After the entire 'Lust' Church "withdrew," the Order Church conducted inquiries in Ampu City and the surrounding viscount territories as a formality.
And with that, the matter was considered completely resolved.
Lin Yuan's life returned to tranquility.
In Longshan City, Lin Yuan sat cross-legged in the center of the training ground.
"The rules of time... The great scholars of my human civilization's evolutionary university summarized 2,173 models of time rules based on the essence of time rules..."
Lin Yuan pondered. Compared to nearly ten thousand spatial rule models, time rule models were much fewer, but the difficulty of comprehending the latter was far greater than the former.
Even if one comprehended all 2,173 time rule models, it did not mean they had fully comprehended the complete time rules.
To fully comprehend the complete time rules, one needed to discover the final step themselves.
The 2,173 time rule models only provided a direction for evolvers to comprehend time rules.
"Although I haven't yet regained my ninth rank and cannot open spatial layers, I have made significant progress in understanding the rules of time..."
Lin Yuan felt a strange sense. Over the past hundred years, he had comprehended more than a hundred time rule models, nearing a 'minor achievement' in understanding time.
This level of understanding required a tenth-rank evolver.
Additionally, Lin Yuan had gained deeper insights into the rules of space.
Comprehending the complete rules of space didn't mean one had reached the limit in spatial rules. The rules of space were vast and endless, with different aspects.
The spatial rules comprehended by the strongest beings were completely different from those understood by ordinary ninth-rank evolvers.
The master of Devil Jade Tower left behind "Interpretation of the Void," which explained the essence of spatial rules from another perspective, greatly benefiting Lin Yuan. Each viewing brought new insights.
"Hmm?"
"Everyone's here?"
Lin Yuan glanced around and saw many members of the Longshan family gathered at the edge of the training ground, watching him with fervent eyes.
Invisible and illusory forces began to gather towards Lin Yuan.
"This world is indeed suitable for following the path of faith." Lin Yuan understood that the gathered forces came from the faith of the Longshan family members in him.
This would be unimaginable in the main universe.
In the main world of human civilization, some evolvers had tried to follow the path of faith but found it difficult to gather the power of faith. In this world, it was much easier.
"Unfortunately, the power of faith relies too heavily on living beings. If they disappear or die, the gods who base their power on faith will lose their source of strength."
Lin Yuan shook his head slightly.
Compared to the path of faith, he preferred to accumulate power within himself. Even spreading evolutionary paths was only to make his ultimate leap easier.
But that didn't mean he couldn't cross into the twelfth rank without spreading evolutionary paths.
Lin Yuan's thoughts scattered as he looked at the growing number of Longshan family members.
To better spread the martial cultivation method, Lin Yuan periodically explained the key points and essence of the martial cultivation method within the Longshan family.
"Patriarch, that's the patriarch."
"The patriarch is so powerful. Just looking at him makes my heart race."
"Of course. Our Longshan family's patriarch is known as the number one fourth-level knight in the nearby viscount territories and is expected to become a fifth-level great knight in the future."
The members of the Longshan family discussed excitedly. Many of them did not practice the martial cultivation method, but they came specifically to see Lin Yuan.
Over the past century, Longshan Ridge had developed increasingly well, attracting the attention of the surrounding viscount territories. These viscount territories joined forces and sent more than ten fourth-level peak knights to Longshan City to pressure the new Viscount Longshan.
As a result, those fourth-level peak knights were each defeated by a single punch from Lin Yuan, without any chance to fight back.
Since then, the viscount territories had no further thoughts about Longshan Ridge. In their view, Viscount Longshan's strength was infinitely close to that of a fifth-level great knight, making it only a matter of time before he crossed that threshold.
The fourth-level peak knights of the viscount territories did not know that the Viscount Longshan they faced was a terrifying existence comparable to a true god.
Time passed.
Two hours quickly went by.
Lin Yuan's lecture came to an end, and the surrounding Longshan family members listened intently, as if entranced.
Given Lin Yuan's understanding of the essence of power, even though he wasn't adept at teaching disciples, his descriptions and explanations of the martial cultivation method were direct and to the point.
Even if the Longshan family members didn't fully understand it on the spot, they would have gained some insights and could make progress after thinking it over.
Above Longshan City.
