“A god…”

Akmanmon’s eyes reflected a deep yearning, not just for power, but for the freedom that came with it.

Eternal life, strength, and an existence without limits.

He asked the old ghoul, “Is he not a servant or apostle of the Evil God of Original Sin? Why would he work with the Divine Blessed King lineage of the Scarlet Goddess?”

The old ghoul answered, “He does not seem to be completely under the control of the Evil God of Original Sin. A divine battle took place in Maya City around one or two hundred years ago, and he was born during that time.”

“It is said he was once a guard for a city lord named Shana. He transformed into a Feathered Serpent during the catastrophe and has been avoiding the Evil God of Original Sin’s control ever since.”

“In the end, he survived until now and even acquired the power of an apostle.”

Akmanmon said, “In other words, he is an apostle who broke free from divine control.”

In the spacious and luxurious room, the others stood silently while Akmanmon moved with ease.

“A mortal,” Akmanmon murmured, “who has actually grasped the mystery of creating life.”

Even the King of Ghouls, Suero, had only created ghouls, who were not a true race but an extraordinary profession. Now, however, someone had successfully created an entirely new race.

The old ghoul spoke up. “Should we try to get this method from him?”

Though he had not been this kind of person before, becoming a ghoul had driven him to become increasingly mad and depraved. While he still retained his reason, the Plague Blood Curse continued to erode his spirit.

Akmanmon looked at the old ghoul and said, “That is the authority of a Sovereign Deity.”

The old ghoul’s eyes sparkled with a hint of greed as he replied, “Then it must be powerful beyond imagination.”

Akmanmon nodded slightly. “Which is exactly why it is something far beyond the reach of mortals. Even divine beings might hesitate to approach it. You say he suffered divine punishment, but I do not believe that is the case.”

He paused for a moment before continuing, “If a Sovereign Deity were truly enraged, do you think he would still exist?”

“If the Life Sovereign had truly imposed a punishment, not only would Ruhe Beast Island have been destroyed, but perhaps the entire world would have ceased to exist.”

“The whole of Ruhe Beast Island was formed from the seven gods under the Life Sovereign’s command. The body of the Ruhe Great God is beyond all comprehension.”

Akmanmon had heard the myth of the Ruhe Seven Gods long ago, but he only truly believed it at the end of that divine battle, when he witnessed the power of the Ruhe Great God.

The giant eye that opened upon the earth and the power it ultimately showed were beyond imagination.

Akmanmon struggled to understand how such an existence could truly belong to this world.

As Akmanmon reflected on these events, his tone slowly changed.

“He only encountered a power that was beyond his comprehension and mistook it for a divine punishment.”

“So you must avoid meddling with forces that are beyond your understanding, and you must not let great powers turn you from your purpose.”

When Akmanmon first followed Suero, he had seemed inexperienced and naive, but over time, he began to show signs of maturity.

He also started to display traits that set him apart from Suero.

In many ways, he seemed to be an ordinary person.

Akmanmon then spoke, his voice steady and deliberate.

“However, when you find a path that can lead to your goal, you must push the boundaries without hesitation and explore every possible method.”

He turned his gaze to the others and asked, “Is the power to create life our goal right now?”

The others shook their heads silently. Akmanmon looked away, his tone calm yet resolute.

“Then, no matter how great or sacred this power is, it has nothing to do with us.”

Everyone left the room, and the graceful maid quietly shut the door behind them.

Under the lamplight, Akmanmon took out the Cannibal Cult Secret Rituals, flipped through several pages, and then set it aside.

The handwriting in the book’s first half was completely different from the second because it had been compiled by two people. Suero had written the first half, while Akmanmon continued and refined it.

The book detailed steps up to the Fourth-Rank and even included the Abyss Art of God’s Grace. It seemed to send a message to those who chose this path. They would either fall endlessly into the flames of Purgatory or sink eternally into the Dark Abyss.

Akmanmon had fully inherited Suero’s legacy. Suero had held nothing back, sharing all his knowledge with him.

While Suero was not officially Akmanmon’s teacher, he had fulfilled every role a teacher could, passing on both his extraordinary knowledge and his philosophy on life.

At this moment, Akmanmon was deeply engrossed in writing, pouring his thoughts and ideas about higher realms onto the page.

He had fully absorbed everything Suero left behind and was now venturing beyond his predecessor’s work, exploring areas that Suero had never fully delved into.

Akmanmon wrote with intense focus.

From time to time, his pen would pause as he stopped to reflect.

Occasionally, he would cross out earlier lines or crumple the paper into a ball, discarding it to start again.

