Sssss...

In the duke's study of the elegantly decorated and majestically atmospheric White Swan Castle, Aiven, wearing a white shirt, wielded the feather pen crafted from golden feathers and sapphire nib, was furiously writing on a pile of documents before him.

The duchy was already in the early stages of rebuilding, with various affairs naturally incredibly complicated.

Though Aiven had only been away for less than two months, during which the Duchess Olivia tirelessly managed everything, there were still quite a few crucial documents that required his personal approval and knowledge.

Having just finished testing the [Golden Holy Spear·Longinus] with Angie, he was pulled into the study by Olivia to tackle the stack of papers that had piled up half a meter high.

"World Bridge" defense layout targeting Vice-Kingdom of New Granada — Duchy Army Department, Canal toll system and identity verification of vessels — Canal Management Bureau, Golden Sea Periphery Island Chain deployment — Duchy Navy Department, Central Plains terrain survey results — Intelligence Department and Surveying and Mapping Engineering Institute...

Dragon Cavalry Privateer Fleet and Duchy Navy collaboration robbery tactics 1, 2, 3 — Privateer Fleet Command Room...

Aiven silently placed the last document marked [Top Secret] at the bottom.

To him, aside from these regular affairs, the most pressing matter was the advance layout of Zongderilic Civilization's cutting-edge technology.

These ancient technologies, still applicable today, were based on the power of electricity, his expertise, and aligned with the future trends in social and technological development.

As long as he tightly grasped the "production power" leading edge, even if "production relations" stirred, they'd remain stuck at the lower end of the industrial chain. To counter the "God of Capital and Wealth," early preparations are essential.

"Queen and Goddess of Navigation" Hekater:...Applause!

Although not yet seeing it personally, if what was said in the Kuma Empire's "Zorjin Calendar" holds true, then modern humans, as part of the Fifth Era civilization, have at least experienced four rounds of natural selection.

Because all humans' collective unconscious oceans connect to the Spirit Realm, each era's replacement eliminates the most spiritually strong individuals, leaving those with increasingly dull spiritual talents.

This is an "evolution" through "natural selection"!

Possibly representing the world's choice and future development direction.

Eventually, there will be fewer and fewer extraordinary individuals in this world; even Aiven's "Life Tree School" can empower humans and various animals genetically, but can't stop the prevailing trend. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Furthermore, with the continuous ebb of spiritual tide, achieving pre-era's nation-wide extraordinary is increasingly unlikely.

The most realistic direction for them is to pivot towards pursuing age-old physical laws, allowing ordinary people to participate in human civilization's progress.

Aiven, now stepping out of the "Age of Navigation," firmly understands the era's significance.

The "Sky Goddess" sought to learn the culture and technology of the Old Continent not just against future colonizers but as a measure considering this inevitable trend.

Scientific invention doesn't divide by era; the essential part is the environment where they can survive amidst extraordinary power competition. Extraordinary power symbolizes the present; science represents the future.

As for the "Zongderilic" era, highbrow and intricate pursuits, while marvelous, require wide participation of ordinary people to achieve productive revolutions, showcasing technology's unparalleled replication strength.

"[Magnetic Ore], [Hovercraft] presenting now, to the human society just entering the steam industrial civilization feels premature. Perhaps... I should establish some higher learning institutions?"

In the study, Aiven finally completed all tasks requiring his direct involvement.

Eyeing the sky that was just darkening, he stretched and suddenly felt hungry, lightly ringing the bell installed on the desk.

Ring ring ring...

The bell for summoning the maid rang for a while but received no responses.

"Midorra? Mei?"

He ate an "Essence Fruit" to satiate his hunger slightly and called out again.

"Strange, it's not even dark yet; where did everyone go?"

Yet, Aiven didn't rashly unleash his Upper-Rank Wizard's immense mental force field. People were gradually filling up White Swan Castle: uncle, aunt, father-in-law, mother-in-law, Milan couple, Serra... they each had their rooms, and their privacy.

Although Aiven had the highest management authority to override the restrictions of this castle-like Wizard Tower, he generally refrained from invading others' privacy.

Standing up, he intended to personally check where they abandoned their duties and rushed off to.

Snap!

