"Hoo..."
Master Zhang and Elder Shi simultaneously let out a sigh.
For people of their age, the word "fate" seems to interpret the existence of destiny.
This kind of existence is something individual power cannot resist.
Besides, Stone Village has been subjected to bandit attacks year after year in recent years.
If there is no ability to protect the village, what is the point of living?
If Gu Sheng hadnât suddenly appeared before, who knows if the village would still exist.
"Do you have any plans?"
Elder Shi asked tentatively.
At the same time, Master Zhang also looked towards Gu Sheng.
"Itâs simple, train Er Gou, Shi Lou, and their group to enable them to protect the village. As for their true identities, only the three of us need to know. What do you think?"
Gu Sheng shared his thoughts.
Elder Shi nodded silently, an approving look in his eyes.
Gu Shengâs proposal considered both the villageâs safety and protected Shi Lou and Er Gouâs secrets.
It could be said that this is a win-win plan.
"Xiao Sheng, your idea is excellent, we should indeed do it this way."
Elder Shi nodded, his voice carrying a trace of relief.
After speaking, he looked at Master Zhang, "Old Zhang, Old Zhang! Stop having such a stern face, I think what Xiao Sheng said is right, itâs time to change."
Master Zhang tightly furrowed his brows, seemingly pondering something.
"Iâm asking you something, Old Zhang!"
Elder Shi urged again.
"Hoo..."
Master Zhang slowly let out a breath, as if he had figured something out.
"Yes, we must ensure that their power is properly guided and used, while also protecting Stone Village from being exploited by outside forces."
Though Master Zhang didnât directly answer, his words seemed to agree with Gu Shengâs idea.
"Haha... isnât that great! Letâs settle it then!"
Elder Shi let out a hearty laugh.
"Elder... Master Zhang! Wuwuwu..."
Just as the three of them were discussing specific plans, cries suddenly came from outside the conference hall.
Gu Sheng recognized that it seemed to be Shi Louâs motherâs voice.
He hurriedly stood up, only to see Shi Louâs mother and Er Gouâs mother rushing in anxiously.
Their eyes were filled with panic, tears already soaking their entire faces.
"Master Zhang, Elder Shi, Gu Sheng, you must go see, Shi Lou and Er Gouâs appearances have started to change!"
Shi Louâs motherâs voice trembled, likely frightened by the scene before her.
"What! So soon!"
Gu Sheng, Elder Shi, and Master Zhang immediately stood up.
They knew this was the critical moment of Divine Ability awakening and must quickly rush to Shi Lou and Er Gouâs home.
"Letâs go, letâs check it out!"
Master Zhang said in a deep voice.
Following this, the three of them hurriedly left the conference hall, striding quickly towards Shi Lou and Er Gouâs home.
Along the way, the villagers cast curious and worried glances at them.
They didnât know what had happened, but seeing the tense expressions of Gu Sheng, Elder Shi, and Master Zhang, they could feel the seriousness of the situation.
Soon, they arrived at Shi Louâs home.
Shi Louâs mother followed beside them, her face full of tears.
"Quick, go in and see!"
Master Zhang said, leading them into Shi Louâs room.
Upon entering, they saw Shi Lou laying on the bed with his eyes tightly shut.
His face was covered with strange markings, which emitted a faint silver light.
At the same time, his appearance was changing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Additionally, his skin became smoother, and his features became more defined and prominent, exuding an aura not belonging to this world.
"Shi Lou!"
Elder Shi called softly.
Shi Louâs body slightly trembled, as if wanting to open his eyes but unable to do so.
Seeing this, Gu Sheng furrowed his brows tightly and stepped forward, "Shi Lou, Shi Lou? Can you hear me?"
With Gu Shengâs calling, Shi Louâs tightly shut brows furrowed even tighter.
Gu Sheng could determine that Shi Lou could hear him speak.
"Auntie, how long has Shi Lou been like this?"
Gu Sheng turned his head to ask.
"As soon as it happened, I came to find you. Xiao Sheng, what exactly happened to you? How did it become like this?"
Shi Louâs mother asked anxiously.
"Donât worry, Shi Lou is fine, rest assured."
Master Zhang comforted from the side.
Gu Sheng looked at Shi Lou, who seemed to be in a nightmare, knowing it was hard for him.
He stepped forward and drew a trace of Divine Power from the Life Spring.
As the Divine Power surged, a ripple of vibrating air appeared on Gu Shengâs palms.
"Xiao Sheng... you... you want to..."
Elder Shi asked, somewhat incredulously.
"I want to help Shi Lou wake up as soon as possible."
Gu Sheng said, placing his hand filled with Divine Power on Shi Louâs chest.
Under the influence of Gu Shengâs Divine Power, Shi Louâs body trembled slightly, his face showing an expression of pain.
But soon, the pain was replaced by a feeling of relief.
At that moment, something seemed to be activated within Shi Lou, and a powerful force flowed within his body.
"Cough..."
Shi Lou suddenly began to cough.
Immediately after, he spat out a mouthful of black blood.
The black blood emitted an unpleasant odor, clearly being impurities accumulated within his body being expelled.
But as the black blood was expelled, Shi Louâs complexion gradually returned to normal, and he looked much healthier.
His eyes slowly opened, and a sharp light flashed through them.
At that moment, the entire aura of the person underwent a tremendous change.
"I... what happened to me?"
Shi Louâs voice was still a little weak, but his consciousness was clear.
"Louâer! Youâre awake, youâve finally woken up... wuwuwu..."
Upon seeing her son awake, Shi Louâs mother immediately went forward and hugged him, crying out.
Meanwhile, Gu Sheng also breathed a sigh of relief,
He retracted his hand, smiled, and said, "You just underwent a transformation, Shi Lou, how do you feel now?"
Shi Lou sat up, his body still somewhat weak, but a strange power filled him.
At this moment, feeling the surging power within him, an unprecedented feeling rose in his heart.
"I feel... I feel full of strength."
Shi Lou said with a little excitement.
"Louâer, are you sure youâre alright?"
Shi Louâs mother thought her son might be confused, and she touched his forehead.
After confirming he wasnât feverish, she asked, "What nonsense are you talking?"
"Iâm not talking nonsense, itâs true."
Shi Lou said seriously.
At this time, Master Zhang stepped forward and said to Shi Louâs mother, "Heâs not talking nonsense, Shi Lou has now awakened his Divine Ability, he is no longer an ordinary person."
"What!"
Shi Louâs mother wiped her tears, standing there in surprise.
At this moment, Elder Shi looked at Shi Lou with satisfaction in his eyes.
He knew that Shi Louâs awakening meant that the strength of Stone Village would be greatly enhanced.
"Shi Lou, you must now learn to control this power."
Master Zhang said seriously, "This ability is both your asset and the villageâs support; it must be used cautiously."
"This..."
Master Zhangâs words left Shi Lou looking puzzled.
"Shi Lou, you inherently possess Divine Ability, it was activated at the Stone Appreciation Conference, once youâre better, Iâll teach you how to use this power. By then, you and Er Gou will be the guardians of Stone Village."
Gu Sheng explained.
"Me and Er Gou?"
Shi Lou asked with furrowed brows.
"Yes, Er Gou like you also awakened as a guardian."
Gu Sheng nodded in acknowledgment.
Hearing this, Shi Lou nodded.
He understood the meaning behind Gu Sheng and Master Zhangâs words.
"I will, Brother Sheng, Master Zhang."
Shi Louâs voice was firm and powerful, "I will protect the village and my family."