Endless Desert

Two figures traversed the desert, one walking on legs, the other slithering on a tail.

“Teacher,” the young man asked curiously, “how does it feel to walk on feet?”

He had noticed his teacher sinking slightly with each step, realizing that in this sandy terrain, the Snake People’s tail was far more practical.

Normally, he envied this form immensely, but now he had finally discovered one of its inconveniences.

“It’s excellent,” his teacher replied with a hint of amusement. “Like having two tails.”

“Ah, what a disgusting comparison!” The youth immediately covered his head. “No one wants to grow two tails.”

“You should use a more magnificent term to describe this form,” he insisted.

“This is God’s Form, after all.”

“Gods are not great because of their form,” the teacher said. “Their form is called magnificent because it belongs to gods.”

“No matter what form gods take, their grandeur remains unchanged.”

“However you describe it, gods are gods.”

The young man could not argue with his teacher, nor did he dare discuss deities with such casualness.

After all, his teacher was accustomed to encountering various gods, unlike himself.

Then, with a thoughtful expression, the teacher turned to his student. “Long, what do you think gods should be like?”

The young man pondered for a moment. “Merciful? Majestic? Protectors of mortals?”

“Those qualities indeed reflect how mortals view the divine,” the teacher nodded.

“Then what are true gods like?” the young man asked.

“Gods do not change according to mortal will,” the teacher explained. “If they wish to be merciful, they are merciful. If they wish to be majestic, they are majestic.”

“As for protecting mortals, they can do so if they desire.”

“They do not act this way because of mortal prayers and hopes, but because they themselves are willing.”

After saying this, however, Sukob added another thought.

“However, I quite like the type of deity you described.”

He even thought to himself, “If one day I could become a god, I would become such a god.”

The one possessing God’s Form was Sukob, Apostle of the God of Knowledge and Truth. The other was Long, his student.

They were following a divine will to the mysterious Abyss Royal City, deep in the desert, to execute God’s command.

Under the magnificent Door of Truth, a majestic light shadow had spoken to Sukob.

“If you feel lost, you can visit the Abyss Royal City.”

“There lie the most ancient secrets.”

“There exist ancient beings about to ascend to mythology.”

“There, you might discover something that inspires you and helps you find your own path to godhood.”

This was what the god had told Sukob, and so he journeyed to this deathly desert.

At last, across the vast expanse of yellow sand, they caught sight of the mysterious city.

The heavy city gates opened, revealing a giant city filled with an ancient and exotic atmosphere.

All manner of strange Demon Spirits appeared before the two men.

Metal-bodied puppets moved and spoke with ease, flames burned brightly inside the glass shells of others, and some life forms were shaped like ceramic jars. Above, Demon Spirits soared through the sky, their forms resembling kites.

Sukob and his young student gazed at this fantastical kingdom with expressions of amazement.

“The Demon Spirit Race.”

“To think such miraculous beings truly exist in this world.”

Every living being in the city was a transcendent spirit. It was said they never truly died, because when their consciousness faded, a new one would emerge from their body.

If one did not overthink it, this could perhaps be considered a form of immortality.

Sukob suddenly recalled the Wisdom Path divine technique, feeling that the form of these beings resembled a certain aspect of the godhood technique.

Sukob was unaware that the origin of the Monster Race could be traced back to the Samo family’s immortality technique.

The origins of Demon Spirits could be traced back to Haru the Monster Progenitor’s pursuit of immortality, which intertwined deeply with the Wisdom Path. Elena later built upon this foundation to create the Demon Spirits.

As the two walked deeper inside, many Demon Spirits greeted them. The visitors seemed quite popular.

Indeed, few outsiders ever reached this city, so any arrival would naturally attract the Demon Spirits’ attention.

A metal puppet sitting by the roadside waved at Sukob. “Hello there, Apostle of the God of Knowledge and Truth.”

After saying this name, it turned to its friend.

“That’s what he’s called, right?”

“His name is so long!”

“That’s not his name,” its friend answered. “It means he’s some god’s apostle.”

Sukob returned the greeting. “Hello.”

A Demon Spirit resembling a child bounced over to Sukob and stared at him for a long while without speaking.

Finally, it ran away, saying, “This era’s apostle does not seem special at all!”

“Nothing compared to Lady Elena.”

