Chapter 54: Chapter54-The Expansion of Hell
One source of divine points came from the spice points contributed by devotees, which had accumulated over 120 divine points.
Another portion came from Thomas, who had slain numerous spellbeasts and transported their corpses back for Owen to sell in the system pawnshop, earning him over 300 divine points.
Additionally, all the herbal essence orbs that Owen had previously sold were now completely bought out, bringing in another 180 divine points.
Bit by bit, these divine points accumulated—
Now, Owen was completely wealthy.
A Grand Sacrificial Ceremony Approaches
"In just one month, the second large-scale sacrificial ceremony will take place."
A deep anticipation flickered in Owen's gaze.
It was through his Hundredfold Amplification that he had steadily surpassed other gods, step by step.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.
With the upcoming second grand ceremony, another wave of amplifications would push him even further ahead!
He would firmly maintain his lead over other deities.
With this thought in mind, Owen shifted his focus to the system's task panel.
[Path to Godhood – Phase 7]
Task: Your missionary has slain an increasing number of spellbeasts, earning widespread fame. However, this has also drawn the attention of powerful and ruthless spellbeasts. You must expand your number of devotees to 5,000!Rewards: 1 Enhanced Farmland Scroll, 1 Earthsplit Scroll, 1 Temple Scroll, 80 divine points!
Upon reading the new task, Owen's expression remained calm—
But his gaze lingered on the Temple Scroll.
This was his first time encountering such an item.
After consulting the system's description, Owen quickly understood its purpose.
The Temple Scroll would upgrade his current simple stone shrine into a true divine temple, one that would be grand and imposing, befitting his status as an Ancient God.
Thomas had previously requested permission to construct a larger temple, as the village now had ample labor and materials.
But Owen had refused.
"Ordinary humans building a temple?"
Even if they used the finest materials, the result would still be mortal craftsmanship—a waste of resources.
For a developing village, such an undertaking would be impractical.
His original plan was to wait until he ascended to 2-Star Ancient God, then spend divine points to create a magnificent temple that fully aligned with his vision.
Though this would consume significant resources, it would be worth it.
After all, the temple was not just a place of worship—
It was his residence.
It needed to be lavish, awe-inspiring, and divine.
But now, if he completed the seventh phase of his task, the Temple Scroll would be his reward.
Using this scroll was undoubtedly the most efficient way to build a true divine temple.
"At last, a temple worthy of a god."
5000 Devotees – A Goal Within Reach
"5000 devotees... that goal isn't far off."
Owen carefully analyzed his current growth trajectory.
With Thomas's growing reputation as a spellbeast slayer, more and more refugees were flocking to the village, seeking security and stability.
At this rate, reaching 5,000 devotees wouldn't take long.
And once the temple was upgraded, Owen had a strong hunch—
It might bring about a new transformation, something beyond his expectations.
This wouldn't be just a temple in name—
It would be a true seat of divine power.
Of course, such matters could only be confirmed once the upgrade was complete.
For now, Owen's focus turned toward Hell.
The Expansion of Hell
At this moment, the miniature version of Hell, which he had carefully cultivated, was beginning to feel cramped.
Over the past few weeks, whenever a villager died, their soul would be escorted into Hell by Mia and Ethan.
Any D-rank devotee who died would almost always become a tier-1 ghost, serving under Mia's command.
As of now, twelve such ghosts had already formed.
However, for devotees ranked below D, their souls remained trapped within Hell, unable to leave.
If they did not become ghosts, their souls would remain fragile, slowly fading away.
Owen swept his gaze over these wandering souls—
Then, his divine voice descended from the heavens, resonating within their very existence:
"Though you have placed your faith in Me, your devotion was not absolute."
"You have fallen in death, but I shall grant you two choices."
"First, you may become ghosts under My command. In doing so, all memories of your past life will be erased. However, should you ascend to C-rank, you may begin to recover them."
"Second, as My devotees, I shall allow you to enter Hell's Millstone and begin your cycle of reincarnation."
Owen's voice reverberated across 35 souls, lingering deep in their minds.
At first, the ghostly villagers remained silent—
Then, one by one, they fell to their knees, bowing in reverence.
Even in death, their faith remained unwavering.
It was their first time hearing Deus Initium's voice—
Yet the sheer divine authority carried within it left no doubt in their hearts.
The thought that Deus Initium Himself was watching over them only made their devotion even stronger.
Among them, a sharp-eyed, monkey-faced old man hesitated for a moment, then asked:
"Deus Initium... is there any way to retain our memories?"
Owen did not respond—
Instead, he merely flicked his fingers, sending forth a dark light that descended into Hell's Millstone.
The old man was suddenly engulfed, vanishing into a realm of strange, ever-shifting landscapes.
The other souls watched in silent horror.
They understood—
He had been sent into the cycle of reincarnation.
At that moment, no one dared to speak further.
Each soul was left to contemplate their own fate.
Would it be better to reincarnate?
Or should they embrace the path of the ghost?
They did not know.
There was no clear right or wrong choice.
Owen, unrushed, gave them an hour to decide before speaking once more:
"Make your choice."
"Before you lies the gateway to Hell's Millstone. Enter, and you shall be reborn."
"Remain, and you shall serve Me as ghosts."
His voice carried a weight of divine authority, pressing upon their very souls.
After a brief silence, the 34 remaining souls reached their decisions.
12 chose reincarnation.
They believed that, if memories would be erased either way, they might as well take their chances on a new life.
The remaining 22 chose to stay.
Though they feared the unknown, they trusted Deus Initium.
And so, Owen made his decree—
"From this moment forth, you are My ghosts."
With a wave of his hand, he activated Necromancy—
22 streams of black divine power fell from the sky, like meteors cutting through the void.
The moment they struck, their souls ignited—
Hellfire engulfed them, refining their existence, marking them with the authority of the Underworld.
As the flames reached their peak, their ghostly forms solidified.
They no longer showed fear or hesitation—
Only cold, emotionless obedience.
Then, in unison, they knelt before Owen:
"We greet Deus Initium."
Their memories were gone, but they had been reborn as warriors of Hell.
These ghosts were fundamentally different from the Infernal Envoys that Owen had previously granted.
They were more like suicidal vanguards, utterly mechanical in their execution of orders, relentless and undying in their pursuit of their given tasks.
Unlike them, Infernal Envoys were responsible for a wide range of missions that required intelligence, memory, and strategic thinking to carry out effectively.