Chapter 539 - 496: The Titles of the Five Pseudo-gods
He couldn't possibly save up just by relying on the daily subsidy of 1,000.
Nor could he be so confident as to think he could definitely complete the one and only X-rank mission.
The value of the top-ranked [Title: Divine Advent] had plummeted due to the god's demise. The most valuable item in the Divine Treasure Vault was now the second-ranked [Apocalypse Divine Artifact]. If he didn't meticulously manage his budget, how long would it take to afford that ultimate weapon on a fixed daily stipend of 1,000?
He could afford to wait, but the Eye of the Divine could not.
He had three new missions: Slay the Pseudo-god, Seek the True Self, and Ascension Ladder. He hadn't completed a single one, and the deadline was three years. This meant the lifeless Tomb Star Realm was just a brief stop on his journey. He had to find a suitable opportunity here as quickly as possible, power up as much as he could, and gain enough strength to rival a pseudo-god before leaving.
Both his time and money had to be used to maximum effect.
'Redeem!'
[Treasure: Heaven's Inquiry]
[Tags: Majorly Unpopular Item, Index, Auxiliary, Travel, Enlightenment.]
[A treasure crafted by a philosopher-traveler over the course of their entire life. While it doesn't quite reach the level of a supreme treasure, it is exceptionally ingenious. When you are lost or confused, it can help you find the most efficient, convenient, and rational "path"—be it a physical road or the path of life—and offer you a degree of enlightenment.]
[Original Price: 1,000 Civilization Stones]
[Discounted Price: 300 Civilization Stones]
The prices of treasures in the Divine Treasure Vault were structured like a pyramid.
The number-one-ranked title cost one hundred million to redeem. The 30th-ranked treasure required only 2 million Civilization Stones. For treasures ranked around 150th, the price dropped to the 100,000 range, and by the 300th rank, a treasure could be redeemed for just a few thousand Civilization Stones.
This made sense.
The high-end items were the rarest and most alluring; as the saying goes, rarity creates value.
Heaven's Inquiry was a compass-like object with shimmering star-tracks on its surface. Not only could it point the way, but it could also offer rational guidance whenever its holder was confused. For instance, if Shi Ming was currently struggling with how to spend his 400,000 Civilization Stones most efficiently, he could confide his troubles to it. The star-tracks would then perform calculations to find the most logical and rational spending plan and present it to Shi Ming for his consideration.
Furthermore, Heaven's Inquiry had unlimited uses and no cooldown time.
If he so desired, Shi Ming could even ask it what to eat for lunch and what food combinations would be most beneficial for his body. Of course, he would never ask such a trivial question. Most experts who reached the Nirvana stage were mentally resilient and decisive, rarely agonizing over minor issues. For Shi Ming, the best use for Heaven's Inquiry was simply asking for directions to save time.
"Heaven's Inquiry,"
"I am currently on White Sand Star in the First Civilization Cosmic Country. My destination is the Primordial Star."
"Please find the most suitable route for my consideration."
[Understood.]
[I have found the three most suitable routes for you.]
[Considering that you may be a first-time traveler to the First Civilization Cosmic Country, the three routes are tailored to different priorities: the route that uses the fewest Teleportation Vortexes, the most scenic route, and the fastest route.]
[The route with the fewest Teleportation Vortexes is the most economical option. With no discounts, the teleportation fees will total approximately 3,090 Civilization Stones. This may sound like a large sum, but given the sheer vastness of the First Civilization Cosmic Country's Star Domain, a price of 3,090 Civilization Stones is actually quite a bargain.]
[The most scenic route will take you through six of the First Civilization Cosmic Country's ten most renowned attractions: Twin Starfalls, Melody Nebula, Whisperer's Forest, the Feast of a Thousand Stars, Time's Grave, and the Artisan God's Star Forge. For many travelers, this would be the ideal choice. Naturally, it may cost more Civilization Stones, but the experience is well worth it.]
[The fastest route disregards the cost in Civilization Stones, prioritizing your time above all else…]
"I'll take the third option."
