From Secret Clan to the Divine Dynasty

Chapter 258: Chapter 248: The Fourth Seal!

Aphotic Sea.

Dense black clouds obscured the sky, and even the daytime of this sea area seemed like an endless night.

The waves were surging, raising gigantic swells. The black, turbulent tides in the lightless waters were particularly terrifying, while the pitch-black sea, void of even a sliver of sunlight piercing through the clouds, evoked a sense of boundless despair.

On the steamship, however, the members of the Fischer family all breathed a sigh of relief because they had finally embarked on the journey back to Nasir.

Lilian and Vanessa were communicating, with Vanessa still holding a black glass box that contained something radiating a faintly gloomy aura.

The crewmates didn't dare to approach the black glass box, feeling a strong sense of ominous foreboding from whatever was inside.

Lilian placed her hand gently on the box and calmly said, "We've finally traded for it."

"Though we have paid a lot of bottled sunlight and almost an amount equal to the Fischer family's profits over several years, as well as five treasured rare artifacts and many specialty goods from the land, in the end, we've made a huge profit."

Vanessa shook her head lightly and said, "I think the other party also believes they've made a profit. In truth, it's just a matter of each getting what they need."

Nowadays, the profits from trading bottled sunlight nearly accounted for half of the Fischer family's annual profits.

It was undoubtedly a business of exorbitant gains.

Vanessa muttered, "The technique for bottling sunlight is gradually becoming common. We can't earn this exorbitant profit for more than another decade or so. After that, we'll need to find a new point of profit."

She suddenly had a suggestion and said,

"Lilian, how about our family establishes a company?"

"A company?"

Lilian was slightly startled before fixing her gaze on Vanessa, wanting to hear her proposal.

Actually, she had some understanding of companies, because there were indeed quite a few companies around in Cyart these days. It was said that companies existed in Lorne two to three hundred years ago, but they had only become popular in the eastern realms in recent years.

Vanessa nodded lightly and continued to speak:

"Yes, the Fischer family's industries are growing too vast, and I always feel that the current model won't last much longer."

Lilian inquired,

"How would a company, as you mention, operate?"

Vanessa slowly shook her head and answered, "Well, I don't quite understand it myself. We'll need to go back and discuss the specifics with everyone. I think Colin should have a better grasp of these matters."

Colin was the family's merchant and knew a lot about business.

Lilian no longer asked, but instead gazed out at the sea.

The surrounding ocean air was permeated by a salty, putrid sea breeze, and in the darkness, it seemed as if something was twisting, as if it was an aura emanating from an unknown abyss.

Within the aphotic waters, derelict shipwrecks floated about. These sunken vessels were like silent witnesses to eerie events, quietly adrift in the darkness. Birds appeared to shun this part of the sea, and not a trace of life could be felt nearby, leaving the Fischer family's crewmates to hear only the distant echoes and the howling of the wind.

"Thank goodness we're heading back."

No one wanted to stay in the Aphotic Sea any longer than necessary, as even a day's stay could leave a person feeling uncomfortable and full of fear.

At last, they returned to Nasir Town, and soon after, Lilian organized a new sacrifice.

"Great Lord of the Lost!"

"I offer it up to You!"

"Please grant the Fischer family more power!"

From the black glass box, a withered and pale hand was taken out, its fingers still trembling slightly as if it still possessed full vitality.

"Hand of Aging," Forbidden rare artifact number 1756.

Its effect was to instantly deprive the touched person of fifty years of their life!

The cost of using the "Hand of Aging," however, was that the user would permanently lose a third of their physical fitness, and so the price was also quite significant.

The Aphotic Sea Overlord who traded the "Hand of Aging" was known as the "Wind Demon."

She was an elderly female, and the real reason she was willing to sell it was that the cost of using the "Hand of Aging" was too great: killing a thousand enemies at the expense of eight hundred of her own. Given that the "Hand of Aging" required contact to be effective, its practicality was not all that great, making it a regrettable item even among the Forbidden rare artifacts.

Clearly, not everyone could ignore the biggest drawback of Forbidden rare artifacts like the people of the Fischer family could. Most had to consider the cost of using such artifacts.

It was said that the world's single-digit numbered Forbidden rare artifacts had been locked away for many years, untouched because no one dared to use them.

For the release of such a level of extraordinary power would result in a fate for the user more frightening than death itself.

Therefore, this powerful Forbidden rare artifact, the "Hand of Aging," had become less effective in the hands of the "Wind Demon," and she was more willing to trade it away.

Karl absorbed spiritual power, and deep within, he could clearly feel that the fourth seal had been loosening over the years.

This Forbidden rare artifact would become the final explosive to completely shatter the fourth seal!

Lilian and the others watched as the "Hand of Aging" completely turned to dust and quickly vanished from sight.

