Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

"Whether in search of a way to resolve chaos or in order to fight against other gods, the gods began vying to bring humans into their ranks. This gave different humans the opportunity to come into contact with different races and different powers. Although the probability was extremely small, the abilities they learned from other races and gods could be exchanged and passed down among their own kind. And all of this was later called 'magic' by you..."

Chapter 5: Methods of Obtaining Spiritual Power

"I see……"

Liu Xia lowered her eyes in deep thought, and the doubts in her heart suddenly cleared up—no wonder there was always a theory in the world about the origin of magic that suggested that magic was intricately related to other races in ancient times. This was precisely why battle aura was a basic power that everyone could cultivate, differing only in the quality of talent. Magic, on the other hand, had become a rare talent that could not be sought after, and only a few could even touch the threshold.

Kurowell nodded slightly and continued calmly:

"This situation occurred in the last era before the current era, which the gods also called the Seventeenth Era. The Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Eras, all following the descent of the gods, were long periods of war and chaos, each lasting only a short time, the longest being no more than one or two thousand years. But in the Seventeenth Era, humanity's rate of prosperity and expansion far exceeded that of all other races, even surpassing the gods' initial predictions..."

Hearing this, Ryuka's curiosity intensified. He couldn't help but turn his head, scrutinizing Chloe beside him with a hint of inquiry in his voice:

"Crowel, in which era did you become a god?"

"What happened in the middle of the Eleventh Era?"

Looking at Chloe's calm and expressionless face, Ryuka hesitated for a long time, her doubts surging like a tide. In the end, she couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out her truest thoughts:

"Then you... there are other gods who have lived for at least a thousand years, right? How could you even misjudge the development of humanity?"

These words were somewhat impolite, and coupled with Ryūka's almost offensive and questioning gaze, even Chūer couldn't help but chuckle helplessly. In Ryūka's mind, gods should be near-omnipotent beings—even if they couldn't destroy the world or overturn oceans, they should at least be able to overlook all living beings and see everything clearly. With thousands of years of accumulated life experience and having witnessed countless eras change, how could they have made such a mess of the past, even misjudging the development of an entire race?

Kurowell couldn't help but sigh softly, a faint trace of melancholy flashing in his eyes, his tone full of helplessness: "As I mentioned before, the rules of the gods are intertwined and complex, so much so that they are difficult to disentangle. This renders many prophetic and predictive abilities ineffective. When there are too many mutually restrictive and conflicting forces in the world, even the gods who control destiny are sometimes helpless and powerless against fate..."

Ryuu's heart stirred, and he pondered to himself. This sounded like the legendary "Heavenly Dao," an invisible force that bound everything, from which even gods could not escape. He couldn't help but sigh; it turned out that the gods of this world were not so unrestrained and arbitrary. With this thought, he frowned, a sense of loss rising in his heart: Even if he became a god in the future, would he not be able to achieve omnipotence? This was so different from the lofty, supreme god he had always admired.

However, he suppressed his disappointment, nodded slightly to indicate that he understood, and let Kurowell continue:

"In the middle of the Seventeenth Era, Chaos, once sealed deep within the Spirit Realm, broke through its seals, its all-corrupting power gradually spreading to every corner of the mortal world. Countless beings were corrupted by Chaos, losing their original reason, becoming disordered and violent, filled with a desire for destruction. War and chaos swept across the world, and many gods perished in this catastrophe. Their demise instantly deprived their followers, who worshipped their power, of their powerful abilities. Of course, there was also the opposite situation: the power connection between gods and their followers was like a fragile bridge. If many followers were corrupted and degenerated by Chaos, the gods' power would also be affected, and they themselves might be devoured by Chaos and fall into corruption... At this time, humans, with the weakest spiritual qualities, became the most perfect followers. Even if they were corrupted by Chaos, their influence on the gods was negligible. Therefore, the task of fighting Chaos and rushing to the front lines fell to humans..."

