Chapter 421: Chapter 423 Divine Power Abundant, Amassing 50,000 Believers, Preparing to Set Off to Explore Divine Relics (8600 words)

Lide watched as Aile and the Red-eyed Lady in the black cloak left and took a deep breath.

He thought about the information the two had just revealed to him, his expression becoming somewhat serious.

The threat from this Divine relic far exceeded that of Risier City… The Evil God that hadn’t died had already broken part of the seal.

After frowning and pondering for a moment, Lide quietly took out the palm-sized Castro from his chest.

“Castro, immediately return to Dawn City and have Asreaga come to Green City right away.”

“Yes, Master.” Castro’s voice became somewhat cute after shrinking, and after responding, he flapped his little armored wings and flew out of the window.

This time, he needed external assistance.

But from the information Aile revealed, only the Divine Monster Asreaga could accompany him, the other Transcendents were slightly lacking.

“Spaceship storms could erupt at any moment in the shattered Plane, the Evil God that has broken part of its seal, and the ancient race still existing in the Plane… it’s no good place indeed.”

Lide’s dark pupils were as profound as the vast Star River.

“But now I should think about how to display miracles at tomorrow’s church seating… If executed well tomorrow, I can harvest a large wave of believers.”

This night the dark sky deepened, but many remained awake.

The establishment of the Dawn Church was not a joyful matter for the other Sects within Green City, as they now had a strong competitor.

Many bishops from different Sects were constantly praying to their Divine to obtain divine edicts, but none could elicit a response…

For other Sects, the seating of Dawn Church was bad news, but for the ordinary residents, it was exciting.

This meant that Lord Ilo had the closest connection with Green City, and this connection signified that in times of future danger, he would stand with Green City.

It must be said that this was the best news they had heard in recent months.

November 18th, overcast, no wind.

Today, Green City was exceptionally bustling, especially within the city center where it was crowded as if the whole city had come.

Because today was a day that was destined to be extolled by wandering bards, at the completion of Dawn Church, the great Lord Ilo would display miracles today and reward his humble and loyal believers.

Although many had seen Lord Ilo three days ago at the city gate, most had no concrete concept of the power of the Divine, mostly hearing how great Lord Ilo was.

Now, having the chance to witness the mythical miracles was a rare opportunity for most, definitely worth boasting about for a lifetime.

“Uncle Doma, you believe in Lord Ilo now? No way, I remember you were a believer of the Sowing God just the day before yesterday…”

“Shut up, what do you know, Lord Ilo is the future protector of Green City, why can’t I believe?”

“Uncle Doma, I see you are just greedy for Lord Ilo’s divine grace… you can give up, only the most devout believers will be watched by the great Lord, and his grace will definitely shower upon me, as my faith in the Lord is absolutely the most devout of everyone.”

“The great Lord fancies you? Hmph, like me, a pig butcher, is the kind of believers the Lord likes the most!!”

“…”

Residents who arrived early around the church were heatedly discussing, as the Dawn Sect had not yet begun formally preaching, so most attending the church seating ceremony were there out of greed for divine grace.

Most of these residents either followed other Sects or were outright Unbelievers, merely coming to bluff their way through, fantasizing about being noticed by Lide and receiving the Divine’s reward.

Among them, players were the most.

This group of standard Unbelievers always scoffed at the Divine, thinking it ludicrous that they would worship a god of Glory.

Everyone was here to play games, what’s there to worship in an NPC?

Although the game could change players’ physical conditions in reality, the psychological advantage led them to believe that they were the masters of Glory.

“What Divine? Sooner or later, they’ll topple them down.”

Faith sprouts from mystery and the unknown, players believing in a Divine of Glory would be ridiculous.

Of course, this was only the attitude of Huaxia players; whether the influx of international players when the game opened for the third time would change the status quo was unknown.

Of course, what attracted players more than attaining divine grace was…

“See that stone tablet? That’s inscribed with the doctrines of the Dawn Sect…”

“Damn, it’s really true!! Hahaha… Persistence, relentless struggle, unity, bravery, love for family and country, the twenty-character truth.

Maybe later the Sect’s spells will be named after these doctrines? Look at my Small Fireball Persistence Technique… Hahaha, I can’t, I’m going to die laughing here.”

