Chapter 242

"Oh, so you're pretty impressive then..."

Ishtar said it casually without a care, not particularly concerned about it.

Anyway, she didn't seem to have any sense of confidentiality or the like, nor did she feel that the mysteries of Divine Spirits were some forbidden realm that prohibited others from exploring.

"Hmm, feels like there's potential. Maybe I can try making an artificial Divine Rank or something. Just so happens I have the technology for a digital Primordial Spirit architecture..."

Xia Zhi pinched his chin, thinking seriously.

"Artificial Divine Rank?"

The Goddess instantly raised an eyebrow.

"It's a concept similar to mimicking a Divine Core. After all, Divinity is merely Divine Spirit aptitude. Call it rare and it's rare; call it ordinary and it's ordinary..."

The Magic User raised a finger, waving it as he explained.

"If a Divine Core can't be formed, there's still no way to use a complete system of Authority. In that case, it holds absolutely no value for me..."

So-called Divinity can be regarded as a kind of directional Divine Factor.

For Mortals, it is indeed incomparably precious, even an unattainable extravagant hope.

Although much of the time, anyone with ties to gods will more or less carry such Factors.

Even so, under the framework of the Holy Grail War, this thing — hard to say whether it's a buff or a debuff — can't bring much benefit to participants...

Sometimes, it might even put the Divinity holder at a disadvantage.

But setting aside the special circumstances of the Holy Grail War, on the macro level of the World, Divinity is undoubtedly a symbol of power.

The more Divinity held, the higher the rank, the more benefits it brings.

Greater power, more outstanding Mystery, more tenacious vitality and Defense Art, even longer lifespan and youth... and so on.

The higher the Divinity rank, the more it can influence materiality.

Heroes, Monsters, both are the same.

However, if it's merely this, at best it's only the level of a Demigod — far from enough.

Even if another replica Heracles appeared, it would no longer be enough to make Xia Zhi pay too much attention; naturally he wouldn't be that invested.

After all, in this World —

Even ordinary gods aren't worth the current Magic User giving a second glance.

So stopping at the layer of Divinity holds no meaning; only touching the core mystery one layer deeper can spark his interest.

"You still want to create artificial Divine Spirits?"

Ishtar's brows couldn't help furrowing slightly, her voice revealing doubt and incomprehension. "Is the current quantity still not enough?"

Her gaze involuntarily turned downward — there lay the majestic Planet encircled by the precise Ring-shaped Space Station.

This is a highly advanced technical Facility inside the Ring-shaped Space Station, and also the exclusive "Star Window" of her, this Ruler of Heaven.

Although the Divine Spirits successively absorbed all occupy a place within this Ring-shaped Space Station.

The basic standard treatment is being allocated Living Modules of various sizes —

Crystallizations of Artificial Ecological Architecture, they can provide conditions similar to a Planetary Surface World, and simulate all kinds of environmental parameters...

— which is to say, within their respective Divine Realms, they are free to exercise their abilities internally.

According to the tendency of their Divinity power and the Authority domains they grasp, they may even be allocated to specific technical posts in the Space Station, managing Module areas with special functions.

For example, the Climate Optimization Station: Divine Spirits holding climate-related Authorities like wind, rain, thunder, and lightning are allocated there, responsible for regulating the Planet's climate.

Of Course.

These internal operational Details are not for outsiders; the external explanation certainly wouldn't use such low rhetoric, like "technical job categories"...

On the contrary, these posts are called "Divine Portfolios".

Sounds especially fitting for Company culture vibes, full of trendiness.

In short, in this Ring-shaped Space Station, the Gods visiting each other as staff is perfectly normal; only the true Administrator cannot be easily seen.

That is the current Ruler of Heaven, Goddess Ishtar.

This Star Window is also one of the few Prohibited areas in the Ring-shaped Space Station.

Not like other unopened Divine Realms (Living Modules) that can't be entered because they're pending allocation, not yet put into use, the whole zone not Activated.

Rather, the Gods all know this zone exists, but simply cannot easily approach it.

This is also very normal. According to the Gods' thinking, they naturally consider this a magnificent Heavenly Palace, a Pantheon.

Then the palace of the God above gods is naturally a forbidden zone — isn't that perfectly normal?

Naturally no one would be foolish enough to have Intentional objections.

Mainly because the importance of this Star Window goes without saying; it's basically the place with the highest Permission in the entire Space Station, a zone akin to a Control Room.

At this very moment —

It not only displays all kinds of information on the massive Planet below, but also projects cosmic Phenomena within the Solar System in 3D holographic form.

Precisely because of this, Ishtar personally witnessed the birth of batch after batch of Divine Spirits on Earth, and even on other Planets.

— Taking natural phenomena like storms and earthquakes as objects of Belief, giving birth to nature gods on the Planet.

— Taking Celestial Bodies like the Sun and Moon as objects of Belief, giving birth to concept gods of other Celestial Bodies.

Although the latter aren't necessarily nobler than the former, nor do they possess terrifying power like a Planet UO, they are mostly just formed by borrowing the concept of the Celestial Body.

Like her as the Venus Goddess — she's said to have the Celestial Body's Administrator Permission, but actually getting the Celestial Body's full support is very difficult.