“The Plague Blood Curse is the core of ghoul power, a special Law Imprint created by the concentration of Curse Power.”

“The Power of Curses can twist reality. It is an incredible and potent force.”

“This power comes from the consciousness of all beings, from Purgatory, and from the resting place of all souls, the Dream Starry Sea.”

Akmanmon and Suero were among the few who truly understood curses, second only to the Lord of Purgatory himself.

It was through their deep knowledge of curses that they endured the Cannibal’s Curse and consistently outmaneuvered the Lord of Purgatory to reach their current standing.

“If a curse is the power that arises when the consciousness of all beings unites to condemn a person, action, or thing, then what happens when that consciousness unites to bless someone?”

“What if the consciousness of all beings comes together to form an agreement? What would that become?”

Akmanmon thought of the Contract Lawyers.

These beings, who originated from Witch Spirits, had a penchant for binding others with the power of contracts. They condensed individual Contract Spirits and ultimately forged a nation’s Spirit of Legal Code.

By using Text Contract Spirits to empower legal codes, and as many people used these spirits, the Spirit of Legal Code of the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents grew strong enough for its power to radiate throughout the entire kingdom.

Whenever Contract Lawyers identified someone violating the law and found them, they could enforce the power of decree anywhere within the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents. They had the authority to strip violators of their power and imprison them.

In essence, the Spirit of Legal Code represented the collective power granted by a nation’s people to their legal code, embodying their unified will.

Akmanmon also thought of Suero and the final covenant he made with the great eternal object known as the Crown of Wisdom in the name of a race.

Before Suero had Akmanmon leave, he had already shared his entire plan with him.

Although Akmanmon did not know the exact details of Suero’s failure, he was certain there had been a problem, most likely caused by the Evil God of Original Sin.

At that time, Suero had successfully summoned God’s Moon, which Akmanmon had witnessed firsthand. This proved that the Crown of Wisdom Covenant was real.

It was a divine artifact with immense binding power, capable of uniting a group or even an entire race.

Finally, Akmanmon wrote on the draft, “When the consciousness of all beings gathers, if this agreement is negative, it is a curse.”

“If it is binding, it might be similar to a contract or covenant.”

“If it is positive, perhaps it is a blessing.”

Akmanmon paused for a moment, then continued writing. “What is the most unavoidable thing for mortals?”

He spoke aloud to himself. “Death. It must be death.”

Akmanmon wrote these words down with a firm hand.

Next, he muttered as he wrote, “What do ordinary people desire most?”

He hesitated for a moment, then said, “Wealth? Power? Longevity? Perhaps it is all of them.”

Akmanmon believed that if a person could achieve a long life, wealth and power would naturally follow.

With enough time, the accumulation of resources and influence would surpass anything an ordinary person could achieve.

For Akmanmon, eternal life was the key.

As someone born into royalty, this belief shaped his perspective.

In the end, he concluded that longevity was the foundation of it all.

Akmanmon continued writing. “If I were to make an unbreakable agreement with a race or group of people, or if I were to leave behind a book or a legend.”

“I could tell them that by simply reciting my name, they would gain the chance for another life, a longer lifespan, or even eternal life.”

“This would make their desire and blessing for eternal life focus forever on me.”

“Their souls and wills would eventually return to the resting place of all beings, the Dream Starry Sea. Yet, their thoughts would transform into blessings directed toward me.”

“One person’s thoughts might have no effect, but what about ten thousand people, a hundred thousand people, or even more?”

“If I could gather the desire and blessing for eternal life from countless people upon myself, what kind of existence would I become?”

Akmanmon paused for a moment, taking his time to find the right words.

At last, with deliberate care, he wrote on the thick paper in a refined and graceful manner.

“Would that power grant me the ability to exist eternally, never dying?”

“Would it enable me, even if I were to truly die, to return from the resting place of all beings?”

Akmanmon did not know what flaws this method might have, but it seemed plausible.

His expression remained calm, as though he had not yet realized just how audacious this idea truly was.

If Suero were by his side at this moment, he would probably be stunned. Shortly after, however, he would likely clap Akmanmon on the shoulder and urge him to pursue it without hesitation.

“Do not hold back, do not set any limits, and do not restrain your imagination.“

“Simply act!“

“Move forward with determination!“

“Let this world see how remarkable and strong we truly are!“

Akmanmon seemed to hear this voice as well and turned to glance behind him.

But the figure that used to love standing behind him and lavishing him with praise had long since disappeared.

