Dodola explained, “For example, if you become a true god through cultivating fire-elemental laws of nature, then your divine core would be a fire-elemental one. Would it then still be possible for you to comprehend another type of laws of nature after that?”
Meng Lei thought for a moment before he answered, “...Seems like it would be very difficult!”
“It won’t just be ‘very difficult’ but ‘extremely difficult’!”
Dodola shook its head as it said, “A fire-elemental divine core can only store fire-elemental power of divinity. Even the divine spirit within the divine core will also be completely linked to fire-elemental laws of nature. Comprehending other types of laws of nature? Dream on!
“This is akin to a piece of good jade. Once it has been carved into an article, it’ll no longer be possible to carve it into something else.”
“Going by that, how are deities supposed to advance in their cultivation, then?” Meng Lei’s brows drew together as he asked, “If one is unable to comprehend new laws of nature after they become a true god, wouldn’t that mean that they cannot advance any further?”
“That is why they have to make their choice even before they light up the divine fire!”
“What choice?”
Meng Lei was stunned.
“The choice to split their divine spirit or not.” Dodola explained, “Most typical half-deities with even a bit of ambition would choose to split their divine spirit into two before they light up their divine fire. After that, they’ll choose one of the two and light it up while the other stays as a divine spirit so that it can continue to comprehend new laws of nature.”
“Split their divine spirit?”
Meng Lei was shocked.
“That’s right! Split their divine spirit!” Dodola nodded affirmatively. “Splitting the divine spirit is a Laws of Nature Deity’s one and only way out. Otherwise, their future paths would be completely sealed off!”
“Fine!”
Meng Lei nodded silently.
“The divine spirit half that is lit up will ultimately become a divine incarnation of themselves, while the other half continues to comprehend new laws of nature.”
Dodola went on. “Upon fully comprehending the second type of laws of nature, they’ll then have to make another choice—will they light up the divine fire right away, or split their divine spirit once more?
“Typically, fairly ambitious deities will choose to split their divine spirit again, lighting up half and keeping the other half to comprehend new laws of nature. This way—by splitting their divine spirit every time they comprehend a new type of laws of nature—true gods typically will only need to split their divine spirit four times before it’s sufficient.”
“It’s enough to just split it four times? Why?”
Meng Lei was awfully puzzled.
“It works like this—those that have comprehended two types of laws of nature and own two divine incarnations are categorized as lesser deities; while those that have comprehended five types and own five divine incarnations are categorized as intermediate deities,” Dodola explained, “And once they become intermediate deities, they won’t need to comprehend laws of nature anymore. Therefore, you’ll only need to split the divine spirit four times and comprehend five types of laws of nature!”
“It’s enough to comprehend just five types? Then how do intermediate deities become higher deities?”
Meng Lei was awfully puzzled.
“Intermediate deities need to assimilate laws of nature in order to advance to become higher deities.”
Dodola explained, “This assimilation process isn’t purely just the assimilation of laws of nature, but also includes the integration of their divine core, divine incarnations, divine spirit, and power of divinity. You can try imagining for yourself the difficulties involved in assimilating divine incarnations of different elements!”
“First you have to split them, and then now you have to assimilate them?” Meng Lei’s eyelid was twitching. “That’s really very...”
“...Very frustrating, right?”
Dodola shook its head and laughed. “It can’t be helped. That’s what the road to deification is like. Not only do you need talent, but you also need to make choices and undergo immense pain and agony.
“Without sufficient ambition, determination, and an indomitable will, it’s tough for one to achieve greatness.
“To become an intermediate deity, you must face a choice and split your divine spirit once. To become a higher deity, you must face four choices and split your divine spirit four times.”
Dodola said with a sigh, “The pain, agony, and hardships involved are not something that most typical people can imagine!”
“Since I’ve comprehended ten types of laws of nature, doesn’t that mean that I have to split my divine spirit nine times?” asked Meng Lei with a wry laugh.
“Yes, of course!”
Dodola nodded slightly. “Intermediate deities have to assimilate at least two types of laws of nature to ascend and become higher deities. The more laws of nature they assimilate, the stronger they’ll become.
“Once you assimilate and combine five types of laws of nature, five divine incarnations, five divine cores, five divine spirits, and five types of power of divinity into one, you shall become a higher deity of Great Perfection level!”
“That sounds like so much trouble!”
Meng Lei couldn’t help but gasp.
“Of course it is!” Dodola scoffed, “Had it been that easy, everyone would’ve become higher deities and attained Great Perfection!”
“That’s true.” Meng Lei nodded slightly. Then, he asked, “Since I’ve comprehended ten types of laws of nature, it must be even harder for me to assimilate them, right?”
“It’s no ordinary level of difficulty!” Dodola said slowly, “Assimilating two different divine incarnations is already a very difficult task, let alone ten.”
“What a long and endless deification journey...” sighed Meng Lei.
“Stop sighing!” Dodola snorted and scoffed. “What are you
