Chapter 174: 【Stigmata】

Chapter 174: 【Stigmata】

Lu Yao checked the latest "history" of Salt Long and found the reason.

...

Completed the sixth pilgrimage at the age of 69.

At the age of 76, witnessed the cannibal crab and the fire chicken hunting down the ascetic, and comprehended "Heavy Blow."

Completed the seventh pilgrimage at the age of 77.

At the age of 78, began to challenge transcendent creatures.

At the age of 79, when he was dying, he evolved "Martyr" into "Holy Mark."

...

Salt Long was updated in cognition and goals because the ascetic was treated as prey by transcendent creatures.

If he couldn’t protect himself, he couldn’t go on a pilgrimage or spread the blessings of the gods.

So, even though he was nearly eighty years old, Salt Long resolutely transformed and began to explore the possibility of becoming a combat ascetic.

Lingyu treated the old man’s wounds, bandaged him up, and wrapped his whole body in burlap, like a skinny mummy.

Ordinary people would not survive such injuries. Salt Long, however, was a rare transcendent human. After being transformed into a hero, his life value was restored to full, and his level also reached LV16.

The only downside was that the scars burned by the flames seemed to be unable to heal.

Lu Yao clicked on Salt Long.

In the illustration, the old man was wrapped in bandages all over his body, wrestling with a huge fighting beetle, firmly holding onto the creature’s two mandibles.

Below was a sentence.

—Human potential is no less than theirs.

In Salt Long’s abilities, "Martyr" was replaced by "Holy Mark," in addition to "Evade" and "Heavy Blow."

...

"Holy Mark": Martyr is sublimated from pain and death, comprehending how to further spread the blessings of the gods, and has a certain chance of igniting the faith of transcendent creatures.

...

In extreme pain and near death, "Martyr" may evolve into "Holy Mark."

It’s just that Lu Yao was not sure of the effect of igniting the faith of transcendent creatures.

He locked his perspective on Salt Long’s head.

After gaining a new life, the old man became more robust and moved along the coast of the eastern continent. There were cannibal crabs on the beach, fighting beetles and fire chickens on the land, making it a common area where the three sides were relatively restrained.

Lingyu followed behind him.

"Can you teach me? I also want to be able to confront transcendent life. It would be great if I had your strength."

"Do you have enemies?" Salt Long asked.

"Yeah. There’s a bad guy over by the Elf Lake who goes around stealing other people’s treasure chests. It’s really despicable. I want to teach him a lesson!"

"..."

A question mark appeared over Salt Long’s head. "Kid, transcendent power is not to be used like that."

"No. He goes around stealing everyone’s things, but no one can do anything to him. Even though everyone says that the thief can’t be caught. But if no one is willing to try, then nothing will ever change."

After experiencing a life-and-death battle, Salt Long was more about honing himself, somewhat in the spirit of making friends through martial arts.

Once in combat mode, Hunter Rain dared not speak, watching anxiously from the sidelines. Only after it was over did she come out to check and treat the old man’s wounds.

After the confrontation with the eighth Fighting Beetle, a new situation arose.

That LV12 Fighting Beetle actually started following behind Salt Long.

The old man patted the beetle’s carapace: "Since you have ignited the fire of faith and also believe in God Yao, then join me in the arduous cultivation and challenge the limits."

Although the Fighting Beetle couldn’t speak, it kept following Salt Long.

With Salt Long’s permission, it even allowed the tired Hunter Rain to sit on its back, carrying her along the way.

Lu Yao completely understood.

Salt Long, who possessed the 【Stigmata】, was spreading faith through sparring with Transcendent beings, and at the same time, he was constantly challenging the human limits.

This founder of the ascetic society was carving out a Transcendent path for pixel people.

...

Lu Yao elevated his perspective.

Coincidentally, more pixel people were rushing from all over to the Eastern Continent.

Unlike Salt Long’s hardcore cultivation, most people took a more circuitous approach.

They brought fruits and vegetables, including potatoes, soybeans, berries, grapes, etc., which they fed to the Fighting Beetles.

In return, the Fighting Beetle clan allowed humans to move about in their territory. Moreover, because of the protection of the Fighting Beetles, the pixel people no longer feared the Fire Turkeys.

Of course, the pixel people’s goal was not just to foster good relations.

Their target was the juvenile Fighting Beetles.

Many wanted to follow the previous experience of raising wild rabbits, musk ladybugs, and splitting earthworms, to further introduce this powerful species, raising them from a young age to serve humanity.

However, the whole process was not going smoothly.

The Fighting Beetles’ nurturing of their young was as laissez-faire as other Transcendent creatures. As soon as the larvae hatched from the pupae, they were left to their own devices, survival of the fittest.

At this point, humans could use food to lure and take away the larvae.

But because the Fighting Beetles were naturally combative and aggressive, not a docile species, and they had a large appetite, the larvae brought back to Salt City and Yao City were difficult to truly domesticate, and carelessness could even lead to injuries to people and livestock.

Therefore, soon both Yao City and Salt City prohibited the private breeding of Fighting Beetles.

Lu Yao thought it was normal.

The pixel people were still in the early stages of contact with the Transcendent, far from mature domestication; one must eat one bite at a time.

Even he, as a deity, was still slowly conducting pilot programs, gradually introducing new species.

It was not only to increase the biodiversity of this fragmented world but also to prepare for the initiation of a civilization of forest elemental creatures.

Just then, Phileas suddenly reported a piece of intelligence.

"Lord God, an unidentified statue has appeared in the Valley of Creation."

Lu Yao shifted his perspective.

A new player, who had not appeared for a long time, had just arrived in the experimental field.

His luck was indeed good.