The manifestations of gods indeed take many forms, and a human body is just one of them.
Besides the human form, there are also true forms that better reflect the essence of their divine authority. These could be of any appearance and are not limited to a specific type of shape.
Su Cheng covered her face.
No wonder the God of Purity was so angry!
Her last words were practically a direct insult to his face!
It was a miracle he didn't strike her dead on the spot.
...He probably understood that she really didn't know that horse was him.
Su Cheng let out a long sigh. "That horse—"
"What do you mean, that horse!" The squad leader frowned. "This is a unicorn!"
Unicorns are a rare type of high-tier magical beast.
As the familiars of the God of Purity, their method of reproduction is also very mysterious. It is said that they live solitary lives in remote mountains and forests for their entire existence.
They are known as the picky measurers of virtue. Only those with clear hearts and noble character can approach them, or even have the chance to sign a contract with them.
Su Cheng: "..."
She suddenly understood why the God of Lust and Filth had called it a stupid donkey.
At the time, she had wondered why he would hurl insults at a horse statue, since the sculpture was clearly not a donkey.
It turned out he was cursing the God of Purity.
Su Cheng: "...I thought it was the mount of some important figure, or a legendary magical beast. After all, you guys seem to have statues of that type too."
The sound of discussions outside the door rose and fell. Some of the clerics had dispersed, probably busy with work, but even more people came after hearing the news, gathering outside to watch.
"Are you really—"
The paladins nearby whispered among themselves.
Someone looked her up and down with a bewildered gaze. "You don't even know what this statue is, yet you actually managed to gain the favor of His Highness Cessia?"
"Don't say that," another person shook their head. "Perhaps those who are devoid of desires and even completely ignorant of the gods are the ones who best fit the definition of purity?"
"Huh? Purity? Her? But what she did outside earlier..."
"Maybe that was just a pure kind of admiration, an appreciation for a beautiful existence. Uh, so she moved His Highness—"
Su Cheng listened, feeling completely speechless.
Did they really think she was the favored one of the God of Purity?
The clerics made wild guesses, constantly casting curious glances at her.
If it weren't for the fact that this favored one's expression looked so terrible, they probably would have already come up to question her.
Su Cheng turned around numbly and walked up to the unicorn statue.
She looked down at the embossed text on the pedestal.
The style of those characters was very strange. They looked more like symbols than text, made up of various geometric patterns.
The squad leader walked over. "Your Excellency?"
"I know, I'll be leaving right away. But," Su Cheng asked her in a low voice, "do you recognize these words?"
The squad leader nodded.
Evidently, she had already accepted this favored one's ignorance and incompetence.
"Measuring your name with the scale of glory, we offer our ordinary souls to the holy white radiance, the immaculate blessing, and the envoy of light."
The squad leader slowly recited the inscription, the expression on her face solemn and reverent.
Her soft and gentle voice echoed in the prayer room.
The surrounding clerics also stood in silent reverence, quietly bowing their heads. Some had their lips moving slightly, silently muttering something.
Su Cheng was forcing herself not to stare at that horse.
Otherwise, certain previous memories would come flooding back.
Even though it was the consequence of being influenced by the power of the God of Lust and Filth, she had indeed once harbored improper intentions toward a horse.
What was even more absurd was that this horse and the statue outside were the same person.
And she had said foolish things right in front of him.
Just thinking about it made her scalp tingle with embarrassment.
"Oh no," Su Cheng covered her head. "Let's hurry and go see His Eminence the Archbishop. Let's not keep him waiting too long."
The clerics glanced at her one after another, wanting to blame her for interrupting such a sacred moment. However, remembering that she was a favored one, their expressions couldn't help but turn strange.
The crowd quickly parted to make a path. Under the gazes of the priests and knights, Su Cheng had just walked outside when she heard a chorus of greetings coming from the distance.
The people around her all bowed in respect.
The corridor instantly grew quiet, leaving only the sound of shallow breathing.
A group of high-ranking clerics walked over.
"Miss Su."
Right in the middle was a blonde young man, who smiled and nodded in greeting.
"I am very sorry for taking the liberty of inviting you over this time. I hope you can forgive the intrusion."
He was tall and wore formal attire: a long coat with lapels where white and gold intertwined, epaulettes with complex runes, and gold trim along the cuffs and hem. The emblem on his chest featured two crossed scepters surrounded by a halo of pale golden holy light resembling flames.
