Temple of Fire Protection
Here, Kurmis noticed the statue of the Life Sovereign and then turned to find the stone statue of the Scarlet Goddess standing nearby.
"Maya City has a temple like this as well," he said. "During festivals, they hold grand celebrations there, worshipping the Life Sovereign and offering sacrifices to the Scarlet Goddess."
He looked upon the patron deity of Suinhor, the great being who had led her people from barbarism to civilization, and reflected on the past.
To the people of Suinhor, the Life Sovereign was the creator of the Snake People, while the Scarlet Goddess was the founder of Suinhor and its city-state civilization.
The progress of the Snake People civilization to its current state was deeply tied to the influence of this deity in countless ways.
Without her guidance and the generations of Trilobite Symbiotes reincarnating and descending upon Suinhor, the Snake People's journey from barbarism to civilization would have faced far greater challenges.
Although Suinhor now showed signs of decline, it was once the greatest nation on Ruhe Beast Island and the origin site of culture.
Using the power of the temple, the ritual, and the dium, he began to connect with this divine being.
"Ruler of the Blood Kingdom of the Deep Sea, Scarlet Witch, great Blood Progenitor..."
Kurmis's consciousness was drawn through the Dream Realm to a faraway place.
He felt as though he were sinking endlessly into the depths of an ocean.
Waves and tides roared, and countless faint sounds blended into a harmonious song of life.
Amid the boundless darkness and scattered whispers, he caught sight of a faint glimr of light.
Then, he found himself standing within an ancient city, under the shadow of a sacred temple.
Kurmis raised his head. Countless beings were watching him, so in God's Form and others so ancient their appearances defied description.
They stood along the steps or at elevated positions, silently gesturing for him to move forward.
Kurmis felt a twinge of fear. He recognized these beings as divine species carrying the ancient bloodline of the Divine King. They were known as the Most Ancient Race.
He walked into the temple, where the red-haired deity sat upon the divine throne, waiting for him.
Kurmis bowed deeply and spoke with reverence. "Scarlet Goddess, I am Kurmis of Suinhor, and also from Maya City."
"You are the one who shaped this great civilization with Your own hands. We are all deeply grateful to You."
The Scarlet Goddess Vivien observed Kurmis closely. Her gaze lingered on his hair and eyes, as though she were studying him intently.
After a mont of silence, the deity finally spoke.
"Maya City."
The na seed to stir unpleasant mories for the deity.
"You have the power of spirituality," she said. "I recall a ti when a Snake Person from Maya City, whose body was consud by Xiao's power, managed to escape and beca his vessel for resurrection. It seems that person must have been you."
During her previous tour through Suinhor, she had noticed the peculiarity of the Feathered Serpent and had roughly guessed his identity.
Kurmis bowed his head. "It is . During the ti when the evil god descended, it was You who saved my holand. I can still recall the mont that mythological gate fell. If not for You, everything in Maya City would have been completely destroyed."
The Scarlet Goddess looked at him. "So, you told Osis that you wish to cultivate a plant species similar to the Curled Ball Fern? An entirely new crop, one that would far surpass it?"
Vivien found this topic fascinating. As a Sage of the Temple of Truth, her curiosity was piqued. As a Life Demigod, her passion for new species and the creation of life made her eager to learn more.
Kurmis repeated to the Scarlet Goddess what he had earlier shared with King Osis of Suinhor. He also demonstrated his spiritual power by creating the curled ball fruit that grew on the Green Ground Vine.
However, the Scarlet Goddess did not seem to find it particularly remarkable. She had once witnessed the true power of spirituality, the spiritual authority directly wielded by the Evil God of Original Sin, Xiao.
Even in the previous era, Ruhe Beasts had combined the traits of various life forms within their own bodies. She herself was capable of creating such wonders, though she already possessed a fixed Ruhe Seal and no longer required it.
No matter the thod used, once the extraordinary power faded, these creations would return to their original state. They lacked the ability to reproduce like genuine natural species.
At this mont, Kurmis spoke with determination. "This is only the first step. The second step is the most critical part."
"My spiritual power and the Spirit Fusion Seal Imprint will guide the transformation of life and shape its form. Then, I will use another power to bring it into existence, to turn it into a truly new species."
The goddess on the divine throne shook her head. "You cannot possibly have such power. That level of authority belongs solely to a Sovereign."
Kurmis nodded and bowed. "You are correct, I truly do not possess such power."
"However, if I were to receive the bestowed power of the Life Sovereign, perhaps it would be possible."
"This is not sothing I am doing alone. Perhaps it is the Mother of Life extending Her grace to the mortal world."
