Chapter 58: The Primal King Isn’t a Proper Person Either
“Ate is leaving?” Yonglan asked in surprise upon hearing the news.
“Of course. A Chanter is also an Inspector of the Golden Holy Domain. Lady Ate has stayed in Chang long enough. If she doesn’t leave soon, the Golden Holy Domain’s accountability might arrive,” Zhenxian explained, quite familiar with the Pillar of the Holy’s system.
“If it weren’t for you, Ate would have left long ago under normal circumstances. So, this is your last chance to fleece a Chanter. You must seize it… Let’s have a farewell gift!”
“…………”
“You’re terrifyingly pragmatic, Zhenxian. What turned you into this?”
Yonglan didn’t comment. After all, he could understand Zhenxian’s feelings. Hram, having grown up within the Holy Church system as a “convicted person” and climbed step by step to the position of Executive, harbored a rebellious heart. The pressure she must have felt was immense. Now that she finally saw a glimmer of hope, a little psychological distortion was normal.
The car soon arrived at the core area of the Holy Church. Zhenxian observed for a moment and, seeing that no one from the Heresy Trial Court was present, boldly followed behind Yonglan. Scathach had previously threatened Zhenxian, vowing to shoot her if she dared to approach the Sanctuary again. The commanding Hram naturally wouldn’t provoke an Inquisitor, but if she couldn’t see them, it didn’t count as trespassing!
Yonglan was already a familiar face in the Sanctuary. The Saintly Monks coming and going all knew he was a favored individual in front of the Chanter. Thus, they proceeded unhindered and stopped before the Monastery within the Sanctuary’s high tower. Yes, as Holy Descendants known for their fervent piety, they built Monasteries everywhere. Legend has it that in the Golden Holy Domain, there are even astonishingly tall Monasteries reaching the heavens. Sticking a Monastery inside a high tower was utterly commonplace.
“Sister Ate is currently observing her midday prayer. You can enter and wait briefly.”
Yonglan had no objections and entered the Monastery with Zhenxian, sitting in the back row of the prayer hall. Inside the spacious and bright hall, a group of Nuns, led by Ate, knelt and worshipped before the Holy Icon of the Primal King. It was Yonglan’s first time seeing Nuns other than Ate. Although all Holy Descendants were Monks, the title of “Nun” seemed special, seemingly obtainable only after completing advanced studies in the Golden Holy Domain. The Nuns held rosaries, placed them on their smooth foreheads, and devoutly chanted scriptures. Coupled with their saintly and pure faces, they presented a truly harmonious picture. Even the commanding Hram, who harbored some dissatisfaction with the Holy Descendants, naturally integrated into the prayer atmosphere upon entering the hall. While the demon race gained little from prayer, even without considering any benefits, simply enjoying the feeling of receiving blessings was a rare pleasure.
However, Yonglan couldn’t calm down. It wasn’t that he couldn’t feel the Primal King’s grace; he had known that for a long time and held no such hope. What truly made him unable to suppress himself were the Nuns’ outfits—robes split to the waist, pure white lace stockings, deliberately exposed cleavage, and a golden-embroidered veil that seemed to beckon “drink me”… These were hardly Nun’s habits! What kind of proper Nun dresses like this! The negative impact on adolescents was immeasurable!
Unlike formal public sermons, these small-scale prayer rituals were short. After the lunch break concluded, the Nuns rose, bowed to Ate, and moved aside. The beautiful, golden-brown-haired Chanter gracefully approached Yonglan. This time, Ate wasn’t wearing her blindfold but openly revealed a pair of clear, saintly beautiful eyes, smiling and saying, “Compared to Brother Yingxing’s presiding, what are your feelings about this prayer?”
“Can I say anything?”
“Of course, please speak your mind freely.”
Yonglan rubbed his chin. “Are all the Nuns in your Holy Church dressed so… indecently?” He had actually wanted to ask this the first time they met, but he had assumed it was Ate’s personal style and hadn’t said anything, offering his respect and blessings. But now it seemed it wasn’t just the Chanter’s issue; every Nun in the Pillar of the Holy dressed like this?!
“Indecent… indecent?!” Ate was startled by Yonglan’s question, biting her lower lip. She quickly clarified, “It’s disrespectful to call it indecent! This is an ancient attire passed down for ten thousand years, a style personally designed by our exalted and great Lord!”
