At the fire demon’s lair.

A group of snake people observed the movements on the swamp from afar. In the moonlight, several shadowy figures, barely visible, appeared on the water’s surface.

The shadows twisted and danced, occasionally bursting into sparks that extinguished in the blink of an eye.

These were the fire demons.

The snake people knew that despite their current quiet and unassuming appearance, if provoked, these fire demons would instantly transform into their most violent form, devouring anything that dared to approach them.

“How do fire demons come to exist in swamps?” a curious snake person asked.

“How should I know?” his companion replied dismissively. He only wanted to capture the fire demon; its origins held no significance for him.

“Maybe there’s something special about this place?” another snake person speculated.

Water and fire were two completely incompatible elements, even the snake people knew that.

Yet here, these two extremely opposing forces coexisted harmoniously.

They didn’t know how fire demons were created, nor that the so-called fire demons were actually composed of a type of gas. They were even less aware of the existence of fire elements.

“Alright, the target has appeared,” one snake person whispered. “Quiet now.”

Having learned from their previous lesson, the snake people had prepared a more comprehensive plan this time. They lured the fire demon out of the forest before surrounding it.

Although the enraged fire demon spewed fierce flames, with fire constantly lunging towards any snake person who dared to approach, it didn’t take long before the snake people finally captured it.

After catching the first one, the snake people didn’t leave. Instead, they stayed to prepare for the capture of a second one.

After capturing three first-rank small fire demons in succession, the second-rank fire demons in the lair became increasingly agitated. Only then did the snake people team begin to return to the City of Life.

Unlike their previous return, this time everyone was full of laughter and joy.

Some snake people cast expectant and eager glances at Snake Mother Sermos, hoping to be the one chosen to form a contract with a fire demon and become Sermos’s most valued offspring.

Finally, based on their contributions to capturing the fire demons, three snake people were selected.

Each was a second-rank ability user, their eyes noticeably different from ordinary snake people.

Like gemstones, just a blink could activate terrifying supernatural powers.

The contract-forming ceremony was held at the base of the temple, personally presided over by Snake Mother Sermos, with all snake people in attendance.

Over a thousand individuals crowded the square below the temple steps. The altar that once stood in the center of the square had long since been swallowed by the giant beasts underground. Apart from the Snake Mother, no one had ever seen that strange eyeball capable of exerting mutation power.

However, during the contract ceremony, the supreme being inside the temple heard the jubilant sounds from outside and curiously descended from the divine throne.

Outside, the crowd was bustling. At this moment, the City of Life had the feel of a civilized city.

And relying on this city, the snake people truly began to show signs of an emerging civilization.

On the steps, Snake Mother Sermos looked at her offspring and the growing clan she had created.

She was proud of this clan she had single-handedly established.

Finally, she gazed at the three most outstanding children and spoke passionately.

“Today, you will form contracts with the fire demons at the base of the temple.”

“You will become the Fire Guardians of the snake people, you will hold the office of food distribution, and you have the responsibility to protect your kin and…”

As she spoke, suddenly the crowd fell silent.

Everyone looked behind Snake Mother Sermos, then collectively gasped.

A figure emerged from the temple, looking down upon the entire City of Life from above.

When the Mother of Life walked out of the temple, all the snake people saw endless darkness coming from the horizon.

It devoured the earth and eroded the sky.

Their vision dimmed, and they couldn’t see the little girl in front of the temple at all.

Instead, they saw a demon-like monster, a dark creature as massive as a mountain approaching from the distance, with countless tentacles extending from its body, reaching towards the sky.

Then, as they continued to look, the monster opened its eyes.

Not one, not two.

In the darkness, countless eyes opened simultaneously, gazing upon the mortal world.

“Hiss hiss.”

Swaths of snake people fainted, many curling up in fear.

The snake people retreated in groups, with many emitting piercing screams.

Even the fire demons trapped in stone jars fell silent, not daring to make any movement.

Snake Mother Sermos also sensed this presence. She turned her head to look up the stairs.

Then she exclaimed joyfully.

“God,” she gasped, “You’ve come to us!”

All the snake people whose consciousness had been consumed by fear finally realized that this was God.

The supreme Sovereign of Life, the source and mother of all living beings.

The snake people immediately prostrated themselves, facing the God who created them.

Shelly looked down at Snake Mother Sermos on the steps below: “There are so many snake people already!”

Snake Mother Sermos replied: “Everything stems from the great Mother of Life. It is because of your protection and guidance that we can multiply and thrive so peacefully.”

