Chapter 300: New Followers?

"So, how do you recharge your soul powers if you don't have them?" Zach asked with a curious yet calm look on his face.

"Lifeforce is the absolute form of power. You can use it as MP or soul powers, just like how this game allows HP to be used as MP in an emergency."

"You don't have to use your life force. I know a way to increase your soul power temporarily," Zach said with a grin on his face.

"What do you…" Aria stopped after noticing a smirk on Zach's face. She recalled her conversation with Zach in her domain, where they talked about dual cultivation.

"…!" Aria's face flushed red after imagining herself dual cultivating with Zach.

'I remember that conversation like it was yesterday. We talked about dual cultivation, and he asked a few questions to clear his doubt. Then, he said he wouldn't mind dual cultivating with me if that would make him stronger, to which I turned him down in response without even thinking about it.'

'No way!' She had said. ‘But then I also told him that if he uses his authority over me and asks me to do it, I would have no other choice but to obey his orders.'

'Now that I think of it, I was in love with him at that time too. And I kind of wanted him to force me… wait! What am I thinking?! Could it be that I like being dominated by Zach?!'

Aria finally realized her first fetish.

'How could that be?!' She exclaimed inwardly. ‘I am the goddess of death and destruction! How can I have such a fetish?!'

Zach watched Aria as she made varied expressions on her face.

'I thought she was ready for it. So what's with her reaction?' Zach wondered. ‘She is usually bold and open about intimacy, so why is she acting like a maiden now?'

"Uhh…" After seeing Aria's reaction, Ninia and the two kids were as confused as Zach.

"Master Zach, can I ask you something?" Noah uttered in a low voice.

"Hmm? Sure. And don't call me master, please."

Noah lowered his gaze and muttered something under his breath, and even Elina, who was sitting next to him, couldn't hear it. However, Zach heard it. But he acted like he didn't.

"What did you say?" Zach asked Noah. "You will have to say it a little louder if you want me to hear it."

'If he can't even gather enough courage to speak out loud, he would never go. I wonder if father felt the same when he was training me?'

"Can Elina and I join your party?!" Noah asked out loud.

Even though it was Zach's second time hearing that question, he wasn't sure about the answer. He glanced at Aria to seek help, but she was still lost in her thoughts about dual cultivation.

'I don't think it's wise to let them join my party. It will cause many problems.'

"Umm… I am afraid I can't accept your request. We as a party go on dangerous adventures where we don't have time to look after each other's backs. And I don't want something to happen to you two," Zach responded in a calm voice, seemingly trying to reject them gently without making them feel bad.

"But no one else takes us in their party, and the only one who did turn out to be…" Noah muttered.

"And even if I let you two join my party, I am going to ascend soon, and you two haven't met the requirements. It will take a long time to increase your level and physique, so I would rather suggest you stay here in this realm and live freely."

Ninia bit her lips and clenched her fists after learning that Zach was going to ascend soon.

'But… I want to spend more time with him…' She uttered inwardly.

"But we don't have money or any resources!"

"…" Zach lowered his gaze and thought, ‘There could be many players like them. Not the same age, but the same level and similar condition. They could be dying out helplessly. What can I do to save them?'

Zach's eyes widened as a thought crossed his mind.

"What if I create a guild?" he uttered.

"Guild is basically the same as a party. It just has more members, and everything is on an official level, and members are assigned various positions to handle and manage everything," Victoria asserted from the corner, who had come to check up on everyone.

"And…?"

"You can't carry a party of two low-level players, and you intend to carry a guild filled with low-level players?" Victoria remarked.

'I didn't even mention that. As expected, Victoria knows me inside out.'

"So you are saying that making a guild is a bad idea?"

"No, but if you create a guild, you will become the guild master, and you will get so busy managing the guild that you would forget about your own goals," Victoria stated.

After a brief pause, she continued, "I know it since I was a vice-captain before."

"I can't do party, I can't do guild, then what else can I do to guarantee their safety?"

"Why don't you make them your followers?" Aria suggested nonchalantly.

"Oh? You are back to your senses?" Zach scoffed softly. "And what do you mean by making them my followers?"

"Make them worship you. Ask them to join your religion. That way, you would be supporting them without affecting your life. Furthermore, you will also get soul powers, which would benefit you."

"Hmm…" Zach hummed in wonder and turned to Ninia to get her opinion. "What do you think, Ninia?"

"I think that's a great idea," Ninia nodded, "You current followers are only NPCs, so even if all the NPCs in this realm join your religion, your soul powers would eventually hit the ceiling."

"True."

"Unless you plan to spread your religion to other realms too," Ninia added. "So if you also have players as followers, your religion will automatically spread."

Zach shot a glance at Noah and Elina and asked, "What do you say?"

***

Total players in the game- 1,482,569

0 new players logged in.

3 players died.

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Is it dual cultivation time?