[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-holy-church-begins-with-bestowal-of-blessing":3,"chapter-the-holy-church-begins-with-bestowal-of-blessing-the-holy-church-begins-with-bestowal-of-blessing-chapter-96":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Holy Church Begins with Bestowal of Blessings",{"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},1688919,2156,"Chapter 96 : The Flame of Purification","the-holy-church-begins-with-bestowal-of-blessing-chapter-96",96,"\u003Cp>Chapter 96: The Flame of Purification\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Late at night, in Daniels Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yara rubbed her brows in exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group that George had taken away still caused her some trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daniels Village wasn’t very populous to begin with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that group was taken, only just over two hundred people remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after that day, many families proactively expressed their willingness to form alliances with her, even generously offering her some food and a few sets of iron armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, Yara’s twelve-member guard unit was now armed to the teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She certainly understood that these people synchronously sending her such high-level equipment was meant to prod her into testing the Church’s strength first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yara ignored their hints and simply absorbed the equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this fragile alliance, she had already paid a high enough price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was now someone else’s turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, the Newman family from Garcia Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knight Wolf Newman was quite close to the Church, even sending several of his family's illegitimate children to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had already paid the price to sever ties with the Church, even going as far as to openly oppose it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So then, shouldn’t the Newman family show a little sincerity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even that bitch Terry had already taken her stand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under this kind of alliance, no one cared about the opinions of a family who merely had a conflict with a fellow knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the York Territory didn’t only have Knight Wolf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And besides, Knight Wolf had already left the territory. The leverage was gone, and leaving at this time perhaps was his silent consent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, after Yara’s hint within the fragile alliance, everyone was waiting for the Newman family to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the Newman family was dawdling, not even burning down the Small Church in their village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This brought them considerable ridicule lately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Yara laughed along, she understood the Newman family was being cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even at this time, they would send George to the Church under the Northern Marquisate, as if they weren’t worried at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, the Newman family also wanted to acquire the method to produce Healing Potions from the Church.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made them even more envious than the enlightening Baptism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, enlightenment had Scholars—even though it was more troublesome than Baptism, the more complicated it was, the better for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Healing Potions could only be produced by the Church.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the Holy Scriptures, they would have happily cooperated with the Church.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the Scriptures and the Church’s behavior made them sense danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yara believed the Newman family couldn’t be allowed to continue stalling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She thought the Newman family might need a little “help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Calon!\" Yara called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Mistress.\" Calon, clad in full armor, responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since the complete fallout with the Church, Yara had felt uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So during these days, Calon had been guarding outside her room in full armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, that unease had faded tonight. She felt that perhaps she could get a good night’s sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Deliver this letter to a stone pile outside the village. There’s a conspicuous blood-colored cloth pressed atop it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After delivering it, you may return and rest,\" Yara said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that her heart was at ease, there was no need for Calon to stand guard at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this was the Daniels family’s core. If someone could get to her bedside under such circumstances, then Calon’s presence outside the door was meaningless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood, Mistress,\" Calon replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because George had taken over forty people, the already sparsely populated Daniels Village felt even more desolate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calon walked along the quiet road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daniels Village had a curfew, officially due to nighttime danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in truth, it was to prevent people from escaping under the cover of darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking all the way to the village entrance and greeting the watchtower guards, Calon slipped out through the open gate slit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The watchtower guards looked at Calon’s armor with envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It signified that he was part of Yara’s personal guard—the most coveted position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More gold, better food, patrols at the base instead of standing atop a watchtower, exposed to wind and insect bites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when the cold season arrived, they would have to endure the harsh winds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calon quickly placed the letter and returned to the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sternly scolding the watchtower personnel to remain vigilant, Calon turned back the way he came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on the way back, he suddenly looked in a certain direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was where the original Small Church used to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calon felt a hint of pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once hoped for George and Yara to become a couple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If their child inherited George’s valor and Yara’s wisdom, perhaps that child could become a Knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But George belonged to the Church and had violated the Daniels family’s interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So all they could do was set the Small Church ablaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Calon wasn’t too disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since George was no longer a possibility, perhaps he himself had a chance?