Tower Defense: Public Enemy

"Beast Soul Technique..."

Lei Chi took out a green jade piece shaped like a leaf, and the [Beast Soul Technique] was imprinted on it.

According to the text, the Beast Soul Technique was a self-created technique by Gu Ran. He also created the Blood and Qi Transformation Beast Technique. He intended to combine these two techniques to nurture ferocious beasts within his own body and create a unique method for controlling beasts and spirits.

Unfortunately, he did not fully develop these two secret techniques, especially the [Beast Soul Technique], which was only a fragment. After it was mastered, it was said that one could cultivate a beast soul within the body. In reality, one first devoured the beast soul of a ferocious beast, then merged it with one's own thoughts and nurtured it within the body. This would gradually wear down the original consciousness in the beast soul and eventually turn it into a beast soul that would never betray one's will and would completely obey one's commands.

This secret method is not complicated, and although it has its mysteries, they are few and far between. For most cultivators, it can be considered a useless method.

The reason Lei Chi valued it so much was because this method could perfect his [Universal Unification] divine skill. This perfection meant expanding the foundation, not growing branches and leaves.

Within Leichi lies the Leichi Universe, within which resides a Microcosm, and within the Microcosm, constellations. These constellations are composed of star-shaped acupoints, and inanimate objects can be stored within these star-shaped acupoints.

Lei Chi was never satisfied with the fact that his Starry Sky Acupoints could only store inanimate objects. He had a vague premonition that if living things could be born in the universe within his body, then his [Universal Unification Divine Art] would undergo a qualitative change, which might be a world-shaking transformation.

To achieve this, the first and most basic step is that the acupoints and crevices must be able to hold living things.

The Starry Sky Acupoint lies between reality and nothingness, and the space within it is completely different from the real space. In essence, it is formed by the soul and body of the Thunder Pool, and naturally, it does not allow the existence of other wills. This is the fundamental reason why living beings cannot be stored within it.

Lei Chi had been pondering how to store living creatures in the Star Dou acupoints, but he had no clue until he discovered the [Beast Soul Technique]. This greatly inspired him, giving him many ideas and a clearer direction.

Therefore, although the [Beast Soul Technique] is merely a fragment of a secret technique, Lei Chi considers it to be more valuable than techniques such as the [King Overlord Divine Fist].

A moment later, Lei Chi entered Li Luo's cultivation cave with the [Beast Soul Technique] jade tablet in his hand.

The cave was completely empty, without a single item, which was about what Lei Chi had expected. He didn't mind, so he sat down cross-legged and began to study the [Beast Soul Technique], slowly integrating it into the [Universal Unification Divine Art].

Once the stone slab passage cooled down, Lei Chi entered the passage and quietly secluded himself within it.

"It's difficult to allow living beings to exist within the acupoints of stars, but we can first use the Beast Soul Technique to modify the acupoints of stars and nurture beast souls within them. Once the souls can survive, we can then explore methods to make the physical bodies able to live..."

Lei Chi's thinking became clearer and clearer. In the sixth year after his seclusion, he integrated the [Beast Soul Technique] into the [Universal Unification Divine Art], and thus embarked on his own path of soul cultivation.

Two years later, Lei Chi crushed the beast soul gem of the Fiery Giant Kun and used a secret technique to send the battle soul of the Fiery Giant Kun into the first small universe and the first star of the Lei Chi universe, Wuji Star.

When the battle spirit of the blazing giant Kun successfully entered the Wuji Star, Lei Chi was greatly encouraged. His Beast Soul Technique was complete, and more inspiration followed, allowing him to further perfect the [Universal Unification Divine Art].

For the next few years, Lei Chi continued to study the battle spirit of the giant Kun burning in the Wuji Star. He did not try to erase the self-awareness of the giant Kun battle spirit with his own thoughts. If he had done so, he would have been doing something inferior.

By the thirteenth year of seclusion, the battle spirit of the blazing giant Kun had become very adapted to the Wuji Star, and began to recover and grow within it. As for the Thunder Pool, it was like an all-knowing and all-powerful creator, and if it wanted, it could easily perceive all the thoughts of the battle spirit.

In the fifteenth year of his seclusion, Lei Chi crushed the battle spirit gem of the Pixiu that the Yellow Sand Lord had given him. With the gem shattered, the Pixiu's physical body ceased to exist, and its battle spirit was absorbed by Lei Chi into the second star of the first small universe, Taiji Star!

