After these days together, Stirling had almost figured out what the ring was like. It completely blocked any path that allowed for creating things out of thin air at incredible cost. For instance, making a complete white statue from nothing might take 20 years of lifespan. However, refining a white statue only gives 16 years. Another example is making gold coins out of nothing. Lifespan consumption is very high, so it is not as cost-effective as upgrading silver coins to golden coins. Directly enhancing oneself is impossible, nor is enhancing lifespan...

  To use this ring well, a roundabout approach is necessary. Therefore, the next choice is actually quite simple. To gain a long lifespan, there are only two methods. One is to kill worshippers, and the other is to get Devine statues. Worshippers exist in Farfield City, but they are all from Yearning Palace.

  Killing Yearning Palace worshippers in Farfield City is a shortsighted, deadly endeavor. As for the external worshippers outside Farfield City, nobody concerns their deaths. Like the likes of Monk Green and Monk White, these cultists are elusive and unpredictable. With the Yearning Palace envoy now in the city looking into the Pathos Malice incident, Stirling expects no external Malice nearby for a while.

  That leaves only the statues as an option. Where are the most statues of these spirits found? Naturally, in temples and shrines throughout the land. But Stirling isn't a worshiper and can't access these statues; he can only approach the deity worshippers. If he could control these cultists and make them work for him, all problems would be solved.

  First, he could use the Malice force to boost his cultivation. This would give him a steady source of malevolent energy, like a tap that's always running. Second, he could also make the cultists give up their annual cultivation quota, which would be Devine statues. The higher the worshipper's level, the better the Divine statues they get. Third, in uncontrollable crises, killing the manipulated worshipper gives a quick and large boost to lifespan. Keeping a sliver of hope for a comeback. Fourth, the worshipper can cooperate in some actions. Stirling still holds a grudge about the two-headed man escaping from Stream Village. If someone had been there to support him, this situation would never have occurred.

  Above, manipulating the worshipper is a four-in-one solution to ultimate their extraction value. Even Blue Star's capitalists would prostrate themselves in admiration! Thinking this, Stirling became somewhat excited. He rubbed his hands together, took out some paper and a pen from his bundle on the table, and began his experiment.

  Stirling began by listing the worshippers' characteristics, cultivation methods, and statue details. He captured all relevant information, hoping to be as thorough as possible. Stirling found a lot of new information about the worshippers in the archives that morning, so he added it all at once. More than an hour later, Stirling had written thousands of words, filling five sheets. Next, Stirling wrote " the method of manipulation of worshippers, suitable" on the back of the last page. Then, he placed it before him with trepidation.

  [Current enhancement requires a lifespan of 175,799 years; enhance?]

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Stirling thought he was dizzy. He rubbed his eyes, but the long line of numbers stayed the same. He swallowed hard, muttering to himself: Stirling was astonished, then felt something was amiss. No matter how powerful the worship, it couldn't need so much of a lifespan!

  Stirling frowned and stroked his chin. After a moment, he added, This time, the lifespan needed for enhancement dropped to over 90,000 years. That's still outrageous.

  Upon seeing this entry, Stirling had a hunch. He added the entry to the section on deity worship. It now reads,

  This cut the needed lifespan for enhancement to 137 years and 23 days.

  Seeing this result, Stirling immediately fell into deep thought.

  Without a doubt, among worshippers, the difference in strength had a significant impact on lifespan. Stirling thought the original source, the 108 Calamities, could be worshippers as well. Otherwise, such a huge number of over 170,000 years wouldn't make sense.

  However, even though the lifespan cost had decreased, Stirling remained hesitant. The new conditions and restrictions had stopped his otherwise perfect plan in its tracks. For Stirling, the nascent realm of worshippers was the beginning of his absorbing malice. Still, it needed a lifespan of over 130 years, as enhancement cost.

  Plus, how to control the deity worshippers later was also unknown.

  Stirling had a flash of inspiration. He pulled out the hematopoietic pills at once, as he had bought that afternoon. He poured out nine from the small porcelain bottle, leaving one, then he wrote on the bottle:

  [Current enhancement required lifespan 39 years and 175 days; enhance?]

  Looking at the text appearing before him, Stirling finally breathed a sigh of relief.

  He preferred this one-time-use pill better than the old way.

  The pill only controls one person, but it works right away. This is better than methods that need time to show results.

  The pill was easy to carry. He could use it whenever he wanted. Even a deity could be knocked out in an instant! Stirling chuckled at the thought. He didn't enhance it. Instead, he took the medicine bottle with him, planning to use it later when the chance arose.

  Having decided on his route, Stirling stopped trying. He hid the diagram and the map in the kitchen. Then, he went to the bedroom, lay down on the bare wooden bed, and fell into a deep sleep straight away.

  That night, Stirling had an unprecedented dream. He dreamed Devine statues surrounded him—golden, purple, and white. He lay on the statue, smoking a cigar and sipping red wine. Two beautiful girls in bikinis massaged his shoulders. It was a scene of pure luxury...

  After a long time, sunlight poured into the main room. Stirling then opened his eyes. He looked around at the somewhat unfamiliar surroundings, then sat up, inching.

  Stirling sighed inwardly, then got up, hastily wiped his face, and hurried out of the door. Upon arriving at his office, Stirling hung his badge on the wooden rack and headed towards the archives. On the way, Stirling ran into Joe, who was also heading to the archives. Joe ignored Stirling, walking on with a stony expression. It goes without saying that he was still mad at Stirling's rudeness the day before. Stirling paid him no heed. He would not even glance at such an insignificant cockroach unless provoked. The two entered the archives one after the other and began their work for the day.