Chapter 170-1: Smooth Unfolding (1) |
Emperor’s Mound Village space.
Library reading area.
Tong Xin sat by the window in a corner seat. A hefty tome lay spread open on the desk before him, with an open notebook beside it.
His gaze was locked on the page, and the pen in his hand occasionally recorded key points in the notebook.
When he encountered an obscure and difficult passage, he would study it repeatedly, breaking down and digesting every word, immersing himself in an ocean of knowledge.
The first step of the plan had already succeeded.
Through the perception feed of the Owl-Headed Fiend, while Anshui was observing them, they were also observing the changes in Anshui’s expression.
He had successfully planted curiosity and shock within Anshui.
But this was only the first step in establishing faith. Next, he still needed to construct a complete faith system.
He summoned the Star Vein panel. On the fourth star vein slot a new Inherited Soul formed of golden runes had appeared: Divinity.
With a touch of consciousness on Divinity, a detailed faith panel popped up
[Divinity]
Believers: 0
Faith power generated per hour: 0 (Faith power output is affected by the believer’s piety and by their own strength. The stronger the believer, the more faith power produced. The more pious the believer, the more faith power produced.)
Faith power possessed: 0
Faith tiers:
Initiate of Faith (level 1): In the boundless sea of faith, they are like explorers first arriving at the shore, just touching the ripples of faith’s power. The faint light of belief is like a candle flickering in the wind, barely sketching the outline of faith. They attempt to practice the hazy guidance of the deity, groping for direction amid fogs of doubt and confusion. Every step is full of probing and uncertainty, yet that slight yearning for faith is the only anchor they cling to in the chaos.
Devout Believer (level 2): The spark of faith takes root in their hearts. Entering the ranks of the devout, belief has become a blazing bonfire that dispels many inner doubts and suspicions. They possess a deeper understanding of the deity of faith, like a traveler who has entered a labyrinth yet found a clue. Every doctrine bestowed by the deity becomes a key for them to understand the world and the self.
Martyr (level 3): The power of faith is manifested to the extreme. Their belief is like an inextinguishable star and is the entire meaning of life itself. They are willing to abandon everything for faith, even life itself, facing problems with fearless courage and defending the purity and dignity of faith with blood and sacrifice.
Hierophant (level 4): Surpassing the self-sacrifice of the martyr, they are not only steadfast followers of the deity of faith, but also enlighteners and sublimators of faith. They are willing to preach for the deity, longing for the light of the deity to spill over every corner of the world, and to lead living beings to a higher level of faith through words and deeds.
Perpetual Wayfarer (level 5): They are integrated with faith, coexisting in harmony like the natural laws of the world.
Divinity abilities:
Faith Link (special Inherited Soul ability): When released, you can establish a consciousness link with a believer to carry out cross-distance communication. When used on a target for the first time, a faith bridge can be established. If the target has no faith whatsoever, the link cannot produce faith power.
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The Divinity Inherited Soul came with the special skill Faith Link.
This ability was very similar to team mode.
After releasing it at the other party, a mental link could be established, but if the other party had no faith at all, they could easily shake off this link state.
Only by linking with a believer could one continuously draw the faith power catalyzed by time.
In Tong Xin’s view, this was quite similar to the Battle Soul rule mastered by the Ancient God race.
Battle Soul produced Battle Soul power through the behavioral logic of both sides fighting.
Whereas the Divinity Inherited Soul obtained continuously produced faith power by establishing a faith link with believers.
After rereading the trait effects of the Divinity Inherited Soul, Tong Xin decided to begin the next step of the plan, attempting to make contact with Anshui and tell the story of faith well.
A sense of mystery, a sense of anticipation, a sense of security. He would construct a faith story for Anshui around these three core elements.
But before that, there was one more thing he had to do.
He had chatted with Darkness Approaches for a long time earlier. Darkness Approaches believed his outfit was too plain and that his armaments needed an upgrade.
Since he was to walk the world under the title of Divine Envoy, he had to craft something different from other players.
In plain terms: it had to have style.
Fine clothes make the man, and gilding makes the Buddha.
During the miracle rite at the time, Anshui had been very far from him.
But if it was a close encounter, Anshui had to feel dazzled at first sight.
Arriving at the Armed Vehicles Factory, he began updating his armed vehicle loadout, replacing low level armament modules with high level ones.
But not a full replacement.
A high level armament module required fusing ten mid level armament modules, and ten mid level armament modules required fusing ten low level armament modules.
The price of a single high level armament module was one thousand sacrificial power.
The steep price meant he could only replace part of the armament, mainly the areas prominently on display.
For the choice of armament template, he had already spent two hundred sacrificial power to have a forum armament designer finish it. It could be used directly, and it was explicitly stated that this template would not be shared on the forum, guaranteeing that at this stage only he would use it.
After spending forty thousand sacrificial power, the design of the Divine Envoy outfit appeared floating before Tong Xin.
The main body of this Divine Envoy outfit was a robe, with starry-sky hues as the base tone. Its texture was light, the surface coursed with dreamlike halos, dotted with scattered stars, like twinkling starlight dancing upon the garment as if under the night sky.
At the collar was inlaid a ring of pale blue gems congealed like frost and snow, crystalline and translucent.
The sleeves flowed like clouds and mist. Golden cloud patterns were embroidered at the cuffs, setting off a sacred aura.
As for accessories, his shoulders bore a mantle condensed from pure light, like two nimble wings, radiating a soft glow that added a touch of divinity.
Testing the wear in a simulated scene, a mirror of light appeared before him.
In the mirror, his robe gleamed like living starlight, draping naturally along his figure. The collar was set with frostlike gems, like wintry stars casting a cool radiance at his neck. The golden cloud patterns at the cuffs shimmered faintly with his breathing.
Tong Xin turned slightly. The mantle moved like lightwings, echoing the dreamlike hues flowing upon the robe.
He raised a hand to lightly brush the belt at his waist inlaid with a vast nebula, brilliant light leaping at his fingertips.
Gazing at himself in the mirror, the corners of Tong Xin’s lips involuntarily lifted.
“No surprise it is me. Still so handsome.”
After examining himself for a long while, Tong Xin nodded in satisfaction.
In the template’s initial design there had also been a Divine Envoy diadem set with several dazzling gems.
But his funds were limited. He truly could not afford the spending on high level armament modules, so he simply scrapped some of the lavish accessories.
This Divine Envoy attire could significantly support his persona when contacting Anshui.
Next came the time to show off and tell the story.
He decided to set out for the Colorful Mist Coast region right away and try to initiate preliminary contact with Anshui.
As long as he told the story well, he would not even need to invite him. Anshui would come to him of his own accord.
Moreover, the main purpose of the story was not to make Anshui think the player race was strong, but to subtly make Anshui feel that as long as he could become a believer, he could obtain protection.
In this process, he could not proactively invite him yet.
He even had to increase the difficulty of becoming a believer and design a series of trials for Anshui.
After all, things obtained too easily are hard to value.
Only what is won through many obstacles and struggle will be especially cherished.
Second, Tong Xin had already made his plan.
If it truly succeeded, he would return a portion of the faith power for reviving Darkborn warriors and even for strengthening their power.
With this stable output ‘divine boon,’ the Darkborn warriors’ faith could become ever more steadfast.
Before leaving the Emperor’s Mound Village space, Tong Xin rehearsed alone for several hours, then headed to the Colorful Mist Coast.
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