Half an hour later, the priestling returned to the cathedral and said to Truth with a somewhat guilty conscience:
“Holy Maiden, I found the God-guides, but they refuse to come see you no matter what. They are currently staying in the Life Goddess’s Asylum and claim they are protected by Rule 29 of the Church, saying you cannot lay a hand on them.”
“What is Rule 29?”
“Uh… I think it’s about reporting and adjudication or something. It mainly states that the Church protects whistleblowers. Until the matter is resolved, no member of the Church is allowed to intimidate or coerce the whistleblower… I’m sorry, Holy Maiden, I usually don’t do a good job memorizing the Church’s 512 regulations.”
“Whether you memorize that stuff or not doesn’t matter. Fine, go play,” Truth said, waving her hand.
“Go play? You… You mean I don’t have to go to the Academy for classes today?!”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
“Thank you, Holy Maiden!” After bowing, the priestling ran off excitedly. This was great; he could skip his exams today!
Truth closed her eyes again. She intended to spend the next two or three days like this. She estimated that the Church Inspector would arrive in a couple of days.
Since the God-guides decided to confront her first, she would deal with the Church inspection before anything else.
Then, she would deal with the God-guides.
Wasn’t the responsibility of a God-guide to guide lost souls to the Goddess? Now that she, the Saintess, was here, there was no longer any need for them to exist…
***
“The Ninth Saintess must have believed from the very beginning that as long as she is here, there is no need for us God-guides to exist. So, she will definitely find a way to eliminate us in the future!”
Inside the Life Goddess’s Asylum, the only three remaining God-guides of Deya City were hiding beneath the statue of the Goddess of Life. Only here did they feel a sense of security.
No matter how arrogant the Ninth Saintess was, she wouldn’t dare kill someone right in front of the Goddess, would she?
“Just hold on for two more days. The Inspector is about to arrive. We must preserve the evidence and witnesses. Then, we can expose the Ninth Saintess’s true colors!”
“Hmph, she probably never expected us to go down with her. I hope she can get some good sleep these next few days, haha.”
“It’s just that our futures are ruined…”
“Which do you choose, your future or your life? If we report the Ninth Saintess now, the things we usually do will at most get us twenty years in prison. Besides, our dealings with Wangsheng City won’t be exposed!”
The Sylvia Kingdom has a death penalty, but it is rarely applied to Church members unless they commit a grave sin like desecration—such as pleasuring oneself to a portrait of the Goddess of Life…
Indeed, the four God-guides of Deya City, led by Clar, had all secretly spent money in the red-light district of Wangsheng City.
They had also attended private parties held by certain Great Families and brought back local specialties that were impossible to find within the Sylvia Kingdom—self-portraits of the Goddess of Life.
The unclad version.
Wangsheng City does not respect the God, and it is common knowledge that they enjoy desecration.
Their methods of desecration are diverse and strange.
For example, the girls in the red-light district especially like to dress up as the two female deities, the Goddess of Life and the Earth Goddess, to receive guests.
This was also why the four Desecrators of Deya City frequently visited Wangsheng City.
Most people treat the God with awe; a small minority feel hatred, indifference, or… lust.
To make the Goddess, who is normally worshiped by tens of thousands, moan beneath them was simply too wonderful.
Although people knew it was just roleplay, as long as their minds and bodies were satisfied, who cared if it was real or fake?
Therefore, after learning that Wangsheng City had sent a delegation to Deya City to meet with the Ninth Saintess, the God-guides became anxious.
“As long as we can timely force the Ninth Saintess out of power, Wangsheng City won’t be able to establish diplomatic relations with Deya City. Our affairs in Wangsheng City won’t be exposed. Otherwise, the Nobles over there will sell us out sooner or later. And you all know the Ninth Saintess’s methods—she kills without blinking an eye. So, we must strike first!”
***
Northern Empire, near the Northern Frontier Mountains.
Under the guidance of Vieno’s student, Suna arrived safely at the foot of Huoyun Island. This was the first time she had seen a “true” Disaster.
Although the Mist at her doorstep was also a Disaster, it lacked the grand atmosphere of Huoyun Island, which naturally inspired a sense of awe. In comparison, the Mist seemed like a knockoff…
“What terrifying cracks. What world-shaking thing did Heavenfire Lord do?” Gardelia, Vieno’s student, gazed at the massive Huoyun Island in shock.