“Don’t joke, it could actually happen… If so, we must join no matter what; while others use Frost Skill or Fireball, you start with, relentless struggle, bravery… it’s freaking awesome, isn’t it?”

These nonsensical players were just here to join the crowd and see if they could win a blessing from Lord Ilo.

Of course, another clear aim was also there–they were highly anticipating the powerf Lord Ilo to declare the doctrines of the Dawn Sect before everyone.

A powerful Divine, in a society dominated by divine rule, preaching love for country and home, persistence – the notion alone was delightfully contradictory.

For this, countless players spread the word, urging everyone to log on timely today.

Besides that, players were also eager to see–how would these natives react to such positively charged doctrines?

Would they be as dumbfounded as the players?

Of course, those waiting for a good show could never have imagined that the doctrines of the Dawn Sect came from the one they were watching, whom they regarded as the most powerful known NPC in Glory–Lord Ilo himself.

Time slowly passed, and as countless people waited eagerly, the clock hand reached 10 in the morning.

When the big clock, forged by Dwarves in the street’s bell tower, chimed crisply, the once dim sky suddenly brightened with a vast orb of light.

That mass of Holy Light appeared out of thin air, shining like the sun over the entire expanse of Green City.

Daylight emerged.

Although the orb was bright, it was not blinding; instead, it brought the warm comfort of a mother’s embrace.

In the land enveloped in Holy Light, those weary in body and spirit felt a surge of strength, revitalizing them instantly.

Feeling this, the crowd’s gaze turned fervent.

“Lord Ilo!!”

With a hushed shout, everyone as if ignited, began to cheer wildly.

The scene was like a drop of cold water in boiling oil, frenzied and fiery.

The giant orb obscured the inside view, but one could faintly see a figure standing tranquilly.

Lide, like the Creator God seated high above, gazed down upon the earth with a detached and serene look.

As the crowd cheered, the Power of Faith around him began to whirl madly, his aura exploding vastly at that moment.

Though he stood mid-air, his presence was like an immense lake suspended above in the sky, monumental and grand.

At this moment, it seemed stars moved beneath his feet, the Milky Way floated above his head, and even majestic mountains could only serve as his backdrop.

In this instant, only he walked alone in the heavens.

At the center of all, all creation bowed.

The divine system established by the Main God oozed its dignity freely.

Majestic mountains stood tall, thousands of feet high.

Below, the originally bustling crowd seemed to have paused at this moment.

It was utterly silent.

Divine Power enveloped like an unending prison.

Seeing this, Lide’s face grew increasingly indifferent as his voice pierced the sky, ringing in everyone’s ears.

“I, God of Dawn, shall control the Divine Position of Blood.

Today, in the name of the God of Dawn, I hereby decree–The Dawn Sect will officially continue its legacy within Green City from this day on.

Those who believe in me will, on the day the old days arrive and the world perishes, receive my protection.

Recite my name–Lord Ilo Kachar, and see light in the darkness, gain eternal life amidst disasters.”

A surge of language, striking directly at the soul, burst forth; at this moment, all of Green City’s residents looked up into the sky.

They heard, heard that divine decree from Lord Ilo Kachar, God of Dawn.

That cold yet immense voice seemed to resound within their souls.

At this moment, everyone below directly felt that pressure belonging to the Main God, and they even saw, in a trance, a grand figure sitting high above in the heavens.

And those eyes revealing themselves from the Holy Light, black eyes in which stars seemed to die and planes collapsed.

Its power and terror were unprecedented.

At this moment, he was the truth, the only, the eternal…

Originally, the crowd that harbored irreverence or other thoughts was devoured by fear at this moment, all their figments wiped instantly clean.

Many among them, under that overwhelming divine majesty, fell to their knees, legs weakening, beginning to repent and pray for their earlier blasphemous thoughts.

Is this what a divine being is?

The originally excited players felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on them in winter, completely dumbfounded.

The soul-piercing majesty from Lide felt like an ancient wild beast that tore through the heavens, opening its fierce eyes to stare at them.

The little schemes in their hearts burst like bubbles under that dignity.

A Divine being is the ultimate existence of Glory.

Everyone felt the true meaning of this statement at that moment.

While the crowd trembled below, Lide was in a good mood.

