Noa looked back and saw that Sakura was looking here curiously. He didn't know when he started looking.
"Ahem." Noa coughed lightly, a faint flush creeping up his neck as he realized he had been caught in an absent-minded moment. Composing himself, he walked over with a small, reassuring smile. "So, how are your studies going, Sakura?"
"Sakura is studying very seriously!" she replied immediately, her voice bright with enthusiasm. "The teacher said that Sakura can now read and write quite well. Look, Brother Noa!"
She eagerly pulled out her exercise book, its pages filled with neatly practiced Chinese characters. Though some strokes were still uneven and a few characters slightly crooked, the improvement was undeniable. Each line showed persistence, effort, and a quiet determination that made the work far more impressive than mere perfection.
Noa took the book and flipped through a few pages, nodding as he examined her progress. "Well done. You've improved a lot. Keep it up, and you'll master it in no time."
Encouraged by his praise, Sakura beamed with pride. In response, Noa gently tapped his forehead against hers—a playful gesture he had come to use as a reward. The light "head-butt" made her giggle, her earlier nervousness completely gone.
"Okay!" she said, nodding eagerly, her motivation renewed.
After checking on Sakura, Noa returned to his main task: updating the Divine Path System for everyone in the Great Tree Village.
Riveria had originally planned to experience the system herself, but unexpected responsibilities had come up, preventing her from leaving for the time being. As a result, Noa decided to proceed with updating others first, allowing the rest of the girls to test the system's features in her place.
He began with those closest to him—his companions and trusted allies. To ensure a smooth update, he even traveled across worlds, arriving in a battlefield where Esdeath was leading more than thirty subordinates in a hunt for dangerous super-species. The environment was harsh and unforgiving, filled with tension and the constant threat of attack, yet it served as an ideal testing ground for the system's capabilities.
While performing the updates, Noa also took a moment to observe the development of the Cangtian Order. Overall, its growth had been remarkably steady. In fact, after transitioning into the teachings of Path of Peace, it experienced a surge in expansion. The number of believers had more than doubled in a short period, and its influence continued to spread.
However, one issue remained unresolved. Despite the increase in followers, the power of faith had yet to condense into something tangible. This puzzled Noa slightly. Given the scale of belief and devotion, such a result should have already begun to manifest.
"Perhaps it simply needs more time," he thought quietly. Lacking a deeper understanding of this particular aspect, he chose not to dwell on it for now. Some processes could not be rushed, and forcing them might disrupt the natural balance he had carefully cultivated.
Once Esdeath and her team completed their updates and tested the Divine Path System, their reactions were overwhelmingly positive. The system's strength and versatility impressed them, but what stood out the most was the noticeable increase in their personal growth speed. Skills became easier to refine, abilities more responsive, and overall combat efficiency improved significantly.
Their unanimous approval confirmed Noa's expectations. The system was not only functional—it was transformative.
Encouraged by this success, Noa began to reconsider his initial limitations on its distribution. After some thought, he decided to expand access to the Divine Path System beyond his inner circle, extending it to ordinary members as well.
The reasoning was simple. The system's effectiveness was closely tied to the number of users. The more people who utilized it, the greater the feedback generated from shared skills and magic. This collective growth would, in turn, strengthen everyone connected to it.
Of course, this decision came with trade-offs.
By granting wider access, the distinction between his closest companions and the general members would inevitably narrow. The advantages once reserved for a select few would now become more evenly distributed. Additionally, the military merit reward plan he had previously considered would lose much of its purpose, as the system itself already provided substantial benefits.
Still, Noa did not see this as a true loss.
After all, everyone here had signed a contract and stood on the same side. Their goals aligned, their futures intertwined. There was little value in maintaining rigid hierarchies when collective strength offered far greater rewards.
"As for incentives," he mused, "there are always other ways."
Perhaps new reward systems could be introduced—ones that encouraged cooperation rather than competition. Unique benefits, special privileges, or opportunities for advancement could still be designed without limiting access to the system itself.
With that thought in mind, Noa moved forward without hesitation, continuing the updates and ensuring that more people could step onto the path he had created.
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