Chapter 114 Drinking poison to quench thirst, but reaping rich rewards.

[You feel the force within your body, a blend of hardness and softness, endless and ever-growing, and a sense of unprecedented security wells up in your heart.]

[You do not deny the power of divine techniques.]

[On the contrary, after receiving the blessing of the Power Of Faith and stepping into the 'spirit domain creation' Realm...]

[...you deeply experienced what true 'inhuman mighty power' is.]

[Although you have never truly fought against experts of the Soaring Realm or Mountain-Sea Realm in reality...]

[...relying on your keen martial intuition and terrifying Divine Soul computing power, you speculate...]

[...that if a battle were to break out in this Xuan Shui Cave Heaven, those Soaring Realm Martial Artists who can 'ride the wind with Qi'...]

[...would be nothing more than slightly tougher targets in your eyes.]

[Even when facing a Mountain-Sea Realm Grandmaster, rumored to be able to 'sever rivers and destroy cities' with martial arts reaching divinity...]

[...as long as you unreservedly borrow Han Ming's high-level authority and channel Divine Power...]

[...you are fully confident in facing them head-on, or even standing on equal footing with them!]

[This is the ability to cross the chasm of Realms that the divine path system has brought you.]

[But this does not mean you will look down on martial arts because of it.]

["No matter how strong divine techniques are, their power ultimately relies on this Grotto-Heaven's special 'transfer medium' and 'godhood authority'."]

["Once I leave the Grotto-Heaven and return to the real world..."]

["How much power can my divine techniques still exert?"]

["That remains a huge question Mark."]

[The real world is a world where Martial Artists reign supreme.]

[The martial arts system is the method verified by countless experts in the real world, absolutely universal, and recognized by the Great Dao.]

[Divine techniques are merely one of the means you use to win by surprise...]

[...while this tempered Physical Body is the solid foundation that keeps you standing!]

[...]

[Relying on your deep martial arts foundation and the terrifying computing power converted from a massive amount of faith...]

[...you clear the stages all the way, irresistible as a bamboo-splitting force!]

[Furthermore, during these consecutive major stages, you have obtained an extremely rich Legacy.]

[In the dead starry sky of the 52nd stage, you comprehended 'Xuan Shui Divine Domain: Dead Water'.]

[Once this domain opens, within ten meters of your body, it transforms into an absolute forbidden zone for life.]

[Anyone who enters, as long as their Divine Thought strength is insufficient to resist the authority you wield...]

[...the blood-qi and even Origin Qi in their bodies will be forcibly stripped away, as if trapped in a quagmire, leaving them at your mercy.]

[And in the silent stone tablet of the 55th stage, you finally obtained the Karma secret technique you had long anticipated.]

[Profound Water Ten Thousand Transformations: Rootless!]

["No place of Origin, no place of return; untainted by Karma, unattached to worldly ties."]

[This is a type of Karma divine technique that can use the 'God-Governing Method' to wield Han Ming's Divine Power, perfectly grafting one's own Karma onto the godhood.]

[Following that, in the illusion trial of the 60th stage...]

[...you combined this method to deduce the even more exquisite 'Profound Water Ten Thousand Transformations: Profound Water Spiritual Body'.]

[You are able to create a Water Clone that completely shields against Karma detection and even possesses autonomous consciousness.]

[You sit cross-legged at the feet of the divine statue with a blurred face on this level, looking at the unpredictable ball of Rootless Water on your fingertip that feels nonexistent to your perception.]

[A smile appears on your face.]

[However, this smile lasts only for an instant.]

[Then you directly exit the Secret Realm and return to the front of the camp.]

[The joy of the harvest is perfectly hidden by you.]

[Replacing it is a face full of anxiety, exhaustion, and obsession.]

[Time, in a long tug-of-war, progresses to the 70th year of the Grotto-Heaven calendar.]

[For these past ten-plus years, you have deliberately slowed your pace.]

