The modern mahogany desk in the Mayor’s office was spotless, save for a glowing, transparent cyan interface floating just above the dark wood.

Roy leaned back in his leather chair, a slow, predatory smile touching his lips as he scrolled through the surging numbers on his system panel.

[Ding!]

[Faith Points Updated]

[Massacre at the Tempest Border Forest]

[Current Balance: 4, 948 FP(+ 3,123)]

A soft chime signaled the opening of the office door.

Director Alisa of Mandraxx stepped into the sanctum, her shadow-attuned eyes wide with an uncharacteristic mixture of awe and nervous energy.

"Master Jarden," Alisa began, her voice dropping to a sharp whisper. "The scouts have just returned from the eastern border. The news of High Priest Croak’s victory is spreading across the sands like wildfire.

She paused for a moment "The merchants, the independent tribes, even the outer fringes of Yeren City are speaking of it."

Naturally, since Roy is the true ruler of the Tempest City and the founder of the secret intelligence organization known as Mandraxx.

She’s obligated to report to him first before the Mayor of the City.

But Mayor Manuses was absent at the moment.

He’s handling the crimson wolf men rescued by the Crusade.

There are legal procedures when it comes to allowing entry into an administrative city.

Eurenia had united the survivors of the Pack under the banner of the God of Beasts.

Just as Lord Varanus willed.

She stepped closer, placing a detailed report on the desk. "They are calling it a divine massacre. Three thousand ironclad Orcs and Ogres led by a B-class commander, erased in a matter of minutes by a single servant of the Feral Domain."

She paused for a moment, "The remaining three desert cities are tensed, Master. They realize Tempest City is no longer just a stronghold—we may be fast rising but it won’t be long before we claim the seat as an absolute power." she giggled.

"Refugees and rogue beastmen are already flocking toward our white sands, seeking the safe haven of Lord Varanus."

"Let them in, Alisa," Roy said smoothly, his golden-crimson eyes gleaming as he dismissed the system panel with a wave of his hand. "Fear is the best foundation for faith. Tell the Crusade to prepare the lower ring gates. We welcome any who wish to kneel."

"But if they wish to remain in Tempest. They must follow our God" he stated.

Alisa bowed deeply and exited the room, leaving Roy completely alone in the sprawling, quiet office.

The moment the heavy doors clicked shut, the temperature inside the room plummeted to an absolute, unnatural zero.

His eyes narrowed, "It’s been three months since I transmigrated into this world" he exhaled a soft sigh.

"I may have time on my side but if I must survive in this world." he clenched his fist "I need to ascend quickly and become a True God"

He still recalled that unpleasant feeling when he sensed the descent of a True God.

It would be a lie if he claimed he wasn’t scared.

That Adminstrator had given him a clear warning; he mustn’t let the True Gods notice his presence.

"We have a thousand True Gods in this game, I should easily hide amongst them until I ascend" he smiled.

"But I also need to fasten the growth of my followers" the status window shimmered before his eyes.

[Accessing Phase 1]

Roy went straight into the first section which was the Mortal Treasury.

This section not only sold divine relics.

But also skills.

The abilities used by True Gods are known as Divine Authorities.

They’re not bound by any restrictions.

But Skills are both restricted to a cultivator’s realm and their mana residue.

The more vast their mana storage is....

The longer their skills stays active. The higher a cultivator’s realm becomes, the stronger the effect their skills possess.

True Gods’ Divine Authorities are different.

There can only be one named Divine Authority in existence.

This meant that no other True God could possess both Mindcraft and Transformation.

"I’m not lacking faith points at the moment so i should make some changes with them" he smiled, "That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t save up"

"I’ll keep 2,000 Faith Points for myself, I’ll convert Faith Points into both Divine Essence and beads of Creation Essence"

There was something he learnt after leveling up.

A Level 3 False God could now purchase skills in bulk now, this was perfect for him.

He would purchase note worthy skills and share them amongst his chosen followers since skills weren’t limited to a single cultivator.

The first skill he came across

-Skill: Spectral War Cry (Enchantment-Type)

-Cost: 2 FP per unit.

-Effect: Infuses Cultivator’s battle cry with divine energy which resonates with the souls of his troops. The more faith they have in him, the stronger they become in battle.

-Utility: Can only be used by a Cultivator who commands troops.

"I have a few cultivators who commands troops, Alpha Eurenia, Commander Trojan, Alpha Brenda, Alisa, High Priest Croak and even the Mayor" he sighed.

"I should purchase ten unit"

[You have made a purchase of 20 FP]

He scrolled down to the next skill.

-Blade Tempering Physique (Defense-Type)

-Cost: 5 FP per unit

-Effect: Once activated. It merges with the Cultivator’s physique, making them impervious to blades of mortal level. Solidifying their defense.

