Rise of The Anti God

"Theoretically, with your flames, you can even concoct a Rank 4 Pill!" Luna stated.

"Seriously??" Damien's eyes were wide, with his whites showing.

"But...that doesn't mean it's okay for you to concoct them right now. You very well know that you would exhaust most of your soul energy reserves if you manifest a normal Fallen Flame. Your flames would keep on blazing but can you guarantee that you wouldn't pass out before you can even refine the medicinal pill?"

Luna's rebut made Damien realize that he got too excited without thinking it through.

Indeed, suppose he did manifest his Fallen Flames without decreasing its intensity. In that case, he could theoretically refine a Rank 4 Pill considering that he is also familiar with the refinement process.

Since the higher the rank of a pill, the more fine control, and precision it would take to refine the medicinal pill.

Damien thought that for now, he could maybe try concocting pills below Rank 3 if he can adjust the intensity of his Fallen Flames without exhausting too much of his soul energy.

But suddenly, a thought struck him…

"If the depletion of my soul energy is the main issue, then...wouldn't it be fine if I just take a Soul Revitalizing Pill as the one Lily gave me," Damien asked as he raised his eyebrows.

Luna scoffed, "Hmph, I knew you would think of some tricks like this. But that's all for later. Now your cauldron is even beyond repair. You can't even concoct a Low-Grade Rank 1 Pill, let alone a Rank 4 Pill."

'Guess she's right. Right now, all I have is a Low-Grade Rank 2 Sustenance Pill, which I can probably sell for at least 100 Green Spirit Stones. And using that, maybe I could buy a very cheap cauldron, which could at least last for a few experiments. Or should I join the Alchemist Society?'

Damien was in a dilemma thinking whether he should save up some money first or if he should join the Alchemist Society so that he would at least earn way more and also build some reputation.

But if he joins the branch of Alchemist Society situated in the Imperial Capital, his identity would be at risk. If his reputation spreads far and wide or at least within the Imperial Capital, it would be common knowledge to everyone that Damien is a reputed alchemist. Even Lily would come to know that he is not crippled at all.

Forget about even joining Alchemist Society. He still needed to find out a way to sneak outside the Imperial Palace if he wanted to sell his medicinal pills at least.

Damien can actually leave the Imperial Palace temporarily if he wants. Still, he had a feeling that Lily might send someone to accompany him or at least have someone keep a watch on him secretly.

And even if she didn't, he still needed a way to mask his identity if he wanted to sell his pill. If someone from the palace saw him selling pills, it would just mean the onset of many troubles.

So, he thought of asking the only person who might have a solution.

He looked at Luna and asked, "Do you have any ethereal art that can help me sneak around this place?"

Luna wrinkled her nose as she said with a disgusted expression, "Don't tell me you want to go peek on that princess while she is bathing."

Damien grinded his teeth in exasperation, "For heaven's sake, I have to sell this pill without anyone's knowledge."

Luna felt amused seeing Damien's expression. She would always try to take a jab at Damien whenever she gets the chance.

Luna's eyes gleamed as she said, "Ha...you don't have to worry about tiptoeing around this place. The ethereal arts I talked about today morning can easily help you conceal your aura and your identity."

Damien got a little confused as he asked, "But you said you would be giving me an elemental, ethereal art, right? How can it give me stealth abilities?"

Luna heaved a tired sigh, "You do know that your elemental attribute can be used for many other things other than just fighting people. Once you comprehend a bit of the ethereal art I am going to give; I will tell you how to make use of your lightning to conceal your aura."

"Then, let's start right away." Damien was more eager to receive the ethereal art from her. He was curious how he could manipulate his lightning to sneak around.

Luna shook her head with a firm expression, "Are you crazy? I didn't expect you to drain your soul energy from evening onwards to just 15% by carrying out those dull alchemy experiments of yours. I won't allow you to comprehend anything when your soul is literally running on fumes. Otherwise, you will just end up passing out in the middle of comprehension. You are to go and sleep till you recover your soul energy completely. Tomorrow you can wake up early in the morning, a few hours before the training session starts, and I will give you the lightning ethereal art and also give you advice on how to use your Nethereal Arts."

