Chapter 997

Even more is needed!

If calculated at one hundred thousand high-grade divine stones, it's terrifyingly immense, requiring vast amounts of time to accumulate.

In a small empire like the Purple Gold Empire, the total annual income of faith power amounts to only a hundred or so high-grade divine stones; the Purple Gold Empire's former deity, Seiya, needed a thousand years of accumulation to gather one hundred thousand high-grade divine stones.

Moreover, during that thousand years, Seiya could not fight—meaning no consumption of divine power.

Larger empires like Star Fall and Zi Yun fare better; their annual income is at least ten times that of the Purple Gold Empire, requiring only about a hundred years to accumulate one hundred thousand high-grade divine stones of faith power.

In other words, the annual income of a peak third-tier deity is barely enough for one drop of fourth-tier divine power.

Of course, this calculation only accounts for the amount of faith power required for fourth-tier divine power.

Even if you gave a peak third-tier deity one hundred million high-grade divine stones, without breaking through to the fourth tier, he could never produce fourth-tier divine power.

As for great empires like the Eternal Night Empire, ranked among the top ten on the Continent of Gods, their annual income may be several to ten times that of the Zi Yun or Star Fall Empires, possibly accumulating one hundred thousand high-grade divine stones in just a few or a decade.

"The Eternal Night Goddess certainly is quite wealthy."

Lin Yan thought.

Calculated this way, the Eternal Night Goddess truly is quite wealthy.

Keep in mind, the Eternal Night Goddess has ruled the Eternal Night Empire for a thousand years, and the empire has been among the top ten on the Continent of Gods for over five hundred years.

The Eternal Night Goddess's accumulated wealth must be terrifyingly vast!

Given the strength and scale of the Eternal Night Empire, her annual income of faith power, converted into high-grade divine stones, is at least several thousand, even nearing ten thousand.

Of course, it still pales beside Lin Yan's; when the Flame Empire had just absorbed and stabilized the Purple Gold Empire, Lin Yan's annual faith power income already reached over ten thousand high-grade divine stones, surpassing the Eternal Night Goddess's income.

At that time, the Flame Empire's population was less than one-tenth of the Eternal Night Empire's.

Who else but Lin Yan had such a broken godhead? Collecting faith power incurred zero loss whatsoever!

Now, after the Flame Empire absorbed the Star Fall Empire, it possesses over a billion people; once it gains the five hundred million people of the Zi Yun Empire, its population will surpass two billion.

With such a vast population, and these people previously belonging to great empires, their overall quality is significantly higher than that of kingdoms or small empires, contributing even more faith power.

At that point, Lin Yan's annual faith power income, converted into high-grade divine stones, could surpass one hundred thousand—and even more!

"If the Eternal Night Empire were owned by a fourth-tier deity, then even after ten thousand years, his income would only amount to a thousand or so drops of fourth-tier 16-level divine power."

Lin Yan muttered.

"No, there's also the divine system—fourth-tier deities possess vast divine systems, with reserve divine systems beyond them, each contributing massive returns; moreover, fourth-tier deities own countless rare treasures, and simply selling a few can earn enormous divine stones."

Lin Yan pondered.

"So calculated, a fourth-tier deity with a 16-level godhead should earn several thousand to ten thousand drops of 16-level divine power over ten thousand years."

Lin Yan muttered.

Fourth-tier divine power is exceedingly precious.

Having calculated others' income, Lin Yan began calculating his own.

He needs only ten thousand high-grade divine stones to exchange for one drop of 16-level divine power.

In other words, after fully digesting the Star Fall Empire and acquiring the Zi Yun Empire, Lin Yan's annual faith power income could condense over ten drops of fourth-tier divine power.

This rate is more than a hundred times faster than that of any other fourth-tier deity.

Moreover, Lin Yan can earn income by selling items from the Abyss.

Lin Yan can also collect divine substances from the sun and sell them for massive profits.

In addition, Lin Yan can gain income from his divine system.

Calculated this way, the upgrade of his divine body seems unlikely to be slow.

"Let's see if I can produce 17-level divine power."

Lin Yan muttered.

Lin Yan invested ten drops of 16-level divine power and used his godhead's exchange function to convert them into 17-level divine power.

Soon, Lin Yan saw that the exchange succeeded.

"It worked?"

Lin Yan froze.

