The Ascetic Advancement Ritual

Ascetic advancement ritual:

Time: Daytime.

Location: An open, undisturbed area.

Personal Preparation: Must maintain a state of profound grief.

Items: A book containing the doctrines of the Radiant Light Church, a 200ml bottle of thorn tree sap, three spiritual blackstones, and a spiritual pen.

Method: Arrange the blackstones in a triangular formation and stand at the center. Using the spiritual pen and the thorn tree sap as ink, connect the three blackstones and gradually draw the specified patterns inward. Finally, flip through the corresponding doctrines while bathed in the ritual's light. The advancement will be completed during the reading process. If the doctrine is finished and the advancement has not occurred, the ritual is considered a failure.

...

"This is the Ascetic advancement ritual. The first advancement isn't complex; one might even call it simple," Melanie smiled as she asked, "Olivia, is there anything you still don't understand?"

In truth, Olivia had already learned about the first advancement ritual for the Ascetic through the magic mirror. Although the monastery lacked descriptions of the Ascetic's abilities, it curiously possessed records of the advancement ritual...

She recalled the relevant details and said, "I have two questions. First, how do I choose the doctrine? The term 'doctrine' is far too broad. Second, how should I cultivate a sense of grief? Based on the ritual's requirements, I need to maintain that emotion for a long time. It won't be easy to achieve that just by thinking of unhappy things."

'After all, I'm not an actress,' Olivia thought to herself.

Melanie laughed. "Choosing the doctrine is easy. Whether it's 'The Goddess's Revelations', the 'Secret Manual of the God-Chosen', or the 'Holy Words of Redemption', any of them will work. However, I suggest you choose 'The Goddess's Revelations' because it's the longest and takes more time to read... Although normally you'll finish the advancement before you're even halfway through, it's always better to choose a longer one just in case."

Olivia nodded in agreement.

She carried a copy of 'The Goddess's Revelations' with her. It wasn't the one she had torn up at the orphanage; she had obtained another copy later. After all, she was a 'devout' believer... and certainly didn't keep it just as a spare spiritual material.

Melanie continued, "As for the emotional issue, it's not strange that you can't maintain it for long. I can use a dream to help you."

Olivia was a bit surprised. "A dream? Among the Ascetic abilities you mentioned earlier, there was nothing about dreams."

Melanie gave a slight smile. "This isn't a transcendent ability of the Ascetic, but an ability granted by a forbidden artifact. Don't be nervous; it's only a sealed-grade forbidden artifact. As long as it's a forbidden artifact that can be sealed, it's safe to carry around."

As she spoke, Melanie pulled a pendant from the pocket of her nun's habit. It was set with a purple gemstone and looked quite expensive.

"This is the forbidden artifact, the Dream Pendant. Once the seal is released, it pulls everyone within a certain range into a dream—specifically, a dream that forces them to experience pain. The method of sealing it is simply to keep it in total darkness. Because the sealing method is so simple, it's fine to carry it with me. Given my position, I'm authorized to have it."

At first, Melanie's voice sounded clear in Olivia's ears, but it gradually grew distant. Even though they were standing face-to-face, it felt as if they were separated by mountains and oceans.

At the same time, she felt her consciousness becoming heavy. Color drained from her eyes, and her body swayed as if she might collapse at any moment.

Then, she fell into a dream of profound sorrow.

The moment the Dream Pendant was brought out, its effects had already begun to manifest.

As a chanting nun, Melanie possessed a higher status and was naturally immune to the effects of a sealed-grade forbidden artifact.

She stepped forward, sliding her hands under Olivia's arms to steady her and prevent her from falling.

After waiting for about three minutes, Melanie used her other hand to put the Dream Pendant back into her pocket. Her pocket was specially made with a zippered inner compartment; once the pendant was placed inside and zipped up, it was encased in darkness.

Once the Dream Pendant was sealed, Olivia's long eyelashes fluttered. Her amber eyes were clouded with a mist of tears that looked ready to fall at any moment.

"What did I dream about? I forgot... I forgot..." Olivia murmured to herself.

"It's better that you forgot. The dreams brought by the Dream Pendant are illusions anyway; there's no need to remember them. Go now. Use the emotions you feel right now to complete your advancement ritual," Melanie's voice whispered in her ear.

Though she had escaped the dream, the lingering grief remained. Fortunately, Olivia remembered what she needed to do. She immediately picked up the materials for the advancement ritual and began to set them up.

She placed the three blackstones in a triangle and positioned herself in the center.

