I! Cleaner!-Chapter 1060 - 976: The Divine Ascent Stairway (Part 1)

Is this the [[Yesterday House]] that the snake handler mentioned?

Wearing the elk mask that belonged to the snake handler director, and sitting at the empty seat at the end of the bone table, Leon couldn't help but glance around the surroundings, and a look of surprise appeared in his eyes.

As a stronghold of the Slaughter King Association in the Source God Platform, except for the central bone table which appeared somewhat grim, the overall style of the [[Yesterday House]] was luxurious yet solemn, even exuding a faint sense of serious dignity.

A gentle glow, akin to moonlight, seeped down from the rib-vaulted ceiling that was about three stories high, condensing into form on the surface of the bone table, and flowing slowly like mercury. Twelve pairs of ancient-style chandeliers floated above the table, with hundreds of pale silver candles burning with unceasing, flickering flames.

The clear and distinct flame of the candles shattered into countless dazzling golden specks, cascading down like thrown sand, illuminating the black-and-white patterned floor, the scores of pale gray high-back chairs around the table, and the dozens of pairs of eyes eagerly looking towards him.

"Thank you."

Looking at the "snake handler director" with the elk mask at the end of the table, the man in the white snake mask couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth, then spoke with a rather bright smile: 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Mr. Snake Handler, you have indeed done us a great favor. Our Slaughter King Association's millennium-long vision is finally realized today with your help!"

"Enough with the nonsense!"

Confronted with the snake handler director's sarcastic praise, the snake handler director, still trapped in Leon's heart, snorted and urged coldly as he did several times before in past gatherings:

"I've done what you asked according to the agreement. Now it's time for you to keep your promise!"

"Heh, don't worry, we won't go back on our word."

Having sensed the "snake handler director's" aura and soul wave, and confirming it was indeed him despite being less distinct than before, the white snake instantly put his mind at ease and said with a smile:

"Although once you come out from the depths of the Source God Platform, we'll again become enemies, we're happy to see you succeed in what you need to do, so we won't trip you up on this."

"Hmph!"

After hearing the man in the white snake mask's answer, the real snake handler director couldn't help but snort in anger, while Leon, disguised as the "snake handler director," unintentionally glanced in his direction.

Though the white snake didn't explicitly state it, both understood the implication of his words.

With the weakening of the Watcher's Palace, the [[True Gods]] can freely come and go in the world, making the world the best "hunting ground" for the Slaughter King Association's deities, with humans serving as the "resources" to elevate themselves. The richer the "resources", the better, naturally.

Thus, if the snake handler director truly succeeded in reviving 1.2 billion humans as planned, it would be a great boon for them... though those regarded as "resources" might not agree.

...

Hmm... today the snake handler director seems a bit different?

After being glanced at by the "snake handler director," the smile on the white snake's face faltered slightly. For some reason, he felt a chill run down his spine, as if something dangerous was watching him.

However, as the snake handler director's aura hadn't changed and being a being transformed by the [[Crimson Blood]], his power indeed surpassed his own, the white snake didn't say much. He simply raised his hand to signal "surrender," smiled and made a gesture of invitation without further probing.

"The blockade on the Source God Platform has been lifted. Now, as long as you actively open the Path to godhood, you can pass anytime... But please be well-prepared, as carving one's ego is not an easy task. If you fail yourself, it cannot be considered a breach of our promise."

With the words of the snake handler director, both the "snake handler director" and the snake handler director felt the world around them suddenly "open up."

It felt like the glass sheet pressing down had been removed, and the once elusive and blurry Source God Platform now became quite "distinctly visible," with a peculiar sensation that a mere twitch of thought could directly "permeate" into this world.

Is this what it feels like to embark on the Path to godhood?

Suppressing the strange urge to merge with the world, Leon struggled to maintain the snake handler director's [[Abnormal Metamorphosis]] secret technique, embedding all his aura and fluctuations into the Crimson Heart and the snake handler director, keeping them tightly concealed.

Then he completely relinquished control, letting the Crimson Heart, controlled by the snake handler director, begin to beat vigorously, propelling his entire body to "seep" into the depths of the Source God Platform.

As the throbbing of the Crimson Heart became increasingly intense, a path in the truest sense appeared under the gaze of the [[True Gods]], slowly materializing beneath the "snake handler director's" feet.

The Ascending Stairs of Godhood... it's been a long time since they've been seen.

Watching the invisible stairs appearing one by one under the "snake handler director's" feet and extending towards the depths of the Source God Platform, a glimmer of curiosity couldn't help but show in the eyes of the members of the Slaughter King Association.

As a path every Ascender must traverse to ascend to godhood, the Ascending Stairs of Godhood not only leads to the Source God Platform but is also a manifestation of a person's mastery of their powers. The further an Ascender treads, the stronger the powers they aim to wield, and the deeper their understanding and mastery of their powers.

Generally speaking, as long as one can tread ten levels in any single power, the strength of becoming a True God won't be weak.

Take the example of the thrush before becoming the [[Disaster Avoidance]], he was once the God of Chaos and Calamity, and his steps divided into the stages of chaos and calamity. He took eleven steps on the chaos staircase and thirty-five on the calamity staircase, making him a standout among ordinary True Gods.

As for the snake handler director's stairs, they are estimated to be divided into [[Justice]], [[Blood]], and [[Valor]] sections, and if he really traded all of his valorous powers, then it should only have the [[Justice]] and [[Blood]] sections.

After a glance at the invisible stairs extending into the distance beneath the "snake handler director's" feet, the white snake withdrew his gaze without much expectation.

Since the snake handler director is not a justice bloodline himself and gained his justice power through the bloodline exchange ritual, his understanding of justice power should be quite limited, similar to the thrush's additional "Chaos", with reaching ten steps already being impressive.

Considering the [[Blood]] power seized by the [[Red King]] and crowned by the truth known as [[Crimson Overlord]], he likely can't progress on the Blood section at all.

So, after traversing ten levels of the Justice section, he would likely be stuck at the first level of the Blood section, and then naturally fall from the Ascending Stairs of Godhood, plunging into the deepest part of the Source God Platform.