Chapter 510
“Condense the origin, transform divine power, ignite divine fire, shape divine position?” Charlotte mused quietly to herself.
In Albrecht’s memories, these eight words are the core of god ascension, and each pair of words has a corresponding explanation.
Condense the origin, that is, the retracing and awakening of the transcendent bloodline.
For a transcendent, this means strengthening of the bloodline and enhancement of transcendent power, that is, increasing strength and elevating rank.
However, the ultimate goal of this step is not to enhance transcendent power, but while doing so, to trace back to the most source of the transcendent power.
This statement is somewhat convoluted, but combining what she had read from various scriptures, Charlotte believed it referred to tracing back to the source of transcendent power.
For example, the scriptures record that the transcendent power of almost all transcendent beings comes from the most ancient myths, a dilution and growth of ancient mythical bloodlines. Therefore, the condensed origin should be the bloodline source, the mythical bloodline.
This step… Charlotte had already reached it.
The source of the Bloodline is undoubtedly the Blood True Ancestor. Ever since Charlotte obtained the Blood Holy Scripture, her body had undergone several transformations. Although her strength was not high, her bloodline power was quite pure, definitely at the primordial level.
As for transforming divine power…
This is easy to understand; it means to sublimate one’s power to the level of myths and transform it into divine power.
In Albrecht’s memories, there are two ways to accomplish this step.
One is for a legend to conduct a corresponding mythical ritual after becoming a legend, in exchange for a massive amount of offerings and bloodline power, thus achieving the transformation of power, compressing some of the transcendent power into a higher-tier pseudo divine power.
This is the most clumsy and difficult method, and even a senior legend can hardly succeed. The success rate is less than 1%, but once successful, one will possess mythical power that they can use.
The pseudo divine power obtained from this ritual is non-renewable and of slightly lower quality than true divine power. It must be replenished through another ritual, but because the power is one’s own, it is more conducive for future god ascension.
Although this pseudo divine power is somewhat inferior to true divine power, legends can use this power to cast forbidden curses even more powerful than legendary spells, serving as the ace up the sleeve for those senior legends.
This is the hardest and most demanding way to transform divine power, and beyond that, there is a shortcut—melding with existing divine power.
The history of Mireya is long, with numerous gods having existed. Countless artifacts containing divine power have been left behind, the representatives being the divine artifacts lost in various places.
If a lucky individual were to gain recognition from a divine artifact and achieve a certain fusion with the divine power, allowing them to wield the power of divine power, then they would be considered to have completed this step.
This approach relies significantly on luck, but it is relatively easier to succeed, although it also has hazards.
Divine power always has an owner, being an extension of a deity’s power in itself. If one merges with the divine power of a fallen deity, there is a chance to take its place, but if the merged divine power belongs to a deity that has not fallen, one must inevitably face the deity in the future.
Victory means taking their place, defeat means thoroughly succumbing to the opponent.
Clearly, Charlotte had already completed this step, too. The moment she was able to use the Blood Divine Power with the help of the Blood Holy Scripture, she met the requirements for “transforming divine power.”
But…
“For the other’s bridal gown, huh…” Charlotte frowned slightly.
If she indeed crossed through history and became the Blood True Ancestor, that would be one thing, but if not, then perhaps she needed to be on her guard.
After “transforming divine power” comes “igniting divine fire.”
If the previous steps were preparations for god ascension, this step was the beginning of god ascension.
Divine fire is the source of divine power and the embryonic form of divine position. Once the divine fire is ignited, one will possess the ability to actively grow divine power.
Igniting divine fire requires a certain opportunity, the complete fusion of divine power with bloodline power, and the realization of a higher level of life sublimation.
This step is the most difficult, requiring a high compatibility between bloodline and divine power, as well as some luck.
It is worth mentioning that the success rate of igniting divine fire is not necessarily correlated with one’s transcendent rank. A seasoned legend may never be able to ignite divine fire, but some lucky souls who stumble upon divine relics may succeed under a fluke.
In other words, it depends on one’s face.
Once divine fire is ignited, a transcendent will no longer age.
As long as the divine fire is not extinguished, the transcendent will not die.
Those who ignite the divine fire will undergo an incredible transformation in spiritual power; it can extend infinitely and link with other intelligent life, creating a spiritual network.
Of course, this kind of spiritual network has another name—a faith network.
Those who succeed in igniting divine fire are no longer viewed by the world as mere mortals, but as pseudo gods, beings between true gods and mortals.
But even though they are pseudo gods, they have already obtained many powers comparable to deities, and after amassing sufficient divine power, they can exert might comparable to true gods.
Therefore, pseudo gods have another, more pleasant-sounding name—demigods.
A demigod is, in essence, the beginning of the mythical.
Reading up to this point, Charlotte didn’t know what to say.
There’s no running away from it now.
The crimson golden flame in her heart is none other than the divine fire!
All along, she had equated her own rank with transcendent ranks, and her “deity” status came from the Blood Holy Scripture’s external add-on.
An add-on is external, her trump card and tool, and shouldn’t be considered her actual strength.
However, now, comparing her experience with Albrecht’s memories, she realized that unbeknownst to her, she had already completed three out of the four steps of god ascension!
She still thought of herself as Silver Moon, but she was actually already considered a demigod…
This revelation was beyond Charlotte’s expectations.
But upon careful reflection and comparison, it all seemed within the realm of reason…
Strictly speaking, Charlotte was just the type of lucky individual that Albrecht’s memories referred to, the ones favored by the heavens for divine ascension.
