Chapter 33: A Massive Leap in Power — Immortality from This Day Forward
[Personal Status]
[Name]: Li Yue
[Divine Name]: Lord Zhangyue
[Divine Rank]: Four Seas Village · Ordained Earth God
[Divine Grade]: Ninth Grade (Upper) — "Consume 15,000 units of Divine Power to advance to Eighth Grade (Lower)"
[Divine Power]: 10 units
[Incense Faith]: 61,320 units
[Divine Arts]: … Strengthen Temple Priest "100 units of Divine Power" · Strengthen Heavenly Thunder Art "50 units of Divine Power" · Wind Summoning Art "50 units of Divine Power" · Strengthen Cloud Mist Art "50 units of Divine Power" · Third-Grade Ghost Soldier Armament Art "50 units of Divine Power" · Second Ghost Soldier Empowerment Art "100 units of Divine Power" · Five-Finger Divine Mountain "50 units of Divine Power" · Earth Vein Power "100 units of Divine Power" · Subordinate Deity Consecration "300 units of Divine Power"
"Nine new Ninth Grade (Upper) Divine Arts have been added."
"However, casting a Ninth Grade (Upper) Divine Art costs at least 50 units of Divine Power."
"I've just been promoted, and my Divine Power reserves are thin. Even converting all the Incense Faith I've accumulated over these days, I'd only have enough to cast a single Ninth Grade (Upper) Divine Art."
Li Yue shook his head.
Still, now that he had ascended to the rank of Ninth Grade (Upper) Ordained Earth God, even without casting any Divine Art—
Within his Divine Jurisdiction, his strength was no less than that of a peak fourth-grade Yin-Yang Realm Grandmaster.
In other words, no less than what he had been at the Ninth Grade (Lower) rank.
And if he spent 10 units of Divine Power to cast a Ninth Grade (Lower) Divine Art, his strength could reach that of a lower fifth-grade Void Piercing Realm Grand Grandmaster.
Spending 50 units of Divine Power to cast a Ninth Grade (Upper) Divine Art—
His strength could even reach that of a peak fifth-grade Void Piercing Realm Grand Grandmaster!
"Advancing from Ninth Grade (Lower) to Ninth Grade (Upper)."
"In terms of this world's standards, that's a direct leap of an entire major realm."
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
This was the power of a deity who commanded the Divine Path Rules.
The magnitude of his strength increase far surpassed anything the Warriors and demons of this world could imagine!
The wolf demons of Thousand Wolf Mountain had cultivated for over a hundred years, yet their power had only reached the peak second-grade.
And how long had he been a god?
All told, barely four months.
In just four months, he had gone directly from an Unranked Feral God at the peak second-grade to a Ninth Grade (Upper) Ordained Earth God comparable to the peak fifth-grade!
Whoosh—
He took a single step and instantly crossed twelve li, arriving at another location.
This place was a valley nestled between two mountain peaks, blanketed in colorful flowers whose fragrance filled the air.
Bees busily gathered nectar from the blooms, then ferried it to a massive hive nearby — a structure easily twenty to twenty-five meters tall.
"You stand before this god. Why do you not bow?"
Li Yue's expression was cool and detached as he hovered in midair, gazing down at the enormous hive.
The outer surface of the hive had already taken on a faint crystalline sheen — clearly, after so many years, it had begun to crystallize!
Buzz—
A bee as thick as a barrel separated from the hive and tumbled to the ground, transforming into a woman dressed in a yellow gown. Her face was pale and uneasy as she knelt:
"The Bee Queen pays her respects to the Venerable God!"
Her aura was noticeably stronger than that of the wolf demons of Thousand Wolf Mountain — she had already reached the mid third-grade!
Yet sensing the vast, heaven-shaking divine might radiating from Li Yue, her body still trembled uncontrollably with fear.
She knew—
The venerable god above her could crush her with a single finger.
"You carry no sin. You have not devoured humans to cultivate."
"Are you willing to submit to this god?"
Li Yue gazed down at the Bee Queen with a calm expression, feeling rather pleased inwardly.