Akmanmon continued writing. “How do I get a race or group to keep imposing an agreement, blessing, or curse on me?”

After a moment of thought, he added, “Crown of Wisdom Covenant?”

This seemed like a promising method.

However, Akmanmon had once seen Suero attempt the Crown of Wisdom Covenant, only to vanish beneath the moonlight in the end.

Before proceeding, Akmanmon needed to understand the true nature of the Crown of Wisdom Covenant.

Why had Suero, as the King of the Ghoul race, failed and faced a backlash when making the covenant?

The Lava Mountain would occasionally tremble, though it had remained stable in recent years. While the area within several dozen miles of the volcano was difficult for ordinary people to access, the outer regions were relatively safe.

Surrounding the Lava Mountain was a dense ring of jungle called the Volcano Forest. The forest was home to many monsters, and people from nearby villages often called it the Monster Forest.

Recently, the name Monster Forest seemed to fit even more.

Not only were there monsters in the Volcano Forest, but there was also a group of beings with four limbs and tails.

In the heart of the jungle, a castle and settlement rose from the dense greenery.

Looking toward the volcano, a group of Lizard People had cultivated farmland in this area.

“Let’s loosen the soil over here,” one of them suggested, using a Divine Technique to drill into the ground with ease.

“What about bringing a water channel from that side?” another chimed in, already digging out a path effortlessly.

Building their new homeland proved to be a simple task.

They skillfully carved massive stones, stacking them into towering walls and sturdy houses.

With their robust bodies, carrying enormous stones felt like nothing. Their strong legs, planted firmly on the ground, could support weights that Snake People could never manage.

It was a common sight to see them moving swiftly through the jungle, carrying stones or timber with ease.

In the jungle, the Lizard People chatted among themselves.

“You’re too slow!”

“You’re carrying wood, but I’m carrying stone!”

Kurmis stood atop the city wall, watching this scene with a satisfied expression. The Lizard People seemed to be slowly finding their vitality again.

Away from the crowds and the bustle of life, they appeared to be leaving the past behind.

Perhaps their situation was different from his own. Kurmis had faced his struggles alone, but they had each other as a group.

Kurmis turned and walked toward a hall within the castle where a ritual had been prepared long ago.

The floor was lined with candles, their flames flickering softly in the dim light.

On the wall hung a sacred white relief depicting the Scarlet Goddess, her presence commanding reverence.

Kurmis held the Blood Mist Cups tightly in his hands as he began to commune with the divine being.

His consciousness wavered, drifting unsteadily until he once again found himself in the Blood Kingdom at the bottom of the Deep Sea.

The ancient and weathered temple stood before him, its grandeur undiminished by time. The lofty divine throne towered above, surrounded by the Most Ancient Race who filled the hall with their silent presence.

Kurmis stood below, gazing up at the red-haired demigod seated on the divine throne.

He took a deep breath to steady his emotions, but despite his efforts, his voice carried a trace of panic and unease as he finally spoke.

“Great Scarlet Goddess,” Kurmis began, his voice trembling slightly. “Please, tell me, did I make a mistake? Is that why I brought the punishment of the Life Sovereign upon myself?”

The Scarlet Goddess said to Kurmis, “She did not punish you.”

“The Authority of Life is simply like this. Or perhaps it is more accurate to say that the power of mythology is inherently like this.”

“When you come too close to divine beings, when you truly interact with their power, you will inevitably be affected by it.”

Kurmis finally felt somewhat reassured, the panic and anxiety in his heart settling slightly.

“So, does this mean the Life Sovereign approves of me?”

“Was the birth of the Brown Ball Vine truly the will of the Life Sovereign?”

The Scarlet Goddess had been uncertain at first, but her thoughts had recently become clearer.

“No,” she said, her tone steady.

“The Life Sovereign likely did not even notice you.”

“Even if She did see you, She would not concern Herself with you.”

“Kurmis, in this era, the only one who could draw the punishment of the Mother of Life is the Snake Mother Sermos.”

This suggested that Kurmis was not significant enough to warrant punishment from the Mother of Life.

What had caused the Mother of Life’s anger in the first place?

It was because Sermos was a creation crafted personally by the Mother of Life and had accompanied her for a time. When the Snake Mother Sermos defied the will of the Mother of Life, the Mother of Life cared.

As for Kurmis, the Scarlet Goddess did not think there was anything about him that would draw the attention of such a great divine being.

Initially, the Scarlet Goddess had considered the possibility that Kurmis carried some kind of mission. Now, however, it seemed he might simply be fortunate.