She had claimed the Blood Holy Scripture, transformed her bloodline power, merged with an ancient divine statue, and even ignited the Divine Fire…
Although her actual strength was still low and couldn’t keep up with the pace of god ascension, her life level had, in fact, made a qualitative leap.
In other words, she had taken a shortcut after “topping up.”
This method of ascension, fit for a Chosen Son, could enable one to become a deity within a few short years, but it also came with significant disadvantages and hidden dangers.
If the increase in strength couldn’t keep up with the speed of ascension, it was like a child carrying gold; if a powerful Transcendent discovered their secrets, they might be “god-slain” before maturing, benefiting others instead.
Reading Albrecht’s memories, Charlotte had a strange look on her face:
“That being said… I seem very much like those resurrected deities now.”
Indeed, very much so.
Both had reached the life level of mythology but were actually too weak and had to cautiously enhance their power.
However, one was about restoring divine power, while the other was about enhancing divine power.
The only major difference probably lay in the memories; the resurgence of gods also came with the recovery of memories, making it easier and faster to regain power, but for the prematurely ascended Chosen Ones, they had to grope their way forward.
Having read up to the third step of god ascension, Charlotte looked toward the final step—shaping the divine position.
This was the step toward becoming a True God, and it was what interested her the most.
However, when it came to this step, Albrecht’s memories held nothing of value.
A True God was a fully realized mythical entity, a being far beyond the reaches of legend.
Merely the status of a Demigod was enough for Albrecht to look up to, let alone knowing how to become a True God; it was clear this Demon Bloodline knew nothing of it.
However, although Albrecht was unclear on how to shape the divine position, he did have a certain understanding of the difference between True Gods and Demigods.
True Gods could abandon their physical bodies and exist in the form of will or law; with an indestructible divine position, True Gods were immortal.
But Demigods… could not lose their physical bodies.
Without a body, a Demigod would fall into a slumber, until awakened and returned by possessing a suitable host.
And this marked the end of Albrecht’s memories regarding “God Ascension.”
After reading the memories, Charlotte was both excited and anxious.
She was excited because she had unknowingly already completed the four steps of god ascension and, in a sense, was already a mythological being; all that was left was accumulation.
She was anxious because she didn’t know how to proceed with the fourth step, and the historic Blood True Ancestor was ultimately still a threat.
In other words, Charlotte also feared making a wedding gown for someone else.
But she no longer had a choice.
According to Albrecht’s memories, once the path of ascension had begun, it couldn’t be stopped.
She was too deeply entwined with the Bloodline, and her bloodline had already been set; there was no turning back, she had to continue on.
“One step at a time,” she thought. “On the other hand, I’ve already gained so much, I can be considered blessed by fortune.”
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch; since I took a shortcut, I’ll have to face the corresponding price and hidden dangers!”
“My previous plan was correct; continuing to strengthen my divine power helps me get one step closer, but that’s still not enough.”
“While enhancing my divine power, I need to find a way to shape the divine position…”
“Regardless of any conspiracies, regardless of whether the historical Blood True Ancestor has any fallbacks, as long as I ascend to mythology, I’ll have the capital to contend!”
With these thoughts, Charlotte took a deep breath, her gaze gradually firmed up.
…
Having finished reading the memories about god ascension, Charlotte left the Dark Night Ancient Castle.
The memories of Albrecht still held much, but they were too disordered; she planned to leisurely examine the rest when she had time, not in a rush to do so.
Even if she hadn’t finished, it didn’t matter; she had recorded them into the “Memory Library.” Anything related to the Bloodline required only a moment’s recollection to retrieve the relevant memory, much like the search engines of her previous life.
In the following days, the investigation in Lutecia continued, with new nobles being punished by the royal family and the Church nearly every day, leaving the entire Royal Capital in a state of anxiety.
But that had nothing to do with Charlotte anymore; she was just a bystander, browsing through Albrecht’s memories like reading a book in her spare time while observing the sweeping investigation and trial that enveloped the Royal Capital.
The investigation finally came to an end after another full week had passed.
At this point, the investigation and trial that covered all the nobles of the Royal Capital had lasted for twelve days, and the results were quite astonishing.
Among the nine duke families and three Great Priests of the kingdom, two dukes and one Chief Priest were confirmed to have connections with the Blood Demon Church.
Duke Gaston was killed during the resistance, stripped of his title; another duke family was imprisoned and disgraced, nearly half of their directly administered domains were reclaimed by the royal family, and the duke title was inherited by an offspring recognized by the royal family.
The Public Domain Great Priest was personally sent to the fire execution platform by the New Moon Great Priest, and a new Chief Priest took over.
Below the dukes and the Divine Right Chief Priests, seven counts directly under the kingdom’s jurisdiction were stripped of their titles, either killed on the spot, sent to the fire execution platform, or imprisoned, including five court earls and two landed counts.
Even more viscounts and barons were punished, totaling more than twenty, with nearly half losing their titles, and the rest severely punished as a warning to others.
As for the lower-ranked nobles, even more were dealt with. It was said that over five hundred were detained for trial, and the confiscated assets reportedly formed a small mountain, with just the gold tana alone rivaling the New Moon Kingdom’s two years of fiscal revenue…
The Clergy were somewhat better off than the nobles; apart from one Public Domain Great Priest, over forty fallen priests who had dealings with the Blood Demon Church were caught, including one Great Priest and seven Second Tier priests.
The news spread, and the whole country was in an uproar.