"Here's twenty more coins: fifteen for you to pay for the black dog blood, and the other five for buying soda, beverages, or pastries if you get thirsty or hungry."

After Zhou Xuan arranged everything, the two clan members still hadn't left.

One of them, Peng Lvhe, hesitated and asked, "Xuan Ancestor, I've heard it's hard to make money outside, shouldn't we save every bit we can?"

"No matter how hard it is, the money that needs to be spent must be spent."

Zhou Xuan felt like kicking both of them, one kick each, but when he saw the clarity in their eyes, he held back and urged, "In these times, it's one thing to make money, but the debt of human bonds is what's truly hard to repay. Quickly do as I say while I can still tolerate it."

"Alright."

Peng Lvhe responded and pulled the other clan member along as they hurried out of the shop.

Zhao Wuya admired Zhou Xuan's meticulous planning. If it were him, he'd probably forget to ask whether those two clan members had paid.

He would, by his own logic, assume the payment had already been made, but Zhou Xuan always seemed capable of predicting others' "nature" and would put himself in their shoes to figure things out.

"Brother Xuan is careful, and Ya Zi is quite glad, but using my money for payment? That doesn't make me so glad."

Zhao Wuya stared at the wallet in Zhou Xuan's hand.

This wallet, and the money inside, all carry the surname Zhao!

"What's the stinginess for? You'll still need me to divine for you later. This thirteen hundred coins will be noted in the ledger, deducted after the divination fees are paid."

The fees for invoking King Yan divinations would surely exceed thirteen hundred coins.

"Speaking of divinations, aren't you supposed to ask Grand Master about today's King Yan ritual? He's outside, aren't you going to ask?"

"Everything has its priorities, and timing matters. Right now, Brother Peng's body is more urgent. Calculating the time, the painter should be arriving as well; let's first handle the matter of sealing divine status."

...

The Blood Pool had already been built. Zhou Xuan went to the front hall and summoned Peng Sheng, guiding him into the Blood Pool.

Miss Qiang's consciousness emerged from Zhou Xuan's Secret Realm; she divided a strand of her will, extending it into the blood water inside the pool.

The blood water stirred, constructing into a blood house, confining Peng Sheng inside. Meanwhile, the six corpses within the pool began to dissolve slowly. As they dissolved, crimson steam rose inside the blood house.

"Is it scalding inside there? It's smoking all over." Zhao Wuya watched with curiosity, grabbing a bench to sit and observe.

"Of course it's scorching. Reshaping flesh is inherently excruciating."

Miss Qiang's consciousness began chatting with Zhao Wuya.

"This reshaping will take at least three to four hours," Miss Qiang informed Zhou Xuan.

"Then we wait."

Four or five hours wasn't too long; even styling hair could take that long.

Zhou Xuan also waited nearby. Only twenty minutes had passed when, just as predicted, the painter arrived.

But the painter wasn't alone—he had brought along the Music Master and Lady Hong Guan.

"Young Master."

The painter entered the backyard, greeting Zhou Xuan with a nod.

Zhou Xuan gestured lightly, signaling the painter to stay silent to avoid disturbing Peng Sheng during his flesh reshaping.

Then, Zhou Xuan pointed towards the main hall, a gesture the painter immediately understood, and he walked to the hall.

Zhou Xuan stood and headed into the hall as well.

"Old Hua, are you aiming for 'seated eight nearing nine,' or fully 'nine sticks of incense?'"

Yesterday, Zhou Xuan had deliberately instructed the painter to consume the incense of the Saint Heir and Saintess, becoming the top incense flame of the Bone Elder Association in both the Human World and the Time Realm.

Only by becoming the top incense flame would he be qualified to inherit a divine status and ascend to Heavenly Dome God Level.

"My incense hasn't risen."

The painter replied.

"Hasn't risen?"

"Yes, I'm still at the state of only being at just eight sticks of incense." The painter replied with some embarrassment.

Zhou Xuan was puzzled. The Saint Heir and Saintess had been at the seated eight nearing nine state. Having consumed their incense flames, he should at least rise to nine sticks. With the painter's abilities, moving up to seated eight nearing nine shouldn't have been an issue either.

"Young Master, Old Hua has already extracted the incense flames of the Saint Heir and Saintess—it's formed into this stick of incense."

The Music Master bowed to Zhou Xuan, then extended his palm to reveal a golden stick of incense.

The force contained within the incense was immense.

Only then did Zhou Xuan realize the painter hadn't yet consumed the incense flames.

The painter went on to say, "Young Master, I wish to discuss this matter—to let Old Le take this chance to achieve Heavenly Dome God Level."

