Rewards from the Church

"Ms. Angela, if you've come to discuss medical skills, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. I haven't slept for a day and a night, and I've just been through a trial. I'm exhausted and just want to go back and get some sleep."

After a night of talking through the walls, Ning Xiuyuan knew how fanatically devoted the unremarkable girl before him was to medical skills.

He quickly gave her a heads-up.

"Ah?"

Angela showed a hint of disappointment and shame on her face at his words.

She had indeed come to ask about medical skills!

Her discussion with Arthur last night had benefited her greatly, but it also made her feel a great pity.

—A pity that Arthur's medical skills would be lost with him.

So when she heard that the Judgement Assembly had declared Arthur innocent, she was overjoyed and rushed over, eager to resolve her confusion. However, she had completely overlooked Arthur's mental state, which made her feel a little guilty.

"I'm so sorry for disturbing you. I'll visit you another day then!"

Angela said apologetically, her face full of remorse.

After speaking, she was about to turn and leave when she suddenly remembered something, "Oh, right, do you have any arrangements for the transcendent ritual of the Ascetic Physician?"

Ning Xiuyuan's heart stirred, and he probed, "What do you mean?"

Angela said, "I think your medical skills are being wasted if they're only used within the Church. Why not join the Church Hospital? In the future, you'll not only be able to save lives and heal the wounded, but also quickly integrate extraordinary characteristics and even advance your extraordinary power."

Ning Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow, "Can I?"

Angela said with certainty, "Of course! If you can't, I don't know who else would be qualified to be a Church Physician."

Ning Xiuyuan said, "I am a Lamplighter of the Church. I will first seek instructions from Your Excellency the Bishop regarding this matter."

Angela smiled, "Your Excellency the Bishop will agree. I'll be waiting for you at the Church Hospital. I won't disturb your rest anymore. Bye-bye!"

After speaking, Angela left with light steps, her retreating figure full of the youthful vitality unique to girls. There was no way to tell she was a transcendent.

Ning Xiuyuan watched Angela leave, a flicker of excitement in his eyes.

The transcendent rituals of the Disease Deceiver and the Ascetic Physician were very similar, both requiring extensive medical practice to integrate extraordinary characteristics.

The difference was that after integration, if one wanted to further enhance extraordinary power, the core of the ritual underwent a subtle change.

Among them, the Ascetic Physician focused on self-sacrifice; the Disease Deceiver relied on the physician's reputation!

If he could enter the Church Hospital, it would be extremely beneficial for Ning Xiuyuan to spread his reputation.

Although the Disease Deceiver seemed quite mediocre, Ning Xiuyuan, having experienced the Orlando loss of control incident, no longer dared to underestimate any extraordinary power.

In fact, he also had several speculative ways to use the Disease Deceiver, which urgently needed experimentation.

If the experiments proved feasible, then the Disease Deceiver might become a fraudulent trick!

Meanwhile, after the Judgement Assembly concluded, Bishop Byron also returned to his office to handle the core affairs of the diocese.

After an unknown amount of time, a knock came from the office.

"Please come in!"

A male priest, wearing hempen robes and barefoot, walked in.

"Your Excellency the Bishop, the medical theories Arthur described last night have basically been proven effective."

He bowed his head and reported the experimental results of Arthur's medical theories to Bishop Byron.

Ning Xiuyuan had guessed correctly; he had been under surveillance all night.

However, the forces monitoring him, in addition to the regular priests and monks, also included a special group—Ascetics, a power only bishops could command.

"No wonder he chose the Disease Deceiver. It turns out he is a physician himself, and his medical skills even surpass ours. Is this the fundamental reason why My Lord sent him here?"

Facing this result, Bishop Byron muttered to himself.

The Ascetic remained silent.

Buzz!

At that moment, a bronze door suddenly appeared beside Bishop Byron.

Crick!

The bronze door slowly opened a crack, and a rotten palm holding a letter carefully extended out.

Bishop Byron reached out and took it. The rotten palm immediately retracted, and the bronze door closed with a rumble, sinking into the ground and disappearing.

Bishop Byron took the letter and examined it carefully. After confirming that the wax seal bearing the Pope's private seal was intact, he opened it using a specific method.

The letter contained only a single sheet of paper, with a sentence written in a powerful hand:

[Regarding the Orlando loss of control incident, Arthur is rewarded with the white curse!]

White curse?

Bishop Byron's pupils contracted slightly. He lingered on these four words for a long time before slowly exhaling.

"Notify Arthur, I want to see him!"

"Yes!"

The barefoot ascetic bowed his head and left Your Excellency the Bishop's office.

About ten minutes later, Ning Xiuyuan hurried over.

"Your Excellency the Bishop, you were looking for me?"

At this moment, Ning Xiuyuan's eyes were bloodshot, his face was tired, and he looked somewhat sleepy.

Heaven knows, finally relieved of a great burden, he had returned to his dormitory and fallen into a deep, exhausted sleep.

But just as he was sound asleep, his spiritual intuition awakened him.

He found an ascetic standing at his door, saying that Bishop Byron wished to see him. Ning Xiuyuan had no choice but to force his eyes open and rush over.

"Well, it seems I've called you at an inconvenient time?" Bishop Byron teased with a smile.

Ning Xiuyuan's expression turned awkward, unsure how to respond.

"You've been wronged these past two days, and I hope you don't hold any grudges. Priest Roz's hatred of evil wasn't directed at you! You must remember, apart from heretics, however you forgive others, so shall the Lord forgive you." Bishop Byron admonished him earnestly.

"Yes, I understand." Ning Xiuyuan nodded, lowering his head.

"I've called you here because the rewards for the incidents of Linley and Orlando losing control have been approved. I'll give them to you all at once."

As Bishop Byron spoke, he stood up.

He walked around the desk and approached Ning Xiuyuan, a badge subtly appearing in his hand. He gently fastened it onto Ning Xiuyuan's chest.

"This is the Medal of Holy Sanctuary, awarded for your contribution in stopping Linley from losing control! It seals the radiance of My Lord and devout faith, and it can protect your safety," Bishop Byron explained.

Ning Xiuyuan gently touched the medal on his chest, his spiritual intuition sensing an indescribable power from it!

A supernatural item?

Ning Xiuyuan had a guess.

"Alright, concentrate and repeat after me."

Bishop Byron suddenly recited an obscure incantation. Ning Xiuyuan quickly focused his mind, relying on the improved thinking speed from integrating the Disease Deceiver's extraordinary characteristic, and managed to recite it.

As soon as he finished, he found that this peculiar sequence of syllables was deeply etched into his mind, like muscle memory.

"Very good, there's one more sentence."

Bishop Byron nodded and recited another phrase. Ning Xiuyuan did as he was told.

"Remember, this is the Ilidheam language. The order I taught you the two sentences is incorrect; the second sentence is actually the first. Do not attempt to chant it, as it will lead to unpredictable consequences."

Bishop Byron's tone was solemn, and his expression was serious.

"This incantation is a prayer to the Old Ones' white worm. If chanted correctly, it will attract its attention and result in being devoured."

"It will modify the believer's body to adapt to harsh survival environments, serving as food when it is hungry, which is why we also call this prayer the 'white curse'."

Ning Xiuyuan was stunned speechless upon hearing this! You're casually teaching me such a terrifying incantation?

However, when Bishop Byron said the next sentence, he was even more dumbfounded!

—This prayer was actually the reward for him stopping the spread of Orlando's loss of control?

Chapter 2 will be very late, don't wait.