Kurmis had wanted to say that the information from the Eye of Mutation indicated this was something created by the Creator.

However, as the words reached his lips, he hesitated and chose not to speak them.

Perhaps he felt that such a great existence might be beyond even the Scarlet Goddess’s understanding, leaving her unable to provide an answer.

Maybe everything truly was just a coincidence.

Kurmis prayed once more. “Great Scarlet Goddess, because of my contribution to creating the Brown Ball Vine, I wish to ask for your help.”

Kurmis lifted his gaze and spoke earnestly, “I ask you, can you transform them back into Snake People?”

The Scarlet Goddess Vivien shook her head. “Even I cannot do that.”

She continued, “I can create new Snake People through their bloodline. That is not a difficult task.”

“However, to transform a Lizard Person completely back into a Snake Person, down to their very bloodline, is tens of thousands of times more challenging than creating a new one. This task already involves the supreme Authority of Life.”

“Other than the Life Sovereign, I cannot think of anyone who could do such a thing.”

This was like recovering the Ancestral Fish bloodline from lizards.

“By comparison, the Wisdom Authority might achieve this more easily.”

“It is similar to the reincarnation method you used in the past.”

Kurmis appeared slightly disheartened. “But, great Scarlet Goddess, they are just ordinary Ability Users. None of them have the qualifications to become an apostle.”

“The reincarnation method will not work for them.”

However, the Scarlet Goddess told Kurmis, “There is another way. The Power of Spirituality can fundamentally alter a person’s form through the Wisdom Ability, without needing any changes to their bloodline.”

She continued, “If you were to ascend to the level of a demigod, you could bestow upon them the Authority of Spirituality. It might even allow you to restore their appearance to that of Snake People.”

Kurmis gave a bitter smile. “Become a god? How could I ever do something like that?”

The Scarlet Goddess said to Kurmis, “You made sacrifices to create the Brown Ball Vine. In return, I will share with you a method to ascend to godhood.”

Kurmis raised his head, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

The Scarlet Goddess continued, “However, even with the method I give you, it will demand a great amount of time to accomplish.”

“By the time you succeed, it might already be too late.”

“Are you still willing to proceed?”

Kurmis nodded. “I am willing. As long as I can turn the Lizard People back into Snake People, as long as I can help them reintegrate with the Snake People, I will do whatever it takes.”

“Even if it cannot be done in this generation, even if it takes many generations to achieve it.”

“I will still do it.”

Kurmis appeared to have a certain stubbornness. It was likely this very trait that had led him to where he was today.

“I made this mistake on my own. I do not want anyone else to carry its burden.”

“No matter how much time it takes, I am prepared to atone for this error.”

The Scarlet Goddess gave a slight nod. Since Kurmis had agreed, she said, “I understand you have already mastered the Wisdom Path reincarnation method.”

“However, the ancient reincarnation method has become harder and harder to use in this era. Are you truly prepared to wait billions of years for it to work?”

“During those billions of years, who can say what might happen?”

“Furthermore, the Lizard People do not have the luxury of waiting so long.”

Kurmis looked up and asked, “Then what should I do?”

The Scarlet Goddess said to Kurmis, “You can create a Mythical Artifact and use its power to perform Spiritual Reincarnation.”

“Consider the examples of Apostle Sukob of Asai or Apostle Oran of Iva.”

“Alternatively, you could choose to become the spirit of a Mythical Artifact directly, but that would prevent you from gaining the authority of the Gate of Spirituality.”

“As for creating a Mythical Artifact, you already possess The Path of Wisdom. I will explain the essential steps to you.”

Kurmis was unfamiliar with the concept of a Mythical Artifact. He did not understand the distinctions between divine beings and was unaware that the Path of Mythology for the Wisdom Ability branched into Mythical Artifacts and Wisdom Demigods.

Kurmis displayed The Path of Wisdom, which materialized as a phantom diagram filled with intricately layered text.

After reviewing it, the Scarlet Goddess made several adjustments.

“The Four-Part Secret Technique of God’s Grace is the key to reaching mythology,” she explained.

“Whether you want to become a Wisdom Demigod or create a Mythical Artifact, you must pass through this step.”

“If you follow the method I teach you and gather enough Divine Blood through faith, you will be able to create a Mythical Artifact.”

“What you choose to do after that will be up to you.”

Kurmis lowered his head respectfully. “I am deeply grateful for your guidance.”

The Scarlet Goddess nodded, and Kurmis’s consciousness detached from this realm, returning to the mortal world.

