A late stage Highgod! Han Shuo was greatly disturbed. After his two avatars had cultivated into Lowgods, he had finally realised just how powerful a god really was. A late-stage Highgod expert was simply unimaginably powerful to the Han Shuo of today.
Han Shuo knew that none of his avatars could handle a duel against a mid-stage lowgod on their own. Only with all three souls combined did Han Shuo have the confidence to achieve victory.
Highgods were truly terrifying existences, and late-stage highgods were even more so. They were the most powerful beings below the Overgods and were virtually invincible.
If Gyál was a late-stage high god, then this soul that he had personally set out to seal in this Holy Grail couldn't be much less powerful.
The more Han Shuo thought about it, the more cautious he became about helping this person to release this soul. If by chance, this person was an ingrate and coveted the power of the Faith of the Profound Continent, Han Shuo would have no way to even defend it and could only watch helplessly as what was his was occupied and taken away.
"Why did he seal you away?" Han Shuo asked cautiously. His heart was troubled.
"During the great Battle of the Gods, I, as a Cultivator of the Edict of Space, helped an old friend and opened an interplanar tunnel connecting two battlefields, which ultimately caused Gyál's forces to lose the battle. After the event, Gyál learned of my involvement and despicably attacked me by separating my divine soul from my divine body. He threw my soul into this Holy Grail. But I have no idea where my divine body is." His words were becoming sparse and his voice breathy.
Han Shuo had no idea if he was telling the truth or just lying. He had scruples about this being and remained silent as he digested his words.
"Your divine soul and divine body are separated. How is it that you can still use the edict power of space?" Han Shuo's eyebrows were raised and his forehead furrowed.
Since this Space Edict Cultivator of unknown origin possessed the ability to stop time, Han Shuo could not ignore the danger of his existence. Han Shuo was always wary and cautious of anyone who was not an ally and had the power to threaten him. He would never do something on impulse only to regret it deeply later.
"This is due to the unique quality of this Holy Grail. Gyál didn't want me to die, so he took a tiny bit of divine energy from my divine body and put it in this Grail. In this way, my soul is preserved and the Master of the Grail can take control of my power by activating the magical matrix of the Light Element on the Grail".
Just a tiny portion of his divine energy could form a space-time barrier and suspend time up to a radius of fifty kilometres. If this person's divine body and soul were reunited, how powerful would he be?
The more he explained, the more horrified Han Shuo became. In turn, the more apprehensive Han Shuo was about making any promises to him.
"You were sealed in this Holy Grail by Gyál, and this Grail was in turn given to this Pope of Light. Can this Highgod Gyál sense your presence through the Grail? Will Gyál travel across the material planes to look for you if the Light Pope loses the Grail?" Han Shuo inquired cautiously. He was well aware that if this Gyál were to descend to this plane for this Holy Grail, even with only his soul, no one on the Profound Continent would be a match for him. At that time, even Han Shuo himself, the greatest heretic, would find it difficult to escape. Han Shuo had to be sure.
"Haha, I know what you are worried about." Perhaps he had been locked in there for too long, for the being seemed very interested in conversation. The more it talked to Han Shuo, the more relaxed its intonation became. "Gyál, who brought me here, indicated that this plane must be extremely far away from the high-level material planes. I suspect that this place is merely a low-level material plane."
The Gods classified material planes as barren, low-level, medium-level and high-level. A barren material plane had sparse populations with limited lands. Living beings on these planes lacked development. Elements of all kinds were thin, and energy ores were scarce. No real gods had ever emerged from these planes. A low material plane had its own culture and civilisation. The total population would be around a billion, as they were usually blessed with relatively large areas of land, a sufficient amount of elements all around, and enough energy ore. Lowgods tended to inhabit these planes. The mid-level material planes were populated by much more advanced civilisations, their total population often approaching ten billion. They were privileged to have vast expanses of land, elemental-rich soil, and abundant energy ore deposits. Such planes were crowded with midgods, and high-level material planes were even more so. The total population of most high-level material planes would be at least twenty billion. Their lands were boundless. Elements of all kinds could be found in rich and intense concentrations. There were many strange and miraculous ores to be found. Numerous Lowgods and Midgods lived there. Highgods were also present on these levels.
Han Shuo had learned this information from Bechymos in the Abyss Realm. After returning to the Profound Continent, based on this method of classifying material planes, Han Shuo knew that the Profound Continent was barely considered a low-level material plane. The Profound Continent was home to quite large areas, but the total population was just under two hundred million. There were indeed Lowgods, but so far, the only Lowgod Han Shuo knew of, aside from himself, was the Primordial Dragon.
