Black God Solanky decided to investigate the weakest beings within the spiritual realm. He wanted to learn more about their origins, understand their circumstances, and uncover information about the lower realms. After a brief search, he discovered a being at the early stage of Rank Five and decided to pay him a visit.
This being was called Golan, and he hailed from the Golden Ring Continent, one of the top hundred continents in the lower realm.
Solanky appeared directly behind Golan, who was seated at a table. Without paying any attention to his surroundings, he calmly poured himself a cup of spiritual tea.
The moment Golan noticed the unexpected guest, his expression changed. He immediately became alert, summoned his flying swords, and pointed them toward Solanky.
Solanky glanced at the swords, and a trace of surprise appeared in his eyes.
He slowly rose from his seat and vanished.
In the next instant, he appeared directly before the flying swords. The weapons seemed to freeze in midair, their movements halted as though an invisible force had seized them.
Solanky carefully examined the swords for a moment before smiling to himself. He then returned to the table, sat down, and continued drinking his tea as though nothing had happened.
Golan stared at him in disbelief.
The stranger had effortlessly halted his flying swords without even appearing to exert himself. What shocked Golan even more was the casual manner in which Solanky had accomplished such a feat. It was as though stopping the weapons had been no more difficult than brushing away a speck of dust.
Despite his astonishment, Golan quickly composed himself.
"May I ask who Senior is and what rank you have attained?" he asked respectfully.
He had already attempted to examine Solanky's cultivation, but he could not perceive anything.
Under normal circumstances, a being could discern the cultivation ranks of those up to four ranks above their own. However, Solanky's cultivation remained completely obscured from Golan's perception.
This could only mean that the mysterious visitor was vastly stronger than him, possibly approaching the level of the overlords or even standing on equal footing with them.
Golan was the strongest being from the Golden Ring Continent. However, he understood that his strength alone was insufficient to protect his homeland against every possible threat within the spiritual realm.
If he could establish a good relationship with such a powerful existence, the Golden Ring Continent might gain another layer of protection.
Without further hesitation, Golan knelt on one knee and respectfully greeted his visitor.
"Greetings, Senior. I am Golan, a native of the Golden Ring Continent in the lower realm. May I ask what I have done to deserve a visit from such a noble senior?"
Solanky glanced at him before asking a question of his own.
"Where did you obtain those flying swords?"
Golan immediately understood that Solanky was interested in his weapons.
"Senior, I obtained them from the River of Gods, which flows through the mountains on my continent. Does Senior intend to visit my continent in the future?"
He asked the question with a hint of anticipation.
Solanky nodded.
"Yes. However, before that, I would like to establish my statues across your continent. I intend to gather the beliefs of your clansmen while providing your homeland with protection, particularly during your absence."
A flicker of excitement appeared in Golan's eyes.
He quickly suppressed his emotions and bowed respectfully toward Solanky. From the brief exchange, he could sense that Solanky genuinely intended to help his clan rather than exploit them.
At Golan's current cultivation, venturing too deeply into the spiritual realm was extremely dangerous. The moment he fell into a deadly trap laid by another being exploring the realm for treasures, his life could come to an end.
Should that happen, the Golden Ring Continent would lose its strongest protector.
Without Golan, other powerful beings could invade his homeland, plunder its resources, and slaughter his clansmen without encountering meaningful resistance.
The consequences would be disastrous.
Solanky's offer therefore came at a time when Golan needed assistance the most.
"Thank you, Senior. My clansmen and I will forever remember this kindness."
After expressing his gratitude, Golan carefully received the statues Solanky handed over. There were four in total, accompanied by several talismans and pills.
Once Golan had received everything, Solanky prepared to leave.
However, before disappearing, he gave Golan a few final instructions.
"Place the four statues at the four cardinal directions of your continent. Once your clansmen begin offering their beliefs to me, my spiritual presence will awaken within the statues. Should your continent encounter a crisis, I will descend through them and provide protection."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Make sure your clansmen understand who I am and the purpose of these statues."
Solanky then explained the functions of the talismans.
"The talismans I have given you can each be used three times in a row. When fused with your flying sword, an attack-type talisman will allow you to slay a being at the late stage of Rank Nine. The defensive talismans, meanwhile, can block attacks from a Rank Ten being."
Golan's eyes widened slightly.
An ordinary treasure of such potency would be exceedingly difficult for him to obtain, yet Solanky had casually entrusted him with several talismans capable of bridging the gap between cultivation ranks.
"However, keep these talismans secret," Solanky warned. "If you reveal their existence or flaunt their power carelessly, you may invite disaster upon yourself. Greedy beings will stop at nothing to obtain treasures of this quality."
