Ventair leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the quiet library ceiling.
His mind was gradually organizing the vast amount of information he had just absorbed.
A detailed plan for his next steps slowly formed in his head.
He now needed to gather more Faith Energy to create more Angels and to further enhance his own power.
He looked at the stack of books before him, crossing his arms in deep thought.
Based on the information provided by the books, every living creature in this world possesses its own beliefs.
Humans alone worship over 2000 different deities and each has their own distinct cults.
Not to mention other races also worship their own gods, creating an incredibly complex and vast web of faith.
Therefore, directly acquiring Faith Energy from the current gods with his current abilities was impossible.
But fortunately, he had another way to gather energy.
This was thanks to the existence and ability of the Light Angels and Dark Angels to absorb faith energy.
This meant he would have his own method to collect energy without directly confronting the existing deities.
There was also another issue: how to break through to higher realms of power.
So he asked the Angels:
"You all, I want to know in detail how to increase my own strength and yours. How can we reach higher ranks?"
Seraphiel bowed her head slightly and began to explain, her voice clear and articulate.
"My Lord, to enhance your body and soul to the next level of power, you need to acquire sufficient Primordial Energy. This also depends on the quality of the energy you utilize."
She paused for a moment, as if to emphasize.
"For example, if you use Mana – the lowest-tier energy source prevalent across this planet – to empower yourself, it will take a very long time to advance even one level of strength. Furthermore, each person's ability to absorb and transform Mana depends on their innate talent."
"And more importantly," Seraphiel continued, her eyes alight with seriousness,
"Mana can only help you ascend to the highest tier of Stage 1, which is Ascended Deity."
Ventair listened intently, his expression shifting from curiosity to contemplation.
"To ascend to Stage 2, and achieve the Demigod rank,"
Seraphiel explained further,
"one must know how to gather and utilize basic faith energy to empower themselves."
"And if you wish to ascend to Stage 3, and reach the Proto-Existential rank,"
Belloniel chimed in, her voice also possessing a rare seriousness,
"then you must know how to gather and utilize pure faith energy."
Abyzaria, with a deeper tone, added:
"And if you wish to ascend to Stage 4, reaching The Prime Origin, then you must know how to gather and utilize primordial energy. However, as previously mentioned in Chapter 7 – Limits of Creation – this is extremely difficult."
Ventair nodded, his face showing deep contemplation.
"So, to truly become powerful, I must focus on faith energy and primordial energy," he murmured, his gaze distant, lost in thought.
Immediately after, Seraphiel continued, her voice filled with pride and joy.
"But my Lord, our Angelic race and you – the One who created the Angels – are different!"
Mechaniel added:
"Yes, because you once possessed primordial energy within your soul, you can contain it within your spirit. And then, simply by your will, the energy sources you gather will automatically enhance your body and soul, helping you reach new levels of power much faster than other races!"
Abyzaria also spoke, her voice resolute:
And it is the same for us, Heavenly Lord. As long as you provide sufficient energy from yourself, we too will be strengthened and evolve."
Hearing those explanations, a ray of light suddenly flashed for Ventair.
He felt a sense of relief and exhilaration.
"Excellent!" he exclaimed, his eyes brightening.
"That means we don't need to undergo complex cultivation processes like others; we just need enough energy!"
He saw even more clearly the importance and urgency of gathering primordial energy, or at least pure faith energy, to supply himself and the Angels.
"Then, our plan is clearer," he mused.
Afterward, he spoke internally to the Angels:
"Tomorrow, I plan to send Seraphiel and Abyzaria out to absorb faith energy from this world. Belloniel and Mechaniel will remain within the soul space, awaiting another opportunity. I hope you two understand."
His voice was gentle but clear, full of understanding.
Seraphiel, upon hearing she was chosen, her eyes gleamed with obvious excitement.
"Is that so, Heavenly Lord? I am most willing to serve you!"
She said in a clear, radiant voice.
Abyzaria, still maintaining her usual cool demeanor, but the corner of her lips curved slightly.
"I will not fail your expectations, Heavenly Lord," she said with a firm, confident tone.
Belloniel, while not dissatisfied, had a look of regret on her face:
"Oh, what a pity."
Mechaniel, with a calm expression, simply nodded slightly, accepting the command.
"Data indicates this is the optimal plan. I understand. When needed, please call upon me."
Her voice remained cool, but without any trace of dissatisfaction.
Ventair smiled faintly.
