Chapter 451: Beneath the Tide

It was as if flames were burning in some unseen place.

Throughout the entire Eastern Diocese, the undercurrents that had originally been hidden from sight seemed to be gradually coming to a boil. They bubbled and hissed, and faint, fragmented sounds began to ring in everyone’s ears—at first barely perceptible, but soon, impossible to ignore.

The idle gossip circulating in the cathedrals, the secret and isolated mutual aid societies, the companions who had once been unremarkable or even teetering on the edge of danger but who had suddenly risen above everyone else with fervent faith, the mysterious smiles on the priests’ faces, the dark deals in the alleys, and even the legendary goods that were out of stock on the black market...

The inexplicable words blurted out after drinking, the smug smiles or mocking jeers, and even the secret hints and sharing between friends and family.

At first, it was just rumors, but the rumors seemed to be growing clearer and clearer.

Until, by chance or through active seeking, the final veil was pulled back, and they finally touched the magical power that was spreading ever wider.

"Have you heard? It’s good stuff."

"A Holy Seal? Aren't Holy Seals everywhere? You want one? I’ll give you two... They’re different? Why..."

"I heard from the Chief Priest that these were just developed in the Heavenly City recently."

"Good stuff. As long as you carry this, you can..."

"Is this *that* Holy Seal?"

"You’ve got it wrong. I heard that a young believer with firm faith suddenly had his faith wane for years, and his eyes were even gouged out... Yes, and guess what? The Holy Seal he carried actually harbored a wisp of the Holy Spirit’s consciousness. After accepting his offerings for years, it finally awakened. How else could he have suddenly returned to the choir overnight?"

"Bullshit! That’s heresy. I—I will absolutely not use it!"

"That’s it? It looks no different from any other Holy Seal."

"You’ll know once you wear it!"

"This is too expensive, no... wait, let me think about it... I’ve decided, give me... give me... give me two, no, three!"

"No rush, let’s see how the wind blows first."

"How can it be this expensive?! It was only..."

"Supply is limited! Tomorrow it won't be this price!"

"Hey, has everyone heard? They’ve already started distributing them at the Cathedral of Sacrifice. Yes, hurry up, let’s go! Old believers who join the prayer group can even get one for free!"

In just a few short days, the wind that had been barely perceptible had blown from the darkness across the entire Eastern Diocese, and it was only growing more intense.

No matter how firm one was at the start, once people began to compete, their bottom lines began to break.

Especially as sunk costs rose, peers progressed, one's own status wavered, and even the temptation brought by the growth of faith... they gradually grew feverish.

From the leisurely pace of a post-meal stroll, it turned into a frantic sprint like a marathon.

Besides, everyone else was using them, so why shouldn't they?

The believers thought, *If the Chief Priest gave it to me, could it be fake?* The Chief Priests thought, *If others dare to use it like this, it must be fine, right?*

*Besides, I’m using less than them; even if something happens, it won't fall on my head! Maybe there’s a risk, yes, you’re right, but why not enjoy it while it lasts before the bubble bursts?*

Caught in a frenzy, harboring wishful thinking, or having prepared from the start to push others into the abyss, everyone couldn't wait to join this feast.

Some Chief Priests, in order to gain an advantage, had already begun to have their confidants secretly distribute this mysterious gift to the believers worshiping in the cathedrals.

They even provided techniques—if you feel your prayers aren't fast enough, then carry a few more!

Pray, child, pray!

Pray by day, pray by night, pray every day! You pray, I pray, let’s pray together!

In prayer, there is beauty; in prayer, there is gold! The more you pray, the closer the Heavenly Kingdom; the more you pray, the more divine grace you receive!

Starting today, become a full-time prayer warrior, pray across the continent, pray through the firmament!

Look, the holy day is near, the dear service is near!

Just pray, just pray; prayer is the only truth in this world; prayer is the most precious offering a believer can give to the gods.

Prayer...

...is the only value you cattle and sheep possess!

Amidst the fanatical joy, the entire Eastern Diocese was gradually filled with a feverish atmosphere; twenty-four hours a day, the sound of prayer was incessant.

Prostrate believers covered the earth, and the hymns of praise shrouded the sky.

Points of light like stars rose from the cathedrals, drifting between heaven and earth, turning into a gradually rushing torrent, floating toward the Heavenly City...

