expression filled with doubt and uncertainty. This thread of incense fire had been directly transmitted to his true self.


    Daoist Venerable Zheng Chu was just a casually chosen title,pletely unrted to himself.


    The only connection was that his incarnation had consumed a bite of an offered Spirit Fruit.


    After pondering, Chu Zheng''s brows slightly furrowed, the issue should not lie with the Spirit Fruit, but with that Divine Statue.


    That Divine Statue...


    Chu Zheng grew even more frightened. Could it be that the Divine Statue sculpted by the God Sculpting Method wasn''t the Ancestral Dao, but actually himself?!


    However, those Qi Cultivators had not received any Incense Fire Willpower; how could this be exined?


    For a moment, Chu Zheng''s mind was clouded with doubts. Unknown matters often carried a hint of terror.


    ...


    ...


    In the slightly dpidated courtyard.


    Chu Zheng activated his Spiritual Eye, scanning the Divine Statue before him.


    [Divine Statue (Zeroth Order): ''Daoist Venerable Zheng Chu''s unique Golden Body, empowered by Incense Fire Spirituality, has developed mystery, with over a hundred believers, one may attempt to cultivate a Divine Embryo.]


    The statue stillcked facial features, a bare ne, and upon seeing this, Chu Zheng''s entire body went cold.


    Daoist Venerable Zheng Chu...


    Had he created a Deity, or had he himself be a God?


    Chu Zheng suddenly raised his hand, pressing it against the statue before him.


    Bang—


    A muffled sound echoed, dirt sttering, scattering all around.


    [Iplete Divine Statue (Zeroth Order): ''Daoist Venerable Zheng Chu''s unique Golden Body, shattered by your own hand (repairable)]


    Chu Zheng''s true self had tried for a long time, attempting to sever this thread of incense fire connection, but it was all in vain.


    Even with the statue broken, nothing changed.


    Daoist Venerable Zheng Chu had left traces in this world that could not be erased.


    After a moment, Chu Zheng restored the statue, his emotions gradually stabilizing.


    Killing Yuan Dazun might sever this thread of incense connection, but Chu Zheng didn''t n to try it.


    For one thing, he didn''t know the oue; for another, he had been prepared for twists before attempting, and this particr twist, although somewhat out of control, did not necessitate such an exaggerated reaction like a startled bird.


    If he were really that timid, he would have given up Qi-refining Techniques long ago.


    However, looking at this Divine Statue, it''s possible that when Zhao Tingxian embarked on the Incense Fire Divine Path, he too might have experienced an ident like the one Chu Zheng was facing now.


    Chu Zheng dispersed the thoughts in his mind, his gaze gradually bing sharp. Since he couldn''t break away, he would continue on.


    If Zhao Tingxian could practice both concurrently, he naturally could as well.


    After a short rest, Yuan Dazun emerged from the house, his eyes falling on the scant remnant of blue smoke in the incense burner, his expression revealing surprise and confusion.


    He had already given up, yet this change still urred.


    His gaze quickly fell on Chu Zheng. This turn of events was most likely not unrted to him.


    Chu Zheng did not exin to Yuan Dazun''s puzzlement but turned around to go back into the house.


    A day passed in a sh, and by nightfall, Chu Zheng employed the Invisibility Technique and left the city again, beginning to search for valuable fragments of Magic Artifacts.


    Rapid advancement in cultivation was inseparable from the nourishment of Elixirs and Heavenly and Earthly Treasures. Earning arge amount of Spirit Stones was the top priority.


    ```


    Apart from that, it was to develop followers for "Daoist Venerable Zheng Chu".n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The wisp of Incense Fire Willpower indeed nurtured the Divine Infant a bit, and this was an advantage that could not be overlooked.


    Since it was beneficial for cultivation and could not be cast aside, Chu Zheng decided to start devoting a portion of his effort in this area.


    Attracting believers was no easy task, and this could be seen from Yuan Dazun''s experience.


    Therefore, Chu Zheng needed to create a series of mythologies to lend credible support to this faceless Dao Venerable.


    Even if these were fabricated, as long as believers were willing to believe, it would be enough.


    This time, Chu Zheng traveled further from the city.


