"It's recorded in wizard books that Divine shepherd living beings and harvest faith. So that's what it means."

Carl's eyes twinkled.

Essentially, the so-called Righteous God, even if they treat commoners and believers as their own livestock and food, would nurture them carefully. After all, the more believers they have, the more Source Material they can harvest.

As for the Evil God... they engage in one-time deals, directly harvesting the lives of living beings. Since, as I understand it, younger people possess more Source Material than older ones, Evil God lack the patience to cultivate followers. They simply Devour them to convert into Source Material.

Carl took a deep breath.

Moreover, bestowing blessings consumes Source Material. Helping believers fulfill wishes also consumes Source Material, with the amount varying by the wish. Allowing dead believers to resurrect in the Divine Domain, or even become Angel, requires vast amounts of Source Material.

If a Divine is like a big boss, then believers are their source of wealth. Angel, priest, and others are employees. Fulfilling wishes is like an incentive strategy...

So that's how it is!

Realizing this, Carl looked at his own status panel.

Name: Carl

Constitution: 5

spiritual power: 4.5

Source Material: 1

Level: Great Knight, Advanced Wizard Apprentice

Eight Great Divine Grace had converted to 0.8 Source Material, and killing a Red-Eyed Merman had yielded 0.2. Quincy's Source Material, after his death, had directly merged into the Divine Domain Fragment and was not part of this current amount.

He pondered for a moment, and the values for his Constitution and Source Material slightly shifted.

Constitution: 5.01

Source Material: 0.96

After my Constitution value exceeded five, it now costs four points of Source Material to increase Constitution by one full point. This conversion rate is double what it was before.

Touching his chin, Carl lightly shook his head.

Although the values have improved, my essential nature of life hasn't changed. It seems that even if I increase Constitution to ten, I'll remain an ordinary life form. Just like a mouse and an elephant; although their strengths differ, the essence of their lives is the same.

Lifespan... it hasn't been extended either!

Legendary Knight can live for over two hundred years, but the lifespan of a Great Knight is no different from that of ordinary people who maintain good health. It seems I still need to raise my Level. An extra hundred or so years of life would also significantly increase my chances of breaking through to become an Official Wizard.

Gathering his thoughts, a smile touched Carl's lips.

I should make some preparations. I'll be able to break through and advance to Legendary in a few days.

* * *

BANG!

PUFF!

The Red-Eyed Merman that had barged into the crowd rampaged wildly, slaughtering its way through in a few breaths and leaving a trail of corpses.

The enhancement in its essential nature of life meant its defensive power, explosive power, and Recovery Power far surpassed those of a Blue-Eyed Merman.

Against Blue-Eyed Mermen, people could rely on numbers to surround and kill them.

But against a Red-Eyed Merman, the effectiveness of numbers was drastically reduced.

"Qiao!" Conni growled, dashing forward with a dagger in each hand.

Battle Skill—Blind Strike!

This Battle Skill greatly increased bodily resilience, making it difficult for one's actions to be interrupted and allowing for the uninterrupted swinging of weapons.

CLANG...

A terrifying force slammed into him.

Conni's body trembled violently, but bolstered by the Battle Skill, he stood firm and even seized the opportunity to launch a fierce counterattack.

At the same time, a man dressed as a sailor, known as Blackbeard, flashed behind the Red-Eyed Merman, his hands outstretched.

Curse—Weakness!

Two streams of black energy, like serpents, emerged from his palms and entered the Red-Eyed Merman's body.

Instantly, the Red-Eyed Merman's speed slowed.

Effective!

A smile touched Blackbeard's lips. The curse he bore originated from a mysterious location in the Endless Sea Domain, its power rivaling a supreme-grade Dharma Seal. Even Legendary Level creatures would be affected.

"Be careful!" Conni suddenly shouted before Blackbeard could make another move.

The Red-Eyed Merman whirled around and, growling, lunged at Blackbeard. It was still remarkably fast despite the curse.

Moreover...

Battle Skill—Spinning Assault!

Its fists shot forward fiercely, its body immediately spinning, fists and claws alternating, tearing several figures apart.

Blackbeard was among them.

No one would have expected a Merman to be capable of executing Battle Skills, much less with such terrifying power. If it could easily shred iron armor, what chance did human flesh stand?

"Qiao!" Conni roared, his eyes red with rage.

SWISH!

His body blurred, appearing behind the Red-Eyed Merman, his dagger stabbing out viciously.

Battle Skill—Continuous Attack!

This Battle Skill allowed for sustained attacks; the more strikes delivered, the greater the damage inflicted on the enemy.

His Great Knight-level speed allowed him to instantly deliver six strikes, yet they only managed to barely pierce the opponent's defense.

And a punch from the Red-Eyed Merman landed on his chest.

BANG!

The flesh on Conni's chest burst open, revealing his internal organs, but his movements didn't falter.

Eight strikes!

Ten strikes!

...

BANG!

Another fist struck.

Conni's heart exploded.

Sixteen strikes!

Eighteen strikes!

"Burst!"

BANG!

Two figures were sent flying backward simultaneously.

Conni's upper body, a bloody and tattered mess, landed and convulsed nonstop. The Red-Eyed Merman's body, too, had two large holes punctured through it.

"Hmm... Human, you are strong." The Red-Eyed Merman slowly propped itself up. Looking at the wounds on its body, a hint of surprise flashed in its crimson eyes. "Your body is also very strange; your heart is shattered, yet you're still alive."

The Blue-Eyed Merman already possessed a certain degree of intelligence; the Red-Eyed Merman's intellect was no less than that of a normal human. Speaking was quite normal for it.

"Strange?" Conni's voice was hoarse. "Could I be stranger than you, monster!"

During his explorations of the Endless Sea Domain, he too had encountered some strange occurrences, and his body had undergone certain mutations. Although still a Great Knight, he could withstand attacks of Legendary Level.

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