Yonglan was taken aback. “The Primal King designed it?”
The Nun placed a hand on her ample bosom and said with immense pride, “Of course. Only those who have purified their bodies and minds, who serve with devout concentration, are qualified to wear these Nun’s habits. Those with wicked thoughts will see lust, but pure Monks will see our Lord’s craftsmanship in beauty!”
Is that so? Well, all I see is revealing attire, and my mind is indeed quite impure. However, judging by this, the Primal King probably isn’t a proper person either. Quite the playful one. But Ate wasn’t Zhenxian, and Yonglan couldn’t voice such teasing directly, or no matter how favorable her impression of him was, she would turn hostile on the spot. So he went along with her words, “Indeed, it’s beautiful. I can’t take my eyes off it!”
Ate nodded in satisfaction, placing her hands clasped in front of her abdomen, and calmly said, “As you likely know, I will be leaving Chang in the next two days to continue my inspection of the next city-state.”
“During this time, our interactions have been mutually beneficial. I have taught you everything I could regarding forging techniques and artificer skills. And your presence has been a trial for me. Fortunately, I have overcome this difficulty, clarified my true heart, purified my will, and my faith has been elevated once more.” The Nun reached up to touch her eyes and slowly continued, “My blind cultivation has been successfully passed. Henceforth, I will fear no sensory joys or sorrows.”
Hmm… Considering the number of times Ate had been with Yonglan recently, she had indeed undergone intense ascetic training. An ordinary human would have gone mad long ago, becoming a hyper-sensitive sex slave. To endure it was not simple.
“Before I leave, I wish to fulfill my previous promise and write you a letter of recommendation. It will be very beneficial whether you wish to pursue advanced studies in the Golden Holy Domain or obtain the qualification to preside over a locality later on.”
Here it comes! This is it! Zhenxian excitedly tiptoed, subtly tugged Yonglan’s sleeve. She had advised Yonglan to gain the Chanter’s favor precisely for her influence. A little radiation from it would be enough to propel a novice with no background onto the Holy Church’s political stage, thereby changing the fate of thousands of Demonkin in Chang.
“However, I have also heard some rumors…” The Chanter suddenly changed the subject and looked at the grey-haired Hram, her voice devoid of emotion. “You have been associating quite closely with the convicted. It seems that under her instigation, you have been consciously gathering your own group within Chang. Is this true?”
As soon as she spoke, Zhenxian’s pretty face turned pale, and she bit her lip, not daring to meet Ate’s clear eyes. Yonglan, of course, wasn’t naive enough to believe their actions could be hidden from the Holy Church. Facing the Nun’s questioning, he had prepared himself. Yonglan, displaying an air of utmost virtue and righteousness, stated earnestly, “Subjectively, no, but objectively, it might exist.”
“So, it is true?” Ate’s expression turned serious, and just as she was about to reprimand and lecture him, Yonglan interrupted. “I am merely fulfilling my duty as an ‘Optimizer.’ I cannot bear to refuse the pleas of others. They are attracted by my charm and beg to gather around me, following my lead. Is that my fault?”
“Miss Ate, I believe you should be blaming the noblewomen of Chang. They have been bathed in the teachings of the Holy Church for so long, yet how could they be so infatuated in this regard? It is truly a disgrace to the Holy Church!”
The Nun’s expression became dazed as she gazed at Yonglan’s face. Even though she had achieved inner clarity, her ascetic practices were merely about experiencing his presence and aura. If she were to engage in “teaching” with Yonglan like those noble ladies… would she be even more unbearable than them? Like a tamed female beast wagging its tail in supplication, an ugly sight controlled by instinct…
“Ugh…” The Nun clutched her lower abdomen. Just imagining it made her convulse. Her previously inflated confidence vanished without a trace. She was in no position to blame those noble ladies and could only change the subject.
“What about your attitude towards the demon race…”
Yonglan: “Associating with the demon race? I don’t deny being close to Zhenxian, but she is the Executive in charge of my work. It’s quite normal to have a good personal relationship.”
“As for me having any special feelings for the demon race, I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood. It’s simply because the demon race doesn’t fawn over my charm. I can communicate with them more amicably and calmly, and before I knew it, we became more acquainted.”
