"Divine shield coins are the circulating currency used to purchase goods in the Divine Realms. As long as the goods sold in the store are legal, you can buy them. However, due to your low level, your purchasing privileges are also low, so you can't buy anything good right now. Besides, you only have 2.5 divine shield coins, so you can't buy anything good!" Dao Lao replied.

Haoyun said disappointedly, "Ah? How long will it take for me to have enough money to buy decent equipment? As priests in the Divine Realms, shouldn't we all be equipped with powerful divine weapons?"

"Regarding this, you don't need to think too much. According to the regulations of the Divine Realms, trading weapons in public stores is prohibited. What we can buy in stores are mainly consumable auxiliary items. As you said, priests are equipped based on their level or job requirements." Dao Lao explained.

"So, when can I get an exclusive weapon? Oh, Dao Lao, that staff you took out earlier, is that your exclusive weapon? Hehe, can you take it out again and show it to me?" Haoyun asked again.

"To own a powerful divine weapon, you either obtain it through adventures or apply for it from higher authorities. However, with your current strength being so weak, the higher-ups won't issue you a weapon. So, your main task now is to participate in more missions, gain more experience, and help yourself accelerate the strengthening of your physique." Dao Lao said.

"As for my weapon, it must draw blood once it's taken out. So, if you want to get a beating from me, I'd be happy to take it out and show it to you now." Dao Lao said indifferently.

(The author wiped the sweat from his forehead, thinking: "Dao Lao, you'd better say it's a weapon.")

"Forget it, forget it! Last time you took out that broken stick, did I see anyone bleed? Hmph, stingy. I don't even want to see it now! Who do you think you are?" Haoyun immediately waved his hand without a good temper.

After speaking, Haoyun shifted his attention back to the divine shield coins on the system interface and muttered, "Oh, I wonder if divine shield coins can be withdrawn? I really want to see what divine shield coins look like!"

Hearing this, Dao Lao said, "Click on the three-dot icon in the upper right corner of the wallet interface, find the 'withdrawal function' inside, and then you can convert the divine shield coins into actual currency. However, the system only supports whole amounts for withdrawal. You can't exchange the currency after the decimal point."

Haoyun immediately followed Dao Lao's instructions and performed an operation. With a crisp sound of "ding," a slightly cold object appeared in Haoyun's palm.

Haoyun took a careful look and couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!"

Then, Haoyun immediately began to play with the shiny gold coin. The size and weight of the divine shield coin were very similar to the specialized gaming coins in the arcade. The only difference was that the divine shield coin was made of a special metal that emitted a golden light, resembling gold but with a significantly higher hardness.

The two sides of the divine shield coin were carved with different patterns. One side depicted a shield, with a strange symbol representing "1" inside the shield. The other side was engraved with a grotesque three-eyed skull, underneath which grew eight winding, octopus-like tentacles.

Huh? Why does this pattern of a skull with tentacles look so familiar? Haoyun rubbed the divine shield coin, feeling its consistently cold touch, while trying hard to recall if he had seen a similar pattern somewhere.

I got it! It's the symbol of the Hydra! The pattern carved on the back of the divine shield coin is almost the same as the symbol of the Hydra, right? However, the symbol of the Hydra consists of a human skull plus six octopus tentacles. The skull on the divine shield coin belongs to some kind of three-eyed unknown creature, with more tentacles growing below it.

Wow! I didn't expect that the divine shield coins in the Divine Realms would use the same symbol as the Hydra! Could it be that the Divine Realms are also antagonistic? Haoyun thought with surprise written all over his face.

Seeing this, Dao Lao scratched the back of his head and said somewhat awkwardly, "Hehe, hehe. Well, the original pattern on the back of the divine shield coin was the Circle of Balance. But recently, I don't know which official got obsessed with your human world's superhero comics and especially liked the villains in them. So, he came up with the idea of changing the pattern on the back of the divine shield coin during a meeting. Unexpectedly, the higher-ups all thought this idea was good. So, they approved changing the pattern on the divine shield coin to this."

This... the Divine Realms are too unserious, too hasty, aren't they? Haoyun felt that his three views were once again refreshed by the nonsensical behavior of the Divine Realms. Looking at the exquisite gaming coin-like appearance in his hand, which was more like a divine shield coin, Haoyun ultimately dismissed the idea of taking photos and showing off on his social media.

To ease this embarrassment, Dao Lao hurriedly waved his hand and urged, "Alright, alright! Don't dwell on these matters anymore! Quickly get ready. I'll help you check your body again. In the case of Liu Erwa's incident, you should have gained a lot of experience. So, your physical and mental strength should have improved significantly. Let's quickly increase your physical strength and mental strength. Judge Yan and Master Gu are waiting for us over there!"

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Hearing Dao Lao's words, Haoyun naturally felt very happy. So, he immediately stored the divine shield coin back into the system and, following Dao Lao's instructions, took a deep breath and stood once again inside the pale green light of the incubation system.

