Thousand-Faced Dragon

Chapter 388 Oath
A vow? Why did you make another vow?

Those in the clergy all like this. Their core is will and soul. When they make a promise to the world and fulfill it at the end of their lives, the world will reward or even commend them.

Therefore, making a grand vow in advance and gaining the power to fulfill that vow has become a standard practice.

However, those who can make such a grand vow are clearly not ordinary people.
"you"

Rean sighed. He knew he had been tricked, but it seemed he had jumped out of it on his own initiative.

Ultimately, this deity was simply fulfilling his goal of "preaching," and following procedure, he awakened the true hearts of all the pastors and successors.

Rean wasn't the only one to utter vows, express his true feelings, and make promises.

However, once this "wish" is witnessed by the gods, it becomes what is known as a vow or a great aspiration.

"This thing really screws over even itself. But it seems like Lee Eun-suk is always like this."

Li, or perhaps Li, sighed, looking down on the bizarre behavior of his predecessors who kept digging traps.

He could feel the power of the vow. This vow would enable him to fulfill the promise of "bringing small happiness to the world that can make people smile, within the limits of his ability."

The oath was not harsh, and it aligned with Rean's own heart, which is why he didn't resist much.

This was exactly what he had hoped to achieve, and it would also bring additional power. Although acting first and informing later was a bit unpleasant, he had no reason to refuse since there were benefits to be gained. Perhaps this was also the reason why He had seen through Rean's character.

[Achieve the Rank 4 Priest (Lord of Drama and Pleasure)]

[Gain the Oath of Protection (Will)]

Rean never expected that his first fourth-tier profession would be the completely neglected path of a priest. Although he estimated that the improvement would not be high, it did bring him closer to the threshold of becoming a great professional.

"Is it the effect of the oath? Did He open the channel of divine power for me? Or... is it this physical enhancement that makes career advancement easier?"

Rean estimated that the most likely answer was "all of the above," while at that moment, the expressions of the other candidates looking at Rean were varied and diverse.

Being forced to reveal one's true nature by the gods was an accident, and the fact that one was chosen means that there was no "trash" among them. Some people's goals, whether grand, rigorous, sacrificial, or dedicated, are more respectable than Rean's "If I have the ability, I will do more."

But the result was that this oath was given only to Rean and not to anyone else.

The others also witnessed the divine favor bestowed upon them. This "oath" carried considerable weight, yet its contents were not stringent. The boss offered an easy job with high pay, which suggests that the person was probably a bit abnormal.

"He has that value."

"His casual act may have surpassed my life's worth of dedication."

"The pledge acknowledges that he 'will do more when he reaches the top of the world,' so does that indirectly confirm his potential to reach the top of the world?"

Not just anyone can make a "great wish." The prerequisite for "taking out a loan to make a great wish" is that the world determines that you are truly likely to achieve your wish.

Many of these "bishop candidates," who specialize in the theology of this world (a 'theoretical science' that truly requires a long period of study and mastery), have already sensed that something is amiss.

And they will naturally respect Rean more afterward, and implicitly, this newly formed church will naturally place Rean's will at its core. Perhaps this is also His compensation to Rean.

As for Rean himself? Since it is his own true feeling, he naturally will not deny it. If he did deny it even a little, then he would not be who he is now, and he would have to bear whatever price he had to pay.

"This guy still expects me to stay in the good, or the lawful side?" At this moment, Rean vaguely sensed that this "compassion" was likely to continue. Perhaps He was indeed a lawful deity, but probably not a benevolent god at all. If normal means couldn't bring salvation, then extreme means would have to be used.

"He must have other aliases."

Rean thought he might have seen through the god's true goal, but all he got in return was a faint smile.

He disappeared from the throne again, leaving time and space to mortals.

The mortals, whether whispering amongst themselves or pondering in silence, believed that the fact that they were still able to sit in this position meant they had passed the trial.

For the "Cleric" class, the most important thing has never been magic power, divine power, or physical strength, but rather "self".

Shepherds are the "intermediaries" between God and man. They either follow the will and concepts of the gods to change the world or "shape" and "interpret" the gods according to the needs of the world.

Of course, the shepherds here are true shepherds, not those marginalized outcasts from Radiant City.

Their true work is to recognize themselves, understand their own nature, interpret the will of the gods, act on behalf of the gods, and shepherd mortals. In this process, the most important thing is always their "self" as mortals.

Once a shepherd falls into depravity and loses his true nature, he is utterly ruined.

Now, the Lord of Drama and Joy has shown these aspiring pastors firsthand whether their true selves still exist after they have experienced life's hardships and torments, and whether they are still on the path expected by God.

Some gods are strict, kicking out anyone who deviates even slightly, while others are relatively lenient, barely tolerating anyone who stays on the main path of their own faction.

However, when your heart deviates from the rules and "will" represented by the deity, it's hard to say how much of the divine power you can still exert.

At this moment, what appears to be merely a depiction of the suffering of mortals, the Lord of drama and joy, reveals his true nature to the candidates for shepherd.

"That is compassion for the suffering of all people."

"That is the hope of showing mercy to intelligent life, to redeem it when it is possible, and to temporarily reassure it through literature and entertainment if that is not possible."

"Moreover, stories such as dramas can help people understand wisdom and principles, spread knowledge, and give enlightened individuals the possibility of enlightenment."

When faced with the same "idol," everyone's understanding of the "doctrine" is different.

But as long as they continue to perform the rituals, they will naturally receive a portion of the "idol."
"When they become gods, they are essentially abandoning their true selves. The gods in the eyes of the world are actually their own projections in a mirror."

Rean stretched out his arms, vaguely sensing the power belonging to the "Lord of Drama and Pleasure" within them.

The statue in the mirror might really be yourself.

"Is this the essence of gods? A projection that is illusory, noble, and devoid of self."

After thinking for a moment, Li Enli spoke again.

"The seemingly enormous figure has actually become a puppet manipulated by mortals. I refuse such pathetic immortality."

[The oath: Never to become a god; the promise fulfilled.]

[Blessed by the gods, one gains a divine barrier: an anti-divine barrier.]

(End of this chapter)