Chapter 104: The Faith's Power, So Easy to Fool

The light gates whirl, and time‑space swaps.

When Gu Yuan opened his eyes again, a putrid, oppressive aura hit his face, making him frown instinctively.

The sky was an eternal dim yellow, as if the color solidified after a deity wept blood.

There was no sun, no stars, only a huge scarlet moon emitting a bleak glow, hanging high in the heavens.

The earth was cracked and bore an unhealthy gray‑brown hue; sparse vegetation twisted grotesquely, showing no sign of life.

A faint smell of blood and a foul stench of burnt feathers lingered in the air, making one feel nauseous.

"What a desolate place where even birds don't defecate."

Gu Xue Dao complained in a grumbling tone, glancing around with disdain in his eyes.

He had once followed Gu Yuan to campaign across the Profound Heaven Continent.

That place was indeed chaotic.

Yet it lacked such chaos and sin.

The whole area seemed saturated with contamination.

"Quiet."

Gu Lin Tian's former self spoke softly; clad in white, his aura hovered between void and substance, yet exuded a suppressing authority over the cosmos.

His gaze swept the realm, his celestial perception spreading like a tide, instantly discerning the underlying laws of this world,

"The laws of this realm differ greatly from the Ancient Celestial Realm; the Dao is fragmented, yet a bizarre divine force governs everything. If one stays too long, even the 19th‑tier Heavenly Emperor realm will become polluted; this place is unsuitable for prolonged stay."

The others' expressions hardened; they activated Dao techniques to shield their bodies, restrained their aura, and surveyed the surroundings warily.

At that moment, Gu Xuan Ce, the formation Dao Heavenly Emperor, suddenly pointed into the distance, his expression shifting slightly: "Patriarch, look over there."

Following his indication, they gazed toward the horizon's end, where countless spires of unknown white crystal rose.

The spires towered into the clouds, densely packed, forming a vast crystal forest that, under the scarlet moonlight, reflected a grotesque glow.

"Let's go and take a look."

Gu Lin Tian shifted his form, enveloping the group as a flash of light, instantly traversing the distance to appear above the crystal forest.

However, when they saw the interior of the crystals,

Even the Gu Family supremes, accustomed to seas of corpses and blood, couldn't help but gasp sharply.

Those massive white crystals were hollow.

Inside each crystal were hundreds of thousands, even millions, of humans imprisoned.

In some crystals, raging flames engulfed countless people who struggled and wailed, being boiled alive into charcoal.

In others, blood flooded the space, forcing people to slaughter each other, with only the strongest surviving.

And in the next moment, new challengers would be thrown in.

Some crystals contained humans pursued by black‑robed bandits, their desperate cries echoing within the crystal chambers.

Just as the people were about to be caught, dozens of white‑robed, saintly cultivators descended from the sky and, with a wave, slew all the bandits.

"Save us, great White Bone God!"

"We are willing to offer everything, only asking that you bestow divine grace to end this boundless suffering!"

"God, please hear the prayers of your most devout followers…"

They knelt, murmuring incantations, as golden wish power surged like a tide toward them, absorbed by the white‑robed cultivators.

"First plunge them into despair, then select some to grant false hope, so that in contrast they unleash a stronger faith."

Jiang Rou watched the scene, a cold glint flashing in her beautiful eyes, and her clear voice articulated the crux,

"Next, they should be told that those black‑robed men were also sent by us, to be slain when the humans are desperate, collecting the final faith."

"Is the power of faith this stupid? This so easy to deceive?"

Gu Yuan watched the absurd drama below, feeling somewhat curious.

"As long as the ones who act aren't them, it's fine."

"People, when desperate, are blind. Any straw will be seen as salvation. Moreover, that straw truly rescued them from hell."

Gu Lin Tian's complexion was also unpleasing.

As a true immortal, he saw through the trick's essence at a glance.

It is not merely gathering faith, but extracting each soul's potential through extreme pain and fear, ultimately refining the purest faith power.

This is a demonic cultivation method.

In the Ancient Celestial Realm, such a practice would be pursued by a united hunt to death.

"A group of beasts wearing human skin."

Gu Zhan's fists clenched, making a crackling sound, his battle spirit flaring, nearly unable to restrain himself.

While they observed below, the white‑robed cultivator on the altar finally noticed the unexpected guests.

"Who are they? How dare they trespass my White Bone Sect sacred ground!" A white‑robed leader whose aura matched the 15th realm sprang up, shouting fiercely.

The white‑robed cultivators behind him also rose, emitting strange divine vibrations, their eyes fixed menacingly on Gu Yuan and the others.

"Sacred ground? Built from the white bones and wails of billions of lives?"

Gu Lin Jiang sneered, his eyes full of sarcasm.

"Hmph, a bunch of humans ignorant of life and death; once they see my sect's secret, none of you will leave alive today."

The White Bone Sect branch leader's gaze hardened, clearly harboring murderous intent.

But he wasn't foolish, recognizing the group's considerable strength.

Yet he was indifferent.

The Withered Bone God is invincible!

He waved his hand grandly and loudly chanted an ancient incantation:

"Great God of the Withered Bones, your humble servant, I offer sacrifices here, praying that you will send down divine punishment to purify the blasphemer before me!"

As he chanted, the entire crystal stone forest began to violently tremble.

The crystals imprisoning countless humans suddenly burst with light; strands of blood-colored energy were forcibly drawn out and gathered upon the central white bone altar.

Atop the altar, a colossal god formed of endless bones slowly opened its hollow eye sockets, within which two clusters of scarlet ghost fire flickered.

A terrifying pressure, surpassing the 17th Realm and approaching the 18th Realm's supreme, crashed down.

"Die! Under divine punishment, turn to bones!" the sect leader's face showed a frenzied, hideous smile.

However, Gu Lin Tian didn't even lift an eyelid.

He merely flicked his finger lightly at the white bone god statue emanating overwhelming menace.

Boom——

That white bone god statue, forged from the blood sacrifice of countless beings and capable of slaying a 17th Realm expert, was like a sandcastle.

A mere breeze blew, and it silently crumbled from head to toe, inch by inch, turning into sky‑filling dust.

"..."

The branch sect leader's smile froze completely.

His frenzy and hideousness were instantly replaced by endless fear and bewilderment.

He didn't even understand what had happened.

"No…… impossible…… this is impossible……" he muttered incoherently, shaking his head madly.

However, the answer to him was an indifferent gaze.

Gu Lin Tian finally turned his gaze onto him.

Pfft!

Merely a single gaze.

That White Bone Sect branch leader, together with all the white‑robed cultivators behind him, exploded silently into clouds of blood mist, not even a wisp of soul escaping.

At the moment before complete dissipation, the branch sect leader expended his last strength to utter a howl full of resentment and unwillingness.

"My Lord…… God of the Withered Bones, will not spare you!"

The voice cut off abruptly.

The entire crystal stone forest fell into dead silence.

A gust of wind blew, and those blood mists scattered cleanly, as if they had never existed.