Chapter 91: You're Still There, Right? (55-Extra 2)

When Herbert woke up, what he saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.

"……"

Transmigrated again?

No, wait — the pattern on this ceiling looks a little familiar.

"Child, you're awake."

A kindly voice came from beside him. Herbert slowly sat up and saw the Daodazhu Sect leader sitting cross-legged to one side, looking at him with gentle warmth.

"How do you feel now?"

"I……"

Hearing this, Herbert raised his hand, instinctively wanting to scratch his head, but the motion froze halfway, and he narrowed his eyes.

"This is!!?"

Although no sound reached his ears, upon seeing his own dazzling arm, such a voice instinctively rang out in Herbert's mind.

BlingBling——

Holy crap.

What a blinding arm!

The golden holy mark that had originally only been on the back of his hand had now spread across his entire arm, and the holy power within him, which had previously been somewhat weak, had now swelled dozens of times over!

Herbert had a feeling that if he gave his holy blood to Elisha again, he could probably burn that trash vampire to death with it.

This was no exaggeration.

Herbert's current boost was exactly that absurd.

If the power of the Holy Oath were measured by magic levels, it would have leapt over the entire mid-tier, jumping straight to the level of an early high-tier!

He had skipped grades!

But before Herbert could finish being happy, the holy marks on his arm dimmed and vanished, and a wave of intense weariness surged into his heart.

"Ugh!"

The side effect of skipping straight from elementary school to high school had appeared — his fragile body could not bear the burden of his current power.

"Your Eminence, this is……"

The Daodazhu Sect leader had long been clear on his physical condition and said calmly, "Don't worry. The Saint's blessing has raised your oath power to high-tier, but your flesh is still at the initial tier, so naturally it cannot bear the burden."

"Don't worry — the oath power will feed back into your flesh. As long as you pair it with the appropriate training, about half a year should be enough for your body to fully adapt and stabilize at the early high-tier level."

To be fair, this really was already very fast.

It would only take half a year for Herbert to reach a realm that many people could never reach in their entire lives.

Take Blake, for example — reaching early high-tier by forty was already outstanding among ordinary people.

Now Herbert was going to cover in half a year the road Blake had walked for half his life. If Blake found out, he'd probably cry himself to death on the spot.

"Thank you, Your Eminence. I understand."

Although Herbert's body was somewhat weary, his spirit was extremely excited, and he felt no regret at all over the half year.

But people's constitutions are not all the same.

For Herbert, this speed was actually not fast enough at all.

Isn't it just raising physical strength?

I'm familiar with this!

Half a year?

Just watch — I'll cover this half-year road in one month — no, half a month!

Based on Herbert's previous test in the Lava Hell, as long as he could soak for three hours every day, he could raise his physical fitness to early high-tier within half a month.

"Hehe, haha……" Herbert tried to suppress his grin, but the corners of his mouth simply would not stay down.

In this contact with the Daodazhu Sect leader, Herbert had gained considerable benefits — truly a bountiful harvest.

He had clarified the Daodazhu Sect leader's views on the monster girls, gained his support, and no longer had to live in fear.

He had also learned the story of the Saint Nie Nasha and come to know more about Her.

Moreover, he had touched Nie Nasha's true form, resolving the issue of his own strength that had always weighed on his mind.

How could he not be excited?

"Thank you for your help, Your Eminence."

"Don't thank me. It was your quality that aligned with the remnant consciousness of the Saint, which is why you received her blessing."

The Daodazhu Sect leader shook his head, closed his eyes, and returned his attention to the desecrated holy statue.

"Alright, child, you may go back now."

This exchange with Herbert had also made the Daodazhu Sect leader quite happy — not only had a hidden danger been removed, but it was now certain that the monastery would gain a powerhouse above the legendary tier in the future.

"By the way, if in the future you have a chance to leave the monastery, don't worry — go out boldly."

The old man, eyes closed, spoke softly and peacefully: "The monastery is a sanctuary, but it is also a cage."

"A caged bird can never become an eagle. The blood of the Silver Wings flows within you — you should not keep hiding under the shelter of a cage."

Hmm?

Herbert's brow twitched slightly, and he vaguely sensed the hidden meaning in the old man's words.

Is this telling me I can go ahead and cause trouble for those people in the royal capital when the time comes?

"Your Eminence, you mean…… I understand."

"Mm. Go."

He did not ask some Bai Chi question like, "Won't this bring trouble to the monastery?"

What kind of trouble could possibly affect a being as powerful as this?

Herbert bowed to the old man and prepared to leave the cathedral.

But just as he was about to push the door open, a thought suddenly struck him. He looked back and asked softly, "Your Eminence the Archbishop, what is your view on magical creatures?"

"You've asked me so many questions — so what's your answer?"

"Me?"

The old man, his back to him, did not open his eyes, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he asked playfully, "Child, have you ever thought about who it was that brought all those magical creatures back to the Penitentiary?"

"Heh, I'm not as merciful as the Saint, and I won't lose sleep over such things."

"Those that can be reformed, keep them. Those that cannot be taught, destroy them. It's that simple."

A very plain sentence, but Herbert's brow twitched as he listened, and he felt a heavy wave of murderous intent.

Good.

This big shot was no soft-hearted pushover either.

Also, perhaps it was Herbert's imagination, but when he turned to look toward the center of the cathedral, he kept getting the feeling that the sacred statue had been hollowed out.

As if only an empty shell remained there.

He didn't think on it further and quietly withdrew from the cathedral.

After briefly recounting the conversation to the guards, Herbert returned to his room before nightfall.

"……"

He sat quietly at his desk, staring at the hands of the mechanical clock — the time had not yet passed midnight.

Herbert frowned, was silent for a long moment, and finally murmured to himself:

"Nie Nasha…"

"You're there, aren't you?"

No one answered.

In the quiet room, only the faint sound of turning gears.

Click, click, click…

Herbert squinted in silence until, behind him, he heard a delighted soft laugh.

【"Ehe~"】

【"Caught me again~"】

Miss Xie Shen had appeared unusually, before nightfall.

This meant Her power had recovered, and Her strength had grown greater.

But Herbert, who ought to have been glad, did not smile at this moment. He did not try to turn around; gazing at the wavering candle flame, he asked softly:

"What should I call you, exactly? The Saint Nie Nasha? Or the evil god Nie Nasha?"

He posed the question to his own ally.

"So, you… are you still you?"

And what answered him—

was a playful, mocking snicker.

【"Pfft, hahaha~"】

5 updates today, 10,500 characters, plus 2 extra updates, monthly votes this month (5/6).

Actually I had only planned to push out 4 updates, to prove I'd given it my all, but everyone's enthusiastic support really moved me.

I was overwhelmed by the honor, yet felt I hardly deserved it, so I pushed hard for a 5th update.

Sanjiang is tough, and this time there are a lot of big shots again — honestly the odds of getting it are slim, and I know that in my heart.

But please rest assured, even if I don't win it, I won't give up on myself.

In fact, the results so far have already pleasantly surprised me; I can only feel grateful, not that it isn't enough.

The more one craves perfection, the less clean the sweep.

We've already given it our all. Maybe we'll be a little short on luck this time, but next time, or the time after, there will come a day when we can do it.

As long as I keep working hard, one day, I will succeed.

Love you all.

I will keep walking this road!!!



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(End of this chapter)