The light drizzle drifted like mist. Crystalline dew clung to the tips of tender grass before a pair of boots stamped heavily down upon them, shattering the dewdrops and sending splashes of water flying.
"Boss, are we really here for an outing?" a middle-aged man asked nervously.
He had assumed there was some top-secret mission codenamed "Spring Outing."
As it turned out, it truly was a spring outing.
They even had camping gear ready.
The other spies looked at Yu Sanbao with conflicted expressions.
If this was not an assignment, their boss bringing them out on an excursion right in the enemy kingdom's royal capital... had he lost his mind?
"Boss, even if we're going on an outing, we should pick a sunny day. With this continuous drizzle...?" someone chimed in, changing the subject upon sensing the other spies' dissatisfaction.
Yu Sanbao's thoughts were a tangled mess, as though he had not slept for days and nights.
Right at that moment, a gentle yet blazing voice rang out.
"The sun is here."
A child roughly 1.2 meters tall appeared, hovering in midair, his body seeming to emanate divine radiance.
The spies present froze at the sight of him, their expressions shifting abruptly. "Divine power!"
"This is divine power!"
As spies, most possessed cultivation of their own. Even if they had never witnessed divine power firsthand, they had certainly heard of it.
Could this little boy before them be a legendary god-level powerhouse, an existence on par with a church pontiff?
"This isn't merely divine power. This is the divine power of the sun," Qi Yuan said, looking at Yu Sanbao with a solemn expression. "Weren't you depressed? Now that you've brought your colleagues out for an outing and seen the sun, do you feel any better?"
Qi Yuan asked with earnest sincerity, his divine voice surging like the vast sea.
Yu Sanbao shivered from head to toe. Gazing at Qi Yuan's face, how could he dare deny it?
"I feel a bit better... especially after seeing the sun, my mood is much brighter," he replied, his voice trembling.
With this deity asking so directly, he had no courage to say otherwise.
Hearing this answer, Qi Yuan was quite pleased.
As a god, one occasionally had to play dumb.
Although his nose had grown a little longer, he was still young and developing, so wasn't it completely normal for his nose to grow?
"What about the rest of you?" Qi Yuan asked the other spies.
The remaining spies instantly shuddered.
"Happy!"
"Delighted!"
Qi Yuan nodded in satisfaction. "As expected, that Guo fellow does have some wisdom to him after all. You spies, stuck in a foreign land, bury your heads in toil all the time, living in constant dread from morning till night. That's terrible for your mental health. In the future, go on more outings to ease the worries and burdens in your hearts. Rest assured, your outings have my permission; no one can stop you from going on an excursion."
What if Yu Sanbao's depression flared up again down the road?
Therefore, he had to encourage him to go out more.
Hearing this, the spies—who had initially found Qi Yuan rather unhinged—wore subtle shifts in their gazes.
Yu Sanbao in particular felt his breathing quicken.
Was this... a god's promise?
"Thank you, Lord Sun!" Yu Sanbao hurriedly said.
This time, he truly did feel cheerful and bright.
Although this deity spoke eccentrically, wasn't it entirely normal for gods to be a little eccentric?
"Very well. Now for the last question: Am I a True God?" Qi Yuan asked.
This was the final step in breaking through from a Void God to a True God.
Hearing the question, Yu Sanbao's heart tightened violently as realization dawned on him.
Was this... the second step from Void God to True God?
As a spymaster, he knew quite a lot.
Once an exalted deity gained the recognition of their believers, they would become a True God and establish their own divine kingdom.
"You are... the supreme, peerless True God!" Yu Sanbao stammered in awe.
If the being before him was truly a True God, then... even if he went on outings every single day from now on, that King of Roland wouldn't be able to do a damn thing to him.
Hearing those words, Qi Yuan immediately felt a transformation within his divine form.
*Indeed, someone has acknowledged me as a True God.*
*Now, with a single thought, I can instantly turn from a Void God into a True God.*
However, Qi Yuan did not choose to break through on the spot.
With a sudden turn of his figure, he vanished.
When he reappeared, he had returned to the universe inside his Stellar Golden Core.
With a single thought, over four thousand Divine Infants manifested at once, arrayed before him in neat formation.
Every single Divine Infant radiated a terrifying, profound aura.
As Qi Yuan's own strength advanced, the cultivation of these Divine Infants had surged in tandem, steadily rising.
By now, quite a few had even reached the third tier of the Yang God realm.
Naturally, aside from their own diligence and the power of the God Visualization Art, most of their strength stemmed from Qi Yuan. If Qi Yuan so wished, the dharmic powers within them would vanish in an instant.
Of course, since they were all his own Divine Infants, Qi Yuan would never do such a thing.
Looking across the four thousand Divine Infants, Qi Yuan asked in a measured voice, "Am I... a True God?"
Asking only Yu Sanbao was not enough; Qi Yuan chose to ask his own Divine Infants as well.
Only these Divine Infants counted as his true believers.
