Chapter 450

Something has been changed.

It's different.

In these days, many believers in the Central City of the East District have, more or less, felt that something is not quite right.

It's as if, after returning from a long business trip, one suddenly can't read the company's atmosphere, or after returning to school from a serious illness, one can't figure out the relationships in the class...

Although everything on the streets is the same as usual, and the hymns in the sanctuary are still loud, sensitive people can vaguely feel a subtle difference...

Even though everyone is still warm and polite when they meet, and still well-mannered when talking, why is it that in the smiles and eyes of some people, there appears a certain indescribable alienation and barrier? Even, occasionally, in the eyes looking at others, there appears more or less some joy and relaxation, and even... relief and sympathy.

How strange, as if something good has happened?

Only oneself is kept in the dark.

"It's so strange, I always feel like everyone is avoiding me lately."

"What are you talking about, what an absurd thought."

"Last night, I always felt your tone was weird when you answered the phone."

"I was listening to the priest's sermon in the sanctuary, I have a bit of a cold, I'm sorry."

"What about Joanna?"

"She's also, um, we are listening to lectures together at the Mutual Aid Society, and after listening, we all go running together to exercise... panting is normal, after all, we sweat."

"The Mutual Aid Society, I haven't participated yet, can you take me with you?"

"Ah, ah? This, um, maybe next time. Speaking of which, how is work lately, are you still very envious?"

The hesitant girl was evasive and proactively changed the topic. The simple young man immediately smiled honestly, took out the opera tickets he had finally snatched, initiated an invitation, and walked down the sanctuary steps side by side with the girl.

Good times were about to begin.

Unfortunately, a voice came from behind.

"Don't forget the time for afternoon prayer."

The kind priest at the gate reminded with a smile, making the girl suddenly realize, her expression apologetic: "Sorry, I might..."

"No, no problem, next time is the same!"

The young man smiled reluctantly, stood in place, lost, and watched the girl and the priest walk into the sanctuary, disappearing behind the corner.

For a long time, he was unwilling to leave.

Such scenes, more or less, were happening everywhere. The strangeness was more or less, but if one understands it with an honest and upright mind, what is the problem?

Everything has become better, hasn't it?

Everyone has become much more devout, there are more smiles on the streets and alleys, and the whole city is filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Even those who were lazy in holy affairs in the past have begun to listen to the priest's instructions.

It's just that, for some reason, there are many idle people on the streets and alleys. They look around sneakily, their smiles ambiguous and strange, waiting for a confidant to walk into a secluded alley together, and then, in tacit understanding, a thick stack of indulgences buys a small package of things, which they stuff into their pockets and rush home impatiently.

Under this peaceful daily life, few people notice the invisible tide rising, spreading, and creeping in the dark.

When everyone guarding the gate thinks they have restrained themselves and let a little more water through, what gathers downstream will form a hair-raising torrent...

"—Our holy affairs are flourishing."

At the end of the month, at the summary meeting of the Eastern Diocese, the Archbishop looked at the data summarized from each sanctuary,

and even the final report, and couldn't help but dance with wild joy.

"A miracle, it's simply a miracle!"

The eighty-year-old Archbishop's face flushed with excitement, his breathing rapid, making one worry that he would drop dead in the meeting room the next moment—but when faced with such exaggerated progress and results, who could control themselves?

Over the years, as the oldest diocese, the growth of faith in the Eastern Diocese had already tended to be conservative, and even occasionally fell, ranking at the bottom of the four major dioceses year after year.

As a result, who could have imagined that now, in just one month, the growth of faith had broken records and reached new heights!

Even if the growth of each sanctuary was not exaggerated, after gathering together, compared to the faith contribution of the previous month, the increase reached an incredible eighty-nine percent!

Wild growth! Rapid growth! All growth! Pray, pray, pray, pray, pray!

The Archbishop laughed at the sky, his face glowing: with such terrifying growth, who else could compete, who could win?

