In the world of magic and martial prowess, reaching the sacred realm fundamentally involves harnessing and refining elemental powers, focusing on both their quantity and quality. It's possible, in theory, to expedite this process.
However, shortcuts have their costs. Strength within the same level may be weaker, particularly for warriors in the crucial stages of levels eight and nine. Mastery over one's own strength is key, and shortcuts mean less practice, significantly impacting one's abilities.
Yet, considering it as a fast-track approach, it's acceptable. Gaining an extended lifespan outweighs these shortcomings, especially for those whose potential peaks at level seven. Reaching level nine should be a cause for satisfaction, not discontent.
"So, mother's rapid progress in training was due to father's assistance!" the children realized in an epiphany. They recalled their astonishment and curiosity when Serlina, years earlier, announced her advancement to a ninth-grade grand mage. It now made sense why her training efficiency seemed to improve with age.
The revelation came as a moment of clarity; their father, a deity among warriors, was the catalyst behind this remarkable progress.
"Ah, the gift of water mastery, a talent I unfortunately lack," Cindy reflected with a resigned sigh.
It appeared genetic, as the Lin family lineage predominantly manifested water-related abilities. Oddly enough, Cindy, the second child, possessed affinities for fire and light, but not water.
"Richie, give uncle a slap; I must be dreaming," he joked, contrasting the dark, somber nature of his powers with the brighter aspects of light.
Regardless, this method of empowerment was far less strenuous than the traditional path of painstaking cultivation. Embracing this newfound power promised a smoother, quicker journey without hindering future growth.
The night air was crisp, the stars shimmering against the dark canvas. The lights in the distance blended with the celestial display, creating a scene of indistinct, hazy beauty. The rolling clouds occasionally parted, revealing the vast, deep sky and a moon that cast a serene, frostlike glow over the land.
Colin and Andy, too, reacted with unbridled enthusiasm upon hearing the news, their excitement akin to playful, energetic monkeys, eventually coming to terms with this thrilling reality.
Host Lin En
With a sigh of relief, Lin En bolstered his confidence and plunged into intense strategic planning.
With materials ready and under the curious and admiring eyes of Serlina, Richie, and others, Lin En gracefully wielded his divine powers, swiftly crafting an initial structure...
In the eager gaze of many, Lin En's fingertips danced with mist, channeling elemental energy of remarkable intensity into Richie's core energy center, bit by bit.
The evening unfolded with a partially obscured moon amidst drifting clouds, casting alternating light and shadows on the earth.
Specializing in wind magic but never abandoning water magic due to his parents' influence, Lin En's mastery of water magic had impressively reached the sixth level. For a supplementary training system, this was a notable feat.
Looking at his status panel, Lin En felt a wave of elation.
In the third year of his journey, he was abruptly greeted with a system notification.
Left with no other option, he repeatedly resorted to dark magic. Magic, fundamentally, was a construct of the chief gods designed to garner faith, encompassing all tiers from basic to the holy realm, each containing minute fragments of cosmic laws, differing only in their focus.
Yet, the magic circle crafted by Lin En was straightforward, solely aimed at speeding up elemental convergence For Lin En, a mid-tier deity, this was no tall task, albeit it demanded substantial magic crystals and periodic infusions of divine power for upkeep. It was a somewhat burdensome task even for a god-tier entity.
Chief gods, in the end, were merely those born earlier and blessed with fortune.
"If I achieve the pinnacle of Great Perfection, with meticulous planning, the possibility of attaining chief godhood is not out of reach," he mused.
The practice, coupled with the tenfold stronger power of a mid-tier deity compared to a lower-tier, made this task much more manageable than helping Serlina break through her barriers.
Serlina, curious and somewhat baffled, gazed at her husband, inquiring, "Is it possible even with differing attributes?"
As Lin En's dark magic flowed effortlessly, his heart, initially unsettled by deep contemplations, began to find tranquility. In a fleeting moment of clarity, his soul resonated with the universe, igniting a brief, brilliant spark of inspiration like a shooting star.
Magic arrays, a discipline with vast complexity, present a challenge even to chief gods, possessing both a low entry point and an almost unreachable upper limit.
Lin En, always considerate of his brothers from dorm 360, had infused the magic array with divine power, ensuring it would operate at peak efficiency for at least a decade. With fewer beneficiaries, the potential of the array would be underutilized.
In seclusion within the basement of the duke's mansion, Lin En was deeply engrossed in his cultivation.
His immense divine power, even the slightest emanation, was enough to inspire awe and stir the soul.
"Is this real? Did my younger brother ascend to godhood?" he wondered in disbelief.
In the saga of Panlong, the narratives of the earth and wind systems were most elaborately described, with water following closely.
This thought made Lin En's heart race with anticipation and eagerness.
It was a deliberate decision by Lin En, considering both the advantages and disadvantages.