Ryuu couldn't help but chuckle, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. Humans in this world are truly useful "bricks," moved wherever needed. In ancient times, when they were as tiny as mice, they were used as sacrifices to the Star Spirits; after evolving into humans, they were targeted by the gods as tools to quickly gain faith; now, with the arrival of chaos, they've been pushed to the front lines, used as fuel to fill the gaps. It can be said that from ancient times, humanity has been playing the role of "fuel-filling babies," constantly struggling in suffering.

Hearing this, some of Ryuu's doubts were resolved. He finally understood what had happened in Chloe's memories; he also finally understood why a uniquely human goddess of the Church had been born during the war against the cruel witch. Perhaps, it was because humanity was driven to the brink of despair, with no other way out, that they gave birth to their own deity through the power of faith.

It's easy to imagine the injustice and despair felt by those treated as expendable resources and pushed to the front lines. But they had no choice. If they didn't obey the gods' arrangements, they would be abandoned by the gods they believed in; without the protection of divine power, they would once again fall to the bottom of the food chain, at the mercy of others.

Unless, there is a god in this world that belongs only to humankind—just as other races have their own unique beliefs and exclusive deities, a god that can embrace humankind, protect humankind, and save humankind from suffering!

Ryuu's understanding grew clearer: the faith and desires of this world could project real energy bodies into the spirit realm. In the past, humanity was too weak and few in number; even with yearning in their hearts, they couldn't muster enough power to create their own deities. But in the Seventeenth Era, humanity, drawing upon the spiritual power learned from various gods, had produced many powerful beings, and their population had grown exponentially. If this was the case, then the birth of the Holy See Goddess was not surprising… for it was a miracle born from the countless desires for protection that humanity had clung to in its dire straits.

After Ryūka explained her thoughts in detail, Chloe sighed softly, a look of helplessness and melancholy on her face.

"More or less, there are still some missing details, but generally speaking, that's how it is..."

Her eyes were half-closed, her long eyelashes casting a soft shadow on her cheeks, and she spoke softly in a deep, resonant voice:

"Perhaps chaos can also evolve, or perhaps, for reasons unknown even to the gods. Humanity forged the first line of defense against chaos, holding out for no more than a century or two, before the cruel witch and her retinue were born..."

"With appearances most similar to humans, captivating beauty, and the most seductive words... yet humans, among all races, possess the most complex and delicate emotions, and their lives and experiences are the shortest. They are utterly powerless against the allure of witches. Although witches can control other creatures and races, humans are undoubtedly the most deeply and thoroughly affected. And at that time, humans also shouldered the most arduous and challenging task of resisting witches. Before the gods and other races could react, humanity was almost on the verge of extinction..."

It was precisely this desperate situation that brought humanity's yearning for protection and survival to an unprecedented peak. In that spirit realm, long devoid of gods and reduced to ruins, a brand new star spirit was quietly born!

It was a celestial spirit born alone in the spirit realm ruled by chaos. Other gods could only vaguely sense its existence, yet knew nothing of its name. Perhaps, the process of nurturing the cruel witch consumed a great deal of chaos's power, creating a space in the spirit realm for the birth of a celestial spirit. This newly born celestial spirit, nourished by humanity's eager and devout desires, rapidly absorbed the vast amounts of remaining spiritual energy in the spirit realm, even including the remains and residual energy of fallen gods. This allowed it, still in its infancy, to grow rapidly, possessing power surpassing all other gods. Subsequently, it projected this power into the mortal world, granting humanity, a vast but perpetually weak race, a power no less formidable than any other race!

"Furthermore, by that time, the gods had already gathered all available forces to form an allied army in order to fight against Chaos and the witch. They even went so far as to use the bodies of their fallen comrades to forge the Holy Sword, a divine weapon powerful enough to slay the witch. It was during this process that the power of order, which was born at the same time as Chaos erupted, was also utilized by the gods. The course of the war was thus reversed... In the present world, the power of Chaos was gradually defeated, leaving only the most powerful and cruel witch. But at this moment, other races and gods discovered an even more terrifying fact—their newly born and powerful brethren did not intend to coexist peacefully with them in the following eras..."

