Deep within the elemental ocean, turbulent undercurrents surged as streams of power forged from the might of the Gods flowed endlessly onward.
"So close, yet so far." Lin Lei couldn't help feeling a pang of longing.
So much God's power! Yet every deity who had ascended could sense this elemental ocean. And among Highgods, those with stronger souls would generally discover the region where the God's power lay. "The soul of a God is far, far more powerful than ours Highgods' souls."
Lin Lei quickly made peace with the thought.
What he couldn't have, there was no point dwelling on.
"I wonder whether there's an even more powerful energy region beneath the God's power zone." The notion surfaced abruptly in Lin Lei's mind, but after a moment he shook his head and let it go. "I can't even access the God's power, and I'm already thinking about other things? Still, it is strange. Divine power is divided into Lowgod power, Midgod power, and Highgod power. But I've never heard anyone say that God's power has different levels."
Having spent so many years in the clan, Lin Lei knew…
The Seven Element Systems and the Four Laws Systems — each system had seven Gods: one Highgod-level God, two Midgod-level Gods, and four Lowgod-level Gods. Clearly, the Gods themselves had a hierarchy.
"But why haven't I heard of any distinction in God's power?" Lin Lei was genuinely puzzled.
The Four Divine Beast clans and the Eight Great Families all possessed God's power. And Lin Lei hadn't noticed that any family's God's power was more refined than another's. They all seemed the same.
"Could it be that God's power is identical between Gods of different levels? Then why bother dividing them into Highgod-level, Midgod-level, and Lowgod-level?" Unable to figure it out, Lin Lei dropped the matter. After all… there were only seven Gods per system.
Every single God sat high above all others. Even the most powerful Highgod was utterly insignificant before a God.
Lin Lei then turned his full attention to carefully inspecting the Soul Defensive God Artifact. He could see streams of soul power flowing through it. At the breach, a thin membrane had already formed, and as soul power continued to pour in, the membrane sealing the gap was slowly undergoing a transformation.
"As expected… only upon reaching the Highgod realm can one truly begin repairing a Soul Defensive God Artifact." Lin Lei marveled at the discovery.
The speed of repair was far, far greater than when he had been a Midgod.
It was like a dam that had burst, with floodwaters raging through. If you threw pebbles into the torrent — no matter how many, no matter how continuously — the flood would wash them all away. But if you threw in massive boulders…
Make the stones ten times larger, and the effect improved dramatically.
Repair followed the same principle. Midgod soul power was too weak compared to the Soul Defensive God Artifact; the gap made repair far too difficult.
Since the Gods had descended and the affairs between the Four Divine Beast clans and the Eight Great Families had been settled, life for the members of the Four Divine Beast clans had returned to tranquility. Lin Lei's family and
Lin Lei constantly consumed Amethysts, strengthening his soul.
Eventually, he had used up every last Amethyst he carried. It was only by asking Bei Bei for more that he could continue refining and absorbing them. Bei Bei had said with characteristic generosity — "Boss, go ahead and refine as many as you need. Whatever amount you want, I'll provide."
After all, Bei Bei had spent an entire decade in the Amethyst Mountain Range collecting an astronomical number of Amethysts.
In the blink of an eye, a hundred years passed.
In the Great Canyon, a long dining table had been set up outside Lin Lei's dwelling. Lin Lei's family of three and Bei Bei's family of three gathered together. Dilia, Nis, Weidi, and Ina carried dishes back and forth, while Lin Lei and Bei Bei sat comfortably in their seats.
"Boss, can your soul still keep absorbing Amethysts?" Bei Bei asked. "You've already consumed so many."
Upon reaching the Highgod realm, Lin Lei's speed of Amethyst refinement had increased tenfold or more. As his soul continued to grow stronger, the refinement rate accelerated further. Over the course of a hundred years, he had indeed consumed a staggering quantity of Amethysts. But clearly… the soul of a Highgod also had far greater capacity.
"What, jealous?" Lin Lei teased. "Bei Bei, if I recall correctly, you once challenged me to see which of us would reach the Highgod realm first."
Bei Bei rubbed his nose and could only offer a helpless smile.
That trip to Mille City — Bei Bei had obtained the soul-severed fragment from his grandmother. After merging with it, Bei Bei had been only a single step away from the Highgod realm. Yet his speed was clearly much slower than Lin Lei's.
Lin Lei had achieved epiphany; Bei Bei still hadn't.
"Fine, fine, you're amazing, Boss," Bei Bei said with a bitter expression. "But my grandfather told me that once I reach the Highgod realm, my strength will be close to his. You may be powerful now, Boss, but once I break through to Highgod, I might even surpass you."
"The sooner you surpass me, the better," Lin Lei said with a smile.
He was well aware of Bei Bei's talent. That innate divine ability — "God-Eater" — was virtually unmatched among those of the same level. Once Bei Bei reached the Highgod realm and unleashed "God-Eater," how many could withstand it?
Perhaps only a Perfected Highgod could hold his ground.
Moreover, Bei Bei's God-Eater Mouse had a body of terrifying strength. The fact that Belute dared to catch a God Artifact with his bare hands spoke volumes about the incredible nature of the God-Eater Mouse at the Highgod level. Bei Bei's profound mysteries hadn't even been fused… yet relying on his innate talent alone, once he reached the Highgod realm, he would be able to rival Lin Lei.
Still, Lin Lei felt not a shred of jealousy.
Over the countless years they had walked together, Lin Lei and Bei Bei were like blood brothers. The stronger the other became, the better.
"I want to break through and achieve epiphany too, but why is it so hard?" Bei Bei sighed heavily.
At that moment, Weidi walked over carrying a platter of food. Hearing this, he chimed in, "Uncle Bei Bei, I want to break through too. Back when I ascended, I relied on the Ancestral Baptism. Trying to reach the Midgod realm on my own is hard enough."
"Hmph."
A dissatisfied grunt sounded as Ina also came out carrying dishes. "Brother Weidi, stop feeling sorry for yourself, would you? I haven't even become a god yet!" Lin Lei and Bei Bei both burst into laughter.
"Father, Uncle!" Ina glared at them, but Lin Lei and Bei Bei only laughed harder.
"Ha ha ha, what's got you all so cheerful?" A hearty laugh rang out as two figures descended from the sky in a flash. Lin Lei looked up to see Belute in his black robe and Karolona in her long red gown.
The moment Belute appeared, Lin Lei's eyes lit up.