The Mother of Life, Shelly, looked at the weak beings below, then focused her gaze on the three snake people about to form contracts with the fire demons.

Those three snake people didn’t dare to raise their heads at all.

Previously, in their imagination, God was merciful, the being who bestowed everything upon them.

But now they saw another side of God, one that in their eyes was terrifying enough to destroy the world, although their concept of the world was probably limited to this Ruhe Beast Island.

Creation or destruction, it was just a thought away for God.

Under the deity’s attention, this ceremony turned into a frenzied and devout performance.

Having witnessed the existence of God with their own eyes, these snake people twisted about as if mad, offering their dances to the deity.

Great fires were lit in the square, and everyone danced and sang around them, praising the great God.

Finally, Snake Mother Sermos presented offerings to the Mother of Life, Shelly, and the ceremony came to an end.

The snake people cheered in unison: “Thank you for God’s grace.”

Three second-rank snake ability users formed contracts with the fire demons at the base of the temple, and the snake people saw the emergence of their first official title and authority holders.

The Fire Guardians—

At the Temple of Life.

At God’s summons, Snake Mother Sermos came before the temple.

“Great Sovereign of Life,” Sermos said reverently, “You have summoned your humble servant. Is there a divine oracle to be delivered?”

Having witnessed the prosperous scene of the snake people’s clan, seeing thousands of snake people offering dances to her, Shelly also saw the rapid development and potential of the snake people.

Recently, Shelly had become unusually serious, truly beginning to consider the future of the snake people as a clan.

She had also read many books about the Trilobite people and their developmental history.

Shelly deliberately put on a stern expression, pretending to be very serious as she questioned Snake Mother Sermos.

“The snake people now have Fire Guardians. You’ve delegated authority to your three children, and they’re all doing well.”

“But what are your plans for the future?”

“Do you think you’ve ignited the torch of civilization?”

Shelly closed the book in her hand. The phrase “torch of civilization” was something she had read from the book.

Snake Mother Sermos looked up at the Mother of Life, pondering those words.

“The torch of civilization?” she repeated thoughtfully.

Sermos thought carefully. She had been very busy lately, occupied with various miscellaneous tasks.

After all, as the snake people’s group grew larger, many things became more complex.

However, she indeed hadn’t given much serious thought to the future of the snake people recently.

Because they were currently developing rapidly, having solved their food problems.

Except for the monster race, they had no natural predators on this island.

In Sermos’s view, this kind of life was already quite good.

Sermos could only report truthfully: “Sovereign of Life,” Sermos began, “Under your protection, we enjoy abundant food and no longer need to worry about the disturbances of monsters.”

“So we are currently exploring ruins, hoping to find more miraculous artifacts.”

Shelly pouted and shook her head at Sermos.

She made tsk-tsk sounds. Although her voice was childish, when such sounds and dissatisfied attitudes were expressed by a divine being, it was entirely different.

“My servant,” Shelly said, her voice stern despite its childish tone, “You are indeed still far from it. Are you already satisfied with just this?”

“Did I create you merely for you to huddle in my City of Life, to be pets under my protection?” Shelly asked, her voice tinged with disappointment.

“If so, what meaning do you have for me?”

Shelly glanced at Sermos. “Or is your potential only fit to be a toy?”

Sermos trembled as she listened. “We will certainly strive to satisfy the great Sovereign of Life,” she said.

“Please believe in us. We can surely do better.”

“We’ll do enough to earn God’s love.”

After speaking, Shelly opened the book beside her and glanced at it.

Her voice was full of confidence, as if she had anticipated everything, looking like an all-knowing deity holding the key to wisdom. However, the slight glance she cast at the book pages betrayed her.

She told Snake Mother Sermos her expectations for the snake people.

“You should leave the City of Life, establish more villages and cities, and see a broader world.”

“You seem very reluctant to let your children leave you. This is not a good sign.”

“Only by letting go can you embrace a wider world.”

Snake Mother Sermos spoke worriedly, “But, God!”

“Many snake people cannot survive away from the clan.”

“Not every snake person has hunting skills. Much of Ruhe Beast Island is still barren, and many places still have monster lairs. Stone demons and fire demons rampage everywhere, and in the sky, there are terrifying creatures like wing demons hunting us.”

“If they leave the city, they’ll struggle to survive in the wilderness.”

Shelly turned another page in the book. This time, it revealed a picture of the Ancestral Fish.

The snake people didn’t know that this long-extinct Ancestral Fish was the ancestor of them and many known species in this world. They were even less aware that their ancestors were once just food raised by the Trilobite people.

