[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-destiny":3,"chapter-above-destiny-above-the-heavenly-fate-chapter-450":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Above the Heavenly Fate",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2226166,4117,"Chapter 450","above-the-heavenly-fate-chapter-450",450,"\u003Cp>Something has been changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s different now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days, many believers in the Central City of the East District have, to a greater or lesser extent, felt that something is not quite right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s as if, after returning from a long business trip, one suddenly can't read the company's atmosphere, or returning to school after a serious illness, unable to figure out the relationships in the class...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although everything on the streets is as usual, and the hymns in the sanctuary are still loud, keen people can faintly feel a subtle difference...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though everyone is still warm and polite when they meet, and courteous when they talk, why is it that in the smiles and eyes of some people, there appears a certain indescribable alienation and barrier? Even, in the eyes occasionally cast toward others, there appears more or less some joy and relaxation, or even... relief and sympathy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How strange, as if something good has happened?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only oneself is kept in the dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's so strange, I always feel like everyone is avoiding me lately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you talking about, what an absurd thought.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Last night, I felt like your tone was weird when you answered the phone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was listening to the priest's sermon in the sanctuary, I have a bit of a cold, sorry about that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What about Joanna?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She's also, um, we were listening to a lecture at the mutual aid society together, everyone went for a run to exercise after listening... panting is normal, after all, we were sweating.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A mutual aid society, I haven't joined one yet, can you take me with you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, ah? This, um, maybe next time, speaking of which, how is work lately, are you still envious?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hesitant girl was evasive and took the initiative to change the subject; the simple young man immediately chuckled, took out the opera tickets he had finally managed to grab, extended an invitation, and walked down the sanctuary steps side-by-side with the girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wonderful time was about to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, a voice came from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't forget the time for afternoon prayer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kind priest at the gate smiled and reminded her, making the girl react immediately, her expression apologetic: \"Sorry, I might...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, no problem, next time is fine too!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man gave a forced smile, stood there lost, and watched the girl and the priest walk into the sanctuary, disappearing around the corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a long time, he was unwilling to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such scenes were happening, to a greater or lesser extent, in various places. The oddities were more or less present, but if one were to understand them with an open and honest mind, what problem could there be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything has become better, hasn't it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even those who were lazy about holy matters in the past have started to listen to the priest's instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s just that, for some reason, there are many more idle people on the streets and alleys; they look around furtively, their smiles ambiguous and strange, waiting for a kindred spirit to walk into a secluded alley together, and in a tacit understanding, a thick stack of indulgences buys a small package of something, which is stuffed into a pocket, and they hurry home impatiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath this peaceful daily life, few people notice the invisible tide rising, spreading, and creeping in the shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When everyone guarding the floodgates thinks they have restrained themselves by letting a little more water through, what gathers downstream will form a hair-raising torrent...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"————Our holy work is flourishing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of the month, at the summary meeting of the Eastern Diocese, the Archbishop looked at the data gathered from each sanctuary,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and even the final reports, and couldn't help but dance with wild joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A miracle, it’s simply a miracle!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eighty-something-year-old Archbishop’s face flushed with excitement, his breathing rapid, making people worry he might just drop dead in the conference room the next moment———but when faced with such exaggerated progress and results, who could control themselves?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the years, as the oldest diocese, the growth of faith in the Eastern Diocese had already become conservative, even occasionally declining, ranking last among the four major dioceses for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, who could have imagined that now, in just one month, the growth of faith had broken records and reached new heights!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the growth of each sanctuary wasn't exaggerated, when gathered together, compared to the faith contribution of the previous month, the increase reached an incredible eighty-nine percent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wild growth! Rapid growth! Total growth! Pray, pray, pray, pray, pray!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Archbishop looked up to the sky and laughed, his face glowing: with such terrifying growth, who else could compete, who could win?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this momentum could be maintained, by the end of the year in another month, catching up to other dioceses wouldn't be a dream! By then, wouldn't he be able to rank at the top and enjoy the honor of the Holy God's blessing?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s just that, amidst his wild laughter, he suddenly felt something was wrong; when he came to his senses, he realized the conference room was actually completely silent, and everyone was dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm? Why is everyone not talking?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the awkward and stiff silence, the subordinate Chief Priests stared blankly at the report on the wall; their originally reserved, self-satisfied smiles, which carried a hidden sense of superiority as if victory were in their grasp, froze on their faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the six Chief 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...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—————【Damn it, you cheated too?!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the instant their gazes crossed, their faces changed colors in a complex variety, from flushed red to iron blue, like traffic lights———how come you have a share in this too!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no help for it; since everyone cheated, it was equivalent to no one cheating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when everyone packs their bags and leaves their hometowns, they only end up stuck on the highway, unable to advance or retreat... They originally thought they could lead the pack, and even had their acceptance speeches prepared, but when they got to the podium, they found everyone had a share; after rolling for half a month, they were completely standing still!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the contrary, the old Chief Priest, who usually had the most obvious advantage, was completely left behind this time, indistinguishable from the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he was even more dumbfounded and incredulous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching those faces that looked like they were constipated, his old face turned crimson, and he almost ground his teeth to pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finally enduring until the meeting ended and the Archbishop left humming a tune, the old Chief Priest slammed the table in anger and squeezed a voice through his teeth: \"Although I don't understand what you guys are doing in the dark, you’d better get this straight———relying on crooked paths is not enough to serve the Holy One!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Excuse me, I don't know what you're talking about.\" The accused Chief Priest’s expression changed abruptly, and he retorted decisively: \"I don't know about any crooked paths, I only saw talent and sweat!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? Can't accept it when you see others living a good life? Do you understand what it means to accumulate and then break out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The results I have today are all thanks to my own efforts!