"I forgot to mention," Dao Lao said as he operated the incubation system to check Haoyun's body, "Once you obtain divine shield coins, your system will automatically open up the privileges to use the store. Your system should be completing the connection with the online mall of the Divine Realms soon. So, later on, while your body is being strengthened, you can browse through the stores in the Divine Realms roughly to understand the goods sold there."

Upon receiving this system message, Haoyun no longer paid attention to the various strange light shields imposed on him by the incubation system. Instead, he eagerly immersed his thoughts into consciousness and, according to the system's instructions, clicked on the newly appeared icon of the "online store" to start browsing the goods on the shelves.

However, after browsing through the first page of eight products, Haoyun was disappointed. Because he could only see this one page of products in the online store. Moreover, due to insufficient balance, out of these eight products, a total of seven were unaffordable for Haoyun.

Looking at the only available product on the store shelf, the Divine Joy Pure Water, Haoyun rolled his eyes in speechless frustration. What the heck is this Divine Joy Pure Water? Just a bottle of 300 milliliters of purified water, priced at 1 divine shield coin? Why don't you go rob someone?!

Haoyun closed the online store with an irritated huff and couldn't help but complain, "What kind of junk is this? Purified water, toilet paper, soap, slippers—what's this? Is the Divine Realms in the business of daily necessities? And there are only eight items in total. I thought the stores in the Divine Realms would be more impressive! Well, that's it? Boring."

Dao Lao gave Haoyun a disdainful look as if saying, "You know nothing, little brat," and said, "What do you understand? Your level is too low right now, so you can only have purchasing privileges for these few products. However, don't underestimate these products. They are much more powerful than they seem! Fine! Anyway, you can't use these things right now, and it's useless to tell you. I'll explain it to you when you have the opportunity to use these products."

Haoyun shrugged, indicating he didn't care. After all, apart from the bottle of overpriced purified water, he couldn't afford anything else. So, the disappointed Haoyun could only shift his attention back to the present. Haoyun was very curious about how far his body could be strengthened this time.

"According to the inspection of the incubation system, after you underwent the first body transformation and participated in the incident with Liu Erwa, your experience has indeed increased significantly. Your physical strength and mental strength have also been correspondingly enhanced. So, based on your current physical condition, I can help you patch up your body again this time. This patch can enhance your body's adaptability to abnormal energy and environmental fluctuations, so you won't feel so annoyed in Master Gu's teleportation spells anymore."

"In addition, this patch can further open up the growth space for your physique and mental strength. As a result, you can more effectively convert the experience gained during missions into improvements in physique and mental strength. Besides, since you're still a rookie, the efficiency of improving your physique and mental strength in the early stages is very high, and the effects will be more significant." Dao Lao explained.

Haoyun listened to Dao Lao's explanation while feeling his muscles, indicating that he hadn't felt any major changes.

Seeing this, Dao Lao continued, "Strictly speaking, after applying this patch, you have truly transcended the realm of humans. Now, not only do you have the protection of divine power in the Divine Realms, but this divine power will also gradually transform your body as you grow, gradually turning you from a lower realm creature with a soul into an upper realm saint with a holy body. By then, you will have officially become a genuine divine energy hunting priest."

"Of course, how long it will take for the divine power in your body to completely transform you from a flesh and blood being into a true saint depends on your own growth speed. Given your limited comprehensive strength, your body has not yet met the requirements for promotion. So, although your physique and mental strength have been improved to some extent, these improvements won't make you invincible like being injected with a super soldier serum."

"No matter how powerful you are now, it's only relative to lower realm beings. Even with the help of the divine power protection of the Divine Realms and the support of the mold energy hunting system, making you capable of confronting ordinary upper realm saints, you can only briefly resist them but not defeat them."

"So, you must focus on executing missions so that your physique and mental strength can be fully exercised. Only in this way can you promote the fusion of divine power with you and allow you to promote to a formal creature sooner, even if it's only a semi-saint. Because only then can you become more capable in future actions. After all, the mold energy we're going to hunt won't be as weak as the one that invaded Liu Erwa. If your strength is not strong enough, I may not be able to save your life by then."

Regarding Dao Lao's admonition, Haoyun naturally dared not neglect it and remembered it all after listening carefully. Because Haoyun also knew that as a mold energy hunting priest, he would inevitably encounter mold energy of very strong strength in the future. So, he must quickly enhance his strength to avoid making mistakes and letting the enemy take advantage in more dangerous tasks in the future.

Seeing Haoyun furrowing his brows, feeling a little down because his strength had only been moderately improved, Dao Lao's tone changed and he said, "Although this time I've only given you a small patch, it still makes you outstanding among lower realm creatures. So, your current strength isn't as bad as you think. Because, compared to humans on Earth's N38th timeline, your abilities in certain aspects have become a unique existence in the eyes of humans."

Hearing Dao Lao's words, Haoyun's interest was piqued again, "Oh? What abilities are you talking about?"

(The author, looking at Haoyun's slightly lewd expression, said, "What you want to ask most isn't about those abilities!")

"Do you know what the maximum G-value overload limit that humans can withstand is?" Dao Lao asked Haoyun.