"From sequence level one to sequence level five, all you need to do is take sequence potions. Each time you advance to a higher sequence level, it comes with an increase in your physical strength and an improvement in your sequence abilities."
"Improvements to sequence abilities usually fall into two types. Either you gain a new sequence ability, or you enhance one of your existing sequence abilities."
"At this stage, although the higher the sequence level, the stronger the corresponding power, there is still no absolute advantage."
"For example, a sequence ability user at level four with strange and powerful skills might counterkill an ordinary sequence level five user."
Qin Siyang nodded.
Back then, when he was still sequence level four, he had counterkilled Ji Ping, who was already sequence level five, inside the Pooled Water Begonia.
At the time, he had only felt that Ji Ping's abilities were peculiar, and killing him hadn't taken much effort.
"Below sequence level five, the possibility of killing someone at a higher level exists, and it's not rare. Some people can even kill across two levels. For example, Old Zhang once, when he was only sequence level three, perfectly combined his sequence skill with a certain God-Hunting artifact and, catching the enemy off guard, killed a snake-card wanted criminal at sequence level five. From then on, he firmly sat at a high position among the tiger cards."
Qin Siyang murmured, "Dean Zhang really does have a lot of stories."
"Just an example. We're not talking about Old Zhang today."
"But once you reach sequence level six and step onto the Path of the Believer, things become completely different."
"A sequence level six user will exert suppression when fighting an enemy at sequence level five."
"In addition to the dual weakening of physical strength and sequence skills, sequence level six users will also receive the protection of the gods. Of course, this is the doctrine of those who believe in gods, and does not represent the agreement of an atheist like me. That protection allows them to be immune to a fatal injury once."
"What? Immune to a fatal injury? You can do that? Not only is their strength suppressed, but the other side can also ignore one fatal blow. Then how is someone who hasn't opened the Path of the Believer supposed to win?"
Li Tianming nodded, "That's right. This is the suppression relationship between those who have opened the Path of the Believer and those who haven't."
"And not only that. Sequence level seven has a similar suppression over sequence level six. According to theological explanations, sequence level seven has walked farther on the Path of the Believer and worships the gods more devoutly, so they receive more protection."
"Of course, if a sequence level seven faces a sequence level five enemy, under the enhancement of such powerful suppression, they are basically invincible."
Listening to this, Qin Siyang grew more and more curious, "Could it be that this apocalypse really is ruled by theology? No wonder everyone believes in gods!"
"What did you expect? With the apocalypse upon us, there are no fools among those who survive. If it weren't for the existence of phenomena that are fundamentally impossible to explain, the vast majority of people would treat gods and faith as roadside trash. The only thing worth believing in would be themselves."
Qin Siyang patted Li Tianming on the shoulder, "Old Li, if that's the case, doesn't that mean your atheism is finished? Why not abandon the darkness and turn toward the light? If you want to convert to theology, I have connections in the Zephyr Church. I can introduce you. At the very least, you'd be a protector."
Li Tianming said indifferently, "Theology, like slavery, feudalism, and capitalism, has always had the soil needed to rule the world. And it's not like there's never been an age ruled by theology before. What's there to make a fuss about?"
"Funny as it sounds, I still have to say this. The world has never once been ruled by the science I believe in."
Li Tianming let out a sigh, "Sometimes, I don't even know whether the science I pursue is an unshakable truth, or just an illusory reflection in the water and mirror."
After venting a bit, Li Tianming continued, "That's basically it regarding the main offerings. As for the role of the secondary offerings, those small-god disc armors, it can more or less be glossed over."
"On the Path of the Believer, you'll see many vague silhouettes of gods. Not the kind of gods you hunt, but real gods that naturally inspire awe. The higher the score of your small-god disc armors, the more godly images you'll be able to see."
Qin Siyang nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "And then?"
"And then what?"
"The more gods you see, the more what happens?"
Li Tianming replied calmly, "The more gods you see, the more gods you see."
"Huh? You mean I went through all that trouble collecting these Blood Moon Tarantula disc armors, and aside from letting me see more godly images on the Path of the Believer, there's no other use? Like stronger protection?"
"As far as we currently know, no. But everyone is absolutely convinced that seeing more gods on the Path of the Believer must have enormous significance. Gods would never make meaningless arrangements. That's why everyone hopes the score of their small-god offerings can be as high as possible."
"This is really ridiculous…", Qin Siyang stopped thinking about these unknown mysteries, "Whatever. Anyway, my Path of the Believer should be the brightest and show the most gods, right? In other words, I'm invincible?"
"Within the safe zone, more or less. But you have to understand that when water is full it overflows, and when the moon is full it wanes. There is no such thing as true invincibility."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm saying that within the safe zone, when fighting people, your path of growth might be invincible."
"Then… what about fighting gods outside the safe zone?"
"You will be subjected to the strongest suppression from the gods."
Qin Siyang was startled again, "Why?"
"From a scientific standpoint, I can't give you an answer. But from a theological standpoint, they already have a self-consistent explanation."
Li Tianming then calmly explained using theological theory, "According to those who believe in gods, with the offerings you currently possess, you are a believer who is 'devout to the extreme."
"As the most devout of believers, the gods will grant you the highest protection. Naturally, in exchange, they will also extract your power to oppose the gods as the price."
"After all, gods wouldn't train a 'rebellious disciple' who wants to kill them at every turn."
Qin Siyang frowned.
'So this is the price of being a believer?'
"But Old Li, didn't you say that as long as someone opens the Path of the Believer, they'll be suppressed by the gods? Then is the suppression I suffer very different from what others suffer?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"Because I don't know anyone whose offerings are as extreme as yours, so I can't give you an answer. Sequence awakening has only been around for five years, and people have only known about the Path of the Believer for about three years. Normal people can't hunt gods the way you do, picking up treasures every time they go out. How many people do you think can be like you and hand in perfect scores for both the main offerings and the secondary offerings?"
Qin Siyang frowned slightly and asked, "Old Li, did you and Dean Zhang also just open your Paths of the Believer casually?"
Li Tianming smiled, "Little Qin, I can't talk about Old Zhang's matters, just like I won't talk to him about you and me. If you want to know his situation, you can ask him yourself. But as for my own situation, I can tell you without holding anything back."
"As for me, I am still sequence level five."
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