For the number of believers in his attribute panel was skyrocketing.

Over three hundred thousand residents had come to view the ceremony of the Dawn Church and his words that echoed through the sky had enveloped the entire Green City.

Thus, just by this one action, the number of nominal believers in the attribute panel shot up by an astonishing 30,000…

Extremely exhilarating.

Nominal believers can be considered as initial believers of a sect, but this belief is very superficial, and nominal believers may believe in several sects at once, which makes them rather fickle.

Only when nominal believers upgrade to official believers will they truly believe in one sect and be considered true believers.

Green City was too large, with a population tallying in the millions, where many residents did not follow any sect, and the number of nominal believers was even more countless.

The Sects on the Main Plane of Glory essentially act as rulers, requiring believers, as the ruled, to offer their faith in exchange for protection from the rulers.

The Sects actually demand more from the lower-level believers than they provide, and many priests even privately exploit the believers, urging them to donate money for additional protection, while the Holy Water able to heal injuries within the church is also openly priced and sold.

The operation of churches requires money, and this money is naturally extorted from the hands of the believers.

Believers provide their faith and contribute wealth in exchange for a certain level of protection; this is the underlying operational logic between various Sects on the Main Plane of Glory and their believers.

Of course, on the surface, it all seems very just and lawful–if you are not aware of the Sects’ operational mechanisms, you might truly be deceived by them.

Under such circumstances, aside from a portion of believers who benefit more, the faith of most people is actually not that deep.

This is why, when the Dawn Sect preaches in Dawn City, besides the elderly, it is very easy for believers from other Sects to convert.

Ultimately, the relationship between believers and Sects is a transaction, merely beautified countless times over.

“Those willing to believe in me, kneel now and pray.

The most devout believers will receive my most precious blessings.”

Lide hung suspended above hundreds of blades, never descending; the source of faith stemmed largely from mystery and the unknown.

As a Divine, maintaining sufficient distance from believers and establishing a sense of mystery was a necessary step.

The more unknown something is, the more people fear it, and the more they imagine it as all sorts of incredible, grand existences. In reality, believers do not believe in a real god, but in the desires or fears conjured from deep within their hearts.

The power of the Main God emanated once again.

Magnificent like a prison, captivating the soul.

That immense pressure once again pervaded the hearts of the crowd; ordinary individuals with weak will could not bear such dignity, and many residents fell to their knees, submitting under the Divine Power.

The residents forced to kneel did not feel anger but instead clasped their hands together, starting to pray in low, anxious tones, seemingly fearful of any punishment from the god, high like the midday sun and suspended in the heavens.

Meanwhile, in the distance, in the windows of tall buildings and in attics, a significant number of onlookers observed the Dawn Church and the figure of Lide.

Most of these people were priests from other Sects or certain powerful professionals, but their looks were not so kind.

“By the Hunting God above, I sense the Divine Power of Lord Ilo… I did not expect that a true Divine would really come to Green City.”

“My god, these heretical divines have descended upon the world, please provide guidance to your most loyal believers!”

“Hmph, how is Lord Ilo any match?! The great War God is not something these weak divines can contend with. The teachings of the War Temple continue, no one can obstruct us from spreading the glory of God!”

While most residents were delighted by Lide’s arrival, for the Sects, Lide’s presence posed a significant threat to their preaching, thus these divine believers harbored considerable apprehensions.

However, in this world, ultimately, power speaks the loudest, and the current Lide possesses a power these individuals cannot contend with.

Even dragons must coil in his presence.

Regardless of the varying thoughts of outsiders, at this moment, the crowd around the Dawn Church fell into a strange atmosphere, especially those who had become general believers of Lide. The once awe-inspiring Divine Power now oddly became amiable and approachable to them, a shift in mentality from being outsiders to becoming one of their own.

Lide could clearly feel the Power of Faith gradually accumulating from the crowd below, with many general believers beginning to transform into devoted believers.

The oppressive aura he emitted grew denser, and his status in the hearts of the believers soared.

For a full three minutes, the skies remained silent.

At this moment, there was no one left standing on the ground; even the unwilling players had crouched down, not daring to stand out.

“I have sensed the faith in your hearts, and now, I will bestow power upon the most devout believers among you…”

As his words fell, the believers below all lifted their heads in unison, their eyes filled with longing.