He took a deep breath, and something in his mind began to churn, the powerful force erupting, instantly destroying the fourth seal. The spiritual power of the "Hand of Aging" acted like the fuse of the explosive, igniting the whole charge!

Finally, Karl felt it.

With the shattering of the fourth seal, more memories surged in.

"This memory is very precious."

Karl quickly discovered with surprise that the newly unlocked memory contained extremely important information: it was the ceremonies for all steps from the first to the fifth of the God Pantheon stairway!

"This saves a lot of trouble, as the followers of the Fischer family and Dawn Church won't have to scurry around headlessly searching for the rituals."

At the same time, Karl found that he could now hear the prayers of the many worshipers more clearly.

[Save me, great Lord of the Lost!]

[Lord of the Lost, I hope You can grant me power!]

"I heard that You are the true deity, can You resurrect my mother..."

Throughout the entire continent, there were sporadic voices rising up, which he could fully perceive.

Moreover, Karl suddenly gained a new ability to consume Spiritual Power and create strange black mist.

At first, Karl didn't understand the black mist's mysterious forces.

But soon, he found that he could release the black mist into the real material world and apply it to people and objects without harm.

Karl calmly enveloped Lilian in the black mist, and the girl was very excited, eager to know what would happen.

"Oh great Lord of the Lost!"

Taking a deep breath, Lilian said, "Thank you for Your blessing."

Karl remained silent.

In fact, he wasn't very clear about what the black mist could actually do.

The next moment, Karl's mind suddenly filled with countless points of light, all from people across the Ouden Continent who had prayed to him.

So that's how it is.

Understanding the purpose of the black mist, Karl then gave a divine oracle to Lilian to prepare her disguise in advance.

Lilian quickly took an alchemical mask with a concealment effect, without any doubt or question.

Karl had completely grasped the usage of the black mist and projected his intangible will onto a point of light anywhere in the world.

The next instant, Lilian vanished into thin air, leaving the other members of the Fischer family stunned, with no idea what had happened.

"Why did Lilian disappear?"

"I don't know!"

Lilian looked around in confusion, realizing she had left Nasir Town and was suddenly in a completely different place.

The surroundings resembled a village ravaged by war.

Decrepit houses collapsed into rubble, thick smoke still rising, and the ground was left with ashes and scorched earth where once lively streets now held only broken memories.

"Where is this place?"

Wearing the mask, she pondered for a moment and then noticed in the distance a trembling, wolf-eared half-orc boy on his knees surrounded by several soldiers.

Then, something that amazed Lilian happened.

The wolf-eared half-orc boy looked at her and immediately asked: Explore stories on M V L

"I've been praying to Him, sister, are you the great Lord of the Lost sent to rescue me?"

So that's it, she suddenly understood everything.

"My being here is indeed by the will of God."

Lilian stepped forward sincerely and embraced the half-orc child, staring at the soldiers surrounding them.

"Who are you?"

The soldiers, sensing the ill-intent, replied uneasily:

"We are the Carnian military! He's an evil cultist! What are you doing?"

Lilian was completely stunned.

She could hardly believe it!

Had she traversed thousands of miles in an instant and come to Carnia, the northern country?

Without a doubt, this was a miracle!

Lilian's face lit up with excitement and a joyous smile as she looked at the soldiers, proudly stating, "I have taken this child under my protection."

Of course, the soldiers were unwilling to back down, exchanging glances before the leader shouted:

"Fine! It seems you're also an evil cultist who worships that Evil God! Burn her!"

Lilian hesitated not a moment to unleash her extraordinary power!

Thunderous Voice!

An immense sound burst forth, and several soldiers fell unconscious in an instant.

Aside from the leader who was a Beginning Extraordinary Exponent, the rest of the soldiers were ordinary people, and she resolved the fight with a single move.

After rescuing the child amidst the ruins, Lilian cradled him in her arms to comfort him.

"Don't worry, child, the great Lord of the Lost will protect you."

The wolf-eared half-orc boy stared blankly, fixing his gaze eternally on Lilian's beautiful eyes.

"Sister, where do you come from?"

Lilian softly stroked his head, smiling as she replied:

"I come from another place where many people believe in the great Lord of the Lost; we are all brothers and sisters."

"Remember, if you keep your faith in the great Lord of the Lost, one day, you may also receive the same powerful strength as I have."

"Yes, Alger remembers," he murmured.

She calmly stroked the boy's head, noting his name, her reverence for the great Lord of the Lost growing deeper within her heart.

"I don't know how long I can stay, but no matter what, even if I leave today, we will see each other again."

Now that the present Lord could wield such great power, the Fischer family could one day traverse the world, establishing a great faith-based kingdom without borders!