"Why?" Zhou Xuan questioned.

"Young Master, the path of the Incense Fire Divine Dao is one where Music Master surpasses me in talent. He is younger than I, and the difference between seated eight nearing nine and nine sticks of incense is merely a thread—yet this thread divides heaven and earth.

"I fear I have little hope of breaking into nine sticks of incense, but Old Le still has a chance."

The painter wasn't devoid of desire for achieving Heavenly Dome God Level, but after pondering deeply until late last night, he ultimately decided to relinquish this opportunity to the Music Master."

Today, the painter had come to seek Zhou Xuan's consent.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan could only remark on the painter's sincerity. The chance to ascend to Heavenly Dome God Level was more precious than mountains of gold, and without steadfast resolve, it would be impossible to surrender such a blessing with peace of mind.

From years of battles, Zhou Xuan also recognized the decisiveness and mastery of Music Master in wielding divine skills related to the Law of Music.

In the combat against the Saint Heir and Saintess, Zhou Lingyi intervened, compelling the Bone Elder Association to retreat, and Music Master made his choice in a blaze of clarity.

When the Music Master comprehended the Kongming Mirror, he immediately elevated his incense flame to a level that paralleled the painter's.

Whether on the battlefield or in terms of talent with incense flames, Music Master indeed had an edge over the painter.

However, in Peng Town, Zhou Xuan initially intended to bestow the divine status to the painter.

This was because the painter carried sufficient merit and, for many years, had held the foremost divine office in Mingjiang Prefecture, commanding respect.

But now, with the painter taking the initiative to pass the opportunity to Music Master, there would be no grounds for discontent.

"Old Hua, with your sincere heart, of course, I must honor your decision. Music Master, let me speak plainly: a divine status is not truly a treasure. As things stand, it's more like a hot potato. Whoever accepts it must contend with the half-divine and even nine-stick-level figures from all the other halls. Even if you face death, you must not hand this divine status over to anyone else. Can you do that?"

"Young Master, I'm fully prepared."

Music Master answered without hesitation.

"Then it's settled. I'll go retrieve the Heavenly Official Divine State and grant it to you, Music Master. From this day on, the Bone Elder Association has a new Heavenly Official."

Since Music Master made his resolve clear, Zhou Xuan acted decisively. Through his connection, he contacted Zhou Lingyi.

"Sister, please inform Lord Jian to request Gong Zheng to return the Heavenly Official Divine State."

After the calamity in Mingjiang, under Zhou Xuan's mobilization, the You Shen from Mingjiang Prefecture and Ping Shui Prefecture collectively slew three Heavenly Vault God Level beings.

The Sky Dome Strange Alien Ghost "Ghost Hand" had its divine status claimed by Zhou Family's Nuo God.

The Sky Dome Strange Alien Ghost "Peng Hou's" divine status was stored in Zhou Xuan's Secret Realm.

The Heavenly Dome God "Heavenly Official's" divine status was handed by Lord Jian to the god "Gong Zheng."

Among the three divine statuses, only "Heavenly Official's" remained outside Zhou Xuan's control.

Though "Gong Zheng" held a stellar reputation within the Divine Arrow Hall, celebrated as one of the few gods who hadn't been replaced over two millennia, Peng Hou had confessed before his death… that Gong Zheng was not as righteous as his name suggested and had committed injustices in secret.

Zhou Xuan believed Peng Hou's words to some extent, leading him to feel uneasy about leaving the divine status in Gong Zheng's possession. It was better to retrieve it sooner rather than later.

"Lord Jian has arrived at Zhou Family's Troupe and is seeking Gong Zheng under the Ancestor Tree to reclaim the divine status."

Zhou Lingyi relayed the latest updates to Zhou Xuan.

"Ensure it's retrieved—there can't be any surprises."

Zhou Xuan instructed.

Upon discovering the "Will Heavenly Book," Zhou Xuan realized the paramount importance of divine statuses.

The more Heavenly Vault God Level figures standing by Zhou Xuan's side, the easier it would be to activate the "Will Heavenly Book."

...

At Zhou Family's Troupe, under the Ancestor Tree,

Lord Jian set up a table and lit a stick of incense.

In the realm of Jing Country, disciples of the Divine Hall, known as divine humans, carried law enforcement authority and only needed one stick of incense for offerings.

As the incense approached its end,

Lord Jian gripped the Divine Bow and released consecutive empty shots towards the Heavenly Dome.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"...

The string of shots echoed, the bow trembling intensely. If this had been an ordinary bow, it would have shattered already under such continuous use.

Lord Jian gazed up at the Heavenly Dome—Gong Zheng had yet to respond…

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