Chapter 20: Prayer Again

Countless streams of Light converged around Mu Xuan, and in the next moment, surged toward the crowd.

Many people saw the golden points of light burrowing into their bodies, and some tried to avoid them in fear.

But very soon, they discovered that the lights brought no harm to them… In fact, their minds felt even clearer…

Immediately, someone shouted at the top of their lungs, “Praise the Goddess! The Goddess has not abandoned us!”

As soon as one person shouted, more voices joined in.

The girl looked at the rain of light with some confusion and asked Bu Zhaqi, “What is that…”

After the light descended, her fear suddenly disappeared.

Bu Zhaqi gazed devoutly at Mu Xuan’s golden figure, his voice tinged with excitement.

“That is the power of the gods…”

In an instant, Mu Xuan felt the Faith within the scepter surge. The Light within his own body also increased by a margin.

For a moment, Mu Xuan felt as if his field of vision had suddenly dropped by half a head… Was it just his imagination?

He didn’t think much of it. Mu Xuan looked at the wolf impaled by the staff, gently closed his eyes, and waved the scepter once more. Countless points of light shot rapidly toward the wolf.

The wolf that had filled Bu Zhaqi with dread was riddled through in an instant, then disintegrated into powder.

“Clang—”

When Luer’s staff fell to the ground, the crowd erupted once more in cries of astonishment. That monstrous terror that had kept them on edge was so easily dispatched by the Pope!

Mu Xuan opened his eyes slightly, and the points of light lifted the fallen staff and brought it to his hand.

Feeling the strange core that had already fused with the staff, Mu Xuan had no intention of extracting it. He recognized this staff, and more or less understood the Magister’s situation…

What’s more, the rules of this place had been damaged by Mu Xuan’s arrival, greatly reducing the value of that strange core. In any case, it was useless to Mu Xuan.

With a hint of regret, Mu Xuan sighed, and simply used the light to support the staff, passing it to Bu Zhaqi.

“Devout followers of the Goddess, your perseverance has received her response. Now, the Goddess has bestowed her protection upon you!”

“Shortly, Bu Zhaqi will lead you back under the Goddess’s protection!”

After speaking, Mu Xuan ascended the stairs made of light and returned, disappearing atop the pit.

When the points of light faded, darkness shrouded the surroundings once more. Instantly, the crowd grew noisy, their words carrying more excitement and hope.

“Luer Grandpa…”

After Mu Xuan displayed his power, the girl shifted her focus back to the staff. She didn’t care about gods or not; she cared only for those “family” who had accompanied her.

Clutching the scepter, the girl broke free of Bu Zhaqi’s hand and ran toward the old man.

She couldn’t believe Grandpa Luer would die without seeing it for herself… He had survived so many crises before—surely this time would be no different!

Bu Zhaqi reached out, wanting to stop her, but was quickly surrounded by the crowd, all eager to pepper him with questions, making it impossible for him to follow.

“Na’er…”

When the girl arrived at the previous passage, Luer’s legs were already gone, and only one thin arm remained. Half an eye open, he was barely alive…

Sensing the girl’s approach, a hoarse sound escaped his lips.

“Grandpa Luer!” Seeing Luer’s wretched state, tears welled up in the girl’s eyes once more. She hugged the dying old man, repeating, “Grandpa Luer, you’ll be all right… Right! You taught me, Grandpa Luer… If you just bandage the wound, you’ll get better…”

Choking with sobs, the girl tore a large piece from her own clothes and started wrapping Luer’s wounds, big and small. For those she didn’t know how to bandage, she simply covered with cloth.

“Na’er… don’t worry about Grandpa anymore…”

“No, I want to stay with Grandpa Luer…” The girl shook her head stubbornly at the old man’s words.

“Be good… Go with them… That’s how you’ll have a better life…” The old man’s clouded eyes shone with a trace of light at last. He had felt that power… So pure… So holy…

That gave the old man a bit of hope for the road ahead… It was just a pity… He would not be able to walk it himself…

“Na’er… Go on…” Using the last of his strength, the old man spoke, then slowly closed his eyes. No matter how the girl shook him, he did not move again.

“Grandpa Luer… Please wake up… Na’er will definitely listen to you from now on, I won’t run around anymore… Grandpa Luer, look, here’s your favorite staff…” When she saw the old man truly would not wake, the girl collapsed atop his gradually cooling body, sobbing in heartbreak.

It was a long time before the girl’s crying gradually quieted. She lifted her tear- and dirt-streaked face.

At that moment, a rough yet clean piece of cloth reached out, gently wiping the grime from the girl’s face.

She looked dazedly at the hand missing a finger, saying nothing…

“Sigh…” Seeing the girl’s state, Bu Zhaqi felt his heart ache, and could not help but sigh. “Come on, everyone’s waiting for you…”

“Uncle Bu Zhaqi… Is Grandpa Luer just asleep…?”

Hearing the girl’s words, Bu Zhaqi froze for a moment, then looked with complex emotion at the corpse in her arms, nodding forcefully. “Yes, Grandpa Luer was a great Magister. He did many great things… Now, he’s tired, and he’s fallen asleep… So Na’er, let’s not disturb Grandpa Luer’s rest, okay…”

“Mm!” With Bu Zhaqi’s assurance, the girl gave a beautiful but sorrowful smile, gently released the body in her arms, and collapsed into Bu Zhaqi’s embrace…

Mu Xuan stood atop the platform he had recently built, watching as the people led by Bu Zhaqi trickled back to the village, but anxiety weighed on him.

Originally, he had planned to wait for Luer’s group to assemble, regroup, and then pray to the Goddess for more power.

But recalling the strange feeling in his body from earlier, Mu Xuan hesitated about whether to proceed with the prayer.

However, thinking of the numbers this time—from twenty to ninety-four people!

Mu Xuan immediately cast aside the ominous feeling in his mind. The Faith these people brought would at least double his own strength.

Although rescuing Bu Zhaqi earlier was indeed impressive.

But that was only because the Goddess had temporarily lent Mu Xuan power!

At that time, Mu Xuan had sensed Bu Zhaqi’s location, but reaching him quickly was out of the question. He thought to use the scepter to contact the Goddess, and, to his surprise, actually succeeded…

That led to everything that followed… Otherwise, why leave in such a hurry after just saying a few words?

Thinking of that near-omnipotent power, Mu Xuan’s heart brimmed with longing.

Once everything was prepared, Mu Xuan again led the people to kneel and pray before the statue.

That pure and vast Light, channeled through the scepter, surged into him. As he felt the power filling his body, Mu Xuan suddenly realized something was wrong…

His vision was steadily getting lower!!!

No, is this for real!?

The thought of the Goddess filled Mu Xuan’s heart with a cacophony of birds and flowers.

I— damn you