Lin En, after his water affinity talent broke its limits for the fourth time, embraced a fleeting inspiration and immersed himself in intensive training for three years.
"Buzz——!"
The grandeur of cosmic laws descended into the abyss, unimpeded by the deepest ocean or its crushing pressure.
Caught in a beam of divine light, Lin En found himself floating, overwhelmed by a vast power cleansing his soul. A lesser divine essence emerged from within, transforming under the celestial decree into an intermediate divine essence before returning.
The aftermath of this transformation slowly faded away.
Feeling his newfound immense power, Lin En smiled, a subtle curve playing at the edges of his lips.
His power had transformed dramatically!
With the might of an Intermediate God, the domain of such, and the fusion of two arcane secrets, his power now rivaled a thousand lesser gods!
Lin En boldly extended his divine senses to explore...
Four lesser gods, three men and a woman, were approaching, unaware of his scrutiny.
Even...
Kino felt a stir of unease.
"I am Aisha Leydin, a lesser deity of the water element!" announced a woman with flowing green hair and a striking presence.
A gust of wind heralded the arrival of a middle-aged man, clad in a pale blue robe with silver-lined cuffs, his rugged features betraying surprise at the sight of Lin En.
"Mr. Lin En, your talent is extraordinary. We of the Dark Court sincerely extend an invitation for you to join us. I can recommend you directly to the main god legion..."
Each was a member of the Natural Court and the Dark Court, respectively.
Aisha and Kino, though regretful, remained courteous, providing an address before going their separate ways.
Lin En, with this move, revealed his full strength!
A deity-level warrior!
The banquet fell silent, the faces of those present revealing various emotions...
The acting continued...
The words came from a young man with flaming red eyebrows and hair.
His arrival from the direction of the Imperial City left his identity unmistakable.
Spectacular!
"Cough cough, let's end here for today. We'll continue our conversation when we next meet."
Richie, as the eldest, was the first to regain his composure, his face flushed with a mix of excitement and indescribable emotions. Beside him, Annie appeared somewhat stunned, her face a blend of surprise and delight.
"Lin En, be cautious. The folks from the Natural Court, including Scott, mean no good."
Scott's words were tinged with a sense of sorrow.
"Lin En, you are a talent like no other, staying in the material realm is beneath you. Consider joining the Four Divine Beasts Family..."
The scene was lively!
Scott nodded in agreement, marveling, "Mr. Lin En, you've concealed your strength well!"
Lin En's shock was genuine, not an act.
He lingered after emerging from the sea, waiting. His previous low profile was due to caution; now, with his newfound strength, he needn't fear any underhanded plots.
In the Duke of Blackstone's domain.
"Let's keep this matter among ourselves; no need for further publicity," he advised.
The patriarch of the Parker Empire.
As the mood lightened, Lin En seized the opportunity to ask, "I've heard about a great battle among divine beings before the Violet Calendar."
Parker quickly took his leave, his figure transforming into a crimson blaze that vanished into the distant sky.
"I reside in the underground palace behind the mountains of the Imperial City, you're always welcome to visit for a chat."
"I'm Kino Claal, a deity of the dark element," declared the stern, black-haired middle-aged man.
Lin En maintained a neutral face, though internally, he was critiquing the situation.
He observed something peculiar: the two had not exchanged a single glance, showing unusual restraint.
It's rare for a regular material plane to birth even a couple of lower gods over millennia, let alone a surplus of superpowers. This isn't the Yulan plane.
Scott, however, was the one to ease the tension with a smile, "Lin En, any thoughts on the Violet Continent?"
As a princess of the Scott Empire, she was well aware of the significance of godhood.
Lin En promptly negated, "No interest in faith or joining your disputes!"
At the dinner table, he gently tapped his glass with a spoon, drawing everyone's attention.
"Lin En, don't get entangled with the Natural or Dark Courts; they're just using you as pawns."
Their conversation was a mix of spoken words and secret transmissions, quite a scene.
Enough to scare anyone!
"Excuse me."
Lin En responded with a smile, waiting patiently. Soon, two men and a woman joined them.
"Ding ding."
Scott looked back wistfully, nodding, "Yes, the Violet Plane was once resource-rich, not the decline we see now."
"Congratulations, Father!"
Lin En, gazing at the restless sea, found solace in its rhythm, murmuring, "Time to return home."
Lin En swiftly retracted his senses, pondering, "An intermediate god, likely a guardian of this plane."
The mere aftermath had shattered a continent...
A woman in white raised an eyebrow, "An Intermediate God?"
Invincibility and dominion!
"Fortune... maybe, maybe not..."
He was setting up a low-profile image, though its effectiveness remained to be seen.
Lin En realized, experienced local gods could infer the dread of higher realms. He calmly remarked, "I've no grand aspirations. Just becoming an intermediate god is a stroke of luck. I prefer a peaceful life here."
He doubted their sincerity, their criticisms of one another.
Lin En could see it clearly: he was dealing with a super talent, skilled in staying under the radar, not someone to be trifled with!
"With the population and resources dwindling, this material plane is losing its value, leaving only us, the weaker gods."
Lin En's homecoming to the continent after years called for a family feast, a cherished Lin family tradition. It's essential for a large family to bond.
"Yes."
"I'd like to mention..."
He pointed to the sea and said with a bittersweet smile, "This sea, once a continent, was shattered by the ferocious battles of gods. Yes, literally shattered!"
Her surroundings were a desolate, frozen wasteland with a small house and an intricate magical teleportation array.
"You're Duke Lin En?"
Lin En couldn't contain himself any longer.
The conversation among the five fell into a hush.
"..."
Scott, Parker, and Aisha shared similar thoughts, carefully concealed.
The salty, moist sea breeze was slightly refreshing.
Their tension visibly eased.
Lin En, with a slight smile, nodded to Scott, "Hello, Mr. Scott."
"As an intermediate god, I'd advise against venturing to the Supreme or Divine planes. Those who've gone before haven't returned."
Scott left with a friendly smile, whisked away by a pale blue wind.
"I'm Parker, a lower fire-element god!"
They both were secretly communicating, maintaining an air of nonchalance, indifferent to his departure.
...
Lin En finished with a sincere expression, "I'll dilute some of my divine power to aid those with water talents in reaching the ninth level quickly."
Harvesting divine power is a task both arduous and time-consuming, especially when nurturing beings below the sanctum level!
It's an immense sacrifice!
Only for his family would Lin En make such a commitment.