If this momentum could be maintained, by the end of the year in another month, surpassing other dioceses would not be a dream! At that time, wouldn't he also be able to rank at the top and enjoy the honor of the Holy God's blessing?!

However, amidst the wild laughter, he suddenly felt something was wrong. When he came to his senses, he discovered that the meeting room was actually silent, and everyone was dumbfounded.

"Hmm? Why is everyone not talking?"

..."

In the awkward and stiff silence, the main priests below looked blankly at the report on the wall, their originally reserved and self-satisfied smiles, carrying a hidden sense of superiority as if victory was in their grasp, all stiffened on their faces.

Unbelievable.

Especially the six main priests whose growth was the most exaggerated; after a moment of astonishment and shock, they immediately seemed to understand something, and couldn't help but glare at each other...

—【Damn it, you cheated too?!】

In the instant their eyes met, their faces changed colors, from flushed red to iron blue, like traffic lights—how come you have a share too!

There is no way, everyone cheated, which is equivalent to no one cheating.

And when everyone packs their bags and leaves their hometown, they will only be stuck on the highway, unable to advance or retreat... Originally thinking they could lead the way, even the award speech was prepared, but when they reached the podium, they found that everyone had a share. After rolling for more than half a month, they were completely treading water!

On the contrary, the old main priest, who usually had the most obvious advantage, was completely left behind this time, indistinguishable from the crowd.

At this moment, he was dumbfounded, unable to believe it.

Watching those faces that looked like they were constipated, his old face was red, and his teeth were almost broken.

After finally waiting for the meeting to end and the Archbishop to leave humming a tune, the old main priest slammed the table in anger, squeezing words through his teeth: "Although I don't understand what you are doing in secret, you'd better get it clear—relying on crooked paths is not enough to serve the Saint!"

"Excuse me, I don't know what you are talking about." The accused main priest's expression changed suddenly, and he retorted decisively: "I don't know any crooked paths, I only see talent and sweat!"

"What? Can't accept it when you see others living a good life? Do you understand what it means to accumulate and break out?"

"I can have today's results, all thanks to my own efforts!"

"Heh, in my opinion, it's you who are self-satisfied with your results and have neglected holy affairs, right?!"

"Exactly, please pay attention to your face, do you think you can monopolize the holy grace alone? Ugly face!"

The main priests, who were originally harboring their own ulterior motives, instantly united, as if they were a solid block, criticizing together, as if they had formed an alliance in secret, facing the outside world together.

Finally, after some bickering, everyone parted on bad terms.

And when the main priest who first cooperated with the resistance camp returned to the sanctuary and began to contact Ji Jue for a meeting, he could no longer restrain his anger: "What is going on with the other sanctuaries

?!"

"Why did this situation occur!"

"Oh my, I thought you knew... sales blind spot, I didn't notice either..."

Ji Jue lay on his chair, tasting his fine wine and delicacies, and after a casual prevarication, he actually blamed the other party: "In the final analysis, it's because your order volume is too small, Main Priest?

Our camp also needs to make a living, we are all living hard too!"

"What exactly do you want to do!"

The main priest's expression was twisted, squeezing words through his teeth: "I warn you, if things blow up, it won't be good for anyone!"

"Then go tell the Inquisition."

Ji Jue grinned, laughing mockingly: "See if the Inquisition believes you. Let alone others, don't forget to calculate first, the friendship between us... is enough to send you to the abyss how many times?"

"You... you..."

The main priest froze in place, his whole body cold, looking at that face with a still gentle smile, as if falling into an ice cellar, his eyes going black, almost unable to breathe.

"Relax, relax, Main Priest, we can also talk, we also want

to abandon darkness and turn to light, isn't this just rushing to show our value?"

Ji Jue's tone suddenly changed, his tone gentle, considerately supporting the main priest and sending him to the gorgeous chair. The chair that used to be very soft and could wrap the whole person up, now turned into a giant abyss mouth, almost swallowing him completely.

