"How could you possibly replicate two identical Life Gems?"
"Life Gems are special existences; they can't be replicated. Otherwise, they wouldn't be the unique symbol of nobility..."
Silu looked at Zhang Chen, asking in disbelief.
"I can absorb your gem, so naturally, I can condense it back. What's so strange about that?"
Zhang Chen glanced at Silu and said.
"Across the entire continent, there are very few people who can absorb gems. While rare, it's not unheard of."
"But this is the first time I've ever seen someone replicate a gem..."
Silu said earnestly.
"No, it's not replication, it's just condensing an extra one."
Zhang Chen smiled slightly, took a small piece from Silu's armor to make a ring, and then set a Life Gem into it.
To avoid suspicion, he also had Keke wear a real Life Gem around her neck.
"Condensing an extra one? So you mean... you inherently possess the power of a Life Gem within your body?"
"No wonder... no wonder at your mere first tier... you could defeat me..."
Silu was about to say 'mortal' but suddenly remembered Keke was nearby, so she quickly swallowed the rest of her words.
"Let's find a town to settle in first. I need to understand this world properly."
Zhang Chen took a deep breath of the air and said.
The air was filled with potent energy.
This world was even more formidable than the apocalypse.
"Finally, I can truly hone my skills in a powerful world!"
Zhang Chen looked at the colossal Pillar of Life overhead, his eyes filled with longing.
He had thought he had reached the pinnacle of power, but upon hearing of even greater existences, his previously calm heart suddenly stirred.
"Alright, Master, I will always accompany you!"
Keke said from the side.
"And... and me..."
Silu said with reluctance.
Under these circumstances, she had no other choice.
"Very good, then you lead the way. From now on, your name is Slave Kalu!"
Keke said playfully.
"Yes, Master..."
Silu nodded. Though unwilling, there was nothing she could do.
In the face of absolute power, anger was merely an invitation for more beatings, utterly useless.
Soon, Silu led Zhang Chen and Keke through the jungle to the nearest town.
This town resembled ancient towns; there was nothing related to technology.
It seemed the people of this world were still living in the past, everything proceeding at a slow pace.
"It's a bit strange, but I don't seem to have seen any farmland in this world!"
Zhang Chen voiced his doubts.
"Farmland? That's something mortals need. The Divine Realm doesn't require farmland!"
"Because we are sustained by the Pillar of Life. As long as we plant one Life Tree, we will have inexhaustible food."
"The livestock we raise can also divide and reproduce according to my requirements."
"In short, we hardly need to spend any time on labor."
"As long as there is the Pillar of Life, we have endless food, clothing, and even buildings can be constructed using the power of the Pillar of Life."
"The Divine Realm is the perfect world of plenty that mortals yearn for!"
Silu said with pride.
"A perfect world? I don't think so!"
Keke pointed at the deserted street and said:
"Such a desolate town, and you call this perfect?"
Silu smiled slightly and said:
"This is precisely the difference between the Divine Realm and the mortal realm."
"The reason mortal towns have people coming and going on the streets is because they need to go out to buy food, supplies, or to go elsewhere."
"But in the Divine Realm, all food and supplies are self-sufficient and can be enjoyed without leaving home."
"People can even enter other parallel worlds to obtain resources."
"As for going to other places, that's even simpler. Just activate a teleportation gate, and you can reach any location with a teleportation terminal."
"So, it's normal for there to be no one on the streets."
"They merely serve to witness history."
Keke thought for a moment and asked:
"If that's the case, with everything being self-sufficient, wouldn't there be no commerce?"
"Without commerce, there would be no places like hotels for accommodation. Where would we stay?"
Silu pointed to a castle-like building in the distance and said:
"We can stay there. That is a place only nobles are qualified to enter."
"We don't need to spend money; we can just go in. This is a privilege granted by the royal family to nobles."
"Many nobles, too lazy to travel to parallel worlds for supplies and slaves, come here regularly to enjoy themselves."
Zhang Chen nodded and said:
"Alright, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Let's go inside and take a look!"
Keke was naturally excited and readily agreed.
The three of them walked down the street like outsiders, slowly approaching the front of the castle.
There were two soldiers in armor at the entrance. Upon seeing the Life Gem ring on Zhang Chen's hand and the necklace Keke was wearing, they immediately opened the large doors without asking any questions.
Entering the castle gate revealed a vast square.
Around the square were many teleportation gates constructed from stones emitting a bluish-green hue.
These were slightly different from the teleportation gates Zhang Chen activated; these were actual doors.
As long as one opened a door and stepped through, they could enter another world.
Furthermore, there were stone tablets in front of the gates, detailing the characteristics, specialties, and power levels of the respective worlds.
There were some stout nobles coming and going in the square, either strolling or passing through the teleportation gates.
They showed no surprise at seeing Zhang Chen and the others.
Further inside was the slave hall, where slaves captured from various worlds awaited selection by nobles.
All of this was also completely free of charge.
The slaves seemed to be under some form of illusion, all standing with smiles on their faces.
This world, it could be said, survived by plundering the resources and populations of countless worlds.
Given such a prosperous world, everyone should have been happy.
However, from the moment they entered the castle, the entire atmosphere was exceptionally oppressive.
And this oppressive feeling did not come from the slaves, but from these nobles.
These individuals were like walking corpses, indifferent to the mountains of exquisite food and fine wine, and even the beautiful female slaves displaying their charms failed to pique their interest.
They all seemed to have lost their purpose in life; some sat blankly on the ground, while others, surrounded by female slaves, remained expressionless.
"These are nobles of the Divine Realm? Why are they not as I imagined?"
Seeing this scene, Zhang Chen said in great surprise.