"Other deities raise their believers and use various tactics, using both gentle and forceful measures."
[Ling] was wrapped in billions of transparent brains, and the Divine Power around him was boiling with an imposing aura: "Or slowly guide them with temptations of benefit."
"Or with terrifying threats, scaring them with death."
"I am different from those gods."
"From the civilizations that were destroyed, I extract the essence of knowledge as my nourishment and develop my own unique trick for nurturing believers!"
[Ling] looked at Ma Ran, and said coldly: "Weave worlds, impart cognition."
"My believers need no body, no food, no work, leisure, or emotional life, those boring things."
"From birth to death, they constantly provide me with Faith Power Crystals!"
"To be able to witness the figures of my believers firsthand, even if you die, you should be at peace."
A master indeed...
Ma Ran praised in his heart.
To play the brain in a vat to such an extent, this [Ling] surely shows some hint of innovation.
Itâs just that...
Judging by the abilities displayed by the other party, it seems this guy can only nurture fanatics.
[Ling] canât manage to raise believers at the Saint Level.
Otherwise, this shouldnât be his level now; even if he hasnât reached the Upper Rank Godâs realm, he should be a Legion Commander under the Divine Court, responsible for "eliminating Demon Nest."
When [Ling]âs emotions were surging, Ma Ran took the opportunity to extract some valuable intelligence from his fragmented emotions and memories.
Ma Ran knew that even among the [Demon Slayers], there is a hierarchy, with distinctions in status even if no specific levels are defined.
"[Ling]..."
Ma Ran silently recited the other partyâs name.
He is a decent tool god, and his value isnât limited to being an [Audience].
In any case, itâs about time to wrap up this battle as it currently stands.
If not for gathering intelligence, Ma Ran would have already smashed [Ling] to pieces.
The [Ling] who revealed his trump card isnât too weak, yet heâs not particularly strong either.
In a one-on-one fight, unless those Upper Rank Gods personally took action, Ma Ran could roam the Divine Court undefeated.
To keep fighting further wouldnât just be holding back, itâd be unleashing an ocean.
With this thought in mind, Ma Ran raised his right hand, looking at [Ling] with calm eyes, his thumb and middle finger touching.
"Sweet dreams."
Snap!
Ma Ranâs body vanished like a bubble into the cold cosmos.
At the same time, [Ling]âs eyes went blank, as if his thoughts had been emptied, a bewildered look on his face with emotions fluctuating fiercely.
Suddenly, [Ling] opened his eyes wide and snapped awake.
"..."
He silently examined his hands and the wounds on his Divine Body, evaluated the loss of Faith Power Crystals and fanatics, and finally realized the arduous battle of life and death just ended.
"However..."
From [Ling]âs hands, a black-golden brilliance started to spread.
These rays of light gradually condensed and converged in his palm, shaping into the form of a book.
The blue cover was inscribed with two large characters of âBurning Martialâ using the general script of the Divine Court!
"The ultimate victor is still me!"
Indeed.
In [Ling]âs memory, his battle with Ma Ran, though excruciating, he still relied on his wit and deep accumulation, seized the opportunity, revealing his trump card, and killed Ma Ran on the spot, seizing the âBurning Martialâ manuscript.
The fierce battle before eventually concluded with [Ling]âs victory, just like the countless life-and-death battles he had fought.
Destiny always favored him!
Luck has always been kind to him.
"The key to ascending to the Upper Rank Divine Kingâs throne!"
[Ling] tightly grasped the Blue Book in his hand, overwhelmed by emotions, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curling up: "
Even mortals know that the fruit stolen from others tastes sweeter than the fruit cultivated by oneself.
This âBurning Martialâ manuscript wasnât just something [Ling] stumbled upon while out on a walk with overflowing luck, but rather, it was obtained by unraveling the grand conspiracy of the enemy, using his wisdom, martial prowess, experience, and ability for impromptu decisions, leading to this ultimate secret inheritance!
Thus, [Ling] treasured this manuscript even more.
"All along, I could only nurture believers to the fanatic level, no matter how hard I tried, I couldnât mass-produce saints, and I wasnât sure where exactly I was wrong."
[Ling] pondered: "After obtaining this âBurning Martialâ manuscript, perhaps I could draw analogies and fill the final shortcoming, moving a step further."
"Even, directly comprehend its mysteries and forge an Upper Rank Format!"
Before setting off, [Ling] had promised the three Middle Rank Gods who oversaw Yan resource-sharing, promising to immediately return after obtaining âBurning Martialâ to share its mysteries among the four gods, and even pledged a few resource stars as collateral.
But...
So what?
In [Ling]âs view, promises are meant to be broken!
The phrase "fat through broken promises" inherently carries the most blatant nature of certain things.
Keeping promises is merely due to insufficient benefits.
The benefits within the time-traveling âBurning Martialâ manuscript are enough for him to betray even gods!
As for the consequences?
After enduring countless trials, [Ling] seldom considers such things.
The future matters, leave them to his future self!
While [Ling] was in deep thought, he suddenly felt a burning sensation on his face.
Slap!
An unstoppable force struck him, spinning him several dozen times on the spot, barely managing to stabilize.
"Who?!"
[Ling] was both shocked and furious, extremely annoyed, and immediately focused his gaze on the assailant.
However...
The one who ambushed him had the exact same Divine Soul aura as his, even the Divine Format aura was very similar.
If there was a difference, it indeed existed.
Compared to [Ling], the otherâs aura was significantly stronger, more than just one or two times stronger!
[Ling]âs Sixth Sense as a deity told him that if this guy wished, he could kill him in three moves on the spot!
This sort of thing...
Theoretically, it shouldnât even be possible.
Even the Legion Commander of the Demon Extermination Expedition Army tasked with eliminating demon nests couldnât kill him in three moves!
Yet, [Ling] had always trusted his Sixth Sense.
He was frozen in place, not daring to move or even utter a word.
"What are you looking at?"
Ma Ranâs eyes gleamed sharply, as the Time Stop Territory enveloped the other.
He walked over leisurely, raised his hand, and slapped [Ling] across the face.
Slap!
A dignified Middle Rank God was slapped so hard that his saliva nearly dripped out.
[Ling] tried to retaliate, but sadly found that his Divine Power seemed suddenly inaccessible in front of the other.
Even the believers he had painstakingly nurtured were, at that moment, willing to contribute their Power of Faith to the other party freely...
Was it a status suppression?
No, it was more than that; there were other unknown factors.
[Ling] believed that the kind of fear emanating from the depths of his soul in front of the other must include some incomprehensible elements...
"Incompetent thing."
Ma Ran grasped [Ling]âs head, pulling him to eye level, regarded him as if he were a fool, and said bluntly: "When you thought of leaving future consequences to your future self to bear..."
"Did you ever consider youâd receive these slaps?"