And there on the street, before the cathedral, an old man vomiting blood knelt on the ground, struggling to crawl toward the cathedral, his mouth still constantly praying and praising, the Holy Seals on his neck flashing brightly.

Everyone passing by stopped involuntarily, staring in shock, offering admiring encouragement and shouts, praising this pious faith and asceticism.

Until, with a happy smile, the last bit of the old man’s self was burned away before the gate, his face dissolving, completely turning into an empty shell.

Everyone immediately swarmed forward, ecstatic and praising, surrounding him, reaching out to touch this respectable sacrifice and risk, sharing the divine grace, and even fighting over the clothes on the old man’s body.

"Are they crazy?"

In the distance, Yan Fei’s expression twitched, again and again, unable to restrain the urge to start a massacre, yet unable to understand the mastermind behind this ignorant fanaticism.

"Do they—do they really not care about the consequences?"

"Consequences? What consequences could there be?"

Ji Jue asked coldly in return: "Since ancient times, believers have been like cattle and horses, and the priests are the shepherds. Would a shepherd ever mourn the flock being led to slaughter?"

"Even if the livestock are hacked to pieces on an unseen assembly line, when the blood sprays out, everyone will only praise how plump and fatty the beef is this year, right?"

Yan Fei was stunned for a long time, her voice trembling: "Then—then what about the Holy Seals..."

"A Holy Seal is just a Holy Seal. Could there be any problem with it? I don't know, I don't understand; it was all done by the people below me behind my back. I did it for the good of the order, too. I am striving for faith for the Holy God; what could I possibly have done wrong?!"

Ji Jue thought of a hundred thousand standard answers in a second: "Besides, everyone is using them; as long as I use a little less, won't it be fine?"

"Even if there is a problem, they won't kill everyone, right?"

"In fact... there are even some who can't wait for everyone to be killed."

Faced with the incoming tide, the foolish scramble to jump into the water, fueling the waves and drifting with the current toward chaos. Heroes and the brave will sacrifice themselves, standing before the tide and the fury of the fools, trying to turn the tide, or becoming a stumbling block to be mocked and trampled.

The mastermind will decisively withdraw after reaping the greatest benefits, while the so-called 'smart people' have already figured out how to guide the tide toward which hell...

"Look, everyone is reveling, immersed in happiness; who would come out to disturb the big picture if they didn't understand the atmosphere? Even with such long-term vision, aside from seeking profit, at best, it’s just protecting oneself."

Ji Jue narrowed his eyes, looking toward the highest point of the Central City, the Cathedral of Sacrifice, and silently grinned: "On the contrary, the people who really have to be responsible for all this..."

"Heh, they’re still having a blast."

Everyone worked together to add bricks and tiles, fanning the flames, lighting a roaring fire. And on the warmed pyre, the Archbishop at the very top was still admiring this scene of piety and fanaticism, rejoicing.

And just as he feigned ignorance, preparing how to use this miracle to go further, enter the Privy Council, and then shirk responsibility, a report letter from the Eastern Diocese was already placed on the table of the Privy Council in the Heavenly City.

"...Holy Seals?"

The Pope on duty stared at the report from his subordinate, his brow slowly furrowing: "Nonsense! This is simply nonsense! If the Chief Priests below don't understand, does an Archbishop not understand either!"

"Presumptuously guessing the divine will, greedy for divine grace—they are simply insane!"

"A reprimand or a warning?"

The secretary picked up his pen knowingly, peeking at the Saint’s expression, preparing to draft the document. "Or, dismissal, exile?"

"..."

The Pope lowered his eyes and remained silent. In the stillness, he stared at the records in the report, the existence of the bizarre Holy Seals, his expression growing increasingly stern: "No, the matters involved behind those Holy Seals are of great importance... Pass the order: the Saint Idra, who is touring the South, is to suspend the tour and go to the Eastern Central City first, to take full charge of all matters involved."

"And—"

He paused, a trace of blood-red appearing in his gloomy pupils: "Tell Idra, cut the weeds and dig up the roots, eliminate the evil completely; never let the acts of heresy poison the Divine Kingdom!"

The secretary’s hand holding the pen trembled, and a blot of ink stained the order in his hand, just like the blood about to flow from the East...

Winding and endless.

