Chapter 159: Divine Demon Transformation

Chapter 159: Divine Demon Transformation

The gathering continued.

Although everyone was surprised by the Sacred Technique and the twenty thousand pounds of lean meat, they understood that these matters were not relevant to them.

Sacred Techniques,

Were something that only Legendary Knights could come into contact with.

In this world where the path to knighthood was nearly severed, becoming a legend represented powerful backgrounds and strength. No one would dare to have other thoughts, which was also the reason Karl dared to reveal his true identity.

Unlike the Magic Forest in the main world, where First Rankers were as common as dogs and Second Rankers roamed freely, here, one had to be cautious in everything they did.

"Mr. Karl."

After waiting for a while, someone finally couldn't hold back and stood up, addressing Karl:

"I also possess a Sacred Technique. I wonder if you're still interested in it?"

"Oh!" Karl spoke:

"I'm interested in any Sacred Technique."

"Good." The other party nodded and took out a book from their body, gently placing it in front of Karl:

"Please take a look."

Karl sat up straight.

Unlike the Flame Knight, the person presenting the Sacred Technique this time was a Legendary Knight, and his aura was calm and soothing.

The bard, Bennett!

A legendary figure who traveled through various Duke's Domains.

Despite his formidable strength, which could grant him a place of honor anywhere, this person had always relied on performing and singing in taverns for a living. Regardless of the reason, such a lifestyle commanded respect.

It wasn't unusual for a Legendary Knight to possess a Sacred Technique, but the one he presented surprised Karl.

Divine String Soul Burial Score!

This was a musical score, or rather, a skill in performance, but it was indeed a Sacred Technique.

Sound Killing Technique?

However, this musical score had no killing power; it only helped to soothe the soul's restlessness and bring peace to one's consciousness.

Karl's expression was peculiar, and he hesitated:

"This Sacred Technique..."

"Not interested?"

"No."

Karl sighed:

"I collect all Sacred Techniques, but it might take some time to deliver the lean meat."

"It's fine, I can wait." Bennett smiled:

"Mr. Karl, don't underestimate this Sacred Technique. Over the years, I've been supporting myself with it."

"Once..."

"It's a must-play piece during the meetings of the gods!"

"Yes." Karl forced a smile:

"Thank you."

He now understood why Bennett, despite being a legend, never fought with others.

Playing such calming music regularly, it would be strange if one's heart didn't remain peaceful.

No one else offered to sell Sacred Techniques, and Karl settled down to quietly observe the others' transactions.

Soon.

The gathering came to an end.

One by one, the attendees bid farewell and left until only Karl remained, sitting in his original spot as if waiting for something.

"The legendary knight of the Port of Freedom, the mysterious alchemist of Swift City, and the guardian of the Sanctuary."

A crisp and pleasant voice echoed:

"Mr. Karl, your rise is a legend in itself."

"I dare not." Karl raised his head and looked at the woman who suddenly appeared in the hall, his expression unchanged:

"I wonder what the young lady wishes to discuss by asking me to stay after the gathering?"

This woman was the same veiled female from the gathering, but now she had removed her veil.

Her exquisite features, like delicate white porcelain, carried a touch of innocence, making it evident at a glance that she was a young lady who had yet to experience much of the world.

However,

The fact that she knew he was the protector of the Sanctuary, and being a legend herself, was enough to indicate that she had a mysterious and powerful backing.

"Ariana."

The young lady placed one hand on her chest, crossed her legs, and bowed slightly, performing an ancient courtesy:

"My friends usually call me Anna."

"Then... Miss Ariana." Karl leaned forward and said:

"During the gathering, you whispered to me, asking me to stay after. What is it that you wish to discuss?"

"Sacred Technique!" Ariana chuckled:

"Mr. Karl, if my guess is correct, you haven't found a Sacred Technique that satisfies you, have you?"

"Yes!" Karl hesitated for a moment, not denying it:

"Yes!"

"Does Miss Ariana have the Sacred Technique I desire?"