Sukob had been watched for so long that he expected a question, but the outcome made him laugh in spite of himself.

Long, Sukob’s student, remained silent but could not help feeling that these Demon Spirits were being disrespectful to his teacher.

“Teacher, they’re so impolite!”

But Sukob was not bothered at all. Instead, he found these Demon Spirits quite interesting.

“Politeness?”

“Before them, we are the juniors.”

Sukob knew that any one of these ancient Demon Spirits might have an identity beyond his imagination, perhaps even a connection to some deity.

The city’s architecture was fascinating.

The city was filled with stairs and walkways, creating the sensation of navigating a three-dimensional maze as they moved up and down.

As they continued their journey, they encountered many fascinating Demon Spirits. Some shared their own stories with Sukob, while others eagerly asked him to recount his tales.

A few were interested in trading with Sukob, offering rare and unique items in exchange for things they had never seen in their realm.

“Hey, Apostle, what can you do?”

“You’re from outside. Do you have any interesting stories?”

“Do you have anything interesting? I can trade with you.”

After experiencing the customs of this strange kingdom, the two finally reached the palace to meet the Demon Spirit King and Demon Spirit Queen.

Ordinary people had no right to see the Demon Spirit King and Queen, but Sukob’s identity as an apostle was just extraordinary enough to be acceptable.

Sukob stated his purpose. They were not surprised that he had come with a divine will.

“You wish to see Lady Elena?”

“She may not meet you.”

“I hope you can convey my request to her,” Sukob said.

Eventually, Sukob ventured into the divine realm within the depths of the Demon Spirit Pyramid, where he encountered the true ruler of this city.

Outside the Yinsai Temple, Sukob chose not to step inside.

Instead, she emerged from the temple.

Elena, now transformed into a Demon Spirit puppet, wore a simple cloak without any armor.

The Ruhe sword at her waist was revealed, its aura combining with her ancient presence to fill the space with an overwhelming sense of oppression.

Sukob bowed, looking up at her.

“Lady Elena.”

The Demon Spirit puppet Elena raised her head, her one real and one ethereal face looking at Sukob.

The ethereal face spoke first.

“God Asai?”

“It’s Haru’s student, Anhofus, right?”

Elena had known Anhofus, of course, though at first she was unaware of his full identity. Back then, she had believed him to be just an ordinary student and had even personally taught him the basics of divine techniques.

“He is God Asai,” Sukob said.

Elena nodded thoughtfully. “I remember him. He was that quiet boy who always sat in the corner.”

“He came from the Royal Bloodline of the Samo family, a direct descendant of King of Wisdom Redlichia and the grandson of the Mad King.”

“Like his teacher Haru, he was a genius.”

“He caused the Evil God Disaster and was engulfed by the calamity before narrowly escaping death.”

“He believed he could control everything, treating this world as his testing ground and a mere farce.”

“In the end, he became an experiment for others, reduced to nothing more than a spectacle.”

Elena paused, lost in thought. “What is it with such geniuses?”

“Why do they always create one disaster after another, leading to endless tragedies?”

“It is because they possess extraordinary talent and unmatched intelligence.”

“They choose paths ordinary people would never dare to take, always believing they can control everything. They are convinced they are right and will inevitably succeed.”

“But in the end, they face the consequences of their own genius and arrogance.”

Elena recalled Haru, and indescribable emotions welled up.

Haru was the youngest of the three. As a child, he had often followed Elena around, especially since his father had passed away so young.

Because of this, he enjoyed spending time with Sandean, Elena, and Lan. As a child, he had a playful and mischievous nature.

Haru was exceptionally gifted, possibly even surpassing Lan in talent.

Sandean cared for Haru as if he were his own son and intended to entrust everything to him.

But no one could have predicted how the story would conclude in such an unexpected way.

“Without Anhofus, Haru would not have turned out that way.”

“If he had not shared the Samo family’s immortality technique with Haru, perhaps Haru would have stayed on the right path, avoided madness, and the teacher might still be alive.”

“He ignited Haru’s ambition, and Haru left his curse on him in return.”

“Together they descended into madness, meeting the same fate and end.”

Sukob listened to more ancient myths and rumors. He had heard that God Asai had another name, Anhofus, but God Asai himself had never acknowledged it.

Sukob repeated, “God Asai is God Asai.”