Perhaps, from its very birth, this star spirit carried too much of humanity's resentment towards other gods and races; perhaps, this fledgling god was swept up by its vast and radical human retinue. Before the war against Chaos had even reached its conclusion, before the dust had settled, humanity, raising the banner of the goddess, revealed its ferocious fangs to the other gods and races who had once fought alongside them.

A new war has begun, while the old war has not yet come to an end...

The surviving gods were forced to set aside their differences, gather all their remaining power, and return to the Spirit Realm to try and defeat the new god of humanity. Chloe did not participate in that devastating battle; she only knew that less than one in ten gods returned from the Spirit Realm. The new god, born from human desires, was sealed away in the deepest part of the Spirit Realm along with the weakened Chaos. But she was not completely annihilated; therefore, the power she bestowed upon humanity, though diminished, still remained. So, the surviving gods, using their last strength, split the continent in two, and with their remaining followers, fled in panic, leaving this land already under human control. Afterwards, severely weakened, they all fell into a deep slumber, never to reappear.

This breakdown of the alliance sowed the seeds of future troubles for the world. The cruel witch was not completely eradicated, but continued her bloodline and existence in a way that Ryūka already knew. The age of gods came to an end, and the world belonged entirely to humanity and the other surviving races.

"Whether it's fortunate or unfortunate, our rules have always been quite broad from the beginning, not exclusive to any one race. Even among humans, those who are oppressed and ostracized still believe in our faith and uphold this protection. This is why we didn't participate in the sealing of that new god by other deities, nor did we leave this continent. But in the following thousand years, due to the continuous purge of other races and heretical beliefs by the human church, our power has become weaker and weaker, almost disappearing completely from this world..."

Chloe's words, like a pebble, stirred ripples in Ryūka's heart, plunging him into deep thought. Chloe had always helped him unconditionally, so he chose to believe her for the time being. If what she said was true, then the war a thousand years ago was far more complex, longer, and more brutal than the Church claimed. Now, it should be the first millennium of the Eighteenth Era, a mere drop in the ocean compared to the immeasurable history of this world, fleeting and transient.

The reason why the Papacy was so hostile to other races has finally been clarified. At that time, most of humanity was dissatisfied and angry about the long-standing situation of their race. This long-suppressed sentiment finally erupted in an extreme and radical way, turning into hostility and extermination against other races.

However, not all humans worshipped the newly born goddess; many remained neutral. They retained abilities learned from other deities, which, through long periods of fusion and evolution, gradually formed the "magic" we know today. Besides these, there are also entities like the Power of Order and Fragments of Order: the human hero Kranar, who wielded the Power of Order, chose to cooperate with the original Papacy followers, making the defeat of the witch his primary mission. Even after the war, he maintained the independence of his own power.

Unlike the Papacy, he didn't continue waging wars and exterminating other races, but instead chose peaceful development and recuperation… Yet, it was also he, as a fragile human, who ultimately couldn't fully resist the witch's power and succumbed to madness, leaving behind the witch's bloodline. And he allowed his descendants to nurture this bloodline in an unspeakable way. Therefore, Ryusha, for a moment, found it difficult to give an accurate assessment of this ancestor of Tipalotura, unsure how to define him…

But from Chloe's words, Ryuka understood that not only was the Goddess of the Church sealed away, but Chaos itself was also sealed deep within the Spirit Realm. They lay dormant, hidden in a corner of this vast void.

However, the goddess's power still manifests in her followers in the form of "holy arts" and "holy energy." But as the continent gradually calmed down and humanity escaped its survival crisis, people's faith in the goddess gradually weakened, and the power of the clergy of the Holy See also diminished, losing its former glory.

Chaos also possesses a descendant of a witch, who secretly sustains its power, waiting for the opportunity to make a comeback...