"Perhaps." Ariana pulled over a chair and sat down gracefully; her every move was elegant, a habit deeply ingrained in her.

"I'm not sure if Mr. Karl is aware, but Sacred Techniques also have different ranks, and the differences are significant."

"Is that so?" Karl stroked his chin, noncommittal:

"I'm not very clear on that."

"The gods possess divinity but have not completely lost their humanity, so conflicts arise between them." Ariana smiled:

"Mr. Karl, guess how they resolve these conflicts?"

"Duel?" Karl spoke:

"The high and mighty gods wouldn't fight themselves, so they let their protectors duel?"

"Correct!" Ariana smiled and nodded:

"In the Divine Realm, there are arenas where protectors duel, and watching these duels is the gods' favorite form of entertainment."

"Sometimes, demi-gods or certain gods who take an interest also participate."

"According to records, every hundred years, the arenas in the Divine Realm hold a grand dueling competition. The protectors who rank in the top three will win glory for their gods and receive divine blessings."

Karl didn't interrupt, only listening quietly as Ariana spoke.

It was strange.

Ariana's tale of the gods had a unique calmness to it, as if she were talking about everyday matters.

There was no reverence for the gods in her words.

Karl had never encountered this in anyone else; even Conny, who held no reverence for the gods, would subconsciously bow his head when mentioning them.

That was a normal human reaction.

But Ariana didn't.

"Due to certain coincidences, I have a ranking of the dueling competitions in the Divine Realm from nearly a thousand years ago.

"The top twenty contestants in each competition are recorded, along with a list of the sacred techniques they cultivate and their strengths and weaknesses."

Ariana chuckled, "I'll take a guess!"

"This list is probably intended for the guardians participating in the arena battles, helping them understand their opponents and achieve victory in the upcoming matches. After all, according to legends, these competitions involve significant bets in the background, even attracting the attention of the deities."

"Ariana, Miss," Karl interrupted her incessant chatter. "This seems unrelated to our discussion?"

"How can it be unrelated?" Ariana rolled her eyes, seemingly reproaching his impatience. "The top three in the Centennial Battle are almost always the guardians of the Moon Goddess, the Death God, and the Sea God."

"This not only indicates the exceptional strength of their guardians but also the formidable techniques they cultivate."

Karl sat up straight, his expression turning solemn. "Do you have the sacred techniques they cultivate?"

"No," Ariana shook her head. "The Sanctuary might have them."

Huh?

What are you talking about!

"What's that expression for?" Ariana furrowed her brows. "I don't have the legacies left by these deities, but I have something else. It's not that the stronger the deity, the more powerful the legacy they leave behind. Sometimes, it's quite the opposite, as powerful deities don't lack glory."

"There are a few lower-ranked deities who bestow their guardians with sacred techniques that hold the potential to slay gods. However, their guardians are few, and they lack sufficient resources, resulting in lower rankings in the competitions."

"But..."

"Even without resources and with average talents, consistently placing within the top twenty in every arena battle is impressive."

"Indeed," Karl nodded.

"I have a sacred technique that, although demanding, is highly suitable for those cultivating the Colossal Breath Technique." Ariana spoke up. "But two hundred thousand pounds of lean meat is definitely not enough!"

Karl gently tapped the table, surprised that she knew about his cultivation of the Colossal Breath Technique. "How much do you want?"

"Two million pounds of lean meat!" Ariana's voice turned stern. "Of course, I don't need it immediately. I just need you to provide it within the next year."

"Even fish and shrimp will do!"

"As the top person in Swift City and the guardian of the Sanctuary, it shouldn't be a problem for you, right?"

"Two million pounds?" Karl's expression changed slightly, but he didn't refuse outright. Instead, he said, "Let me see the technique first."

"No problem." Ariana smiled lightly and raised her hand to toss a book, its cover adorned with three ancient large characters.

Divine Demon Transformation!

Karl opened the book, and a surge of violent killing intent rushed towards him, like a giant axe slicing through his mind.

Hmm!

He hummed, his mouth muffled, before looking down again.

