A Prospective Cleric

During this time, the surprises Zhao Xu had received had taught him to suppress his excitement.

He merely glanced over the spell data on his Character Card panel.

Cleric:

0-level Divine Spell Slots: 3 = 3 (class)

1st-level Divine Spell Slots: 2 = 1 (class) + 1 (Wisdom)

This information was similar to the Wizard information he had seen before.

The only difference was that all of it was grayed out and had yet to be activated.

Just like when he had logged into the game this morning, before meditating, it was frozen.

Zhao Xu's wife in his Previous Life had received Cleric training, so he knew a little about it.

The Divine Spells Clerics obtained all came through meditation and prayer.

They did not need to study any spells. As long as they meditated at a fixed time, they could receive that day's spells through the gods' blessings.

Even failing to get a full eight hours of rest would not affect this.

Zhao Xu's current state had reached the point where he only needed one hour of meditation to obtain the day's Divine Spells.

That final one percent he had originally lacked had been filled in the instant he crossed the church threshold and the Goddess descended.

At this moment, Zhao Xu was practically a prospective Cleric. He only needed to complete some remaining, fairly simple training.

Even he found it hard to believe.

In his Previous Life, Zhao Xu had seen many apprentice Clerics who constantly pored over scriptures and sought to understand divine doctrines.

Many had even wasted away into old age without ever formally advancing to level 1 Cleric.

Even during this past year, when the gods had been quite lenient toward players, the proportion of people who successfully advanced to level 1 Cleric remained low.

Aside from players' innate self-centeredness, the main reason was that the opportunity for advancement was not something human effort could provide.

That was also why his wife in his Previous Life had eventually given up the path of the Cleric.

Although something so miraculous had happened to Zhao Xu, he knew that silence was the best choice right now.

This opportunity was far too delicate.

What he wanted was the Scroll Scholar class. Level 1 Cleric would be enough.

From what he knew, the abilities granted by Cleric alone would already let him recoup his investment.

At this moment, everyone in the church stood reverently.

Amid the unceasing tolling of bells, they silently prayed to the Goddess in their hearts.

Zhao Xu did not know whether it was because he had once been pulled into the river of time and witnessed the Goddess before she became divine.

At this moment, his reverence for the Goddess was far weaker than it had been before his transmigration.

The closer one was, the harder it was to feel awe.

That was why Wizards respected the Goddess without necessarily believing in her.

Zhao Xu did not dare think the Goddess had asked something of him. He was not that full of himself.

He was more aware that the Goddess needed his help.

That urgency was so intense that she could not wait until he had achieved something before gradually involving herself with him.

The only explanation Zhao Xu could come up with was that his identity as a transmigrator could become a variable in fate.

He was like a chess piece that had inexplicably appeared in an already deadlocked game. Though his strength was slight, it was enough to stir up waves.

Zhao Xu did not swagger around and look about either. Like the other believers, he humbly lowered his head.

That was the mainstream in Arthur.

Even though his wife in his Previous Life had not become a Cleric, she had remained a devout believer.

In Arthur, after living beings died, their souls generally drifted toward Outer Planes suited to their alignments.

That was the outermost layer of the planar wheel diagram Zhao Xu had seen back then.

Believers, however, received the gods' protection and could be admitted into their Divine Kingdoms.

Thus, apart from mighty Wizards who could avoid death, many people honestly sought gods whose dispositions matched their own to worship.

Everyone feared that after death, their unconscious souls would drift through other worlds with nowhere to depend on, or even fall into the Abyss or the Hells and become food.

So Zhao Xu did not doubt the sincerity within the buzzing prayers ringing beside his ears.

At last, the bells gradually faded, carrying a trace of mournful thought.

"The Goddess has left." Rayne's voice sounded in Zhao Xu's mind.

Zhao Xu was no longer unfamiliar with this. He knew Rayne had cast a spell on him.

He glanced at the information panel on his Character Card.

A notification was pinned at the top of his activity feed: You are currently under the Mind Link spell with Rayne.

These activity updates were all reflections of Zhao Xu's consciousness.

If Zhao Xu misunderstood something and got the spell wrong, the activity update would display incorrect information as well.

Because the information panel could not be used to verify reality.

He could not rely on the information panel to determine whether he was truly under this spell or whether the person communicating with him really was Rayne.

However, once Zhao Xu focused on the words "Mind Link," he immediately connected successfully with Rayne.

He could even reject the connection through this method if he wished.

"So soon?" After weighing his words, Zhao Xu still chose the relatively neutral phrasing.

Gods would not read the thoughts of living beings like them, but as long as a god's name was mentioned, that god would know.

Whatever was spoken would be known.

Even the subsequent words would be heard.

"Big bro, we're here to join someone else's event today, not the other way around. Otherwise, I wouldn't have manifested myself in such a rush just to hurry you over. I even made Antinoa too embarrassed to give you your reward."

Rayne casually called him big bro, leaving Zhao Xu incredibly awkward.

Who knew how old this Wizard who looked to be in his thirties really was?

Only when Rayne mentioned the reward did Zhao Xu finally come to his senses.

Zhao Xu had been immersed in the sadness of Antinoa's departure and had forgotten that Antinoa had promised him a reward.

"Do you know what the reward is, Mr. Rayne?" Even communicating inwardly, Zhao Xu's curiosity was overflowing.

Antinoa was the kind of big shot who could casually pull out a legendary +12 Intelligence headband.

Whatever she gave him, if it was not +6 Intelligence, it should at least be +2, right?

"How would I know? A lot of the things Antinoa gives away are made by her personally and carry her own distinctive style. She refuses to let me see them. She'll probably give it to you when you meet again after completing your Cleric training."

"Still, we came too late and couldn't squeeze into the innermost temple. It is easier to catch the Goddess's attention there. Who knows, you might have directly advanced into a prospective Cleric and obtained Divine Spells."

"The temple?" Zhao Xu hurriedly asked.

"Yeah. The temple opened three hundred slots today. I used my privileges to reserve you a core spot right in the middle, but the descent happened so quickly that it went unused. Hurry to the temple first. The divine aura there is still very dense, and it can increase your chances of obtaining Divine Spells."

Rayne added through the Mind Link, "Everyone who couldn't make the list of three hundred was waiting for this opportunity. Otherwise, why do you think so many people were crowded here joining the excitement?"

Zhao Xu asked in surprise, "Isn't there Holy Water being handed out?"

"Holy Water? That junk can only deal 2D4 (2-8) damage to undead and Evil Otherworldly Creatures. One Fireball from me casually does 10D6 (10-60), and I can even apply metamagic to add half holy damage. Or do you have some special hobby? Planning to use it to educate some legendary succubus miss?"

"Forget it, quit messing around and hurry up to claim your spot." Rayne suddenly thought of something, flushed with embarrassment, and hurriedly changed the subject.

"No need to squeeze in."

"What?"

"I just obtained Divine Spells."

"..."

"I said, I just obtained Divine Spells."

His voice echoed hollowly between the two of them.

PS1: Many thanks to Chengruo De Shiyan for the three donations. I am deeply grateful.

PS2: The novel is currently in its recommendation period. This author is also very grateful for everyone's recommendation votes. Thank you.