Fragrant sandalwood smoke curled through the chamber, drifting like a veil of mist in the still air. Within, a Daoist sat cross-legged, motionless, palms upturned as he shaped what seemed to be simple spirit seals. The room was cold, austere in its silence, yet beneath the hazy wreath of smoke, his expression was far from serene.0

A faint grimace pulled at the corners of his lips. In the soft shadows, his features twisted ever so slightly, betraying the strain behind his stillness. Each breath parted his lips, drawing the incense into his body. The smoke coalesced into twin azure dragons that streamed straight into his nostrils.0

In that moment, the chamber seemed to tremble with immense pressure leaking outward. Such loss of control over spirit consciousness was a telltale sign, usually seen only in cultivators who had just entered Foundation Establishment.0

For it to happen to Luo Chen was extraordinarily rare. A muffled grunt escaped him as his eyes snapped open, lightning flashing within their depths and surging through the chamber. The void room births lightning [1] !0

With a flick of his finger, a strand of spirit power shot toward the half-burned incense stick.0

Chi…0

The flame went out, and only a faint trail of lingering fragrance remained.0

Luo Chen pressed his fingers to his brow and began to rub slowly. "No wonder they say Divine Fiery Incense is only suitable for late stage Foundation Establishment. The stimulation to the divine soul is terrifying. If I hadn't come in time, prolonged exposure might've left my divine soul so overstimulated it would have crashed into total exhaustion afterward."9

He drew in a long breath, his gaze settling on the half-burnt incense. Despite the risk, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of admiration. This Divine Fiery Incense was no ordinary product. It had been developed by the renowned Mistress of Fragrance from the Hundred Flowers Palace. The...0