Redemption

After testing the three thaumaturgies, Xia Xiu opened the new directive report in the Red Book.

This was an archival report. Whenever a directive was completed, Eden evaluated the personnel who carried it out and calculated their rewards accordingly.

[Eden notification: You have an unread directive!]

[Please select the file you wish to view.]

----File report----

Mission number: 4-331

Mission directive: Yellow

Mission type: Containment.

Responsible party: Burial Agency-[White Gloves]

Completed by: Burial Agency-[White Gloves], Xiu Abraham.

Mission rating: A+

[Calculating rewards--]

[Calculation complete!]

[Eden transfer received: [Gospel Points: 300]]

Three hundred points. The Light Attendant [Wisdom Fruit] I want costs two hundred, the connection fee for the [Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil/Wisdom Tree] is five, and the search fee is ten. That should leave me with eighty-five points, Xia Xiu thought.

Here, an explanation was needed for the [Three Sacred Trees], known as Heaven's three fundamental applications: the [Tree of Life], the [Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil/Wisdom Tree], and the [Fig Fruit Tree].

First came Heaven's power bank-the [Tree of Life].

[Tree of Life]: This tree bore [Life Fruits], which replenished the EVE particles in a thaumaturgist's body. They could also extend lifespans and heal injuries.

In a sense, Life Fruits were an upgraded version of Thaumaturgy Stones.

In addition, high-ranking Angels in Heaven had permission to connect directly to the [Tree of Life], effectively giving each of them an enormous power source. This made large-scale offensive thaumaturgy applications a favorite of Heaven. After all, with that much mana, they could blast away to their hearts' content. The rich always loved saturation bombardment.

Next came the source of Classes and one of Heaven's foundations-the [Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil/Wisdom Tree].

[Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil/Wisdom Tree]: This tree bore [Wisdom Fruits] containing Heaven's twenty-six Classes. Players jokingly called Wisdom Fruits Appointment Letters. A Classless person only needed to swallow the Wisdom Fruit corresponding to a Class to successfully acquire it, without any side effects.

One point deserved special attention: Wisdom Fruits were not restricted to members of the Heaven Lineage. This meant Heaven could use them to mass-produce Class-bearing warriors outside its Lineage. They were also the source of the Order of Knights' many knight Classes.

The Wisdom Tree itself was also one of Heaven's computational programs.

Last came the [Fig Fruit Tree], the cornerstone of both Fleshcraft and the economy.

[Fig Fruit Tree]: This tree bore [Fig Fruits]. They looked like figs in the physical world, but their interiors were different. They provided vast quantities of [flesh energy], an essential energy source for Heaven's bodily modification and sculpting. The energy required to modify an inquisitor's body came from [Fig Fruits].

Meanwhile, the Heaven-brand nutrient solution made from [Fig Fruits] was the best-selling product across Terra. One standard dose of [Fig Fruit] nutrient solution could meet an ordinary person's dietary needs for three days.

Time to connect directly to the [Wisdom Tree]. Xia Xiu set the Red Book upright before him, then recited in an utterly solemn tone:

"In Eden's sacred name, I shall personally touch wisdom's 'original sin';

in the name of the supreme program [Yahweh], I shall bear Heaven's holy glory."

As Xia Xiu recited the words for connecting to the [Wisdom Tree], he adjusted his own frequency.

[[Wisdom Tree]: Connection request detected--]

[Please pay the connection fee of 5 [Gospel Points]--]

[Payment complete!]

[Consciousness dive--begin!]

The Red Book emitted an azure glow, which then became a pillar of light that enveloped Xia Xiu's entire body.

[Rainbow Bridge activated--]

Xia Xiu's spirit flew out of his physical body, while the Red Book turned into a streak of light and flew into him.

Fwoosh--

A pair of pure white wings unfurled behind Xia Xiu. He gave them a practiced flap, then followed the [Rainbow Bridge] into the [ether sea].

Heaven really does have money to burn. Everyone enters the [ether sea] in spirit form, but Heaven not only protects people with the [Rainbow Bridge], it even throws in a pair of wings.

Then there's Adaposs. Every trip is torture. If it weren't a high-risk, high-return venture capital firm, I really wouldn't want to put up with that deity anymore.

Xia Xiu entertained these snide thoughts.

Ether sea · Charted region-{40}

Within the boundless ether galaxy, a vast continent floated among countless shattered stars. Three enormous barriers enveloped its perimeter, and four strange creatures circled the island.

The four creatures looked remarkably alike. Each had four faces: a human face at the front, a lion's face on the right, an ox's face on the left, and an eagle's face at the back. Each had four wings: the upper two touched each other, while the lower two covered the body. Beneath the four wings were four human hands. They had four straight legs, with feet resembling calves' hooves.

They flew around the enormous tree at the center of the island.

These were Heavenly Armament number {029}-[Cherub Type I Guardian Spirits].

A [Rainbow Bridge] appeared above the barriers, and an Angel-class member flew down from overhead, flapping his wings.

Woohoo--

Using his wings, Xia Xiu performed an inside loop in the sky, a delighted smile spreading across his face.

"Once I have points to spare, I'm definitely replacing these wings with wings of light," Xia Xiu muttered as he flew.

At that moment, the nearest Cherub Type I appeared instantly before Xia Xiu, its forward-facing human face looking straight at him.

"Please. Maintain. Solemnity!" the Cherub Type I said sternly.

"Got it, got it." Xia Xiu deftly stopped in midair and glanced at the two gold marks on the guardian's clothing.

Number Two, huh? No wonder you're so serious, Xia Xiu murmured inwardly.

He was very familiar with the four Cherub Type I guardians stationed around the [Wisdom Tree]. After all, he used to come here often to race around, so he knew their [personalities] very well.

Number Two was the sternest and most conscientious of the four Cherub Type I guardians. Xia Xiu had taken plenty of hits from Number Two's [Railgun] in the past, so he decided to rein himself in a little for now.

"I'm here to acquire a Class," Xia Xiu told Number Two.

"Which. Class?" Number Two asked.

"Light Attendant."

"Which. Model?"

"Do you have a white one?" Xia Xiu asked cautiously, flying a short distance backward as he spoke.

The Cherub Type I's forward-facing human face gave him a look that said, Dream on, kid, before answering bluntly:

"No!"

"Fine, you don't have one. No need to snap at me."

"...Red, blue, and silver. Three models. Choose. For yourself."

"Blue, 100 Gospel Points. Red, 150 Gospel Points. Silver, 200 Gospel Points."

"Get me a silver model. Oh, and I want one with the [Meta Domain Module]."

"Payment required. 10 Gospel Points. Search fee."

"Take them."