Chapter 17: Divine Grace, the Fourth-Tier Rain

“I know you have many questions.”

“But now is not the time for answers.”

Lu Ming spoke, cutting off Rain’s words immediately.

***

But at this moment, Rain didn’t care about any of that anymore.

She didn’t move her gaze at all.

Just by looking at this great lord, her body inexplicably grew hot, and her heart couldn’t stop its restless pounding.

This was a feeling she had never experienced in over twenty years of life.

“As your most loyal and humble follower, just seeing you is enough for me!”

“If—if I could kiss your… hand, I mean, to express my sincere Faith to you, truly.”

Even Lu Ming found this a little strange.

She was always so calm, so normal, so reliable.

How had she ended up like this?

It didn’t make sense.

He had only drawn a little from the Authority of Pleasure.

Well, in his eyes, just a little.

Could it be that she was like this from the start, only awakened by him…

Lu Ming fell into thought.

***

But there was no need to dwell on that now.

He’d better bestow Divine Grace on Rain quickly, then send her away.

So he ignored Rain’s odd request.

He gathered divine power and a bit of Faith in his palm, then pressed his fingertip to Rain’s forehead.

A surge of verdant divine power poured into her, forming a small vortex inside.

That warm, comfortable feeling made Rain close her eyes involuntarily, her rosy lips parting, her expression indescribable.

Lu Ming turned his eyes away, refusing to look at her.

This inexplicable heated atmosphere almost triggered his occupational habits, but he restrained himself.

***

Soon.

Once she finished absorbing Divine Grace.

Lu Ming immediately cast Awakening Divine Art on Rain.

Rain’s mind cleared in an instant, and she dropped to one knee in astonishment, loudly praising Lu Ming.

“You are now equivalent to a fourth-tier Acolyte of the Goddess.”

A fourth-tier Supernatural.

In this otherworld, such a person was a backbone in the Empire, a core force in the Church.

Respectable, if not exceptional.

Mainly because he couldn’t bestow too much Divine Grace at once, or Rain would overflow.

As for comparing to Containment Items.

Containment Items were extremely unique; their terror stemmed from their inherent properties.

It was hard to match them up with the tiers of Supernaturals.

Aside from certain high-risk Containment Items, Rain would generally be able to protect herself.

As for “Messiah.”

That was an even more special existence—a collective formed from condensed Faith, almost metaphysical.

But to Lu Ming, it posed no real threat.

***

Lu Ming stood and helped Rain up.

Then he pinched Rain’s chin, lifting her bowed head.

He looked at Rain’s now-normal expression, meeting her shy and awkward eyes directly.

Seeing her bashful appearance.

Lu Ming suddenly felt a mischievous urge to tease her a little.

Then, Lu Ming extended his sinful little hand and wrapped it around Rain’s slender waist.

He locked precisely onto her soft flesh.

Intentionally or not, he gently kneaded and caressed it.

At the same time, feeling Rain’s body gradually softening and trembling, he said,

“May Life Truth bless you.”

Lu Ming’s face was full of a wicked grin.

Without waiting for any reaction from Rain, he directly sent her consciousness back to her original body.

***

After sending Rain off, Lu Ming relaxed his mind a bit.

He walked into the courtyard and lay down on the bed.

Even though he no longer needed to rest these days, he still enjoyed lying flat.

But before he could lie for long, the sound of a follower’s prayer came from outside.

Lu Ming’s brows arched.

He quickly rolled off the bed, moving with swift agility.

***

When Lu Ming peered out from behind the Statue, the faint smile on his face deepened.

Ilena was leading a beautiful matron in her thirties in prayer before the Statue.

The matron had light blue, waist-length hair tied up in a neat bun.

There were a few wrinkles from fatigue on her face, and her body bore more than a few lingering ailments.

But it was still clear that, in her youth, she must have been astonishingly beautiful.

She and Ilena were of entirely different styles.

***

Ilena was also a mature woman who had seen much of the world.

But her age had not yet reached its prime ripeness.

She was still a bit tender, only half-matured.

Naya was even more so; compared to Ilena, she was far less experienced.

But that hint of youthful inexperience just fading from her as a young matron—

That had its own unique appeal.

***

Lu Ming’s eyelid twitched.

Was this matron here to pray for a child too?

That couldn’t be—she should already have kids at home, right?

Lu Ming silently grumbled to himself about this big sister.

He might really have to take this one seriously, hoping to gain a worthy opponent for once.

But, after a short prayer, the matron suddenly turned and called out towards the temple entrance.

“Lucia, my daughter, how much longer do you intend to hide out there?”

The matron’s voice was gentle, tinged with the unique charm of a mature woman.

At her call,

Lu Ming also turned his gaze outside the temple.

A tall, languid blue-haired girl was sprawled near the door, secretly peeking inside at the temple’s interior.

Her watery blue eyes brimmed with sly caution.

After being called out by her mother, Lucia shuddered all over.

She awkwardly shuffled into the temple.

Lucia had inherited her mother’s genes very well.

Though her face had not fully matured, it already showed the signs of a beauty capable of bringing down a nation.

What’s more, unlike most girls her age, Lucia was extremely well developed—her mother’s features copied almost perfectly.

However, there was one flaw.

When Lucia walked, she limped, unable to lift her left leg, dragging it step by step.

It looked especially awkward.

Her expression was also deeply dejected, apparently because of her disability.

***

Lu Ming only needed a glance to understand the matron’s true reason for coming.

Praying for children was secondary; what she really wanted was for him to heal Lucia’s disability.

She had probably learned about Celia’s situation.

Although Lucia was lame, she wasn’t slow on her feet, hopping over to stand before Lu Ming’s Statue.

Ilena’s expression was a bit uncertain as she looked at the matron and Lucia.

Then she carefully glanced at Lu Ming’s Statue.

***

Her Lady the Goddess was not some narrow-hearted evil god, and she had brought two followers at once.

Though not sure whether the Lady would accept it, surely the Goddess would not blame her.

Ilena tried to reason with herself.

After all, the Lady was such a gentle deity.

Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was acting as a matchmaker for her Lady.

Honestly, if Ilena hadn’t been pregnant now, she’d really want to visit the Divine Realm again to see her Lady…

***

“Great Goddess of Fertility, ‘Ymir’!

You bring prosperity to the world, give life to all things, you are the Proxy of all that is new!”

“Please listen to my prayer!”

Ilena recited with utmost reverence and sincerity the prayer she, Naya, and Celia had spent all night composing.

Lu Ming silently nodded to himself as he listened—Not bad, these lines flowed well.

Much more dignified than the earlier ones.

***

“Lisi, Lucia, you should pray as well.”

Reminded by Ilena, the matron Lisi and Lucia quickly snapped back to their senses.

The two imitated Ilena’s posture and words, beginning to pray.

Lu Ming took the opportunity to manifest, warm green light shining down on the three of them.

“Ilena, I have heard your prayers; your Faith is sincere.”