To be blessed by a Divine, what a fortunate event.

Lide’s body erupted into holy light at that moment, like a magic lamp being lit, radiating ever more dazzling brilliance.

Above Green City, it was as though a second sun had appeared.

Beneath this holy power, three figures slowly emerged from the crowd, floating upwards.

The spectators immediately erupted in surprised exclamations.

“That’s Sibino! Oh gods above, he has actually been chosen by Lord Ilo!”

“Hisss, Sean has been chosen too?! Unbelievable, Sean was a complete invalid! Having absolutely no Talent for any Profession, and yet he also has been chosen? Could it be that Lord Ilo truly only values faith?”

“Who is that girl in rags?”

“That girl seems to be… Nicole? She just arrived in Green City two days ago, and I even gave her a loaf of bread to eat! Hahaha, unbelievable! Lord Ilo has taken notice of her; she must remember me. Praise be to the goddess, praise Lord Ilo!”

Lide, his gaze intense, looked towards the three people who had floated up into the air; two were natives of Green City, whom he did not recognize, but their level of faith was supreme, reaching true Believers.

As for the last one… observing Nicole’s slightly excited and bewildered expression, Lide’s lips twitched–this little girl’s acting was incredibly lifelike.

The Twilight Sect in the Underworld was now on the right track, managed well as long as there was enough power to suppress any issues, but spreading the word in Green City was still a major problem, so Lide had transferred Nicole over.

In terms of managing a Sect, Nicole was absolutely top-notch in Dawn City, even the chairman of the City Hall, Harrison, might not compare to this girl whom he had specifically nurtured for several years.

Ideally, he should have sent his Divine Priest Nile who was now tasked with using the Power of Faith to nurture Magic Plants, playing a larger role, and Nile’s managerial skills were far inferior to her sister’s.

“Children of my faith, your devout worship has won my appreciation; now, I shall bestow upon you a mighty power.”

Having said that, under the envious, jealous looks from everyone below, he waved his hand, and three glowing orbs of holy power shot straight out from his body and surged into the bodies of the three.

However, unbeknownst to the onlookers, the power contained in the orb flying towards Nicole was tenfold that of the other two.

As these orbs infused with the Power of Faith merged into their bodies, they began furiously transforming them.

Nicole, in her beggar’s clothes, let out a muffled groan, her delicate eyebrows tightly furrowed; being transformed by the Power of Faith was not without pain, posing a definite challenge for the girl.

But fortunately, she gritted her teeth and persevered.

Lide watched as hundreds of thousands of units of the Power of Faith on his attribute panel once again dwindled to nothingness, not a trace left, causing him to smile wryly.

Without sacrifice, there are no gains; this investment would make future preaching much easier, and he would eventually earn back a hundredfold or even a thousandfold.

Under everyone’s gaze, the auras of the three figures floating in the air began to rise rapidly.

Level 1, Level 2, Level 3…

Level 7, Level 8…

“Sibino has actually reached level 9? By the goddess, he was only level 3 before!”

“Look at Sean, he, he has broken through to level 10!?

How is this possible? Sean was attacked by a Demon Beast in his youth, and his body’s muscles were long since necrotic and atrophied; now he actually exudes the aura of a level 10!!

Oh Creator God, is this what being blessed by the Divine feels like?”

“The aura of that beggar girl is still climbing… Level 13, Level 14, Level 15, Level 15?? Is, is my eyesight failing me??!!”

“Miss Nicole has actually broken through to level 15? I, I must be dreaming… When she took the bread from my hand yesterday, she didn’t have any aura of a Profession holder at all…”

The people below who witnessed the spectacle were all nearly going mad.

This was a miracle.

Before everyone’s eyes, one of the invalids had just become an Advanced Profession holder, and that ragged-dressed girl had even broken through the astonishing Level 15.

The direct impact of the event almost ignited the emotions of the ordinary residents, intensifying them to the extreme.

Level 15! That’s someone they wouldn’t even dare breathe loudly around!

In the entirety of Green City, that level represented peak combat capability; only Lord Rock was a recognized Transcendent in this vast city.

Under the intense impact of several people’s rapid level advancement, the number of Believers on Lide’s attribute panel was skyrocketing.

