They all call me Great Master

Intense joy, intertwined with a dense array of information, started to unfold before Arthur—

[Nidhogg (mutated Titanic Divine Python): A special giant serpent modified by the mad master Geppetto. Upon encountering you, various ancient serpentine bloodlines within it sensed the greatness and eternal nature of the 'Serpent of Death'. This led it to regard you as akin to family, like a father or brother. Furthermore, feeding it the 'Devourer' Imola intensified its respect and worship of you. At this moment, it has digested most of the 'Devourer' Imola using its unique bloodline, promoting itself to become a legendary arcane creature. It is eager to show itself to you]

[Effect: 1, Mutated Body; 2, Dragon Armor; 3, Serpent's Breath; 4, Command; 5, Strong Stomach; 6, Divinity]

[Mutated Body: Nidhogg possesses a body far beyond ordinary imagination and is continuously growing. Its enormous size grants it immeasurable strength, and it is unafraid of fire, frost, poison, and illusion. Even when faced with thunder, it hesitates but does not falter. When in river and sea waters, Nidhogg's power, resistance, defense, and breath will gain +1 in trait; current stage: 80 meters long, 6 meters thick]

[Dragon Armor: The blood of dragons grants Nidhogg special scales that ignore all physical attacks below 'Ascend Step'. When facing attacks of fire, frost, or poison, it remains unfazed. Even facing direct attacks from Ascend Steppers, it remains unharmed and can activate a force field shield that covers its entire body, capable of withstanding three 'Ascend Step III' level attacks]

[Serpent's Breath: Can spray a 30-degree angle, 600-meter-long conical poisonous mist, or expel fireballs and ice balls matching its body thickness but unable to emit lightning. The attack power does not exceed 'Ascend Step I' level]

[Command: Can command snake groups within a 200-kilometer radius]

[Strong Stomach: The stomach of 'Devourer' Imola has merged into Nidhogg's, making its digestive powers even more formidable and capable of storing items, though unable to store living creatures]

[Divinity: A trace of divinity from 'Devourer' Imola has merged into Nidhogg's flesh, allowing it to ignore the traditional notion of 'Demigod' powers]

(Note 1: Nidhogg's appetite is astonishing, but with Ascend Step, it can efficiently absorb moonlight to enhance satiety, though real food brings joy to Nidhogg, and gold offers unprecedented deliciousness, accelerating its body's growth; when Nidhogg consumes abundantly, its body grows swiftly)

(Note 2: Dragon Armor and Serpent's Breath strengthen as Nidhogg's body grows)

(Note 3: The sprayed conical poisonous mist can become standardized poisonous miasma, enveloping certain areas or drifting with the wind)

(Note 4: Snake species commanded by Nidhogg cannot resist if their level does not exceed Nidhogg's)

(Note 5: In Nidhogg's stomach pouch currently: 217,111 gold coins, 200 various jewels, 20 fragmentary arcane artifacts)

(Note 6: This trace of divinity offers Nidhogg a chance it will pursue with time.)

...

Gigantic!

80 meters long, 6 meters thick!

Undoubtedly a gigantic being!

This is not like a fisherman catching a fish over a meter long, then wandering for five hours in the bustling city, circling three times, answering every question with 'How did you know I caught a big fish?'

If you ask again, they'll reply 'Gigantic, unprecedentedly gigantic!'

'If a fisherman were to catch Nidhogg, wouldn't they ascend directly in joy?'

Arthur raised his hand, gently stroking the head of his pet serpent.

According to Arthur's command, Nidhogg appeared silently.

Exposing just its head.

Then, the serpent tongue spat out an object.

A crystal.

And this crystal was the truly astonishing thing for Arthur.

As for Nidhogg's growth and digestibility?

Arthur felt surprised, but somewhat anticipated.

Only the thumb-sized, clear crystal, still radiant before dawn, was an unexpected item—

[Barbarian King's Crown: 'Devourer' Imola was regarded as the guardian deity for quite some time by the South County Barbarian Tribe, who offered sacrifices in their highest rites to Imola—the heart of tribal warriors!

For this, Imola expressed liking.

The heart of powerful barbarians is the source of barbarian power and the best tonic for Imola's recovery.

Over accumulated years, an exclusive power of barbarians began coalescing.

Imola realized this but did not choose to digest it truly because it saw this as an alternate path.

If the 'Serpent' path may not continue, then 'God of Barbarians' could be feasible.

No!

Perhaps 'God of the Wilderness', 'God of the Snowstorm'!

No!

Maybe it could become the 'God of War'!

It was so eager!

Until...

Sliced by a sword you wielded!]

(Note: This is a one-time item!)

...

Reading the text before him, Arthur's breath began to quicken!

God of Barbarians!

God of the Wilderness!

God of the Snowstorm!

God of War!

Each name made the Southern Lost Spirit Medium feel excited, especially 'God of War'. A deity bearing the name 'War' would not be a demigod or subordinate god; surely a high god.

Even more, based on Arthur's understanding, it would be a powerful presence among high gods.

More importantly—

[Special artifact 'Barbarian King's Crown' being assessed…]

[Assessment passed!]

[Yes/No, consume Barbarian King's Crown to complete the Secret Technique 'Barbarian King's Ritual (Fragmentary)'?]

['Barbarian King's Crown' being assessed…]

[Assessment passed!]

['Barbarian King's Crown' power is plentiful, can directly elevate the complete version of 'Barbarian King's Ritual' to the utmost!]

['Barbarian King's Crown' being assessed…]

[Assessment failed!]

[After elevating the complete version of 'Barbarian King's Ritual' to the utmost, the power within 'Barbarian King's Crown' cannot surpass the phase constraint of the 'Barbarian King's Ritual'!]

...

'Grandma Selina's secret technique and 'Barbarian King's Crown' are complementary!'

Arthur looked rather unexpectedly at the series of assessments.

Clearly, if he wished.

In an instant, he could elevate ['Barbarian King's Ritual'] to the utmost.

Moreover, it would be the complete version.

But Arthur did not proceed.

He is not lacking in power now.

Moreover, this is not a dire situation.

Therefore...

He wishes to keep a way for himself.

The strength of 'Seventeen Order' is unquestionable, so what about 'War'?

The latter as a backup, that is quite qualified.

Thus, Arthur must use XP to push ['Barbarian King's Ritual'] to the utmost, then use XP to repair it completely.

Then use ['Barbarian King's Crown']!

Only then will it achieve the utmost!

Perhaps one application might result in the level of a demi-god!

Thinking of that scene, Arthur's lips couldn't help but curl upward.

But at once, reality drew Arthur back.

Learning ['Barbarian King's Ritual'] to Lv 1 requires 3000 XP, and this is a fragmentary version. If achieving Lv 5 is realistic, for Arthur severely lacking XP now, it is a daunting number, and in case of special circumstances, a qualitative change would be astronomical.

To make ['Barbarian King's Ritual'] complete...

It seems this astronomical number is something Arthur must pay.

'The future is indeed beautiful, but reality is harsh!'

One must strive harder!

For a moment, Arthur's pride from 'establishing a reusable church and boosting XP harvesting' vanished.

Instead, it was an increasing sense of urgency.

His XP is indeed insufficient!

This made Arthur uneasy.

However, soon enough, Arthur thought of another way—

Heh heh!