"But—"

"No buts, or I won't give you the ethereal art," Luna said adamantly.

Damien inwardly shook his head. He felt that the current situation was something similar to a scene where a kid was getting scolded by his mom for trying to sit up late at night.

He put on a sulky expression, and he also felt that maybe he was getting too excited to learn new things without taking care of himself.

He knew that whenever one wants to comprehend an ethereal art or any laws, they should try to comprehend them with a refreshed mind to maximize their comprehension. If one is lucky, they might even gain some enlightenment.

In truth, Damien was very exhausted, but he didn't mind tiring himself out due to his excitement.

'As the saying goes, health is wealth, I guess.' Damien chuckled inwardly.

——

It was early morning the next day when Damien was busy comprehending the [Elysian Lightning Of Retribution].

His soul energy had completely recovered by the time he woke up. Luna imparted the [Elysian Lightning Of Retribution] to Damien while telling him that it was up to him how much he could comprehend since it depended on Damien's comprehension talent and elemental talent.

Luna gave him the necessary tools, but it would be up to Damien to decide whether he could use them or not.

[Elysian Lightning Of Retribution]

1st Stage - Searing Strike Rendering Worlds

2nd Stage - Mirage Of Myriad Phantasms

3rd Stage - Star Illuminating Vortex

4th Stage - ???

5th Stage - ???

6th Stage - ???

7th Stage - ???

8th Stage - ???

9th Stage - ???

10th Stage - ???

Damien slowly opened his eyes and muttered, "Wew, I was able to comprehend only the first stage and the second stage partially."

'This fast?? I guess I should not get surprised anymore. His comprehension talents are off the charts.' Luna inwardly sighed when she heard him mumble.

The ethereal art Luna gave to Damien was no run-of-the-mill ethereal art.

It was an ethereal art that came from a goddess with an Origin Seed!

If any other ordinary mortal tried to comprehend this art, they would be lucky to gain some kind of enlightenment after decades or even centuries of trying to comprehend it.

Even though it was not an Origin Art, its potential was still tremendous with virtually no limit, at least till the Pseudo-Origin level!

Luna crossed her arms and said, "Not bad. You were able to comprehend at least the first stage completely. And with your current lightning comprehension, you could try to comprehend even the second and third stages. Since you are talented in lightning laws, as your cultivation increases, the more stages you can comprehend with the maturing of your lightning seed."

"Then between Elysian Lightning Of Retribution and my Anti-God Arts, which is more powerful?" Luna had said before that the ethereal art she imparted to Damien would support his Anti-God Arts.

But Damien still wanted to know how much difference in power there was between the two.

Luna narrowed her eyes as she said, "Of course, the ethereal arts I gave you cannot be compared to your Anti-God Arts. After all, your Anti-God Arts is something that originates from your Origin Seed. Its skills are so heaven-defying that no other ethereal arts could compare to it. But that doesn't mean the ethereal arts I gave you are lowly. The skills would become more powerful along with you. They are the best of best if you don't compare them with ethereal arts that originate from one's Origin Seed. " Luna said with her nose in the air.

She continued, "Just like how the ethereal arts I just gave you is incomparable with my Origin Seed's ethereal arts or Origin Arts. But one of the main advantages of your lightning ethereal arts is that it's not as punishing or energy-consuming as your Anti-God Arts. Also, as you already know, other than attack skills, there are support skills for movement, defense, and so on. Your Anti-God Arts doesn't have support skills like these, for now anyway."

Damien nodded slowly, "Then comparing my Anti-God Arts and your Origin Arts...which one is more powerful?" He asked as his eyes glinted.

Damien felt curious whether, theoretically, his Anti-God Arts is more superior than Luna's Origin Arts. By knowing that, he would also know whether the Anti-God was more powerful than Luna or not.

Luna remained silent for a moment as her brows wrinkled. Then with a tight-lipped smile, she said, "You can't compare Origin Arts of gods like that. They have their own specialties and advantages based on the Origin Laws they have comprehended. Of course, unlike me, gods with Pseudo-Origin Seeds having Pseudo-Origin Arts would surely lose out to your Anti-God Arts!"