Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 272: Gate of Disaster (5k4)

The time when Luo Xiu returned from the "Sea of ​​Spirituality" was faster than Hubert expected.

"Yeah..." Huberte nodded, "I feel it."

Although he appeared calm on the surface, he was filled with a strong sense of amazement in his heart.

The Luo Xiu Carlos in front of him - the spiritual surge emanating from him has indeed reached the level of a saint who has entered the "Fivefold Destiny".

In just about four months, he was promoted from the "quadruple destiny" to the "quintuple destiny", once again achieving a leap to an extraordinary level... Even though Hubert had been mentally prepared for this, when he actually witnessed the entire process of Luo Xiu's promotion, he couldn't help but think a lot in his mind.

Even Hubert himself, with the massive resources of the Holy Court pouring in, took nearly eight years to advance from the fourth level to the fifth level.

Even the 'Glorious Saint' Frenya in the 'Holy Court', it took her two years to be promoted from the fourth level of destiny to become a 'Saint'.

And this is the fastest known speed of becoming a saint among all the existing clergy of the Holy See.

...When he thought of this, Hubert couldn't help but sigh from the bottom of his heart.

"So, Luo Xiu. What is your current occupation?" Hubert immediately asked Luo Xiu, "Is it 'Bishop of Judgment'? Or..."

At this moment, there was a gleam of expectation in Hubert's eyes.

"I am already the 'Apostle of Divine Light', Lord Hubert." Luo Xiu replied to Hubert.

——"The Apostle of Divine Glory"!
Different from the "Apostles" of "Holy Abyss" who only have titles, the "Apostles of Divine Glory" are apostles of the Pillar God of Glory - "Casting Sun for a Moment" in the true sense.

From the perspective of the extraordinary level, extraordinary professions with the suffix "apostle" all have a more special and close connection with the pillar god of their destiny.

They often bear the will of their respective pillar gods of destiny and act as their agents in the world. As a result, they become more powerful and possess more extraordinary powers.

When Hubert heard Luo Xiu talk about his extraordinary profession at the moment, a light flashed in Hubert's eyes.

"You are already the 'Apostle of Divine Glory'? Oh... May the sun always be above..."

Hubert said with a pious look on his face, "In the entire Songyuan Diocese, there hasn't been a new 'Apostle of Divine Glory' for a long, long time..."

"..."

Looking at the excitement on Hubert's face, Luo Xiu knew what he was thinking.

The appearance of the "Apostle of Divine Light", a transcendent being who possesses the higher-level profession of "Judge of Divine Light", has a more extraordinary meaning among the believers of [Glory].

That means that among the believers of the Way of [Glory], there is one more person who can "hear the oracle"!
Compared to the vague revelations that ordinary high-ranking clergy can hear, the "Apostle of Divine Light" will be able to hear and convey clearer oracles to other believers!
This is transcendental, and the "Apostle of Divine Glory" will naturally become the best holder of the authority of "Glory".

The reason for Hubert's excitement was obvious - the entire Songyuan Diocese finally had a 'divine apostle'! This would truly envelop the diocese in a moment of glory, allowing all the clergy in the diocese to go further in their [glorious] destiny.

Hubert continued:

"When we learned that you were promoted to the 'Holy Light Judge' during the 'Fourfold Fate', the bishops of the diocese were surprised, but they did not hold any higher expectations."

“Although among the hundreds of ‘priests’ who have been promoted from the third level to the fourth level, only one or two can become ‘holy light judges’, and among ten ‘holy light judges’, only one ‘holy light apostle’ can emerge…”

"We have seen too many, too many 'Holy Light Judges' who were short-lived. Most of them did not live long enough to be promoted to the 'Fifth Fate'. Even if they were able to touch the threshold of 'entering the sainthood', most of them became 'Bishops of Judgment' after being promoted to the 'Fifth Fate' and ascending to the sainthood."

"The Archbishop was once a 'Holy Light Judge'. He ultimately failed to become a 'Divine Light Apostle', but he brought us back clear news that there is indeed another sacred profession above the 'Holy Light Judge'."

