Starting from primitive world, building the strongest divine kingdom

He then scrutinized the degenerated Maude for a moment, seemingly having discovered something intriguing, and burst into hearty laughter, declaring, "So that's it, so that's it! Only Maude would dare to resort to such methods!"

Confused, the degenerated Maude could not grasp the reason behind Rexfit's amusement.

He shouted, "Rexfit, stop it! Cease your laughter at once!"

Rexfit halted, directing a gaze laced with pity toward the degenerated Maude and remarked, "I should not have ensnared you in this, for, in truth, death might be a more palatable option for you."

"What are you trying to say?" Maude struggled to contain the fury rising within him.

He felt disrespected and profoundly deceived.

Rexfit looked at the degenerated Maude with a mocking smile, stating, "That fellow Maude has never truly fallen. He is merely disguised. And in a bid to obscure the truth and fabricate an indistinguishable illusion, he has indeed sacrificed a fragment of his own soul, and that fragment is you!"

The Maude residing in Enzo's soul world found it hard to believe.

In his memories, he was certain that his own corruption stemmed from Maude's battle against the curse, resulting in the emergence of his malevolent essence.

In his understanding, he was Maude—a wicked Maude.

Yet now, someone stood before him, asserting that he was not Maude but merely a discarded shard of a soul, devoid of any intrinsic worth.

This denial of his very existence shattered him.

The degenerated Maude shook his head, repeatedly insisting, "Impossible! Lies! Everything you say is false. You seek to deceive me!"

Rexfit mused to himself, "Back when we were in Disaster World, both Maude and I ascended to deity status. Yet, after becoming a deity, I realized I had chosen the wrong path. Even achieving such elevation, the aspiration to transcend further into an immortal deity seemed but a distant dream. Thus, I resolved to start anew."

"And Maude, he must have faced similar dilemmas."

"However, it appears he discovered a way to resolve them. For the longest time, I could not fathom his method, but now, upon seeing you, clarity dawns."

"His approach is deceptively simple. Wherever the problem lies, he discards that portion."

"Though it seems straightforward, it is undoubtedly a profoundly reckless decision, for the very source of his troubles was the soul—an enigmatic core of one's being. Any disruption there could lead to utter annihilation. Yet that madman Maude truly went through with it..."

The final sentiment was Rexfit's own reflection, not directed at the Maude before him.

As the truth unfolded, the Maude in front of him seemed to momentarily lose faith. He ceased his cries, offering a bitter smile before transforming into a swirling mass of ashen smoke, which was subsequently carried away by the peculiar winds at the edge of the continent.

Witnessing this, Rexfit felt a ripple of emotion stir within him.

He murmured, "That rascal Maude has now located Enzo, and the fragment of his soul that had been severed has been purged. This signifies that his plan has come to fruition. Next, with his remarkable intellect and talent, he shall surely enhance his power swiftly, perhaps even ascending to immortal deity status in no time..."

"I, too, must hasten my progress."

"At the very least, I cannot afford to fall too far behind."

...

In the world of Fierce Beast, within the enigmatic metal Node Temple.

When Maude's degenerated malevolence dissipated, the statue came crashing down, and the surrounding sense of confinement vanished. Maude reappeared before Enzo, a relaxed expression on his face, and remarked, "Enzo, it seems you have succeeded?"

Enzo's expression was frigid as he interrogated, "Maude, do you have nothing to explain?"

Maude adopted a serious demeanor and replied, "I confess that the emergence of the Beast Temple was indeed instigated by me. However, the appearance of those Fierce Beasts is beyond my control. This pertains to the true secrets of the Fierce Beast world. If you wish to learn more, I suggest you explore the Otrank Mountains."

Enzo scrutinized Maude for a moment before inquiring again, "Then how do we resolve the elemental confinement?"

He had experienced a fleeting moment of liberation from the elemental forces while in that peculiar realm, and he was certain of its authenticity.

Maude did not withhold the truth.

He spoke, "The solution is quite straightforward. While the elemental confinement appears to act upon the body, it fundamentally severs the soul's connection to elemental power."

As he spoke, a golden crystal materialized in Maude's hand, its surface adorned with a multitude of cryptic inscriptions.

He continued, "This is a divine arts inheritance crystal. It contains teachings on a soul defense divine art known as Soul Fortress. Mastery of this divine art requires a robust soul. Once you complete the initial training, the elemental confinement within you can be resolved. Moreover, as long as your Soul Fortress remains unshattered by adversaries, your soul shall remain impervious to harm."

