nyslfriends Chapter 23 Breaking the Chain! Trust Force Expands Outwards
Chapter 23 Breaking the Chain! Trust Force Expands Outwards
Lin Shi's heart stirred.
It seems that the sight of the dragon god manifesting its power and vanquishing evil not only shattered the villagers' desire to plunder, but also left an indelible mark on the hearts of a few.
Now it has quietly transformed into the most primal, most trembling reverence and supplication:
We pray that the dragon god, who displays boundless power and can easily revert even demons to their original forms, will not take his anger out on them, and may even offer them some protection!
Lin Shi figured out what was going on and couldn't help but feel excited.
This faint but significant glimmer of faith, born of fear from a hostile village, is nonetheless profound.
This signifies that the power and influence of the Jiao God has, for the first time, broken through the geographical boundaries of Shixi Village and begun to penetrate outwards.
The seed of faith, in whatever form, has already been planted in the heart of a former enemy.
Lin Shi slowly opened his eyes, smiled in the darkness, and did not actively accept or guide the wisp of faith power from Shanghe Village, but simply let it naturally flow into the massive flow of faith power of the Jiao Shen statue.
Currently, it is too weak and its foundation is unstable.
But this is just the beginning, a signal. This act of establishing authority has had an impact far exceeding expectations.
Lin Shi focused his thoughts on the dragon at the bottom of the pool and immediately realized that something was amiss with the situation that night.
At the bottom of the pool, the dragon also sensed a faint external force, a hint of indifference flashing in its cold, vertical pupils. It didn't care whether this force stemmed from fear or piety; as long as its direction was clear, it could be gathered, absorbed, and transformed into a part of its power.
But that's not the focus right now.
Does this mean that we've accumulated enough credibility?
Lin Shi discovered,
During this period, since replacing the stone toad, the Jiao Shen statue has received the faith power of the Shixi villagers almost without any loss. Over a long period of time, a large amount of faith power, like the tides in the sea, has been washing away the stubborn rocks again and again, cleansing the huge body of the Jiao Shen clone covered with dark scales, as well as the ancient chains that are deeply embedded in flesh and blood and entangled in the soul.
The runes on the chains, which had been dimmed for countless years, flickered and resisted, but their brightness was uncertain and they kept dissolving.
Lin Shi focused his mind on the dragon and immediately heard a series of faint, dense, teeth-grinding creaking sounds coming from inside the chains. He was immediately alerted, realizing that this was undoubtedly the ancient power structure groaning in distress, a sign that it was about to collapse.
Lin Shi's eyes widened, and he clenched his hands involuntarily with nervousness.
The dragon was gathering all the power it had accumulated over the past few days, aiming at the thinnest link in the chain where the runes flowed most sluggishly and was most vulnerable, and launching an attack.
"Buzz!"
A deafening roar suddenly erupted, causing a violent tremor. The chains instantly burst forth with a blinding, mysterious light, like a final burst of light, and the runes twisted wildly.
"Snap! Boom!"
A crisp, soul-shattering cracking sound rang out as the iron chain that had bound them for countless years broke in half. The runic light transformed into countless shimmering black dust particles, silently dissolving into the icy pool water without a trace.
The dragon's massive body trembled violently, and a nearly forgotten stirring of freedom awakened from the depths of its soul.
An unprecedented feeling of relaxation spread throughout my body like an electric current!
Although only a small section was broken, most of the heavy chains remained like a persistent thorn in the side, but the range of movement instantly expanded several times over.
Originally confined to the darkest cage at the bottom of the pool, it can now stretch its winding, scale-covered body into a wider expanse of dark water, even reaching the entrance to the underground water vein connecting to the Qinghe River, sensing the vibrant energy and subtle vibrations brought by the distant river.
The dragon swam slowly, and in its cold, vertical pupils, the long-dormant arrogance and burning passion belonging to the overlord of the primordial world were slowly being rekindled.
The dragon lowered its head, looking at the chains that were still heavy on its body but had already developed irreparable gaps. A stronger desire to break free from all constraints grew wildly in its chest.