"We all know that the 'Apostle of Divine Glory' really exists, but we have never been able to grasp the exact method to truly ascend to the highest level..."

"..."

That's because I turned it on... and I'm considered a second-round player... When listening to Hubert talking about this, Luo Xiu secretly complained in his heart.

Soon, as if realizing that he had said some unnecessary words due to his excitement, Hubert stopped talking and paused before saying to Luo Xiu:

"Well, Luo Xiu. Your promotion to the 'Apostle of Divine Glory' is good news for the entire diocese."

"It's just that you need to think about the future, Luo Xiu."

"You have become the 'Apostle of Divine Glory', which is very important to us. I hope you will go to the General Church and serve in the Bishops' Council. We will dispatch new saints to the Red Maple City Church to take over all your duties here."

"You will become the successor of the Archbishop, and the General Church will devote all its resources to you to train you to advance to the sixth or even seventh level. You can ask us for anything - whether it is property, holy objects or sacred scrolls, as long as it is within your current level, we will try our best to satisfy you."

"Of course, according to the rules of the Holy Court, this requires your consent."

After saying this, Hubert stopped talking and just looked at the young man opposite with eager eyes, waiting for his reply.

When listening to Hubert say this, even though Luo Xiu had clear plans for his future in Red Maple City, he couldn't help but be moved.

——Hubert promised him that he could use all the resources of the entire parish at his disposal!

That was a very tempting proposal... At least Luo Xiu no longer had to worry about money, extraordinary equipment, skills or skill scrolls, and even the materials for summoning angels and other "gods", the General Church could help him buy them all...

This will really save yourself a lot of trouble.

So, what's the cost?
Luo Xiu knew very well that if he really joined the Episcopal Conference of the General Church as an "Apostle of Divine Light", although he would be able to obtain a large amount of almost unlimited resources, he would also be subject to extremely strict control - that would be both protection and surveillance of him.

He will lose almost all his freedom, and everything will be completely under the control of the General Church, and it will be difficult for him to break away from it.

What the Archbishop and even the Bishops really value is not the person of "Rosius Carlos", but the value behind his profession as "Apostle of Divine Glory".

Therefore, it is foreseeable that the General Church will grant him a great degree of freedom on the "material" level, but will also put spiritual shackles on him in this way.

Although the General Church will grant him "authority", it will not grant him real "power" - only in the long run, when Luo Xiu's strength truly surpasses that of the archbishop and the "Archbishop of Judgment" with the "Sixfold Fate", can he regain his true freedom and gain real voice within the diocese.

This takes time, and quite a long time.

This goes against Luo Xiu's usual principles.

"Forbearance" has never been his style.

Moreover, Luo Xiu knew deeply that the reason why he could become stronger so quickly was definitely not because of the speed of promotion he achieved by piling up a large amount of resources...

Even a gifted person like the "Glorious Saint" of the Holy Court took two years to be promoted to a saint, even though a large amount of resources were tilted towards her.

If he left the battlefield and this "big experience pool", Luo Xiu didn't think that his strength would make any real qualitative leap just by focusing on his own resources.

More importantly, the players who are the "Adventers" are about to arrive! His series of construction in Red Maple City, including the layout of "Holy Abyss" and other players, has reached the most critical point and is about to test the results.

If he chooses to go to Songyuan City and join the Bishops at this time, he will lose most of his early contacts with future players, and invisibly lose the most priceless "asset" in the entire Apocalypse world.

After thinking about it, Luo Xiu has clearly analyzed the interests involved.

But Luo Xiu did not intend to reject Hubert outright. After all, the allocation of resources from the diocese would be of great benefit to Luo Xiu in any case.

He then pondered for a while and said to Hubert:

"I cannot leave, Master Hubert."

"You know, Red Maple City is located in a key area, and now it is surrounded by powerful enemies. The high-ranking officials of the church are not suitable for temporary replacement."

"And, Master Hubert, my path is Judgment - this battlefield is the most suitable destination for me. I can feel that because I am doing things that are in line with my own path, I can continue to improve and receive His power continuously."

Whenever there is an occasion like this, it is always very useful to bring out the "Casting Sun in a Moment"... Luo Xiu silently complained in his mind.

