From Secret Clan to the Divine Dynasty

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That was an especially powerful Spiritual Power.

Even Karl couldn't help but treat it with special distinction, if the spirituality contained in the forbidden rare artifacts with triple-digit numbers was akin to a delicious and luxurious seafood feast.

Then, the experience brought by the forbidden rare artifacts with double-digit numbers was simply an unimaginable satisfaction of appetite for mortals!

No food in the real world could compare to that marvelous fulfillment and satiety!

He absorbed the Spiritual Power contained within the "soul dice" almost obsessively, as if even his soul was fully immersed in it, unwilling to let go for a long time, always savoring the aftertaste.

After absorbing a large amount of Spiritual Power, Karl was even pleasantly surprised to notice that the 5th Seal showed signs of loosening!

Unfortunately, is it still not enough?

He couldn't help but ponder.

"If I could get another double-digit forbidden rare artifact, or maybe two or three more triple-digit ones, the 5th Seal could be completely undone!"

However, as everyone knows, the smaller the numeric code of a forbidden rare artifact, the rarer and harder it is to come by.

He knew that even the current Fischer family would need to rely on some luck to obtain a new powerful forbidden rare artifact.

"Double-digit forbidden rare artifacts are probably in the hands of some real big shots in this world, right?"

After losing its Spiritual Power, the soul dice instantly transformed into a rune shaped like a dice.

Karl also fully understood the specific effects of this forbidden rare artifact.

First was its overly vicious cost!

Every time the dice were used, the Extraordinary Exponent would seem to pay no price on the surface, but in reality, a small portion of their soul was mortgaged to the dice.

The six sides of the dice represent six "games," namely "1·Combat," "2·Trivia," "3·No Touching," "4·Hiding," "5·Racing," "6·Luck Gambling," and the thrower could force themselves and a target within sight to randomly start one of these games!

The ultimate winner of the game would have powerful influence over the loser and their relatives and friends, such as petrifying an enemy within sight through mere thought.

Without a doubt, the effects of the soul dice were very strong, and those who knew the rules beforehand were more likely to win, making it possible to defeat opponents stronger than oneself!

However, the soul dice had a hidden, terrifying cost—the moment the user's dice rolls totaled over 21, they would completely lose their soul and become its slave!

Once made into its slave, they would be cast into hell, forever tormented by horrific black Blazing Fire, only by continuously initiating games of slaughter within the dice could they quench the flames for a while!

"Both the cost and effects have become weird; double-digit forbidden rare artifacts are not to be underestimated..."

"Now, I'm starting to get curious about what the effects of the single-digit codes are and what their corresponding costs will be?"

Karl was genuinely intrigued, and at the same time, very curious about their... taste.

After much consideration, he removed Darren's "Shatter" and then transferred the rune power of the "soul dice" to him.

The power of the "soul dice" suited people like Byrne and Darren, who frequently used their brains, but since the two forbidden rare artifacts that Byrne currently possessed also matched him well, Karl ultimately decided to bestow it upon Darren.

Inside the underground sacrificial chamber, everyone saw Darren erupting with continuously changing colors of light!

"Ah!" people exclaimed!

Christine, still without rune power, watched Darren with envy.

There, he was feeling the changes.

In Darren's right eye, a dice flickered, and in an instant, he understood the function of that rune power, and couldn't help smiling.

"So that's how it is... Thank you, Lord of the Lost!"

Good.

Karl was indifferent to Darren's reaction.

"The main event is coming next... Now, let's shape Chris into a truly powerful being."

Next, Karl did not hesitate to consume a large amount of Spiritual Power to directly upgrade Chris's "Countdown Timer"!

In Chris's eyes, the pocket watch spun rapidly, then it completely shattered, transforming into countless golden hour and minute hands flying about in his eyes.

Spirit runes!

"Rift Moment"!

At this moment, Chris acquired a newly upgraded power. Right now, he could bring time to a standstill at will.

The longer the stasis of time, the longer the subsequent cooldown; once the cooldown ended, he could use time stasis again!

The maximum stasis time was ten seconds, followed by a ten-minute cooldown period.

"Countdown Timer" required preheating before stasis, whereas "Rift Moment" was stasis first, then cooldown!

While the order has merely been reversed, and the maximum stasis time shortened, the practical effect it could have in battle has become incomparable to before!

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"Heh, the advantage I have bestowed upon the Fischer family is finally starting to snowball,"

Karl was very pleased with what the Fischer family had done so far. His only regret was letting Marquis Vlad take away the "lamp" cover, which could only be reclaimed later.

