Free Web NovelChapter 885 - Divine Invocation Ritual
The Lotus Heart Sage told Han Wu that Qin Shuang’s family had been transferred to the White Lotus Sect’s headquarters, located in one of the Martial Arts Civilization’s largest cities, Huai City.
Han Wu searched the Jiang City branch and found letters exchanged with the headquarters. The letters revealed that the White Lotus Sect had many more powerful fighters, and that several members had mastered the Divine Invocation technique through their alliance with the True Martial God King.
Ordinary high-level fighters from the Martial Arts Civilization didn’t worry Han Wu. Even Top-tier fighters were manageable with his True Black Dragon King Transformation. The problem was Top-tier fighters who also knew Divine Invocation. That combination was as dangerous as fighting a God King, and Han Wu wasn’t confident he could handle it.
As he was mulling over their next step, Qin Shuang brought good news. She had found a manual detailing the Divine Invocation technique during her search.
The key to Divine Invocation was establishing a connection with a god. For most, this was the hardest step, as gods didn’t just lend their power to strangers for no reason. For Han Wu, though, this was actually the easiest part. He knew plenty of gods.
Following the manual’s instructions, he set up the altar, slaughtered a rooster, burned yellow paper, lit some incense, and silently called the name of the god he wanted to connect with.
He started with the easiest option, mentally calling out to Wisdom God King Xu Hai. The ritual began, and the incense burned three times faster than normal. Han Wu’s consciousness drifted back to the Divine Civilization, where he caught a hazy glimpse of Xu Hai working at his desk.
Sensing something, Xu Hai set down his pen. “Han Wu, is that you?”
“It’s me, sir. I’m short on time, so I’ll keep it brief. I need to borrow some of your power,” Han Wu requested.
Xu Hai immediately agreed.
Han Wu woke up at the altar with a pen in hand. It was the medium linking him to Xu Hai. Channeling his internal energy through it would allow him to open a channel and draw on Xu Hai’s strength.
It was essentially remote power-sharing, accomplished through the Martial Arts Civilization’s own system. Though remarkable, the amount of borrowed power did have limits and was dependent on how much the lending god was willing to give, as well as how much the recipient’s body could withstand.
Xu Hai would go all out for Han Wu, releasing as much divine power as he could. Han Wu’s job was to raise his own body’s capacity to receive that power. This meant he urgently needed a body-strengthening manual.
The Divine Invocation contract was a model that could be replicated. Under Han Wu’s guidance, Qin Shuang and the others began their own rituals to connect with the gods they knew in the Divine Civilization.
He Xu’s first choice was naturally also his mentor, Wisdom God King Xu Ha. The connection was established quickly.
Jia Gui went straight to his good friend, the Commerce God King. The Commerce God King agreed readily enough, but his own strength wasn’t exceptional, so the boost to Jia Gui was modest.
Qin Shuang pondered over this carefully, but couldn’t think of a suitable god to borrow from. During the ritual, her mind unwittingly landed on Han Wu, and her consciousness was carried to Han Wu’s avatar in the Divine Civilization.
Han Wu was surprised. That actually worked?
Naturally, he agreed to lend her his power. When Qin Shuang woke, she was holding a Soul Crystal, a product unique to Han Wu’s divine realm.
This gave Han Wu a bold idea. What if he borrowed power from himself? He performed the ritual again, calling his own name with deep focus. The incense burned at ten times its normal speed, carrying his consciousness to his own avatar.
The avatar had already prepared a token for him, the Peerless White Blade. Han Wu awoke with the weapon in hand. The gleam of its razor-sharp edge nearly blinded the other three.
He Xu swallowed hard. That actually worked? Borrowing from yourself?
If he could do the same, He Xu could bring his true power into the Martial Arts Civilization. While this wouldn’t be enough for him to reach Martial Grandmaster, he’d still be Top-tier at least—more than enough for their situation.
He Xu tried performing the ritual and calling his own name, but nothing happened. He couldn’t find himself before the incense burned out. In the end, he had to accept that his attempt had failed.
After thinking it through, Qin Shuang had a theory. Han Wu’s avatar was recognized as an independent entity, essentially a god existing in another realm. He Xu, on the other hand, had no equivalent of an avatar on the outside.
He Xu negotiated with Han Wu instead by establishing a Divine Invocation link with him. Through the ritual, a powerful 9-Star God blade was sent as He Xu’s weapon. Jia Gui did the same and received a pair of 9-Star God boots. The boots would let him run faster and unleash powerful kicks.
The Divine Invocation rituals had allowed the group’s strength to grow enormously, enough to give them confidence for the trip to Huai City.
Han Feng couldn’t accompany them, but he did everything he could to assist, even arranging a fast passenger ship to get them to Huai City more quickly. As gratitude, Han Wu taught him the Divine Invocation technique, established a link with him, and promised to help him through three crises.
Han Feng was moved to tears. Their time together had shown him that Han Wu’s group was essentially gods walking among mortals. Three assists from Han Wu were equivalent to having three extra lives. A debt like that was beyond repayment.
With their bags packed, Han Wu’s group boarded the ship and set off for Huai City.
