The Era of Gods

Before him, a new kind of fish scale ash merfolk mist had emerged, breaking the surface.

The immediate effect of this key feature was significant, but the consumption required was even higher than collecting Heaven Hall Divine Domain cards.

“It only consumes a single unit of godification energy!”

As it was absorbed, a crystal tower lit up, and the card seamlessly blended with the turbulent chaos.

Xiao Lin had never even contemplated this question before; even Heaven Hall Divine Domain hadn’t fully researched it. The fish scale ash merfolk card was slowly merging, replacing the original fish scale ash merfolk basis, representing the complete fortification of that specific group within the Inner Divine Realm. With a thrill of excitement, he watched the transformative magic at work.

This field of science could only provide a theoretical path to the divine; as for how long it had existed without being altered, no one knew. If even the chaotic sea of creation disallowed this kind of reshaping, despite its seemingly unlimited potential, then it might violate some universal law, but Xiao Lin was unsure.

Without exception, if such a genetically perfected organism were introduced into an alien environment, its base foundations would collapse.

Yet these newly created beings can exist in the primary world but not survive in an alien environment; this contradiction might be reconciled through advanced superhuman experimental facilities that are not short on creations stronger than mighty dragons.

But even in God’s Domain, there are immense constraints on genetically-based techniques, although they are advanced and include redundant genetic purification or improvements. There may be no creation or optimization of genetics that is suitable for alien environments.

Delving into this level of genetic engineering is difficult and carries immense value, but he could only deduce a few rules about creation. To him, at this moment, the merfolk gene library was something to recall with fascination, every detail perfectly preserved. As he immersed himself in the memories, the vast expanse of genetic data from which he had started spread before him.

Xiao Lin had spent nearly an entire stellar cycle sitting on a treasure trove in the Divine Realm, utterly still as he recaptured his consciousness.

He only knew to continuously use Unlimited godification energy to reinforce the merfolk gene’s capacity to the extreme, never stopping because no other method was sufficient.

Genetic collapse due to overburden, or inability to bear the enhancement, meant that improvement and optimization could only be done to a certain limit; otherwise, the genetic capacity to carry the load could be overwhelming. However, in the case where merfolk had previously never been altered, it is certain that the more modification, the greater the risks.

After easily exhausting the godification energy, Fishman’s own genetic basis could bear the greatest amount of enhancement.

At this time, Xiao Lin would outright discard those unnecessary surplus genes and keep only the useful ones, awakening and conserving them, or else every kind of gene in the Merfolk’s extensive genetic library would most likely be redundant and useless to the general public.

First and foremost, Xiao Lin delves into the obscure excess genes of the fish scale ash merfolk.

Xiao Lin began to adjust the entire genetic library of the fish scale ash merfolk through the most advanced biotechnology.

Only those key cards could be played, for such reinforcement methods could not be routinely utilized.

It is an extreme rarity.

….Only by mastering the delicate art of godification could one possibly find and unlock the treasures; otherwise, this godification ability remains an enigma.

If there were no godification energy available up front, the process would be reduced to mere basic breakdown, purification, and integration, similar to what it was before—nothing more than simple manipulation. But if one progresses deeper into research like now, the transformative might of godification becomes apparent.

If Xiaolin doesn’t even need instruments to sequence and catalog a complete specimen with a fully integrated genetic map before him, his biotechnological lab might as well be an oversimplified version of magical creation.

By supporting himself with the mystical energy of godification, Xiao Lin would be able to shoulder the analytical deconstruction of the entire merfolk mist gray species through the magic-based process, supplemented with current genetic modification techniques, just about half a month before readiness.

This playful endeavor serves as an indispensable part of evolutionary biology and life evolutions, passing down genetic information and reconstructing the cellular reproduction function—it’s like storing the complete transformation of a species from its origins, stage by stage, throughout a specific time period in production.

Xiao Lin, focused his attention on the merfolk’s genetic inheritance, determining the merfolk’s hereditary traits, paying no mind to the rest.

Xiao Lin could clearly see the merfolk’s genetic structure, which was extraordinary and mysterious, backed by the enhancing energy flow, tracing the genetic progress of this fishman species upstream.

Xiao Lin started to trace the merfolk’s genetic progression upstream, and unexpectedly, his consciousness exploded, no longer proceeding from that point in time when the merfolk was not just transforming from a small tadpole to a protein-based organism, abruptly the flow reversed.

Xiao Lin’s consciousness rapidly sunk into the mind of an elderly fish scale ash merfolk, regressing swiftly through time with the flow, from elderly to youth, to child, to infant, each transformation happening instantly, just like the reverse Godification he had experienced before.

With one single plunge, his consciousness fell upon the merfolk tadpole, and with a deep inhalation, he consumed a spark of godification energy, wrapped around these fish scale ash merfolk’s bloodlines, and only after half a month could he start over and strike at rejuvenating the roots.

Xiao Lin took a break and left God’s Domain to download some data he had brought back from researching the divine realms for nearly half a month, before returning to reality.

Diving straight into the fish scale ash merfolk’s bloodline analysis, Xiao Lin disassembled it rapidly, drawing the merfolk corpse into his magical space.

Finding an elder merfolk, devout in faith, willing to die a believer’s death, and promising ascension into the Divine Kingdom, was his immediate form of tribute. That alone was his estimate.

Xiao Lin wouldn’t dare attempt this without counting the countless chaotic seas’ crystal walls; even gods wouldn’t undertake it. Only by possessing true god-status creation could one reach a point where this kind of genetic manipulation would not impact one’s lineage, only possible if one had already mastered the integration of such species cards.