Shi Ming immediately chose the fastest route.
As the [Heir of the Gods], he could use [Teleportation Vortexes] without spending a single Civilization Stone. It was a privilege he possessed, and it would be a fool's choice not to use it. As for the attractions in the Tomb Star Realm... they sounded tantalizing, but the Tomb Star Realm of today was a far cry from the former First Civilization Cosmic Country. It was questionable if those sights even existed anymore. Besides, Shi Ming wasn't here on vacation.
The pseudo-god from the Red Wood Tribe, the one possessing [Void] whom he'd briefly encountered, could turn its gaze upon this place at any moment.
Although it couldn't interfere with Shi Ming's actions and could only watch, Shi Ming was not at all pleased with the idea of being constantly scrutinized.
Teleport!
Teleport!
And again, teleport.
For the next five days, Shi Ming rushed from one Teleportation Vortex to the next, planet-hopping in a frantic search for any resources he could use.
Meanwhile, on the outside world of New God Star, the "Withered Queen," Huang Ji, successfully gave birth to an infant. Then, in her spare time, she helped six pseudo-gods and one Pillar Stone modify Creator Uncle Tian's inanimate constructs.
Together, they would break the seal on the Tomb Star Realm.
Using the "inanimate constructs"—corporeal yet insubstantial—they would enter this kingdom of death. Their goal was to reach "Old God Star" in the core region, investigate the true state of the Cosmic Country's will, and interfere with it as they saw fit.
Old God Star was the core planet of the First Civilization Cosmic Country.
It was also known as the "Primordial Star." That place held many old memories for these New Gods: the Lustrous Star Mansion, Ten Thousand People Square, the Divine Throne, the Abyss of the End, the Heir's Stele, the All-Life Title Research Institute, the entrance to the Star Prison…
"Everyone, focus your power on the inanimate constructs."
"Envision it as another, special body for yourself. Now, possess it."
"Then you will be able to enter the Tomb Star Realm."
The seven inanimate constructs had been fashioned by "Creator Uncle Tian" using local materials—namely, the bodies of the seven strongest warriors from the native "Fire Ember Tribe" on New God Star. Under Uncle Tian's divine craftsmanship, the substance of these bodies had been annihilated, leaving only their forms behind to serve as suitable vessels.
The Secret Walker, Amonev, was clearly repulsed by the idea.
"My apologies, that was inconsiderate of me."
"I should have found more… aesthetically pleasing bodies for our three ladies."
Uncle Tian said with a smile.
Amonev merely let out a quiet sigh and said no more. She sent her consciousness into one of the warrior's empty forms and leaped into the passage, which looked like the black center of a circle.
Huang Ji gave her child a reluctant look.
Leaving the infant behind on New God Star for now, she too possessed one of the empty husks and entered the Tomb Star Realm.
The others followed close behind.
Six New Gods and one Pillar Stone returned to the silent, dead kingdom of the gods.
...
...
...
"What is this place?"
"This is the Gateway Star of the First Civilization Cosmic Country. It's the mandatory first stop for every off-world being," Amonev explained to her younger sister, Ali, who was dressed in a Star Skirt.
"As for the title that appeared over your head…"
"That's a unique feature of the First Civilization Cosmic Country: All-Life Titles. A title appears above the head of every creature that comes here. For anyone who has never been here before, the default is [Traveler]."
The woman in the Star Skirt, Ali, glanced at the others around her.
The All-Life Title above her head, as well as that of the six-armed individual, was a dull, drab [Traveler]. In contrast, her sister and the other four New Gods each bore a different title upon their brows, each one shining with the dazzling brilliance of a newborn star.
Amonev's was [Friend of the Secret].
Huang Ji's was [God's Favored].
Candela's was [Divine Warrior].
Uncle Tian's was [Grand Architect].
Bertutan's was [Divine Lawbringer].
In the absence of the gods themselves and the [Heir of the Gods], these five titles represented the highest glory in the First Civilization Cosmic Country.