Chapter 810: Chapter 598: Divine Arts [Believer Perception]
The Fishman youth and Cang Xu once explored and estimated the outcome of clerical promotion.
Their discussion concluded that most likely it would be at the Saint Heir level, a small part might be a cardinal bishop, and there was a minor possibility of becoming the Pope.
In his last prayer, the Fishman youth had already become an Archbishop, the same as Zhou Zhang.
To put it in perspective, an Archbishop is akin to a local noble and a lord with real power. A cardinal bishop is an Empire high official, managing daily sect operations and able to command local Archbishops to some extent.
The Pope is comparable to the King.
However, the result was…
“A divine agent, replacing the gods, walking the world, exercising Divine Authority. Why does it feel like this office is even more powerful than the Pope?”
The Fishman youth secretly murmured.
“No matter what, the Divine Country Descent Technique has finally been obtained!”
The main reason the Fishman youth wanted to promote his office was to gain more advanced Divine Arts, allowing him to teleport away from the Ocean Nest.
This time in prayer, the Divine Blessing did not promote him to the Golden Level fighter but instead promoted his office, granting many Divine Arts.
The first to come was the Divine Art [Divine Authority Endowment].
This is a passive nature Divine Art, already endowing the Fishman youth through the beam of Divine Power during prayer.
With this layer of Divine Art, he can exercise a certain degree of Divine Authority.
Divine Art—Divine Office Fulfillment.
This is also a passive Divine Art.
Once successfully endowed, the Fishman youth automatically acquires certain information.
He learned all the divine offices of the Charming Blue God. The Main God office is deception, the second divine office is Fishman God, the third and fourth offices are Water Phenomenon and Fish Catch respectively.
The deception office, the Fishman youth had long been aware of.
The Fishman God office is typical of a racial god office. As long as he takes care of Fishmen, helps the Fishman race thrive and, preferably becomes their primary Faith, he can bring benefits to the Charming Blue God.
The Water Phenomenon office mainly refers to the changes of water phenomena. This is a subdivision of the Water God office. Generally, aquatic beings becoming gods almost always have this kind of subdivided divine office.
The Fish Catch office, as the name suggests, is the harvest of fishing. This is a subdivision of the harvest divine office.
After being empowered by this Divine Art, in the future, as long as he deceives, protects Fishmen, promotes water phenomena changes and engages in fishing, he can obtain rewards.
But how much exactly, the Fishman youth is uncertain. Unlike the previous experience, this time the Divine Blessing did not bring experience, leaving him in a novice state, still quite puzzled.
Divine Art—Divine Perception.
Still a passive Divine Art, granting the Fishman youth a special perception ability.
With its empowerment, the Fishman youth can perceive, within a certain range, the existence of external Divinity. When perceiving Divinity related to divine offices, this perception ability becomes very powerful.
It also needs the Fishman youth to personally try it out to gain understanding.
Divine Art—Divine Country Descent.
This is an active Divine Art.
The effect of the Divine Art is to pray for a part of the Charming Blue Divine Country to descend near the believer.
“The space within the Ocean Nest is part of the Charming Blue Divine Country.”
This truth was unveiled by Cang Xu through Zhou Zhang, allowing the Fishman youth to comprehend it.
“But how can I use this Divine Art to get out?”
Further attempts are required.
Divine Art—Divine Artifact Control!
An active nature Divine Art.
The effect is powerful yet simple, enabling the control of divine instruments.
A Divine Artifact is not something everyone can use.
Due to being crafted with divine power, it has exceptional effects, but consequently, others find it hard to control.
The only one who can truly unleash a Divine Artifact’s effects is the deity itself.
The Green Jade Gold Coffin and Mermaid’s Fairy Tale held by the survivors are Divine Artifacts.
Even the Legendary alchemy experts, strong like War Merchants, putting in utmost effort and racking their brains, can only exert part of the power of Mermaid’s Fairy Tale.
The Fishman youth is somewhat impatient, eager to cast this Divine Art and then interact with Mermaid’s Fairy Tale to see the results.
Divine Art—Divine Text Mastery.
Magic Runes are tools for using magical power. By analogy, the positioning of Divine Text is the rune using the corresponding Divine Power.
Each deity is unique, and the Divine Power is also exclusive, thus the Divine Text derived is also different.
Of course, similar Divine Texts exist. However, no matter how similar they are, the essence remains different.
This is a passive Divine Art.
After empowerment, the Fishman youth immediately mastered the Charming Blue Divine Text, becoming extremely proficient.
“Now, I can easily read the Charming Blue Divine Text within the Magic Array surrounding the Ocean Nest.”
Apart from these, there are Divine Arts [Divine Blessing], [Divine Revelation], [Oracle], [Divine Descent], and so on.
The total count exceeds 20.
This is not the most Charming Blue Divine Arts the Fishman youth has received at once, but he is sure that this is the highest level of Divine Arts he has ever been granted!
The Fishman youth studied for a moment, focused his attention on two specific Divine Arts.
The first Divine Art—Divine Power Channel.
It allows the caster to create temporary channels between certain Faith coordinates.
These Faith coordinates can be believers, Holy Beasts, or even statues, altars, Holy Temples, Divine Temples, etc.