Ariana raised her eyebrows and her beautiful eyes sparkled at his reaction.

Not many people could continue reading this book. Even she had only managed to read half of it before giving up.

As one reads, the killing intent intensifies, growing stronger and stronger until it drives a person insane.

The first time she opened this book, she spat blood on the spot. She had initially hoped to see Karl embarrassed, but to her surprise, he only slightly changed his expression and continued reading, seemingly unaffected.

After a long while, Karl exhaled heavily, beads of sweat forming on his temples, and his eyes twitched before he slowly lowered the book in his hands.

Body Tempering Technique!

Divine Demon Transformation was not a sacred technique for slaughter but a method for the physical body to evolve.

There are ten layers in total.

Each layer brings about certain changes to the body.

Every three layers correspond to one rank, and theoretically, if one cultivates to the tenth layer, their power could rival a fourth-rank cultivator.

Fourth Rank!

The realm of the gods.

Indeed, as she said, it held the potential to slay gods.

However, cultivating this technique is not easy; it demands a high level of physical fitness and mental fortitude from the practitioner.

"You're right, Miss. This technique, Divine Demon Transformation, is indeed extraordinary, but two million pounds of lean meat..." Karl shook his head. "It's just too much!"

"I don't think it's that much." Ariana spoke up. "Moreover, I don't need it immediately. I just need you to gather it within the next year."

"It's still too much." Karl shook his head again. "One million pounds of lean meat, or give me three years. You know the current state of affairs."

"No!" Ariana frowned. "At least one million eight hundred thousand pounds, and three years is even more impossible..."

"Too much!"

"It's not that much!"

"..."

After a long pause, they reached an agreement.

One million five hundred thousand pounds; Karl needed to gather this amount for her within the next year and a half.

...

Upon leaving the Dark Market, Ariana's face turned pensive, and she took out a staff, gently tapping it on the ground.

The next moment, the hard ground beneath her feet rippled like flowing water, and she sank downwards.

In the blink of an eye, she had disappeared into the depths below.

Deep underground, Ariana knelt before a giant statue several meters tall.

"Mother!"

The giant stood over five meters tall, but if proportionally scaled down, it would undoubtedly be a beautiful noblewoman.

Miyava!

The daughter of Duke Ferdinand!

The ruler of Death City!

"Hmm..."

Miyava slowly opened her eyes, a fleeting glimmer in her gaze, and she spoke softly, "What is it?"

"He doesn't have the aura of a goddess." Ariana spoke. "He's probably a legend who advanced using other methods, possibly related to an evil god, which is why he doesn't want to go to the Sanctuary."

"The Sanctuary..." Miyava's voice trailed off.

"Since it's unrelated to the goddess, there's no need to worry further. Have you found the evil god's consciousness in the Port of Freedom?"

"Not yet." Ariana lowered her head.

"But it should be soon. The will of the evil god is roaming Port of Freedom, and my uncle might not be able to hold on much longer."

"Sordan?" Meyva closed her eyes.

"A foolish and useless man. Don't pay him any mind. Once we find the will of the evil god, I'll take care of the problem."

"Food..."

"We can't go without it."

"Yes, ma'am." Ariana was about to bring up the divine technique, but as she looked up, she saw that her mother had already fallen asleep.

She opened her mouth, then silently bowed and retreated.

"Huff..."

"Boom!"

Karl flipped his body, clenching his fist and striking forward, creating a visible white line of wind with his whistling force.

Two streams of sorcery landed on him, but he merely swayed slightly and then flashed before an opponent.

"Oof!"

His fists, like claws, easily crushed the opponent's throat bone.

The next moment, everything around him began to shake, and the illusion quietly dissipated.

"Agh!"

Karl stood in place, speechless:

"The Neve Mirror is so fragile. I seriously doubt that the Andrew Clan set a limit when they forged the mirror. Once it exceeds that limit, the mirror will quickly deteriorate."

"But..."

His eyebrows raised slightly, and he muttered:

"My strength has indeed increased significantly. Even if I face a First Circle Mid-stage Wizard head-on, I have a chance of winning!"

