The Era of Gods

The runes were still the same, but they had undergone a qualitative change, quickly transcending the limitations of Third and Fourth Level runes under the enhancement of Creation Energy and progressing to a higher level.

Outside the dormitory, two men walked up laughing and talking, stopping at the doorway. One of them looked at the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign hanging on the door and shrugged:

“What a coincidence, Rore’s in seclusion again.”

The other turned to the nearby mailbox, took out a letter, and said with a smile:

“Quite normal. He’s been preparing all of last year; now it’s time to see the results. Hmm, let me see if he’s intending to go.”

After opening the letter and glancing at it, he raised the envelope and said:

“Looks like he’s probably preparing to construct the totem rune framework. He’s got to go next month.”

“With a formal Alchemist accompanying, many gains may not be wasted.”

The two directly put away the letter, took out a pen and paper to write a simple note, and stuffed it into the mailbox, continuing their conversation as they walked away.

In the Creation Rubik’s Cube Space, as the Creation Energy merged, the few Basic Totem Glyph Scripts that Lin Xiao had selected went through earth-shattering changes, their effects already surpassing the limits of the highest Level 4 runes he held, and stepping into a higher level.

For example, the Strength Glyph Script. The Basic Strength Glyph Script could increase strength by one hundred kilograms.

A First Level Strength Glyph Script could increase strength by two hundred kilograms.

A Level 2 Strength Glyph Script could increase strength by three hundred kilograms.

A Level 3 Strength Glyph Script could increase strength by four hundred kilograms.

A Level 4 Strength Glyph Script could increase strength by six hundred kilograms.

A Fifth Level Strength Glyph Script could increase strength by one thousand kilograms.

Fifth Level is the conventional limit for runes. Above Fifth Level, they’re collectively referred to as Advanced Totem Glyph Scripts. There isn’t a unified standard for these advanced runes, since all surpassing Fifth Level are considered advanced, so the extent of increase varies.

Professor Jin had once mentioned in a private lecture at a Descenders’ gathering that he had seen an Advanced Strength Glyph Script that could increase strength by as much as two thousand kilograms.

Two thousand kilograms is equivalent to two tons of strength, which is quite formidable, and this is just for a single totem rune. A Basic Totem Glyph Script framework should consist of at least a dozen totem runes, and if they were all Strength Glyph Scripts that would amount to over twenty thousand kilograms of strength.

Just imagine twenty tons of strength concentrated in a single punch, the force unleashed would be terrifying.

Punching through the Fragmented Void is out of the question, but it could definitely blast through the front armor of a main battle tank with a single punch.

And this, is merely the strength bestowed by a Basic Totem Glyph Script framework. Once enough Deity Indwelling Power is acquired to induce a qualitative change and give birth to a Totem Talent Tree, the basic attributes provided by this Basic Totem Glyph Script framework will surge more than twice on the existing basis.

The exact multiple of enhancement depends on the strength and complexity of the Basic Totem Glyph Script framework. With his framework composed entirely of Advanced Totem Glyph Scripts, its strength certainly won’t be lacking.

Meanwhile, inside the Creation Rubik’s Cube, after continuously integrating a total of sixty units of Creation Energy, the six Basic Totem Glyph Scripts he had chosen finally reached their enhancement limit. After each rune absorbed ten units of Creation Energy, they could no longer be strengthened.

These six Basic Totem Glyph Scripts were:

Physique, Strength, Speed, Wisdom, Vitality, Regeneration.

He didn’t enhance the other several dozen fancier Basic Totem Glyph Scripts, feeling they weren’t as practical as these.

Once the totem runes solidified, Lin Xiao immediately checked the attributes and couldn’t help but reveal a satisfied expression.

Advanced Physique Glyph Script, physique enhancement by one thousand percent.

Advanced Strength Glyph Script, strength enhancement by ten thousand kilograms.

Advanced Speed Glyph Script, speed enhancement by one thousand percent.

Advanced Wisdom Glyph Script, cognitive and memory enhancement by one thousand percent.

Advanced Vitality Glyph Script, vitality enhancement by one thousand percent.

Advanced Regeneration Glyph Script, life regeneration enhancement by one thousand percent.

“Goodness, uniformly one thousand percent enhancement!”

A normal Fifth Level Physique Glyph Script only provides a three hundred percent boost; his enhancement had skyrocketed by more than threefold. Combining these enhancements holistically, one didn’t need to think hard to realize how terrifying it was.

The runes had been synthesized, and next was to construct the Totem Glyph Script framework. But when it came to choosing which framework to use, he faced a dilemma.

There are many types of totem frameworks, the simplest being a minimum standard framework consisting of nine runes, and then…

Let’s put it this way, there isn’t a concrete standard for a basic totem framework besides the minimum requirement of nine glyphs. Any combination of more than ten totem runes can form a totem framework, as long as you have a standard model, and… your soul can withstand the addition of more totem runes.

These models are all in the hands of various major powers, and naturally, the academy has its share—quite a few, in fact. Professor Jin mentioned this, saying that the academy has had super totem frameworks composed of more than a hundred totem runes.

