Contact with Light Bearer's Blood

Currently, Contacting Light Bearer's Blood is still in version 1.0. The "Phantom Demon Candle Heaven Holder" has not yet descended and been defeated, and the level cap for the Dedication Path is only level 50. The one with the highest level is the Eternal Pope of the Eternal Theocracy.

Iver conservatively estimates that Bishop Mathers should be at least level 39.

In Avalon, that's top-tier level within the Arbitration Hall. One level higher, and you're at the top of the current version of The World – if we're being bold, Bishop Mathers might already be above level 40, touching on the Strength of the Fifth Level.

Even the Cardinal Bishops of the Eternal Theocracy are no more than that.

But Iver thought about what his Adoptive Father had said to him before he left, and he felt relieved.

This Bishop Mathers is the highest Bishop of the Light Bearer Cathedral. In other words, he is the highest administrator of the Nine Pillars God Church within Avalon.

If such a strong person didn't die in the upcoming turmoil in Avalon...

Then he most likely changed his name and identity afterward.

Because Iver genuinely had no impression of Mathers as a person.

The Eternal Theocracy is governed by Elves, so the pace of life is very slow. Not all humans can adapt to life there.

Two-thirds of the Nine Pillars God Church's high-level members are women, and over 90% are Elves. The Pope who rules the Theocracy rotates every three hundred years. The retiring Pope automatically becomes a Saint and continues to travel among the countries as an agent of the Theocracy to bestow grace and mediate disputes until they are old and unable to walk, at which point they return to the Theocracy. Therefore, only Elves can serve as Pope.

Mathers is not only male but also human, making him a minority in the Theocracy's upper echelons. Iver remembers that there shouldn't be such a person among the Church's high-level members.

Because the Nine Pillars God Church has another rather special characteristic.

That is, they judge by appearance.

It doesn't necessarily require stunning Beauty, but they must not be ugly.

Because the Dedication Path's healing requires physical contact with others, if the other party resists the treatment, the healing efficiency will be greatly reduced. In addition, the Sacrificial Fire has obvious beauty and youth-preserving effects on the body, so the Church's high-level members will definitely not be ugly.

But Bishop Mathers...

Is it because he's too old? Iver's expression was a little subtle.

"Don't look at me, Iver. Look at the candle."

Noticing that Iver suddenly looked at him, Bishop Mathers, whose appearance looked like a stern and rigid homeroom teacher, naturally spoke in a rather stereotypical and stern voice: "There's no light or fire on my face, looking at me is useless."

"Yes."

Iver came back to his senses and replied obediently.

—Pay experience.

He confirmed in his heart.

And Bishop Mathers, seeing that Iver had regained his senses, slowed down his tone and continued to instruct:

"You must imagine that the pain, curses, deficiencies, and other negative factors in your body are not 'something that your body originally had that has decreased,' but rather 'something negative that has been added to a balanced and healthy state of the body.' You must recognize it as a kind of flowing, pitch-black liquid, and use your mental Strength to move it to the position of the left middle finger.

"It is a presence like fuel, like smoke. It will dissipate with a hiss when it comes into contact with the flame..."

As he said this, Bishop Mathers touched the flame with his left middle finger.

The ordinary flame suddenly brightened.

A faint flame extended from his fingertip to his entire body, and his whole body seemed to be coated with a film of flame, shining brightly.

The old Bishop's pain and aging disappeared as if time were flowing backward—

The wrinkles on his face smoothed out, and his unnaturally pale hair regained its dark brown luster and elasticity, returning to its naturally curly state. His aged, cloudy, dark pupils, like solidified blood, also brightened, like a slightly darker shade of Amber.

His back straightened, and his skin became fair, clean, and elastic.

His whole person was visibly growing younger, stopping only when he looked about thirty years old—

It wasn't that the lesions were burned away, nor that the pain was dissolved. Rather, his body was completely restored to its "ideal state." Like a completely refurbished electronic product—apart from the inevitable loss of battery life, there wouldn't be the slightest trace of use.

And this Mathers, no matter what, could not be called an "old Bishop."

He pushed up his hexagonal black-rimmed glasses, revealing a complacent smile. Even his voice became younger: "...Just like this, Iver. This is exactly The Illuminator's gratitude and gift to us who are willing to walk the Path of Dedication.

"Apart from the natural loss of lifespan, one will not be troubled by illness for life. The body is always in peak condition, so the lifespan will be much longer than normal people—because even if they die of old age, it is not because their lifespan is completely exhausted naturally, but because of fatigue and wear and tear that cause premature aging, and after the body becomes weak, they acquire irreversible illnesses.