Temple of the Dragon God.
A quiet room in a side hall.
Lin Shi's body jolted violently, as if struck by lightning!
An indescribable, refreshing aura seemed to come from beyond the heavens, penetrating through the Baihui acupoint and instantly washing over the limbs and bones. The spirit entered an unprecedented state of clarity and tranquility, and was even able to vaguely capture the strong and vivid emotions of the nearby villagers towards the Dragon God.
It wasn't a specific idea, but rather a burning worship, a mountain-like prayer, an almost trembling excitement when talking about miracles, and a hint of awe hidden deep in the eyes.
These emotional ripples, like pebbles thrown into a lake, spread out in subtle circles.
This perception was still hazy and limited to a range of a hundred or so steps, but it undoubtedly marked that the spiritual sense had broken free of some of the chains as the clone dragon broke free and stepped into a completely new realm.
"Faith is growing stronger! Chains are breaking more and more! Freedom is increasing! Power is being restored!"
Lin Shi silently thought to himself. This meant that he and the dragon could do more and have a wider impact. He stood up, walked to the window, pushed open the wooden window, and looked at the Bibo Pool, which seemed to come alive in the night and rippled with mysterious light. Then he looked up at the deep mountain outlines under the night sky, which resembled the spine of a beast.
The road ahead is wider and more open, with greater possibilities. We can use this growth to do more, explore more distant mysteries, and even touch the truth behind the chains.
However, fortune may be lurking within misfortune.
Lin Shi frowned.
The manifestation of power and the spread of faith will inevitably attract more and more complex attention.
A few days ago it was a bloody toad demon.
What about tomorrow?
Those unknown beings lurking in the wider world—other spirits, wandering cultivators, and even the gaze of the authorities.
Will people turn their attention to this remote mountain village because of the miracles and power of faith that have suddenly emerged here?
More and greater upheavals will inevitably follow the increase in power and the expansion of freedom.
Lin Shi had a clear premonition about this, but he was not afraid. In fact, he was even eager to try. From the moment he transmigrated to this world and obtained the dragon's clone, he was destined never to return to the ordinary.
A peaceful corner of the countryside is about to be swept into an even bigger vortex.
The only way to resolve all these potential difficulties is to become stronger!
Only with sufficient power can we cope with unknown threats, protect our existing territories of faith, and even explore the truth behind the chains to fight for true freedom.
How to become stronger?
Credibility!
More faith!
A purer form of faith!
This is not only the source for the dragon to heal its injuries and increase its power, but also the foundation for managing its divine position, exerting influence, and even conducting transactions or deterrence in the future.
The faith in Shixi Village, after this period of development, is nearing saturation. The devout prayers of a few hundred people currently form the basic base, but there is limited room for growth.
This faint glimmer of new hope in Shanghe Village, however, was like a small lamp lit in the darkness, pointing in a direction—outward expansion.
It's not just about gaining scattered faith through fear and intimidation, but about spreading the belief in the Dragon God like mercury seeping into the ground, reaching more distant villages and attracting more believers.
This requires strategy, an opportunity, and a more powerful miracle as an attraction and guarantee.
In addition, improving the quality of credibility is equally important.
More standardized rituals, more profound doctrines, and more frequent and beneficial manifestations of divine grace can all strengthen believers' faith and generate a purer and more powerful faith.
"Strengthen our internal foundation! Expand our external territory!"
Lin Shi muttered to himself, turning his gaze from the distant mountains back to the deep, blue pool.
The restoration of the dragon's power and the loosening of the chains are the foundation for realizing this blueprint. How to skillfully utilize this increased power to acquire more confidence and form a virtuous cycle will be the core of his next carefully planned strategy.
A sense of crisis and ambition intertwined.
Lin Shi is not content with simply staying in a corner of Shixi Village and playing the role of a guardian deity. He wants to take the initiative to weave a larger and stronger network of faith, gather stronger power, and cope with the inevitable scrutiny and turmoil from a wider world.
This is a matter of life and death!