Alsop vs. Adkins?

"It's a shame. You're a devout believer, yet you just had to worship Augusta, the Chief Sovereign of Light."

Huosi sighed. He didn't know what to make of the Pope's choice. He felt both admiration and regret.

He naturally had no good feelings toward Augusta.

Although Augusta and Oufu were essentially one and the same, their personalities were completely different.

Oufu was a true seeker. His whole life was devoted to breaking free of the constraints of this world, and he had never strayed from that goal.

Augusta, on the other hand, was domineering and arrogant. All he cared about was power.

The Pope of Light worshipped the Lord of Light, and there was nothing wrong with that in itself. In a sense, though, the one he worshipped wasn't the true Lord of Light.

He worshipped the Lord of Light in his own heart: a great, benevolent figure who would protect his people. That figure was nothing but a fantasy, a phantom he'd invented.

Most ordinary people had imagined that there was a god in this world who would protect them if they worshipped him.

In reality, though, there was no god who cared whether you worshipped him. In the Magic Universe, so-called gods were essentially no different from people.

Their needs, their joys, and their sorrows were no different. The only distinction was that gods had greater power and pursued different goals.

In the end, a so-called god was simply someone with special powers. They'd merely been given a different title. Chief Sovereigns were no different.

As a divine spark of light fell, the War of the Gods finally came to an end.

From that point on, the Interstellar Federation's unification of the continent became unstoppable. Huosi was about to become the true ruler of the Qingya Continent.

"Lord Huosi, could you tell us how you became so powerful?"

When the battle was over, Alsop was the first to lose patience. He was also the first to set aside his pride and address Huosi as "Lord."

At least he didn't think there was anything shameful about it. What was pride worth? What mattered was power in hand.

If calling someone "Lord" could earn them a way to grow stronger, countless people would do it. Countless Saint Realm experts had refined divine sparks without hesitation, despite knowing that their cultivation would never advance again afterward.

"Of course. My strength comes from the power of science."

Huosi answered directly, without hiding anything.

He hoped these people would help him with his research in the future, whether by procuring resources or joining the fight.

Huosi hadn't held a management position in his previous life, but he understood the most basic principle: reward and discipline in equal measure.

In the Coiling Dragon Universe, strength decided everything. But if he forced them into submission through violence alone, he'd inevitably leave behind countless problems for the future.

Pusiluo and Alikui'en were a perfect example. They should have been master and servant, supporting and helping each other as partners who would live and die together.

Instead, they'd become schemers and sworn enemies. Compared with the bond between Beibei and Linley, they were worlds apart.

On the surface, Linley was Beibei's master and Beibei his pet, but Linley had always treated him like a younger brother. Otherwise, Beirut wouldn't have allowed it.

When Beibei was flung away by the Spine-backed Iron Armored Dragon while protecting Linley, Linley flew into a frenzy. No matter how much Doehring called out to him, he didn't respond.

When Linley was on the verge of death on the Plane Battlefield, Beibei threatened Magnus outright and stayed by Linley's side to protect him.

If Linley had really died there, Beibei might have turned to darkness, training desperately from then on until he could one day stand against Magnus.

Their bond was pure, and their loyalty would last until death. Compared with Delia, Beibei sometimes seemed more like Linley's partner.

Huosi didn't dare hope for such a sincere relationship or bond.

But he hoped the people before him wouldn't grow estranged from him like Pusiluo had.

The best way to ensure that was to make them genuinely recognize the value of science, and genuinely want to conduct research together.

Only then could everyone benefit and achieve more with less effort.

Besides, if they joined the Academy of Sciences, they'd be a huge help to Huosi right now.

After all, a divine expert's greatest advantage wasn't anything else. It was their lifespan.

In the Magic Universe, anyone who reached the divine level had an infinite lifespan. They could research for tens of thousands of years without stopping, and they could draw divine power from the Elemental Ocean.

That made them a ready source of energy, a reserve of research talent, and an important trump card for future development.