Amidst the dizziness, he wanted to speak several times, but in the end, he could only squeeze out a weak voice: "The things you are doing are too big!

If the Holy Seals continue to flood like this, and it alarms the Heavenly City, no one will survive!"

"It's precisely because we want it to flood, Main Priest."

Behind him, Ji Jue gently pressed his shoulders, his smile becoming more brilliant: "Not only must it flood, but it must also spread to other sanctuaries and dioceses. We want everyone to get used to the convenience of the new Holy Seals, so that everyone can pray anytime and anywhere, and be closer to the gods...

Don't you think that scene is beautiful?"

"..."

The main priest seemed petrified, dumbfounded, raised his head, and stared at the reflection in the gorgeous silver mirror. Ji Jue behind him looked as if he had seen a real devil.

At this moment, listening to the beautiful scene described by Ji Jue, he could no longer restrain his trembling and fear, and screamed.

Finally, he realized.

"You, you... you are trying to... dig up the roots of the cult!!!"

"Hmm? Dig up the roots? Where does this come from? We are just helping the cult, slightly, improving efficiency, right?"

Ji Jue asked back, puzzled: "Besides, if we talk about digging up roots, isn't this something you have been doing from the beginning?

When you were raising those resistance camps for the honor of reporting and exterminating heretics, and to topple your opponents, and even secretly funding them, weren't you harming the roots of the cult?

If you really calculate it carefully, the harm you caused is even greater than one or two resistance camps, right?"

"Then let's die! Let's die together!!!"

The main priest was furious: "Anyway, we will all be locked in the abyss and burned forever. Even if I die, I will drag you down with me!"

He struggled hard, wanting to get up and denounce, but it was of no use. He only felt the pair of palms pressed on his shoulders suddenly turn into iron pincers.

No matter how he resisted, once he fell into those hands, it was difficult to break free...

Then, immediately following, he heard the understated words from behind.

"Die? Where does this come from?"

Ji Jue chuckled, leaned closer, and whispered in his ear: "You are the most precious partner in our camp. We are still hoping that you can rise step by step, manage a district, and ascend to the position of Archbishop.

Now that victory is in your grasp, you wouldn't want to give up, would you?"

The main priest's anger stiffened on his face, surprised and uncertain, "You... what do you mean?"

"Haven't you always been doing well?"

Ji Jue complimented him considerately: "Using Holy Seals on a small scale, concentrating on a few believers, even if they are completely consumed, finding a place to bury them, no one will know.

But your colleagues don't seem to be so cautious—hmm, perhaps it also has something to do with not knowing who we are?

Just before I came, one or two of them actually came to place orders again, and it looks like they are going to have a big go in their own sanctuaries.

Even, there are several main priests who are secretly looking for channels.

You say... if someone adds fuel to the fire in secret at this time, and spreads it slightly..."

The main priest was silent, dazed, only his expression twitched one after another. He finally understood Ji Jue's meaning, fear from the bottom of his heart, but uncontrollably, some kind of excited impulse emerged.

"You... you want me to report them?"

He trembled instinctively and shook his head: "No, it won't work, the battle is too big. If the Heavenly City is furious, I'm afraid even the Archbishop won't be able to hold on..."

"Then don't you have a chance?"

Behind him, the devil's laughter became more and more cheerful: "Besides, why pretend? Isn't this the same as what you did before?

It's just changing the target from the resistance camp to your colleagues... You are cleaning up the source for the cult, what is there to hesitate about?"

"I... I..."

The main priest was almost unable to speak, sweating profusely.

"Choose, Main Priest, choose."

Ji Jue sighed lightly and finally patted his shoulder, "There is not much time left for you."

—Either burn forever with them, or step on their ashes and ascend to the highest peak step by step!

In the dead silence, I don't know when, the person behind had already left silently.

Only the main priest remained, breathing heavily.

For a long time, for a long time.

In those dark eyes, some kind of hungry flame burned silently.

Eager to try.