Originally, the number of Believers in the Dawn Sect was around 160,000, including some from Alien Races such as Half-Elves and Beastmen. Now, the total had surged past 210,000, with the new 50,000 all being residents of Green City.

This rate of increase was simply outrageous.

Even Lide’s usually impassive face softened a bit at this moment.

Indeed, humans were truly the main battleground for the Divine, the speed of harvesting Believers was exhilarating.

After calming his emotions a bit, his gaze shifted to the three people in the air, scanning each one before finally resting on Nicole.

“I sense your devotion, tell me your name, child.”

Nicole’s face showed a mix of surprise and fear as she stammered,

“L-Lord, my name is Nicole…”

“Nicole?” Lide silently praised her acting skills, “From today onwards, I appoint you as the White-robed Bishop of the Dawn Sect.

In my absence, you will manage the Dawn Sect.”

Hiss~

The crowd below gasped upon hearing this. Manage the Dawn Sect? Just like that?

Is this what being favored by the Divine leads to?

It was incredibly shocking!

From beggar to the bishop of a sect, and her level had even risen to 15.

What a miraculous turn of life.

Not just the natives were shocked; the players who saw this scene were also envious to the point of turning green.

“Damn, I feel like I’ve sucked a lemon, good lord, up to level 15 in just a few minutes?”

“Damn, had I known, I would have converted too, damn our elementary school moral education teacher!! Why, why endure this agony…”

“This Lord Ilo is definitely doing this on purpose. The fact that he pretends not to see me, a handsome guy right under his nose, must be because he’s jealous I’m more handsome than him!!”

“It’s not fair!! I don’t accept!! All caps, DO NOT ACCEPT, that chosen guy was right beside me, surely Lord Ilo made a mistake, damn it, there goes my chance for a stunning turnaround!!”

But no matter how jealous the players were, they could only grumble in the dark. They didn’t even dare to meet Lide’s gaze–this boss was too powerful; under his imposing might, they didn’t dare to breathe loudly.

After performing a miracle, Lide’s reputation in everyone’s mind was skyrocketing to an unimaginable extent, almost reaching its apex.

Those bishops from various sects observing covertly were now looking at each other with eyes filled with horror and barely concealed panic.

They truly hadn’t anticipated the terrifying nature of the miracle revealed by Lord Ilo.

Boosting the power of Believers! No need for fancy tricks; just this was enough to make everyone eagerly rush to him.

In the Divine Plane of Glory, power was always the top criterion.

Right now, this exaggerated level-up happening right under their eyes was an indescribable psychological shock for these bishops.

Though reluctant to acknowledge yet another powerful rival, everyone had to admit, the heavens of Green City were about to change.

In the future, they would have a powerful competitor, one that possessed a sitting Divine.

Many bishops exchanged glances with those around them, their eyes reflecting bitterness.

“Oh my god, this heretical Divine has almost shaken me, please respond to our call and grant me an oracle…”

“My believers, I am watching over all of you, Nicole will manage the Dawn Sect on my behalf, you must follow her commands.”

“Believers of mine, recite my name–Ilo Kachar–and in darkness, you shall see light, in calamity, you shall have eternal life…”

“Eternal life…”

“Eternal life…”

After Lide’s last words, a burst of Holy Light shone from him, and then his figure vanished into thin air.

All that remained was the echo of “eternal life” resounding continuously.

The residents below, after Lide’s disappearance, were still dazed for a long time…

The impact on them today was too great, many still muddled in their thoughts.

—

—

—

At the distant Elvis Tavern, 17th-level Elf Archer Master, Ariel, stood by the window on the fifth floor with several elegant and proud figures, gazing intensely at the dissipating figure in the sky.

Her expression was complex.

“Ariel, can this Lord Ilo really be trusted?”

Behind her, a tall elf took a step forward, her robe embroidered with exquisite patterns of the Life Tree shining brilliantly, her presence having reached Transcendent.

“We really have no more choices, do we?” Ariel replied, her eyes bitter as she turned to look at the Transcendent Elf Spellcaster.

“This is our last resort. Most of our kind don’t support our journey to that shattered Plane…

But only we know, the Sun Chasing Bow is only one step away from completion.

Without the protection of the Sun Chasing Bow, with what will the elves resist this disaster that even the Elf Gods tremor in fear?”

