Dongwu City.
The underground had been completely emptied, and at its center, the Tree of Life was encased in a massive glass dome. A crack now marred its surface, exuding the ominous aura of the undead.
Due to the limited space at the city lord's mansion, Diane's valley only served as a narrow entrance to another world, resembling a crack leading to an alternate dimension, evoking feelings of unease.
Yuan Tang glanced at the Tree of Life, covered with alchemical materials, and felt a sense of satisfaction.
"As you said, we don't know when God will return. The world is healing, and the righteous God may not come back, so Diane must not be allowed to indulge. Sometimes, a little effort can go a long way in survival."
He regarded the Tree of Life with a hint of nostalgia. "The current prosperity feels a bit hollow. In the face of a god, we are but insignificant beings."
"It's all man-made, and we're still young," Bai Yi replied with a smile. "Perhaps the path above taboo leads to the realm of ancient gods?"
"That's a difficult road." Yuan Tang's gaze drifted toward the abyss of the undead, and he felt a shift in the air. "Be careful."
Recalling something, he summoned a book from the void. "Your spatial abilities are impressive; perhaps this will be of help."
Bai Yi took the book, momentarily surprised. The top genius Yuan Tang had a profound understanding of space.
Bai Yi flipped through it, his mind racing with ideas for developing a specialized skill set.
Putting the book away, he observed the city lord's mansion. Luo Ning had gathered a number of men and women, all anxious yet curious.
At first glance, there were about 300 individuals, responsible for assisting and caring for Diane in her manor.
With the arrival of Ms. Elena, the anxiety in their eyes dissipated, replaced by surprise and intrigue.
Bai Yi noted that there might not be enough rooms in the city lord's house. However, it could be slightly expanded, as the surrounding official buildings were also set for reconstruction.
Compared to the bustling inner city, the two streets outside the mansion felt outdated and were in dire need of renovation.
After instructing Zero to relay some orders to the Ministry of Construction, Bai Yi entered the laboratory to get to work.
About two days later, another glass dome covered the abyss representing the world of the undead.
This glass, known as [Elemental Layer], was a deep alchemical material designed to isolate specific types of magic. It meant that while the essences of life and death were contained, other elements could still circulate freely.
Alchemists often used these layers to create unique environments for experiments or to cultivate certain alchemical materials.
Once Bai Yi completed this work, he left Dongwu City with some instruments, heading to a high mountain nearly a thousand kilometers away.
He gazed at the sky and retrieved a golden crystal nucleus from the demon dimension.
This was the final version of the solar nucleus, strengthened four times and boasting a diameter of one meter.
As it appeared, the surrounding night sky lit up like day, illuminating everything and creating an unsettling atmosphere.
Bai Yi paid little mind. This one-meter solar nucleus would ultimately transform into a ten-centimeter Sun's Praise.
This would be the fifth compression, and the explosion's radius could reach 10,000 meters, not counting the shockwave.
The energy level might even attain that of a high-order legend or higher.
Of course, he would fulfill his promise to Metheus, but he had no intentions of revealing how to create this device to the federal government.
The conditions required to form solar nuclei were too stringent.
Extracting sunlight into liquid, compressing it into crystal, further purifying it, adding inert substances, compressing again, and transforming it under the heart of the scorching sun for over 500 years—this was the process to obtain the solar nucleus.
The heart of the scorching sun was crucial, and Bai Yi had no plans to share this with the Federation, nor did he feel it necessary to disclose the manufacturing method.
As Bai Yi focused, the instruments began to construct the Sun's Praise.
Buzz~
A unique fluctuation rippled outward, causing the wildlife in the mountain range to roar in alarm, while the chirping of insects abruptly ceased.
The surrounding area fell into an eerie silence.
This stillness lasted only three seconds before chaos erupted. Animals fled from the peak, panic driving them to escape. Tigers and deer ran side by side, their mutual fear overriding their instincts.
Bai Yi ignored the chaos, concentrating on his task. Why had he come all the way here to create the sun in his laboratory? Ordinary solar praises were mere explosives and could be made anywhere.
However, combining a special skill point with the solar crystal nucleus, the collision of top-tier knowledge and materials would create a sensation across the explosion radius, even extending to those affected by the shockwave.
It was a primal fear that was hard to ignore.
In the demon dimension, Bai Yi possessed a regular sun with a diameter of over 30 meters. Once completed, it could inspire a similar sense of dread among those in the vicinity.
Thus, the ultimate version of the Sun's Praise could only be crafted away from populated areas. He didn't want Dongwu City to experience chaos akin to the animals in this mountain range.
Buzz~
Suddenly, an unfamiliar presence approached. Bai Yi raised an eyebrow but continued to craft the Sun's Praise; this newcomer didn't seem threatening.
"It's really you," came a sultry voice.
A woman with a tail and wings appeared nearby, dressed provocatively.
She was a demon, her delicate features and revealing attire, combined with her pink eyes and heart-shaped markings on her black tail, exuding a captivating allure.
"32."
"No, I haven't seen you in years. Why have you become so hostile? Don't you recognize me?"
The demon's pink eyes gleamed with desire, and her tail swayed enticingly as she slowly approached Bai Yi. "How cruel of you."
Touch~
With a splash of blood, the demon was instantly reduced to a mist by Bai Yi's powerful spiritual force, drifting down the mountain with the wind.
Bai Yi remained unfazed, continuing to focus on the Sun's Praise.
He had no romantic history, nor did he feel inclined to engage with a demon. Such entanglements were perilous for a weak alchemist.
