At the moment Sky signed his name on the floating screen, countless points of light on the screen magically condensed into a simple yet mysterious rune. The rune drifted gently before finally landing on Sky's forehead.
Sky felt a burning sensation on his forehead, and then the rune deeply imprinted itself there before disappearing without a trace.
Goddess Schiso 007 patted Sky on the shoulder, "Welcome to the organization, colleague. From now on, follow my lead. As long as I have a bite to eat, you won't go hungry."
Sky felt like he was in a dream. Was his starting point in this world really this high? His first role was as the sole assistant to the only true god of this plane.
"Is that all it takes? Am I now a divine official? Should I declare myself a prophet, or a pope?" Sky asked.
Schiso 007 replied, "Prophet, pope, guide, holy son – call yourself whatever you like. But in 'Eyes of the Deep Space', your official title is Planar Proxy. You can recruit your own assistants, known as Apostles in the 'Eyes of the Deep Space' system, on a temporary basis. If they perform well, they can become permanent."
"I kinda feel like 'Apostle' sounds cooler than 'Planar Proxy'," Lumiya muttered.
Ignoring her, Schiso 007 continued, "Now that you have our divine inscription, you represent our organization wherever you go. Let's see... Ah, that explosive hairstyle is quite unique. But looks alone aren't enough, you're still a mortal, and that won't do. If you represent us and someone just pins you to the ground, that's no good. But don't worry, the organization has thought of everything."
Sky was more concerned about the term 'explosive hairstyle'. Puzzled, he reached for his hair, "You mentioned explosive hairstyle... what exactly... Ah! What happened to my hair?" Sky cried out in alarm upon feeling his hair, which now resembled a hedgehog's.
"I think it looks good," said Schiso 007, "Do you want me to cast a Divine Hairstyling Spell so you won't need hair gel anymore?"
Sky shook his head frantically, "Then my image would be completely ruined."
"Image isn't about hairstyle, remember, it's about strength. Now, let's get you some office supplies." Schiso 007 gestured in the air, summoning a tiny blue chip. She tore open Sky's shirt and pressed the chip into his chest.
The blue chip merged into his skin, embedding itself in the subcutaneous fat of Sky's chest.
"The JM6 Embedded Protection System, standard issue for lower-tier divine officials in 'Eyes of the Deep Space'. It activates an energy shield and life-support system in response to fatal attacks or life-threatening environments, greatly increasing the wearer's survival chances. Consider it part of your Planar Proxy office supplies," she explained.
Sky pondered, then said, "So, my job will be dangerous."
"Of course," replied Schiso 007. "In myths and legends, which prophet or saint doesn't face death and hardship? We're not just telling stories here. The organization doesn't support idlers. Hardships are good for young people. Grow quickly, so the organization can trust you with more important tasks."
"What exactly is my job?" Sky inquired.
"For your three-month probation, mainly grow and develop, quickly shedding your mortal identity. Without gaining some supernatural abilities, who will take you seriously out there? Also, your family's castle is interesting. Explore it, there's a surprise waiting. I'm commandeering it as our divine nation's guesthouse on Earth. Keep running it as a rental property. I'll send some business your way, and remember to take good care of our guests. The next tenant should arrive tomorrow."
Sky glanced at Lilianna and Lumiya, realizing the next guest wouldn't be ordinary either.
"How should I go about this growth and development? Do I need to practice divine arts?" Sky asked.
"Our divine arts... might be different from what you expect. You don't have the clearance yet. I'll explain when you're a full official," Schiso 007 answered. "As for your development, don't worry, follow me and all will be well. Now, pick a Novice Gift Pack."
Schiso 007 pointed to a page in the 'Divine Exchangeable Items Catalog', transforming it into several rotating gift box icons: Cultivation Novice Pack, Magic Novice Pack, Psychic Powers Novice Pack, Battle Qi Novice Pack, Future Tech Novice Pack. Below each icon was a price: 500 Divine Points.
"Go on, choose one. The first Novice Gift Pack is on me, consider it part of your office supplies," Schiso 007 said with a smile, curious about Sky's choice.
Sky furrowed his brow, this was his first real opportunity to choose his own path since arriving in the Aethercross world. He hesitated, then looked up at Schiso 007, "Before I choose, could you share more information about these five growth paths? A blind choice feels more like a gamble."