“Elder Gunila, the elders by the side of the Elf King can no longer contact the Elf Gods, we have lost our last dependents… We are no longer that ancient race under the protection of the entire Divine.

The elves now are too fragile, we can’t place all our hopes on the gods responding to our call before the day of old descends…”

If Lide had been here to hear this news, he would have been astounded; the elves had lost contact with their gods, a bombshell piece of news indeed.

Believers losing contact with their gods often meant the gods had fallen…

However, the elves had as many as 12 gods, unlikely to have fallen all at once, but this clearly indicated that something serious had severed the powerful existences’ connection with the elves on the Main Plane.

The Transcendent Elf in the exquisite mage robe paled, warning in her gaze.

“Ariel, do not speak recklessly! The gods… will be fine…”

If the Elf Gods were having issues, the very existence of the elves was in question.

Upon being scolded, Ariel snapped out of it and hastily said,

“You’re right, it’s impossible for the gods to be in trouble, but they might have been obstructed.

We cannot guarantee that we will be able to reestablish contact with the gods in the coming time, so the Sun Chasing Bow is our best safeguard.”

“Ella, you are one of the smartest among the Elvis Elves. Our departure from the Ancient Forest without informing the Elf King also speaks volumes about the trust we place in you.

This effort must succeed, for we cannot afford the consequences of failure.”

The tone of the Extraordinary Elf Spellcaster was laden with an indescribable gravity.

Behind her, the unspoken elves also exhibited eyes full of the same sentiment.

Elves are no longer what they once were…

Only the lady with red eyes, cloaked in a black mantle inside the room, remained calm, her thoughts unreadable.

—

Nonetheless, the miracles unveiled by Lide in Green City continued to spread, showing no signs of abating.

After all, raising a disabled person to Level 10, or a beggar woman to Level 15, were miracles the residents of Green City had only ever heard from wandering bards.

However, this time, they witnessed these events with their own eyes, and it left the residents in a state of restlessness.

Who wouldn’t want to enhance their own power?

Level 15! A beggar elevated to Level 15 by the grace of Lord Ilo… Since even a beggar could achieve this, why couldn’t they earn Lord Ilo’s favor?

And those professionals who had originally been non-believers were now wavering. They had strived for over a decade, yet none could match a single moment of kneeling in worship; the impact on them was immense.

Even some followers of other sects had started to waver, turning their heads back repeatedly as they passed the Dawn Church, their eyes brimming with longing…

Securing divine grace and reaching Level 15 swirled in the minds of Green City’s residents like a nagging curse.

As for the singularly established Dawn Church, its threshold was nearly worn down by the constant traffic.

Nicole, the chosen one, had formally taken over the evangelism for the Dawn Sect recently, becoming Lide’s right-hand assistant.

As for those two Level 10 believers, Nicole kept them busy, making them stroll around with a commanding aura, effectively turning the pair into walking billboards that attracted others incessantly.

After leaving the Dawn Church, Lide immediately returned to Dawn Manor, leaving the management of the Dawn Sect to the capable young Nicole.

With his support, there was absolutely no one in Green City daring enough to provoke Nicole–his personally appointed White-robed Archbishop.

On the day of performing the miracle, just as Lide was making preparations to summon the elves for a discussion about exploring divine relics, an alert from the system momentarily startled him.

“Ding~ You successfully performed a miracle, and within six Sunshine Hours, you gained the respect and aspiration of over 500,000 people; your auxiliary identity–‘Lord Ilo’s Legend Level’+10, Dawn Sect’s evangelism success rate in Green City increased by 30%, and the attraction to believers increased by 30%.”

Is this for real?

This trait, timed as if prearranged, perfectly complemented the evangelism efforts of the Dawn Sect.

“Not bad, it suits my taste.”

Though the reward was decent, he didn’t dwell on it excessively, as there were more pressing matters to address.

After a brief contemplation, he instructed the guards outside to call for Ella, the Level 17 elf.

With time pressing, as the Old Days might arrive at any moment, he had already decided to explore the divine relics with the elves and did not wish to delay; the sooner they set out, the better.

But before departing, he intended to have a discussion with the elves and also meet Ella’s companions and the girl in the blood cloak.