[Vol. 7] Chapter 182: Nurturing Gods
As the exam proctor, who wasn’t suited for this private conversation, tactfully left, the black-haired girl in a white robe, who had expected the little dragon girl’s arrival, smiled warmly at her.
She stepped forward and gently patted the little dragon girl’s head. The summoned Light Elemental Spirit, as if it had its own intelligence, hovered close behind, becoming the only source of illumination in the dark forest.
The little dragon girl snuggled against the priestess's embrace for a brief moment, enjoying the faint, familiar fragrance she carried. But soon, she pulled away on her own, meeting the girl's slightly regretful gaze with a serious expression as she got straight to the point.
"Thanks to Master’s help, I got to experience something really interesting. It’s a pity I didn’t earn the hidden points, but it’s not a big deal. The other task, on the other hand, went very well."
"Hidden points, huh… Hehe, well, that couldn’t be helped. After all, you were up against a different kind of formidable opponent. Hmm… but let’s not dwell on that. Tell me about your findings first."
"Alright."
As the priestess raised her hand, an invisible barrier spread outward. The golden-haired little girl, now more cautious than ever, extended her left index finger. Rings of platinum and gold light swiftly formed in the air, coiling together until they finally condensed into a flawless ring, neither entirely gold nor jade, shaped like a dragon spreading its wings.
This was the [Dragon Emperor's Ring], an item that Lucine had once mentioned. It was the only "equipment" that had naturally appeared on current Xiao Guang at the moment of her birth.
Neither Violet nor Xiao Guang herself initially understood its purpose. Some unknown force had sealed its information, and even using [Information Detection] revealed very little about it. All they knew was that it originated from the dragon race, was classified as Semi-Divine tier in game rankings, and that it was likely deeply connected to Xiao Guang’s own evolution.
Back at the Church of Truth’s Headquarters, Lucine Constantius had recognized it at first glance and spoken its name aloud. That revelation had greatly surprised the priestess, who had been observing in secret at the time. It was also the turning point that led her to accept Lucine’s invitation and bring Xiao Guang to Sainz.
It wasn’t until their journey to the [Fantasy Sky Courtyard], inside that simulated divine realm, that Violet finally learned the truth from the Vampire Princess, the ring’s origin, its purpose, and what it truly represented.
As its name suggested, the [Dragon Emperor's Ring] was the true inheritance of the Dragon God. The rightful legacy of the supreme ruler of the dragon race.
The Dragon God was not a true god in the traditional sense. Rather, like [Sluthel], one of the Four Demon Lords, and a certain Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden from the Ancient Spirit Realm, it was a divine entity that had ascended from mortal origins.
Compared to the near-unchanging divinity and authority of innate gods, these ascended gods possessed far greater potential for growth. However, they were also more sensitive to external influences, making them prone to deviation. To prevent serious consequences, the Dragon God was never a fixed individual but a title. One that was passed down from one successor to the next.
And the medium that facilitated this succession was none other than the [Dragon Emperor's Ring].
Originally, the ring had been lost following the final battle of the previous Dragon Emperor more than three hundred years ago. However, for reasons unknown, it had reappeared before Xiao Guang, recognizing her as the rightful heir of the dragon lineage and triggering the ceremony to pass on the mantle of the Dragon Emperor to a new generation.
Yet, something was very different this time. Something that had never happened in any previous succession.
Based on Lucine's description and the information she already knew, this was roughly all Violet could deduce.
The inheritance ceremony was not a simple process. Given the current circumstances, it seemed that instead of directly transferring the existing Dragon God’s divinity to Xiao Guang, the ring had opened a door to an entirely new realm, one far beyond the limits of the past.
In other words, this wasn’t just an inheritance, it was creation.
As for the reason behind this anomaly, there were a few possibilities. Perhaps the [Dragon Emperor's Ring] had been damaged in that great battle and was missing a crucial element. Or perhaps Xiao Guang’s power had already surpassed all previous Dragon Emperors to the point where the existing divine seat could no longer contain her essence. As a result, instead of merely inheriting an old Divinity, she was now forging an entirely new one. One that belonged solely to her.
Most of the time, this ring was hidden by the little dragon girl in an invisible state. Only when actively summoned, like now, would its true form be revealed.
"Mm… I don’t feel any different. Could it be that Lucine tricked me…? Or maybe there’s not enough of it yet?"
Staring at the dragon-shaped ring that fit perfectly on Xiao Guang’s finger, the priestess studied it for a moment before murmuring in uncertainty. Her words might have sounded strange to others, but Xiao Guang understood exactly what she meant.
“No, there is a change. It’s just not as obvious as last time at the Church of Truth. Master might not be able to see it with the naked eye, but as the ring’s bearer, I can feel the process of power flowing into it and gathering inside. Especially today, when I killed so many [Magic-Devouring Ant Swarm]… I think she’s right.”
“I see…”
The black-haired girl nodded slightly.
At first, neither of them had any idea what this [Dragon Emperor's Ring] really was. But after extensive study and discussion, they had started to piece together some possibilities.
Xiao Guang’s evolution was essentially about absorbing [Origin Power] to build a new divinity. There were other conditions involved, but this was the fundamental and most crucial part. Just like how in a game, a character must gain enough experience to level up.
The ring, in this case, acted as a progress indicator for Xiao Guang’s evolution. When she first obtained it, the two dragon eyes on the ring were completely empty. But after she managed to steal a portion of the God of Paradox’s collected [Origin Power], about one-tenth of the empty space was filled with a platinum-like substance, causing a clear transformation.
After discussing it and receiving key insights from Lucine, the priestess came to a conclusion.
If Xiao Guang completely fills both dragon eyes with power, then her Divinity, still in its infant stage, would finally take shape and merge with her true form, marking the final step toward her ascension as a god.
And according to Lucine’s most important revelation, aside from brute-force methods like stealing divine power from other gods or absorbing faith energy, the only viable shortcut they knew of was hidden within the [Morst Underground Labyrinth].
"During the battle with those ants earlier, I could faintly feel some kind of energy flowing from their bodies into me when they died. Individually, it was barely noticeable, but because there were so many of them, and I could wipe out large numbers in one strike, plus the fact that Master suppressed my power level, the effect became quite clear. I think… this place really might work like the ‘defeat monsters to level up’ system you mentioned.”