The second Divine Arts—Believer Perception.
Believers who have faith in the Fishman God can be perceived by the caster.
“First use the Divine Arts [Believer Perception], then use the Divine Arts [Divine Power Channel] to create a temporary channel, and then use [Divine Blessing], [Divine Revelation], or [oracle] and other Divine Arts to bestow blessings upon the believers.”
In the course of research, the Fishman youth discovered: he seemed to be able to impersonate the Fishman God and bestow Divine Blessing upon other Charming Blue sect followers.
Theoretically, it was completely feasible.
The Fishman youth began to attempt the Divine Arts.
He was a substitute God walker, and to some extent, his Divine Office was higher than the Pope.
Therefore, he was qualified to freely use all of the Charming Blue Divine Skills he possessed.
The Fishman youth decided to try all the Divine Arts in order from easy to difficult.
The easiest Divine Arts was Believer Perception.
After performing the Divine Arts, the Divine Power within the Fishman youth began to deplete.
His spiritual power instantly transformed, rapidly expanding around him at lightning speed. It was astonishingly fast, spreading to a distant place that the youth couldn’t calculate in an instant.
Expansion, constant expansion.
The Fishman youth’s perception ability seemed limitless, covering a vast area that was astounding.
“Maintaining the Divine Arts consumes less Divine Power. Although spiritual power transforms under the Divine Arts, I can feel it depleting rapidly. Overall, I can sustain it for about 20 minutes.”
This was a unique dimension of perception.
The Fishman youth immersed in this perception, it was as if he were in a dark space.
The size of the space expanded with his spiritual power stretching outward.
In this dark space, all Charming Blue believers emitted specks of light.
Some exuded negligible white glow, others had white light like candles, while a few shone brilliantly like alchemy light bulbs.
With the Fishman youth as the center, the closest area was empty. But beyond, there was a scattered multitude of twinkling stars.
“I am now in the Ocean Nest, and beyond the nest is the army of Charming Blue believers. These light specks represent them.”
Among all these luminescent spots, one stood out the most, shining like a bulb.
That was Zhou Zhang.
The Archbishop of the Charming Blue sect!
The Fishman youth focused his attention on it, and his perception was instantly intensified by tenfold, able to sense Zhou Zhang handling affairs, listening to reports from subordinates.
The Fishman youth could also perceive the voices reporting, involving Cang Xu, saying that after Cang Xu returned to the gathering place, he hurried to the ship ghost’s residence to perform Divine Arts, guiding Fin Spirit’s faith.
Using Divine Arts for the first time, the Fishman youth was apprehensive, cautious against prolonged observation lest it was detected by Zhou Zhang.
He prudently withdrew his attention and felt as though he returned to the previous dark space.
He chose other light spots and continued to observe.
A moment later, the Fishman youth had gained several insights.
“Focus your attention, and you can perceive the believers’ actions at that time, ‘hearing’ their conversations.”
“Building on this, further concentrating can sense the believers’ psychological dynamics. It’s not necessarily thoughts, mostly moods and feelings.”
“Focus further, and you can sense deep information from the believers, which isn’t actively revealed but can be perceived by me. Mainly, it includes the believers’ names, identities, extraordinary power attributes, Extraordinary Level, current life signs, transcendent state, Faith Level, etc.”
“Truly marvelous.”
“Is this the perspective of the divine?”
Further concentrated attention yielded no change.
After observing more samples, the Fishman youth discovered three more patterns.
“First, focusing attention to dig out information intensifies the consumption of Divine Power and spiritual power.”
“Second, while digging information about Fishman believers, it can perceive Bloodline information. But when perceiving octopus people and Sea Elves, this information doesn’t appear. Could it relate to the Fishman God’s Divine Office?”
“Third, the brightness displayed by believers results from comprehensive factors, not just related to the faith level. Some fanatics, with weak Extraordinary Power, only exude white glow. While Zhou Zhang, as a Holy Domain Level Archbishop, with a Faith Level of only Devout Level, shines like a bulb.”
Once adept, the Fishman youth felt confident enough to observe Zhou Zhang again.
Zhou Zhang detected nothing.
Only then did the Fishman youth make an interesting discovery—the dignified Archbishop surprisingly had a Faith Level of only Devout Level!
But soon, the Fishman youth understood.
“Above Devout is fanatic.”
“Fanatics have unwavering faith, zealously reckless. If the gods say die, they’ll immediately commit suicide without hesitation.”
“This has lost complete rationality.”
“If anyone slightly disparages the gods, fanatics often take on the role of aggressors, delivering full-fledged retribution and attacks.”
“Simply potential criminals!”
“And occupying the position of Archbishop requires handling daily affairs and representing the Charming Blue sect in interactions with other forces. How could a fanatic hold that position?”
“If a fanatic served as Archbishop, it would be a disaster for the Charming Blue sect.”
So, a Devout Level of faith is just right.
Of course, above fanatic is Saints.
This level of believers possesses fervent faith coupled with ample rationality, considered the most valuable treasure among believers.
“However, if Zhou Zhang were at the Saint level, combined with her Holy Domain Level strength, she wouldn’t merely be an Archbishop.”
After becoming a substitute God walker, the position of Archbishop seemed “merely so” to the Fishman youth.