Chapter 293: Entering the Base
Chapter 293: Entering the Base
An elderly priest with white hair held an oil lamp, following the usual routine, lighting the torches one by one.
"O merciful and great Moon Goddess, a devoted believer prays to you, may there be a next life..."
"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light..."
Most of the passing novice priests gave him strange looks, as if he were an eccentric.
The gods have fallen!
Even the Moon Goddess was no exception.
The once-holy Sanctuary had taken it upon itself to resurrect the goddess, but after hundreds of years of effort, nothing had been found.
Now, the power of foreign deities had infiltrated, and clinging to the so-called goddess was merely self-deception.
Decades ago, the upper echelons of the Sanctuary had already abandoned the idea of resurrecting the goddess and sought other alternatives.
Of course, there were still some who clung to the so-called 'faith,' and these people gradually became outcasts.
"Mentor."
A young man who had been lighting the lamps ahead turned back:
"Will God really save us?"
"Self-salvation comes before divine salvation," the old priest replied with a smile, quoting the scriptures:
"God will not save those who willingly fall and lose hope. When faced with despair, a steadfast heart will bring forth miracles."
"Is that so?" The young man's eyes filled with uncertainty:
"They say the goddess is dead, and we should believe in other deities. Praying to stone statues and clay figures will bring nothing."
"Nonsense!" The old priest's expression darkened:
"Only mortals can die; gods are eternal."
"Moreover, we believe in deities not to seek anything, but because their guidance is righteous."
"Only demon gods tempt with benefits; the true gods seek peace and justice."
"Yes, mentor," the young man bowed his head:
"You are right."
The old priest shook his head lightly, knowing that these words would not convince the other. Once the seeds of doubt had taken root in his heart, it was only a matter of time before they sprouted and led him astray, just like the other disciples who had once studied under him.
Alas! The Sanctuary was no longer the same; it no longer guided people towards the sublime but instead led them to hell.
"Ssss..."
At that moment, a black-robed priest, accompanied by two blasphemy beasts, approached them, blocking their path.
The foul odor and hissing of the blasphemy beasts caused the young man to instinctively hide behind the old priest.
"Frank!"
The black-robed priest's expression turned cold:
"By the order of the Second Elder, I am arresting you on charges of 'communicating with demon gods.'"
"Communicating with demon gods?" The young man was taken aback and hurriedly asked:
"Senior, is there some misunderstanding? Mentor has never left the base; how could he communicate with demon gods?"
"Swoosh!"
The black-robed priest shook his hand, revealing a scroll with the portraits of a man and a woman.
"Frank, you know them, don't you?"
"Jerry, Nicole," the old priest nodded:
"I know them; they are good children who still hold onto their faith in these circumstances."
"That's it, then." The black-robed priest said:
"Let's go!"
"This..." The old priest was startled, as if realizing something, and nodded with a bitter smile:
"Alright."
"Mentor!" The young man's face was filled with terror:
"No!"
Although young, he knew what the black-robed priest's attire represented. The Sanctuary's enforcers only took action against those who went against the 'faith,' and once they did, it was almost certain they wouldn't return.
"Hmph!"
The black-robed priest scoffed:
"You're coming with me too."
"What?" The old priest's expression changed:
"He's just a child; he doesn't understand."
"Whether he understands or not is irrelevant," the black-robed priest said sternly:
"Let's go!"
...
The old priest's body trembled, his expression shifting through struggle, resentment, and anger, ultimately settling into resignation.
"Oh God, bestow your blessings upon us!"
At his lament, the black-robed priest smirked and reached out, but his movement suddenly froze.
"Who?"
He spun around, looking into the dark corner, as the two Blasphemy Beasts by his side roared and pounced forward.
"Shua!"
Two intersecting cold lights appeared out of thin air.
Holy Cross Slash!
"Peng!"
The two Blasphemy Beasts cried out and were thrown back, while the black-robed priest stood frozen in shock.
A cross-shaped crack appeared on his body.
"Chila..."
The crack expanded, splitting his body into four pieces, and blood spattered from the wound, causing a moment of silence in the room.
"Run!"
A female priest with a sword in hand stepped out from the corner, gesturing to the old man and the youth:
"Hurry, leave this place."
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇';
'Hello, my name is Jerry. I am a novice priest and a member of the Secret Order. I have a question about the Divine Realm Fragment. Can you help me?'
'Sure, Jerry. The Divine Realm Fragment is a powerful artifact that can enhance your connection to the Divine Realm. It is said to be a piece of a shattered divine realm, and its power is immense. It can grant you profound insights and blessings from the gods themselves.'
'Wow, that sounds incredible! I want to find one and harness its power. How can I obtain it?'
'The Divine Realm Fragment is a rare and elusive artifact, Jerry. It is not something you can easily acquire. It often appears in places of great spiritual significance, like ancient temples or sacred ruins. You must seek it out in these locations, but be warned, it is well-guarded by powerful creatures and challenges.'
'I understand. I will embark on a quest to find it. Thank you for the information.'
'You are welcome, Jerry. May the gods guide you on your journey.'
'Thank you, and farewell.'
'Goodbye, Jerry.'
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
