Chapter 363: Miracle

Chapter 363: Miracle

Within the palace, three High Priests sat opposite one another in a triangular formation, ever guarding the Goddess's Tear.

Outside the palace, countless Light Knights and guards patrolled back and forth, weaving an impenetrable net.

Not even a single insect could fly past.

The insect construct fashioned by Li Wei clung to the leaf of a great tree outside the palace.

Gazing at the palace from afar, it kept watch on the movements of the High Priests.

Through the long night, no one came to assault the Light Temple or seize the Goddess's Tear.

The more so this was the case, the less Lance dared to slacken his vigilance.

In the dead of early morning, before dawn had broken.

Believers of the Church of Light spread rumors throughout Storm City that the Light God would soon unveil a miracle to save the world.

"The Great Light God, seeing the plague ravage Storm City, could not bear it, and will descend a miracle this noon to purify the sickness upon all people."

"The poisoned may go attend the Miracle Ceremony to witness the wonder."

"Faith in the Light God allows one to expel the toxins within the body during the ceremony, restoring health."

Those who heard the news flocked to the outside of the Light Temple with their sick kin.

The vast square outside the Light Temple, capable of holding hundreds of thousands, was now packed so tightly that not even water could pass.

In the center of the square stood a towering altar.

At the very apex of the altar loomed a colossal statue of the Light God.

Patients still able to move knelt upon the ground, worshipping the statue of the Light God, praying for blessings, begging for miracles.

As for those patients already beyond cure, unable to stir.

Their relatives who had brought them knelt upon the ground, beseeching the Light God to heal their loved ones.

The High Priest stood within the Light Temple, gazing at the statue of the Light God inside which shone far brighter than usual, revealing a look of astonishment.

"So many sincere believers?"

"Indeed, disaster is the true engine driving humanity to worship gods."

"Eternal peace only breeds lethargy in humanity, weakening the firmness of faith in the divine."

The three High Priests exchanged words.

Lance stood beside them, watching the scene in silence.

Li Wei was not within the temple.

At dawn, taking advantage of the shift change among the Light Temple guards, he had quietly departed.

Li Wei harbored a premonition that this place might become a war zone.

Become the epicenter of the storm.

Remaining here would most likely draw him into immense trouble.

Thus, Li Wei had departed early.

He intended to return to the Tower of Elements.

Arriving at the city gate, he learned the news that today, due to the Miracle Ceremony, the teleportation array would remain closed.

One had to wait until the Miracle Ceremony concluded before returning to the Tower of Elements.

Helpless, Li Wei could only seek refuge at the Mage Association within Storm City first.

Within the Mage Association of Storm City resided quite a few mages from the Tower of Elements.

Several senior officials were also elders of the Tower of Elements.

Staying here was far safer than remaining at the Light Temple.

Li Wei sat within a private guest chamber of the Mage Association.

A beautiful novice mage girl brought a pot of hot tea and a platter of fruit for Li Wei to sample.

"High Mage Sir, please enjoy."

When the girl looked at Li Wei, her eyes revealed an expression of boundless curiosity.

Upon just learning he was a High Mage.

The girl was utterly stunned, her face filled with disbelief.

Until Li Wei produced the magic badge symbolizing a High Mage.

Then, immediately, he won the admiration of the novice mage girl.

Li Wei nodded, "Thank you."

"You are welcome, High Mage Sir, if you require anything, call me anytime, I am on duty in the main hall outside."

The novice mage girl offered a sweet smile.

It was common for novice mages to work part-time within the Mage Association.

Especially for novice mages from poor families, to gather cultivation resources, they would choose to work within the Mage Association.

Having sent off the novice mage girl.

Li Wei focused his consciousness onto the construct.

The insect construct had transformed into a tiny hummingbird.

Compared to insects, though small, the hummingbird possessed all vital organs.

Larger in volume, its endurance was also superior.

It could provide an even vaster field of vision.

The hummingbird hovered above the square outside the Light Temple, looking down upon the crowd below packed tight.

Li Wei had already learned of the matter regarding the miracle unveiled at noon.

He remained curious about the miracle nonetheless.

Li Wei had actually witnessed a miracle once before.

Back when Otz founded the nation, the sacrificial ceremony held then counted as a kind of miracle.

Miracle, full name "Divine Wonder".

As the name implies, it is the method by which gods display power to the world.

Its primary function is to harvest faith.

The miracle the Light Temple intends to unveil now is on a completely different tier than the miracle displayed when Otz founded the nation.

The Church of Light is one of the strongest sects in the world.

The Light God is also one of the strongest deities.

Displaying a Divine Wonder inevitably entails grandeur and immense prestige.

Grand, imposing, and distinguished.

Time swiftly turned to midday.

The High Priest carried the Goddess's Tears onto the altar.

The Tears floated upward slowly, finally hovering above the statue's brow.

As the miracle ceremony commenced, the power of the Tears was awakened, and the Light God statue was shrouded in a hazy radiance.

As though the true Light God had descended upon the world.

A sensation of majesty, righteousness, light, and warmth surfaced within every heart.

Each person bowed their head, prostrating in worship, daring not to gaze directly upon the deity.

"The Light God pities mankind, revealing a miracle today to purify calamity and drive away pestilence."

"Only those with sincere faith in their hearts may receive the deity's favor."

The High Priest's words reached every ear with crystal clarity.

All bowed their heads to pray to the Light God, striving to appear as devout as possible.

Hoping to garner the divine blessing.

The High Priest invoked the power of the Tears, casually healing several patients.

A flash of light flickered over the patients, then they awoke from their comas, free of toxins, restored to health.

"Behold, their devout faith has moved the deity, who has sent down a miracle!"

Witnessing the dying patients instantaneously cured.

Everyone came to believe in the miracle.

Bursting forth with even stronger faith.

The High Priest revealed a smile.

Faith is like water trapped within a sponge; squeeze it, and more will always emerge.

He was not in a rush to heal them all.

Little by little, taking it slow.

Only thus could he incite more to surrender their faith.

Those left unhealed would merely feel their own devotion insufficiently intense.

Further dedicating their faith.

Those who were healed would feel favored by the Light God.

Their faith would grow firmer, with a minority turning into fanatical believers.

Li Wei watched the increasingly fervent atmosphere in the square, unable to help but shake his head.

"The High Priest is no better than anyone else."

He possessed the clear ability to heal everyone directly.

Yet he insisted on choosing this method of dangling appetites before the crowd.

Causing some who might have been saved to lose their lives through delay.

The miracle ceremony gradually climbed toward its climax.

Rumble!

Heaven and earth trembled.

Countless souls in the square fell to the ground, gazing around with terror-stricken faces.

Unable to comprehend what had transpired.

Li Wei sat within the room, feeling the structure shake violently.

He felt somewhat startled, "An earthquake?"

The Hummingbird's perspective revealed the truth.

Outside Storm City, a colossal, cloud-piercing mountain peak had appeared.

(End of Chapter)