"Yes!"
Led by Qi Qi, Shenlei and the others answered in unison, their voices thundering across the void.
In that instant, Qi Yuan felt the divine power within his body undergoing a metamorphosis.
This transformation far surpassed the conversion spurred by Yu Sanbao's recognition.
The quality, devoutness, and sheer weight of the believers directly governed the transition from Void God to True God.
*So now, I should use my divine power to construct a divine kingdom?* Qi Yuan pondered.
The first realm of a True God was the Divine Kingdom realm.
*I currently have too little divine power, and building a divine kingdom from scratch is far too troublesome. What if... I treat the Sole Palace as my divine kingdom, and use the Gate of Myriad Manifestations as its entrance?*
Qi Yuan considered the notion.
With his current might, upon returning from the game, his very existence could inhabit two distinct states: the in-game state or his true-self state.
He could even break through in the Immortal Realm.
Breaking through here in the Stellar Golden Core universe was equally free of complications.
Therefore, transforming the Sole Palace into his divine kingdom was entirely viable.
No sooner said than done.
In a flash, the Sole Palace appeared in his grasp.
Qi Yuan looked upon the enigmatic palace with a calm gaze.
"You are not the Sole Palace. You are the divine kingdom forged of my divine power."
The Great Oblivion Heart Scripture surged into motion, and divine power washed over the Sole Palace in torrents.
The Sole Palace seemed to turn to liquid, then to divine light.
Gradually, that divine light reassembled into a divine kingdom, ultimately settling into the shape of the Sole Palace.
*The Divine Kingdom realm... is it done?*
Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, sensing his in-game physique with an unruffled expression.
Suddenly realizing something, his face changed. "Oh no, I need to get back to the game world immediately."
The moment Qi Yuan's figure disappeared, every sound ceased.
A slender black silhouette emerged, her expression charming, tinged with a hint of playful amusement.
"Husband... why did you run?"
"Tee-hee, a tiny little husband... I really want to step on him."
Ning Tao wore a black miniskirt, resembling a dark gothic princess. Her slender jade legs were clad in black stockings, and her delicate feet were similarly wrapped in dark silk, her dainty toes fair and refined like works of art.
A while back, when Qi Yuan returned while still in his in-game form—tiny and utterly adorable—he had run into Ning Tao. Back then, Ning Tao's yandere traits had maxed out; she nearly reenacted how they had first met by trying to pin him down and make him call her mommy.
With that psychological trauma lingering, Qi Yuan had beaten a hasty retreat.
He had no desire to be stepped on by Ning Tao in a state like that; it would simply be too humiliating.
***
"Congratulations, Your Highness, on becoming the seventh prince of this batch to break through to the True God realm."
A long-haired old man bowed low, his face bearing a respectful expression along with a touch of astonishment.
According to their observations, this prince had spent all his time cultivating without recruiting a single follower, and his aptitude had been assessed as merely Grade C-upper.
Yet he was the seventh in this batch to break through to the True God realm, which was rather unexpected.
Then again, considering that his bloodline hailed from Pillar Tiankai, breaking through to a True God this quickly was not entirely shocking.
"So, can I head to Myriad Gods Mountain now?" Qi Yuan asked.
"Yes," the old man nodded, his expression reverent.
Having become a True God, he was a true child of Tiankai, a genuine prince.
"However, Pillar Tiankai is currently slumbering, so Your Highness will not be able to pay your respects to His Majesty," the old man added with a hint of regret.
Had these god-sons been able to meet Pillar Tiankai, they might have received a reward. With His Majesty currently in slumber, that benefit was lost, and the old man felt regret on Qi Yuan's behalf.
"Oh. When do we leave for Myriad Gods Mountain?" Qi Yuan asked.
He was exceedingly curious about this so-called Myriad Gods Mountain.
Did it have any connection to the Mount of the Gods?
"Please follow me, Your Highness," the old man said.
With another flash of movement, the two of them appeared before a teleportation array.
This array resembled the teleportation formations of the Immortal Realm, yet differed slightly in principle, seemingly powered by divine power.
Qi Yuan took a seat within the formation, looking around with curiosity.
About thirty breaths passed.
Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes and looked up at the sky.
Above, endless floating mountains seemed to hover in the firmament.
Atop every single mountain lurked a terrifying aura.
Seeing Qi Yuan's reaction, the old man appeared quite satisfied. Hunching over, he explained, "Myriad Gods Mountain exists neither in physical space nor in the mental world, but within the heart of the Emperor God."
"Within the heart of the Emperor God?" Qi Yuan asked, surprised.
The so-called Emperor God was the leader of Myriad Gods Mountain.
"All that we behold is manifested by the Emperor God," the old man continued. "Your Highness need only release a wisp of divine power. Myriad Gods Mountain will guide you, and an additional peak will appear here upon the mountain."
"Fine." Qi Yuan did not refuse.
He sensed no danger.
Besides, this was just a game—what was there to fear?