Moreover, chaos itself is born from the intertwining of countless complex rules and distorted beliefs. Liu Xia raised his head and looked at the vast and boundless sea of ​​stars before him. Even within his field of vision, the twinkling stars were countless, densely spread across the void.

This means that as long as living beings exist, as long as complex thoughts, twisted desires, and devout faith remain, new Star Spirits will continue to be born here, eventually becoming gods. They may come from the humans of their own continent, or from surviving races on another continent. Even their own existence may one day in the future conflict with the rules of other gods, thus triggering another outbreak of chaos and plunging the world into a new catastrophe…

"This is really complicated, it's like a Möbius strip, going around and around, it feels like it will eventually fall into a dead end of endless cycles..."

Ryuka couldn't help but sigh softly, her brows furrowed with weariness and helplessness. Moreover, Chloe had repeatedly hinted that the existence of the witch meant that chaos and the witch would inevitably return sooner or later. Bell's awakening consciousness precisely confirmed this. The chaotic seal somewhere in this void was gradually weakening; disaster might not be far off!

Seeing Ryukatsu's furrowed brow and worried expression, Chloe chuckled softly, her tone gentle, carrying a hint of maternal love and comfort despite her petite appearance:

"You don't need to worry about so much for now. Leave these heavy matters to us seniors. Besides, even if the spiral of fate you're contemplating exists, it's something that's countless millennia in the future. Right now, you only need to focus on how to increase your power. The power of order is the opposite of chaos. Its most stable rule power can be said to be the purest fundamental rule born from the intertwining of all the rules of the gods in the past. It doesn't have any attributes, nor does it favor any side. As long as you can continue to resonate with it, it means that your actions won't cause too many problems..."

"How big is 'too big'?" Ryuka couldn't help but ask with a bitter face, her tone full of helplessness. Chloe's vague answer only made her more uneasy.

"Hmm... at least it won't exacerbate the chaos. Anyway, although the methods are different, and you're not a true god yet, since you've already set foot in the spirit realm, why not try learning to be a god first..."

Kuroel smiled, her eyes crinkling, and patiently explained the core concept of faith in God and His retinue to Ryukyu.

In the spirit world, Ryūka's task is to attract star spirits whose core resonates with his, drawing them closer and making them dependent on him, thereby continuously strengthening his own power. In the mortal world, however, Ryūka must learn to be like a true god, bringing blessings and power to his followers.

This is fundamentally different from his previous practice of directly instilling power into his followers whom he knew. Ryūka must build a mature and complete system, or a clear doctrine, so that countless believers can autonomously obtain the power he allocates according to fixed rules, without his personal control.

Simply put, it's like the cult of Chloe, the belief system of the Papacy, the national belief of the Otus Empire, and the racial beliefs of the ancient alien races that Ryūka knows. Ryūka must build a cycle of faith and spiritual energy feedback that "doesn't require manual selection or control" and "can function normally even without his direct management"—this is the fundamental way for gods to maintain their power and unite their faith.

"This is really a headache..."

Ryuu reached out and pinched his throbbing temples, his face filled with distress. He subconsciously recalled the various theories and systems he knew, but those things were not perfect and still required further exploration. Moreover, he, Ryuu, was merely an ordinary person with limited abilities and thinking; he had no idea how to translate them into a belief system for this world and implement them effectively!

After much thought, it seems that religion is the simplest, most convenient, and easiest form of religious belief to be accepted. A belief system like that of the Ottus Empire, which changes with the empire's strength, the global situation, and even the change of emperors, is far too unstable. Perhaps this is why the power of order within Tipalotura has remained at its current level after so many generations, unable to break through.

Of course, it's also possible that most of the power of the successive Kranar heirs was used to seal the remains of the cruel witch, leaving them unable to focus on enhancing their own power of order. In short, Ryūka has no immediate intention of turning Sochi into his "country within a country" to collect faith. This approach is too risky, with too little reward, and it could easily arouse the vigilance and hostility of other forces, ultimately leading to an attack—a losing proposition.