Ate frowned at this. “What do you mean? Are you saying the convicted can suppress their instincts better than the Holy Descendants?”
Yonglan spread his hands. “Subjectively, I don’t think so, but objectively, that is indeed the case.” The Nun immediately looked at the grey-haired commanding Hram. The latter stood behind Yonglan, appearing very respectful. She had been with him the longest, yet she didn’t carry any of Yonglan’s aura. Could the noble Holy Descendants be less capable of resisting temptation than the demon race?! The sky is falling! The demon race being superior to the Holy Descendants in rationality – I don’t want that!
Ate absolutely refused to admit such a fact and said coldly, “Is that so? Then the convicted in Chang seem to have been very well educated.”
Zhenxian immediately replied, “It’s merely gratitude for the Holy teachings, pure intentions, and righteous hearts.”
“In that case, continue to interact with them. I hope you can maintain your restraint. If you perform well, the restrictions on obtaining a crown can be waived at our discretion.” The Nun harbored the intention of entrapment, wanting to uphold the concept of Holy Descendant supremacy, even if it meant using dirty tactics.
The questioning from the Chanter was easily brushed aside. Yonglan breathed a sigh of relief and winked at Zhenxian. The grey-haired commanding woman was greatly shocked and questioned him with her eyes, only to be met with Yonglan’s scoff. What transcendent purity, what serene rationality—Yonglan saw right through it. Flowing within the bloodline of the Holy Descendants was an eagerness for victory. Win! Must win! Have to win! Even if it means fabricating facts to win!
Next, Ate led them through the high tower’s corridors, offering final advice and instructions to Yonglan before her departure.
“You’ve already advanced to the Paradigm Tier? That’s good, but according to your wishes, wanting to become a battle-ready Priest to govern a Fortress is far from enough with just the Paradigm Tier.”
“For important Fortress city-states, the presiding Priests are Artificers of the Hero Tier. Even for the most ordinary Fortresses, the person in charge must be of the Champion Tier. This is a strict standard in Fortress city-states. Unlike other peaceful cities, Fortresses are among the few bastions of the Pillar of the Holy that have to face direct conflict.”
“Although you’ve only recently advanced, you can now start participating in the Holy Church’s internal competitions. To achieve the Champion Tier, actively participating in various contests is essential.”
Yonglan mused, “Champion Tier…” In the tier division of Artificers, Foundation and Paradigm are considered low-tier Artificers, requiring no special rituals, only a natural accumulation to advance. After that, each tier requires a special ritual as a prerequisite for promotion. Champion, as the name suggests, requires excelling in fierce competition, a legacy from the Xuntian Dynasty and even further back to ancient times when only the strongest “Champion warriors” in the army were qualified to follow the Primal King to conquer Fiends. Hero requires making a meritorious deed or great achievement that can be sung about, inspiring genuine admiration and worship from others. The conditions for True King have already been explained by Enesyin: to bear the weight of a nation and become a monarch. Due to these harsh conditions, mages of the Foundation and Paradigm tiers are the most numerous in the Boundless Land. With each tier advancement, the number of Artificers drops drastically.
Ate suggested, “With your bloodline, participating in theological competitions would be most suitable, and your advantage would be significant.” The theological competitions of the Pillar of the Holy are essentially contests of bloodline, degree of piety, and knowledge reserve, with weights decreasing in that order. If one were a devout believer with the bloodline of a Chanter, they would be directly nominated for Champion. It feels rigged, like exploiting a loophole.
Ate continued, “Or perhaps a forging competition. With your skill, even the Light Forging Grandmasters of the Holy Descendants wouldn’t be guaranteed a win. Winning in the forging field would be easy.”
Yonglan unhesitatingly refused these two glorious paths. “I want to participate in the competitions of the Holy Army or the Heresy Trial Court.” This was the promotion path he had long decided on, with no other reason than simply wanting to fight.
Ate was not surprised by Yonglan’s answer and agreed, “In that case, it will depend on your genuine abilities. However, if you aspire to become a battle-ready Priest, taking this path is indeed better.”
After finally receiving the Chanter’s recommendation, Yonglan and Zhenxian left the Sanctuary. As soon as the grey-haired commanding woman was outside, she eagerly shared her joy with Yonglan, “We’ve succeeded by half!”
