Source Material?

Indeed! I guessed correctly. As long as it's something related to the Divine, once it reaches a certain level, one can obtain Source Material. The Island Master of Flame Island has Source Material, and so do the Red-eyed Jiao People—just in varying quantities. It wasn't a waste to use a Seal.

Carl's eyes flickered. With no time for further thought, he shouted to Yana, "Go!"

The two had already aimed for a swift conclusion to the battle, but they still alarmed the surrounding Jiao People. If they didn't leave quickly, they would be encircled.

「...」

「Nightfall.」

Amidst a sea of ruins. This place had been ravaged by the Jiao People. The ground was a mess, with various items strewn among the mud.

"Nothing!" Carl stood up, shaking his head helplessly. "Still nothing."

"Strange," he muttered. "We left in such a hurry that day and didn't take much. The three major powers should have left some Great Divine Graces behind. Hawke mentioned it too. Why haven't we found any more after those initial few?"

For the past two days, to maintain the Invisibility effect and avoid detection by the Jiao People, he had been consuming upwards of ten Magic Stones daily. If discovered, the consumption would be even greater. Spending Magic Stones all day long while on edge, yet with no reward, it was natural to feel some irritation.

"Guardian," Yana said softly, "something is approaching."

Not far off, a vividly colored giant serpent slowly slithered out, its long tongue hissing as poisonous gas spread into the surroundings. Their Invisibility effect had no defense against the gas; if they didn't move now, they risked discovery.

"Hmm." Carl nodded. Just as he was about to leave, his expression subtly changed. "Wait a second!"

Saying this, he took out a disposable Demonized Item and tossed it toward the ground at his feet.

Sinking Ground!

The hard earth instantly softened. The two of them sank into the ground as if stepping onto water.

Zero-Circle Magic—Control Earth and Rock!

More than ten meters underground, Carl again used a Demonized Item, causing the soil to part to either side. In the blink of an eye, an 'underground chamber' several square meters in size appeared.

"Wait here for me," Carl instructed Yana, then walked towards the earthen wall. His body instantly dissolved into it, leaving the astonished Desecration Knight behind.

「Divine Domain Fragment.」

Carl sat on the stone chair, watching the mist rise in the center of the space. It's finally here!

The scene revealed in the mist was unmistakably Quincy praying to 'Him,' begging for the descent of the Divine.

COUGH. COUGH.

Carl cleared his throat.

"You are a man about to die." Carl lowered his voice, speaking slowly and deliberately. "So... what is your prayer?"

Quincy, who had been resigned to death, suddenly opened his eyes wide, staring intently at the awe-inspiring presence in the void. A Divine?

"Save me! Save me!" he blurted out, then quickly realized. No! Even if my injuries were healed, I would still die facing a Red-eyed Jiao Person comparable to a Legendary Knight!

"O Divine!" His eyes filled with pleading and desire as he addressed the presence in the void, "I wish to receive Your blessing and become a Legendary Knight!"

Legendary? I've been waiting for you to say that!

Carl, seated upon the stone throne, smiled.

The moment Quincy spoke, the Divine Domain Fragment provided feedback, explaining how it could be done. The Divine Domain Fragment seemed to have a special operating mechanism, similar to a wishing well that could grant wishes, and Carl, as its master, was still exploring it.

"Good!" He nodded lightly. "As you wish!"

Saying this, he reached out and gently tapped forward. Under the empowerment of the Divine Domain Fragment's mysterious power, his finger pierced the boundaries of space and time, landing on Quincy. Simultaneously, a vast wave of energy was transferred to him.

Hm?

Carl, still on the stone throne, suddenly paled. He looked around, his expression turning exceedingly grim.

The Divine Domain Fragment is shrinking!

He had painstakingly collected Source Material to expand the Divine Domain Fragment to over one hundred and seventy square meters. Now, it had suddenly shrunk by nearly thirty square meters!

That's equivalent to 3 points of Source Material—thirty Great Divine Graces!

"What the—!"

"What in the world is going on?!" Carl roared in anger, but it was too late. Quincy, having received the blessing, had already vanished from his perception.

"Ah!" Carl cried out. "How could it consume so much?"

If he weren't within the Divine Domain Fragment, which granted him absolute rationality, Carl might have broken down on the spot.

Thirty Great Divine Graces! All gone in an instant!

Hm?

After only a dozen Breaths or so, Carl raised an eyebrow again. The Source Material that had just disappeared was actually returning—and there was even a little more than before.

What's going on?

The question had barely formed in his mind when the Divine Domain Fragment provided the answer: Quincy was dead!

As a follower of the 'Taiwei Jade Emperor,' everything he possessed in life would return to the Master of the Divine Domain upon his death. As for the slight surplus of Source Material, it came from Quincy himself and a Red-eyed Jiao Person.

A corner of the Divine Domain Fragment's secrets was thus unveiled.

「...」

"After death, all returns to the Master!"

"The Merits of life belong to the glory of the Master!"

"..."

Several lines from the Master of Dawn's scriptures echoed in Carl's mind, allowing him to understand their true meaning.

Firstly, humans also possess Source Material. The stronger the person, the more Source Material they have; Quincy's death confirms this. No wonder the Divine desire followers. The Source Material from a single person might be negligible, but what about ten thousand, a million, or even a hundred million? If billions worshipped a Divine, then the daily deaths of these followers would provide a continuous supply of Source Material. Moreover, when believers kill others, that also counts as a harvest for their Divine.

No wonder! No wonder the Divine would wage Divine Wars over common people. These followers are their sustenance, even the very foundation of their power!

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