It was visibly evident that when Hubert heard Luo Xiu reject the invitation, a flash of disappointment crossed his eyes.

He wanted to say something to make Luo Xiu change his mind, but then he heard Luo Xiu continue:

"But I also know the importance of a 'divine apostle' to the general church. I think the general church can send a priest or secret envoy here. I will hold the ceremony of receiving the oracle on schedule, and the oracle I receive will be conveyed back by the priest or secret envoy."

"..."

Hubert's mouth just opened slightly, then closed again.

Hubert could sense that Luo Xiu was determined to stay in the Red Maple City Church. But he did offer a compromise, giving Hubert a way out.

Although this was not the answer Hubert wanted to hear, and he could foresee that the Archbishop would not be too satisfied with it, since the "Apostle of Divine Glory" Ross Carlos himself did not want to do so, Hubert had to fully respect his wishes according to the rules of the Holy See. A clergyman who had reached the "holy" stage could no longer be transferred at will as he had before the fourfold destiny. Hubert had enjoyed the "freedom and relaxation" granted by this rule for a long time, but this was the first time he felt that it had the same trouble.

"...Okay. I will go back and report to the archbishop and ask him to send a priest over." Hubert agreed to Luo Xiu's proposal.

After thinking for a moment, he added, "My invitation will also be effective in the future. If you change your mind, the General Church will always reserve a seat for you in the bishopric."

Huh... Luo Xiu breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Huberdt didn't force him to join the College of Bishops, everything would be fine.

As for how to get along with the "priest" who will be sent by the Archbishop, that will be a matter for later.

"Okay." Luo Xiu nodded sincerely.

"Well, let's leave it at that for now, Luo Xiu."

Hubert sighed and said, "However, after the situation in Red Maple City stabilizes a little, you still need to go to Songyuan City to meet with the Archbishop and the bishops of the Bishops' Conference. This is the original process of promotion to sainthood within the 'Holy Court', and no clergyman can violate it."

Hubert's voice was a little low, and Luo Xiu could hear some dissatisfaction in his tone, but he could only pretend not to hear it.

"I understand." Luo Xiu nodded and said, "I promise you, Master Hubert. After Red Maple City stabilizes a little, I will go to Songyuan City to meet with the archbishop and the bishops."

...I'm afraid it will take a long time, Luo Xiu thought.

There were only a dozen days left before the arrival of the "Adventers". Even if the troubles of "Executioner" Koros and "Hidden Elder" Baberon could be solved before then, after the group of chaotic players appeared, Red Maple City would still be in chaos for a while.

But there was no need to explain this to Hubbard - the real owner of the "Adventers" was the "Ring of Apocalypse", and this was a secret unknown to the continent of Fanor until the end of the Judgment War.

……

Afterwards, Luo Xiu talked with Hubert about other things.

For example, after Luo Xiu is promoted to the "Fifth Destiny", his priesthood in the Holy See will be promoted to "Bishop", and the corresponding authority and salary will be increased accordingly.

Although Luo Xiu rejected Hubert's invitation to join the College of Bishops, Luo Xiu was still able to apply to the General Church for the necessary funds, holy treasures, props, equipment or materials by virtue of his identity as the "Bishop of the Red Maple City Church". However, the degree of material allocation would not be as great as if he joined the College of Bishops.

As for Luo Xiu's stipend, it will also be increased from 500 gold coins per week to 1,000 gold coins per week.

After agreeing on these, Hubert prepared to leave.

Because of the threats from "Executioner" Koros, "Hidden Elder" Baberon and "Bishop of the Dead" Passaro, Hubert was not planning to leave for Songyuan City immediately.

However, the church's "High Priest's Residence" was still under reconstruction, and Hubert also had a temporary residence in a hotel near the church, so he did not stay in the church, but went directly back to the hotel where he was staying.

As for the fact that Luo Xiu had been promoted to the "Fifth Level of Destiny" and had become a "Saint", after discussion between Luo Xiu and Hubert, they decided not to disclose it to anyone for the time being. Instead, it would be kept as a secret known only to Luo Xiu and Hubert until Koros, Barbron or Passaro had new plans for the church and they could catch them off guard.