In a slightly twisted space.
Several figures stood, carefully watching Lin Yuan below as he lectured.
The three leading figures had restrained auras and were all sixth-level legendary knights, the last line of defense and the empire's hidden strength.
On the Plateau of Nations, perhaps the most powerful empires had seventh-level demigods, but most did not, with the sixth level being the upper limit.
Seventh-level demigods generally had two choices: serve a true god or secretly spread their faith and attempt to become gods themselves.
"Lord Fabian, the martial cultivation method was spread by that Viscount Longshan." A young man with golden hair said respectfully to the elder standing at the forefront.
Fabian was a legend of the empire, a sixth-level peak legendary knight, and was even expected to ignite the divine fire and step into the seventh-level demigod realm.
"In my opinion, the martial cultivation method is nothing special. While it can include most bloodlines, it can't compare to our royal cultivation method for specific bloodlines."
Another young man couldn't help but speak.
The Longshan family publicly shared the martial cultivation method, which quickly spread and even reached the imperial family.
Fabian immediately recognized the importance of the martial cultivation method, possibly triggering a revolution in all knight cultivation methods. He brought his people to Longshan City to observe Viscount Longshan secretly.
"You should say that our royal cultivation method can't compare to the martial cultivation method." Fabian glanced at the young man and shook his head. "This Viscount Longshan has unlimited potential and is very likely to reach the seventh level."
With these words.
The others were stunned.
They had never heard Fabian give such high praise to any knight. Unlimited potential? Very likely to reach the seventh level?
My god.
These words came from the usually aloof Fabian?
"You don't believe it?"
Fabian's tone was calm as he continued to listen carefully to Lin Yuan's lecture below.
He couldn't see through Lin Yuan's strength or sense anything unusual, but just from Lin Yuan's precise descriptions of the essence of power and cultivation, he felt that Viscount Longshan's future achievements would far surpass his own.
At least, when Fabian was Lin Yuan's age, he only knew how to manipulate power. His understanding of the essence of power was far inferior to the current Viscount Longshan.
The higher Fabian climbed in his cultivation, the more he realized how important understanding the essence of power was.
"Lord, it's not that we don't believe it; it's just too unbelievable..."
The others glanced at each other and spoke cautiously.
What a joke? Which seventh-level demigod didn't have a powerful and profound bloodline? The 'Mountain Dragon' bloodline of the Longshan family was indeed extraordinary, but its upper limit was the fifth level. Reaching the seventh-level demigod was as difficult as climbing to the heavens.
"No matter."
"If you don't believe it, just wait five hundred years and see."
Fabian said indifferently. If he dared to make such a statement, he was certain that Viscount Longshan would undoubtedly reach the sixth level within five hundred years.
Only sixth-level legendary knights could live past five hundred years.
"Immediately implement the martial cultivation method in our royal family. If we wait any longer, the surrounding empires will catch up."
Fabian thought for a moment and said.
In recent years, the imperial family had been debating how to treat the martial cultivation method. Now that Fabian had personally seen Viscount Longshan, he had reached a conclusion.
As for blocking the spread of the martial cultivation method and keeping it exclusive to the royal family? That was unrealistic. Too many knights in the empire already knew about it, and so did other empires.
The reason there hadn't been much action was that they were still studying the martial cultivation method.
"Understood."
The other knights immediately responded.
In the royal family, Fabian's authority was second only to the Order Church, and he had the final say in internal decisions.
"Also, immediately win over Viscount Longshan and elevate his title to Count. All nearby territories, including those of the viscounts, will belong to the Longshan family."
Fabian continued after a moment of thought.
"Yes."
The others exchanged glances and responded immediately.
It was clear that Fabian valued Viscount Longshan unprecedentedly. Elevating him directly to Count? There had never been such a significant promotion in the empire's history.
Moreover, Viscount Longshan had not yet made any notable contributions.
It should be noted that any count in the empire could inherit their title permanently, and their control over their territory was even higher than that of the empire itself.
"Let's go."
"It's time to return."
Fabian took one last look at Longshan City below and then led his people back to the imperial capital.
What the sixth-level peak legendary knight Fabian didn't know was that as soon as he left, Viscount Longshan below glanced casually at the spot where Fabian had stood.
"Quite perceptive."