"I am the Archbishop of the Rosean Archdiocese, Jean White."
The blonde young man smiled and reached out his hand.
He wore snow-white gloves. The supple leather fit the contours of his knuckles, highlighting his long, beautiful fingers and lines full of strength.
Su Cheng originally wanted to shake his hand.
But just as she raised her arm, her movements suddenly stiffened.
Since he was an archbishop, were people supposed to kiss his hand?
Looking up again, His Eminence the Archbishop was truly handsome. He also had a pair of deep, beautiful green eyes, and his smile made one feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze.
Alright, it wouldn't be a loss.
Su Cheng debated internally for a moment, afraid that she might make a mistake and just add to the embarrassment.
There was no relevant information in her predecessor's memories, because most people would never have the chance to speak to a cleric of this level at such close range in their entire lives.
While she was thinking, Jean had already casually taken her hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
They touched and immediately parted.
No one around them showed any unusual reactions.
Su Cheng felt infinitely glad that she hadn't tried to kiss his hand.
Otherwise, she would never be able to shake off the title of a sex fiend.
"Likewise," Su Cheng smiled bitterly, "but I'm guessing you might already be regretting inviting me over."
Hearing this, the high-ranking clerics beside the Archbishop all revealed subtle expressions in their eyes.
Obviously, these people had all heard about what just happened.
"You must be joking," Jean said gently. "As long as you don't blame me for being abrupt."
He then introduced the people beside him: two were captains of the paladins, two were ordinary diocesan bishops, along with a few priests and clerics.
Su Cheng also greeted them one by one.
They behaved very amicably, and everyone tacitly avoided bringing up anything else.
Jean led her deeper into the temple. The surrounding crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed, and the long corridor grew increasingly quiet.
Occasionally, clerics in a hurry would pass by, but they would simply bow to the group and then leave.
"Have you always studied at home?"
A kind-faced bishop asked.
Su Cheng hesitated to speak.
How exactly was this world set up?!
Her predecessor had indeed studied at home. Her parents had left behind an inheritance sufficient for her to hire private tutors to teach her at home.
Many low-tier magicians who were short on money would register at the Magic Guild or the Mercenary Association to earn money this way.
Teaching the young ladies and young masters of wealthy families was much safer and easier than going out to fight magical beasts, and the money earned wasn't much less either.
Several of her predecessor's teachers had been in similar situations.
When she reached sixteen or seventeen and was old enough to study at those major academies, she packed her bags and came to Golden Amber City, preparing to participate in the admissions.
However, that was the setting for the cannon fodder, Su Cheng!
How should she explain it now?
Su Cheng's head throbbed with a massive headache. Feigning embarrassment, she lowered her head and vaguely offered some self-deprecating remarks about her shallow knowledge, claiming she still hadn't mastered many spells.
"You are too modest," someone then congratulated her. "I heard you passed the entrance exam for the Cross Star Secret Academy. Congratulations, the examiners this time were very strict."
Su Cheng paused, taken aback.
Weren't these people a bit too well-informed?
Either they had eyes and ears in the Magic Guild, or they had connections with the people from the Cross Star Academy.
"Thank you, I was just lucky."
Su Cheng casually offered polite pleasantries. Before she could say much more, a young priestess came running from a distance.
She stopped beside a bishop and spoke in a low voice, "Count Gauler's son died in front of the Magic Guild. His family has brought the body here."
The bishop's face remained calm, seemingly not taking the matter seriously at all. As she listened, she looked toward Jean.
Seeing that her superior gave no instructions, the bishop pondered and asked, "Do they want us to save him, or investigate how he died?"
"Both," the priestess said softly. "They claim the young master was persecuted by heretics."
At that moment, a similar expression of subtle disgust appeared on the faces of many high-ranking clerics.
Su Cheng almost burst out laughing.
A count's son might be unattainable and high-and-mighty in the eyes of ordinary people.
But to the clerics, especially high-ranking ones capable of healing the recently deceased and responsible for hunting down heretics, he was nothing.
Obviously, only this kind of claim could attract the Church's attention. But from another angle, it also seemed to imply their incompetence.
Otherwise, how could heretics enter the city and even kill someone right in front of the Magic Guild?
If that were truly the case, the people of the Church would look like nothing more than mere decorations.