"But we will not encounter this situation. The Sacrificial Fire Method only needs to be mastered skillfully to obtain health and longevity—The Illuminator has said, 'Those who live for others need not suffer.' And health is the most important thing, which those who walk other Paths cannot obtain. Nor can we share this gift with them.

"I am already forty-six years old this year, but after using 'Sacrificial Fire' to recuperate my body, my appearance can be restored to even less than thirty years old. Bones, muscles, nerves, and internal organs can be restored to this extent.

"If a person exercises sufficiently and takes good care of their body and mind, then it is theoretically possible for them to be this young when they reach my age. This is the 'positive' change that 'Sacrificial Fire' can bring about—of course, ordinary Priests still cannot achieve my level. They can only turn negative numbers into zero, but they cannot turn zero into positive numbers."

Seeing Samuel Mathers' skillful use of the Sacrificial Fire Method, which had an almost rejuvenating effect on himself.

Even Oswald showed a look of astonishment and admiration.

The Bishop Mathers, who had regained his youth, revealed a complacent smile upon seeing this.

Bishop Mathers had a very good impression of Iver and was full of expectations for his future.

Therefore, he hoped too much that Iver could firmly walk on the Dedication Path.

Before, he had deliberately consumed his own lifespan to make himself extremely old—and that was so that he could perform such a demonstration at this moment. Only when his appearance was old and weak could this "rejuvenation" leave a deep and unforgettable impression.

"Of course," Bishop Mathers quickly added, so as not to undermine Iver's confidence, "you don't need to rush. Generally, Priests who have just come into contact with 'Sacrificial Fire' can only slightly make up for their body's deficiencies. You were just sacrificed to by a Demon, and your body's vitality must be somewhat deficient, so I will prioritize teaching you 'Sacrificial Fire.' This way, you can slowly replenish the vitality, blood, and lifespan lost due to the sacrifice.

"The mastery of Sacred Arts is very simple, but it cannot be mastered immediately. Generally speaking, it is normal to master 'Sacrificial Fire' within five days, and I feel that you should be able to learn it preliminarily within two days. Illumination Spell is much simpler and can be mastered immediately, so we will talk about it last. Blessing is the most difficult and usually takes about a week to learn.

"So, this time I will only teach you how to practice, and after you go home..."

Bishop Mathers stopped abruptly in the middle of his sentence.

Because he saw Iver's pupils suddenly become hollow.

In the deep blue, sea-like pupils, a hint of Sunset-like crimson suddenly seeped out. Like the sea at Twilight, the closer it is to the top, the deeper the blue, and the closer it is to the bottom, it is like the Sunset half-submerged in the sea, shining with an almost golden red halo.

Iver, who opened his left hand and aimed it at the candlelight, touched the flame with his middle finger.

The flame ignited instantly and flowed into his Bloodline along his fingertip.

Iver suddenly felt a relaxing warmth.

It was like listening to soft music and soaking in a hot spring with fragrances and petals after a tiring day. Feeling the heat soothe his whole body, a strong sense of drowsiness and satisfaction surged into his heart.

In the Pure White and bright world he envisioned, a Deer slowly walked by.

The Deer was transparent, with a pure and dazzling red color, like the finest Ruby. The moment He appeared, Iver's gaze was irresistibly drawn to Him.

—That was Light Bearer! The supreme being of the Dedication Path, the God of Dedication!

Unlike the immense pressure the Silver Crowned Dragon of the Path of Authority brought to Iver, gazing upon the Light Bearer did not cause Iver to hallucinate or feel pressure. Because He bound His Divinity, allowing Himself to be accessible to mortals—

He was covered in black thorns. Those thorns pierced His skin, causing Him to bleed red blood. As He walked, fresh blood dripped continuously onto the ground, causing clusters of eternally burning red flame footprints to rise from the ground.

And His enormous crystal-red Deer Antler was like a candelabra piercing in all directions, with dozens of clusters of pure white flames burning.

The Deer slowly walked towards the motionless, statue-like Iver, gently licking his outstretched left hand.

Then, He raised His head and softly extended a wound below His neck, pierced by black thorns, towards the palm of Iver's hand.

A drop of blood fell into Iver's hand and turned into a teardrop-like Ruby.

Three lines of text appeared in Iver's mind.

These were the three-choice entries obtained each time the Path advanced—

[Flame Affinity LV1 (Blue): You crush the Light Bearer's Blood, comprehending a trace of the essence of flame.]

[Lasting Health (White): Your body is cleansed by the Light Bearer's Blood, allowing you to better resist disease.]

[Flame Container LV1 (Blue): You ingest the Light Bearer's Blood, and your Soul is expanded.]