117: Divine contemplation

The sun was setting, and the dim, yellow light filtered through the cracks in the stone house, casting mottled shadows on the ground.

Inside the stone house, the last batch of Trainees dragged their weary bodies away, the heavy sound of their footsteps echoing in the empty space.

Kleid rubbed its brow; a full day of teaching had left it feeling somewhat drained.

The comprehension ability of those beasts was truly limited; even the simplest knowledge had to be explained and demonstrated repeatedly before they could barely grasp it.

"Come over tonight." Kleid said this without turning its head, using a special method of contact to address the empty stone house.

As soon as it finished speaking, several wisps of black mist appeared out of thin air, condensing into human shapes in the corners of the stone house.

Jonnison, Artemis, Bekara, and Nanike appeared silently behind Kleid.

"How are those beasts learning?" Artemis spoke first, its voice tinged with impatience.

"Barely usable," Kleid replied indifferently. "At least they are better than the trash that could only kowtow before."

Nanike let out a low chuckle: "Trash? I think they look more like livestock kept in captivity."

"Stop talking nonsense," Artemis interrupted Nanike. "What is the situation on your end regarding the task assigned by the Lord?"

"What's the rush?" Nanike's voice was low. "How long has it been?"

Kleid ignored their argument, walked straight to the center of the stone house, and sat down cross-legged.

"My Lords, have there been any new instructions?" It closed its eyes and asked slowly.

The few looked at each other and shook their heads.

"None," Jonnison shrugged. "The Lord has not been in contact with us since the last time He summoned us."

"None?" Kleid repeated the word softly, its tone tinged with a hint of loss and trepidation; after all, they had turned this civilization into an extreme belief system similar to slavery.

Who knew if doing this was in line with the Lord's wishes?

If the Lord were dissatisfied and called up its own father and Cassius to take over, wouldn't its title of "the Lord's favorite child" be gone?!

Just then, the space vibrated slightly.

The air inside the stone house seemed to freeze.

An invisible ripple descended into the stone house.

The expressions of Kleid and the others changed drastically; they immediately knelt on one knee, heads bowed, showing utmost respect.

"Welcome, my Lord!"

No figure appeared, and no light shone.

Only a voice resonated directly in the minds of the five.

"I have initially constructed the rule system, but it still needs time to be perfected."

Xiang Yan's voice was calm, majestic, and carried an unquestionable will.

"Bestow the Contemplation system I created upon the new civilization..."

The words echoed in the minds of the five.

Each word was like a thunderclap, exploding in their consciousness.

The five trembled slightly, not out of fear, but out of excitement.

"Contemplation... system..."

Kleid muttered to itself, its eyes sparkling with excitement, because this system was essentially something that could allow them to truly get closer to the Lord.

It would also allow them to become stronger and truly be able to help the Lord.

"This is the Lord's gift to us!" Jonnison's voice trembled with excitement. "This is our chance to become stronger!"

"The Lord... has actually entrusted such an important task to us!" In Artemis's eyes, flames were burning fiercely. "We must not fail the Lord's expectations!"

Although Bekara and Nanike did not speak, their eyes said it all.

Xiang Yan's voice gradually faded away.

The vibration inside the stone house also subsided.

The five remained kneeling on the ground, not rising for a long time.

They were digesting, understanding, and... comprehending.

For them, this Contemplation system was not just a kind of power, but also a kind of... belief and recognition.

After a long while, Kleid slowly stood up.

Its gaze had returned to calm. It looked at the four people beside it. "Everyone, you should have all received the Visualization Diagram specially created by the Lord. I hope you will all practice diligently and not tarnish the Lord's glory; otherwise, don't blame me, the Pope, for being merciless."

The four lowered their heads slightly in a salute, indicating that they would never dare to forget.

Kleid nodded with satisfaction and said, "Tomorrow, gather all the Beast Speakers. Tell them that a new 'Oracle'... has descended."

The next day, at the first light of dawn.

A faint mist permeated the wasteland.

Under the urging of the "envoys," the Beast Speakers from various tribes gathered on an open flat ground.

They looked nervous, not knowing what new "decree" the "envoys" had this time.

Kleid stood on a high platform, looking down at the dense crowd of beasts below.

Beside it floated a huge mass of black mist constructed through Xiang Yan's power.

The black mist churned and shifted, finally condensing into a... giant sword.

The shape of the giant sword was simple and rugged, yet it carried an indescribable... sharpness.

As if it could split the heavens and earth and sever everything.

"God... bestows... Contemplation..."

Kleid's voice echoed across the wasteland.

Each word was like a strike on the hearts of the Beast Speakers.

They looked up at the giant sword, their eyes filled with confusion, desire, and... fear.

"Contemplate... this sword... to gain... power..."

Kleid's voice sounded again.

It reached out and pointed at the giant sword condensed from black mist.

"This is God's... gift to you."

The Beast Speakers looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

They had never heard of "Contemplation," let alone how to "contemplate."

"Close your eyes... focus your mind... feel... the sword..."

Kleid's voice echoed in the minds of the Beast Speakers like hypnosis.

It began to guide, began to teach, and began to... sow the "seeds."

Some Beast Speakers began to try.

They closed their eyes, struggling to outline the shape of the giant sword in their minds.

But most of the Beast Speakers failed.

They could not focus their minds and could not construct any image in their minds.

Only a few Beast Speakers were gifted.

The moment they closed their eyes, they felt a strange ripple.

That ripple came from the giant sword condensed from black mist, and also from... their inner hearts.

They seemed to see a majestic figure, who cast His gaze upon them; then, a batch of towering giant swords appeared in the hands of that majestic figure, and then the majestic figure disappeared.

Only that towering giant sword remained, floating in the endless darkness.

The giant sword radiated dazzling light, illuminating the entire world.

They felt a powerful force, a force capable of destroying everything.

This power made them tremble, made them excited, and made them... crave it.

"Success..."

A trace of satisfaction flashed in Kleid's eyes.

It could feel that those few Beast Speakers had successfully communicated with Xiang Yan's power.

Although this power was still very weak, it was a good start.

"God bestows power upon you..."

Kleid's voice sounded again.

It reached out and pointed to those successful Beast Speakers.

"From today on, you will be... God's... envoys."

"You will become God's favorites."

"You will have the qualifications to rule the tribes."

Kleid's words caused a stir among the Beast Speakers.

The successful Beast Speakers had fanatical light flashing in their eyes.

They felt the energy surging within their bodies, and felt a... power completely different from the past.

They believed that this was "God's" gift, and "God's" recognition of them.

And those failed Beast Speakers had eyes full of envy and jealousy.

They craved power, craved to become "God's" envoys, and craved to have the power to rule the tribes.

"Go."

Kleid waved its hand, signaling that those successful Beast Speakers could leave.

"Spread God's gift... to... all tribes."

"Let all of God's people... bathe in... God's glory."

The Beast Speakers left one after another, filled with excitement, enthusiasm, and... ambition.

Kleid watched their departing figures and revealed a smile.