For the next few years, Lei Chi continued to research the method of nurturing beast souls with his own thoughts. When his twenty-year seclusion ended and the stone slab passage closed, Lei Chi walked out with a joyful expression.

Now, within his first microcosm, there are not only the battle spirits of the Fiery Giant Kun and the Pixiu, but also the beast spirits of [Great Mighty Tiger], [Azure Dragon King], [Sang Biao], [Iron Kun], and others.

These beast souls were created by Lei Chi by combining his own divine soul with the true meaning of the cultivation technique he practiced. They have already developed their own consciousness and are now growing wildly.

Although Raichi had spent a lot of time and energy on this, he was very gratified.

"Creating a soul is no different from creating life, and life is the largest level in the universe. My Cosmic Unification Divine Skill has improved once again."

Lei Chi stood with his hands behind his back and said arrogantly.

During the day that the stone passage cooled down, Lei Chi used the cave tokens he had collected to explore all fourteen remaining cultivation caves, including the one belonging to the ancient bearded man. However, his harvest was pitiful.

Most of the fourteen cultivation caves were empty, and even the items that were there were made of very low-grade materials with very limited value.

Lei Chi no longer cared about these details; he returned to the Fish Dragon Lake Secret Realm.

Within the secret realm of Yulong Lake, Mo Lang, Lucifer, Yodara, Zhao Shuibiao, Amis, and Meijis are all present.

These individuals had long since set aside any sectarian differences and were now truly like fellow disciples, exchanging cultivation insights in Fish-Dragon Lake. Upon seeing the Thunder Pool, they all bowed respectfully and addressed him as "Senior Brother!"

"Um."

Lei Chi nodded, accepting the situation calmly. Then, without saying anything, he chose a blue stone to sit cross-legged and began his meditation.

"Senior Brother, this Fish-Dragon Lake contains dragonfish, dragon turtles, and dragon snakes, all of which are invaluable treasures!"

"If our senior brother needs us, we'll go down and slack off for him!"

"With our current strength, as long as we don't stay in this lake for too long, there shouldn't be any major problems!"

"Senior Brother, has that treacherous system already decided that you're the main god?"

"Is that even a question? Our eldest brother is incredibly powerful; he's already a supreme god!"

"How can the Supreme God be compared to our Senior Brother? He should be called the Holy God!"

"Yes, those so-called 'Gods of Emptiness' who became gods through faith are all trash. They're not even worthy of carrying Senior Brother's shoes!"

"Excellent! Weapon Lord God is a weakling! We can slaughter him by donning our masks of truth! Senior Brother must be a Holy God!"

"From now on, we will only respect our senior brother..."

These people already held Lei Chi in high esteem, especially Mo Lang, Lucifer, and Yudara, who, in addition to their respect, also harbored deep fear.

Lei Chi found these people a bit noisy and said, "If you have nothing else to do, then you may leave. This Fish-Dragon Lake... is not yet a place you can explore. Go and cultivate, or you can go and forge weapons!"

"yes!"

"Listen to your senior brother!"

"I'm going to work as a blacksmith!"

"Let's go together!"

"Then I'll go cultivate..."

The six people left quickly.

Fish Dragon Lake quieted down. Although Lei Chi knew that this small lake was not simple, he was not in a hurry to explore it. He sat on the blue stone and entered the stone plate passage to cultivate after it cooled down. Before it cooled down, his consciousness descended into Qinghuo's body and allowed it to explore the Divine Realm Starry Sky.

And so, time slowly slipped away...

This day marked the third month since Lei Chi had entered seclusion at Yulong Lake.

Qinghuo, in his avatar, rode the Moon Gazing Beast and explored the Divine Realm's starry sky for three whole months, reaping considerable rewards. Today, he finally succeeded in collecting thirty Star River Hearts.

As long as these Star Hearts are sent back to Paradise City, it won't be long before the treasure formed by combining the Emerald Heart and the Treasure Gourd Vine matures.

"I wonder if my system will classify that treasure as a divine artifact or a super divine artifact. If its attributes aren't good, all this work of mine will be for nothing!"

Lei Chi smiled slightly, gazed at the starry sky, and then controlled his Azure Flame avatar to embark on the journey back to Bliss City.

Also today, above the former capital of the Asar Empire, within the alchemical array, a series of beams of light appeared, each containing a person—all players from the Mechanical Temple.

The mechanical temple embedded in mid-air finally began to move, inch by inch approaching the main world, accompanied by a deafening roar that caused ripples in space, forming hurricanes or lightning.