However, a religious form is also out of the question. Firstly, Ryukyu himself doesn't quite approve of it, and secondly, it could easily touch a nerve with the Vatican, potentially leading to a hostile crackdown...

Chapter 6 Return to the Spirit Realm

Seeing Ryūka's furrowed brows and deep contemplation, Chloe's eyes lit up with a smile, and she softly offered words of comfort:

"When you return to the mortal world, you will clearly feel that the power of the spirit world is flowing into the mortal world through your consciousness. What you need to do is create a method! A method to bestow power upon your followers, and a way for them to use your power properly. Just like the 'holy arts' of the Church, or the transformation ability we gave you before, it's all the same."

“There’s no need to rush. It’s basically like creating a kind of magic. You have a lot of talent, so just take your time to construct and improve it.” Kurowell solemnly instructed Ryuka, his eyes full of concern. “Establishing your own rules is never an easy thing. Even some gods will constantly modify and improve their rules over hundreds or thousands of years in order to reach the most perfect state.”

Ryuka couldn't help but twitch her lips. Create a kind of magic? Does that sound so simple?

But Chloe had already turned to look at the vast emptiness of the spirit world, her tone now carrying a hint of warning:

"Although there aren't many gods left here, don't stray too far from your territory until you become powerful enough. Otherwise, you might lose your way in this boundless void and never find your way back; if you accidentally wander into another god's temple or awaken those long-sleeping beings, it's beyond your current capabilities to handle..."

She paused, then continued, “Every star spirit here is closely connected to the will of the mortal world. Even if some star spirits are not friendly to you, you can still sense some of the events happening in the mortal world through them. This is one of the most basic abilities of gods. Like that little girl from the descendants of Kranar, her ability to predict the future by observing the stars evolved from this basic ability.”

As Chloe spoke softly, Ryuka listened intently, feeling as if the overflowing, pure, almost viscous spiritual energy around him, seemingly weighing a ton, was about to crush his consciousness, a consequence of his prolonged stay in the Spirit Realm. His consciousness gradually blurred, his body felt as if it were being melted by this vast void, and even his breathing became labored!

Crowell noticed his unusual behavior and couldn't help but smile. Although he still looked like the arrogant brat he used to be, there was a hint of respect in his eyes, as if he were a junior, and his smile became gentle.

"Alright, you should go back now. You can't stay here for long, after all, you're not a true god yet. It's already quite surprising that your original physical body could support your spirit in the spirit world for so long."

Hearing this, Ruklati nodded in agreement, a hint of barely perceptible astonishment in her voice, muttering under her breath, "She's simply a monster..."

"Thank you." Ryuka took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the discomfort surging within her, and nodded slightly to Chloe, her eyes full of seriousness. "Without the Divine Envoy Contract, how can I find you if I encounter trouble?"

"Once you can freely traverse this void, you can go directly to my temple in the spirit world; or you can find me in my temple and altar in the mortal world."

A sly glint flashed in Kurowell's eyes, her small face beaming with smugness as she smiled and said:

"Our followers are growing in number. Who knows, in a while, you might even find our secret altar in the Southern Continent!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xia's face instantly showed a hint of surprise, her eyes filled with disbelief. Could it be that Chloe's followers had already quietly spread to the Southern Continent? Even if her followers were like the Beggar Clan disciples who traveled all over the country, this rate of expansion was truly astonishing.

“Sasha is a good child; she's already capable of fulfilling her priestly duties independently. After her contract with you is broken, she will become my first divine messenger. In addition, we've selected a new group of lower-ranking divine messengers and sent them to various places to exorcise accumulated vengeful spirits and guide and heal suffering people,” Kurooer explained calmly. “Although we dare not act openly yet, if you encounter them along the way, simply reveal your identity, and they will do their utmost to help you…”

As soon as he finished speaking, Chloe raised her slender white fingertip and gently touched Ryūka's forehead. A warm, gentle spiritual energy instantly flowed into his mind, carrying a faint warmth. Before Ryūka could say anything more, a soft yet irresistible force surged forth, forcefully pushing his consciousness out of the spirit world and sending it straight back to the mortal realm!