“The Anhofus you speak of is Anhofus.”

“God Asai wishes to help you ascend to mythological status.”

“And He wants to remind you that the Original Sin Evil God Xiao has been watching you and may have some scheme or plot in mind.”

Upon hearing another irritating name, Elena’s cold expression shifted, her mood clearly worsening.

“Xiao!” Elena exclaimed, shaking her head. “He is just another madman.”

“His sin of killing Lan will never be forgiven.”

Elena paused for a moment before finally responding to Sukob.

“Please convey my thanks to him for the warning.”

“As for the help you mentioned, it is not needed.”

Elena would rather reach out to Iva than to Asai.

“Didn’t he say he’s Asai?”

“Since he says he is not Anhofus, then let us consider everything in the past forgotten.”

“He should not come looking for me. There is no connection between us. I only taught Anhofus the knowledge of divine techniques, and nothing more. He owes me nothing.”

“Besides, Anhofus betrayed the Temple of Truth long ago. Even if he is Anhofus, he has no connection to me.”

“Tell him I prefer not to see him. It would bring back memories of Haru and the teacher’s fate.”

Elena turned around, her cloak dragging on the ground as she gradually disappeared into the temple doors.

“That is final!”

“You should leave now.”

Sukob glanced at the temple, wondering about the ancient beings they worshipped within. Despite his curiosity, he set it aside and walked away.

He had not fulfilled the divine oracle this time, but it was due to her refusal. There was nothing Sukob could do about it.

Outside, Sukob’s student Long noticed something unusual about an insect he had acquired through a trade with the Demon Spirits. It seemed peculiar.

Long held the insect in his hand and pulled up the silk it produced.

He gave it a couple of shakes, causing the insect dangling at the end to sway back and forth.

Sukob immediately became interested and began to observe.

“A silk-producing insect?”

“Oh? This silk seems to transmit spiritual power as well. That’s quite interesting.”

These insects consumed sand and created an intriguing silk that was both strong and fine.

More importantly, Sukob discovered this silk could serve as a material for ritual arrays and scrolls.

Long had bought it precisely because he had discovered this property.

After some observation, Sukob formed his own theory.

“This does not seem like an ordinary insect. It might have been created under the influence of divine power from deep within the earth.”

“Remember, the Endless Desert is also a forbidden zone of death.”

Sukob’s student Long recalled something.

“I once read in a book that Alcina, the ancestor of the Suinhor people, discovered the unique plant Curled Ball Fern at the edge of the Moonlight Jungle. This discovery eventually led to the establishment of their city-state.”

Sukob nodded.

“So, the power of the gods is truly present everywhere. It constantly influences this world and creates miracles without end.”

“We Witch Spirits observe and record this world. By imitating its laws, we uncover these miracles and secrets.”

Beneath the Wilderness

The two traveled with a large Sail Beast. Long took the reins to guide the creature, while his teacher, Sukob, sat in the cart behind.

The cart was loaded with several Tusk Beasts, Sail Beast cubs, and boxes filled with packaged plant seeds.

Sukob held a small wooden box in his hands, inside which something could be seen constantly moving.

Sukob peered into the box.

Inside, there were several peculiar insects along with a good amount of sand.

These were the insects that produced silk.

Observing the insects produce their silk, Sukob shared his thoughts. “This silk might be more suitable for scrolls than paper. It could potentially create scrolls capable of carrying Third-Rank or even Fourth-Rank power.”

“I think if this silk could be woven into fabric, it would be excellent to wear,” Long added, having an even more novel idea.

Sukob paused. “Weaving?”

Sukob had not considered wearing it, as using such rare insects and transcendent materials for clothing felt overly extravagant. Still, the idea of creating clothes with special functions seemed promising.

“That could work. Drawing ritual arrays on fabric while sealing divine techniques sounds promising.”

“We might even create protective transcendent items similar to scrolls, which could be used either once or multiple times.”

Long was determined to make some fabric to wear, which would surely be impressive. “When I return,” he said, “I will find a way to cultivate more of these insects and weave some fabric for myself.”

“Teacher, what name should we give it?” Long asked, growing more excited as he spoke.

“No one seems to have discovered it before or named it.”

“Does that mean whatever name we give it will become its official name?”

“What if we call it the Long Insect?” Long suggested.