With a mixture of skepticism and hope, Enzo accepted the divine arts inheritance crystal.

Upon absorbing its inheritance, Enzo's demeanor softened considerably. Maude had not deceived him. This was indeed a genuine divine art.

"Please take your time to cultivate here. It won't take long. With your innate talent, you should be able to grasp the basics in no more than two months." Maude suggested.

Enzo heeded his advice.

He found a quiet spot, seated himself, and began to comprehend the Soul Fortress.

Each divine art is profoundly intricate and enigmatic, a truth that Enzo had come to understand deeply. The attack-oriented divine art he had previously mastered—Thunder-Cracked Claw—was, in strictest terms, not truly his own insight but rather a gift bestowed by the Elder Deity crystal he had consumed.

That particular technique originated from the crystal's true master.

That saved him a significant amount of time.

Now, he was required to delve into a divine art on his own.

As time slowly slipped by during Enzo's meditation on the Soul Fortress, Karina awoke. Upon seeing the ethereal form of Maude, she felt a mix of surprise and caution.

However, her apprehension faded as she noticed Enzo sitting nearby.

To Karina's astonishment, the ghostly figure was not only exceedingly kind but also remarkably knowledgeable. He swiftly identified the issues in her cultivation and offered targeted suggestions, leading to a substantial enhancement of her abilities in a brief span.

Yet, an unexpected event took Maude by surprise.

Two days later, as Enzo was immersed in his contemplation of the Soul Fortress, he suddenly opened his eyes.

Curiously, Maude inquired, "Have you encountered a problem?"

Enzo's expression was somewhat peculiar as he shook his head and replied, "No, I have completed my training and successfully condensed the Soul Fortress."

Maude was taken aback, her brow furrowing as she asked, "Enzo, you're not jesting, are you?"

Enzo shook his head again.

Then, he summoned his soul power.

If one were to liken the previous essence of the soul to an ocean, vast and dispersed, then at this moment, Enzo's soul power resembles an immense mountain, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression, and possessing a targeted precision.

Within Enzo's own perception, he felt an additional fortress deep within his soul.

Yet, this fortress loomed too large.

According to the records within inheritance, once the Soul Fortress is successfully cultivated, it typically manifests as a modest stronghold within the soul, capable of withstanding psychic assaults and certain curses—essentially a form of passive defense.

However, the Soul Fortress as perceived by Enzo was not merely a diminutive bastion, but rather a formidable citadel.

This citadel spanned the depths of Enzo's soul, able to shift in response to his consciousness. In other words, Enzo could leverage this spiritual stronghold to directly subdue his adversaries using the strength of his own soul.

Furthermore, when combined with the microcosm—

The small world would suppress the enemy's body, and the soul fortress would quell their spirit.

This dual approach was utterly foolproof!

Meanwhile, within the metallic Node Temple, upon sensing the formidable strength of Enzo's Soul Fortress, Maude was deeply astonished. He too had practiced Soul Fortress, yet his own strength barely reached half of Enzo's, leaving him profoundly disheartened.

However, he soon composed himself.

With a wry smile, he remarked, "Enzo, it appears your soul talent surpasses my expectations. The might of this divine art, Soul Fortress, is directly correlated to the potency of one's spirit. The stronger the soul, the more formidable the fortress that can be forged."

But how powerful must one be to manifest a Soul Fortress as formidable as Enzo's…

This conundrum eluded Maude.

Could there truly exist a soul of such extraordinary strength?

Lost in self-doubt, he waved dismissively as Enzo took his leave.

Only after departing did he come to fully comprehend the implications.

However, Maude did not pursue him. Instead, he remained within the enigmatic Node Temple.

Standing at the entrance, he gazed out at the jungle beyond and murmured to himself, "Enzo, regardless of the circumstances, you have been of tremendous assistance to me this time. When we next meet, I shall offer you a generous reward. As for now, it is time to initiate the next phase of my plans. I can no longer afford to squander any more precious time..."

The great door of the Node Temple descended once more.

Yet this time, the interior of the Node Temple underwent a cataclysmic transformation.

The metallic walls appeared to come alive, writhing as if infused with a pulse, and veins began to materialize along their surfaces. Meanwhile, the ground, once adorned with statues, split apart to reveal a table rising from the depths, upon which lay the lifeless body of a man. The veins extending from the walls were now intricately connected to this corporeal form.