"What is the condition of the body?"
"Only half of it is left," the priestess recalled. "Everything above the chest cavity is completely missing, the heart and lungs are gone, the remaining ribs are fractured in multiple places, and the severed ends are jagged..."
She described it in detail, and the high-ranking clerics present wore varying expressions.
"Since they are certain it was the work of heretics, Lina, go and ask them what kind of heretics the deceased provoked while alive, and what kind of interactions their family has had with heretics."
Jean spoke slowly and methodically.
The named bishop bowed her head in response, "Yes, Your Grace."
After saying that, she left with the young priestess.
Su Cheng's heart stirred.
The Count himself, or rather the entire Gauler family, indeed colluded with pagans from the Southern Continent.
They didn't do it out of faith; initially, it was purely to make money. Using this connection, they smuggled contraband magical materials from the south into the Northern Continent.
However, after interacting with the pagans for so long, it was inevitable that they would be influenced by them, leading them to commit even worse deeds.
Su Cheng vaguely remembered that they seemed to sacrifice innocent civilians.
In the original novel, after Lin Yun had a relationship with the Count's daughter, he also used her to connect with the Dark God's faction.
Of course, Lin Yun's connections with the Secret Cult of Eternal Night, or other followers of the Dark God, were not built solely on this single line.
But given this situation...
Once the young master of the Count was killed, and in such a manner, the Count himself might overcomplicate things and consider whether it was a warning from the Church.
So the servants coming over to make a scene might actually be a probe?
"...Your Grace?" The archbishop called out to her. "Is something wrong?"
Su Cheng snapped back to reality and found a group of clerics looking at her.
"I suddenly remembered," she couldn't help but clear her throat, "that person was supposed to participate in the academy's sorting duel with me..."
A hint of feigned anger appeared on her face. "If he really was a pagan, then I will regret missing the opportunity to execute him with my own hands."
This statement wasn't actually wrong.
After all, it was the God of Contracts who killed him, not her.
The clerics' expressions were all somewhat subtle.
The archbishop's previous words were still relatively vague, merely hinting that the Gauler family had dealings with heretics.
She, however, directly slapped the label of a pagan on him.
The archbishop pondered for a moment, "We don't have evidence yet, we might as well investigate. After all, it's indeed rare to hear anyone constantly talking about heretics."
Although he didn't name anyone, a Holy Knight captain quietly stepped out of the ranks, turned around, and left.
Su Cheng knew the Gauler family had done many rotten things, but they weren't very prominent, at least to the Church, so they hadn't attracted much attention.
Now that the archbishop had spoken, those people might not withstand an investigation.
"Speaking of the deceased, among the instructors who came to recruit for the South River Academy, one is an old acquaintance of mine."
Another bishop suddenly said, "She secretly came to ask me earlier if there was any way we could revive someone killed by a God's Favored."
Su Cheng remained silent.
The archbishop smiled faintly, "How did you reply?"
"The one who died was an elder of the Sword Martial Academy, at the Battle Sect rank. I said that since they could kill a seventh-tier warrior, they must be at least seventh-tier themselves. If we don't count our people, there isn't a single seventh-tier powerhouse in this entire city."
The bishop paused for a moment. "Only then did she say that the God's Favored didn't kill him personally, but that it was a divine manifestation that did the killing. I told her that since it was the work of a deity, this person must have committed a sin, and we naturally cannot interfere. Wouldn't you agree, Your Grace?"
Jean nodded gently, "Indeed, we will no longer concern ourselves with this matter."
"There are still some people who wish to see you," a priest holding a thick ledger said from the side. "But they are all insignificant minor characters. Hmm, among them is the son of Marquis Murong..."
Su Cheng raised her eyebrows.
There is only one Marquis with this surname in the entire empire, right?
"Hmm, I don't have time to receive those people."
The archbishop clearly had no interest in this. He waved his hand without asking for details, "Everyone can go back to work. Ava, go preside over the worship in the main hall. John, go receive the guests from the south..."
The clerics responded one after another and quickly dispersed, leaving only His Grace the Archbishop standing there.
They had already walked to a side corridor where few people passed by. The gentle spring breeze blew through the open high windows, the midday sun grew stronger, and the arcade was bathed in golden light.
Su Cheng hesitated to speak.
She pretty much understood now; this group of people probably also knew that she was a God's Favored, and that both of the deceased were connected to her.
