[Ding! Divine power conversion energy reserves: 92.51%!]
[Ding! Energy reserves 95.99%!]
The data climbed steadily upward, eventually reaching 100%!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The numerous totems and primitive statues lost their lustre at this moment, some even beginning to crack inch by inch.
"These are technically the original forms of gods. Does this count as me having slaughtered dozens of deities in one go?"
It was worth noting that although these primitive totems had not condensed divine nature, the power of faith within them was incredibly dense and chaotic. For the gods of the Godsphere, this would have been the most lethal poison. Only Leylin, who possessed the Law of Devouring, could easily break down the emotions and thoughts within them, extracting the most refined essence of power for his own use.
[Ding! Divine power reserves complete! Commencing infusion into host body! Simulating Divine Grace!]
After the energy reserves hit 100%, the Chip's notification chimes came one after another without pause.
Shortly after, Leylin watched as the fully charged energy bar began to plummet, bottoming out in no time.
A sensation similar to his previous absorptions of divine power spread throughout his body, except this time the force was far more terrifying and overwhelming!
[Ding! Host body has undergone a Divine Grace baptism! Spiritual Power +1!]
[Ding! Host body's
[Ding! Host body's Wizard level has increased, gaining one Eighth-level Spell Slot, one Seventh-level Spell Slot, and one Sixth-level Spell Slot!]
Subsequently, Leylin's original body data was refreshed once more: [Leylin Farrowain. Age: Twenty-four. Race: Human. Level Eighteen Wizard. Strength: 15. Agility: 15. Constitution: 15. Spirit: 18. Arcane Energy: 180. Condition: Healthy. Talents: Robust, Well-Read, Intermediate Perfected Body. Proficiencies: Arcane Energy Sensitivity, Arcane Amplification] [
[Spell Slots: Eighth-level Spell Slots (2), Seventh-level Spell Slots (4), Sixth-level Spell Slots (7), Fifth-level Spell Slots (???), Fourth-level Spell Slots (???), Third-level Spell Slots (???), Second-level Spell Slots (???), First-level Spell Slots (???), Zero-level Spell Slots (???)]
"Is this... the power of divine grace?"
A mighty surge of power coursed through his entire body, a faint look of intoxication flickering in Leylin's eyes.
Only now did he understand the true might of the gods' chosen.
"Does this mean that as long as you earn a deity's favor, and are willing to expend a great deal of divine power, even a pig could be forcibly elevated into a legendary pig?"
Leylin's current rate of advancement was similar to those Chosen—even divine grace descended upon him every few days, though its source was entirely different.
"Judging by this, Alaszrue not only holds the status of a Chosen but also possesses a divine spark from the Goddess of the Weave. Her class level must be at least twenty-five, if not higher. Even a high-tier Legend might not be able to do anything to her..."
The situation in the North remained in chaos. The border between the Orc Empire and the human kingdoms had degenerated into a lawless no-man's-land, and the former Queen of the North—Her Highness Alaszrue—was still missing. Although numerous factions were frantically searching for any trace of the queen, none had reported success.
"It seems Her Highness the Queen is truly heartbroken this time, ready to retreat from the world?"
Leylin stroked his chin. He still had Thifah and a fiefdom in the North as hidden cards—it was well within his power to rejoin the game at any moment.
"Still, this works in my favor. The upheaval in the North has drawn the attention of the entire continent and the gods. My operations in Dambales will proceed much more smoothly..."
Leylin murmured to himself, sparing not another glance at the sacrificial offerings that had been reduced to ordinary matter before leaving the secret chamber directly.
……
Night fell, and the full moon rose once more. Long before the sky had grown fully dark, wisps of dark red mist began seeping out from the Nightmare Forest.
The pirates and native slaves who witnessed this sight retreated as though facing a mortal enemy, putting as much distance between themselves and the forest as possible. Some of the natives even dropped to their knees before the Nightmare Forest, praying aloud, utterly indifferent no matter how the overseers cracked their whips.
"Damn it all! How many brothers has this forest swallowed..."
Keron wiped the cold sweat from his brow, his legs trembling uncontrollably as he stared at the mist-shrouded forest with lingering fear. His plan had been simple: the moment anything went wrong, he would run.