Kurmis closed his eyes and focused, trying to grasp the method of creating Mythical Artifacts that the Scarlet Goddess had shared with him.

He felt a mix of shock and fear. He was shocked that such a method to reach mythology existed. At the same time, he was terrified because the method seemed to require a gradual and delicate approach, building up over generations to achieve mythology.

With just a moment’s thought, it became clear there was another way. If one were to abandon all restraint and focus only on plundering and amassing Divine Blood, eternal life could be achieved.

Kurmis thought to himself, “The Scarlet Goddess is willing to teach me this method. It seems she believes I would never resort to such actions.”

Kurmis took a deep breath and said aloud, “I will never pass this method on to anyone, and I will not use those vile and dishonorable means.”

Blood Kingdom of the Deep Sea

Below the divine throne, Smerkel looked up at the Scarlet Goddess and asked, “Lady Vivien, does this path truly hold any meaning for Kurmis?”

The Scarlet Goddess did not know either.

Perhaps one day Kurmis would truly ascend to divinity and master the Authority of Spirituality.

But by then, would the Lizard People still want to return to the appearance of Snake People?

The Scarlet Goddess said, “It may seem meaningless to you, but to him, it is significant.”

“He believes he has made a mistake, one that is difficult to atone for.”

“He needs to find hope and a purpose, and those newly born Lizard People also need hope and a future.”

“He needs a reason to keep moving forward, and the Lizard People need a reason to continue living.”

“As for what it might become in the future?”

The Scarlet Goddess shook her head, her tone carrying a hint of melancholy.

“Who can ever truly say?”

The Scarlet Goddess raised her hand, and The Path of Wisdom that Kurmis had just displayed quickly condensed into a simple blood-colored crystal tablet.

She then retrieved a scroll from her clothing. The scroll contained Lan’s Reincarnation Method.

Sitting on the divine throne, Vivien’s expression shifted with a mix of emotions.

“Teacher…” Vivien’s voice softened, filled with sorrow.

“Xiao betrayed you to the Evil God, all for the sake of becoming a god.”

“He thought he was the strongest, convinced he could surpass everyone, and believed only his talent held him back.”

“In the end, he could only fall into the Abyss and hide forever in the darkness, becoming just another Evil God trapped in a bottle.”

Lan proposed the reincarnation method. Anhofus’s Four-Part Secret Technique of God’s Grace made reincarnation possible. Eventually, Xiao merged the two and developed the complete diagram of The Path of Wisdom.

The Scarlet Goddess Vivien understood her teacher Lan’s philosophy. In the previous era, however, he was unable to discover the path to mythology.

In this era, she had managed to infer part of The Path of Wisdom’s content through careful reverse calculation.

After all, there were numerous mythological powers to observe. The characteristics of the four authority powers of Spirituality, Wisdom, Desire, and Knowledge addressed Vivien’s greatest doubts and aligned with Lan’s reincarnation method philosophy from years past.

Vivien had written Lan’s Reincarnation Method.

Building on this foundation, Vivien began preparing to refine the Mythical Artifact called the Eye of True Knowledge. At the same time, she started making plans for the upcoming struggle to claim the Wisdom Fruit.

Now, she finally held the complete Path of Wisdom compiled by Xiao.

She picked it up and compared it with Lan’s Reincarnation Method, carefully examining the differences between them.

Although she memorized it the moment she saw it, memorizing did not mean fully grasping every detail. This Path of Wisdom for becoming a god might hold unimaginable mysteries in every single detail.

After a long while, Vivien placed The Path of Wisdom and Lan’s Reincarnation Method aside. She glanced down at the others below and exhaled deeply.

“Xiao may have truly been limited by his Divine Blood talent.”

“However, that does not justify him betraying Teacher.”

She set the tablet aside, her voice rising with growing agitation.

“If it were not for him, Teacher Lan could have become a mythological being.”

“Teacher was the first Apostle of Yinsai. He had plenty of time. He surely could have completed this path.”

Vivien’s agitation grew until she stood abruptly. She glanced around the room before turning and striking the divine throne with her hand.

“Every single day that Xiao remains in this world is an insult to Teacher.”

“If it were not for him,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion, “the previous era might have had a chance. Yinsai might have endured.”

“If Teacher Lan were still alive, everything could have been different…”

Vivien’s agitation grew as she spoke, but eventually, she sat back down. She slumped slightly on the divine throne, her posture heavy with dejection.

The past could not be undone. All that had happened had turned into an unspoken silence and lingering pain.

Even so, Vivien knew she could never forgive Xiao.