For now, Huosi had only Saint Realm researchers working under him. Saint Realm experts also had no limit on their lifespan, but they couldn't use divine power. That still left them at a disadvantage.

Some of the more difficult research in the future would require more capable experts. Having divine-level powerhouses take it on would surely produce better results.

"Science? What's that?"

Salanna asked in confusion. The others looked just as puzzled.

"Everyone, come with me."

Huosi thought it over, then spoke to them. Rather than explain much, he simply asked them to follow.

Under their bewildered gazes, Huosi led them toward the Academy of Sciences.

"This is the headquarters of the Academy of Sciences. It's where all sorts of scientific projects are researched, and the foundation of my growing strength."

Huosi explained to the people behind him, then shrugged and walked in first.

"Hm? This door?"

They stopped at the entrance and looked at the metal door in front of them, slightly surprised.

The door's design didn't look complicated. It was made of ordinary metal, and a sign on it clearly read: "Laboratory—Authorized Personnel Only."

If they'd seen this door anywhere else, they probably wouldn't have given it a second glance.

Of course, what surprised them wasn't the sign. It was that their divine sense couldn't pass through the door.

This was strange. Divine sense was a unique ability of divine-level experts. It let them clearly sense everything within range. As far as they knew, only more powerful gods could evade its detection.

Yet a door could block a divine-level expert's perception. Their expressions grew solemn.

"This is the laboratory entrance. The door uses our latest technology, the Anti-Divine Domain System. It effectively blocks the invasion of a Divine Domain. It's a system designed specifically to counter Divine Domains."

Seeing their expressions, Huosi could easily guess what they were thinking. He calmly explained.

[Identity confirmed: Supreme Councilor, Huosi.]

As Huosi stood before the door, a small hole in it seemed to scan him. Then a voice sounded.

The metal door rumbled. It slowly swung open, revealing a corridor leading underground.

"Please, come in."

Huosi glanced at the bewildered group and stepped inside first.

"T-There's such a vast space underground?"

Alsop, at the front of the group, couldn't help exclaiming.

They'd been walking for several minutes, yet still hadn't reached the end.

They weren't moving at full speed, of course, but they were divine-level experts. Even walking, they were faster than ordinary people could manage.

"Of course. Construction on this underground base began gradually a hundred years ago. It now extends two thousand meters below the surface and can accommodate three hundred thousand people."

As he spoke, Huosi pointed to the glass windows and began explaining:

"The first building on the left is the Micro-Particle Magnetic Field Research Department. Its research mainly covers Divine Domains and Soul Defense Divine Artifacts. There'll probably be other projects in the future, too. For now, they can already produce Soul Defense Divine Artifacts."

"Soul Defense Divine Artifacts? You can actually make them? I once asked Lord Kaido, the Plane Guardian, about them."

Airlock was startled and immediately spoke up:

"He told me that when facing an enemy's soul attack, you could resist it with your own soul power or use a Soul Defense Divine Artifact. But only exceptionally powerful Highgods can forge one. They're beyond the reach of people like us."

The Plane Guardian hadn't explained in detail, but Airlock could guess that Soul Defense Divine Artifacts must be incredibly rare, even in the Divine Planes.

They might be beyond the reach of even Highgods.

And now, a Lowgod on their Material Plane could make them.

Airlock's first thought was that he must be going crazy. But then he remembered that the person in question was Huosi, and somehow it didn't seem impossible anymore.

"You're right. But here, my subordinates and I can use science to make Soul Defense Divine Artifacts! And we can mass-produce them!"

Huosi lifted his head and answered as if it were perfectly natural.

"Hiss!"

"Mass-produce them?"

The others exchanged looks. Shock was plain in every pair of eyes.

For a moment, everyone fell silent.

The soul was the foundation of a god. None of them present specialized in souls, but that didn't make them any less aware of how important the soul was.