Suddenly, a crisp snapping sound echoed by his ear.

Immediately beneath his feet, he felt a subtle sense of weightlessness, his mind stirred but offered no resistance — a precursor to the castle's short-range [Teleportation Gate] activation. Besides him, the only person with subordinate authority to activate the [Teleportation Gate] was the mistress of this place.

When Aiven's feet touched the ground again, he found himself in the master bedroom of the castle, where he had been married for two months but had only slept one night.

Bang—!

The door suddenly closed and locked automatically.

Tap.. tap.. tap..

The crisp sound of high heels gradually approached from the adjoining suite, and Aiven easily recognized it as Olivia's footsteps. Then... a captivating figure appeared in Aiven's eyes.

Looking at his beautiful new wife, Aiven couldn't help but swallow gently, "Is it this exciting?"

After bathing and wearing a little perfume, Olivia was dressed in a black sheer nightgown, wearing golden high heels adorned with diamonds. As she walked, her fair and translucent skin was faintly visible, and she made her way gracefully to Aiven.

She raised her head to stare into his eyes, closing the distance step by step and pushing him onto the luxurious bed in the bedroom.

Slowly undoing the red headband she wore, allowing her waterfall-like black hair to cascade down, a shining gold chain with embedded sapphires wrapped around her soft, slender waist.

A pair of blue eyes, shimmering like a glorious starry river, stared at Aiven, as she lightly bit her jelly-like, tender pink lips, leaning to his ear: "Aiven, I... also want a baby."

Milan and Apsuya's son had already been born so early, and it was clear that Olivia felt a little pressure. And with Aiven's Extraordinary level having already reached Tier 4, more effort was necessary.

"Well, Hesi, it's not even dark yet."

The collar buttons of his shirt were already deftly undone by his wife.

"No time to waste, we still have to raise him to be a qualified monarch and a powerful wizard, which will require a lot of effort."

What else could Aiven say, being entirely subdued? Is this what the world after marriage is like?

I like it! Please, let's...

Hmm, his mouth was suddenly stopped by something sweet.

"Tsk, having a daughter as cute as you... tsk... would... be nice too..."

...

When Lady Crow Ye He'er, one of the High-Rank Totem Gods in the north, was enjoying her prosperity after siding with the Ancient Gods and obtaining their promise to split the native beliefs of the continent's north and south with Rain God Chuck.

While Aiven and Olivia tirelessly toiled for the bright future of the Duchy.

The Third Pole of the Extraordinary World in the northern continent, "Mother of Water" Melro's status was not too well.

Galliot Duchy's west coast.

In the central area of the Broken Star Sea Coast Zone, Santa Monica Bay.

The annual average temperature here was 23 degrees, the climate mild, and it was also one of the few premium Magic Element Nodes in the northern offshore region.

Starting from a protruding jetty on the beach over a hundred meters, heading in the direction of the "Broken Star Sea," advancing another fifty kilometers underwater lay a small yet uniquely quaint underwater palace.

"Huff... cough cough..."

A beautiful woman with a slightly pale face lay like a boneless figure on a stone throne, breathing heavily, occasionally coughing like an ordinary mortal.

With blue hair as dense as seaweed, adorned with luxurious Atrean-style gold ornaments on her upper body, her smooth suntanned skin, and a brilliant golden fish tail on her lower body.

"Ye He'er, you damn **!"

The angry low growl caused many of her similarly-looking attendants in the palace to shiver and lower their heads.

Clearly, the cloud mass level of Spiritual Origin was almost within reach. Previous battles for "Spiritual Origin" had long been commonplace; both sides should have had mutual Understanding, but...

Melro raised her slender right hand, where a green thread sourced from her palm continued to extend along her pale green veins toward her heart.

Even using Elementalization or Divine Power, she could not dispel this peculiar "germ" as she could in the past.

The core authority of the "Mother of Water" is [Fertility], with the subsidiary authority being [Aquatic Creatures]; hard measures didn't work, and there were no solutions with soft ones. She could only watch helplessly as it spread like a maggot in bones, even causing a High-Rank Totem God's Divine Body to begin withering.

Up until now.

Melro's eyes flickered with a hint of fear, finally sure that she was truly... ill!