In the garden of the duke's estate, the moonlit lotus pond sparkled, with a quaint pavilion nestled at its heart.
"Richie, you're up first."
"Father, will this have any impact on you?"
As days passed, Lin En's mastery over the dark element grew more profound and clear.
"Don't worry, I have a plan."
The night was tranquil and bathed in moonlight.
…
Lin En briefly outlined the situation.
"The rapid enhancement has outpaced your mental strength, which needs time to adapt and integrate," he explained.
Choosing the safest route, Lin En focused on the fundamental understanding of dark elements. Despite its challenges, this approach was essential, given his infrequent use of dark magic and the gap he often felt between theory and practice.
Awakening suddenly in the cultivation room, Lin En expanded his divine consciousness, instantly grasping the entirety of the situation.
An epiphany struck him. With a mere gesture, the dark elements around him morphed into various forms - birds, insects, plants - all vividly lifelike, effortlessly breaking free from the rigid structures of traditional magic. The previous awkwardness had vanished, replaced by an innate, fluid control.
As Lin En withdrew his hand, Richie's water magic had undergone a transformative purification, leaping three levels to achieve the status of a ninth-grade grand magic guide!
After the initial thrill subsided, Richie pondered for a moment before cautiously inquiring.
Lin En smiled reassuringly and shared, "Water is the simplest to manipulate. Other elements are more complex, but with the right elemental convergence and magic array, cultivation efficiency can be significantly enhanced."
"Your water talent has attained Great Perfection!"
Such a level of mastery was even more scarce than chief gods themselves.
While the path of a mage is fraught with more challenges than that of a warrior, their likelihood of advancing to the holy realm is substantially higher. The reason so many young warriors reach the holy realm is due to their relentless battles and resulting insights. However, the probability of a holy realm mage ascending to godhood surpasses that of a mere warrior, thanks to the power of magic.
Lin En's strategy was simple yet effective. As a mid-tier deity, his advantage over ordinary holy realm mages was substantial, especially with his powerful mental fortitude.
Due to his wager with Dolan, securing the space ring left by the god-tier powerhouse was crucial. Its contents, be it artifacts or divine status, were of immense value, demanding urgent acquisition.
A distant, melancholic sound echoed in the background, "Woo... woo..."
"This is unbelievably comfortable!"
Lin En's exclamation lit up Cindy's eyes with a hopeful gleam, eagerly looking towards his father.
Each of the others also tried their hand, gaining their own insights, and then Lin En went about setting up the magic array.
For those with sufficient talent, continual practice of magic would inevitably lead to new inspirations.
"Father, something feels off," one voiced, expressing the unfamiliar sensation.
The family welcomed the birth of the first child of the fourth generation.
Lin En was cautious, always pausing before the final step in his experiments, meticulously observing...
He recalled the six types of dark magic, including Shadow Clone and Devouring, with two remaining unknown.
His talent for the holy grade was undeniable; in just half a year, he grasped a key insight, mastering the entry-level of dark elements.
Lin En acknowledged, "Yes, extracting divine power in daily life and combat is indeed a complex task, except during initial godhood ascension and the breakthroughs to higher godly realms."
He then performed the Dark Forbidden Spell - Night Burst. Chanting, he gathered a sphere of dark energy in his hand, a power so immense it could annihilate nearby towns if unleashed.
Richie, witnessing the immense boost in his water magic, felt overwhelmed, likening the experience to a dream. Mage cultivation is typically a steady, gradual process. This abrupt power surge was an extraordinary deviation from the norm.
Lin En spoke with gravity.
Regulus, the first to hear the news, was utterly shocked. Without his daughter Annie's confirmation, he would have found it unbelievable.
In the pavilion, Lin En reclined, his gaze fixed on the distant eastern horizon, pondering the profound laws of dark magic.
After addressing these matters, he declared a retreat to replenish his divine power, instructing Richie to inform his father-in-law, Prince Regulus, along with Colin and Andy.
He occasionally ventured out at night, drawing inspiration from the nocturnal ambiance to fuel his understanding.
His water deity avatar engaged with the divine power ocean, restoring expended energy.
Richie, the eldest son, excelled in wind magic and had a decent affinity for water.
"The second brother has ascended to godhood!?"
[Status: Mid-Tier God]
[Elemental Talent: Water Great Perfection, Dark God-Level]
[Rule Talent: Death God-Level, Fate God-Level]
[Many Children, Many Blessings: Talent in water, dark, death, and fate elements elevated]
[System Alert: Many Children, Many Blessings, rewards for the 1st, 10th, 100th child of each generation]
Lin En took a moment to compose himself, taking deep breaths to sort through his complex thoughts, deeply reflecting on the principles of water and dark magic.
And so, half a year flew by.
Suddenly, an overwhelming force descended upon the duke's mansion, penetrating deep into the earth and into the basement where Lin En was.