“After all, I was the one who recognized its special nature and plan to promote it.”

“Names should be simple and direct,” Sukob replied. “Long Insect? That sounds meaningless.”

“Long, as a Witch Spirit, you need to see the world through the perspective and understanding of a Witch Spirit.”

“Silk-Weaving Spirit Insect,” Sukob said after a brief pause. “That will be its name.”

As the teacher, Sukob decisively named this type of insect.

Long had only been joking and did not really care about the name.

Sukob truly liked these insects. With them, Witch Spirits could make scrolls more conveniently without having to search everywhere for transcendent materials.

But after looking for a long time, Sukob put down the box and sighed.

“These insects are remarkable and a blessing from the Ruhe Great Gods, but I still believe they cannot compare to the Curled Ball Fern.”

“Food is the most essential need. The Curled Ball Fern discovered by Alcina sustained generations of Snake People and paved the way for the thriving Snake People civilization we see today.”

“I heard a rumor recently,” Long mentioned. “Alchemists from the Land of Sunrise want to recultivate the Curled Ball Fern to increase its yield and reduce its cultivation requirements.”

“Have they succeeded?” Sukob asked, delighted to hear the news.

“How could it be so easy?” Long replied, shaking his head.

“It’s good that someone is trying,” Sukob said with a smile. “Once the idea takes root and the effort begins, success will eventually follow.”

Sukob sat in the cart, observing the land and horizon as the journey continued over the uneven terrain.

While tragedies and unspeakable horrors still unfolded in parts of the world, he could not help but reflect on the resilience and beauty that persisted despite it all.

However, when viewed from a broader perspective, it became clear that the world was improving. Progress was happening everywhere.

His eyes filled with hope as he spoke.

“How wonderful! The future will certainly be better.”

“Teacher, what’s wonderful?” Long asked, turning his head.

But Sukob did not answer, leaving Long puzzled.

Neither of them realized that the Silk-Weaving Spirit Insects they brought from the Endless Desert would, over generations of cultivation and domestication, start to change.

Some would evolve into common silk insects. These ordinary insects could then be bred on a large scale, producing silk and woven materials with their unique properties.

They would play a significant role in shaping the next era, the one after that, and even future eras.

At that moment, a city came into view in the distance. It had started as a village founded by Witch Spirits, grown into a town, and eventually transformed into a city.

Sukob and Long stepped off the cart. Long watched as Sukob used his storage ring to retrieve several large items.

As they headed toward the city, with Long carrying the Tusk Beast and Sail Beast cubs, he asked Sukob a question.

“Teacher, why can’t storage rings store living things?”

“Because the storage process passes through the Dream Realm, and the storage space itself is a special domain,” Sukob explained.

“Ordinary living things cannot survive passing through the Dream Realm. It is not exactly death, but normal life forms cannot exist there. The Dream Realm is not part of the mortal world, unless you are spirit traveling.”

“If you enter, you must either be a Dream Realm being or possess enough power to survive the Dream Realm’s environment.”

“Otherwise, you would die instantly.”

“But I have heard,” Sukob continued, “that in Suinhor, some Ability Users discovered a method that could theoretically allow them to survive in the Dream Realm for an extended period.”

“They planned to use this method to secretly enter the Storage Spirit Realm of the Storage Nymph Saint Raphael through a storage artifact, steal something, and bring it back.”

This was truly a “genius” endeavor.

This topic was stimulating, and Long’s eyes lit up.

“Then what happened?”

“Did they succeed?”

“I don’t know,” Sukob replied.

“How could you not know?” Long pressed.

“Because they never returned, so who knows if they succeeded?” Sukob answered.

“Most likely, they were devoured by the Dream Realm the moment they entered.”

“There are many possibilities.”

“Anyway, no one ever saw them again.”

“Perhaps they did succeed, passing through the Dream Realm barrier into the spirit realm. Maybe they found the spirit realm so pleasant that they stayed and never returned.”

Seeing Long’s disappointment, Sukob teased his student.

“Why don’t you try it?”

“You could see why it can’t be done. I’ll even personally record your experiment to guarantee your place in history.”

“I heard nymphs live in the Creator God’s realm. Perhaps you will tunnel all the way there?”

Long immediately refused.

“Absolutely not.”