[You have even stubbornly stuck at the 65th stage, 'unable' to advance an inch further.]

[It's not that you don't want to move forward, but you have truly reached your current limit.]

[The trial of the 65th stage is an extremely abnormal deduction of multiple divine technique models.]

[It requires you to endure Divine Might pressure comparable to a mountain...]

[...while simultaneously constructing and operating hundreds of interconnected but differently shaped divine technique array bases in your Sea of Consciousness.]

[The required Divine Soul computing power has already far exceeded the upper limit that the current Power Of Faith can provide.]

[Every attempt you make is like using an old computer to run the latest AAA masterpiece.]

[The result is Divine Soul overload, nearly causing an immediate crash.]

[Currently, you behave in an extremely irritable and short-tempered manner.]

[You are like a gambler who has lost everything and fallen into complete madness.]

[To numb that old monster who has been peeping at you from the shadows...]

[...you perform the image of a fanatic with an extreme obsession for power to the utmost.]

[When alone, you will crazily smash objects in the secret room and roar at yourself in the mirror, your eyes bloodshot.]

[And in your Sea of Consciousness, you no longer hypocritically call him 'Senior' or 'Honored God' as you did before.]

[Instead, you roar in a tone that is almost frenzied, filled with greed and resentment.]

["Old fellow! It's not enough! The mental source energy converted by this crappy Mark of yours isn't enough at all!"]

["I've clearly touched the edge of the 66th stage, I'm just missing that tiny bit of computing power!"]

["Just a little more, and I'll be able to get the final Legacy!"]

[You even propose a very crude and unscrupulous plan to show your obsession with reaching the top.]

["Listen! I'm going to implement a 'Compulsory Procreation Act' in the camp!"]

["At the same time, I'll reduce their daily fishing and labor time by half, using all of it for prayer!"]

["As long as the population base doubles and the fervor of faith increases, I will definitely succeed in reaching the top!"]

[Your tone is firm, as if your mind is made up.]

["Once I get the full Legacy, I will become the true successor of the Grotto-Heaven. Helping you escape will just be a simple matter!"]

["But in the meantime, don't let this crappy Mark of yours fail me again!"]

[Faced with your urgent appearance due to the obstructed plan...]

[...and your arrogant face that dares to order a god around...]

[...Han Ming not only does not get angry...]

[...instead, he shows surprising tolerance.]

[His voice rings in your mind, carrying a soothing posture, guiding you patiently.]

["Do not be hasty, do not be hasty."]

["Boy, this god has felt your obsession."]

["Being stuck is indeed because the supply of faith is somewhat insufficient."]

["However, do not lose heart!"]

["Manage the divine cult well, and all problems will be solved."]

[Han Ming's tone suddenly becomes filled with ultimate temptation, as if he is truly planning a grand path to heaven for you.]

["As long as you can get the final Legacy and successfully leave this Grotto-Heaven..."]

["You only need to take this soul artifact to the 'Abyss' and fulfill the agreement between us."]

["At that time, this god will personally cleanse your Physical Body and preside over a 'God-Descending Grace' ceremony for you!"]

["Not only will the oath locking you be instantly dissolved, but this god will also take all the Profound Water Origin within this Grotto-Heaven..."]

["Along with a sliver of true godhood authority, and pour it all into your body!"]

["What Mountain-Sea, what Divine Ability? Those are but mere mortals!"]

["At that time, you will be able to achieve a Divine-Demon Body on the spot, surpassing those legendary Sun Moon Martial Saints!"]

["Not only will you gain longevity, but this world will also crawl at your feet!"]

[Facing this super big promise thrown by Han Ming...]

[...you only give a cold laugh, your tone carrying an impatience for quick success.]

["Don't draw these ethereal big promises for me, Old fellow."]

[You snort coldly, unceremoniously interrupting his hypocritical promises.]

["What you said are all matters for the future."]

