Chapter Fifty-Four: Approaching Completion
The starlight was dim, and the crescent moon remained hidden.
It was a night of exceptionally deep darkness, even within the Church of Glor, the candlelight flickered unstably, as if on the verge of extinguishing at any moment.
Twelve eerie magic circles, drawn with pigment emitting a cerulean glow, encircled the church layer by layer.
Li Wen was placing offerings one by one in the designated positions at the center of the magic circles.
Those rebellious and blasphemous powers were sealed within common objects.
For instance, “light after death” was sealed within a dull, grayish-white ice block; “the rusted iron crown” was a dagger pierced through thorns; and “the beginning of the circle” was a viper with its head and tail nailed together…
The priest Mog watched from the side, his expression shifting between moods. These offerings indeed suited the style of that mentor.
A great madman – this was the conclusion everyone who had witnessed Sestvier’s true face could unanimously agree upon.
After all the offerings were in place, Li Wen entered the church alone.
She placed *The Primordial Codex of Ending* within the “Dawn Dusk Birthright” magic circle at the center, then retreated to the doorway.
An inexplicable power descended quietly. *The Primordial Codex of Ending* floated up silently, the girl beneath the tree on its cover stood up, and reached her hand upwards.
Li Wen picked up the copper mirror by the door. The mirror, which should have reflected her, instead showed a lifelike, giant tree. She took out the Bone-Corroding Short Sword and directly pierced the copper mirror.
The mirror’s surface shattered into pieces, like ice or glass, and the tree within the mirror withered and decayed silently.
Li Wen put down the mirror and walked to the wall on her left.
At the corner of the wall was a silver cup filled with red fruit wine.
She knelt on one knee and raised the silver cup. The fruit wine was level with the rim of the cup, yet it did not spill. A rich fruity aroma and a mellow wine scent emanated from the cup. Li Wen closed her eyes and drank the fruit wine.
Initially, she tasted a slightly astringent sweet and sourness. But after the fruit wine went down her throat, it transformed into a pungent, salty, metallic taste, like blood.
Li Wen suppressed the urge to vomit and drank all the liquid in the silver cup.
A sound like rustling raindrops seemed to drift into her ears. It was merely a sound at first, but as the sound of rain grew louder, Li Wen felt cold, smelly rainwater falling on her, instantly drenching her entire body.
She was unable to open her eyes, so she could only calm herself and listen.
Amidst the vast sound of rain, there were cries.
Not just cries, but also accusations, wails, lamentations, and heart-wrenching roars…
It was as if a tragic calamity was unfolding around Li Wen.
But soon, all of it dispersed like the wind, leaving no trace.
Li Wen looked at the silver cup in her hand; there was no trace of her being wet. She thought that the scene she just experienced was probably a reproduction of a legendary event.
It was said that a city in Canaan once suffered an unprecedented great famine. Just as everyone in the city was about to starve to death, a follower of the Glorious Church passed by. Unable to bear seeing people die of hunger, he cut off his flesh and took his blood, distributing it to the people. The blood and flesh instantly transformed into bread, dried meat, and wine.
The people of the city were thus saved, and the follower who distributed his flesh and blood was canonized as a Saint. This story was recorded in *The Grace of Glorious*, and even the ritual of sharing bread and wine after worship originated from this.
Li Wen quickly regained her senses and walked towards the wall on her left again.
This was directly behind the altar, where an inverted golden basin was placed.
Pure gold basins could not be found in Ark Town; this one was gilded, but it did not affect its function, as it was merely a symbolic object.
Li Wen picked up the golden basin and placed it squarely on the altar. The empty golden basin began to produce water. The water was transparent, pure, and untainted, surpassing even the holy water produced by the Church.
In this utmost pure and clear water, Li Wen saw a different scene.
At first, it was a scarlet hue. As the image moved further away, Li Wen realized it was a blood-dyed lapel. A person dressed as a noble sat on a luxurious chair, a sharp knife plunged into his chest, and blood continuously gushed from the wound.
The image in the water continued to pull back, revealing more people. Some were even people Li Wen recognized, such as the Eldest Son of the Holy See, Moriah, the Wild Mage duo, and Old Sem of the Duwei people…
They were gathered around a long table, seemingly in the main hall of a castle, where a lavish banquet was about to begin or was already underway.
As the picture neared its end, Li Wen saw herself. She stood at the entrance of the hall, the Emerald Star Cloak draped over her shoulders emitting an eerie glow, and a raven of utter blackness circled above her head.
Li Wen watched her own mouth move, as if speaking something, or perhaps reciting an incantation before casting a spell.
The scene ended there, and the utmost pure and clear water in the basin instantly evaporated, vanishing without a trace.
Was this a prophecy?
Li Wen raised an eyebrow, pondering the scenes she had just witnessed.
First, it was certain that what the images presented was something that would happen at some future time, meaning a vision of the future.
But what was its meaning? Any prophecy had its significance.
However, Li Wen could not understand what the golden basin had shown of the future.
Who was the nobleman who was assassinated? What was the purpose of that banquet? Why was she present there? Why were people like Moriah there? Who was the killer?
There were too many uncertain things. Li Wen quickly suppressed any further probing thoughts, refocusing her energy on the ritual.
She went to the wall where the mistletoe was placed.
Taking the candle beside her, she lit the bundle of dried mistletoe.
Wisps of green smoke rose. This time, there were no strange prophecies, no hallucinations or auditory illusions; nothing happened.
Li Wen only smelled an extremely faint and pleasant fragrance.
What remained was the final step – reciting the eternal poem of the ancient Twilight, the first counsel of Greyrion.
Li Wen walked to the center of the ascension magic circle and held up the floating *The Primordial Codex of Ending*.
The ancient poem of counsel automatically appeared in her mind. Li Wen, uncontrollably, pronounced these words one by one in an unfamiliar language.
Rather than reciting, it was more like singing a ballad; this unfamiliar language possessed a special charm and rhythm.
A crack appeared in the ceiling of the church, like the eyelid of a closing eye slowly opening. An eye-shaped void appeared at the top of the church.
Beyond that void was chilling darkness, devoid of starlight or moonlight.
Rumbling thunder echoed from the distant sky, and a torrential rain seemed poised to descend on this deep, dark night.
But what descended first was not rain, but transparent liquid, deep red with a hint of yellow.
This liquid fell upon Li Wen like raindrops, continuously and rapidly solidifying. Li Wen, like a powerless insect, was enveloped by thick “resin,” becoming amber.
Her consciousness, her thoughts, froze instantly, as if time had stopped.
And within this state, a astonishing transformation was about to occur.
Outside the church, the offerings within the twelve magic circles crumbled to dust. Pastor Mog looked up at the sky in terror.
The night sky, which should have been devoid of light, was now shrouded by the amber hue of twilight.
Immense fear blossomed within him, then grew into a towering tree.
She must be stopped!
At this moment, only one thought echoed in the pastor’s mind.
His pupils turned blood-red and sharp, with infernal flames burning fiercely. In his eyes, the Church of Candle Sun was engulfed in unceasing crimson flames.
The next moment, this vision in his eyes was projected into reality.
The entire church was engulfed in a sea of fire.