"Um, Lord Huosi, if I joined your faction and earned your favor, would I have a chance to get a Soul Defense Divine Artifact?"

Longing shone in Airlock's eyes. He was the first to change his tune and call Huosi "Lord."

It was a far cry from his earlier arrogance. Huosi was almost embarrassed on his behalf.

"Lord Huosi, just give me a task. I won't hesitate!"

Alsop declared, wearing an expression of noble righteousness, then shot Airlock a look.

It was as if he were saying, "Step aside. I was the first to call Huosi 'Lord.'"

"Look at you lot. You have no shame."

Huosi glanced at the others, most of whom were practically drooling with desire, and couldn't help feeling exasperated.

He had no doubt that this Soul Defense Divine Artifact alone was enough to make every one of them call him "Lord Huosi."

I liked you better when you were all so arrogant!

"See? What's the rush? This is only part of it."

Huosi didn't answer them yet. As he spoke, he looked toward the other side and continued his introduction:

"That's the Nuclear Power Research Institute. It studies the applications of nuclear weapons."

"You might not understand what that means. Just know that it's a technology that can store divine power and put it to all sorts of uses."

Huosi took a can of cola from his interspatial ring and went on calmly:

"You probably don't have much idea what nuclear weapons are. It'd be better to let you experience one firsthand. Alsop!"

"Yes, Lord Huosi. What are your orders?"

At the sound of his name, Alsop immediately thumped his chest and answered, ready to do whatever Huosi asked.

"Head to the training grounds in the southwest. Adkins is waiting there. When you arrive, spar with him."

As he spoke, Huosi pressed a button and opened the passage leading straight to the training grounds.

"Huh? You want me to spar with Adkins?"

Alsop asked in confusion. For a moment, he wondered if he'd heard wrong.

It wasn't that the task seemed difficult. On the contrary, it seemed too easy.

But wasn't Adkins still at the Saint Realm? What was the point of a Saint Realm expert sparring with a Lowgod?

Alsop couldn't understand. Could this really be called a task?

"Don't worry, you can't hurt him. Just go all out."

Huosi saw right through Alsop's thoughts and answered at once, full of confidence in Adkins.

"I understand, Lord."

Though he was still confused, Alsop answered and headed for the training grounds.

"Do you think a Saint Realm expert can defeat a Lowgod?"

After Alsop left, Huosi was the first to speak, looking around at the others.

"That's impossible. There's a fundamental difference between the Saint Realm and the divine level."

Salanna shook her head first. She didn't believe a Saint Realm expert could defeat a god.

"You're right. The Saint Realm and the divine level are two different concepts. So where, exactly, do you think the difference lies?"

Huosi didn't argue. Instead, he continued with a question.

"I'd say there are three main differences. First, the Divine Domain, which can stop a Saint Realm expert from moving at all. Second, divine power. A divine body transformed by divine power is beyond comparison, even for a Saint Realm expert with a Life Source Pearl.

"Third is their understanding of the laws. Of course, compared with the first two, that isn't as important. In terms of the laws, a Lowgod and someone at the peak of the Saint Realm aren't that far apart. The first difference is the crucial one..."

Airlock answered, quickly organizing his thoughts. But as he spoke, he suddenly realized something:

"Lord Huosi, do you mean that you can neutralize all three advantages?"

"You just saw the system that neutralizes Divine Domains, didn't you?"

Huosi smiled calmly, his tone full of pride.

"This..."

Airlock was at a loss for words. He'd never considered what would happen if a Lowgod fought someone at the peak of the Saint Realm without a Divine Domain, because such a thing was impossible.

A Divine Domain was an innate ability of gods. No Saint Realm expert could counter one, so the hypothetical made no sense.

But today, they'd seen with their own eyes something that could neutralize a Divine Domain.

Airlock couldn't help wiping the sweat from his forehead. Was Alsop really going to lose to a Saint Realm expert today?

If that really happened, it would be quite a spectacle—and a huge shock to their understanding of the world.