Chapter 214: The Secret of Divine Office and Authority

"Th-this is authority?!"

The Feathered Serpent God, witnessing the scene, exclaimed in surprise, seeming somewhat incredulous.

"How could it be? Without attaining Legendary, one can still touch the power of authority?"

"Authority?" Naimi Xisi was rather surprised; he knew full well that the Twisted Eye originated from an otherworldly evil god, but like the Infinite Gem, the Throne's existence was too entangled, and instinctively he did not wish others to know.

"Do you find that after each use of this power, your body suffers damage?" the Feathered Serpent God said with a certain tone.

Naimi Xisi was somewhat surprised; indeed, after each use of the Twisted Eye, his eyes bled and his vision blurred.

Just now, after using the twisted power to annihilate a Legendary, the blood from his eyes had already covered his entire face, streaming in thick rivulets, looking rather horrifying.

"The so‑called authority is the two sides of one Divine Office."

"Divine Office and authority are like the difference between a field and the farmer."

"Divine Office is the foundation of a deity's existence in the world; relying on it, a deity can draw the concepts and faith associated with its Divine Office."

"But as a deity, besides gathering faith power through the Divine Office, it also possesses means to influence the definition of the Divine Office, and that is authority."

"The Sun God can hide the sun in darkness, the Spring God can erase spring from the seasons, the Love God can drive mortals mad with love; these are the effects of Divine Office under a deity's subjective influence, and that is authority."

"Under normal circumstances, only those who have reached the pinnacle of Legendary—what you mortals call level 40—have a chance to glimpse authority, and only those who comprehend the Legendary of authority can become a quasi‑god."

"In this world, there is no deity without Divine Office and authority, not even a quasi‑god."

"But I truly have never seen a mortal who has not reached Legendary yet can wield the power of authority; that is actually good news for you, for at least the biggest hurdle to becoming a quasi‑god in the future has already been cleared."

Naimi Xisi suddenly understood; the so‑called authority was simply what a deity could accomplish within its own Divine Office.

The otherworldly evil god was innately adept at twisting all things, and such twisted power naturally belongs to the power of authority.

"But why do you know that when I use this so‑called authority power my flesh suffers damage?"

Naimi Xisi asked impatiently; this matter had long troubled him, for the side effect caused a lengthy cooldown for his Twisted Eye, and if it could be resolved, his combat power would increase dramatically.

The Feathered Serpent God chuckled lightly and said, "Because you do not yet have the qualification to use authority."

"Divine Office is a conceptual existence, far beyond what mortals can imagine; authority, being its other side, is naturally the same."

"To trigger such a mighty force, you must possess energy beyond the mortal realm; the magic and Mana streams mortals rely on are but tasteless chicken ribs to it. That is why you are injured when you use it—it siphons your life force to compensate for the missing cost of wielding authority."

Naimi Xisi's pupils contracted; the Twisted Eye he used relied on that red twisted Mana, which is the power wielded by the otherworldly evil god—still not enough qualification?

"What kind of power can drive authority without cost? I truly cannot imagine."

He stopped halfway through his sentence. He recalled that energy; he had already seen it before.

"It seems you have already witnessed it," the Feathered Serpent God chuckled.

"Indeed, the power formed from countless converging beliefs, possessing incomprehensible omnipotent force—true divine power—is the very foundation upon which deities drive authority."

"Within the Multiverse, there are myriad Divine Offices; if not for the omnipotent true divine power, what other force could satisfy the countless gods' bizarre authority needs?"

Naimi Xisi sighed; so it truly was true divine power, and it seemed his hope of eliminating the side effects of using the Twisted Eye was dashed.

He hadn't even reached Legendary; true divine power was still far beyond him. "I see."

After explaining the secret behind Divine Office and authority to Naimi Xisi, the Feathered Serpent God vanished without a trace.

Naimi Xisi felt grateful; had it not been for its explanation, this secret that exists only among deities would likely be nowhere to be found.

Juan Ce Long's memory inheritance is already among the most extensive within the True Dragon, yet he remains completely ignorant of this.

Between deities and mortals lies an unseen, boundless chasm.

He turned his gaze to where Duzula Ershi had stood; the myriad flesh‑and‑blood force‑field tendrils had already dissipated under his will, leaving only a splendid great hammer that had fallen to the ground.

He picked it up; the hammer that had seemed imposing now appeared as tiny as a toothpick beneath his dragon claw.

After a moment's thought, he swallowed it into his stomach without synchronizing.

The weapon was unsuitable for him as a great dragon, and he had already decided on its future owner.

Greyro, that prodigiously gifted youth.

Even the general he revered already regarded him as master; the other's submission to him was a matter of course.

!

As his own Dependents, naturally they are part of his combat strength; placing this Artifact in their hands would be more fitting.

As for Anlesitong Duzula

He glanced at the other and shook his head.

Although the Feathered Serpent God was an ally, his nature was cold, and he would never trust a priest without reservation.

He deeply understood how faith changes a person; even Thus: Duzula Shiliu Shi now respects him, should his own faith ever diverge from the latter's, he would follow his own faith without hesitation.

An Artifact capable of releasing Legendary Divine Spells must still be placed in the hands of trustworthy Dependents.

Without delay, after swallowing the Artifact, Naimi Xisi rushed toward the opening where Duzula Ershi had appeared.

He had not forgotten his greatest loot this time—a strand of divinity!

Moreover, unlike before, as a chosen of the Sun God, the "Infinite Gem" Naimi Xisi obtained in the underground tomb contained the divinity of Tizka!

This made Naimi Xisi uneasy.

If this strand of divinity still belonged to Zhartrek, he had already planned to forge an additional Artifact.

But now that it belongs to Tizka, he considered upgrading the White Magic Staff.

Zhartrek's divinity leans toward evil, flesh, and darkness; many spells undergo only modest changes under such a mutation.

Tizka, however, is different; it governs the sun, flame, and wrath, and provides a visibly strong boost to Plastic Energy spells.

It could also forge a new Artifact, likewise possessing the function of Divine Spell, but the White Magic Staff's uniqueness lies in its ability to convert Spell Slots into Divine Spells.

Such a function is rare and not guaranteed; no Artifact has exactly the same ability, and he cannot assure the new Artifact will possess it.

In fact, most Artifact abilities are randomly generated under the influence of the Magic Net.

The smith can only determine one or two abilities by selecting materials and Runes, but special abilities like the White Magic Staff's capacity to charge Divine Spells are often left to luck.

(End of Chapter)