Chapter 345

Can an offering made with the purpose of blasphemy still be called an offering?

Scavenger, a warrior of 【Annihilation】.

A profession in the 【Annihilation】 faith career system whose desire for destruction and ruin is second only to the Destruction Proclamation of the 【Annihilation】 Singer.

The Destruction Proclamation is a mindless venting style; they chant poems of destruction, practice the will of 【Annihilation】, and hold to the principle that if it can be destroyed, don't let it go, and if it can be trampled, don't forgive it, piously making continuous offerings to their benefactor.

But they are singers after all, and the means they use to destroy everything are often to mobilize others' desire for destruction and then wantonly praise this feat of annihilating everything afterwards.

But Scavengers are different; they have the power to destroy everything themselves, and they also enjoy creating destruction.

Just like the name of this profession, they walk on the path of 【Annihilation】, and they will drag whatever they see into the abyss of destruction along the way. Every move they make is like clearing all impurities for the world, which is why they are called Scavengers.

But Cheng Shi was clearly stunned after hearing his profession, because he discovered that this teammate named Mo Shu didn't seem to have a strong desire to destroy the tables and chairs around him since he descended. Not only that, he was actually creating?

What did he say, pastries?

He even made pastries?

Just as he was thinking, Mo Shu casually placed his box on a table to the side, opened it with a "click," and then the players saw five small compartments neatly divided in the box, each containing a beautifully packaged small gift box.

While taking these gifts out and placing them on the table, he smiled and introduced:

"This is it. Today's menu is Xenila sheep fat cake, with a filling of over-extracted Xenila sheep blood wine. I used some small tricks to annihilate the alcohol inside, keeping only the flavor of the wine without making people tipsy. It won't affect the trial. Come, come, everyone, have a taste."

Saying this, he opened one of the boxes and took out the cream-colored cake inside.

Looking at everything in front of him, Cheng Shi felt that his experience was still lacking.

It's rare for someone to keep their original intention and use the power of faith in their own trade. The last time I heard of such a thing was in the pile of books Xie Yang brought back for me.

Kanliwaer, this magical place, has a bunch of ordinary people who apply 【Life】 to production and life, and today I ran into a pastry chef who believes in 【Annihilation】.

This is too much fun. He said he annihilated the alcohol in the wine, which sounds like an offering to his benefactor, but he also "created" a new cake. So this... does it count as blasphemy?

Can an offering made with the purpose of blasphemy still be called an offering?

But setting aside these faith-related things, the pastries made by this pastry chef are truly tempting; they look delicious just by looking at them.

Usually, Cheng Shi would definitely not touch such things of unknown origin without confirming whether they were safe, but today is different, because under the blessing of 【Endless Life】, he has nothing to fear.

Poison can't kill people instantly.

Curses can't kill people instantly either.

Cakes are even less likely to choke people to death.

So Cheng Shi was tempted. After all, the appearance of this Xenila sheep fat cake was quite good. Even if it tasted bad, it should still be better than finger bread and snot water, right?

But besides him, the others were clearly very vigilant. Their eyes swept over the cake and then over Mo Shu's face, as if they were thinking about what this pastry chef was really up to.

And just at this moment, that 【Foolish】 believer who had been silent for a long time spoke again.

As soon as he opened his mouth, the room was filled with sarcasm.

"Heh, stupid ingratiation.

How can someone eat food of unknown origin given by a stranger in a strange environment? In enthusiasm that cannot be defined, there is often malicious intent mixed in with ulterior motives. Your means of attracting attention are too..."

This 【Foolish】 believer had finally found a new opportunity for contempt, but before he could finish speaking, Cheng Shi beside him suddenly took a step forward, as if he were in his own home, and unceremoniously picked up the opened cake and swallowed it in two or three bites.

Cheng Shi thought and thought but couldn't think of a logic that convinced himself, so he could only put this thought aside first, and walk, see, and think.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Now everyone was stunned, and even Mo Shu himself was taken aback. He nodded with a slightly surprised look in his eyes and said:

"I annihilated the mutton smell, just because I was afraid that some people wouldn't like that taste."

Cheng Shi smacked his lips, still wanting more, and said with a hint of regret:

"Then you've done something unnecessary; the flavor is all gone. But for the sake of it being free, I'll give it a good review."

The expressions of everyone looking at Cheng Shi changed.

The little assassin swallowed a mouthful of saliva and retreated slightly. The 【Foolish】 believer's gaze narrowed, not knowing what he was thinking. Chieftain Gou Feng scratched his head, thinking to himself how this mage could be even more reckless than himself. Not only that, they all had the same thought in their minds at this moment:

Does a Necromancer really not fear death?

Even the always steady squinty-eyed one widened his eyes slightly when he saw this scene.

He carefully examined Cheng Shi's physical state, and then also picked up a piece of cake, took out an exquisite small spoon from thin air, dug out a small piece, and put it into his mouth.