This Bee Queen was at the mid third-grade, and within the hive were twelve second-grade drone bees and over a hundred first-grade worker bees.
Of course—
None of that particularly impressed him.
They were merely minor demons.
What truly pleased him was that the spirit honey this Bee Queen produced had actually reached the second grade!
After more than a century of accumulation, the hive now held a substantial quantity of second-grade spirit honey.
For him, this was a rather handsome source of income.
Whether sold to the Divine Store or to other Blue Star gods, it would yield a steady stream of Divine Power.
Moreover—
As long as the Bee Queen lived, the second-grade spirit honey would flow without end.
"This little demon is willing to submit to the Venerable God Lord!"
The Bee Queen was overjoyed and immediately prostrated herself in a full kowtow, her reverence complete.
Just moments ago she had been trembling with anxiety, uncertain how this venerable god would deal with her.
She had even feared he might crush her with a single finger.
Yet she never expected—
That the venerable god would actually be willing to take her as a subordinate!
This was a legendary deity!
She would be the subordinate of a true god from now on!
Excitement and elation surged within her.
With the Venerable God Lord's protection, would she no longer need to hide away in this deep valley? Could she send her drones out to gather nectar from farther afield?
Whoosh—
Li Yue extended his hand and took away ninety percent of the spirit honey from the hive:
"The spirit honey is excellent. Keep up the good work."
"If this god is satisfied—"
"I may consecrate you as a Subordinate Deity under my command. From that day forward, you shall have Immortality, and enjoy ten thousand years of life."
His voice was calm, composed, and full of divine authority.
The lifespan of a deity was far beyond what any human or demon could compare to.
Even the lowest Ninth Grade (Lower) ordained god enjoyed a lifespan of ten thousand years.
And at the Ninth Grade (Upper) rank, that lifespan doubled again — reaching the staggering span of twenty thousand years.
Of course—
Lifespan was not something he particularly concerned himself with.
Setting aside the fact that this world was rife with demons and evil spirits, fraught with danger at every turn—
The other Blue Star gods alone were a tremendous source of peril. If he remained at the Ninth Grade (Upper) rank forever, there was simply no way he would live out his full twenty thousand years in peace.
But ten thousand years of life—
To any human or demon, that was an irresistible temptation beyond imagination!
"Become a deity?"
"Enjoy ten thousand years of life?"
The Bee Queen's breathing quickened, her eyes flushing faintly red with excitement:
"Venerable God Lord, rest assured — this subordinate will devote every effort to producing honey!"
In that moment, she had already made a silent, firm resolution.
She would bring out her finest abilities and brew a batch of third-grade spirit honey to offer to the Venerable God Lord!
If she could become a deity herself—
Her whole body trembled slightly at the thought. It was almost too wonderful to imagine!
Li Yue gave a slight nod.
He took a single step and returned to his Divine Domain.
This expansion of his Divine Jurisdiction had only turned up the spiritual energy of Thousand Wolf Mountain and this colony of spirit bees.
Everything else in the area was unremarkable.
There were a few sprites showing signs of demon transformation, but he paid them no mind.
Sprites on the verge of transforming into demons were only at the first-grade level.
They were just right to leave behind as training fodder for the villagers of Four Seas Village.
Only by letting the villagers know that demons still roamed beyond Four Seas Village would their faith remain fervent and sincere!
"This horse demon…"
Li Yue's gaze fell upon the horse demon still kneeling outside the Land God Shrine.
Ten days had passed since he slew the bear demon and the dog demon.
This promotion from Ninth Grade (Lower) to Ninth Grade (Upper) had taken him ten days.
Of course—
During the promotion, he had not been entirely powerless.
He could still exert the strength of the Ninth Grade (Lower) rank.
"Interesting."
"After kneeling before the Land God Shrine for ten days, this horse demon has actually become a Yi-Grade Believer."
"But what use is this horse demon?"
Li Yue pondered.
The Bee Queen could produce honey for him — an endless source of Divine Power.
What could the horse demon do?
Serve as a mount?