["I only look at the present!"]

["Right now, I can't even deduce the composite divine technique model of the 65th stage. How would I have the life to go to some bullshit Abyss?"]

["Instead of bragging to me here, you'd better hurry up and think of a way."]

["Since you're unwilling to release the shackles..."]

["...then hurry up and increase the efficiency of this crappy Mark in converting faith into mental source energy!"]

[Your 'stubborn and eager for success' mercenary face covers your true inner intentions.]

[Hearing this irreverent retort, Han Ming does not get angry either.]

[He gives a light laugh and speaks slowly.]

["A child who cannot be taught; your vision is ultimately too narrow."]

["Very well, since you crave immediate power so much, then this god shall grant your wish."]

["Go ahead and implement your 'Compulsory Prayer' and 'Procreation Act'."]

["As long as the quantity of faith is sufficient, no matter how much you mess around..."]

["...this god guarantees this Mark can provide you with enough source energy."]

["That's what you said! Don't say the conversion can't keep up when the time comes!"]

[You respond in a harsh tone and cut off the Divine Thought communication.]

[The Sea of Consciousness returns to peace.]

[However, Han Ming does not know...]

[...what kind of determination is hidden under your urgent appearance.]

["Old fox, acting quite well. You really think you can control me with a promise of becoming a divine demon?"]

[The so-called 'God-Descending Grace', 'Godhood Authority Infusion'...]

[...Han Ming cannot possibly fulfill them.]

[From decades ago when you first discovered the Cultivation Technique on the stone tablet differed from the 'God-Praying Method' he taught...]

[...and noticed the secret Mark he had slipped in...]

[...you have been guarding against him.]

[You had long guessed that establishing the divine cult and collecting faith was not to help you clear the stages at all...]

[...but rather he was using you to collect fuel for his own revival.]

[The reason you went along with it and were willing to play this play with him for decades...]

[...was purely because you needed his divine path Legacy!]

[You needed divine path means like 'Profound Water Ten Thousand Transformations: Rootless' and 'Profound Water Spiritual Body'...]

[...to serve as trump cards against powerful enemies in reality!]

[This is just a simulation anyway, and you are trapped inside the Grotto-Heaven regardless.]

[Better a bad life than a good death; the longer you linger, the more you can learn.]

[But the various anomalies occurring in the camp during this time are reminding you...]

[...that this sleeping Vicious Beast is about to wake up.]

[The young believer responsible for cleaning the temple performs an extremely ancient and twisted dance facing the divine statue at night.]

[And that young divine official named 'Agu', his right eye has turned completely pure blue.]

[...]

[None of these phenomena fail to illustrate one fact.]

[Han Ming's infiltration of the 'Cang Ming Divine Cult' has changed from simple 'absorption of faith' to a subtle 'will erosion'!]

[He is bypassing you to directly control the minds of this new generation!]

["This old monster's revival has reached a critical point."]

[You stand in the shadows of the secret room, your gaze cold.]

["According to this progress, in a few more years at most, he will have accumulated enough Power Of Faith to fully revive."]

["Once his consciousness fully revives..."]

["...he will definitely find a way to seize this Profound Water Body of mine, which he built using a massive amount of 'heavenly river water lotus' plus divine technique feedback!"]

[You are well aware that even if the number of people in the Mutual Aid Society increases tenfold, the conversion rate of the Power Of Faith is still held in his hands.]

[As long as Han Ming wants to block you, you cannot possibly clear these seventy-two levels of the Heavenly Ladder.]

[From the first time you used the 'soul artifact', this was a predetermined outcome.]

[For you, climbing the Heavenly Ladder is just a means to learn the Legacy. Whether you leave the Grotto-Heaven or not, you have already obtained enough Legacy.]

[Now, the value that can be squeezed out has been squeezed dry by you.]

[Han Ming is about to revive.]

[This play of 'scheming with a tiger' has finally reached its end for you.]