“Hey, Old Black, have you ever heard of a Pure Love Warrior?”
“Pure Love Warrior? Which bloodline is that from? What are the characteristics of their battle aura?”
“Are you stupid? I said 'pure love.' The battle aura must be pink, just like love!”
“Who told you love has to be pink? I say love is green!”
“...Forget it. It’s a waste of time asking people like you.”
Ryan led the guard squad and the crowd further away, his face still clouded with confusion and disbelief that any man wouldn't want to visit the Red Pavilion.
Leon and the old butler did not follow the crowd. Instead, they turned in a different direction—toward the Cathedral of Sacred Light in Solainem.
He had been doing well as an Apprentice Priest in the town, but now that the town was gone, his position as the town priest had naturally vanished with it.
Leon needed to go to the Cathedral of Sacred Light in Solainem to report for duty and discuss the future arrangements for his priesthood.
If everything went as planned, his father in the Imperial Capital had already pulled some strings; he should be transferred to the Sacred Light Church in the capital and promoted from an Apprentice Priest to a Formal Priest.
However, Leon had other ideas regarding that.
The streets and alleys of Solainem were as bustling as ever, as if the effects of the spreading gray mist were completely blocked by the mountain passes outside the city.
The flagstone paths were warmed by the afternoon sun. The air was filled with the aroma of toasted bread, the scent of dust clinging to adventurers' leather armor, and the faint fragrance of magical herbs wafting from a nearby stall.
The cries of street vendors, the sounds of haggling, the light clatter of weapons, and the distant tolling of church bells intertwined, filling all of Solainem with the vibrant energy of daily life.
Leon reached the end of an alley, and a magnificent cathedral appeared before him.
“Priest Leon, Bishop Miles is waiting for you in the sanctuary,” said the guard at the cathedral entrance with a bow.
“Understood.”
Leon nodded and stepped inside the cathedral.
As the officially designated orthodox faith of the Heron Empire, the Sacred Light Church saw many people coming for daily mass and prayer.
The Cathedral of Sacred Light, located in the center of Solainem, saw an exceptionally high volume of believers every day—so many that the prayer pews were often completely domestic.
Leon bypassed the crowd praying in the chapel and entered a small door leading to the inner sanctuary.
The sanctuary was the holiest area of the cathedral, enshrining a statue of the God of Sacred Light—which was essentially a large sphere that lacked any discernible features.
Beneath the statue stood a priest clad in a pure white robe with a warm expression and a gentle, holy aura.
“Bishop Miles.”
Leon bowed slightly, paying his respects to the only Bishop in Solainem.
Within the Sacred Light Church, priests were ranked as Apprentice Priest, Formal Priest, and High Priest.
Beyond High Priest was the rank of Bishop, which Miles held.
As for the so-called “Divine Officials,” they belonged to an entirely different hierarchy.
Miles looked at Leon with a smile on his lips and spoke in a gentle voice:
“My child, you have worked hard on this journey.”
Leon shook his head. “Compared to the townspeople who don't even have tents to live in, my situation is already quite good.”
Miles exchanged a few pleasantries with Leon before quickly getting to the point:
“The letter sent ahead said you felt the blessing of the Sacred Light, allowing your Light Prayer to possess both healing and burning properties?”
“Yes, Bishop Miles.”
Leon nodded with a solemn expression.
This wasn't exactly a lie.
After all, the system panel was divine in its own right. Why couldn't the enhancement traits provided by the panel be considered a god's blessing?
Since the God of Sacred Light wasn't going to personally manifest to expose him, Leon continued:
“The gray mist descended so rapidly that many townspeople couldn't locate the guard squad in time...”
After hearing the detailed account, Miles displayed an appreciative smile:
“My child, you did excellently. The wisdom and responsibility you showed are worthy of praise even from the Sacred Light itself.”
Leon remained silent, waiting for Miles to continue.
