Chapter 736: Information from the Heavenly God

That was no ordinary branch, but a Dragon-Punishing Pillar crafted from a Juluo tree fork, divine bones, and other materials. A few months prior, He Lingchuan, short on resources, had only been able to produce a rudimentary version.

Nevertheless, a Dragon-Punishing Pillar remains true to its purpose as long as it possesses the ability to absorb demonic energy. Currently, the transparent glass in the middle section of the wooden tube contained a quantity of pale red liquid, which sometimes flowed and at other times transformed into a crimson mist.

Upon their return from the Myriad-Gouged Swamp, Li Qingge’s subordinates returned the Dragon-Punishing Pillar to He Lingchuan. Due to the devastating cicada plague, which had indeed ravaged the swamp and its forests, the pillar had collected a significant amount of demonic energy, not only from deceased humans but also from other departed creatures.

The precise amount was unknown, but it appeared to be substantial.

"Regardless of its appearance, it is a functional Dragon-Punishing Pillar and cannot be traced by Lingxu City." He Lingchuan cupped his fists and bowed.

"Greetings, Heavenly God Shina!" The old temple attendant grunted, his gaze sweeping over both of them before resting on He Lingchuan. "What do you wish for? You don't appear to be devout followers." What devout follower would arrive wearing a mask?

"I have a question to ask," He Lingchuan said, pointing to the wooden tube.

"This Dragon-Punishing Pillar serves as payment." His phrasing was precise, offering the pillar as remuneration rather than a mere token of gratitude.

Remuneration, unlike a gift, could be negotiated and quantified. This implied that if Shina's answer proved unsatisfactory, the Dragon-Punishing Pillar might not be so readily handed over.

The old man's face, already sagging with age, made any smile appear forced and insincere. "Bargaining with a Heavenly God? You have quite the audacity," he said. Dong Rui seized the moment to interject, "There are eleven other temples on this island. If you refuse to answer, we can seek out other deities."

"Them?" The old temple attendant chuckled with clear disdain but ultimately nodded.

"Go ahead and ask." This God Shina had previously appeared in the Coiling Dragon World. During He Lingchuan's last visit to the Coiling Dragon World, just before the Ruins Mountain operation, God Shina had used a borrowed vessel to infiltrate Coiling Dragon City and warn Mitian.

He Lingchuan had wanted to seize that opportunity to ask a few questions, but God Shina, unwilling to offer assistance for free, had only disclosed the location of his temple.

Mortals seeking aid from a Heavenly God must surely demonstrate their sincerity, right? In short: offerings are expected.

God Shina's initial impression on He Lingchuan was not one of aloofness, unlike other Heavenly Gods, but rather a more human-like opportunism.

He Lingchuan surmised this was likely due to the deity's standing in the divine realm. As a self-proclaimed minor, "wild" god, it lacked the authority to be arrogant in the presence of a powerful entity like Mitian.

Furthermore, it had previously expressed a clear desire for the Dragon-Punishing Pillar and demonic energy. He Lingchuan thus understood that this was the ideal payment, one that Shina would find difficult to refuse.

With the Dragon-Punishing Pillar, it could dispatch its followers to collect demonic energy on battlefields. This would be akin to undermining Tianluo Star and securing special advantages for itself.

He Lingchuan felt no compunction about parting with the Dragon-Punishing Pillar. Since the demonic energy of the human realm would ordinarily be absorbed by Tianluo regardless, what difference would it make if the Dragon-Punishing Pillar intercepted a small portion?

He Lingchuan gathered his thoughts. "I noticed you came directly to me just now. Why?" he asked. "Don't claim you misidentified me; Heavenly Gods don't suffer from failing eyesight."

The old temple attendant cackled. "You possess an excellent vessel," he replied, "one that a Heavenly God can scarcely fail to notice." Simply put, it was an involuntary reaction.

Despite the mask, the deity instantly perceived the mortal's inherent value. Once He Lingchuan produced the Dragon-Punishing Pillar and spoke of demonic energy, Shina understood that this young man had already encountered the core secrets of both worlds, rendering further concealment in their conversation unnecessary.

He Lingchuan recalled that when Grand Master Sun Fuping had invoked a deity in the Coiling Dragon Ruins, the prepared vessel had been Nian Songyu.

Yet, the summoned divine avatar had bypassed Nian Songyu, prioritizing He Lingchuan instead, only to be repelled by the divine mark within his sea of consciousness.

"What constitutes an excellent vessel, and how does one acquire such a thing?"

"Mortals typically cannot even withstand one percent of our power, disqualifying them as vessels. However, there are exceptions: some individuals' bodies can sustain four or five percent of our strength, making them suitable vessels. Those who can bear ten percent are considered excellent."

"Ten percent?" He Lingchuan was somewhat surprised. "Only that much for 'excellent'?"

"You humans," Shina's voice tinged with thinly veiled arrogance and disdain, "your bodies, under these spiritual conditions, are incredibly fragile. When a Heavenly God uses your vessel, it's like wearing an outer garment made of thin paper; it can tear or shatter with the slightest misstep."

He Lingchuan recalled Lu Shishi, the vessel of the God of One Hundred Battles. When the possessing deity departed, she had indeed crumbled like a paper doll. Shina's analogy was remarkably apt.

"However," it continued, "there are exceptional individuals among you who can allow a Heavenly God to exert two or three-tenths of their power. Yet, such vessels are one in a million, or even one in ten million, and are exceedingly rare even for Beiga. Furthermore," it paused, "the power of each Heavenly God varies, as do their requirements for a vessel. No single vessel is universally compatible with all Heavenly Gods."

"Only two or three tenths at most?"

"Only?" Shina burst into hearty laughter. "The might of deities is beyond the comprehension of you lowly beings. Even if we exert only two or three-tenths of our power, it is enough to sweep away a thousand armies!" A thousand armies?

That was an exaggeration, but He Lingchuan saw no point in debating the matter. If the deity said it was so, then it was so.

"If vessels are so fragile, how many times can they be used?"

"It depends on the intensity of the battle and whether the Heavenly God takes care of it," the old temple attendant said, stroking his white beard. "With careful use, perhaps three or four times."

Three or four times? Yet Lu Shishi, possessed by the God of One Hundred Battles, had perished in less than an hour.

While the battle with the Spider Immortal had been intense, surely the God of One Hundred Battles' disregard for the vessel was also a primary factor?

"After being used, is it possible for a vessel to remain undamaged?"

"Almost impossible," the old temple attendant replied, shaking his head. "Even if the vessel avoids injury in battle, the divine descent itself inflicts damage. Both the vessel's sea of consciousness and its physical body will be harmed, requiring a lengthy period of recovery before it can host another divine descent."

He Lingchuan let out a long "Oh." "Are you certain?" he asked.

"This is common knowledge; what's there to be uncertain about?"

"I see," He Lingchuan nodded, realizing his understanding of common knowledge was flawed. He had witnessed few divine descents, and General Hong stood out as the most prominent counterexample.

Zhong Shengguang had sacrificed his daughter to Mitian, and He Lingchuan was fairly certain that General Hong was Mitian's vessel.

Yet, General Hong had always appeared vibrant and unharmed. Perhaps the damage was hidden from view?

He Lingchuan secretly shook his head, deeming that possibility unlikely. General Hong's military duties were arduous; if her body were damaged, she would have been worn out long ago.

She even had the leisure to guide participants at the Martial Arts Hall; she hardly seemed like someone suffering from physical debilitation.