"A miracle!"

"The great deities have granted us power once again!"

"It's thrilling every single time!"

The members of the Dawn Church kept worshiping and expressing their gratitude, overwhelmed with excitement!

Especially a few from the Fischer family who were the most moved, while Yeager and others were filled with immense envy. Deep in their hearts, they all knew that only the divinely favored Fischers could possess the power of runes, while they themselves would never have a chance.

At this very moment, Karl had already reached the Spirit Realm.

He deftly lit a brand new "constellation" and grafted it onto the Path of Tranquility.

In the "constellation", there existed a white-haired man in armor, holding a sharp sword. His expression was full of vicissitudes and vigilance, and runes swirled around his other hand.

5th Rank!

"Power of Consecution·Demon-Hunting Master"!

He, carrying a white radiance, returned to the real world.

The next moment, blinding white light filled the entire underground sacrificial chamber. The intense white light even surged faintly out of the underground, flowing in all directions throughout Fischer Manor!

"Ah!"

Everyone but Chris subconsciously closed their eyes.

Only he remained calm, stretching out his hand to accept that unprecedented powerful force!

So that was it.

All this time, he hadn't truly stepped onto the God Pantheon stairway.

From now on, it was the starting point of the divine path!

Chris took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and savored the transformation. Even someone as composed as he couldn't help but get excited, relishing the extremely powerful Power of Consecution!

He could now precisely control every inch of his body, every bit of energy, and accurately perceive the extent of his own strengthening.

Compared to the previous rank, the improvement in physical fitness and Spiritual Power gained from the 5th Rank was very obvious, totaling a fivefold increase!

Chris's physical fitness increased by 700, while his Spiritual Power grew by 300!

The 4th Rank "Sin Executioner" would appear as frail and powerless as a child before him!

At the same time, Chris also gained four brand new Extraordinary powers brought by the "Demon-Hunting Master," namely, "Nemesis of Monsters," "Flesh Spiritual Medicine," "Secret Spell Lake," and "Hunter"!

"Nemesis of Monsters" did not bring with it much knowledge but allowed Chris to instantly grasp the fundamental information of any 'non-human' entity he recognized, fully discerning the target's weaknesses.

"Flesh Spiritual Medicine" meant his blood would produce an Extraordinary effect, becoming a very special spiritual medicine that could heal most injuries and also act as a deadly poison against non-humans!

"Secret Spell Lake" brought him four spells: "Blazing Fire," "Bewitchment," "Shatter," "Telekinesis," and he would also possess great resistance to various psychic types of Extraordinary powers!

The final Extraordinary power was "Hunter."

It was a power that excited Chris, for with each kill of an enemy of the same rank or stronger, he would permanently absorb a part of the enemy's strength, converting it into physical fitness!

Theoretically, possessing "Hunter," he could grow without end.

Just as Monarch powerful experts would obtain "Domain," "Soul and Life Conversion," and "Flight," he also acquired several common abilities of a 5th Rank Extraordinary Exponent.

First was an extraordinary sense of perception. Any Extraordinary Exponent who had reached the 5th Rank could detect all nearby Extraordinary power fluctuations within several kilometers and clearly sense various anomalies and the undead.

They understood the essence of Spiritual Power and could physically interfere with entities from another world. In other words, they could touch the essence of the soul and also defend against direct soul-striking methods.

Then there was the special ability "Burning Soul." Any Exceptional Exponent who reached the 5th Rank could burn their soul temporarily to burst forth their strength and rise a rank temporarily.

Chris quickly realized that the power of the 6th Rank was akin to that of a mid-level Monarch, not a high-level Monarch. After "Burning Soul," he could temporarily raise his base strength to the level of a mid-level Monarch Exceptional Exponent.

The consequence was a permanent decrease in the upper limit of Spiritual Power, and a permanent reduction in his own strength.

The surrounding onlookers couldn't help but look at Chris in astonishment. Each one of them could feel a powerful aura that was still strong despite gradually converging.

Byrne pondered silently and then could describe that particular aura: anyone before him was like a prey that could meet death at any moment.

So that was it, an Extraordinary Exponent who mastered the Power of Consecution would also possess a very powerful aura upon reaching the 5th Rank.

His whole body was filled with immense power, and after experiencing such a metamorphosis, Chris silently opened his eyes.

"Great Lord of the Lost... I am now the sharpest blade of the Fischer family."