"Don't worry, Belloniel. There will be a time when you can go out. For now, the plan is settled."
After finalizing the plan for tomorrow, Ventair stretched, stood up, and carried the stack of books and maps back to their original places.
He then exited the library. As he passed the librarian, he saw the man still engrossed in his book, not even looking up.
Ventair simply nodded a light greeting and stepped outside.
As he walked along the corridor looking out the window, he noticed that the sky had already grown dim, and the first streetlights were beginning to illuminate.
'Now I should head back to my room, take a bath, and then sleep,' he thought.
With that in mind, he walked through the grand hall, which now seemed even more crowded and lively than it had been in the morning.
Everyone was seated, eating and drinking, chatting merrily, the clinking of dishes blending with laughter to create a vibrant, cozy atmosphere.
It was now evening, so people were starting to return to rest after a long day.
He walked through the hall, ascended the stairs, and headed towards his room.
He opened the door, stepped in, and closed it behind him. He removed the mask from his face and took off his dark cloak, storing them in his soul space.
He walked towards the bathroom, picked up the clear blue stone from the shelf, and crushed it. I
mmediately, from the stone, a stream of clear water began to flow, filling the bathtub.
He dipped a hand into the water and found the temperature quite warm, neither too hot nor too cold, just right for relaxation.
Ventair was about to undress for his bath when he suddenly remembered that the Angels inside could also see what was happening outside.
Seeing him preparing to bathe, Seraphiel looked eager, her blue eyes wide, as if anticipating something.
Mechaniel, though maintaining her usual cool demeanor, had an equally eager glint in her golden eyes, a rare hint of curiosity.
The other two Angels, Belloniel and Abyzaria, seeing the "shamelessness" of the first two, immediately acted. Abyzaria quickly covered Seraphiel's eyes.
"Hey Seraphiel, no looking! That's rude!" she said, her voice slightly stern.
Seraphiel struggled in Abyzaria's hand, her face full of indignation.
"No! I want to watch Heavenly Lord bathe! Abyzaria, let go!"
At the same time, Belloniel quickly covered Mechaniel's eyes.
"And you too, Mechaniel! Who gave you permission to look at Heavenly Lord in this situation!"
Belloniel snapped. Mechaniel, although not struggling, still had a look of regret in her eyes.
"Observation data interrupted. Most displeasing."
Ignoring Seraphiel and Mechaniel's displeasure, Abyzaria turned to Ventair, her voice calm.
"Heavenly Lord, please go ahead and bathe. Belloniel and I will cover the eyes of these two Angels, and we will also close our own eyes so as not to see you bathe."
She said, simultaneously closing her eyes seriously, signaling Belloniel to do the same. Belloniel also closed her eyes.
Ventair felt reassured, knowing he had Abyzaria and Belloniel. He said, "Thank you, both of you," then undressed and submerged himself in the warm bath.
Inside the soul space, Seraphiel still tried to struggle free from Abyzaria's hand, but Abyzaria held her tight, preventing her escape.
"Abyzaria, let me go! I want to see Heavenly Lord!"
Seraphiel mumbled with profound regret.
On the other side, Mechaniel was more obedient and simply stood still, allowing Belloniel to cover her eyes, though she inwardly regretted the lost data.
Abyzaria and Belloniel also tightly shut their eyes, their expressions serious.
But Ventair was unaware that, while he was bathing, Abyzaria had secretly opened one eye slightly.
Her face was flushed with embarrassment, but her gaze could not leave Ventair's form.
At times, she even swallowed and stared intently at Ventair's body.
Ventair shivered and looked around, feeling as if some pervert was watching him bathe.
He didn't know that the "pervert" was the very person he had just trusted.
After a few minutes, Ventair finished his bath and put on his white clothes, as they wouldn't get dirty or smell.
Inside the soul space, Seraphiel and Mechaniel were released.
Seraphiel was still slightly disgruntled and unhappy about not being able to see Ventair's body.
She rubbed her eyes, her face full of sulky resentment. Abyzaria, meanwhile, maintained her cool demeanor as if nothing had happened, though a very small smile played on her lips that no one could see.
Ventair then turned off the light, walked to his bed, and lay down on it. He closed his eyes.
"Good night, all of you."
Seraphiel: "Good night, Heavenly Lord!"
Abyzaria: "May you have a peaceful sleep."
Belloniel: "Good night, Heavenly Lord."
Mechaniel: "May Heavenly Lord have an efficient rest."
And then, he drifted off to sleep, concluding another day.