Chapter 149: Authority

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Reflecting on his past as a mere Soul Elder, Su Yu couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"Fortunately, I've always been steady and smart," he muttered.

Unknowingly, he had avoided disaster.

Although it was merely speculation, after conducting a thorough analysis of its plausibility, Su Yu believed there was a considerable likelihood of his assumption being correct.

The rapid rise of the Holy Spirit Cult had taken everyone by surprise, showcasing power that was almost unmatched.

But all of this had been achieved through careful perseverance.

While the Holy Spirit Cult wasn't entirely inactive, their secrecy measures were exceptionally well executed.

In fact, even Shrek Academy only became aware of the Holy Spirit Cult's existence within the last decade.

Although their methods were ruthless and often unrestrained, that was only when they unleashed their true nature.

Before revealing themselves, the evil soul masters of the Holy Spirit Cult had been incredibly adept at hiding and enduring.

With their headquarters situated in a place like the Demonic Forest, it wasn't surprising to find evil soul masters hidden in areas like the Sun-Moon Mountain Range.

It wasn't just the Sun-Moon Mountain Range. Dangerous regions like the Extreme North were also likely to harbor bases of evil soul masters.

Su Yu didn't dwell on it for long. After dismantling the formations on the battlefield, he returned directly to Sun-Moon.

He was well aware that his current strength alone wasn't enough to inflict a devastating blow on all the evil soul masters.

Power was still the key.

"If I don't follow the path of a monarch and refuse to be confined by the Blue Silver Grass, I seem to have still inherited their faith somehow," Su Yu mused.

Recognizing how the Blue Silver Grass had strengthened his perception, Su Yu began studying it carefully.

Previously, due to the interference of the evil soul master formations in Tianjia City, he hadn't had the chance to explore it thoroughly. Now, on his way back to Sun-Moon, Su Yu spent all his free time researching during his breaks.

"I have indeed been influenced by the faith of the Blue Silver Grass Clan," he concluded.

However, the faith of the Blue Silver Grass Clan seemed to be more about granting authority.

"What a fascinating race," he remarked.

The vast Blue Silver Grass collective shared a unified belief in an individual, influencing the operation of rules to create something akin to the authority of a monarch. This enabled transformation and allowed them to lead their race to continuous prosperity.

"That said, I don't need this authority," Su Yu thought.

What use was the Blue Silver Emperor's authority?

It didn't seem very practical.

"Besides, my martial soul hasn't developed in the direction of the Blue Silver Emperor," he noted.

This authority didn't seem to belong to the Blue Silver Emperor.

Su Yu stroked his chin, lost in thought.

"Could it be an entirely new form of authority?" he speculated.

*What a fascinating race the Blue Silver Grass truly is,* Su Yu thought.

No wonder that when interplanetary migration began, the first species transplanted from Douluo Star was the Blue Silver Grass.

This is indeed an extraordinary race.

Their population is vast.

Although most individuals lack sufficient spirituality, their genes carry an inherent faith in the strong members of their species.

Even without intelligence or adequate spirituality, they instinctively revere and support the strongest individuals within their race.

When this immense faith converges, it forms an illusory authority.

"I must have received part of the collective faith of the Blue Silver Grass populations from both the Three Kingdoms of Douluo and the Sun Moon Empire," Su Yu mused.

Born in the Star Luo Empire and later contracting with the Sun Moon Empire's Blue Silver Emperor, turning it into his soul spirit, Su Yu bore the faith of the Blue Silver Grass across the entire continent.

"However, with a new Blue Silver Emperor emerging, I don't hold all the faith—but I definitely have the majority," he concluded.

Su Yu was confident in his strength.

He was currently stronger than the new Blue Silver Emperor, which was why he garnered a larger share of their faith.

Yet, because of the direction his martial soul had evolved, the authority formed from this faith wasn't the authority of the Blue Silver Emperor.

Having come into contact with the power of faith, Su Yu followed the trail and vaguely sensed the faith of the Blue Silver Grass.

The Blue Silver Grass was too weak—so weak that even their faith was instinctual and incapable of producing genuine power of belief.

This faith served as a connection, a collective will of countless beings.

Through this subtle connection, Su Yu could faintly perceive the illusory authority condensed from their faith.

"Perhaps I could use this as a foundation to create my own divine position," Su Yu considered.

However, the authority condensed from the Blue Silver Grass's faith came with too many constraints.

"I'll keep researching. Becoming a god through the path of the Blue Silver Grass deity isn't viable. But perhaps I can use this authority as a foundation for improvement and modification."

In the past, Su Yu had avoided the path of the Blue Silver Emperor, unwilling to be shackled by its limitations.

But now he realized that as he grew stronger, the weaker Blue Silver Grass still offered him their faith as a contribution to his strength.

Should he do something for the Blue Silver Grass in return?

An idea began to form in Su Yu's mind.

In his sea of consciousness, the "Spirit" rune faintly emitted a purple halo, from which a greenish-blue spiritual light seeped.

Intricate patterns extended from the rune.

As the rune improved, Su Yu used the "Spirit" rune to fully connect with the illusory authority.

Through this authority, Su Yu established a link with the myriad Blue Silver Grass plants.

"Although the effects of the 'Spirit' rune are not yet strong enough to significantly influence the entire Blue Silver Grass species, by channeling the essence of my martial soul, it can gradually take effect."

The Blue Silver Grass lacked spirituality; even those that had become century-old soul beasts rarely developed sentience. Their spiritual essence remained scattered and incredibly weak.

Only millennia-old Blue Silver Grass, bolstered by the surrounding plants of their kind, could barely attain sentience.

This was the natural state of wild Blue Silver Grass.

However, the Blue Silver Grass influenced by Su Yu's martial soul were exceptions. They were all high-quality specimens with the potential to become at least millennia-old soul beasts!

"If spirituality is insufficient, then I will grant you spirituality," Su Yu declared.

Wisdom!

In that moment, Su Yu felt a sudden epiphany.

Within his sea of consciousness, the runes "Clarity" and "Insight" lit up, illuminating the entire space.

The two runes rapidly evolved and improved.

Su Yu entered a state of enlightenment.

This enlightenment lasted an entire day.

In his sea of consciousness, the "Clarity" and "Insight" runes had become significantly more refined. Their complexity now rivaled that of the "Life" and "Death" runes from the cycle of reincarnation.

However, compared to "Life" and "Death," these runes still lacked a certain ethereal charm.

Even so, Su Yu had a feeling that it wouldn't be long now.

The spirituality of these two runes wouldn't emerge from a single moment of enlightenment or deep meditation like the others. Instead, it would gradually develop alongside the refinement of his authority.

*Starfall Village.*

The scent of blood hung heavy in the air.

A six-year-old boy ran frantically, his small frame trembling as he fled. Behind him, a grotesque and perverse soul master chased him leisurely, letting out eerie cackles.

The scene was all too familiar, striking a chord in Su Yu's heart.

This was so much like what had happened to him in the past.

Unfortunately, this boy hadn't even awakened his martial soul. He couldn't fight back—not even with the aid of a weapon.

Su Yu's eyes turned cold as his immense spiritual power surged downward, pressing into the soul master.