Shelly told her, “You can establish villages and cities without hunting. The civilization of the previous era once farmed Ancestral Fish. You can also raise livestock for food.”

“In the previous era, they even established food workshops, obtaining food by cultivating algae and microorganisms. You can also find ways to cultivate plants for food.”

Shelly’s words plunged Snake Mother Sermos into deep thought.

Often, just a slight hint, a brilliant idea full of wisdom, could lead a civilization towards awakening and prosperity.

The more Snake Mother Sermos thought about it, the more excited she became.

Indeed!

If they could hunt, why hadn’t they thought of farming?

Snake Mother Sermos realized they could not only farm in lakes and ponds but also raise other animals suitable for food on land, preferably herbivorous creatures.

At this moment, the Mother of Life, Shelly, once again delivered her divine oracle and will to her servant.

“This will be my next test for you.”

“If you can bring back suitable livestock for farming and plants that can serve as food for both the livestock and yourselves from the continent to the northwest, I will grant you third-rank power. Then you will no longer fear wing demons and stone demons. You can explore further places and establish your villages or even cities in the wilderness.”

However, Shelly had also noticed recently that the monsters’ power was rapidly increasing, and their reproduction rate was gradually accelerating.

Especially the wing demon race, these flying monsters created by the second-generation Sage of Truth, Lan, were far more dangerous than other monsters.

These monsters, whose bloodlines could be traced back two hundred million years, had broken through the bottleneck that once constrained them with the return of the Divine Cup.

Some monsters had already begun to slowly touch the power of third-rank seals, awakening the power of their ancestors.

It was only a matter of time.

It was estimated that third-rank monsters would appear before long.

This was the first time Snake Mother Sermos had heard the term “third-rank,” but she knew it must be a more powerful force.

“God,” she asked, “What can third-rank power accomplish?”

Shelly told her, “You will master the power of divine technique imprints, touching the true face of this world. That is the real power of the supernatural.”

Snake Mother Sermos felt a longing in her heart. “Your servant Sermos will surely complete your test and return victorious.”

Sermos spoke with great certainty, but as soon as she left the Temple of Life, she immediately encountered her first problem.

She ordered people to begin farming in the lakes of Ruhe Beast Island. They threw fish fry and some captured aquatic beasts about to give birth or lay eggs into the lakes, starting their first attempt.

For this, Sermos also established an outpost by the lake.

In the future, this place would develop into a village, or even a town.

Next, she prepared to leave the Beast Island, but she immediately discovered that the ocean was an insurmountable barrier for her. Without the guidance of the Mother of Life, she couldn’t cross such a vast expanse of sea.

Although the snake people were amphibians, they were not suitable for long-term deep water environments, let alone the ocean. They were only suited for living in lakes and swamps.

Their underwater survival ability was far inferior to that of the Trilobite people, not to mention beings like the People of the Abyss.

She gazed at the vast ocean, knowing that far on the other side was a continent with vibrant forests, swamps, and lakes.

But now the ocean had become an insurmountable barrier for them.

“What should I do?”

Snake Mother Sermos was very troubled, but she couldn’t seek help from the Mother of Life.

Because this was a test from God.

However, a few months later, her problem was solved.

While Snake Mother Sermos was trying to figure out how to make a tool to cross the ocean, a small team of snake people discovered another relic artifact from underground.

In recent days, the few Divine Artifacts they had found were all made during the God-Forsaken Era, mostly tools without much use.

They couldn’t understand the method of manufacturing Divine Artifacts and could only collect them as treasures.

But this time was different. The artifact they found was very large and looked completely different from the previous ones.

It was nearly ten meters long.

Snake Mother Sermos immediately rushed to the scene and saw a group of people digging out a dirty metal frame from the ground with stone picks.

The metal frame was covered with something unknown, shimmering in the sunlight.

This was a supernatural item condensed from the Light of Wishes, and only the immortal Light of Wishes could have preserved it until now.

If any Trilobite priest were here, they would probably recognize what this was immediately.

“Wings of Wind Control.”

This wasn’t a Divine Artifact, but a Miracle Tool, although no snake person could distinguish between the two at this point.

This was the Divine Cup’s reward to the Trilobite person Lan for discovering the power to control wind, a confirmation from God to Lan.

For Yinsai himself had established the laws of miracles.

Snake Mother Sermos stepped forward, and after looking it over, she seemed to discover something special.

