There was no doubt that the power structure of the Danmachi world was completely disconnected in the middle tiers.
The gap between mortal adventurers and the gods spanned at least a dozen or even twenty levels within the Falna system.
Even by the end of the world, it was uncertain whether anyone could truly traverse that entire stretch of road.
What Tian’el sought to build, however, was an order that could steadily expand outward while maintaining peace, happiness, and stability within.
Ordinary people should simply live the tranquil lives they desired.
There was no need for them to be forced to lick blood from the edge of a blade.
Thus, a transcendent system like divine grace—designed with the explicit goal of producing heroes—could at most serve as a secondary path for those who craved excitement.
What the masses required was a cultivation method where steady effort, combined with talent, resources, and time, would naturally lead to greater strength.
“This is the place.” Tian’el led the subordinate gods deep into the Bashe Mountain Range.
There, within a stone cavern entwined by vines and guarded by arching serpent bones, lay a spiritual spring.
Its waters were clear as crystal, with faint golden ribbons of spiritual energy drifting across the surface—sometimes coalescing into the shapes of dragons and serpents, sometimes dispersing into glittering motes like scattered starlight.
“What is this?” Ares’ eyes widened in astonishment.
“The spiritual energy floating freely in the air has actually liquefied and condensed here?” “Such dense vitality!” Phobos stepped barefoot into the spring.
The white bone of her ankle—previously exposed by the corrosive baleful energy in the stream—began to regrow fresh flesh.
The skin beneath her battle skirt regained a healthy glow.
Even more astonishing, faint spiritual meridians could be seen at the bottom of the pool, pulsing like blood vessels in rhythm with her breathing.
Instinctively, the goddess adjusted the flow of energy within her body.
With a sudden gulp, she snapped her eyes open.
A trace of golden light flashed across her pupils.
“At this level of vitality, it may be useless to the gods—but ordinary people could drink it directly.
It would cleanse their sinews and bones, raising their physique to that of a high-class adventurer.” “I think it’s very useful,” Eris declared.
She simply sprawled into the spring, leaving only her head above water, eyes half-closed in bliss.
“This pool is perfect for bathing.
Can I move it back and use it as a bathtub?” As she spoke, she casually plucked a white lotus that had just condensed beside the spring and popped it into her mouth with a crisp crunch.
Seeing this, Tian’el’s lips twitched slightly.
Noticing that several other gods were also curiously preparing to enter, he sighed and stopped a few of the male gods in time.
“This liquefied spiritual energy has already been purged of the Bashe’s remaining baleful aura.
It contains abundant vitality derived from the flesh and blood of an exotic beast.
It is the most suitable foundational treasure for ordinary people.” “If you don’t mind the citizens of Rakia drinking your bathwater, then by all means, continue soaking.” As for the citizens of Rakia— You’re saying that as long as they drank the bathwater of goddesses, they could strengthen their bodies and gain the power of high-class adventurers?
What heavenly blessing was this!
“Uh…” Phobos froze for a moment.
After thinking it over, she chose not to step out immediately.
“The spring seems to replenish itself endlessly.
When we leave, I’ll siphon off the top layer and take it back to water my flowers.” Eris, entirely unconcerned, dove to the bottom of the spring.
After a while, she resurfaced, astonishment written across her face.
“I can sense it.
At the bottom of this spring, there’s a vein connected to the entire mountain range.
And this mountain is perfectly attuned to the continent itself—it draws energy from deep within the planet and continuously transforms it into spiritual energy…
What an interesting arrangement!” At this point, Eris cast Tian’el a meaningful look.
“How about one of us voluntarily returning to Heaven?
As long as we gather a sufficient number of gods to jointly exert divine power, we could interfere with the operation of the laws and allow the world itself to generate this spiritual energy.” Clearly, the goddess had already perceived part of Tian’el’s plan.
Though he had not particularly tried to conceal it— First unify the nations of the continent, achieving unity in the spiritual dimension of all living beings.
Then subdue the gods of Heaven and take control of the world’s laws.
Finally, have the gods promote the world’s gradual transformation of energy into spiritual energy, embedding it into the cycle of matter and energy and allowing it to assume dominance.
Tian’el’s Power of High Heaven could extend his will into all things that belonged to him in name and in fact.
Once these three objectives were completed, the entire Danmachi world would naturally fall under his control.
The gods present did not know the full picture.
Yet merely from the layout of this mountain range, they could infer much.
But none of them intended to stop him.
On the contrary, they were considering how to fan the flames and accelerate the process.
“If this concept called spiritual energy fully integrates into this world, paired with an entirely new cultivation system, then the adventurer framework centered around Orario will inevitably decline, reduced to a roadside relic!” One subordinate god, eyes gleaming, looked around as if already witnessing the sweeping tide of the era pushing the new world to replace the old.
After all, those who could receive divine blood and become members of a god’s familia were already among the continent’s upper-tier elites.
If not one in ten thousand, then certainly one in a thousand.
The vast majority of ordinary people—who made up most of the world—had no opportunity whatsoever to become members of a divine familia.
Over a thousand years, only a little more than three hundred gods had descended to the lower world.
And that number included some who had withdrawn midway as failures.
Not to mention that aside from oddities like Ares—who delighted in building vast armies—most gods adhered to an elite strategy.
Some familias consisted of only a dozen members or even fewer.
But a cultivation system built upon spiritual energy had no restriction of divine blood.
Once popularized, every intelligent lifeform across the continent could theoretically benefit.
When that day came, which faction would hold the initiative?
Naturally, the Kingdom of Rakia—owner of the Bashe Mountain Range, the source of spiritual energy.
Just as the Labyrinth City of Orario had once flourished because of the Dungeon, it would now be Rakia’s turn to stand alone at the forefront of the era.
“Hahaha!
Let’s see how those bastards compete with me this time!” Prompted by the gods’ reminder, Ares finally grasped the implication and burst into wild laughter.
Eris immediately poured cold water over him.
“The source of spiritual energy is indeed critical.
But if Rakia isn’t strong enough, this mountain range could just as easily belong to Orario.” In the past, did Rakia not dream of seizing the Dungeon’s leveling grounds?
Of course it did.
But every campaign ended in defeat.
By the same logic, if the era truly shifted to one of spiritual energy, Rakia would not necessarily be able to hold onto the Bashe Mountain Range.
Ares’ laughter died in his throat.
He looked up at the little fox possessed by Tian’el, his expression earnest.
Boss…
do you have any trump cards left?
“…This is the general outline of the cultivation system designed to complement spiritual energy.” Under the focused gazes of the gods, Tian’el fell silent for a moment before producing a jade slip glowing with golden light from his sleeve.
With a flick of his finger, the jade slip transformed into a stream of radiance and shot into the foreheads of everyone present.
“Take a look and see whether there are any flaws within.”