“How could a righteous person like me ever think of stealing from Lady Nymph’s spirit realm?”

“Only contemptible villains would have such thoughts. I, Long, am open and aboveboard.”

Long made grandiose claims, but his path had already narrowed.

The people in the city showed great respect to the two men. Many bowed deeply, and some even prostrated themselves before Sukob, treating him with a reverence usually reserved for gods.

Long immediately mentioned something to Sukob, an issue Sukob already knew about but had never commented on.

“The people in the city are preparing to establish a country.”

“They also want to recruit people from the tribes in the former Avel territory, and some want to lead people eastward to expand toward the Fire Demon Marsh.”

These areas were once neglected lands that the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents neither valued nor cared for. The people who lived there remained in a primitive tribal state.

In some regions, the writing inherited from the Snake Mother had been lost over time. Their language, shaped by long periods of isolation, had evolved to the point where it was incomprehensible to outsiders.

“They plan to name the new country the ‘Witch Spirit Kingdom.’ What do you think?”

Sukob shook his head and rejected the name.

“That will not work. It gives the impression of relying too much on Witch Spirits.”

“But this country was built because of your guidance and the help of the Witch Spirits,” Long said, astonished.

“Did I put in all this effort just to create a country that relies entirely on Witch Spirits and me?” Sukob asked Long. “A country with no hope or progress?”

“I do not need such a country. What do they even mean by this name?”

“Are they completely binding themselves to me from now on, expecting me to expand their territory or even have gods arrange everything for them?”

“Such a country is useless to Witch Spirits and to gods.”

Sukob understood that gods did not want more believers or more earthly territories to worship them.

Gods sought believers who could journey with them, not a stagnant nation that resembled a lifeless pond.

“If they truly want to establish a new country, they should prepare from the beginning to be self-sufficient and independent. They must plan how to lead everyone toward the future.”

“How to establish a secular kingdom is their business.”

“We are God’s apostles and servants. We execute divine will as we walk among mortals, searching for those who are willing to believe in gods and walk alongside them.”

“This world is changing rapidly. In the future, Witch Spirits will not be limited to one place but will travel throughout the world.”

“I can tell them that future Witch Spirits will not be restricted to a single place or confined to this wilderness.”

“Witch Spirits are not territorial nobles, and gods are not their kings who must protect these few acres of land.”

It was clear that Sukob was evolving. He had transitioned from resisting change to accepting it, stepping out of his comfort zone to observe the world and seeking to shape it with his own ideas and power.

After all, he had once been just a believer.

Now, he was preparing to become a deity.

“Teacher, you are a sage,” Long said, looking at Sukob.

Sukob smiled and walked straight into his laboratory without hesitation.

Inside the Laboratory

Numerous books lay open before Sukob, their text appearing to come alive as it shifted and moved.

Sukob’s notebook contained a collection of ideas and proposals, though many had been crossed out.

At this moment, he was deeply engrossed in experiments, exploring the practicality of a specific method.

“The essence of the Wisdom Path lies in the cycle of rebirth through four stages: Spirituality, Wisdom, Desire, and Knowledge. By undergoing rebirth and harnessing the primal force of life, one can cultivate new mythological blood.”

“Through repeated rebirth, one can ultimately ascend to godhood.”

“Could I split my consciousness into many parts at once and rebirth tens, hundreds, or even thousands upon thousands of times simultaneously?”

But after thinking, Sukob shook his head.

“Splitting into so many new consciousnesses and new life forms.”

“In the end, how could one tell which is the main body and which are the avatars?”

Sukob felt that others must have thought of this avatar method before, but probably no one dared to attempt it.

After further consideration, he crossed out this plan as well.

At this moment, he paused briefly before writing down a new plan.

After traveling to the Endless Desert and encountering the Demon Spirits and Elena, he was filled with a wealth of new ideas.

Sukob took a pen and drew the ancient Demon Spirits from the Abyss Royal City on a piece of paper.

“A transcendent body forged with mythological blood.”

“Mental consciousness undergoing cycles of rebirth.”

“Could the Demon Spirits’ immortal form be seen as another type of rebirth?”

“It appears to be an incomplete and flawed version of rebirth.”

“However, since these life forms have not reached the Fourth-Rank and do not possess the complete Wisdom Path technique, their power disperses with each death before regenerating, preventing the process of infinite accumulation.”

