"The Holy Scripture says, if there's inappropriate conduct between those of the same gender, committing detestable acts, they should be put to death, and the sin shall be upon them..."
Inquired by Master Fuli about business matters, Father Luo Ning's cheeks showed signs of guilt, but the more he spoke, the more cheerful and confident his expression became, subtly revealing disdain, as he quoted the Holy Scripture verbatim.
He had never used the Promotion Device on the congregation, and he answered Master Fuli as a matter of course.
"Oh... I always thought little boys were the bridge between priests and nuns."
Master Fuli lightly nodded, showing an expression of sudden realization, slightly turning to Father Luo Ning and handing him a can of cola from the offering table, said:
"I, the great king, have come to you by night; I hope I haven't frightened the warriors in your camp?"
"Not at all, Master Fuli; your presence is an honor. We ought to lay a red carpet for you and bow as we welcome you....."
Hearing this, Father Luo Ning felt a bead of cold sweat trickle down his forehead. Master Fuli's words, while not overtly harsh, were nonetheless heavily charged with aggression.
For a moment, the priest was at a loss for Master Fuli's true intentions.
"As long as I haven't scared you, that's fine then... you should organize the members of the Imperial Knight Order to speed up the excavation at the site, right? That shouldn't be a problem?"
Master Fuli said this lightly, looking at Father Luo Ning: "You're just too slow."
"And also, don't call me 'master'; I am now the Great Arctic King from the Polar Continent!"
Master Fuli gestured to Father Luo Ning dismissively.
The priest before him was clearly someone the Mayflower Organization had picked for his astuteness and observational skills, making conversation potentially pleasant, but talking to the priest seemed a waste of time for Ansheng.
However, the Longevity Club or the Mayflower, there's essentially no difference between the two; they are both busy scheming against each other, wrapped up in political and financial considerations.
They fought a battle in Gold-digging Town, even knocking down the local armed forces, but still, no one went to dig out the relics underwater.
The term "dawdling" had completely materialized as they talked a big game, but upon seeing the worksite, damn, a mishap in the core and everyone spectating with no one actually working.
"This..."
Father Luo Ning's expression changed several times, eventually transforming into a bitter smile as he said, "This does not comply with the rules..."
The excavation of ancient ruins has an unwritten rule in the field of Spiritual Particles Archaeology.
Whoever finds a site and excavates it, the items within belong to them, and should forces of similar strength arrive later, they are not to seize it.
The danger of excavation is extremely high; if the constructs within are triggered or awakened, it could lead to total annihilation.
No matter how great the grudge, excavation takes precedence, and talks of distribution based on Martial Force happen after the site is excavated.
The Longevity Club clearly does not want to dig up the site, nor does the Mayflower Organization.
They want what's in the site, but both hope the other will foolishly take the lead.
Master Fuli's suggestion for the knights to lead the excavation force was clearly a death sentence, wasn't it?
Even if it meant potentially being killed by Master Fuli, Father Luo Ning had to grit his teeth and say something; otherwise, even if he returned home alive, he might be expelled from the order.
"Oh, you're being too distant with your words. Look at me, the great king, speaking in Yingyu now; how could you say it's robbery?"
"Huhu, I just assess by each person's physique whether they have the ability to defend the holy fortune granted by the divine, thereby better protecting themselves from divine wrath."
Master Fuli let out a playful laugh, patting the squatting priest by his throne on the shoulder: "Don't be afraid of anything happening, Master Fuli—oh no, the king is right behind you, isn't he?"
"What, you're worried I'd stab you?"
"Then... alright! I'll go back to organize the manpower and also prepare a piece of land to offer to the great king."
Father Luo Ning replied with a face full of distress.
Master Fuli said: with my mouth full of Yingyu God's grace, you think it's appropriate to talk about moral righteousness with me?
The Holy Scripture once said, all the wealth of the world is bestowed upon mortals by a benevolent God.
Wealth does not truly belong to man but to God.
The robbery between men cannot be labeled as such; it is merely the flow of divine grace among people.
The flow of divine grace conveys the idea of God loving the world.
Whether Master Fuli understood mathematics, Father Luo Ning couldn't fathom, but the master certainly understood theology.
Master Fuli's classic translation was entirely about treating Father Luo Ning like an Aboriginal American to be fooled around with.
...
The priest came with the task of maintaining peace, but after being swayed by Master Fuli's cunning words, he left with a mournful face leading half of the members back, preparing to dig up the site.
Every word uttered by Master Fuli was quotable from the scriptures; without seminary clerics in attendance, he couldn't convincingly argue with Master Fuli.
"Are they actually working?"
Li Wenkang arrived beside Master Fuli, casting a glance at the warriors seated on small stools, dressed in women's attire.
"They initially didn't want to, but after I had a brief chat with them about the Holy Scripture, they became willing." Ansheng showed a peculiar expression, looking at Li Wenkang, saying:
"By the way, how are those inquisitors doing? Did they reveal any intelligence?"
Father Luo Ning was a cunning person; Ansheng didn't bother asking him about intelligence matters and sent them off to mine with a few casual words.
"... Their state is rather odd." Li Wenkang looked at Master Fuli, with a trace of peculiarity in his voice.
"You frightened them so much that the part of their brain responsible for defining self-awareness and boundaries, the posterior cingulate cortex, underwent permanent structural changes..."
"In layman's terms, after gazing upon the ancient god, their self-perception has been reset." Li Wenkang spoke of the inquisitor squad members, detailing the changes in their minds after seeing Master Fuli for the first time.
In everyone's eyes, Master Fuli appeared as a white fox, and those familiar with him might even jokingly remark on his little belly when he squatted.
But to the inquisitor squad, he wasn't; due to being overly frightened, their brain lobes responsible for self-perception and distinguishing the external world underwent pathological changes.
And this alteration triggered cognitive dysfunction, or to put it bluntly, cognitive reset.
The Holy Scripture is important, doctrine is important, and slaying heretics and preserving bloodlines as paramount is the ultimate ideology.
But after seeing the "true God," in that white divine body piercing through the night sky, the white suns rising from the ground and transforming into the dawn of daybreak.
The once-held "importance" became insignificant against that dawn light.
In their understanding, nothing held meaning anymore, and they had already merged with that white glow.
The divine.....
Was not in the Holy Scripture or the classics but right in front of them, not adhering to hypocritical teachings of good or evil.
The absolute power of the divine brings absolute justice.
"Their minds... underwent a cognitive reset?" Master Fuli stared blankly at Li Wenkang: "So....."
"They have become your fervent believers, and they see their existence as an extension of your will."
"Now, if you commanded them to commit suicide, they might not hesitate at all. They might even, before dying, embrace your enemy and fly up to the skies together."
"You are now their Heavenly Father..." Li Wenkang said with a face full of emotion: "You scared them stiff."
Upon hearing this, Master Fuli didn't immediately grasp the meaning behind Li Wenkang's words.
When he finally comprehended the full meaning of the phrases, the expression on Ansheng's little fox face turned to one of dumbfounded amazement: "wdf???"