Sure enough, after a pause, Miles said:
“The seeds of faith you sowed have already taken root in the hearts of the townspeople. For this achievement of illuminating their souls, the Sacred Light is willing to grant you the commendation you deserve.”
Commendation!
This was what Leon valued most.
Leon spoke up:
“Being shrouded in the gray mist made me deeply realize how meager my own strength is.”
“I lack sufficient divine spells for combat, and due to a lack of mental strength, it is difficult for me to continuously light the way or bestow blessings upon everyone.”
“Therefore, Bishop Miles, I hope to learn more divine spells so that I may better aid the people and spread the faith of the Sacred Light.”
Leon's words were truly heartfelt.
Despite having a divine spell panel, he was still as weak as anyone else.
If he were in the gray mist without the protection of a bloodline warrior like Ryan, he would have only Light Prayer to defend himself against mist monsters.
Even though Light Prayer was linked with Healing and possessed healing and burning effects, it wasn't particularly powerful.
The healing effect couldn't quickly mend Granny Taylor’s gashed head, and the burning effect only caused the monsters pain without instantly turning them to ash.
His means of dealing with mist monsters were severely lacking.
Furthermore, his mental strength was quite frail. After casting three or four divine spells in a row, he would be drained—practically at the level where he’d wet his own toes even with the wind at his back.
This world was unlike his previous one. In his previous life, lying flat and waiting for death might just be a metaphor, but here, it was a literal outcome.
Leon needed to master more and stronger divine spells to ensure his own safety and face the gray mist without fear.
Miles looked at the youth before him and felt a slight surge of emotion. It seemed a life-or-death experience truly could make one grow rapidly.
The young master who previously only wanted to know the best fishing spots in Solainem had become mature and resolute after experiencing the gray mist.
Miles said, “My child, I have seen your devotion to the Sacred Light. I will grant your request.”
Miles stepped out of the sanctuary and returned shortly after, carrying two thick divine spell books.
Leon took them and saw the names of the spells inscribed on the covers.
【Holy Light Meditation】
【Hammer of Holy Light】
To learn the divine spells of the Church, one could either use their spirit to perceive the god's response and guide the divine grace, or master them through divine spell books written by predecessors.
Books containing divine spells were divided into two categories.
One was the Divine Spell Book, which had not undergone Divine Grace Guidance.
A Divine Spell Book only contained a priest's record of a certain spell. Only priests with extraordinary talent or profound divine grace could master the spell within after painstaking study.
The other was the Divine Spell Codex, which had undergone Divine Grace Guidance.
Once a priest's mental strength reached the Silver rank, they could master a spell called Divine Grace Guidance.
This spell allowed a priest to channel all their insights and faith regarding a specific divine spell into a book they had written.
When other priests read a Divine Spell Codex, they could personally experience the author's insights, allowing them to master the spell in a short amount of time.
However, even with the personal insights within a Divine Spell Codex, it was difficult for other priests to fully digest them.
Talented priests might gain seventy or eighty percent of the insights, becoming extremely proficient as soon as they learned the spell.
Priests with low talent or shallow divine grace could only gain a superficial grasp, often unable to even cast the spell effectively under pressure.
Leon looked at the two books in front of him and felt a surge of holy power from them. They were clearly Divine Spell Codices that had undergone Divine Grace Guidance.
“According to the regulations, a Divine Spell Codex can only be read within the cathedral. You shall remain in the sanctuary to study them carefully and leave only after you have mastered the spells,” Miles said.
He then left the sanctuary, leaving the space to Leon.
Leon watched Bishop Miles depart and then turned his gaze to the Divine Spell Codices, flipping to the first page of 【Holy Light Meditation】.
But in the next second, Leon froze.
Streaks of light from the system interface began flashing across his vision.
【Comprehending Divine Spell Codex: Holy Light Meditation】
【Holy Light Meditation XP +1】
【Holy Light Meditation XP +1】
【Holy Light Meditation XP +1】
...
【Holy Light Meditation Lv0 → Holy Light Meditation Lv1 (4/100)】
Rate on N.U.