Suddenly opening his eyes in the cave, Liu Xia felt a surge of comfort throughout his body. The suffocating pressure of spiritual energy he had felt in the Spirit Realm vanished instantly, as if it had never existed. To his even greater surprise, his perception and senses had improved once again! He could even clearly "hear" the subtle sounds of the flesh and blood of the powerless earth dragons around him slowly decaying and turning into soil, and he could vaguely sense the general rules hidden behind this wondrous change.

He shook his heavy head, slowly stood up from the ground, and stretched his stiff body. The image of that last moment still lingered in his mind—his consciousness had wavered, and he had been forcibly "sent back" by Chloe. It seemed that Chloe's strength in the Spirit World far exceeded his imagination, and as for what level she had reached, Ryuka had no way of guessing at the moment.

"She recovered quickly, and her followers quietly expanded without my knowledge..." Liu Xia muttered to herself, looking at the top of the cave, her tone tinged with complexity.

Listening to his mutterings, Ruklati chuckled and spoke up, her tone full of sarcasm:

"What? Realizing she's stronger than you, you're starting to be wary of her again? She's a Moon-level deity; she was just 'starving' before, causing her power to decline. Now that she's recovered a bit, she's naturally much stronger than you. Besides, she has a mature faith system, so her followers can expand much faster than a newbie like you."

"One shouldn't have the heart to harm others, but one must be wary of others..." Ryūka stubbornly defended himself, his cheeks slightly flushed. But he had to admit that discovering Chloe had unknowingly recovered to a level far surpassing his own, a subtle but unmistakable sense of unease had arisen within him. However, Ryūka also knew that Chloe had no intention of harming him. But Chloe had mentioned earlier that some gods in the Spirit Realm had already awakened, and others were about to awaken. Regardless of whether those gods were the deities worshipped by alien races who had fled to the Heretical Continent, Ryūka couldn't afford to be careless in the slightest.

"I thought that after breaking through to the Heavenly Rank, as long as I didn't do anything reckless, I could roam freely in this world. I never expected that first I would encounter the Chosen One, then the awakened cruel witch, and now I've come into contact with some kind of spirit world..." Ryuga frowned, turned to look at Ruklati, her tone full of helplessness and curiosity, "Hey, Ruklati, if gods descended to the mortal world, just how powerful would they be?"

Rukla tilted her head, pondered for a moment, and slowly explained in language that Ryūsha could easily understand:

"Based on your current human understanding of power, a Saint-level expert already possesses the abilities of a demigod. Against a Celestial-level expert like yourself, taking on ten of them would be no problem, and they could even move mountains and overturn seas. However, they are ultimately not true gods, nor do they have their own rules, so they cannot easily use their full strength, otherwise the power depletion afterward will be too great and difficult to recover. As for the difference between true gods and Saint-level experts..."

Ruklati paused, a smug look appearing on her face, her tone tinged with boastfulness: "If it were Kuroel at her peak, even the high-ranking divine messengers among her followers could easily defeat those Saint-level beings who have no understanding of the rules, with the help of her power. Of course, if it were me at my peak, the strongest being on this continent right now would be nothing more than this in my eyes; I could kill whoever I wanted!"

Liu Xia curled his lip, his eyes full of disdain. He had always thought that the three Saint-level experts of the Otus Empire were the most powerful beings in the world. Having broken through to the Heaven-level so quickly, he no longer felt much fear. He was simply wary of a power like the Holy See, which had a history of thousands of years. They must also have Heaven-level or even Saint-level experts hidden within them; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to maintain the upper hand in their confrontation with the Empire.

At most, I just need to be wary of forces like the Chosen Ones—they possess certain fragments of order and have a considerable understanding of the Demon Sword and ancient civilizations… As long as I play it safe and develop my strength, I'll eventually be able to mass-produce troops and wipe out all my opponents in one fell swoop! Then I can do whatever I want!