It's mostly just utilizing the connection arising from this concept, borrowing the Celestial Body's partial power and Mystery to the maximum extent, converting it for her own Authority's use.

But this is already extremely terrifying.

Especially during these five millennia of accelerated Evolution, life and Civilization on the Planet have continuously changed, and too many Divine Spirits have already appeared one after another.

"Of Course it's still not enough. Even placed on this Planet right now, the Quantity is still far, far from enough."

Xia Zhi shook his head calmly, reached out and pointed a finger.

"After all, most Divine Spirits in my view are not worthy of this Designated Title; most are natural phenomena given form, at most stirring up a Hurricane, a Tsunami, or an earthquake and so on..."

"Is that not enough?"

Ishtar Pulling Mouth Corner: "If there were no Restrictions, it would be just as Terrifying even in the modern world, Hao Le."

Gazing at the youth's Expression, she could not help but furrow her brow, puffing her cheeks as she tentatively asked:

"Could it be that in your view, only Main God level counts as qualified?"

Main God level is an Existence capable of influencing the entire Age of Gods.

If in the same period, there were no Competition or restraint from other mythological systems, it could almost determine the future direction of the Planet.

It can be said to be an Existence like the Ruler of the Star.

"..."

"..."

Seeing the Wizard smile faintly without speaking, the Black Long Straight Hair girl immediately became somewhat unsettled.

"Hey, you Fellow surely aren't serious, right? How is that possible?"

"Nothing is impossible, as long as the Quantity is large enough..." Xia Zhi Blink.

"No matter how large, there is a limit; on this Earth, surely the number of Divine Spirits cannot exceed that of Ordinary People... uh, wait?"

Ishtar Miss Subconscious Reacted, but immediately thought of something.

This Fellow seemed to have said something just now?

——Even if placed on this Planet right now...

——the Quantity is still far from enough?

"Could it be that recreating the World on the Sea of Nothingness, making the Star brim with Vitality, is not your ultimate goal, but merely the starting point of your plan..."

As if realizing something Incredible, the girl widened her Beautiful Eyes and stared fixedly at him.

"Correct, since the Sea of Nothingness has been Conquered, naturally it should now be the turn of the Star Sea."

The Wizard wore a relieved Expression of "you finally understand."

"No, not..."

Ishtar Miss had a look of being Unable to React, always feeling something was off.

"Isn't this fine? Why go out?"

Hearing her Subconscious question, Xia Zhi did not answer immediately, merely looking down at the azure Planet below, a Star brimming with Vitality like a jewel.

He did not reshape the world layout according to Earth's continental plates again.

Instead, taking the Fairy Kingdom as the center, in the four Directions of north, south, west, and east, he shaped four Continents that were largely the same.

………………

——The Holy Roman Empire is situated on the west side, its Origin naturally being that first passenger plane, most of whom were European and American Transmigrators, with only a few Asians and so on.

They first wanted to recreate the monotheistic Belief in the Bible, even branding Xia Zhi as a Devil, calling him Satan, and saying the Aralin Bloodline he bestowed was the Forbidden Fruit the ancient serpent tricked Humans into eating...

How to put it, they were quite imaginative, and it fit the nature of Pirates quite well.

It's just that in this regard, they had no say.

After the oldest batch died, Time wore everything away, and polytheistic Belief blossomed everywhere.

——The Zhendian Celestial Dynasty is another testing ground, situated on the east side, the entire Continent hegemony seized by the Xia summer Transmigrators, with Asians squeezed out from the Holy Roman Empire side joining in succession.

So both sides knew of each other's Existence early on, and early established Routes and Trade, regarding each other as arch-enemies.

Zhendang chose the path of Ancestor Worship plus the Dragon Totem, with shamans and fangshi being mainstream groups.

After thousands of years of excavation and refinement, through generations of hard work, the most core Power System was formed, inheriting the will of the sages (Bad Taste), naming it "Treading the Ancient Dragon Path."

——As for the northern Continent, it is currently Isolated from the World, covered by blizzards and ice.

The land occupied by Transmigrators shouting Dawarishi also had quite a few Xia summer people deployed there.

Or rather, the vast majority of idealists were deployed there, choosing the Route of material technology.

Although conditions were harsh, they did effectively provide a good development Environment, so as not to have to deal with Demigods or Dragon people with Flintlocks before developing...

That was of course Brave, but only Brave remained.

——As for the southern Continent, it was likewise Blockaded and Isolated.

All Races were deployed there in certain proportions, but could not become dominant.

Because that Continent was a testing ground for South American mythology, Alien Fungus had long combined with local Plants, forming a huge Information Network.

Kukulkan will be Reborn there, and will also be the first true Divine Spirit in his plan—

Ruler of the Star.

………………

"We cannot stay here forever; going out is necessary."

Gazing at the Planet layout below, Xia Zhi said calmly.

"Earth was once destroyed by White Destruction; if we simply restore the Vitality of the Planet's life, it would merely be letting it harvest again."

In the Void Point there are Civilization Harvesters cruising at Faster-Than-Light speed.

They enter the Milky Way to hunt once every ten thousand years or so.

This is a Threat that must be faced no matter what.

(Chapter End)