Meanwhile, from all directions, a large number of players, either piloting mechs or spaceships, were rapidly arriving.

These players, however, were all peripheral players of the Mechanical Temple.

"Pioneers of machinery, descend upon the world!"

"The Cult of Machine God, rekindle the flame of faith!"

"Machines are eternal!"

Shouts emanated from the players surrounding the mechanical temple, and these shouts seemed to possess a magical power, causing the mechanical temple to descend even faster.

Suddenly, a mechanical giant dressed in a black robe and holding a metal scepter appeared before the main gate of the mechanical temple. He stomped his foot, and with a loud bang, the entire mechanical temple broke free from the spatial rift and landed on the ground with a deafening roar.

"I am the Mechanical God, Norda!"

The metal giant raised his scepter and shouted.

Many players from the Mechanical Temple immediately knelt down on one knee and bowed their heads.

"The war of faith is about to begin! You can start celebrating!"

Nordhua, who called himself the chief god of machinery, shouted again and took flight. Behind him, the massive mechanical temple rapidly transformed, becoming a towering mechanical giant in less than five breaths.

At the same time, the celestial palaces floating above the new capital of the Asar Empire emitted a bright light, and then quickly condensed into reality, becoming a real celestial palace. Then, cranes flew, cloud boats appeared, and divine dragons swam.

Previous players of the Huangtian Sect have also begun to appear.

Meanwhile, similar phenomena are rapidly unfolding across the main world: numerous ancient ruins are appearing, a large number of previous generation players are descending, various main artifacts are emerging, and even main gods are descending.

A moment later, all players received a system announcement: "Server-wide announcement: The required number of players descending into the main world has been reached, the spacetime blockade has been completely lifted, the alternate dimension has appeared, and will gradually connect with the main world."

Server-wide announcement: The Faith System is now fully operational, the conditions for achieving godhood through faith have been announced, and player rank restrictions have been lifted!

Server-wide Announcement: Rules, covenants, and detailed regulations for the Faith Wars are now released!

Server-wide announcement: The Altar of Faith has been opened, unlocking the Faith Shop. Players can now use the Altar of Faith to attain godhood!

Server-wide announcement: A war behemoth has descended! The war of faith will begin in ten days!

After this series of server-wide announcements, black monuments and black altars slowly rose from the ground in various parts of the main world.

The inscriptions on those giant monuments read "The Covenant of the God of Faith".

According to this covenant, after the War of Faith begins, all players will have an additional attribute called "Faith Value". This value represents the faith power that the player possesses. When it reaches a certain level, the player can go to the Faith Altar to advance to the level of a lower god, a middle god, or a higher god.

In addition, after the war of faith begins, all players in the main world will be forcibly given system tasks. These system tasks are mainly faith collection tasks. If they cannot complete them within a certain period of time, they will be stripped of their player status and will be erased, banished, or sealed by the system.

The war of faith is divided into three stages. The first stage is the free stage, where players only need to complete mandatory system tasks to avoid being punished by the system.

The second stage is the elimination stage. Once this stage is entered, the system will continuously set a unified faith value target. If the player's faith value does not reach the target set by the system within the specified time, then the player will be eliminated, which means that the system will strip the player of their qualifications, erase them, banish them, or seal them away.

The third stage is the final stage, where the system will calculate the final rules. Players who qualify for the final will not be eliminated, banished, or sealed by the system. Those who emerge victorious in the final will receive a mysterious system reward.

The altars that rise up from all over the main world are the altars of faith. Players can quickly become gods in them as long as they have enough faith points.

In addition, all players can access the Faith Shop through their personal panel. The Faith Shop contains a large number of artifacts, treasures, system items, etc., all with clearly marked prices. Players can use Faith Points to shop there.

Players around the world quickly went wild, and countless discussions arose as a result. Some players were already looking forward to the war of the gods, while others were extremely worried.

Regardless, their faith value attribute has already been revealed. Some have a lot, some have a little. Players with a lot of faith value are naturally more relaxed, while those with a little faith value are inevitably anxious.

Faith points are not easy to collect because faith comes from people's hearts.

Fortunately, the system will also send down war behemoths!

These war behemoths are monsters specifically designed for the war of faith. Defeating them grants faith points, and it's foreseeable that once they appear, they will immediately become the target of fierce competition among players.

Lei Chi was in the Holy God Palace but did not receive these system notifications. However, he learned about them after Qing Huo's avatar returned to Bliss City.