After hearing the report, Lucian nodded. "That makes sense. But are you certain the altar didn't respond?"
"Absolutely not," Lin Daiyu confirmed with a serious expression. She then elaborated, "Although I don't know much about this so-called evil god, I was extremely cautious due to your repeated warnings."
"At first, the Cthulhu totem flickered briefly, but it immediately extinguished. This altar likely lacks the conditions to summon the power of the evil god."
Lin Daiyu, who often accompanied Lucian to the All Worlds Forum, had some knowledge of Cthulhu lore.
She explained further, "For believers to summon a deity and receive blessings, a large-scale sacrifice or offering is necessary. It's not just for show. The scale of the ritual determines how much divine power can be transmitted."
In many celestial or mortal realms, even the gods themselves rarely descended in person. Instead, they transmitted their power through a medium, such as an altar or a sacrificial ceremony.
Satisfied with her explanation, Lucian smiled and spoke with the two women for a while longer before instructing them to remain vigilant.
Time ticked by.
Occasionally, small groups of monsters attacked, though the scale remained manageable.
Finally, at 9 a.m., the Lighthouse was completed.
Illusory figures of the Nightstar Tribe knelt before the beacon, their voices filled with reverence as they chanted:
"Starlight, illuminate us!"
"Stars, guide us!"
"Starlight is the one true path!"
Their fervent worship intensified until the figures, along with the lighthouse, dissolved into radiant light.
"Mission complete!"
"Task evaluation in progress..."
"You successfully completed the mission! Based on your level and the overall strength of your territory, your base evaluation is: A."
"You annihilated the enemies! Evaluation: A to A+!"
"You slaughtered the Cthulhu progeny! Evaluation: A+ to S!"
"You prevented the descent of the evil god's power! Evaluation: S to S+!"
"Starlight blesses you! Evaluation: S+ to SS!"
"Final Evaluation: SS!"
"Base rewards: 30,000 Void Crystals, 30,000 Void Source Stones, 8 Free Attribute Points."
"Additional rewards (SS): Civilization Legacy Treasure Chest (SS), Death Vanguard Special Barracks, Flesh Priest Sequence Formula."
"Reminder: Doom +10."
Lucian chuckled as he reviewed the results.
The base rewards alone were excellent. Void Crystals and Void Source Stones were resources that could never be too abundant.
As for the 8 Free Attribute Points, they were particularly generous for a newly promoted lord. However, Lucian chose to save them, adding to his stockpile of dozens of unused points for future allocation.
The additional rewards were even more impressive:
The SS-grade Civilization Legacy Treasure Chest, which promised unparalleled treasures.
The Death Vanguard Special Barracks, completing the set he had been anticipating.
The Flesh Priest Sequence Formula, a rare and valuable blueprint.
"This... isn't the path I want to take," Lucian muttered, frowning as he examined the sequence formula.
The Flesh Priest Sequence Formula was part of the Cthulhu power system, a pathway where believers harnessed the power of the evil god through faith, theft, or plunder.
Though it could empower his soldiers by transforming them into Flesh Priests, the process required vast resources and rare materials.
Additionally, the Flesh Priest sequence started as a green-grade rare profession and only advanced to purple-grade quality in the later stages. Compared to his golden legendary units, it was simply unworthy.
"Still, this is priceless to certain factions," Lucian thought, his mind racing.
Unlike disposable items like transfer certificates, the sequence formula provided a sustainable path for creating countless Flesh Priests.
It outlined every detail of the sequence, including the progression, requirements, and potential. For those pursuing the Cthulhu pathway, it was invaluable.
"This is practically a fortune!" Lucian grinned, imagining the astronomical price the formula could fetch. "Who's talking about millions? Billions sound more appropriate!"
His joy was interrupted by a sweet voice.
"What's got you smiling like that, my lord? Did you find something valuable?"
Lucian turned to see Lin Daiyu leaning against him, her soft and enchanting form pressing lightly against his side. Her bright eyes sparkled with mischief, and her voice was as melodious as a songbird.
Smiling, he replied, "Yes, it's something extremely valuable."
Lin Daiyu blushed as he kissed her lightly, her delicate face glowing red. "If it's that precious, perhaps you should keep it for yourself."
"No, this isn't something we can use. It's tied to the path of the evil gods," Lucian explained with a chuckle. "Unless you want to become a tentacled monster instead of a celestial beauty."
"Eek!" Lin Daiyu shuddered, quickly shaking her head. "Master always makes the wisest decisions. I'll follow your lead!"
Her cheerful smile and playful demeanor filled the air with joy, her golden hairpins and jade ornaments jingling softly as she moved.
Lucian held her close as they strolled along the walls, their laughter echoing in the crisp morning air.
After some time, Lucian summoned Jia Yingchun and handed her the Civilization Legacy Treasure Chest.
As she prepared to open it, Lucian hesitated, recalling a key detail about such chests.
Their rewards depended on who opened them.
Nightstar-related chests were designed to yield the best rewards for someone with a connection to the Nightstar Clan. Without such ties, the rewards would diminish significantly.
Even with a perfect SS evaluation, Lucian might only receive a fraction of the chest's true value.
However, his 199 Extraordinary Charm provided a glimmer of hope.
"Let's have Pan Jinlian open it," he decided after some thought.
"Yes, my lord!" Jia Yingchun quickly complied, leaving to fetch Pan Jinlian.
Watching her leave, Lin Daiyu leaned closer and pouted playfully. "Master, can't you just let me handle this? That chubby girl doesn't deserve the chance!"
Lucian chuckled, gently pinching her cheek. "Jealousy doesn't suit you, my dear."
Lin Daiyu snorted lightly but leaned into his embrace, content to bask in his attention as they awaited Pan Jinlian's arrival.