But after hearing Ruklati's words, Ryuka realized she had been too naive. It seemed there were even stronger beings in this world, and although their 'foundation' was also based on worldly faith, they were not to be trifled with. Perhaps there were even awakened gods lurking in the shadows on the Heretical Continent. She needed to be more cautious in the future, and act from behind the scenes whenever possible…

When you take action, it must be based on the premise that you are absolutely certain of winning; never fight a battle you are not confident of winning!

"Sigh... When will I be able to be fearless and do whatever I want?" Liu Xia couldn't help but sigh deeply, her tone full of helplessness and longing, her eyes revealing the yearning for power like a newborn calf!

Chapter 7 Sisters on Different Paths

But Ryuka quickly suppressed his emotions and confusion, and swiftly adjusted his state. He clearly felt a pure power originating from the spirit world, eagerly trying to break through his body and overflow through his spiritual consciousness; and the light touch on his forehead by Chloe's fingertip when she sent him away from the spirit world had left a vast amount of knowledge about the rules of weaving in his mind, as clear as a brand, waiting for him to digest and apply it.

Whether it's the tempering of battle aura, the casting of magic, or the circulation of spiritual power, these forms of energy require corresponding methods of manipulation to truly unleash their potential. This can be achieved through pure consciousness to guide and control them, or by allowing them to flow and settle along predetermined pathways within the body. The more powerful the desired force, the more complex and intricate the methods required.

Ryūka quickly scanned the information Chloe had imparted, gradually gaining a clear understanding: developing basic spells like Fireball wasn't difficult for him now, but constructing a complete power system was far from easy. This system needed to be accessible enough for early followers to quickly learn and master it; it also needed to be growth-oriented, allowing followers to upgrade the power they received from him as their faith deepened. Later, not only would he need to develop advanced spells, but he would also need to precisely control the level of faith among followers and the amount of power they could acquire, ensuring a perfect match and preventing any disconnect between them.

If a novice believer can use his power to cast powerful spells, he simply cannot handle it, as the spiritual energy he transmits cannot support such a huge consumption. However, if the power he bestows is too weak and cannot truly help his followers and believers, his faith will be difficult to spread, let alone accumulate enough power to ascend to become a true god.

Ryuka sighed softly, her tone filled with helplessness yet tinged with determination: "Let's take our time researching it. Right now, we don't even have a clue what form of power rules to establish..."

The most pressing matter is to consider the series of events related to the mission to the south. As for the construction of the belief system and the formulation of the rules of power, as long as a general outline can be conceived before returning to Sochi, it will not be considered a delay.

Seeing that Ryūka had regained her composure, the confusion in her eyes had faded, replaced by a more composed demeanor, Ruklati spoke up at the opportune moment to remind her:

"You can now communicate with the Star Spirits. Although the Star Spirits of the Spirit Realm are not the same as the stars in the night sky of the mortal world, establishing a connection and communicating with them at night is undoubtedly the most convenient. When we were fighting the Earth Dragon Beast, didn't someone secretly summon the power of the Cruel Witch? Tonight, you can go and explore the area near the battlefield, and at the same time connect your consciousness with the Spirit Realm. With the help of the local nature spirits and the Star Spirits, you should be able to find the traces of that summoner."

“Yes.” Ryuu nodded solemnly, already having a plan in mind. He had previously been able to communicate smoothly with the nature spirits of his territory, using their senses to know about the major and minor events occurring on the Sochi Plain. However, this ability would be greatly weakened once he left his territory. After all, the local nature spirits did not belong to him and would not actively transmit information to him. But the Star Spirits were different; they floated in the spirit realm and could keenly sense the fluctuations and remnants of various forces in the mortal world. As long as the summoner was not away for too long, the Star Spirits would surely be able to provide many useful clues based on the lingering witch aura near the battlefield.