Using the spiritual pen dipped in thorn tree sap, she connected the three blackstones with lines. Then, inside the triangle, she continued to draw specific patterns and several Sylvan Runes.

Melanie had explained the patterns and Sylvan Runes once. Naturally, Olivia... naturally, she couldn't remember them all. However, she could silently call upon the magic mirror, letting it project the corresponding patterns and Sylvan Runes directly into her mind for her to check at any time.

To Melanie, however, Olivia's performance only deepened the look of admiration in her eyes.

'I only said it once, and she remembered everything. Anyone else would have asked several times to confirm, or even drawn a draft on paper first before setting up the ritual. Olivia is truly exceptional.'

Melanie nodded repeatedly, feeling that her recommendation for Olivia to follow the Ascetic path was the perfect choice.

Olivia finished the preliminary steps of the ritual in a short time. Then, she opened 'The Goddess's Revelations' and began turning the pages from the beginning at a steady pace. The timing of the page-turning was also regulated; she couldn't stay on one page for too long or too short, but had to maintain the speed of actual reading.

As Olivia turned the pages, white light sprouted from the ground within the triangle formed by the blackstones. It rose slowly, beginning to envelop Olivia's body.

The radiance felt holy, churning continuously until Olivia's figure became hazy. Her nun's hood and long golden hair fluttered as if she had entered the Divine Kingdom at that moment to receive a baptism.

Melanie stood with her arms crossed, watching the changes. Everything was proceeding step-by-step without any accidents.

Just as Olivia had read through a third of 'The Goddess's Revelations', the pervasive light suddenly tightened and merged into her body.

Success!

As a chanting nun who had gone through similar experiences, a smile broke across Melanie's face. "Congratulations, Olivia. From today on, you are a Pilgrim of the Ascetic path."

Nothing unexpected had happened; everything had followed its natural course.

Olivia stood up slowly. After thanking Melanie for her congratulations, she carefully felt the changes within herself.

"So now, I'm considered a Combat Expert?" Olivia flexed her arm.

"Don't be in such a hurry, Olivia. You still need a learning process." Melanie looked at her. "Since you still need to act as bait to help me lure out those vampires from the Bloody Sickle, it's not convenient for you to return to the monastery. Therefore, I can temporarily take charge of your combat lessons."

Olivia's eyes lit up. "Then I'll be in your care, Lady Melanie."

In the monastery, those responsible for teaching combat were deaconesses, but Melanie was a chanting nun, whose status was even higher!

Furthermore, Melanie herself followed the Ascetic path, so she was undoubtedly extremely familiar with combat. This was enough to make anyone look forward to her lessons.

"It's not just combat," Melanie added after a moment of thought. "Since you've become a Pilgrim, I'll help you apply for a promotion from novice nun to full nun. Accordingly, your meditation method will change. The Glimmer Meditation Method is no longer suitable for you; you can master the higher-tier Bright Light Meditation Method. I'll help you apply for that as well."

Olivia smiled and thanked Melanie again.

Becoming a full nun was almost a certainty for a nun who reached the rank of Pilgrim. Even if one didn't do well in learning various scripts, Sylvan Runes, or talisman crafting during their time as a novice, as long as their class rank was high enough, their position would follow.

As for the Bright Light Meditation Method... she wasn't particularly excited about that.

'I already have the Radiant Meditation Method, which is countless tiers higher than the Bright Light version. The church's meditation methods really are taught in stages. Is the church unwilling to teach the best methods to those of lower ranks because they fear leaks?' Olivia wondered.

"Let me think what else..." Melanie pondered. "Originally, there were ritual courses that a full nun should master. Rituals aren't just for advancement; there are barrier rituals, sealing rituals, fortune rituals, contract rituals, divination rituals... and then there are smithing courses. Forging spiritual weapons requires learning those... There are many other courses, and calculating them all, there's just too much to learn. I won't have time to teach you those; you'll have to learn them after you return to the monastery. Of course, you don't have to learn them all—one person doesn't need to be an expert in everything—but there's no harm in knowing them."

Nuns always had a wide variety of courses, but they weren't forced to master all of them, as these subjects were quite difficult.

"Anyway, I'll go apply for your status as a full nun first." Melanie told Olivia to familiarize herself with the changes of being a Pilgrim and then left the meditation room.

After seeing Melanie off, Olivia stretched her limbs, feeling extremely refreshed throughout her body.