They had most likely brought it up in front of her on purpose.
"Your Grace."
The blond young man called out to her, still looking gentle and elegant. "I invited you here this time for two matters. First, regarding that bracelet."
Su Cheng was still pondering why Murong Yue would come over. "Hmm?"
She originally thought he was going to talk about the God's Favored, or the manifestation of the God of Purity. Hearing this, she was stunned again. "I heard the bracelet was sent to the Holy City."
Jean nodded slowly. "After your uncle brought it to the temple, a priest presented it to me. I noticed some issues, so I took it to the Holy City and handed it to my mentor, Her Excellency Berna. She is a member of the Conclave and one of the twelve Cardinals. After she discussed it with several colleagues and His Holiness the Pope, the Pope decided to send the bracelet into the Divine Realm."
Su Cheng: "?"
The successive Popes of the Church were all known as Near-Deities. Apart from their own strength being comparable to demigods, this position was destined to frequently communicate with the gods.
The Pope had to report all matters of the continent to them, and sometimes even had to seek their instructions and receive their orders.
—This "them" naturally referred to the God of Light and his subordinates.
Especially now that the God of Light didn't care much about the Church's affairs, it was mostly those lesser gods calling the shots.
However, they did not intervene in everything; only major decisions required their guidance.
Was the bracelet really that important?
Su Cheng remembered that from the middle of the novel onwards, the bracelet was barely mentioned, acting more like a disposable beginner's leveling tool.
That cheat-like old man was a two-thousand-year-old wraith. In a world like this, there were probably more than a few similar things.
What other mysteries were hidden within it?
"The Divine Realm?" Su Cheng asked in confusion. "Did His Holiness give it to His Divine Majesty the God of Light?"
Jean shook his head. "No. After the Black Day War, His Divine Majesty the God of Light has been busy dealing with the threat of the Void. The Church's affairs are mostly handled by His Highness the God of Purity."
"Ah?" Su Cheng was almost having a stress response to this name. "The bracelet was given to... him?"
They reached a corner. Her thoughts were in chaos, and she didn't even notice the steps ahead. She stepped on air and violently stumbled.
Jean grabbed her lower back, steadying her firmly, and then withdrew his hand.
"Yes," the Archbishop nodded. "His Highness asked about the original owner of the bracelet and said he wanted to see you."
Su Cheng felt as if a thunderbolt had exploded right above her head.
"So, his statue glowing wasn't an automatically triggered magical mechanism. It was because of the bracelet, and he originally wanted to talk to me?"
She wasn't a favored believer of the God of Purity; there was no special connection between them.
Therefore, if he appeared directly to communicate with her like the God of Contracts, it might have some terrible effects on her, potentially even causing her mind to collapse and turning her into a lunatic.
A divine statue was naturally one of the mediums for gods to communicate with mortals, so talking to her through the statue was a relatively safe choice.
Su Cheng suddenly felt a little guilty.
He had actually been considerate of her by choosing such a method, but in the end—
Su Cheng spoke with difficulty: "When I stood in front of his statue, and he happened to want to chat with me, could he also 'see' what I was thinking?"
"Generally speaking," the Archbishop said calmly, "the gods are not interested in our thoughts. But if you had some strong notions at that moment, he would inevitably be able to sense them."
Su Cheng: "..."
It really was like that.
Her mind had been full of those pecs at the time; she must have driven him away in anger.
Later, the God of Lust came to cause trouble and deliberately chose the prayer room of the God of Purity, so the God of Purity was so angry that he came down personally to drive him away.
And he had to face a rude person like her.
As a result, she spouted all that nonsense again.
Damn it.
It was all Lin Yun's fault!
Su Cheng closed her eyes. "Is there anything else I need to know?"
The Archbishop pondered for a moment. "His Highness believes that your action of offering your family heirloom proves your loyalty to the Church, and also proves that you are a pure and kind person with a sense of righteousness."
Su Cheng: "... It seems his initial impression of me was pretty good?"
Although it might have dropped into the negatives by now.
Forget it.
Anyway, she never wanted to provoke someone with that kind of personality.
Considering certain developments in the original novel, she neither wanted to become the target of the God of Purity's pursuit, nor did she want to be good friends with that guy.
—She might have offended him earlier, but since he didn't strike her down right then, it meant he hadn't reached the point of wanting to kill her.