He checked the ratio—the 16-level divine power consumed was only five points.

Lin Yan clearly remembered that when his godhead was at 15-level, he could only exchange for 15-level divine power, not 16-level.

"Could godhead exchange be calculated by tier, not by level?"

Lin Yan thought.

15-level is third-tier, while 16-level is fourth-tier; all 15-level godheads cannot exchange for 16-level divine power.

But 16-level and 17-level belong to the same tier—both fourth-tier—so exchange is possible!

To test his theory, Lin Yan consumed vast quantities of high-grade divine stones and faith power, exchanging a total of forty-five drops of 16-level divine power.

Then, Lin Yan exchanged all forty-five drops of 16-level divine power, converting them into nine drops of 17-level divine power.

Thus, Lin Yan now possessed a total of ten drops of 17-level divine power.

Lin Yan once again grouped the ten drops of 17-level divine power and selected exchange.

One drop of 18-level divine power appeared.

"It worked!"

Lin Yan smiled.

He checked the ratio.

The exchange ratio remained 5:1 per level.

Five drops of 16-level divine power exchanged for one drop of 17-level divine power.

Five drops of 17-level divine power exchanged for one drop of 18-level divine power.

"16-level to 20-level godhead should all be fourth-tier; if I keep exchanging like this, won't I be able to directly obtain 20-level divine power? Above 20-level is the domain of the Primordial Gods?"

Lin Yan couldn't help but think.

Exchanging for 18th-level Divine Power does not mean possessing an 18th-level Divine Core.

Without an 18th-level Divine Core, even if Lin Yan attacked with 18th-level Divine Power, it would still be far less terrifying than the attack of a fourth-tier deity possessing an 18th-level Divine Core.

Just like that Lan Xu Divine Lord who obtained a single drop of fourth-tier Divine Power—if he used that drop of fourth-tier Divine Power to attack Lin Yan now, Lin Yan wouldn't even need to use any fourth-tier power to easily block it.

If you give a Saint Realm a divine artifact, does that mean the Saint Realm can slaughter a god?

There might still be some possibility on the Continent of Gods, but in the Heavenly Realm, without suppression, it's impossible.

The same principle applies to Divine Power.

However, exchanging for 18th-level Divine Power still significantly enhances Lin Yan's combat power in his Divine Body state.

The most important thing isn't here.

The most important thing is…

If Lin Yan's Flame Form were ignited with 18th-level Divine Power… the power would likely be terrifying!

Lin Yan's Flame Form, even without Divine Power, can utterly crush a peak third-tier Divine Lord.

With Divine Power, it's sufficient to fight a fourth-tier deity.

If fourth-tier Divine Power were used, the power would be even more terrifying.

And 18th-level Divine Power is already the third rank within the fourth tier!

According to Lin Yan's estimate, there probably aren't many fourth-tier deities in the Heavenly Realm who possess an 18th-level Divine Core.

Especially those fourth-tier deities with shorter existence, only tens of thousands of years old, are likely all at 16th-level Divine Core.

In the end, Lin Yan exchanged for only one drop of 18th-level Divine Power.

Now, within his Divine Core, among the Heavenly Realm's powers, there is one drop of 18th-level Divine Power, five drops of 17th-level Divine Power, and three more drops of 16th-level Divine Power—all others are third-tier or lower Divine Power.

At the very bottom of the Ocean of Divine Power lies that single drop of 18th-level Divine Power.

Although it is only one drop, this single drop of 18th-level Divine Power occupies the largest volume within the Ocean of Divine Power.

Of course, if Lin Yan were to take out this one drop of 18th-level Divine Power, it would still be no larger than a single water droplet.

But once released, it becomes terrifying.

On the Continent of Gods, if not for the reinforced laws suppressing it by the Primordial Gods, this one drop of Divine Power would be enough to annihilate a nation!

The second-to-last layer consists of the five drops of 17th-level Divine Power, which are currently fused together.

Above them are the 16th-level Divine Power and the Divine Power below 16th-level.

After observing for a while, Lin Yan exchanged for many more 16th-level Chaotic Divine Powers, then exchanged for one drop of 17th-level Chaotic Divine Power.

As for 18th-level Chaotic Divine Power, his Dark Faith was insufficient.

His Divine Core accommodated both powers in coexistence, without any imbalance.

After finishing, Lin Yan turned his gaze toward his Divine Nation.