……

Only after Hubert left did Luo Xiu return to the Holy Office and begin to deal with the pile of files that Mayev had left him, while thinking about what would happen next.

He has been promoted to become a "Saint" of the fifth level of the [Glory] destiny, and there are many things waiting for him to do.

For example, he is preparing to launch a new round of "skill creation" to create skills that suit the strength of his own "five-fold destiny" and to expand and enrich his own skill combination.

In addition to this, he will also prepare for another important ceremony——

A new "spirit" summoning ceremony - the summoning ceremony of the "winged angel"!

Now Luo Xiu has the qualifications to summon and contract with the "Double-Winged Angel".

He planned to ask Mir if he had received a new "Heart of the God". If not, he planned to apply directly to the parish to save the expenditure.

But that would require layers of approval, which would take a longer time. However, Luo Xiu was not in a hurry.

In addition to the channels of Mir and the parish, the "Antique Auction" held once every March in the "Black Sword Mansion" in Songyuan City is about to start again. Luo Xiu also plans to let Index, who is stationed in Songyuan City, participate in the auction to try his luck.

These are all plans based on improving their own strength... As for any unusual movements by the Dark Principality, "Executioner" Koros, "Hidden Elder" Baberon, and "Bishop of the Dead" Passaro, we will just have to wait and see.

Luo Xiu planned this way, so he focused on the current work and completed it in the evening.

After that, he followed his own plan, focusing on the development of the church while raising the necessary resources for himself and at the same time being vigilant against any unusual movements of the enemy.

Ten days passed in a flash.

……

Ring of Apocalypse.

Above the entire "Apocalypse World", there is a section of the "circle" that was hidden in the clouds and had long been broken.

——Boom!
A terrifying storm, powerful enough to destroy a country or even tear apart a continent, was raging wildly around.

The edges of the collapsed ruins were being peeled off and swallowed up by the storm bit by bit, and finally became part of the storm.

On the gradually collapsing fragments of ruins, there is a guarding center with eight stone pillars engraved with the sun, black flame, infinity, pupilless eye, ancient dragon, snake, sword and fire lotus totem.

It was a huge altar engraved with ancient and complex patterns, and it stood there for a long time.

Ten mercury-like figures now surrounded the altar like sculptures.

Their faces were pure silver-white, without any facial features or any physiological movements.

Suddenly, one of the silver figures trembled.

The facial features emerged from the flat face, and his metallic silver face gradually faded.

Strands of fiber-like muscles twitched, and whiskers grew out from his chin, and his face became no different from that of a normal human.

It was an old man, and the "mercury" covering his body gradually formed gorgeous clothes, which were draped softly on his body.

The old man opened his eyes.

Those eyes, shining with silver light, looked around without emotion, and then looked at the ancient altar in front of him.

Then, he walked up to the altar without hesitation.

——Buzz! The ancient altar suddenly emitted a violent buzzing sound.

On the altar, the huge and complex engraved patterns suddenly lit up with a fine, dazzling light.

An extremely surging spiritual power, enough to tear the sky apart, surged out from the old man. It roared and rushed towards the eight stone pillars that guarded the surroundings, and also activated the totems on them.

From the altar to the stone pillars, and from the stone pillars back to the altar, the surging spirituality like a tsunami began to swirl and surge back and forth.

The old man at the center of the altar, his figure gradually disintegrated and dissipated, and finally completely turned into a surging spiritual part, as if he had never appeared there.

He has been "sacrificed" to the Apocalypse.

Simultaneously.

The storm outside the ruins stopped, revealing a boundless sky, as if nothing had ever happened.

The spirits on the altar gradually stabilized. They finally merged into one, quickly rushed into the sky, and finally fell to the center of the altar.

--boom! ! !

The altar was shattered. Where the spiritual light surge fell, a bottomless pit emitting a strange light sank into place. There was a dark and empty hole in it, and no one knew what was buried there.

It wasn't until much, much later that it got its proper name.

——【Gate of Natural Disaster】.

……

(End of this chapter)