The goddess upon the divine throne was stunned. "What did you say?"
Kurmis looked at the Scarlet Goddess. "Great Scarlet Goddess, I ask for Your forgiveness for my boldness. There was a ti when I found a petal from Your divine flower."
"I used this petal to create my Seal Puppet, and then sothing unusual occurred."
Hearing this, the Scarlet Goddess's expression shifted noticeably, and the Trilobite Symbiotes around her all turned their attention to Kurmis.
She looked at him and asked, "Are you saying that you combined your Divine Grace power and seal with the Blood Mist Cups?"
Within the temple, so faces displayed visible shock.
The surprise was not just at Kurmis's audacity and ignorance, but also at the fact that he could still stand here unhard after attempting such a thing.
So mbers of the Most Ancient Race began whispering quietly among themselves.
"What is he doing?"
"An experint of the Royal Bloodline Samo family?"
"How is he still alive?"
Kurmis was puzzled by their astonishnt but simply nodded. "Yes, that is correct."
The Scarlet Goddess leaned forward slightly, her voice calm but filled with curiosity. "Tell
what happened after that."
A hint of lingering fear touched Kurmis's voice. "An eye appeared from the void and stared at ."
"In that mont, I could not move at all, as if my entire body was frozen. Then, my organs began to dissolve, and I was reduced to nothing more than a puddle of flesh."
"However, the imnse spiritual power I gained from that evil god allowed
to trace its origin. Through this power, I saw an altar, and on that altar was the eye from which the terrifying power was emanating."
The Scarlet Goddess Vivien finally understood, realizing the true nature of that altar.
"It is the altar of the Mother of Life," she stated. "You connected with the power she left behind through a ritual."
The Scarlet Goddess was astonished by Kurmis's reckless and seemingly foolish act. What surprised her even more was that, against all odds, he had succeeded purely by chance.
Kurmis wanted to continue, to explain that after communicating with the Eye of Mutation, the third step would be creating an entirely new species, but the Scarlet Goddess Vivien interrupted him.
"There is no need. This is already enough," she said.
"If you truly carry the will of the Supre Divine Being, then fate will guide you toward the future that has already been set."
"There is no need to explain further. I believe that everything you have said is true."
The deity's gaze softened with a faint smile. "As for what you seek, I already know."
"I shall grant you the Blood Mist Cups."
Kurmis was overjoyed. It was the first ti he had learned the na of this red divine flower.
"Great deity, thank You for Your rcy and grace."
The Scarlet Goddess looked at him. "It is by the rcy and grace of the Supre Divine Being that you are still alive."
"If you truly succeed in creating sothing new that rivals the Curled Ball Fern, I ask that you leave it in Suinhor."
"In return, you may make so requests of
as compensation."
Kurmis hesitated to make any further requests. He quickly expressed his gratitude, focusing on obtaining the Blood Mist Cups, the essential dium for his experint.
"It is Your power that makes this possible," he said. "I am deeply grateful. I would not dare to make any further requests of You."
The Scarlet Goddess Vivien extended her hand, and a blood-red, enchanting flower blood in her palm.
This flower was a symbol of life and a representation of the deity.
The Scarlet Goddess turned her hand, causing the flower to rotate gently downward.
"Kurmis, this belongs to you now," she said. "When you create a new crop that rivals the Curled Ball Fern, you may offer prayers to , and I will reclaim it."
Kurmis eagerly stepped forward and carefully held the Blood Mist Cups in both hands. His face flushed with excitent, and for a long mont, he was at a loss for words. Finally, he managed to speak.
"Thank You for your trust and generosity."
"I will strive to create a new crop that surpasses the Curled Ball Fern and is better suited for the Snake People."
As his words ended, his consciousness was overwheld by a sudden wave of dizziness.
When he regained his senses, he found himself standing once more within the Temple of Fire Protection.
Kurmis left the temple carrying the Blood Mist Cups. Outside, a crowd had gathered to wait for him.
Among them were the Chief Divine Servant of the Temple of Fire Protection, King Osis of Suinhor, and nurous royal ministers and divine servants.
When Osis saw the Blood Mist Cups in Kurmis's hand, he knew at once that Kurmis had succeeded.
Osis shouted, his voice ringing out.
"This is the protection of the deity!"
Everyone prayed with devotion, offering their praises to the Scarlet Goddess.
As Kurmis departed, Alpens stood beneath the divine throne, his expression filled with curiosity.
He turned to the Scarlet Goddess Vivien and asked, "Lady Vivien, can the divine artifact left by the Mother of Life truly be borrowed by mortals?"
