AZI Volume 7 Chapter 14

(*-laoban, satisfied?)

"Very satisfied."

Turning around, Long Hua takes one step forward, and—

"Hm?"

Particles of golden light fill the ceiling of the room, and gradually come together to form the face of—

"Lord Tian She Zi."

"Lord Tian She Zi."

Immediately, Xu Tian Kun and Hui Sang fell onto their knees.

The face that is formed by these particles of golden light is the same face that was formed by the dark clouds from before.

(Good, this despicable bastard's days will end here!)

(I can't stand to see this despicable bastard alive for another second!)

Within their hearts, Xu Tian Kun and Hui Sang expect this remnant will of Lord Tian She Zi—to bring down divine punishment on this despicable individual, who had brought misfortune to their village.

Opening its mouth, Lord Tian She Zi says—

"You…?"

The voice of Lord Tian She Zi is difficult to describe; for it sounds like a man, a woman, a child, an elderly individual—people of varying ages and genders speaking all at once.

"Uh…?"

(You…?)

What causes Xu Tian Kun and Hui Sang's hearts to sink is the fact that—the "you" used by Lord Tian She Zi is the formal one, the same one that is used to address someone of higher status.

(The hell is this?)

(Why is the deity addressing this despicable bastard so politely?)

Towards Lord Tian She Zi, Long Hua says—

"Piss off, I've no interest in becoming a Lord Tian She Zi myself! That unpleasant bastard is someone that I aim to kill with my own hands!"

From what Long Hua had read of Lord Tian She Zi—within the village's library, he came to the conclusion that this supposed deity was nothing more than the puppet of whatever civilization that they were born into.

And from Long Hua's perspective, if a deity must heed to their worshippers' every will, then they cannot be considered anything more than a tool that can be exploited.

"…!"

"…?!"

In response to Long Hua's words, Xu Tian Kun and Hui Sang felt as if they had been struck by lightning, as they thought—

(B-Become a Lord Tian She Zi?)

(What does that mean?)

Towards Long Hua's words, Lord Tian She Zi sighs, and replies—

"We understand that you are not willing to assume this role. But we ask that you save our villagers from their peril."

Raising a smile of mockery, Long Hua replies—

"Why? What am I supposed to do after I save them? And what if they ask me to sacrifice myself to create a new village for them? Am I supposed to do just that? Get real! A deity like you is nothing more a tool for these people!"

The sound of numerous voices—speaking in numerous tongues, fills the air.

From the sound of it, all the sources that make up this Lord Tian She Zi's remnant will are having a discussion among themselves.

Eventually—

"We understand your feelings very well. You may leave the villagers to fend for themselves after saving them."

Maintaining his mocking smile, Long Hua replies—

"One of the things that I hate the most—is to do something without being compensated."

"If you wish to challenge the god, who had created this identity, you will need to become their equal—a god yourself. Faith energy, this power is central to attaining divinity. We can give you the opportunity to experience its effects for yourself, to familiarize yourself with it—even before you've transcended the limits of humanity."

"…"

Showing no changes on his face, Long Hua thought—

(Sounds tempting, but… Do they seriously think that I'll be able to maintain my own sanity, when I'm basking myself in this faith energy—that stems from who knows how many years of collective prayers?)

Just as Long Hua is thinking of this, the Tai Xuan Emperor says—

(*-laoban, don't accept this offer! It's far too dangerous! You can't possibly hope to maintain your own sanity when you're basking in faith energy that stems from more than a million years' worth of prayers!)

Towards the Tai Xuan Emperor's words, Long Hua inwardly rolls his eyes at her.

Did she have any right to be giving him this warning, when she is probably more concerned about losing him—her would-be-vessel to these remnant wills?

"…"

Closing his eyes, Long Hua rotates the Tranquil Heart Incantation fiercely.

(If I maintain my rotation of the Tranquil Heart Incantation, can I maintain my sanity? …No, I'm severely underestimating the power of faith energy—if I dare to think this.)

Forming a frown on his lips, Long Hua shifts his thoughts to—

(What if I use Devourer? But… Is faith energy even considered a natural energy of Heaven and Earth when it stems from mortal lifeforms?)

Reopening his eyes, Long Hua turns away from the others, and opens the evolution interface.

(I still got eight mutation points to spend. Maybe there's something in here that I can buy to ensure my odds?)

Originally, Long Hua had planned to use these mutation points to raise one of his level three basic attribute abilities to level four, but up until now he couldn't decide on which one to go for.

(Divine senses proficiency, various weapon proficiencies, lightning elemental proficiency; c'mon, isn't there a Devourer level II, or something similar to that effect?)

Just as Long Hua is thinking of this—

"…?"

The interface freezes, and forcefully redirects itself to the section where the Devourer ability is.

And as a line runs down from the icon that represents the Devourer ability, a new icon comes into being.

"…Tch."

It goes without saying what this new ability is.