"Let's go back to Thunder Fortress first. I wonder if Tipalotura has successfully removed the chaotic corruption from the Earth Dragon Beast's magic core. After we finish dealing with things here, the delegation heading south should also set off. We can't delay any longer."

Having said that, Liu Xia didn't linger any longer and sped off towards Thunder Fortress. Upon arriving at Lady Sophie's magic tower, he saw Melanie, Olivia, Anyaberg, and others gathered in the garden below, discussing something in hushed tones, their expressions varied. Seeing him, they immediately stopped talking and quickly approached him.

"Liuxia, you're finally back! We couldn't get in touch with you at all, we were so worried." Melanie walked up quickly, her voice full of anxiety, and gently tapped her temples.

Ryūka immediately understood her meaning. It seemed that Melanie had previously tried to contact him through the consciousness connection between followers. However, his consciousness had just entered the spirit world and was in a state of isolation, so he naturally could not receive any messages.

"What happened?"

Ryūka's gaze swept quickly over the group: Olivia's expression seemed normal, yet a hint of barely perceptible worry lingered; Anyaberg, on the other hand, appeared to have just recovered from a shock, her face still somewhat pale, with Adela beside her, gently comforting her; while Melanie, gesturing for everyone to wait, led Ryūka into the magic tower, speaking in a grave tone:

“That’s right, you would never guess how many troublesome things happened while you were away. Princess Tipalotura and Marquis Orlando are waiting for you in the drawing room. Let me tell you about them one by one…”

Instead of using flight magic, the two slowly ascended the spiral staircase of the magic tower, giving Melanie ample time to systematically report everything that had happened that day to Ryukyu.

The first matter concerns the aftermath of the events at Linze Castle: After Melanie and Tallin forced Earl Gavin, who was colluding with the Purple Gold Flower, to surrender, many uninformed nobles in Linze Castle voiced their concerns. Although Earl Gavin was imprisoned, his subordinates and family forces were still secretly plotting to rescue him. However, these schemes were promptly suppressed by Lady Sophie. But what truly mattered was the vial of potion found on Gavin earlier…

"The 'enhancing potion' that Gavin mentioned is essentially the same thing as the K18 potion produced by His Highness Tipalotura's magic workshop. According to His Highness, the 'enhancing potion' in Gavin's possession is a different branch developed from the previous K15 and K16 models..."

Regarding the thirteenth princess, Tipalotura, Ryusha and his companions still do not know exactly how many subordinates and secret departments she controls in the capital and throughout the continent. As a princess of the Otus Empire and the leader of the witch forces, Tipalotura must wield considerable power, which she has simply not yet fully revealed.

Moreover, she was one of the earliest to plan and implement magical engineering projects. Besides recruiting a large number of outstanding magical engineers like Anyaberg from the Imperial Military Academy, Tipalotura also gathered many top talents from other fields. However, her core departments were likely controlled by the witches she trusted most. For example, a talented female knight like Hetia was merely her follower and confidante during her time at the academy; those truly in her inner circle were likely people like Gerberi.

Among her former subordinates were a group of elite students specializing in potion-making, and the K18 series of potions were developed under their leadership. However, after the potions met Tipalotura's requirements, the princess boldly combined potion-making with magical engineering, attempting to explore a completely new path.

"Simply put, it involves having magical engineers develop various instruments and equipment, combined with the dispensing procedures established by potion-making mages, to attempt mass production of similar magical potions. This is essentially the same thing you did in Sochi..."

Melanie's words made Ryūka instantly understand. This princess was indeed extraordinary. Although the world possessed many wondrous powers such as martial arts and magic, this kind of large-scale production and systematic management was still extremely rare in this era. What Tipalotura was doing was undoubtedly an attempt ahead of its time.

“But…” Melanie sighed softly, stopped, and looked down from the window of the spiral staircase. In the garden, Anjaberg sat alone on a bench, head down, looking lost, seemingly worried about something, a faint sadness surrounding her.

"The person in charge of developing that 'enhancing potion' is Anjaberg's sister..."

"Oh?"