However, since the Abyssal Realm had a population of over a billion, a much larger land mass, and was once the home of the five Abyssal Demon Kings, it was by definition considered a true low-level material plane.
When he heard the soul in the Holy Grail suggest that the Profound Continent was a low-level material plane, Han Shuo helplessly replied, "You are indeed correct. Based on the division of material planes known to the gods, this plane is barely in the class of low-level material planes." Han Shuo continued to explain the situation on his plane.
"Oh? You know the classification of material planes? You're not that uninformed," the soul inside the Holy Grail was rather shocked, but did not question Han Shuo any further. He reasoned, "I know you're worried about Gyál coming to this plane, but don't worry about it. Given his status and identity as a late-stage highgod, there is no way he would pay any attention to such a low-level material plane. Even if he had business here, the most he would do is send his subordinates. Gyál knows I'm on this material plane because he brought me here. But he did so to prevent anyone from finding me. Therefore, he would never order anyone to come down here to retrieve the Grail, unless there was a major event concerning me. So you can rest assured. Even if someone does come, it will definitely not be Gyál."
Han Shuo's heart relaxed after hearing his explanation. He turned to look at the frozen Pope of Light with a sneer and asked the Grail, "Will killing the Master of the Grail have any negative effect on you?"
"None whatsoever. Be my guest. That fool is simply the most annoying little traitor I have ever met. All these years he has been trying to get the essence of the Edict of Space from me. Most ridiculously, he even offered me 'great rewards' in return. Haha, what 'great rewards' could a puny basegod offer?"
Upon hearing these words, Han Shuo extended his hand and pressed it on the Pope's head. A burst of energy erupted from his palm, and the pope's brain was well cooked.
Just like the old shaman, the Pope of Light has a powerful soul that doesn't dissipate with the death of his physical body. His soul was easily collected by Han Shuo.
The Holy Grail, the olive branches, the papal tiara, the cross, their clothes, the space rings, a necklace of bones worn by the old shaman and a few other things that Han Shuo thought might be useful were all taken away.
There was not a single person left from the group that raided the Babylon Academy of Magic and Strength. They had all been killed by Han Shuo.
Aside from the so-called Saintess who couldn't seem to leave the sacred mountain of the Church of Light, all the true world-class experts had been murdered by Han Shuo. It seemed that in the entire Profound Continent, the Primordial Dragon was the only being capable of standing up to him.
""Um, what should I do with you?" after putting away all his spoils of war, Han Shuo held the Holy Grail and transmitted to the person inside.
The soul inside the Holy Grail remained silent for a long, long time, sighed faintly and transmitted, "I know what you are worried about. To tell you the truth, your fears are completely unfounded. As a matter of fact, it seems completely absurd that you are protecting yourself from me. I don't really care about a low material plane. Besides, we people who cultivate according to the edict of space couldn't care less about the power of faith of such a low-level material plane. Besides, since I'm in this Grail and there's no one to operate it with incantations, I couldn't use the power of the edict of the space even if I tried. The divine energy I now possess is too weak to free myself from the binding of the Grail. Even if I'm free of the Grail, I'm no threat to you without my divine body. You really don't need to be so wary of me."
"I'm really sorry, but it's not safe for me to trust you. I have no idea what you'll do once you're free. At the moment I have no desire to help you free yourself, although I may not have the ability to do so yet. For now, I will have to force you to stay in there. After I fully understand some things, or perhaps when I have gained enough strength to the point where you are no longer a threat, then I will return the favour you have done for me today and release you from this Grail." Han Shuo was sincere in his words.
"Haha, well, I don't expect you to release me right away. I firmly believe that it takes time for two people to understand and trust each other, and time is the most I have. I hope you will keep the Grail for yourself and talk to me when you have the time. I have been lonely for too long, and to be able to talk to someone from time to time is a luxury for me. Hmm, I believe I have far more knowledge of the affairs of the gods on all the major material planes than you do. If you have any questions, asking me might be the quickest way to get the answer."
Han Shuo stared blankly for a moment and then turned around, pleased. He transmitted, "Then I will thank you in advance. There are indeed many things I don't know about the high-level material planes. As an expert who cultivates in the Edict of Space, you can definitely help me a lot. Yes, you can. As soon as I'm sure that you don't have any bad tendencies, or even better, as soon as I'm sure that you don't pose any threat to me, I'll spare no effort to get you out of the Grail. And if I feel that you are kind enough, I might even find ways to locate your divine body and help you resurrect so that you can get your revenge."
"Well then, it's a deal!" The being laughed softly. He seemed to be in a good mood.
"It's a deal!" Han Shuo was also in a good mood and gladly promised.