Seven days later.
Qianxin City, local church headquarters, Ritual Hall.
Miusaliqi stood outside the hall's great doors, dressed in a solemn ceremonial robe of pure white, silent and grave-faced.
Beside Miusaliqi stood a weathered old man wearing a tall hat trimmed in silver. He was the local church's vice bishop, as well as the senior and superior who had always looked after Miusaliqi.
"Miusaliqi, calm your heart. Just meet the ritual in your best condition."
"We have always seen your achievements and reputation over the years. So I believe that a talent as outstanding as you will surely be able to advance even further."
"Of course, even if you fail this time, it doesn't matter. The baptism ritual has never had a limit on attempts. At worst, we can come back next year."
Faced with the vice bishop's reassurance and encouragement, Miusaliqi answered gratefully:
"Thank you for your encouragement, Vice Bishop. I will do my best."
With that, Miusaliqi took a deep breath, reached out to push open the doors before him, and formally stepped into the spacious, brightly lit Ritual Hall.
The seats on both sides of the hall were filled to the brim. Some belonged to the local church's senior officials, while the rest were members of an inspection delegation from the Central Church.
The ritual priest presiding over this year's Holy Light baptism ritual sat upright and dignified upon the central dais.
Floating above his head was a gleaming holy stone known as the Baptism Holy Stone, the core implement of the Holy Light baptism ritual.
The annual Holy Light baptism ritual drew numerous participants. Besides local church clerks who had long since reached adulthood, like Miusaliqi, there were also many youths from prominent noble families and commoner monasteries.
Among them, some wished to become civil officials