Lin Yuan thought to himself.
Fabian and his group couldn't escape Lin Yuan's perception.
Not only that, but every word they said was heard by Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan had long anticipated that the spread of the martial cultivation method would attract the empire's attention.
After all, compared to many knight cultivation methods, the martial cultivation method was too unique and could completely replace most knight cultivation methods.
Originally, Lin Yuan thought the empire might take some measures, such as controlling him, the one who spread the martial cultivation method.
But clearly, the empire's high-ranking officials were not short-sighted. Realizing that the martial cultivation method couldn't be suppressed, they immediately chose to join in.
They even sought to win over and reward Lin Yuan, the one who spread the martial cultivation method.
All these actions made Lin Yuan not hold any ill feelings towards the imperial family.
"My two Spirit have already started infiltrating the churches." Lin Yuan glanced into the distance.
Although the Plateau of Nations were named 'Ten Thousand Nations,' the number of existing empires far exceeded ten thousand.
Lin Yuan had the two Spirit collect 'divine crystals,' targeting the churches of distant empires.
Even a rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its nest. Lin Yuan's current empire, named the 'Silan' Empire, was the land of faith for the God of Order.
Facing a main god-level entity, Lin Yuan was still cautious and would not easily provoke a main god.
In a distant empire far from the 'Silan' Empire.
Here was the land of faith for the 'Starry Sky' true god, and the 'Starry Sky' Church held the highest status in this empire.
Starry Sky Church.
Many believers were worshipping devoutly, and strands of illusory faith power were gathering towards the statue of the Starry Sky true god and then transmitted through the statue to the true god in the Sea of Light.
Deep in the church.
The Pope watched the continuously forming divine crystals with a satisfied smile.
"It seems my god is very pleased this time, bestowing so many divine crystals." The Pope was delighted.
Divine crystals contained extremely pure energy. Besides supporting divine incarnations, they were also highly beneficial for cultivation.
The divine crystals bestowed by the Starry Sky true god this time were enough for all strong members above the fifth level in the church to cultivate for hundreds of years.
"If I could consume these divine crystals, perhaps I could step into the seventh level, elevate my divine kingdom, and enter the Sea of Light, existing eternally like my god?"
The Pope stared at the divine crystals before him, a hint of greed rising in his heart.
At this moment.
A figure appeared silently beside the Pope.
The figure's face was blurred, shrouded in mysterious energy.
"Hmm?"
The Pope glanced over without reacting immediately, then his face changed dramatically. "You are..."
Before the Pope could finish speaking, his consciousness plunged into darkness. When he woke up, he found that the church's divine crystals accumulated over a thousand years were gone.
"Who did this?!"
The Pope of the Starry Sky Church's eyes were bloodshot. So many divine crystals had disappeared just like that?
Outside the church.
Lin Yuan's form reconstituted.
"Not bad." Lin Yuan glanced at the number of newly acquired divine crystals and nodded slightly.
Although the quantity wasn't much, he had made many such acquisitions. Along the way, dozens of churches' accumulated divine crystals had fallen into his hands.
"Continue, continue."
Lin Yuan understood the need for speed.
He needed to gather enough divine crystals to advance to the ninth rank before the gods noticed.
Time passed.
In the blink of an eye, ten years went by.
During these ten years, Lin Yuan's two Spirit traversed half of the Plateau of Nations, with countless true god churches being looted by Lin Yuan.
Of course, Lin Yuan was only interested in divine crystals, sparing the believers.
He aimed to minimize the scope of the issue. Killing the believers and high-level church members would be a direct declaration of war against the gods, which would be detrimental to his efforts to collect divine crystals.
Longshan Ridge.
In an underground cave.
Lin Yuan looked at the pile of divine crystals before him.
Taking a deep breath, he absorbed the divine crystals, which shattered and merged into his body. Instantly, his internal world began to expand, and the spatial layers grew heavier and more vast.
Having experienced advancing to the ninth rank in the main universe's main world.
Lin Yuan's re-entry into the ninth rank was smooth, with even the breakthrough movements suppressed.
Hoo...
A faint, indescribable aura emerged briefly.
No one knew that in this small place of Longshan Ridge in the Silan Empire, a being equal to the twenty-four main gods was born.
...
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