Srkel, reflecting on the myth surrounding that altar, added his own concerns. "That divine artifact is said to be under the watch of the Seven Ruhe Gods."
"While mortals might occasionally connect with it, is it truly possible for them to repeat such a feat?"
"The previous ti, perhaps the Seven Ruhe Gods were unaware. However, if the Ruhe Great God becos aware, how could they possibly permit a mortal to wield a divine artifact left by the Sovereign Deity?"
The Scarlet Goddess Vivien replied, "The Mother of Life has opened the door to the outside world. Who can say where Her will and gaze have fallen?"
"It may be that at this very mont, Kurmis is receiving Her attention."
"Just as Kurmis himself said, this is simply the Sovereign Deity extending grace to the mortal world through him."
Alpens brought up another topic. "Osis still refuses to let go of Suinhor. He does not want to leave the stage with the disgrace of being rembered as the last king."
"This Kurmis might beco the key to his survival."
"No matter how much Osis resists, the era of divine-granted kingship has already co to an end, but Kurmis's involvent might bring about unexpected changes."
Srkel added, "Not only that, Lady Vivien. This Kurmis has already beco a Reincarnator and taken the first step toward becoming a god."
He paused for a mont before continuing, "What is he trying to achieve by doing all of this now? Is he preparing to ascend?"
The Scarlet Goddess reclined on the divine throne, her gaze lingering on the spot where Kurmis had stood. She appeared lost in thought, her expression contemplative.
"Becoming a god is not so simple," she said. "It is a gap of two hundred fifty million years. Without the help of other deities, what does he have to bridge that distance?"
"Furthermore, regardless of whether he can beco a god in the future, it will probably be very challenging for him to beco a god of the Snake People."
Alpens and Srkel turned to the Scarlet Goddess with a shared look of curiosity. "Why?" they asked in unison.
The Scarlet Goddess turned her head to look at the two of them.
"His idea of using the Sovereign Deity's power to cultivate an entirely new species is not incorrect," she explained.
"However, he does not yet understand that he himself is undergoing a complete transformation into a new race."
"It is no longer just the Feathered Serpent form altered by spiritual erosion. This is a direct transformation of his bloodline, creating an entirely new race capable of inheriting bloodlines and reproducing offspring."
The Scarlet Goddess paused for a mont, as if sothing had co to mind.
She let out a deep sigh and slowly shook her head.
"Using the power of the Sovereign Deity always cos with a price."
"It is just like when we sought to use the authority of life to advance into the next era, yet we ultimately beca what we are now."
"We could not recognize this price at the ti, just as Kurmis cannot recognize it now."
Alpens and Srkel exchanged astonished glances.
Alpens stepped forward. "He is becoming a new race? How did we not notice?"
Srkel lowered his gaze to the spot where Kurmis had stood. "He still appears to be a Snake Person, does he not?"
However, they both trusted the judgnt of the Scarlet Goddess.
Srkel then asked her, "What will he beco?"
The Scarlet Goddess shook her head. "Your power is not yet strong enough to directly observe the changes deep within his bloodline. Did you notice his hair and eyes?"
"Those are clear signs of life and bloodline mutation."
"That altar and eye are divine artifacts left behind by the Life Sovereign. He has not yet ascended to godhood, yet he is already bathing in mythological radiance, touching powers beyond his reach."
She continued, "From borrowing the Sovereign Deity's power just once, he has already changed to this extent."
"What do you think will happen if he uses it several more tis?"
"Once he begins this transformation, he will have no choice but to continue down this path."
"So, what cos next?"
"He is fated to beco an entirely new species."
The Scarlet Goddess gave her judgnt. "It is true that the Life Sovereign created the Winged People and Snake People directly in the past. This ti, however, is different."
"It is a mortal reaching out to touch Her authority and power, and through that, sothing new is being born."
Then, she responded to Srkel's second question about what Kurmis might beco.
"As for what form he will take," the Scarlet Goddess began thoughtfully, "it is an entirely new species, and with that cos the unknown."
"No one can predict what will erge next, just as we could not have imagined what this era would beco back then."
Her voice carried deep emotion as she spoke of the barbaric land and the vast primordial ocean of the First Era.
"Who could have foreseen it back then?"
"That life would flourish so richly, that the world would hold such beauty."
Srkel persisted. "Even if he becos a new species, he could still strive to beco the god of the Snake People, could he not?"
"At least for now, the Snake People are the leading civilization. Leveraging their strength to ascend as a deity would surely be more beneficial."