She went under the metal frame and, without any instruction, grabbed both sides of the frame just like the Trilobite people used to control gliders.

When her hands touched the wind patterns on the metal frame, layers of light lit up.

“Whoosh!” A whirlwind swept up, covering a hundred meters.

Dust and sand billowed, and the surrounding snake people were sent tumbling by the gust.

When they opened their eyes, they saw Snake Mother Sermos riding the Wings of Wind Control into the sky.

Under the blue sky, she controlled a giant kite without strings, soaring.

The snake people were shocked, then their faces showed longing expressions.

They pointed to the sky, bursting out in shouts filled with excitement.

“She’s flying! She’s flying!”

“It’s wings, wings like the wing demons!”

“With this, we can fly too!”

“Mother can fly now!”

Under the sun, groups of snake people chased after Snake Mother Sermos’s silhouette until she landed back on the ground.

“That’s amazing!”

“This thing is incredible, much more powerful than before!”

“Mother, what does it feel like to fly?”

Snake Mother Sermos listened to her children’s questions, also savoring the feeling of soaring in the sky earlier.

Looking down from above, the whole world had become so small.

If she had to describe the feeling…

She suddenly thought of God. Perhaps that was how deities viewed this world.

The entire world was beneath her eyes, everything becoming so tiny. All the forests, lakes, and valleys she had previously thought immense became insignificant.

The appearance of the Miracle Tool, the Wings of Wind Control, gave Snake Mother Sermos a glimpse of hope for crossing the vast sea—

Snake Mother Sermos, along with three snake people, mounted the Wings of Wind Control and set off from the City of Life, wielding this Miracle Tool.

They rode the winds, soaring alongside the clouds.

They encountered wing demons.

However, these once-terrifying monsters no longer seemed frightening when faced with the Wings of Wind Control.

Swarms of wing demons tried to surround and intercept the Wings of Wind Control, but they couldn’t keep up with Snake Mother Sermos and her companions, only watching as they flew away.

This caused Snake Mother Sermos and her three children to burst into exhilarating laughter, completely dispelling the dark cloud that the terrifying wing demons had cast over them.

Their speed continued to increase, and soon they saw the coastline.

They had finally crossed Ruhe Beast Island and reached the distant continent.

For them, this place was like another world.

“There really is another continent,” one of the snake people exclaimed in awe as they set foot on the new land.

“So God and Mother were right, the place we lived was just an island.” Even from high in the clouds, they couldn’t see the edge of this forest.

“What’s the difference between an island and a continent?” asked a younger snake person.

“I’m not sure, perhaps it’s because continents have no boundaries?” replied an older one.

“Does a continent really have no boundaries?” The younger snake person wondered if that was truly the case.

The discussion soon ended as Snake Mother Sermos directed them to begin their mission.

They searched far and wide for various animals, including lizards and different kinds of beasts.

There were carnivores and herbivores.

They also collected many plant seeds to bring back.

They hoped that Ruhe Beast Island could one day have forests like this, with all kinds of trees and countless life forms inhabiting the jungle.

They even captured many larvae and put them in jars.

After spending several days exploring the eastern part of the forest, they regrouped at the coast.

The snake people shared their findings and discussed which specimens would be suitable for livestock.

Then they went together to observe the nests of these species.

“This one won’t do.”

“This one is suitable.”

“We need to protect this one carefully.”

It took almost half a month to complete the selection process.

Snake Mother Sermos finally chose several herbivorous reptiles, carefully placing them in stone cages along with their eggs for the journey back.

Among them, she favored a beast species with two teeth in its mouth, considering it the most suitable sample for livestock breeding.

This species, according to their observations, reproduced and grew very quickly. It was adept at digging burrows and wasn’t picky about its food.

“With these,” Snake Mother Sermos said happily, “we’ll never have to worry about food again.”

The other three snake people laughed along with her, sharing in her excitement.

After speaking, Snake Mother Sermos looked towards Ruhe Beast Island.

She seemed to see a bright future for the snake people. They could obtain food through hunting, breeding, and planting, never having to worry about hunger again.

They could produce more offspring, and their clan would grow larger and larger.

They would establish new communities.

Even…

Snake Mother Sermos recalled the illusion from the ocarina when they first discovered the Divine Artifact.

Could they, like that great civilization, also possess such magnificent cities and a civilization as brilliant and dazzling as the sun?

At the same time, she was looking forward to the reward the Mother of Life would give her after completing God’s test—

On Ruhe Beast Island.