Golan immediately committed the warning to memory.
"The pills will help you recover quickly from dangerous injuries. Use them wisely."
Having finished his instructions, Solanky glanced toward the distant horizon.
"I will see you again. For now, I must return to the upper-spiritual realm."
Before Golan could offer another word of gratitude, Solanky's figure vanished.
Golan remained kneeling for several moments, overwhelmed by the encounter.
For years, he had struggled to protect his homeland while lacking the resources and connections necessary to secure its future. Now, a mysterious powerhouse had not only promised to protect his clansmen but had also entrusted him with treasures that could dramatically increase his chances of survival.
He wasted no time.
After carefully securing the statues, talismans, and pills, Golan prepared to return to the lower realm.
As a being born within this world, he possessed an advantage that outsiders did not. Since he had not yet reached the Tenth Rank, he could freely descend into the lower realm without facing the restrictions imposed on beings who had not originated from this world.
A specially constructed portal within the spiritual realm allowed native beings to travel between the two realms.
Golan headed toward the portal and soon disappeared into its depths.
Unfortunately, someone had been watching him.
A Rank Seven being had secretly followed Golan, drawn by the valuable flying swords he carried. Having sensed that the weapons were extraordinary, the pursuer intended to rob him of his treasures.
He followed Golan into the portal, intending to launch a surprise attack once they emerged on the other side.
The moment Golan emerged from the portal, an enormous continent appeared before him.
A vast ocean surrounded the landmass, while a magnificent golden mountain rose at its center. The mountain dominated the surrounding landscape, its towering peak visible from an immense distance.
Golan hovered in the sky and looked down upon his homeland.
After confirming his position, he immediately set about carrying out Solanky's instructions.
With a wave of his hand, he sent the four statues flying toward the four cardinal directions of the Golden Ring Continent. Each statue traveled toward its designated location, where it settled into position.
Having completed the first part of his task, Golan transmitted his voice directly to the elders of his clan.
He explained his encounter with Solanky, described the mysterious powerhouse's strength, and informed them of the statues' purpose.
The elders were overjoyed.
Their ancestor had finally secured the backing of an existence whose strength surpassed anything they had previously imagined. With Solanky's statues established across their homeland, the Golden Ring Continent now possessed a powerful source of protection beyond Golan himself.
However, their excitement did not last long.
Golan also informed them that a Rank Seven being had followed him from the spiritual realm and was preparing to attack.
The elders were immediately struck with terror.
Although Golan was their strongest ancestor, he had only recently begun exploring the spiritual realm and had never demonstrated the ability to defeat a Rank Seven opponent through his own strength alone.
In the past, he had defeated a Rank Six being who attempted to invade their continent. Yet that victory had depended heavily on his flying sword, which had proved invaluable during the battle.
A Rank Seven opponent was an entirely different matter.
The elders could only watch anxiously from a distance, hoping their ancestor would somehow survive the impending confrontation.
At that moment, a mocking laugh echoed through the sky.
"Hahaha! Golan, so this is where you come from! Now hand over that sword, or we can do this the hard way!"
The Rank Seven being emerged from the portal and fixed his gaze upon Golan's flying sword.
He had followed his target across the boundary between the two realms, convinced that the treasure would soon belong to him.
However, instead of displaying fear, Golan's smile grew wider.
He had been waiting for this moment.
Without hesitation, he activated one of the talismans Solanky had given him.
A powerful surge of energy immediately enveloped his body. His speed increased dramatically, reaching the level of a Rank Ten being.
At the same time, Golan held an attack-type talisman within his clenched fist, partially activating its power.
The Rank Seven being watched him approach with amusement.
Golan covered a distance of one hundred kilometers in ten seconds, closing the gap between them at terrifying speed.
As Golan drew near, he gathered his strength and threw a powerful punch directly toward his opponent's chest.
The Rank Seven being merely smiled.
He had obtained a defensive armor from the corpse of a Rank Eight being. Although he had no idea where Golan had acquired his sudden burst of speed, he was confident that the armor would protect him from any attack his opponent could unleash.
In his eyes, Golan was still nothing more than a weaker being who had only just returned from the spiritual realm.
He had no reason to fear him.
That confidence disappeared the moment Golan's fist connected with his chest.
CRACK!
The defensive armor shattered instantly.
Before the Rank Seven being could react, Golan's fist continued forward, tearing through the protective armor and piercing his opponent's tough skin.
A look of terror and disbelief spread across the Rank Seven being's face.
He had never imagined that he would die at the hands of someone weaker than himself, much less a being who had only just returned to the lower realm.
He tried to comprehend what had happened, but it was already too late.
The force of Golan's punch penetrated his body and shattered his core upon contact.