"Not fishy, not greasy, the taste is slightly sweet, the wine flavor is rich but there is indeed no alcohol, it doesn't go to the head. The sweetness comes from the pollen powder of the returning-sweet flower. The cake is sugar-free, but it has a lot of fat, not suitable for people with high blood lipids.

I don't have high blood lipids, so I can enjoy it."

Saying this, he began to enjoy the cake in his hand, one small bite at a time.

Seeing these two accept his pastries, Mo Shu quietly breathed a sigh of relief, and his tense expression became more natural.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that this 2100-point Scavenger was worried about the attitude of the two 2400-point players whose faith was opposite to his, especially after Cheng Shi tested the Scorpion's faith, he became even more constrained.

But fortunately, the conflict of opposing faiths did not break out immediately at the start, and these two 【Death】 believers didn't seem to be that cold and heartless.

Seeing someone accept his pastries, Mo Shu hurriedly unpacked the other boxes and placed them in front of everyone.

He seemed to want to use this slightly stiff sincerity to show his peaceful stance, but in a game at this point level, there were probably very few people who could believe him.

Everyone had different expressions, but none of them made a move.

Only Cheng Shi, after finishing the cake, curiously examined this Scavenger whose expression had softened, and suddenly asked:

"Is this your understanding of 【Annihilation】? To let the things you created with your own hands be annihilated in the mouths of your teammates?" Cheng Shi wiped the last bit of cream from the corner of his mouth and said happily, "You don't look like a Scavenger, you look more like a Destruction Proclamation, right?"

Mo Shu never expected that his little thoughts would be seen through at a glance. He blinked in confusion, and then a trace of lingering fear arose in his heart.

Fortunately, this 2400-point teammate didn't look like a mean opponent, otherwise he would really be in trouble.

He nodded awkwardly and replied:

"The big shot is amazing, you saw that too.

Yes, that's indeed what I meant, but these are all personal foolish opinions.

I always feel that letting others practice the will of 【Annihilation】 as well might attract His gaze more than practicing it oneself."

Tsk, the logic isn't bad, but this idea of yours is a bit 【Prosperity】-like.

Cheng Shi chuckled and didn't reply to him, but turned to look at the 【Foolish】 believer and teased:

"Sharp-comment brother, care to give a sharp comment or two?"

The 【Foolish】 believer glanced at Cheng Shi sideways, snorted coldly, and walked away directly.

"Pointless communication, a waste of time."

He left, leaving this room decorated like a church lounge alone.

Seeing one person leave, Cheng Shi looked at Mo Shu happily and said:

"If he doesn't eat it, it's no problem for me to eat one more, right?"

Mo Shu had never seen such a relaxed teammate. He nodded instinctively, and then watched this "Necromancer" finish another cake, this time in one bite.

Actually, he also knew that his behavior of sharing food at the start would attract the vigilance of his teammates, but he didn't do anything to the pastries, so naturally he wasn't afraid of questioning and scrutiny. But he really didn't expect someone to trust him so much, and even get addicted to eating them.

Seeing this, the little assassin twitched his mouth speechlessly.

"Brother, if you're really hungry, eat my share too."

Gou Feng scratched his head and laughed loudly: "My share is yours too."

The squinty-eyed one heard what the others said, his movement of eating the cake paused, and he suddenly handed out the half-eaten cake and said:

"The silver spoon is automatically disinfected, this half piece hasn't been touched, if you..."

Before he could finish speaking, the two and a half cakes were swept away by Cheng Shi and thrown into his personal space.

"Not hungry for now, but I can pack them up. Thank you all very much for the gifts!"

Saying this, he even bowed in a pretentious manner.

"But I'm curious, pastry chef, what did you pray for? It wouldn't be just to feed people cake after entering the dungeon, would it?"

Mo Shu smiled embarrassedly, that reserved expression completely out of place with his outfit.

"I prayed to receive the benefactor's gaze, but for some reason, I was assigned to a 【Birth】 game."

Praying for the gaze of 【Annihilation】?

Cheng Shi frowned, feeling that this prayer was not ordinary; it seemed a bit too "big," big in a conceptual sense.

What would have to happen in this trial to attract His gaze?

How much would one have to offer Him, annihilating the entire Dolgode?

It seems that this trial has a big variable, but the trial has just begun, and Cheng Shi couldn't make some pessimistic guesses right away, so he smiled casually and said:

"Worthy of being His pious believer.

Then what about this 【Life】 brother, what did you pray for?"

Zhang Jizu narrowed his eyes and looked at Cheng Shi, asking back: "What about you? Why don't you talk about yourself first?"

"Me? I prayed to make friends in the trial. Now it seems that everyone present is a friend I can make. Oh right, except for that nostril monster."

"Friends?" Zhang Jizu muttered softly a few times, squinting and smiling as he said: "What a coincidence, my prayer is also because of a friend, probably a friend I have never met."

Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow, his expression becoming strange.

Because the Master of Deception told him that this squinty-eyed one didn't seem to be lying.