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh, if you ask me, it’s you who were self-satisfied with your results and slacked off on holy matters, right?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly, please watch your attitude; do you think you can monopolize the Holy Grace all by yourself? How ugly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief Priests, who were originally harboring their own ulterior motives, instantly united, as if they were a solid block, criticizing in unison, as if they had formed an alliance in the dark, facing the outside world together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, after a round of bickering, everyone parted on bad terms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when the Chief Priest who first cooperated with the resistance camp rushed back to the sanctuary and started contacting Ji Jue for a meeting, he could no longer suppress his anger: \"What is going on with the other sanctuaries\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why is this happening!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh my, I thought you knew... a sales blind spot, I didn't notice either...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue lay in his chair, tasting his fine wine and food, and after a casual brush-off, he actually turned the tables: \"In the final analysis, it’s because your order volume is too low, Chief Priest?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our camp also needs to make a living, we are all trying hard to survive too!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What exactly do you want to do!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief Priest’s expression was twisted, and he squeezed a voice through his teeth: \"I’m warning you, if things blow up, it won't be good for anyone!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then go tell the Inquisition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue grinned and laughed mockingly: \"Let's see if the Inquisition believes you; others aside, don't forget to calculate first, the friendship between us... is enough to send you to the abyss how many times?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief Priest froze in place, his whole body turning cold; looking at that face with its still gentle smile, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his vision going black, and he could barely breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest assured, rest assured, Chief Priest, we can talk, can't we? We also want\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>to turn over a new leaf; isn't this us being in a hurry to show our value?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue’s tone suddenly changed, becoming gentle; he considerately supported the Chief Priest and helped him onto the ornate chair. The chair, which used to be very soft and could wrap around a person, had now turned into a giant abyss-like mouth, almost swallowing him completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the waves of dizziness, he tried to speak several times but stopped, and in the end, could only squeeze out a weak voice: \"The things you are doing are too big!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Holy Seals keep flooding like this and alarm the Heavenly City, no one will survive!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s precisely because we want it to flood, Chief Priest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right behind him, Ji Jue gently pressed his shoulders, his smile becoming even more brilliant: \"Not only must it flood, but it must also spread to other sanctuaries and dioceses; we must let everyone get used to the convenience of the new Holy Seals, so that everyone can pray anytime, anywhere, and be closer to the gods...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don't you think such a scene is very beautiful?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief Priest seemed petrified, dumbfounded; he raised his head and gazed at his reflection in the ornate silver mirror, and at Ji Jue behind him, as if he were seeing a real devil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, listening to the beautiful scene Ji Jue described, he could no longer suppress his trembling and fear, and screamed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he realized the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You, you... you are trying to... dig up the roots of the Order!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm? Dig up the roots? Where does that come from? We are just helping the Order, just a little bit, improve efficiency, aren't we?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue asked back, puzzled: \"Besides, if we're talking about digging up roots, isn't this something you've been doing from the very beginning?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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 foundation of the Order?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we really calculate it carefully, the harm you caused is even greater than one or two resistance camps, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then let's die! Let's die together!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief Priest was furious: \"Anyway, I'm going to be locked in the abyss and burned for eternity, so even if I die, I'll drag you down with me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He struggled hard, wanting to get up and denounce him, but it was of no use; he only felt the pair of hands pressing on his shoulders suddenly turn into iron pincers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how he resisted, once he fell into those hands, it was hard to break free...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, immediately following, he heard the understated words from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Die? Where does that come from?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue chuckled, leaned in, and whispered in his ear: \"You are our camp's most precious partner; we are still hoping you can rise step by step, take charge of a district, and ascend to the position of Archbishop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that victory is already in your grasp, you wouldn't want to give up, would you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief Priest’s anger froze on his face, shocked and uncertain, \"You... what do you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haven't you always been doing well?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue complimented him considerately: \"Using Holy Seals on a small scale, concentrating them on a few believers, even if they are completely consumed, you find a place to bury them, and no one is the wiser.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But your colleagues don't seem to be as cautious as you———hmm, perhaps that also has a little bit to do with them not knowing who we are?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before I came, one or two of them actually came to place orders again, looking like they were about to do something big in their own sanctuaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are even a few Chief Priests secretly looking for channels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You say... if someone were to secretly fan the flames at this time, and spread it a little bit...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief Priest was silent, dazed, only his expression twitching again and again; he finally understood Ji Jue’s meaning, and from the bottom of his heart, fear, but also an uncontrollable, surging, excited impulse, emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... you want me to report them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He trembled instinctively and shook his head: \"No, no, the scale is too big; if the Heavenly City gets furious, I'm afraid even the Archbishop won't be able to hold them off...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then don't you have a chance?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, the devil’s laughter became even more cheerful: \"Besides, why pretend? Isn't this the same as what you did before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s just changing the target from the resistance camps to your colleagues... you are cleaning up the source for the Order, what is there to hesitate about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... I...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief Priest was almost unable to speak, drenched in sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Choose, Chief Priest, choose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue sighed lightly and patted his shoulder one last time, \"There isn't much time left for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——Either burn for eternity with them, or step on their ashes and ascend to the highest peak, step by step!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the dead silence, the person behind him had already left silently without knowing when.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the Chief Priest remained, breathing heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a long time, a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In those dark eyes, a certain famished flame silently ignited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eager to try.\u003C\u002Fp>",2485,"2026-06-17T22:31:55.254Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","f2eb04eccc5048a9601747a2226860a4f2546f3f4d0539ca5ec0086b170639cb","above-the-heavenly-fate-chapter-451","above-the-heavenly-fate-chapter-449",461,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-heavenly-fate-cover.jpg"]