-Utility: Active on passive mode. Cannot be turned off.

Roy laid back on his seat, "Cannot be turned off huh?" he smiled, "I should get hundred of this, and share them amongst any newly evolved cultivator who follows me"

[You have made a purchase 500 FP]

He scrolled down to the next skill he found interesting. He had skipped dozens of skills in the process.

-Supreme Battle Instinct (Sensory-Type)

-Cost: 3 FP per unit

-Effect: Cultivator can detect any lethal threat within 50 meter radius, the longer a battle lasts, the sharper the cultivator’s mind becomes.

-Utility: Can only be activated during battle.

[You have made a purchase of 150 FP]

Roy was quick to purchase this skill in bulk, storing fifty units, to be shared amongst his followers.

He made three other purchases, rounding up over 1,100 Faith Points spent in this section.

He went straight to the Divine Relic icon.

"Interesting" Roy laid back on his seat, his eyes glistening at the sight of Relics sold on the Divine Market.

Skills and Relics had great value to a Cultivator status. The number of skills in their possession and the number of relics in their Arsenal.

This is what is calculated to estimate a cultivator’s battle strength.

The major numbers of cultivators do not possess a single awakened skill not to talk of a relic in their arsenal.

This is why despite being on the same realm, cultivators truly are not equal.

The first Divine Relic he came across was:

-Ring of the Shrouded Ledger (Seventh-Grade)

-Cost: 5 FP per unit

-Effect: Grants the wearer ’Perfect Sound Dampening’ within a 50-meter radius and automatically flags the exact spatial location of any individual.

-Utility: Its effects can only be activated when worn.

[You have made a purchase of 50 FP]

"I’ll get this for Alpha Brenda, and my other followers. For now i don’t need to be stingy" he smiled.

He scrolled down to the next Relic.

-Solar Cleaver (Sixth-Grade)

-Cost: 10 FP per unit.

-Effect: The blade is forged from compressed star-matter. Every physical strike stores kinetic heat, releasing a 10-meter wave of explosive.

-Utility: Can be wielded only by those with Sun-Affinity

"Sun-Affinity eh?" Roy gently stroked his chin, "Then I’ll purchase this for Commander Trojan, he is a Sun Tiger-Man after all"

"Mayor Manuses is a Martial Lord, he has no need for this"

[You have made a purchase of 10 FP]

-The Abyssal Sight-Glass (Fifth-Grade)

-Cost: 50 FP per unit

-Effect: Allows the user to read the structural weaknesses of enemy fortifications from up to five miles away.

-Utility: Can only be used by sensory-type cultivators or commanders.

[You have made a purchase of 50 FP]

Roy purchased this Divine Relic mainly for Alisa whom he commissioned to lead the Mandraxx.

His personal secret intelligence network.

"This should be enough for today" Roy heaved a heavy sigh, he logged off the Divine Market. His mind returning back to reality.

The units of skills and divine relics he had purchased were stored in his system. He could summon the relics anytime.

But could only gift the skills to his chosen followers.

A False God could not use mortal skills.

"That settles it, I’ll summon a meeting with all my cultivators to distribute the skills and relics" he rose from his seat.

"Now I think I should focus on...." Before Roy could complete his statement, his eyebrows furrowed.

"This is....."

His survival instincts screamed.

In a fraction of a second, he activated his Transformation authority.

Boom!

His body dissolved into a flash of golden-crimson mana particles, vanishing from the office entirely.

He reappeared atop the highest hexagonal strut of the Grand Cathedral’s geodesic dome, his black coat whipping wildly in the wind.

His dual-colored eyes scanned the vast, geometric layout of Tempest City below.

He searched the bustling white-sand docks, scanned the sleek administrative blocks, and pierced the shadows of the lower-ring groves where the fresh mineral springs bubbled.

Nothing.

The divine pressure had completely vanished from the palace, leaving a faint, mocking trail of frost that dissipated into the crisp, sea-scented air.

Roy flashed down to the lower terraces, his frustration mounting.

He checked the ley-line junctions near the industrial armories, his gaze cutting through crowds of terrified, whispering beastmen who instantly dropped to their knees as he passed.

The presence was gone, completely masking its divine authority from his divine radar.

"Was i wrong?" Roy mumbled under his breath, his knuckles whitening inside his pockets as he stopped in a secluded, obsidian-glass alleyway near the edge of the crystal inland sea.

"But it felt real" he clenched his fist, "That divine presence....no mortal could ever..."

Before Roy could complete his statement.

The air rippled across his face. The atmosphere became tensed.

"I was right. You are one of us" a calm distorted voice tore through the silence.

The sounds of approaching footsteps drew closer.

Roy’s heart skipped a beat.

He felt it....

The pressure of a being higher than him.

"Hehehehe....to think I’d encounter a Divine Being walking these streets..."

"How did you do it?"