Two weeks later, autumn had deepened, and golden leaves danced in the wind, raining down upon the earth like a shower.
The three half-human members of the Fischer family finally no longer lived in the wooden hut outside of town but officially moved into South City within the town, from then on to lead a completely different life.
South City, a place in Nasir Town where the middle-income residents lived, wasn't as wealthy as the affluent North City, but it was certainly wealthier than the poor East City.
Lucius had long since found out about important figures and powers in South City District that one shouldn't trifle with: an elder in his nineties from the silver descendant clan, and the Taylor family, a knight clan.
Silver descendants, flame descendants, dragon descendants, and stone descendants are all branches of the regular human species and are commonly referred to by the general public as sub-humans, often living collectively in familial clans.
Elves, dwarves, and beastmen, on the other hand, are considered different from the broader human category and are generally seen as a foreign race by human society.
The silver descendant clan residing in Nasir Town is said to possess a spellcaster lineage, and their elder is a well-experienced spellcaster.
The Taylor family is a knight clan with a legacy of over two hundred years, with several members in the family who have dug into their knight-type extraordinary powers.
With the growing middle class in the Cyart Kingdom, knights today generally lack manors and lands, but those who hold an extraordinary lineage still have an extremely high status, unaffected by firearms.
How could bullets fired from a mere flintlock compare with bodies hardened by extensive training?
"Is this really our new home?"
Irene, wearing the formally purchased black dress, with her arms wrapped around her swaddled brother, tilted her head up, looking incredulously at the white mansion before her.
The white mansion had a large area with three levels, many rooms, enough for a dozen people to live together, and in the lush green courtyard, expensive and lifelike stone sculptures were placed around.
Although the renovated mansion was bought through sea merchant John's channels at a price thirty percent cheaper, its luxury still couldn't match that of the town chief or the merchant's homes, but compared to the average wealthy households in Nasir Town, there was no difference.
She always had hopes and dreams for the future, but she had never indulged in fantasies of living in such a place.
When she was small, her parents could only provide her with poverty and a life where one meal was uncertain from the next.
Hunger, poverty, and humility—the shadow of her original family was deeply etched into her very marrow.
The young girl looked down at the brother in her swaddle, murmuring, "You won't be like me, Chris. I swear you will grow up in a wealthy childhood."
The silver-haired Chris slept soundly in her arms, seemingly having grown a bit more over the past half month, looking plump all over.
He knew nothing of all that had befallen the Fischer family.
Tonight was the Fischer family's first formal sacrifice to the Lord of the Lost.
About the standard and procedure for the sacrifice to the Lord of the Lost, Irene and the others discussed for a long time, but in the end, based on the knowledge Byrne remembered, they made minor alterations before carrying out the sacrificial ceremony.
Karl's consciousness silently observed the whole process, too lazy to expend spiritual power on such trivial matters, so from beginning to end, he maintained silence and calm.
Of course, he still found it rather interesting; mortals took care to discuss gravely those things the great entities simply didn't care about at all, not daring to slacken in the slightest.
Could it be that he'd truly crossed into the body of a fallen deity, or is he just a powerful mystical entity? Honestly, even now, Karl was still unclear on the specifics.
All he knew was that if he were playing an "economy game," then the few people in the Fischer family were currently his only "chess pieces."
Because the first magnificent appearance of the Lord of the Lost came one night, the Fischer family's sacrificial ceremony was ultimately chosen to be performed deep into the night.
Byrne, different from his father Lucius, who had licked blood off his blade and was illiterate, had once learned from a home tutor skilled in the arts for a few years.
His mother had originally hoped Byrne would become a painter.
That was until his mother died of an illness, his father took away all the wealth he and his mother had, and Byrne kept the few books in the house with him ever since.
He also knew quite a bit about religious knowledge and continued to provide suggestions:
"Well, generally, the one who officiates the sacrifice, or the so-called Priest, is the highest-ranking person in a religious organization."
"So we must choose someone to lead the sacrificial ceremony."
The lethargic Lucius narrowed his eyes indifferently and said, "I think you should do it, Irene."
"Because it was your prayers that began to change the destiny of the Fischer family, and you were the one chosen by the great Lord of the Lost to impart the arcane knowledge."
Me?
Irene lowered her head, sinking into deep thoughts.
The recent healing experience had touched her greatly; the once untouchable bigwigs of Nasir Town, who never even glanced at her, were now full of pleading and reverence.
The extraordinary power bestowed by Him had indeed changed many things.
No, it had changed everything about destiny!
In the dead of night, with all preparations complete in the great hall, including the infant in swaddling clothes, all four members of the Fischer family were gathered.
Irene, Lucius, and Byrne knelt in succession before the long table where a transparent bottle was quietly placed.
In their eyes, apart from admiration and awe, there was a mix of different emotions: gratitude, yearning, and curiosity.
Irene took a deep breath and lifted the black iron box containing the Blazing Coral in her hands.
She recalled the words she had prepared in her mind, which had been crafted by Byrne - extremely formal and meticulous to a fault.
For some reason, Irene eventually followed her own thoughts and spoke out.
"Calm down, and prepare to express our hearts to the great Lord of the Lost."
"Great Lord of the Lost, you are the deity who punishes evil, bestows miracles, and saves mankind."
"Please accept our humble offering."
"May Your spirit fill us and guide every step of the Fischer family's future, granting the Fischer family wisdom and strength."
Karl quickly felt the spirituality of the extraordinary materials rushing towards him like flight, containing the unique fire element of the Blazing Coral.
The extraordinary materials in Irene's hands turned to a small pile of ashes in the blink of an eye.
Karl felt the spirituality being devoured by himself, ready for the corresponding preparations.
"Endless Abode Without Walls..."
He silently recited the cryptic spell to journey into dreams from his memory, preparing to initiate the conjunction of the celestial spheres and connect the Spirit Realm with this world through the dreamscapes in the crevices of many worlds.
According to the knowledge restored in Karl's memory, to step onto the initial God Pantheon stairway, one must first bridge this world with the Spirit Realm, incorporating the corresponding Spiritual Laws.
There were thirteen steps in total on the God Pantheon stairway known from the extensive arcane knowledge he held; expanding each rank required the consumption of a certain degree of spirituality.
To unlock the power of Consecution at the 1st Rank was the easiest; it only required one primary Class 1 Extraordinary Material and some auxiliary materials.
The degree of spirituality contained in extraordinary materials varied, generally classified from Class 0 to Class 9.
Karl estimated that it would take three pieces of Class 0 extraordinary materials or one piece of Class 1 Extraordinary Material to imprint the 1st rank on the Spirit Realm, and the specific material didn't matter as long as enough spirituality could be amassed.
Which specific extraordinary materials he chose would determine the formula for the God Pantheon stairway's 1st Rank potion, once embedded in the Spiritual Laws of this world.
For instance, the Blazing Coral currently obtained by the Fischer family was an extraordinary material, originating from the transformation of a magical coral from the depths of the sea after its death.
If Karl used the spirituality of "Blazing Coral" to expand any 1st Rank of the God Pantheon stairway.
From then on, everyone in the world could have the chance to ascend this stairway through a potion formula made from "Blazing Coral."
The entire world's Extraordinary law would undergo an unprecedented major change due to his actions to come!