Chapter 222

A red fruit sat on the table. 

Earlier, Xia Zhi had purchased the [Spirit-Brewed Fruit] for 25 points from the [Shop]. 

Thanks to the [Transcendence] effect, which increased all his attributes by 50%, his mental capacity had expanded significantly. He could now craft more incense and earn more points. 

But since he had ascended to godhood, he thought about trying to create higher-tier items for recycling—artifacts that required divine power to craft. 

Xia Zhi put away the [Blazing Incense Burner] and opened the [Shop], browsing its contents. Soon, he found an item he had once come across. 

[Introduction to Divine Speech] 

- Quality: Gold 

- Type: Knowledge Book 

- Trait: Divine Speech 

- Effect: Instantly learn Divine Speech. 

- Hidden Effect: None. 

- Price: 100 points. 

This was an extraordinary item he had stumbled upon back when he first arrived in Liyue while searching for language-related tools to solve communication issues. At the time, his points were insufficient to afford such a high-tier language tool. 

But now, things were different—he had reached godhood, and his points were abundant. 

Xia Zhi bought it, and a strange orb of light appeared in his inventory. 

When he used it, a flood of knowledge about Divine Speech filled his mind. With his current strength, he easily absorbed the information. 

"So this is Divine Speech?" Xia Zhi murmured, raising his hand to trace a complex and otherworldly symbol in the air. 

It was a rune of light—a symbol tied to the essence of light. 

When Xia Zhi ascended to godhood, he automatically comprehended this rune and gained mastery over the rules of light. 

He then drew another symbol next to the first, simpler yet equally peculiar. 

This was the word for "light" in Divine Speech, which he had just learned from [Introduction to Divine Speech]. 

Observing the two, Xia Zhi noticed their similarities. The second symbol appeared to be a simplified version of the first, omitting much of the intricate connection to the essence of light but making it easier to write. 

"The characters in Divine Speech seem to originate from these rule-based runes," Xia Zhi mused. 

"In other words, if one's comprehension is sufficient, it might be possible to reverse-engineer rule-based runes from Divine Speech. This could be another path of cultivation…" 

Having learned [Divine Speech], Xia Zhi continued browsing the [Shop] and found another item. 

[Divine Speech Engraving] 

- Quality: Gold 

- Type: Knowledge Book 

- Trait: Enchantment 

- Effect: Learn the techniques to engrave Divine Speech onto items. 

- Hidden Effect: None. 

- Price: 200 points. 

Xia Zhi bought it, and another orb of light appeared in his inventory. 

After using it, his mind was filled with knowledge about engraving techniques. He closed his eyes and carefully organized the new information. 

Then, Xia Zhi retrieved a plain wooden stick from his inventory—a piece of firewood he had picked up back when he lived in the wilderness with his crane companion. 

He extended a finger, channeling divine power to engrave words of Divine Speech onto the stick. 

"May the light bless you." 

Moments later, the engraving was complete. 

Golden symbols glimmered on the stick's surface, each costing one point of divine power and a significant amount of mental energy to carve. 

Xia Zhi examined the stick's new attributes in his inventory: 

[Divine Wooden Staff] 

- Quality: Gold 

- Type: Weapon 

- Trait: Light's Favor 

- Effect: +30% to light-based spell effectiveness, -30% mana consumption. 

- Hidden Effect: None. 

- Recyclable for: 100 points. 

It was a light-element staff. 

Though its appearance was unimpressive and the material fragile, its effects were undeniably powerful. 

This was the first gold-tier item Xia Zhi had crafted, endowed with the [Light's Favor] trait derived from the Divine Speech engraving: "May the light bless you." 

The word for "light" in Divine Speech originated from the rune of light's rules. 

This revelation led Xia Zhi to a conclusion: high-tier item traits were essentially manifestations of rule-based powers. 

He tested the staff by casually casting [Warmth]. 

The staff emitted a brighter-than-usual glow, clearly reflecting the +30% spell effect bonus and -30% mana cost reduction. Even for someone at god-tier like Xia Zhi, the staff's enhancement was noticeable. 

Shaking his head, Xia Zhi found the makeshift staff unimpressive and recycled it for 100 points. 

While [Divine Speech Engraving] consumed divine and mental energy, it had low material requirements, making it a far more efficient way to earn points than crafting incense. 

The only downside was the slow recovery rate of divine power. 

Currently, Xia Zhi had 100 points of divine power, which regenerated at a rate of one point every 10 minutes—a problem that would need addressing. 

There were two ways to improve divine power recovery and maximum capacity: 

1. Strengthening oneself. However, as a newly ascended god, achieving noticeable improvements in a short time was challenging. 

2. Gathering faith. By amassing followers, their belief could be converted into divine power. 

The second method seemed more practical. Most gods relied on faith-based cultivation. 

However, in Teyvat, the Seven Archons already dominated the faith of the land. As a newborn god of light, unrecognized by Celestia, competing for faith would be unwise. 

Moreover, Xia Zhi had just signed a contract with Morax that afternoon, which included clauses about faith. 

Shrugging off the idea, Xia Zhi decided that a slower recovery rate was acceptable. The trouble of managing followers wasn't worth it. 

Perhaps in other worlds lacking native deities, he could try spreading a faith of light and recruiting a couple of beautiful priestesses. 

Lost in thought, Xia Zhi was startled by a soft groan from his bed. 

He turned toward the sound. "You're awake?" 

Chi Yu sat up groggily, rubbing her eyes. "Mhm… Boss, I… Ahhh!!" 

She froze, realizing she was completely unclothed. Hastily, she grabbed the fallen blanket to cover herself. 

"Boss, where are my clothes?! Did you—" 

"What are you thinking? You just came back to life—where would your clothes come from?" 

"Oh… Wait, I'm alive again?!" 

 

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