In less than a month, just over ten days, the Miracle Holy Seals had spread throughout the entire Eastern Diocese—no, not just the Eastern Diocese.

Carried by many pilgrims and pushed by many in the resistance camps, it had already spread across the four major dioceses, like a fire growing increasingly vigorous under paper, difficult to contain.

It didn't wait for the end-of-month statistics at all.

And there was no need to wait.

In just these ten-plus days, the growth of faith in the entire Eastern Diocese had already doubled compared to the past, and it was still increasing, growing more intense!

And amidst the hymns of joy and praise, thunder suddenly sounded from above the Central City. When countless believers looked up in astonishment, they saw the legendary miracle.

A huge gate opened from the sky.

Behind the magnificent and majestic reliefs, the grand scene of the Heavenly City was projected, blocking the sky and sun. And under the guard of angels, brilliant light shone down, and a dazzling chariot pulled by heavenly horses slowly descended from the sky!

"A Saint! It’s a Saint!!!"

"A Saint has descended!!!"

Who knows how many believers wept with joy, knelt to pray, and shouted in ecstasy.

Sure enough, their prayers had moved the Holy God; in their lifetime, they could actually witness the Holy God send down such a magnificent miracle. For a time, the sound of prayer reached a new climax.

And that dazzling chariot just passed coldly through the sky, falling straight toward the Cathedral of Sacrifice.

Soon, amidst the hasty and nervous ringing of bells, all the high-level members of the order gathered, whether surprised, happy, afraid, or suspicious—it was too fast, and too hasty, without any notice at all!

When the Archbishop knelt to welcome him, he hadn't even had time to put on his vestments properly.

And the once-warm Saint just walked past him coldly, not even stopping for a moment, causing his heart to suddenly sink to the bottom.

Many angels entered as the vanguard, taking over the defense of the cathedral. As the gate opened, the Saint Idra had already stepped inside, walked into the pilgrimage hall, and sat straight in the main seat.

"Who else hasn't arrived?" Idra glanced at the meeting room that wasn't full and asked suddenly.

In the deathly silence, everyone looked at each other. Someone gathered the courage to wipe their sweat: "There are two more peers; the matter was sudden, and the distance was too far, so they couldn't..."

"Neglecting divine affairs is an unforgivable sin."

Idra said: "Cast them into the abyss."

The angels knelt to receive the order and turned to leave. Outside the window, brilliant light rose into the air, and soon, they returned, raising their hands to smash two heads screaming in terror and begging for mercy onto the ground.

In the heavy atmosphere, there was only wailing; no one dared to speak again.

And the Saint just waved his hand, throwing the report letter onto the table.

"Speak."

Idra looked down coldly: "What is going on?"

The Archbishop was struck by lightning, sweating profusely, and stood up trembling, but couldn't stand up, kneeling on the ground and shouting: "It was all the people below acting on their own initiative; I—I really didn't know, Saint, be magnanimous, Saint—"

Before he could finish, someone slammed the table and stood up.

It was a Chief Priest who had been sitting in.

He pointed at the Archbishop and shouted angrily: "—The subordinate wishes to report that the Bishop harbors heresy, blasphemes the sacred, corrupts the order, and his crimes are unforgivable!"

A series of righteous words, which could be called resounding, were spat out like gold and iron, intending to nail the Bishop to the pillar of shame.

Unfortunately, he wasn't the only one who wanted to hammer in the nails.

Suddenly, he wasn't the only one who stood up and pointed at the Archbishop to shout...

...person.

Even some who were slow to act, who stood up only after the first person had finished half his sentence, were stunned for a moment, but instinctively their minds raced, and they shouted: "I, I am too!"

"Me too!"

"And me!"

For a time, face after face, prepared long ago, turned red, making incoherent sounds, the looks they gave each other filled with shock and dullness.

Why, inexplicably, did they complete the match and form a team?

No, I—I didn't choose solo, and I didn't click five-man matchmaking!

Well, indeed, there was no five-man match.

Because, the report letters thrown out by the Saint’s hand totaled eight!

A thick stack of report letters was now spread out on the table, the names of everyone who stood up clearly written on the envelopes.

In this sudden embarrassment and deathly silence, everyone who stood up, in the moment of sudden realization, couldn't help but... feel a chill run through their entire bodies!

It’s over!