Schiso 007 explained, "Each of these five growth systems is vast, with countless branches and sub-systems. A detailed explanation could take a month and still not cover everything. Each system is continuously evolving, and a breakthrough could come from anywhere at any time.
"However, I can give you a basic understanding of each.
Firstly, the Eastern Cultivation system is notably intricate, with a relatively high threshold for entry. It demands not only personal diligence but also exceptional qualities, temperament, and insight. Thus, growth in this path isn't just about personal effort; it involves talent, fortuitous encounters, mentors, resources, and luck.
The foundation of Cultivation lies in the harmony between Heaven and Man, observing the secrets of the universe. Essentially, it is a mystical system grounded in logic, where philosophical contemplation takes precedence over scientific reasoning.
The power of a Cultivator originates from merging the energy of the cosmos with their own, becoming one with the universe. The Cultivation system has many complex subdivisions, but fundamentally, it's guided by the principle of heaven-man harmony, integrating the universe into oneself through practice.
Interestingly, the primary goal of this system wasn't combat, but rather the pursuit of immortality, breaking human limitations, uncovering the secrets of life and death, and exploring the endless mysteries of the cosmos. This makes the system quite unique, as one's level or realm often doesn't correspond directly to their combat capabilities.
A key advantage of this system is its comprehensive theoretical framework and rich practical experience, thanks to its long history and large following. As long as one has sufficient resources and strong backing, the potential ceiling in this system is quite high.
" You might have some idea about the Magic system. Its theoretical foundation is Arcane, resembling scientific fields like mathematics and physics. Therefore, fundamentally, the Magic system has a strong logical basis and can be quantified and rationalized.
The source of power in the Magic system is meditation, used to enhance one's mana. Different meditation methods not only vary in efficiency in accumulating mana but also gradually alter the nature of mana, making it more suitable for specific magical skills.
Casting magic essentially involves using one's own mana to trigger the natural forces of the world, channeling these forces to produce energy output according to the design of the magic spell. This is somewhat akin to nuclear fission, where a small input of energy leads to a chain reaction.
The main advantage of this system is its tremendous power. However, the downside is that once the output of power becomes too great, it becomes difficult to control precisely, and is prone to losing control. Additionally, most offensive magic spells require a lengthy incantation and preparation, resulting in the majority of mages having weaker one-on-one combat capabilities.
" The Psychic Powers system is akin to a lottery, with abilities appearing and growing seemingly at random. The advantage here is that it doesn't require much effort from the individual; it's all about luck, and anything is possible with the right fortune. Of course, the same ability can vary greatly in power depending on how it's used. However, this system currently lacks a theoretical foundation; it's essentially like opening mystery boxes and betting on luck.
The Battle Qi system can be viewed as a variant of the Magic system, utilizing meditation and physical training to accumulate Battle Qi. Unlike magic, Battle Qi is integrated with one's physical body, so its upper limit is constrained by the body's capacity. However, it's the most controllable power source. Compared to the Cultivation system, Battle Qi training is more straightforward and less influenced by the harmony between Heaven and Man, making it more accessible and suitable for the majority.
Lastly, the Technological system, the one most understandable to ordinary people, especially given its rapid advancement in recent decades. The current limits of this system are unknown, aiming for the stars and beyond. 'Eyes of the Deep Space' excels in this system. It relies on collective intelligence and massive trial-and-error efforts. Currently, it doesn't compare in individual power to the other four systems. It primarily depends on biotechnology and genetic modification to enhance human potential, hoping to unlock the human genetic code to gain supernatural abilities. This path might eventually merge with the Psychic Powers system.
In terms of combat, the personal combat power in the Technological system is not just about individual strength. It's more about mechs, remote firepower, super AI assistance systems, and the computational power of quantum computer arrays.
After explaining all this, Schiso 007 asked, "So, how will you choose?"
Sky pondered again, "One last question: do these systems conflict with each other? Would practicing multiple systems cause issues?"
Schiso 007 replied, "Want to pursue multiple systems, huh? Theoretically, there's no conflict. But keep in mind, few have succeeded in mastering multiple systems due to the limits of time and energy. Usually, trying to excel in everything means not going far in any single path."
Sky nodded with a bright smile, "Thanks for the advice. I've made my decision."