    After entering the Spirit Transformation Realm, he could use magic artifacts to travel, drastically changing the speed and efficiency of his search.


    After making arge loop around the vicinity, Chu Zheng suddenly came across a familiar great river. Following the river, he soon reached the first tribe.


    Compared to before, there had been quite a few changes in the vige.


    The divine statue of the "River Towning Spirit Lord" that was by the shore had disappeared without a trace, and each household in the tribe had set up a Longevity que.


    "Nine Heavens Everbright Celestial Lord..."


    From this que, it was evident who had won the battle that day.


    The Incense Fire Deity of the Celestial Lord Realm has an upper and lower rank, with the upper ranked ones simr to Cultivators from the Immortal Tribtion Secret Realm, and even a Junior Heavenly Monarch isparable to Tongxuan.


    In terms of strength, this Nine Heavens Everbright Celestial Lord was much more powerful than the River Towning Spirit Lord.


    In fact, it could be said that these two were not beings of the same level at all.


    However, even with the protection of a stronger deity, the people in this tribe had no joy on their faces.


    Chu Zheng, using his invisibility technique, took a walk around the tribe and soon understood the reason.


    The Nine Heavens Everbright Celestial Lord, though powerful, had too many followers and simply could not protect each one individually.


    If magical beasts attacked the tribe and caused injury or death to the believers, the Jiuyou Changming Celestial Lord would certainly intervene and even eradicate the source once and for all.


    But daily hardships such as frost, rain, snow, tidal changes, and even whether the weather was favorable, the Nine Heavens Everbright Celestial Lord would not care much about, as they were natural urrences that did not threaten lives.


    It was the lesser deities who, in order to gather the faith of believers, would put effort into such matters.


    And indeed, these were exactly what the tribe''s people needed for their survival.


    Chu Zheng did not disturb the tribe and left quietly, continuing his search toward distantnds.


    As the sky began to brighten, Chu Zheng returned to the city.


    That night, his harvest was substantial, acquiring many fragments of magic artifacts. After repairing them, he handed them all to Yuan Dazun.


    Being too young, if he appeared personally, others might take him lightly, which could also invite trouble.


    By having Yuan Dazun find the right opportunity to exchange them for spirit stones and elixirs, it couldn''t be more suitable.


    Chu Zheng specially instructed Yuan Dazun to be extremely careful and conceal his identity when making the exchange.


    These magic weapons were scavenged from a battlefield, and once repaired, there was a chance they could be recognized by their original owners.


    It was better to prioritize safety until his own cultivation was sufficient.


    Besides these matters, Chu Zheng officially began writing the mythological records for "Daoist Venerable Zheng Chu", which would require some thought.


    Even if he didn''t go as far as creating the universe or dividing yin and yang, Chu Zheng still needed to raise the powers of "Daoist Venerable Zheng Chu" as much as possible, otherwise, he wouldn''t bepetitive in a world teeming with deities.


    After some contemtion, Chu Zheng set the origin of Daoist Venerable Zheng Chu in the Primordial Era.


    In the Primordial Wilds, many things had been lost to history, leaving much room for Chu Zheng''s creativity, and in any case, nobody would actually verify these stories.


    [The Dao Lord was born with the natural forces of heaven and earth, possessing the rise and fall of yin and yang without a teacher, naturallyprehending, consuming the energy of yin and yang, the essence of heaven and earth, entering the path of cultivation...]


    ...


    ...


    In the blink of an eye, three years had passed.


    After three years of tranquil cultivation, Chu Zheng''s cultivation had steadily entered thete stage of the Jade Bone Realm.


    This pace was purposefully restrained by Chu Zheng to ensure stable progress, butpared tomon cultivators, it was still astoundingly fast.


    Regarding the biography of Daoist Venerable Zheng Chu, its release only received a lukewarm reaction in the vicinity.


    However, after a group of believers came to worship and try it out, Chu Zheng did not skimp on spirit stones and eventually gathered a group of followers.


    Though not possessing fanatically devoted believers who worshipped him exclusively, the Golden Body still sessfully nurtured a Divine Embryo, obtaining a sliver of True Spirit.


    ```