When Professor Jin first explained that the more runes a basic totem framework had, the stronger its foundation would be, everyone was excited. But after listening to his analysis of the pros and cons, that excitement faded away.

As per the normal rules, the more runes a basic totem framework has, the stronger it is, after all, the effects of the basic runes are there; the more runes you have, the more overlap and the stronger it will be.

But as mentioned before, the construction of a rune framework in one’s mind places demands on the individual’s soul. The more runes the framework has, the stronger the soul required to bear it.

The models for a basic totem framework on their own aren’t a secret. The academy has a plethora of them. The key issue is that large basic frameworks put too great a burden on the soul, and almost no one can withstand such a powerful framework.

In this regard, Descenders have no advantage at all. The predecessors who descended in incarnations had it slightly better since they at least sent down quite a few souls of God, even the slightest quantity of which was of higher quality than that of a mortal. They had a significant advantage in this aspect.

Unlike them, the newcomers who have descended using the new reincarnation method are exactly the same as the natives of this world, with no advantage whatsoever.

Normally, Lin Xiao would have chosen a basic totem framework with only a dozen or so runes like everyone else, but he was not content with that.

And besides, he had a way to cheat.

The Creation Rubik’s Cube!

This arcane artifact was shared with Lin Xiao’s true body. He wrote down his current situation on a piece of paper and placed it inside the cube.

Located in the fortress outside of the world, Lin Xiao’s true body saw the note appear inside the Creation Rubik’s Cube and smiled slightly. He exchanged for a batch of Soul Crystals that could enhance the soul, using his military rank, and threw them into the Creation Rubik’s Cube to be refined.

In the eyes of Lin Xiao’s incarnation, a pile of Soul Crystals appeared out of thin air within the Creation Rubik’s Cube and then were refined into pure Soul Crystals.

He was overjoyed, took out the Soul Crystals, and began to strengthen his own soul.

He pressed a Soul Crystal to his brow, where it rapidly turned into a mist of light that merged into his skull, vanishing from sight.

With just one fusion, he felt his head swelling, and he could clearly sense the brilliance emanating from his pupils.

“I need to digest this!”

He was well aware that this was because his soul was that of an ordinary person, and there was a limit to how much strengthening it could take at one time. He needed to pause and allow his soul to adapt to the enhancement before he could continue.

This rest lasted almost half a month until the brilliance in his pupils slowly faded. Then he began his second fusion.

But having just merged two Soul Crystals, he suddenly remembered he seemed to have an appointment.

Upon further thought, he mumbled to himself,

“Forget it, I’ll go next time.”

He wrote another letter and placed it in his mailbox, putting up a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign, then immersed himself back into his retreat.

After that, he fused some Soul Crystals every now and then. With each session, the number he could merge increased, and he could clearly feel his soul’s strength intensifying. In the intervals when he took a break to digest, he was studying the models for basic totem frameworks that he had applied to view from the academy, selecting the most suitable one.

These days were incredibly monotonous, but if one wanted to achieve something, one had to endure the solitude.

Given the difficulty of descending in this world, one rare success requires full commitment to secure one’s standing.

Time passed slowly with soul strengthening and research. Soon three months had gone by. The team that had invited him to look for Deity Indwelling Power returned; sixteen had gone out, and only eight returned. The rest had died in battle, which greatly shocked Lin Xiao.

During their first meeting after their return, he learned the reason from Mor.

It turned out that when they went to hunt an exotic beast with Deity Indwelling Power in a forest to the south of the Osa Empire, they encountered a group of Children of Nightmare who were also there to hunt the creature. These Children of Nightmare were from another academy on the continent. The three places where one could come into contact with Totem Masters on the continent—the Sons of the Divine Realm, the Children of Nightmare, and the Children of the Spirit Realm—all had a tacit understanding to stay out of each other’s way.

They would fight fiercely upon encountering each other; this time, they fought over the Deity Indwelling Power.

As a result, half of their side died, and most of the Children of Nightmare also perished—it was a case of mutual destruction.

Luckily, they managed to seize the Deity Indwelling Power, which was some consolation.

However, due to the heavy casualties, their remaining strength was insufficient to continue hunting other exotic beasts. The Deity Indwelling Power they had was not enough to go around, so they could only agree to venture out again next year.

Lin Xiao felt somewhat relieved that he hadn’t gone; otherwise, whether he could have survived was questionable.

The gathering ended with some people leaving in a hurry, but most did not leave immediately, staying instead to chat in groups of two or three. They mostly talked about the issues of condensing a basic rune framework, or problems related to Deity Indwelling Power.

Mixed among the few newcomers present, most were in the process of condensing a basic rune framework or collecting Deity Indwelling Power, including the white-haired, old people who had descended a long time ago but had yet to die. Either due to insufficient talent or lack of resources, they hadn’t been able to become Totem Master Apprentices.

Listening to their laments over the difficulty of obtaining Deity Indwelling Power and how to choose the right basic rune model, along with the seasoned advice to the newcomers, Lin Xiao himself started to hesitate. If the basic totem framework he was constructing was too large, how long would it take to gather enough Deity Indwelling Power?