His life ended in an instant.
The Rank Seven being's corpse fell from the sky, leaving Golan suspended above it.
Golan looked down at the dead body and smiled with satisfaction.
He had not expected the talisman to grant him such overwhelming power.
From a distance, the elders of the Golden Ring Continent stared at the scene in complete disbelief.
Their ancestor had defeated a Rank Seven being with a single punch.
He had not even needed to draw his flying sword.
For a moment, the elders struggled to process what they had witnessed. Their ancestor had always been powerful in their eyes, but this display had pushed their understanding of his strength to an entirely new level.
A mixture of amazement and fear filled their hearts.
They knew Golan had not possessed such power before entering the spiritual realm. Something had changed during his absence, and the mysterious statues now standing at the four cardinal directions of their continent could not be ignored.
The elders quickly reached the same conclusion.
This extraordinary transformation had to be connected to the mysterious powerhouse who had agreed to protect their homeland.
Solanky.
And so, the first ten beliefs of the Golden Ring Continent were established.
The moment those beliefs took root, the spiritual wisp Solanky had placed within the statues began to awaken.
A faint spiritual presence stirred within the statues before gradually expanding. As the wisp awakened, an immense spiritual sense swept across the entire Golden Ring Continent.
Far away in the upper-spiritual realm, Solanky sat within his residence.
The instant his spiritual wisp awakened, he closed his eyes and directed his awareness toward the distant continent.
In the next moment, the entire Golden Ring Continent appeared within his mind.
Every mountain, ocean, and stretch of land became clear to his perception.
Solanky immediately began examining the territory under his newly established protection.
He discovered that the Golden Ring Continent was approximately four million kilometers wide. Its highest point was the magnificent Golden Mountain at its center, which rose seven thousand kilometers into the sky.
Solanky was impressed by the continent's sheer scale.
However, his attention soon shifted toward the mountain range.
Hidden among its towering peaks was the River of Gods that Golan had mentioned during their earlier conversation.
Curiosity stirred within Solanky's heart.
He extended his spiritual sense toward the river and began exploring its depths.
What he discovered left him astonished.
The riverbed contained countless corpses belonging to beings whose strength was comparable to Rank Fifteen or even higher. Their remains lay scattered throughout the depths, preserved alongside weapons they had left behind when they perished.
The discovery immediately caught Solanky's attention.
A river containing the corpses and weapons of beings of such terrifying strength could not be an ordinary natural formation.
As a world formation master, he instinctively began examining the riverbed more carefully.
Before long, he discovered countless engravings embedded within its structure. These engravings were interconnected with a complex network of restrictions, forming an ancient arrangement that extended throughout the depths of the river.
Solanky's interest deepened.
He attempted to trace the engravings with his spiritual sense, hoping to uncover their purpose and determine what kind of secrets they concealed.
However, the moment his spiritual sense approached the deeper restrictions, the engravings suddenly began to shine.
A powerful force erupted from the riverbed, repelling his spiritual sense with overwhelming strength.
Solanky immediately withdrew his awareness.
Before his spiritual sense could fully retreat, an unfamiliar voice echoed directly within his mind.
"You have not yet gathered enough beliefs to uncover the secrets hidden within this part of the lower continent. Gather a thousand beliefs before attempting to decipher what lies here."
The voice fell silent.
Solanky's spiritual sense returned to the four statues, and his true body opened its eyes within his residence in the upper-spiritual realm.
For a moment, he remained silent, contemplating what he had just discovered.
The restrictions within the River of Gods were far beyond anything an ordinary continent should possess. Even more troubling was the fact that they had actively repelled his spiritual sense and imposed a condition before allowing him to investigate further.
A thousand beliefs.
Clearly, the statues were not merely instruments for gathering faith and extending his influence. They were also connected to a deeper mechanism that governed access to the continent's hidden secrets.
Solanky leaned back slightly, his expression growing solemn.
"The evil fiend clan members must have discovered something unusual about the continent where they were stationed."
His brows furrowed as he considered the possibilities.
"I hope it has nothing to do with restrictions and formations. Worse still, it could be a dormant concept belonging to the creator of this world."
His expression became increasingly serious.
"If they have discovered something like that, it would be the worst possible scenario."
Solanky fell silent.
He had originally intended to use the statues to gather beliefs, extend his influence, and protect the weaker beings of the lower realms. However, his first ten believers had already led him to a mystery involving ancient corpses, extraordinary weapons, and restrictions that refused to yield to his spiritual sense.
The Golden Ring Continent was far more complicated than he had anticipated.
And until he gathered a thousand beliefs, the secrets hidden beneath the River of Gods would remain beyond his reach.