Maintaining the status quo was fine.
"... Additionally," the Archbishop continued, "He also reminded His Holiness the Pope that the bracelet is no trivial matter. Since you have come into contact with it, it is inevitable that some special aura remains on you, which might attract heretical Darkspawn."
Su Cheng was somewhat surprised. "The God of Purity said that?"
He nodded. "Yes."
Su Cheng grew even more confused. "Just like that? He didn't have any other orders?"
Shouldn't he have added something like, "If she is found colluding with the Darkspawn, execute her"?
"In fact," the Archbishop glanced at her, "he did. He hopes you will join the Church, lest you be harmed or influenced by heretical forces. But His Divine Majesty the God of Light once said that our believers must be willing converts, so this matter naturally still requires your consent."
Su Cheng: "?"
Judging from the meaning of his words, he clearly needed her to make a stance, but looking at his expression, it seemed like he was just purely inquiring.
It seemed like any answer she gave would be fine.
"Your Excellency," Su Cheng suddenly thought of her own experience and joked, "I heard you are also a favored believer of the gods? I assume there isn't any primary or lesser god currently watching me through your eyes, right? And if I say something against the rules, I'll be smashed to pieces on the spot?"
...
The Divine Realm.
Amidst the soft veil of mist, white jade steps and arched bridges intertwined in the air, surrounding a giant palace suspended high among the clouds.
In the quiet garden on the palace's wing, the canopy of a giant tree woven with gold and silver stood gracefully. Its branches and leaves were like a flowing galaxy, dripping radiance into the hazy mist.
Beside the pool stood the statues of seven deities, holding jade vases of various shapes. Clear water poured down from the mouths of the vases, scattering into fine rainbow lights in the air.
A few figures stood by the water. A hazy white halo radiated from their bodies, and their exquisitely beautiful faces were blurred in the light.
"... Luxara has withdrawn his power."
The person right in the middle said so.
When he lowered his head, his scattered hair was like a half-melted river of frost. His gorgeous side profile was bathed in the soft light, and his cold, stern lines seemed to have been softened a bit.
"As for his target," the silver-haired young man continued in a deep voice, "that insolent madwoman... I saw her fear. She only refused because she was afraid of being punished."
"Is that so?" someone beside him said softly. "Perhaps it's just that the image chosen by the God of Lust didn't suit her tastes. If you ask me, she might favor someone like you more."
The silver-haired young man frowned, seemingly wanting to refute this remark.
"... Even if it is as you say," another person spoke up, "that the instinct for survival resisted the temptation... This sounds like a matter of course, but in reality, how many people under the influence of such power would forget even their own names, let alone their safety?"
Driven by darkness, there were more than just one or two clerics who had publicly fallen; many had rebelled in broad daylight, even within the temple itself.
—Did they really not know the consequences of doing so?
"Indeed."
Someone suddenly spoke from the corridor winding along the water's edge.
In an instant, all the lesser gods fell completely silent.
No one made another sound.
"I told you long ago that you should learn to see the merits in others, rather than getting angry the moment you see a part you dislike."
The man leaned against an ivory pillar. His cascading curls resembled frozen sunlight, or perhaps a brocade woven from thousands of golden threads.
A thick, ancient tome lay open on his lap. His jade-like fingers brushed across the pages. "Doing so will make you miss out on many friends, or at the very least, people you can use."
A few seconds later, a silver-haired young man bowed his head in compliance. "I will keep your teachings in mind."
The lesser gods continued to stand in quiet stillness.
However, the person sitting in the corridor did not speak to them again.
He merely turned his head to look at the mist-shrouded garden, his gaze seemingly piercing through the fog to land on some distant place.
"Of course you can answer her, Jan," he said in a light, breezy tone. "After all, I am neither a major god nor a lesser god."
The deity's melodic voice drifted away in the wind.
The lesser gods all kept their heads bowed in silence.
Everyone knew he wasn't talking to them.
"Hmm, probably. I might even go over and take a look myself."
...
Meanwhile, in the corridor of the Golden Amber City temple.
The archbishop smiled and shook his head. "You really know how to joke, Your Excellency. I swear that no major or lesser god is listening to our conversation through me."
He paused for a moment. "I am also willing to bear all the consequences of deceiving you, for instance, having the God of Contracts take my soul."