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yara, though only the acting head, had said outright—even if Weilin returned, she wouldn’t marry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And other families wouldn’t let their elite sons marry into a woman without even the title of Matron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Calon felt he still had a good chance. After all, he was now the strongest warrior in Daniels Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And among the personal guard, he was the closest to Yara.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he indulged in his pre-sleep fantasy, Calon suddenly noticed a faint light in the direction of the Small Church.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brows furrowed. Weren’t those people already taken away? Why was someone still sneaking around the Small Church ruins at night?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Placing one hand on his sword’s hilt, Calon began walking toward it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, for the sake of appearance, after burning down the Small Church, Yara did not order anyone to level it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, because George had taken people away, there weren’t enough manpower to level the Small Church either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So as soon as Calon arrived, he could see the source of the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a piece of black charcoal placed on the Lord’s Throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calon still remembered that it was originally a half-body-sized cross, but it had burned down to just this small section in a single fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Calon also remembered, Yangzhi had called this cross a Holy Relic. Calon had heard that those Dark Creatures called their treasures Holy Relics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"True Holy Relics wouldn’t catch fire.\" Calon chuckled, preparing to go to the well behind the Small Church to draw some water to extinguish the flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, if it truly caught into a larger blaze and burned down the nearby houses, they would once again have to waste already scarce manpower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only, before he could turn around, that faint flame suddenly surged and spread out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is—?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calon was horrified. Before he could react, the flames swept across his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, he didn’t feel any burning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking toward the village, this expanding flame hadn’t ignited the wooden houses either, but swept across the entire village like a wall of fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is this thing?\" Calon frowned tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, faint screams echoed by his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sensed something was wrong and ran swiftly toward the stronghold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to protect his Mistress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way, he saw several people screaming in terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were already wrapped in those flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some were running, some rolling on the ground, but none could extinguish the fire on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Calon saw that their bodies weren’t charred like in an ordinary fire, but rather melted like burning candles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calon felt a chill, his body trembled, and he quickened his pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Daniels Family stronghold, there were now torches running everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were screaming in terror, but the flames on their bodies couldn’t even ignite dry straw—only wrapped tightly around their bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without slowing, Calon charged to the door of Yara’s room and shoved it open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw Yara, wrapped in flames, with her pale skin seemingly dripping with sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, was it melting wax?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he thought, and then heard Yara speak:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So this is the Church’s trump card, huh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he felt the light of the fire dim, until it became complete darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just before that darkness, he vaguely heard the sound of armor falling to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Flames that cause no pain and don’t even burn clothes, huh.\" Yara looked at Calon, now burned to nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, there was only a pile of armor on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She raised her hand and saw her own fingers beginning to melt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking a breath, her bodily functions still operated normally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe I’ll die painlessly like Calon did?\" Yara laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How merciful indeed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On her desk lay an opened Holy Scriptures of the Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reached out to flip a page, using the light of her burning body to read the words on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she had been awakened by the screams, Yara had already seen herself ignited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the initial fear, she quickly regained her composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking out the window, those running and screaming in the village were mostly those near the stronghold center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were either servants of the Daniels Family or the village guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Further away, only two or three commoners were caught by the flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most others only hid inside their homes, watching these torches with terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yara understood—this was the Church’s retaliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, according to George, this was the Lord’s punishment, the Lord’s wrath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yara also understood—their alliance had lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had never expected the Church to wield such a powerful Mystery, and that the Lord would not seize it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was something they never foresaw, nor could comprehend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before today, if someone had claimed that the Church’s Mystery could be this powerful, Yara would have laughed in their face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, perhaps before Morning Star rose tomorrow, their fragile alliance would be dissolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only, the price of dissolving this alliance was the Daniels Family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Ando was still there, still alive—so the Daniels Family hadn’t been entirely wiped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t do anything foolish, Ando—\" With those words, Yara’s body was consumed entirely by the flames, leaving only her clothes falling softly to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>",1685,"2026-06-06T13:52:13.932Z",1,"novelbin.me","f08cf2290faf47bb58e8eadefce3e6c468f5b54763ab7a67c00cf56ad8d4017c","the-holy-church-begins-with-bestowal-of-blessing-chapter-97","the-holy-church-begins-with-bestowal-of-blessing-chapter-95",373,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-holy-church-begins-with-bestowal-of-blessing-cover.jpg"]