Boom~~
At this moment, Xia Chuan suddenly heard a sound—ethereal, almost unreal, like countless whispers carried through the air: "Great God, please accept our prayers, accept our sacrifices, and grant us, your loyal followers, your guidance…"
The voice was everywhere, and at the same time, nowhere. It was like the murmur of a million mosquitoes, overlapping, merging, buzzing incessantly—yet clearly coherent in its purpose. And it was not a singular voice. No, it was hundreds of millions of voices, all speaking, all calling simultaneously, creating a resonance so powerful that it seemed to shake the very space around him.
Then, as if answering the call, strands of golden light appeared—thin, almost intangible, like threads of sunlight piercing through a dense forest. One after another, they shot through the void, through the very fabric of space, reaching him. They did not merely touch the surface—they sank deep into his consciousness, into every corner of his being, and finally, they melded into his flesh, his blood, his muscles, his bones. Every molecule seemed to absorb it. Every nerve tingled as if flooded with warmth.
He could feel it—the sensation of bathing in a hot spring, yet a power far greater than any natural heat. Every cell, every fiber, every bone strengthened visibly, as if he could see the muscles thickening under his skin, the sinews coiling tighter, the bones growing denser. Energy—pure energy—was flowing into him, wrapping him in a cocoon of divine might.
He felt it. Strength, raw and overwhelming, surging in him.
"Who… who is speaking? Who is talking?"
Xia Chuan froze. A shiver ran down his spine. This was no ordinary voice. It wasn't coming from nearby, nor from a device. It was everywhere, filling his consciousness like a tide, yet it seemed to emanate from the very air itself.
"Master, this is the prayer of believers."
The Book of Wisdom's voice answered, calm, collected, almost reverent.
"A believer? You mean… a human from that miniature world?" Xia Chuan's brow furrowed, his mind spinning.
"Yes," the Book of Wisdom said. "The people who fear and respect your power have become your loyal followers. They call themselves your believers. And… according to my calculations, there are currently six hundred million of them."
Six hundred million.
Xia Chuan froze, blinking rapidly. He tried to recall, wracking his mind. Six hundred million? He had only recently destroyed a single small country—he hadn't interacted with the wider world. He hadn't traveled, hadn't campaigned, hadn't preached or led armies. How could there suddenly be six hundred million believers?
"I… that's impossible," he murmured. "I've only been back for… what? A couple of hours? How could Li Xiao possibly have integrated all of Chen State so quickly?"
The Book of Wisdom's tone was calm but heavy: "Time flows differently between your world and the miniature world. In the world of the believers, a year may have passed, whereas in your current world, barely a day has elapsed. While you have only returned for two hours, more than a month has passed for the people of Tang and the conquered Chen territories. This is why Li Xiao could accomplish what seems impossible from your perspective."
Xia Chuan's eyes widened. Time… different flow rates between worlds? He had anticipated many strange things, but this… this was another level entirely. One day for him, a year for them—an entire era passing unnoticed.
He looked at the golden threads again. They weren't just light. They were tangible in a way that words could not capture. They carried an almost sacred resonance, a pulse of devotion, loyalty, and raw energy.
"These… these golden lines," he asked, hesitant. "They are… the power of faith, aren't they? From legend? Is this… what believers can provide?"
"Yes," the Book of Wisdom replied solemnly. "This is the power of faith. And faith is infinite. It is omnipotent in potential. If you use it correctly, it can accelerate your advancement into the extraordinary realm. With enough faith, it may even allow you to transcend into a true god. Do not underestimate this. Though six hundred million is the current number, imagine if tens of billions, hundreds of billions, even trillions believed in you. Faith multiplies, and the cumulative power is beyond comprehension. A single believer's faith is small, but multiply it by the masses, and the results are limitless."
Xia Chuan clenched his fists. He could feel it—the pressure, the weight, the power streaming into him. Every single thread, each golden line, carried the combined belief of millions. He could feel it coagulating, merging, amplifying inside his body. Hundreds of millions of wills, all focused on him, all fueling him.
The potential… was terrifying.
Boom~~
Another voice reached him—clearer this time, as if spoken directly into his mind:
"Lord God… Lord God… your faithful servant Li Xiao prays to you. Tell me… what do you require? I will offer sacrifices, I will give everything I have. Even my wealth, my possessions, my life… I will offer them all without hesitation."
The golden threads pulsed with the words, flowing through time and space. Distance was meaningless. The voice bridged worlds, moving across continents, mountains, and oceans, straight into Xia Chuan's consciousness.
Sacrifices?
Xia Chuan blinked, bewildered.
"Yes," the Book of Wisdom said. "This is one of the gifts of faithful believers. They not only provide power—faith itself—but they are your helpers. They are your soldiers, your messengers, your servants. They can offer treasures, rare items, even world props, should you request. Li Xiao himself offered me to you as a gift of faith, do you remember?"
Xia Chuan's lips curled in a small smile. Of course he remembered. And now, with the voice of Li Xiao reaching him so clearly, he understood. Believers were more than just worshippers—they were conduits, vessels of energy, and loyal agents capable of tangible action.
He didn't hesitate. Not for a moment. He extended his consciousness, sending a clear command to the thread of faith that had connected to Li Xiao:
"Very well. I require world props. Knowledge. All knowledge available to you about this world. Its cultivation methods, its secrets, its powers. Everything. Offer it to me, and I will receive it."
Instantly, the golden threads pulsed with acknowledgment. Power flowed faster now, surging in new directions, illuminating corners of his mind that had been dormant, as if the very memory and experience of millions were being poured into him.
He could feel it—the cultivation methods, the strategies, the insights, all connecting through the network of belief, flowing from the hearts of believers, into his mind. It was a torrent of knowledge and faith, overwhelming in its depth, but precious beyond measure.
If he could harness this, if he could truly channel the collective faith of six hundred million believers, he would ascend faster than any mortal had ever dreamed. It was not just strength, not just energy—it was wisdom, foresight, and insight, all merged together, provided by the devotion of countless lives.
He could feel his body strengthening still, muscles knitting tighter, reflexes sharpening, consciousness expanding. Even now, as the golden light bathed him, he could sense a future where he would transcend—an extraordinary being, walking among gods, wielding power unimaginable, yet grounded by the devotion of millions.
And somewhere, far above, the world itself seemed to shimmer in response. The golden threads spread outward, touching the skies, the lands, the forests, the cities, reaching far beyond what the eye could see. Faith—pure, unfiltered—was a force now stirring the world, reshaping reality around him, preparing the miniature world for a new era.
Xia Chuan's chest swelled. He whispered, almost to himself, almost to the world:
"Then let it be. I will take what is offered. I will accept the faith of six hundred million believers. I will step onto the path of transcendence… and I will see what comes next."
The golden threads shone brighter. The prayers of countless souls merged into a single resonance, a tide of devotion, feeding into his very existence. Power, knowledge, energy, faith—they all converged, and in that convergence, Xia Chuan felt the boundaries of his potential stretch further than ever.
For the first time, he realized fully, completely, the terrifying, limitless potential of the believers—the power of faith. And he smiled.
The world was changing, the people were rising, and he… would rise faster than any of them imagined.