Shelly had now descended deep below the surface. The City of Life was merely a crown atop the giant beast’s head, a creation derived from the beast.

She was now following a spiral staircase that led ever downward, reaching the center of Ruhe Beast Island.

Here, she saw parts of several Ruhe beasts’ bodies, including the magma pool of the Lava Monster, the tentacles of the Sele Sea Spirit, and the glowing roots of the Moon Magic Fern.

Some parts of these monsters’ bodies sensed Shelly’s arrival and waved at her.

At the center of this hollow was the former altar.

Shelly stepped forward and touched the Eye of Mutation.

The eyeball immediately burst into a dazzling light. Shelly found this extremely interesting and spun it forcefully.

The beasts’ consciousness was very weak, with most of their main awareness in a state of slumber.

They merely sensed their master’s arrival and were responding unconsciously.

Shelly touched the roots of the Moon Magic Fern, hugging it and pressing her forehead against it to sense its emotions.

“Are you lonely too?”

“But it’s not yet time for you to wake up,” Shelly continued. “You were placed here by Yinsai, so you must heed Yinsai’s words!”

At this moment, there was suddenly a commotion from the Temple of Life above.

Shelly looked up, and in an instant, the darkness behind her surged forward, enveloping her.

In the blink of an eye, Shelly appeared on the divine throne.

Below, Snake Mother Sermos, returning victorious, was kneeling on the ground. Several stone cages were placed on the floor, containing the spoils of their journey.

Raising her hand, the stone cages floated past her eyes.

Finally, she nodded.

“My servant,” Shelly said, “you have once again fulfilled my test and met my expectations. I am pleased.”

Shelly extended her hand, and like last time, giant shadowy hands emerged from the darkness.

One of them touched Snake Mother Sermos’s forehead, infusing her with symbols and light that flowed deep into her body.

Snake Mother Sermos witnessed an awe-inspiring scene. She saw powerful figures flashing before her eyes, raising their hands to control massive seal spirits, exerting city-destroying power.

Snake Mother Sermos had reached the third rank.

In the towering temple, she summoned a colossus.

Unlike the Trilobite people, however, the colossus she summoned had a human upper body and a snake’s tail.

Just as the Trilobite people chose their own form when controlling seal spirits because it was the most familiar and easiest to control, the Snake Mother also chose the form she knew best.

Snake Mother Sermos looked at the colossus, feeling as if it were another version of herself.

Her perspective was split into two.

One was her small self looking up at the colossus, and the other was the towering colossus looking down at her small, fragile self.

She finally understood what the Mother of Life meant by true power. This power was qualitatively different from the second rank; no matter how many second-rank beings there were, they could never be a match for a single third-rank.

The Mother of Life, Shelly, observed Sermos’s stunned expression and said, “My servant,” Shelly said, her voice tinged with disappointment, “have you lost your way again because of a little power?”

Upon hearing this, Snake Mother Sermos immediately prostrated herself on the ground.

The towering stone colossus also bowed before the deity.

All so-called strength in the mortal world held no meaning before God.

“Before the great Sovereign of Life, your servant is forever humble,” Snake Mother Sermos said, and she meant it from the bottom of her heart.

Shelly leaned back on the divine throne, resting her chin on her hands.

Her green eyes blinked as she looked at Sermos.

She didn’t speak, and Snake Mother Sermos didn’t dare guess what Shelly was thinking.

Shelly was thinking, anticipating.

“Grow quickly!”

“Snake people, go forth and multiply, bring the God of creation from beyond time and the world into this world, let the true Creator descend upon this world!”

Shelly decided to go back and take another look. She needed to confirm whether everything she had done was truly effective.

“Go now!”

“Sermos, I look forward to seeing you do even better.”

The Snake Mother backed out in a prostrate position, carrying God’s blessing with her.

Next, the snake people clan underwent further changes.

In addition to the hunting team, there were now domestication teams and planting teams. The snake people began to leave the City of Life and establish villages and outposts in the surrounding areas.

There were villages for raising beasts, fishing villages for breeding fish, observation posts near fire demon lairs, and groups of teams searching for and exploring relics.

The snake people spread like sparks, slowly scattering to various corners of Ruhe Beast Island.

Although the areas they now occupied were still insignificant compared to the vastness of Ruhe Beast Island, and the range they could explore was merely the tip of the iceberg in the northwest of the island,

It wouldn’t be long before they would transform into a true civilization, one capable of self-sufficiency and vigorous development.

They might even leave Ruhe Beast Island and embrace a broader world.

Finally, they would create miracles of their own.