This is interesting. This kind of ambiguous, perfunctory answer undoubtedly showed everyone that Zhang Jizu didn't want to share secrets with them. Since that was the case, Cheng Shi didn't pursue it. He looked at the squinty-eyed one thoughtfully, and then said to everyone:

"Alright, I hope we can all find what we want.

Time waits for no one, everyone, we really should get down to business. No matter how long the trial is, we have to collect information first, don't we?"

Gou Feng laughed loudly when he saw this scene, appreciating this unconstrained teammate even more. He scratched his head and said:

"I really like you.

What's the plan? I see that you, Mage, know a lot about this place. Why don't you give some suggestions?"

Cheng Shi stiffened for a moment, but quickly put on a smiling face, like a truly knowledgeable mage explaining everything in front of them to everyone.

"I can't say I know a lot, just a little bit.

This is Dolgode, a small southern city of the Dol Empire in the Life Era. It is not famous in history, but it is very famous in the Dol Empire.

Because this is a city that completely believes in 【Birth】, and all the dogmas and laws here serve the purpose of gestation.

The place where we are is the lounge for believers of the Dolgode Divine Birth Church. The Divine Birth Church is the local ruling church, believing that all gestation acts are the highest worship of Him, and advocating that everyone equally enjoys the right to gestate.

This is not a patriarchal society, nor is it a matriarchal group. Everyone here grows up under the care of the church, and then becomes a pious 【Birth】 believer, continuing to join in the great cause of gestation to worship Him."

"?" The little assassin frowned upon hearing this. "What do you mean by enjoying the right to gestate? Isn't that just about having children? Could it be that without the church, people here couldn't have children?"

Gou Feng scratched his head and smiled:

"Don't forget this is the trial of my Lord. The gestation you speak of is probably not as simple as ordinary gestation.

I guess, people here can probably have children regardless of gender?

That should be the right guaranteed by the church."

To be fair, the fact that men can have children might be very explosive elsewhere, but in a place watched by Him, it is probably the most ordinary thing.

But Gou Feng still guessed wrong.

Cheng Shi shook his head and pointed to the door, smiling:

"Half right.

Go out, turn left for 100 meters, then turn right, and then walk straight to the end. There is a prayer room there.

When you walk in with the idea of wanting to gestate a new life, the prayer masters of the Divine Birth Church will grant you the corresponding power after listening to your prayer.

The power to gestate, or to help others gestate."

He said it very euphemistically, but some people still understood.

The squinty-eyed Zhang Jizu looked at Cheng Shi, who kept smiling, raised his eyebrows and said: "If I understand correctly, you mean the prayer masters here can change the gender of believers?"

"Bingo, that's right!" Cheng Shi snapped his fingers and said happily, "Men here indeed cannot have children, but they can become women and then have children.

So brothers who want to change gender, hurry up, don't miss a good opportunity. With just one prayer, you can go from him to her.

Most importantly, this is a civil right advocated by the Divine Birth Church, so it is free and requires no cost.

Of course, the missing body parts don't count as a cost."

"..."

Now even the expression of Gou Feng, this 【Birth】 believer, became strange.

"Brother, how do you know so much about this place... You wouldn't have been a girl before, would you?"

"..." Hearing this, Cheng Shi's face turned dark, and he couldn't smile anymore.

Brother, if you really don't know how to talk, you don't have to. Thank you.

But as for why Cheng Shi knows so much about this place...

It's strange, his previous single-player food dungeons always assigned him to some strange places, and this Dolgode happened to be one of them.

In this small city where gender can be swapped at any time, Cheng Shi has lost count of how many confused citizens he has helped deliver their children. Come to think of it, almost every underground clinic here has traces of Cheng Shi's operations.

Of course, these traces have long been annihilated in the void of history, but this does not prevent him from having a special feeling for Dolgode.

I guess I am... a spiritual citizen here?

What a mess.

Cheng Shi shook his head, shook these distracting thoughts out of his head, and then said:

"Any more questions? Let's talk while we walk, time waits for no one."

Saying this, he took the lead and left the lounge, walking towards the outside of the church.

Gou Feng and the little assassin were stunned for a moment, then immediately followed closely. Mo Shu hesitated for a moment, annihilated the pastry box he brought, and followed along with his head down.

Seeing that everyone had left, Zhang Jizu frowned, vomited out the cake he had just swallowed into his stomach, threw it away casually, wiped his hands, and chased after them unhurriedly.

He looked at Cheng Shi, who was leading the way "shopping" and "pointing things out" as if he were familiar with the place, and shook his head and smiled as he trailed at the end.

"How does this look like he's fighting on his home turf? The danger He spoke of wouldn't be the danger he brings to others, would it?

So, am I supposed to be his bodyguard, or his teammates' bodyguard?

Cheng Shi..."

That's about all I wanted to say. I hope I can continue to write the second volume well without failing everyone's love. The story is continuous, just added a volume division, which doesn't affect reading.