In the year and a half he had served under Leylin, he had witnessed the forest's eerie horrors many times over. Despite repeated strict warnings, there were always reckless pirates who dared approach the forest on the night of the full moon—and those people were never seen again.
After several such incidents, this Nightmare Forest had risen in Keron's mind to a status beyond even the most fearsome deep-sea monsters, regarded as a danger on par with devils and demons.
"Oh
Gazing at the eerie purple-red moon and the mist-veiled forest, Keron prayed to the gods with genuine fervor for the first time in his entire life...
……
"No matter how many times I see this, it's still moving…"
Leylin stood fully armed at the edge of the Nightmare Forest, reaching out to grasp a wisp of dark crimson mist, his eyes blazing with excitement.
"The power of dreams from the outside world, compromising with the rules of the
Due to the universal nature of dream power, after undergoing a certain degree of mutation, it had actually become compatible with the rules of the World of Gods. If any other rule-bound existences were to learn of this discovery, it would likely drive them completely mad.
"Of course, this might also be because the
Leylin stroked his chin, watching the dark crimson dream power shift into various shapes across his palm.
"Chip! Establish a task: investigate the feasibility of converting foreign power within the World of Gods!"
[Ding! Task established. Added to the secondary exploration list!]the Chip faithfully responded.
"Nightmare Island… what kind of surprises are you going to give me?"
A smile tugged at the corners of Leylin's lips as his body gradually merged into the forest, swallowed by the dark crimson mist.
"The dream power within the forest only fully erupts on nights of the full moon—normally, even ordinary creatures can traverse it…"
A bundle of milky-white flame floated ahead as a guide, while Leylin studied the trees on either side.
At this moment, the original jungle seemed to have taken on a life of its own—the vast majority of those towering trees had transformed into treants.
They huddled with their arms crossed, dodging the light of the Everbright Flame, some even finding the leisure to whisper among themselves: "Look! Look! That human is coming again…"
"Hey, hey! You're stepping on me! Don't you know that stepping on an old man's head is terribly rude?"
An aged voice drifted up from beneath Leylin's feet, and he discovered that a bluish-gray stone that had been sitting there had sprouted its own tiny hands and legs. The moment he passed, it pulled itself free from the soil, and an ancient face even materialized on its surface.
"A Life Activation spell? Seems to have mutated further!"
Under the influence of the aberrant dream power in the World of Gods, the entire forest now seemed to possess a life of its own, with all manner of unimaginable things emerging from it.
"Hey! Human, you're back again—are you looking for Zolos?"
A squirrel was perched on the shoulder of a massive treant, waving a greeting at Lei Lin.
"Zolos? That big centipede? Is it its turn to come out again?" Lei Lin nodded. "No! But can you tell me where it is?"
As he spoke, he pulled a pinecone from his pocket and tossed it up.
"Mmm! My favorite!" The little squirrel immediately hugged the pinecone and started gnawing on it, its teeth chattering so fast that its words came out somewhat muffled.
"Zolos has been looking for you too! It's to the east — no! It's already coming! Run!"
The squirrel immediately scampered off with its pinecone, and the other treants did the same. In an instant, a vast area had been cleared out, leaving Lei Lin standing there all alone.
"How lucky! Every full moon night, the strongest creature spawned is different. I've seen a Nightmare Horse and a Walking Piano — compared to them, cracking the arcane lock from the big centipede is the easiest..."
A relaxed smile played across Lei Lin's face.
Bang! Bang!
A massive black shadow burst through the earth, its body covered in countless legs, its carapace studded with protrusions resembling human faces. Atop its evil and terrifying head sat the face of a young man, its eyes burning with a crimson hue, coldly fixed on Lei Lin.
"We meet again, big centipede!"
The Roaring Red Dragon staff in Lei Lin's hand suddenly burst forth with a spray of crimson light.
"No! I am Zolos the Third! The one you met last time was my father! Invader — this is no place for you!"
A buzzing voice emanated from the young man's masked carapace.
"Great! It's that damned dream-time again, making everything a hassle..."
Lei Lin stared at the enormous centipede monster, his expression turning deadly serious. "Are you going to step aside nicely, or do I just kill you right here?"
"Despicable human!"
Needless to say, this attitude immediately provoked the creature. The massive centipede monster let out a furious roar and dove straight at him.