"The first three transformations of the Divine Demon Transformation are called the Bronze Transformation. Just by mastering the first layer, my defense has doubled, and I can almost ignore physical attacks of the same level, and my resistance to sorcery has also greatly increased."

"With my current ability, when facing a First Circle Late-stage Wizard's sorcery, I'm no longer guaranteed to die, but instead..."

"Severely injured!"

"It seems like the final outcome won't be much different."

A smile tugged at the corner of Karl's mouth, but his rising fighting spirit quickly faded as he encouraged himself:

"It doesn't matter!"

"Right now, I've only mastered the first layer. When I reach the second and third layers, my defense will double again."

"If I can master the Bronze Transformation, I might be able to withstand First Circle Late-stage sorcery head-on, and I'm not dead yet. When sorcery attacks, can't I just dodge?"

"The key is..."

"Life energy!"

Karl stroked his chin thoughtfully.

He had acquired the Divine Demon Transformation less than two months ago and had already mastered the first layer.

The reason for his rapid progress was that his physical body was already at the First Circle Mid-stage, and he had a solid foundation from practicing the Colossal Breath Technique. Additionally, the Divine Realm fragment had absolute control over his body.

The Divine Demon Transformation was of a high rank, and it consumed a large amount of life energy during cultivation, but as long as there was enough life energy, advancement would be swift.

After mastering the first layer, Karl felt the strain when cultivating the second layer, even though his physical body was already strong.

Stepping out into the backyard, a commotion reached his ears.

"What's going on?"

Karl frowned and walked out, scanning the few people in the shop:

"What's happening now?"

Recently, the shop had been quite noisy, with frequent disturbances affecting business and Karl's mood.

Lance, a member of the Green Family and a Sixth Circle Tower disciple, was often unruly and would occasionally flirt with Zoe, Nelson's daughter-in-law, who was pregnant and had taken refuge in the shop at Ined's request.

Today, Lance had gone too far, tearing Zoe's dress and causing her to turn pale.

The others looked on with grim faces, but no one dared to say anything.

Lance was from a prestigious family, and his status as a Sixth Circle Tower disciple made even Karl hesitant to confront him directly.

Karl turned and asked:

"Zoe, is this true?"

"..." Zoe clenched her teeth, her cheeks trembling, and suddenly said:

"No, Karl Wizard! It's Lance! He's been touching me and trying to force himself on me. I won't allow it!"

"Scum!" Lance's face changed, and he shouted angrily:

"What did you say?"

"Enough!" Karl frowned:

"Lance, as a Sixth Circle Tower disciple, you've repeatedly broken the rules of this shop. I can't keep you here."

"Get out!"

"Huh?"

Lance was taken aback, looking at Karl in disbelief:

"What did you say, Karl Wizard?"

"What?" Karl's gaze turned cold:

"Wasn't I clear enough, or do you have bad hearing in addition to your missing arm?"

"Get out!"

"You..." The mental power of a formal wizard was like a tangible force, causing Lance to subconsciously take a step back. When he came to his senses, he gritted his teeth and muttered:

"Fine by me!"

"I've wanted to leave this lousy shop for a while, but since you're kicking me out, I'll definitely tell Gold Wizard!"

Before he could finish, a stream of water shot out, pushing Lance out of the shop.

Since Lance's arrival, the shop's interpersonal relationships had been in disarray, and Karl had wanted to get rid of him. Today's incident provided the perfect opportunity, and he could finally have some peace.

"Pah!"

"Pah!"

Lance spat out the dirty water he had swallowed and stumbled to find his friend Cohen at the marketplace.

"Cohen!"

"Come out and have a drink with me!"

As he vented his anger, he didn't notice a figure in the distance quietly observing him.

'Lance...'

The shadow smiled coldly:

'The Magic Forest isn't the Calim Continent. Without the protection of a formal wizard, do you really think you can survive?'

'I've waited for months, and the opportunity...'

'Has finally come!'

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end