Sterl slowly returned to normal.
He discovered another "surprise."
A new ability had appeared in his skill bar.
[Seeking Grace] +
[Description: A skill bestowed by the respected deity from the location of the stars. You can offer powerful creations or sacrifice items with which you have a strong emotional connection in exchange for rewards. Delight the respected deity, and you will soon change your perspective and realize how fortunate you are. Everything can be melted down!]
This was the first time Sterl had seen a skill without any tier description or effect introduction, only a description.
Despite his efforts to avoid thinking about the specific sacrificial process, relevant knowledge continued to surface in his mind like fish leaping out of water—there was no escaping it!
It was an energy manipulation method similar to formations, but extremely peculiar; by reciting certain incantations, one could communicate with the Ancient One, wherever it might be, and rapidly complete a portable formation of divine level or higher.
Sterl struggled not to think about it, but the initial rush of knowledge still significantly improved his formation skills.
"Damn."
Sterl felt that the number of curse words he had uttered recently could rival all his previous adventures combined...
There were just too many unexpected things happening.
This sacrificial ability was one he would absolutely not use.
It wasn't a matter of benefits; the key issue was that the sacrificial target was that Ancient One residing in the [location of the stars]!
Each sacrifice, even if it could yield a reward aligned with his desires, would mean a deepening connection with that Ancient One.
Sterl didn't dare to engage.
Moreover, the sinister nature described in the sacrificial process made him feel a chill.
Sacrificing powerful creations to gain benefits was reasonable.
But sacrificing someone with whom he had a strong emotional connection... that felt rather twisted.
In plain language, it meant sacrificing one's parents, spouse, children, or friends—the more important the person, the greater the reward?!
This was undoubtedly the method of a dark deity!
Fortunately, there was a leveling symbol above this skill.
Sterl could only twitch his lips in a grimace, trying to reassure himself—
Although he didn't know what leveling this thing would do,
at the very least, it could eliminate the Ancient One's influence on him. With the leveling cheat, he could remove the adverse effects of that unpleasant encounter...
And...
"One day, I will make a sacrifice to you, but by then, it won't be you seeking me out."
"I'll have to go to your home and end you!"
Having previously slaughtered the dream persona of Dream of Lalaye, Sterl understood that, even though the Ancient One he encountered had an indescribable terror about it, it ultimately wasn't an unresolved existence like those in the novels before his transmigration.
Ancient Ones needed to rely on the lower realm's races.
Moreover, they could likely be slain by even more powerful beings...
Sterl felt he was getting the short end of the stick; he would have to spend a considerable amount of points to eliminate the side effects of a single scale and a skill.
But he was prepared; one day, he would go to collect his debt!
"So the truth behind the Starry Clan Annihilation is completely different from what that giant said."
Sterl remarked.
No wonder they didn't care about their own Annihilation; the entire purpose of their race was to serve the Ancient One high above in the heavens.
As long as the Starry Clan's legacy remained, new individuals would continuously join the ranks under the banner of the "location of the stars." With their cultivation, new members of the Starry Clan would be born, twisted by the blessings of the Ancient One.
He didn't rush to revive but transformed into a soul form.
His Divine Descent had the ability to delay resurrection, provided his soul level was sufficient.
Sterl could float around in a soul state and observe the situation.
However, once he revived, he still needed to return his soul to his body or the point of death.
He could not use the soul state to return to the original location.
After all, Sterl's resurrection ability still fell under the rules of Transcendence.
As a player, without special skills, he could only respawn near his corpse...
Once Sterl transformed into a soul state, he floated up into the sky to watch the show.
The reason he initiated Rebirth of All Thoughts was to create a time gap.
Sure enough, after Sterl's physical annihilation, during the brief moment his soul began to manifest, he was not a target in the Frost Giant's line of sight.
Thus, after being struck, the giant was not the least bit angry; instead, it stood up in a goofy manner until it spotted Princess Billie and her mummies.
In theory, the princess and her guards had long been dead, but there still lingered faint remnants of their souls.
So...
Sterl's soul watched gleefully as the Frost Giant suddenly went into a frenzy!
"Come on!"
"Show us what you've got, Bro!"
Although Sterl found it challenging to deal with a semi-divine authority level being, it didn't mean the Frost Giant couldn't handle it!
With a roar, the giant charged forward, causing the ground to shake violently!
Outside the underground palace, the valley, which had already become a deep pit, was once again filled with flying sand and stones!
"Let me handle this!"
"Princess, you chase after the remnants of the Starry Clan with your lingering soul!"
A few mummies rushed forward, eager to prove themselves.
The Frost Giant may not have appeared very strong, but the mummies were confident that with the four of them, divine-level units, working together, there was no enemy they couldn't overcome!
The giant showed a hint of delight.
Great! You're not running away; instead, you're coming toward me!
Thanks!
It raised its head and exhaled a mist of frost, which didn't seem very powerful.
The mummies felt...
Perhaps they had overestimated the giant.
Wasn't this just a demigod-level being releasing a Platinum Skill?
Watch me easily defend against it...
The mummies had also noticed that Princess Billie's radiant-level skill had been resisted by the giant.
But they didn't think much of it.
Indeed, there were certain skill attributes that had counters against each other, just like asking if Flame power attacks would be effective against fire-elemental beings.
This giant should just happen to counter the princess's abilities.
So, let us handle it and eliminate it!
The mummies were brimming with confidence!