"The new Pastor stays. Everyone else may leave," the former Pastor said weakly. "The new Pastor must perform the Pastor Authority Transfer Ritual with me to gain the ability to conduct the various rituals."
John eagerly approached the Altar, waiting for the former Pastor to perform the ritual with him.
The other believers did not linger and soon left the Church.
Zhao Xun, however, stayed.
He asked the former Pastor, "How many small sculptures have you still not brought over?"
"Not many," the former Pastor replied, looking at John. "After the authority transfer ritual, I will forget where the small sculptures are stored, but John will gain that knowledge. He can bring you the rest."
"I'd like to watch the ritual here." After saying this, Zhao Xun turned toward the spherical Sculpture. "Would the Lord permit it?"
Without waiting for anyone to respond, Zhao Xun continued, "After the ritual, I'd like the new Pastor to bring out all the small sculptures so I can keep them together and slowly fuse them. That way, I can make sure I finish fusing all the sculptures by tomorrow morning."
The former Pastor sighed at these words.
Rather than reprimanding Zhao Xun as he had before, he approached the spherical Sculpture and said respectfully, "Then please allow me to use my abilities as Pastor one last time, Lord, to perform the inquiry ritual."
Then he began reciting scripture and making prayer gestures.
Once the ritual was complete, he repeated Zhao Xun's question. "Revered Lord, do you permit A Shui to remain here and watch the Pastor Authority Transfer Ritual? I will toss a silver coin. Heads means yes, and tails means no."
With that, he tossed a silver coin.
The coin quickly landed, heads up.
Zhao Xun was not surprised.
To fuse the sculptures,