In her memory, Huoyun Island was supposed to be an indestructible, immovable existence.
At this moment, a large group of Adventurers and students gathered beneath Huoyun Island.
Most of them were around the Third Rank and Four Rank, as the Material falling from Huoyun Island happened to be what those at their level could use.
“Boom!”
Just then, the massive Volcano on Huoyun Island erupted once more. Countless Meteorites fell from the sky again, and scorching lava continuously flowed into the cracks to repair the entire island.
Some lava even flowed directly off the island to the ground, forming rare lava waterfalls that were very striking amidst the ice and snow.
“How magnificent… Senior Gardelia, do you think we can go up to the island and take a look?” For some reason, Huoyun Island held a very special attraction for Suna.
“No, that is a very dangerous thought. Do you know how high the temperature on Huoyun Island is? If a common person went up, they would be charred in less than five seconds. Aside from those with fire resistance, ordinary Adventurers can only stay up there for barely half an hour once they reach the sixth rank and carry high-grade fire resistance potions.”
Gardelia flatly rejected Suna’s idea. If the Teacher hadn’t requested her to bring Suna today to see the world, she wouldn’t have come out at all.
Humans are truly troublesome. It was much more comfortable to stay by Princess Wilona’s side.
“Then what should we do now? Teacher Vieno said Disaster Faith seem to get some Rare rewards or something. I think I count as half a Heavenfire Follower.”
Suna waved the Fire Pattern Staff in her hand. Heavenfire Followers usually carried the Heavenly Fire trait and the unique scent of Huoyun Island, making them very difficult to fake. Suna possessed both.
“I wouldn’t know about that. My duty is to bring you here safely and then take you back safely. Teacher didn’t tell me anything else.”
Gardelia shook her head. But in the next second, several brilliant rings of fire suddenly emerged from Huoyun Island.
The fire rings circled twice in the air before rushing toward the Adventurers below, quickly circling around everyone.
“Heavenfire Lord has started selecting the next batch of suitable candidates for the Envoy selection again!”
“Pick me, pick me! I’ve been studying the Fire Element like crazy since the Second Rank just for today!”
“Heavenfire Lord, look at me!”
The Adventurers instantly became excited. Gradually, the fire rings began to stop on a few people, forming Power Shields that could insulate them from high temperatures, and then they slowly drifted toward Huoyun Island in the sky.
“What’s happening now?” Suna asked in surprise as she watched the selected Adventurers.
“It seems to be a habit of Heavenfire Lord. It likes to snatch some Fire Element Adventurers with potential to conduct tests. For Fire Element Adventurers, this is both an Opportunity and the gates of hell.”
Being chosen by Heavenfire Lord was likely a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, so the selected Adventurers would almost always fight for their lives to complete the test and would not take the initiative to give up.
Heavenfire wouldn’t place many obstacles in their way either; it all depended on whether the Adventurer wanted to risk it.
Consequently, the death rate for the “Skyfire’s Favored Test” had reached one-third, and the probability of being seriously injured with permanent aftereffects was nearly eighty percent.
However, as long as one could become Heavenfire’s Envoy, none of that mattered!
“We should probably avoid this.” Gardelia pulled Suna, wanting to retreat.
“They say most people who take the Envoy test end up dead or injured. Although there’s no Level requirement for this test, it has been evaluated by the Adventurers’ Association as a test of Intermediate Rank difficulty or higher. So, as a Second Rank, don’t even dream about it. Besides, the death rate for Adventurers below the Intermediate Rank taking the test is nearly one hundred percent. I’m afraid Heavenfire Lord might take an interest in you, so let’s try some other time… Wait?!”
Before Gardelia could finish her sentence, she saw a ring of fire fly rapidly from the distance toward her and Suna.
In the next second, a Power Shield that could insulate high temperatures enveloped Suna…
I’m finished!
Gardelia’s heart nearly stopped. She could only watch as Suna slowly drifted toward the sky.
The Task Vieno gave her was merely to ensure Suna’s safety, but she never expected this girl to actually be chosen by Heavenfire Lord!
At the same time, Suna looked completely bewildered.