What Xiao Lin aimed for was to adjust merfolk’s genetic basis from the ground up, which, in professional terms, is to speak of such profound genetic manipulation.

He could not simply add any of his other cards into the genetic adjustment of the merfolk. His first job was to find a piece of merfolk flesh to work with.

Even the smallest carelessness could upset the entire species—a not-so-small glitch in the Inner Divine Realm, and if Xiao Lin weren’t careful, the consequences would echo throughout all Fishman species.

If he just picked up this card and used it directly without careful adjustment, that wouldn’t be playing Magic based—it would be cheating.

On the base level of this card is simply the strengthening of Gana, which is what Xiao Lin has to do. Gana’s overall attributes have been greatly increased compared to when she initially became stronger, but having inherited the Merfolk’s Water Essence and genetic foundation, Gana’s enhancements are still not as evident as that of the Merfolk.

While the Merfolk warriors have reached an insane growth, reaching a height of one point eight to one point nine meters, with every muscle bulging with explosive fighting power, it’s clear that the Merfolk braves, on the other hand, have grown even more, reaching over two meters in height.

Having already advanced through the Merfolk warriors and Merfolk braves, the biggest transformation is yet to come.

Looking at these Merfolk, Xiao Lin saw that the key was still climbing upward from one point six meters, having already surpassed one point five meters. Their bodies looked even stronger, their scales on the skin were more refined, and their body lines were more streamlined and evident.

Merfolk normally starts from a height of one point two to one point three meters, and although some might be a bit shorter or occasionally taller, they would definitely not exceed one point five meters.

But as Xiao Lin was closely watching one of these Merfolk to see if there were any visible changes in body type since the addition of a new species card, he noticed in one of them a streak of light flashing across his upper body. Xiao Lin was standing in the Inner Divine Realm looking down upon the Heaven Hall Divine Domain.

A small blue vortex began to form with each condensation of light blue water Elemental particles gathering around their bodies, swiftly rising in the surrounding seawater, invoking a strong suction force from within the entire Inner Divine Realm all at once.

“Load addition!”

Said Xiao Lin, casually tossing a card that emanated a mystical divine light, placing it right where the Merfolk were.

Whether a further advanced species could emerge, superior to the current one, remains to be seen, as Gana begins her first full-scale trial of genetic evolution. Holding the insights of ninety-two potential evolutionary energy units, it might be possible to leverage them for further use, if suitable genetic strengthening factors are selected from Gana’s genetic repository, housing forty-five different species.

Once these periods pass where he heavily investigates the forefront of biological genetic techniques, he would simply start adjusting Gana’s genes.

Gana, after all, would not end up like those ostentatious Merfolk, for she has a genetic foundation comprised of forty-five different species’ bloodlines, which might result in a significant leap in strength, and it’s essential to know that Gana’s foundations are the same as the Merfolk’s.

Indeed, Gana still has more than just Merfolk attributes.

At this significant juncture, as he instructed the Merfolk to converge towards the sea border, Xiao Lin immediately gave Heaven Hall Divine Domain the divine instruction to make the Merfolk ascend the hierarchy, recognizing the importance of adding this ancient quality card to their collection.

Seeing the complete attributes of the Merfolk made Xiao Lin quite satisfied; these were definitely worth the five points of evolutionary energy spent.

This gift, which made up seventeen percent of the Merfolk’s genetic payload, was simply divine.

Upon advancing further, Merfolk will randomly acquire three water-based magical talents from their genetic repository, such as Water Magic Arrow, Elemental Water Summoning, Water Shield, and Sea Essence Refinement, to name just a few of the vast Water Magic System skills.

A Merfolk caster is the first profession, while a Merfolk summoner is the advanced version of a Merfolk brave, so it goes without saying for a Merfolk chieftain.

With the distinction being that a Merfolk caster and Merfolk chieftain are third-tier, and by adjusting the genetic modifications, Merfolk can continue to ascend the hierarchy after the second-tier Merfolk brave stage.

The most important thing is that this divine gift also endows Merfolk with a hidden potential for hierarchical advancement, in addition to levels and limits.

Having this gift allows Merfolk to possess extraordinary swimming speed and agility underwater, with extremely fast movement and excellent underwater dexterity.

This divine gift, which is collectively part of the Water essence and other related abilities throughout the Merfolk’s evolutionary history within their genetic repository, originates from the ‘Water Essence’ divine gift, enhancing water-based magic resistance.

The Water Essence divine gift has transformed into heightened alertness, as these heightened senses originally came from Merfolk’s wild beast genetics, making it easier to detect lurking dangers and significantly enhance sensory perception.

Agility +1 is the attribute specialization, which manifests in faster escape speed, quicker reflexes, and more agile Merfolk movements, indicating new and significantly stronger Merfolk mobility.

In comparison to common Merfolk relatives, this new aquatic species is not weak: Evaluation.

(Possesses some mystical abilities, perhaps from religious guidance or specialized mental strength) Spirituality: 1

(Land/Water) Agility: 7.0/8.1+

(Approximately equivalent to a mature male’s strength) Physical strength: 1.1

(Mature human level) Constitution: 2.1

Specialization: Elemental Water Resistance, Alertness, Lively Movement

None: Skills

Water Essence: Divine Gift

All-around Warrior: Profession

Inferior Species: Classification

Subspecies: Classification

Grey Fog Merfolk: Species