Buzz~
As the manufacturing process neared completion, another figure approached at high speed, halting thousands of meters away and floating in mid-air.
This time, it was another demon, appearing more mature than the previous one. Most notably, she was a mid-tier golden demon, exuding a palpable power.
Bai Yi did not stop his work, compressing the final solar nucleus and enhancing its explosive potential.
Simultaneously, his immense mental strength coalesced into a concentrated force, aimed directly at the demon, ready to eliminate her if necessary.
"Wait! I need to discuss something with you," the demon's charming voice called out, as pink mist began to swirl in her eyes. This mist gradually formed an image of a young man seated on a throne, gazing at Bai Yi with a hint of helplessness. "Look, I'm in a hurry, and you just killed my sister."
Bai Yi raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Charles? Aren't you in the Sun Federation?"
"Yes, it's a war, but I still need to thank you for your gift. Look."
Charles extended his hand, and from the dense darkness, a golden point of light emerged, gradually spreading to form a semicircle that released terrifying energy.
The ground touched by the semicircle transformed into a beautiful golden crystal, vaporizing all living things in an instant.
It resembled a true sun, refusing to allow any existence to approach, turning everything nearby into fuel for its brilliance.
As Bai Yi continued his work, he felt a sharp warning tingle. It urged him to escape.
"Can you handle this? Don't let your own explosives backfire on you."
Charles smirked, displaying another image: a second Sun's Praise explosion, seemingly even more powerful than the last. Under its light, Bai Yi glimpsed the terrified eyes of the dying.
The white epidemic felt the rising temperature in his hand as a multitude of materials were crushed by his mental force, directly enhancing the core of the Sun's Praise, while quickly cooling the surrounding heat.
Bai Yi was proficient in this craft; this extreme solar explosion would take fifteen seconds, as the necessary conditions for crystallization required inert substances.
If Bai Yi wanted to create an instantaneous Sun's Praise, it would be simple—just extract solar energy without adding inert materials.
Then, transforming it with the heart of the sun from the demon dimension over half a year would yield a top-tier instantaneous Sun's Praise.
However, for Metheus, it should be about power.
"If you don't say it again, don't bother."
Bai Yi stated calmly, and the celestial presence in the sky felt as though it was pulling the trigger.
Charles paused, tapping the armrest of his throne, creating a ringing sound.
"I have a feeling it's not surprising."
A dark throne materialized behind him as he leaned back, appearing relaxed. "Are there any relatives in this area?"
"No, none."
"Well, that's fine. Go and take a rest."
"As you wish, Your Excellency. What's next?"
Charles regarded the old man, who was quickly dissipating into darkness, and smiled. "I can't tolerate betrayal. Even if it's at the hands of God, it remains a challenge."
"You—"
Ding!
A crystal ball fell to the ground and rolled a significant distance away, causing Charles's smile to fade.
"White epidemic. Perhaps it's not just about you. It's running far, yet still drawing trouble."
Charles muttered, unconsciously gripping the armrest of his dark throne.
About half an hour later, a young human knelt on one knee, excitement evident in his voice. "Your Excellency, our forces have secured the northern region!"
"Good. Let's launch a decisive battle against the Sun Federation."
"Yes, Your Excellency." The young man hesitated, confusion crossing his features. "Didn't you say to unite the families from the other three regions?"
"There's no need. They'll follow if they want to. Dismissed."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
After the young man departed, Charles fell into thought once more, feeling a hint of helplessness. "Don't rush to start. It's not the same as I initially predicted."
"Well, I know the soul will be delivered to the crown, but I need more strength."
"It doesn't matter if you fail. What you desire are rules and souls. There will be plenty of souls after the war, but they might not meet your expectations."
"No, I prefer not to utilize the crown's power. An old friend seems to have offered me a gift. We must always be courteous, right?"
"Respected Crown, how is the Scarlet Crown? My friends can be so reckless, but Shia's magic is recovering. Can you recall what the abyss desires?"
"Yes, the sea race is a vast tribe. They can control half of Shia's rivers and mountains. I might have a way to help the crowns acquire some of the rules left by the sea god, which may also be the goal of my friend."
"Me? I can't assist the crown on two continents simultaneously, but I'm satisfied with dismantling the small world. Shia will recover faster and faster."
"If you feel progress is lacking, you can channel more divine power. I'll use the divine power of the crown to expedite your arrival."
"Don't be angry; it's just a bit of divine power. With the war approaching, aren't souls far more valuable than the divine power consumed by the crown?"
Charles extended his hand, and intense darkness surged before him, forming a portal.
As he pushed it open, the scene shifted dramatically.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A vast army from the divine kingdom surged forward, their chaotic footsteps echoing deafeningly.
The sun in the sky seemed to wane under the army's overwhelming momentum, shrouded by thick dark clouds.
In front of the endless soldiers stood a row of towering monsters, each over ten meters tall, their eyes filled with a fierce death, their unstable auras intimidating the soldiers behind them.
These monsters controlled the movement of the massive army.
As soon as Charles appeared, he gestured playfully. "Look at these formidable beings in front. They are some of my friends' creations."
"I named it Dark Bloom, though the technology is still maturing. As you know, I'm an assassin, not a mage or an alchemist. This is my current limit."
"If this war catches the crown's attention, I hope you will continue to support the divine power to enhance this transformation."
Linglingling.
In the Solar Federation, the sound of wind chimes resonated, interrupting Hurley's prayer.
Simultaneously, a respectful voice called from outside, "Your Excellency, there's been a disturbance at the border."