She began to imagine combat scenarios. Various fighting scenes flashed through her mind, and even though it was just imagination, she felt she could rapidly understand them, knowing the purpose behind certain combat movements.

"Mirabelle once said that learning combat only makes sense after becoming a Pilgrim, and there's no need to learn it beforehand. That statement was correct."

Olivia muttered to herself.

As for the ability to control a target's emotions, Olivia still had no clue.

But that wasn't the most urgent matter.

After becoming a Pilgrim, her spirituality had improved, and the magic mirror bound to her had been partially repaired. Although the repair was minuscule, it was enough for her to choose another area in the city of Kaliron to bring under her control. Once she did, nothing happening in that area would be hidden from her.

The choice of this area had to be valuable.

Over the past two days, Olivia had obtained a map of Kaliron—a very common one.

She took out the map and spread it out before her.

The massive city of Kaliron was circular. The square area in the center was the main district, while the other four directions were the East, South, West, and North Districts. Both the monastery and the Daylight Cathedral were located in the South District. Since transmigrating, Olivia had only been active in the South District, and only in a small portion of it.

After scanning the map, Olivia's gaze landed on the Daylight Cathedral.

'I must choose a valuable area. The cathedral itself should be extremely valuable, right? A place like that must hold a lot of information... Or should I choose the royal palace?'

Olivia's gaze shifted upward to the North District.

The royal palace was on the northern edge of the North District. In her eyes, that was also a good choice.

However, in the Holy Kelidos Empire, the church's status was far higher than the royal power. The palace might not necessarily hold much valuable content.

It was a pity the church headquarters wasn't in Kaliron...

The headquarters of the Radiant Light Church, according to currently known information, was located within a separate dimension, existing above all else. This dimension could connect to the cathedral in Kaliron as well as cathedrals in other cities, making communication extremely easy.

If the headquarters weren't in another space, it would definitely be the most suitable choice.

'The palace is an option. As for cathedrals, besides the Daylight Cathedral, the others are also options. Aside from that, the nobles... forget it, I'll exclude the noble estates. Their value feels limited.'

Olivia pondered while looking at the map.

After thinking it over, she finally decided to choose a cathedral to control first. In Kaliron, different cathedrals held significant intelligence value. For a church nun like herself, their priority should be above the royal palace.

As for which cathedral to choose, Olivia felt she should pick the one that affected her the most—the Daylight Cathedral where she currently was. This way, she could stay informed on the intelligence she needed.

'Mirror, mirror, select the Daylight Cathedral as the next area of control.'

Olivia whispered in her heart.

【Master, after bringing the entire Daylight Cathedral under control, there will be some leftover range. Which direction should I extend the reach?】

The new range controlled by the magic mirror naturally wouldn't be exactly the same size as the cathedral's grounds; it would be slightly larger.

Olivia thought for a moment and gave her instructions mentally.

'Toward Triumphant Street and Triumphant Square.'

That direction was more prosperous and had more foot traffic; perhaps it would contain more valuable information.

【As you wish, my beautiful and wise Master.】

Olivia's heart was filled with anticipation.

With the magic mirror controlling a large new area, she could ask for much more intelligence. This thought made her heart race, and her eyes brightened.

'Mirror, mirror, is the control complete?'

【Master, it is finished.】

'Mirror, mirror, tell me what Melanie is doing right now.'

【She wrote an application, put it in the files, and then approved it herself. She is currently heading toward the meditation room.】

She wrote it and approved it herself?

Olivia's lips twitched. She felt she might have underestimated Melanie's power and status before.

'Mirror, mirror, what is the best meditation method in the cathedral?'

【Master, it is the Radiant Meditation Method.】

It was still the Radiant Meditation Method? This didn't mean the cathedral's standards were low, but rather that the Radiant Meditation Method was actually much higher in tier than she had imagined.

Olivia nodded secretly and continued her questioning.

'Mirror, mirror, how should I master the best combat techniques?'

【If relying solely on yourself, the "Combat Chapters" in the monastery and the "Path of Judgment" in the cathedral are the best targets for study. If you require a teacher, Melanie Mills possesses the most outstanding teaching ability.】

Olivia's eyes sparkled.

So Melanie was the best teacher? Since she had promised to teach her combat, did this count as taking a shortcut?

Oh, one more question.

'Mirror, mirror, two days ago, Raymond and Rocas brought a man in black to the cathedral in the middle of the night. Where is he being held?'

【Interrogation room 142.】

'There are quite a lot of interrogation rooms... Mirror, mirror, has the church interrogated any information out of the man in black?'