Srkel appeared to have a plan in mind, intending to harness Kurmis's power.
The Scarlet Goddess shook her head and addressed him directly.
"Once he has his own race and it grows into a community, will he still desire to beco a god for the Snake People?"
"When an entirely new race is created, will the Snake People still see him and this new race as their own? Will they accept them?"
"Among the Snake People, there are rising figures on the verge of becoming deities."
"Will they welco them?"
She then added, "Consider the Winged People and Snake People from that ti."
"Why do you think Snake Mother Sermos was willing to risk angering the Mother of Life just to drive out the Winged People?"
Vivien might not rival Xiao and Anhofus, those figures from the Temple of Truth, in certain aspects, but she had the qualifications to beco a Sage. This alone demonstrated that her vision and insight were far beyond the ordinary.
She had caught a glimpse of Kurmis's future during this brief encounter.
Srkel seed to want to say sothing but hesitated.
The Scarlet Goddess observed his expression shift. "You wish to ask why I did not tell him, is that correct?"
She continued without waiting for an answer. "Perhaps this is the will of the Supre Divine Being. You may consider it predetermined fate."
"Just as this era was destined to co into existence, just as the Age of Gods will inevitably arrive, Lyons Tito."
The Scarlet Goddess chose to remain silent, just as she refrained from questioning Kurmis about how he had summoned the power of the Eye of Mutation.
Srkel nodded thoughtfully. "A crop that rivals the Curled Ball Fern will erge. A new species will co into existence. A new era will unfold."
"This is sothing that cannot be avoided."
"What we must do is prepare ourselves to adapt to the changes that are coming."
King Osis of Suinhor had been deeply troubled recently, as whispers and rumors unfavorable to him began spreading throughout the nation.
While no one dared to voice these criticisms directly to his face, they circulated rapidly in secret, gaining montum like an unstoppable wildfire.
"Osis has lost the deity's blessing. How can he still call himself the Divine Blessed King?"
"Can a king without the deity's favor really hold onto the throne?"
"The deity will choose soone new. Only those blessed by the divine can rule."
"Tis are changing. The era of Divine Blessed Kings is over."
"The royal bloodline is fading. It's only a matter of ti before a new king rises."
So of these voices were rumors, others held truth, and so were intentionally spread by those with ambition.
It was clear that beneath the calm surface of Suinhor, unseen waves were beginning to rise. The chains that had once held the nation together were starting to weaken.
Many people had already started to look toward the throne of Suinhor with ambition.
If the deity no longer blesses the king, why shouldn't I take the throne?
In addition, Osis had been working to centralize power by promoting a provincial system. His goal was to suppress the old nobility, weaken the foundation of the forr city-state system, and reclaim the authority held by the city lords.
As a result, he was now facing significant backlash.
He found himself unable to implent his national policies, and even his throne was becoming unstable.
Osis urgently sought the support of a powerful ally, and the newly erged Kurmis naturally beca his beacon of hope.
The apostle power Kurmis possessed, along with his ongoing work, could be the key to turning the tide in Osis's favor.
Osis invited Kurmis to the royal palace garden and made his proposal.
"I want you to be my ally," he said. "I will assist you in completing your experint. Whatever you need, as long as it is within my power, I will provide it."
Kurmis paused for a mont, uncertain. This was not sothing he had anticipated.
Osis noticed his hesitation and felt encouraged. Hesitation suggested there was still a chance to convince him.
Understanding Kurmis's nature, Osis chose his words carefully.
"Do you not wish to see this country thrive? Do you want to watch it descend into chaos?" he asked.
"Your holand, Maya City, endured a natural disaster once. Do you want it to face another, this ti caused by mortal ambition, and beco a pawn in their sches?"
Osis continued, his voice filled with purpose. "I want to show that Suinhor remains the greatest nation on Ruhe Beast Island. I want to prove to everyone that I will be rembered as the most excellent Divine Blessed King."
"I aim to create a new era and lead all of Suinhor toward a brighter future."
"I need your help to achieve this. Together, we can make Suinhor and your holand stronger and better."
Kurmis had great strength, but his character was not unshakable. He still bore the traits of his past life as an ordinary commoner.
Osis's words resonated with him, and he found himself sowhat swayed.
"Your Majesty Osis, if there is any way I can assist you, please let
know," Kurmis said. "However, I will also require your support for my experint."
Osis responded imdiately. "I will provide you with all the support you need. Suinhor depends on the success of your experint and the creation of new crops."
"I intend to return to my holand, Maya City," Kurmis replied. "I wish to establish my laboratory there."