Seeing those Demon Spirits had made Sukob feel he could learn from their miraculous life form.

“If I use my Book of the Witch Spirit as an undying shell and borrow the Ghost Race life form, combining it with the Wisdom Path rebirth method.”

“Allowing the Book of the Witch Spirit to continuously create new memory vessels and special life forms.”

“Letting them grow and mature until the end of their life.”

“Their power would return to the Book of the Witch Spirit.”

“Could I bypass the need for life after life of rebirth by finding a substitute for the rebirth method?”

“I would not need to accumulate Spirituality, Wisdom, and Desire. Instead, I could focus on continuously gathering one-quarter of the power of Knowledge and Memory, using an incomplete cycle to reach the mythological threshold first and then figure out how to compensate later.”

Sukob was excited, his writing hand moving twice as fast.

Sukob did not realize that this method, which had struck him in a moment of inspiration, was something the Original Sin Evil God Xiao had used in the past. This was how Xiao transitioned from the previous era to the current one.

He had used this incomplete power to establish the position of the Gate of Spirituality.

However, in the end, Xiao was stripped of his demigod status and reduced to a mythological artifact.

Divine Artifact Sequence 3: Abyss.

Still, Xiao had demonstrated that this method was practical, and Sukob’s approach refined and enhanced the technique even further.

The more Sukob thought, the more his new idea for the Wisdom Path became complete.

“The Book of the Witch Spirit is formed from my Spirituality root, Wisdom spirit, and Desire personality.”

“I can create a new memory vessel repeatedly, allowing it to go through this process again.”

“What kind of memories should I provide them?”

“Should I use my own memories?”

Sukob shook his head. “No, that would only lead to trouble.”

Sukob remembered an idea he had once conceived. It was an old thought, a vision of something he longed to achieve, a power he deeply desired to wield.

“If someone could grant power to contracts, wouldn’t that give order to this world?”

And now, he might truly have the ability to empower contracts.

Sukob suddenly stood up, his eyes bright with excitement as he exclaimed loudly.

“Contracts?”

“The mission of contracts?”

Sukob considered a new approach. He decided to establish a ritual, a contract ritual.

When mortals use his power to form this contract, the contract’s text, along with the memory and mission of the contract, creates this special memory spirit body within the Book of the Witch Spirit.

It is born from the contract, with the task of monitoring, inspecting, and ensuring the contract’s completion.

It dissolves once the contract is fulfilled.

This is the purpose of this unique memory spirit body and the essence of its existence.

In the end, countless memory spirit bodies, having fulfilled their missions and completed their lives, would return and merge back into Sukob’s power.

“Book of the Witch Spirit.”

In the laboratory, Sukob summoned his Book of the Witch Spirit, wanting to try his idea immediately.

Whether his idea could succeed was uncertain.

First, he needed to determine if he could create this unique spirit life structure that would belong solely to him, to the Witch Spirits, and to the Book of the Witch Spirit.

Sukob’s Book of the Witch Spirit was a mythological organ and a unique mythological artifact crafted through the power of the Door of Truth.

It differed from the first-generation brain-form mythological organs of the Trilobite Men, which were designed to balance the four powers of Spirituality, Wisdom, Desire, and Knowledge.

The Book of the Witch Spirit was crafted using Spirituality, Wisdom, and Desire to form its main body. Its primary function was to record and amplify the power of Knowledge.

“No,” Sukob muttered to himself. “Attempting the path to godhood here is far too dangerous to try recklessly.”

“Once it fails, the situation might be irreversible.”

Ability User experiments are extremely dangerous. This is why Witch Spirits built this underground palace and why alchemists constructed experimental towers.

These structures not only prevent outsiders from prying or intruding but also serve to contain experiments in case they spiral out of control, a scenario that is hard to fathom.

Sukob realized that his current experiment and attempt had exceeded his ability to manage.

He turned his thoughts to the God of Knowledge and Truth, Asai.

He knelt down and looked up at the divine painting on the dome, his expression filled with reverence.

He sought divine guidance, hoping to carry out this attempt under the protection of his god.

“God who holds Truth, Ruler of Books and Knowledge, Eternal Cycling Asai!”

As Sukob chanted the divine name, light from the divine realm in the dome painting descended and illuminated him.