He split off a wisp of divine power. Instantly, a vast and boundless divine force reached out from Myriad Gods Mountain to receive it.
A ray of divine radiance parted, and a small peak a hundred zhang tall materialized.
"Your Highness, please cultivate in your temporary palace. Within about half an hour, a God Lord will arrive to pledge loyalty to you," the old man said, an envious look surfacing in his eyes.
A so-called God Lord was an existence at the third realm of the True God stage.
Such figures were considered great personages even within Myriad Gods Mountain, belonging to the true upper echelons.
The old man himself might never reach the God Lord realm in his entire lifetime.
Yet for a child of Pillar Tiankai, possessing a God Lord Dao Protector was hardly surprising. Even if this Dao Protector had only recently attained the God Lord realm, a God Lord was still a God Lord.
"Alright."
Qi Yuan returned to the mountain he had condensed atop Myriad Gods Mountain.
He looked toward the other peaks, his eyes filled with curiosity.
*All these peaks seem right before my eyes, but... if I try to go there, I can't reach a single one.*
It felt just like dangling a laser pointer before a cat.
The cat kept pawing, believing it could catch the dot of light, completely oblivious to the fact that the light could never be grasped.
*This Emperor God is rather interesting.*
With a casual wave of Qi Yuan's hand, a villa materialized on the mountain.
In the True God realm, creating something like a villa with divine power was a trivial matter.
Right then, a voice resounded.
"Feng Ye pays respects to Your Highness."
A slender old man walked over, garbed in green robes. His aura was remarkably gentle, resembling that of an elderly butler.
Yet Qi Yuan knew this was a powerhouse at the third realm of the True God stage—a God Lord.
He was also Qi Yuan's Dao Protector, attendant, and guide.
"From this day forth, Feng Ye shall serve Prince Qi Yuan!" Feng Ye continued respectfully, displaying none of the haughtiness of a God Lord.
After all, the being before him was the flesh and blood of Pillar Tiankai, with limitless prospects. Should Qi Yuan one day break through to the fifth realm of the True God stage, Feng Ye too would rise to great heights.
"Mm," Qi Yuan acknowledged with a nod.
Feng Ye went on, "Your Highness, cultivating as a True God consumes vast amounts of resources. However, due to Pillar Tiankai's stipulations, this old servant cannot provide these resources on Your Highness's behalf. I must ask for Your Highness's understanding."
"Tell me about cultivation beyond the True God realm," Qi Yuan prompted.
The True God Method and the memories he had received were only sufficient to construct a divine kingdom and break through to a True God. As for the cultivation path further up, Qi Yuan remained in the dark.
"The first tier of the True God stage is known as the Divine Kingdom realm. As the name implies, it entails forging a divine kingdom. Since Your Highness has broken through to the Divine Kingdom realm, you have presumably forged its embryonic form already. However... that is not enough. A mighty divine kingdom requires continuous infusions of various treasures and resources from the material realm, as well as the power of faith from the mental realm."
Feng Ye explained the cultivation of the Divine Kingdom realm to Qi Yuan.
The training was straightforward: continually building up the divine kingdom by pouring in treasures, resources, and the power of faith.
"Where do these treasures come from? What about the faith?" Qi Yuan asked a rather simple question.
Although with the Sole Palace serving as his kingdom's foundation, his divine kingdom was already formidable, he was curious about how the other godchildren cultivated to grow stronger.
At the same time, this was his routine way of questioning an NPC to glean more of the plot.
"There are two methods. The first is to ally with veteran god-sons and god-daughters, serving them. They possess abundant treasures and resources and can reward Your Highness accordingly. The second method is through the legacy of Pillar Tiankai."
Feng Ye took on a solemn expression.
"In the beginning, the Emperor God observed all living beings in the world, capturing the All-Heavens Divine Mirror from the void and refining it. The Divine Mirror possesses a bizarre attraction, capable of pulling the mental power of living beings from certain worlds into it. Today, the Divine Mirror's sub-mirrors have multiplied by the tens of thousands. As the scion of a Pillar, Your Highness is entitled to receive one such sub-mirror."
At this point, envy surfaced in Feng Ye's eyes.
Even as a God Lord, he still did not possess a sub-mirror of his own.
Yet this youth had been granted one while merely in the Divine Kingdom realm. Truly, one's origin was what mattered most.
"The All-Heavens Divine Mirror links to other worlds. God-children can induce the natives of these worlds to reveal their coordinates, subsequently capturing those worlds to harvest resources and faith. However, Your Highness must be cautious. Tremendous dangers lurk within these worlds as well. Your Highness must not enter rashly, lest you risk falling in battle," Feng Ye warned.
Myriad Gods Mountain continuously captured worlds to reap faith, yet certain worlds similarly coveted these True Gods of Myriad Gods Mountain.
In the course of plundering other world planes, quite a few God Lords from Myriad Gods Mountain had perished, and even Spirit Gods and Dao Gods faced the peril of being unable to return.
Chapter 593