Osis assured him, "You have the authority to appoint the new city lord of Maya City. Tell
what materials you require, and I will ensure they are provided."
Kurmis explained, "In the future, I will require a significant amount of farmland to cultivate the new crops."
"You may use all the royal farms in the Maya territory," Osis promised. "If that is not sufficient, I will make additional arrangents."
Kurmis let out a deep breath. "There is no need, Your Majesty. That is already more than enough."
Next, Kurmis returned to Maya City.
In his holand, he built a farm castle where he could carry out his experints.
Inside the castle, Kurmis led a group of newly recruited assistants, all of whom were ordinary Snake People Ability Users.
Most of them ca from Maya City and shared deep ties with Kurmis. They were either descendants of his family or forr friends, bound by a shared history.
They all wore uniform yellow clothing marked with the Feathered Serpent emblem.
This ti, Kurmis's ritual array was far larger than before. It spanned the entire hall, involving nurous Ability Users and consuming vast quantities of extraordinary materials.
Standing at the control point of the ritual array, Kurmis issued the command.
"Check the ritual!"
The group carefully inspected the setup and confird that everything was in order.
Kurmis then said, "Prepare the dium!"
The Blood Mist Cups were placed reverently at the center of the array. The blood-red divine flower rested in clear spring water, releasing a faint, mysterious mist.
Kurmis carefully held a unique plant in his hands. His Seal Puppet knelt at the heart of the ritual, its posture solemn and still.
The plant was rooted in a clay jar, its vines weaving through the soil and bearing peculiar, gray-brown, ball-shaped fruits. A faint glow of seal power shimred around it, giving it an almost lifelike presence.
Kurmis began by offering a prayer to the Life Sovereign. Once everyone joined in chanting a hymn, he activated the ritual array.
"Activate!" he commanded.
"Offer the dium as a sacrifice!"
The Blood Mist Cups fused with the blood of magic beasts, intertwining through a unique process. Almost imdiately, the flower began to emit an unusual glow.
As before, Kurmis harnessed the power of mutation by channeling the conflict between the divine blood of life and wisdom, using it as the dium.
This ti, however, everyone kept their distance, carefully avoiding the mutative energy radiating from the Blood Mist Cups.
The next step involved connecting with the Dream Realm. In a low voice, speaking the ancient language of wisdom, Kurmis uttered the true na.
"Eye of Mutation!"
The tone was raw and ancient, utterly foreign to any sound a Snake Person might create. The mont the syllables were spoken, sothing extraordinary happened.
A force of unimaginable power seed to project from a distant realm, descending upon the castle with overwhelming intensity.
The blood-colored flower began to grow rapidly, expanding to its full size in an instant. It reached several ters in height and continued to swell, its petals folding inward to form a sphere.
Within the sphere, sothing appeared to be taking shape, as if a new life was being born.
At the sa ti, Kurmis's consciousness was abruptly pulled from the physical world. He found himself drawn toward the place where the Life Altar and the mysterious eyeball resided.
The eyeball on the altar grew larger and larger, its form expanding until it seed to beco a colossal star.
It gazed down at him from an unfathomable height, while Kurmis felt as small and insignificant as a speck of dust.
This ti, he established a complete connection with the divine artifact left by the Life Sovereign.
In doing so, he gained deeper insight and uncovered more details about its power.
【Life/Divine Artifact: Eye of Mutation】
【Sequence Number 7】
【Created by the Creator God's own hand, this is sothing that might not even qualify as an artifact. It exists in a state between existence and non-existence, constantly shifting and unstable. The authorities of life and wisdom are in continuous conflict and distortion, causing it to collapse and decay repeatedly, while simultaneously reorganizing under the power of creation.】
【Seven Ruhe Gods...】
【Light of Life Evolution: The Creator God shaped the eye's original mutative power, granting it the ability to drive life evolution. The radiation emitted during the Eye of Mutation's cycle of collapse and reorganization significantly accelerates the evolutionary process of life...】
Although it was Sequence Number 7, it was not considered a Mythical Artifact.
This was because it could never truly give rise to wisdom. Its power was distinct and unparalleled.
However, its strength was undeniable, and its unique abilities surpassed all expectations.
After reading the information, Kurmis was completely stunned. "Creator God?" he murmured.
He thought back to the stone tablets outside the Abyss Royal City, which hinted at ancient secrets. He had always believed the Mother of Life was the creator of the Snake People, but now he realized the true Creator God was soone else entirely.
This was the god who brought other gods into existence.
And now, as he gazed upon the eye, he saw the title of Creator God written clearly.
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