Since all these rules and superstitions are outdated, what's wrong with me indulging in some me

Knight Commander Rex still stood like a statue beside the altar's base. His heavy armor reflected a cold, hard gleam in the pale firelight. His helmet was on, revealing only a pair of gray, expressionless eyes.

It was as if the state Lu Changsheng had just witnessed had vanished without a trace.

His hand remained on the hilt of the sword, as if it had never moved.

"My God," said Knight Kress, "everything is ready. Please ascend the altar and perform the ritual of burning your hair to cleanse your sins."

Lu Changsheng nodded slightly, and just like yesterday, he cut off a lock of his hair.

When they returned to the earthly church, the believers had vanished without a trace, and even the choir was gone.

"My God, it is almost noon. Please return to the dining hall for Holy Communion."

Sister Ilya said from the side.

Lu Changsheng felt that his morning spent shuttling between different venues was just going through the motions.

"it is good."

This time, the silver tray and silver cups on the table were already prepared. Beneath the white silk covering, there was still that deep purple mash of sacred fruit puree.

Inside the silver cup, the "Dew of Life" was dark red and viscous.

Sister Ilya stepped forward, lifted the white silk, then stepped aside and stood with her hands at her sides.

After yesterday's dining experience, Lu Changsheng is now able to consume these "holy meals" without changing his expression.

Just as Lu Changsheng finished eating and was about to leave, Sister Ilya suddenly spoke very softly, in a whisper that only the two of them could barely hear:

"If you feel anything unusual about your body, please feel free to call me."

This statement was so abrupt that Lu Changsheng was completely baffled, but the next moment he remembered the slight stinging sensation on his skin that he had felt when he first woke up that morning.

He quickly said:

"Do you know...?"

"I only have a rudimentary understanding of methods to alleviate symptoms."

Sister Ilya quickly interrupted Lu Changsheng.

After saying that, she immediately resumed her statue-like stillness, as if the whisper had never happened.

Upon seeing this, Lu Changsheng's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly for a moment while gripping the silver spoon.

What does Sister Ilya know?

What exactly is her so-called "method of relief"?

Is this a well-intentioned reminder, or another trap to lure him into committing a foul?

Lu Changsheng wiped his mouth with a handkerchief without changing his expression.

Since Sister Ilya didn't explain in detail, he decided to find the answer himself.

After finishing Holy Communion, Lu Changsheng did not immediately return to the underground temple.

No one restricted his freedom during the day; once all the rules were followed, he only needed to return to the underground temple before 11 o'clock.

And now, it seems, is a time that can be taken advantage of.

Lu Changsheng stood up, his platinum robe brushing against the stone chair. He decided to walk around this huge and eerie church to see if he could discover any information beyond the rules.

He walked slowly out of the restaurant and down the wide but dimly lit main corridor. His footsteps echoed clearly in the empty corridor.

Huge, dark-colored religious paintings hang on the walls on both sides, depicting suffering, judgment, and the war between angels and demons.

Occasionally, low-level cultivators dressed in gray robes would hurry by, and upon seeing Lu Changsheng, they would immediately retreat to the side in fear, bowing their heads deeply, and only daring to move after he had passed by.

Lu Changsheng moved relatively freely. He passed through several side halls and small chapels, most of which were empty and covered in dust. To his surprise, Lu Changsheng discovered that the buildings inside had many signs of human damage.

Finally, in the northwest corner of the church, in front of an inconspicuous, heavy wooden door, Lu Changsheng stopped.

Above the lintel, a word is carved in ancient script:

Bibliotheca (Library)

The door was ajar, letting in a dim, yellowish light that was even more intense than in the corridor, along with a unique smell of old paper, parchment, and dust.

Lu Changsheng pushed the door open and entered, the door hinges creaking loudly and dryly, breaking the silence in the air.

This is a two-story circular hall, not large in scale, but the bookshelves stretch from the floor to the vaulted ceiling, densely packed with all kinds of books, scrolls, and manuscripts. Many bookshelves are leaning, and books are scattered on the floor, covered with a thick layer of dust.

In the middle of the hall, a thin figure wearing a faded, patched robe was leaning over a table with his back to the door, intently watching something by the light of a solitary oil lamp.

Lu Changsheng tiptoed toward him.

But just as he was a few steps away from the man, the figure bent over the desk suddenly trembled and turned around quickly, like a startled animal.

He was a thin, old man with a face full of wrinkles, so much so that Lu Changsheng couldn't tell how old he was.

When the old cultivator saw Lu Changsheng, his dim eyes were filled with terror. He took a step back abruptly, his wrinkled and cracked lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but he only made a few "ho ho" sounds, like the hissing of a leaky bellows.

"You...can't speak?"

Upon seeing this, Lu Changsheng realized that the old man was mute.

The old cultivator gestured with his hands, his movements quick and chaotic, pointing at Lu Changsheng and then at himself.

Lu Changsheng had never learned sign language, and after watching for a long time, he still couldn't understand what the old man meant.

Suddenly, the old man knelt down before him and kowtowed repeatedly on the ground.

A sob escaped his throat like that of a trapped animal, and large tears fell from his eyes.

Lu Changsheng tried to help him up, but the old man was very strong and refused to get up no matter what. He kept kowtowing to Lu Changsheng and crying silently.

The old monk didn't seem to be in very good spirits.

Seeing that he couldn't help him up, Lu Changsheng gave up. He walked to the spot where the old cultivator had just been sitting and picked up the scroll the old man had been reading.

The script was ancient and Lu Changsheng couldn't understand it, but the scroll was also accompanied by illustrations of various sizes and all sorts of eerie and terrifying scenes, which made Lu Changsheng feel a chill down his spine.

The old man seemed to be able to understand this ancient script, but unfortunately he was mute and not in good mental condition.

Lu Changsheng sighed.

But then I felt something was off. This place looked like a church library, where books like the Bible should be displayed. How could there be such terrifying and eerie books here?

Seeing Lu Changsheng pick up the scroll on the table, the old cultivator was so shocked he almost jumped up. He seemed to move faster and his expression became more anxious, as if he wanted to urgently convey some information to Lu Changsheng.

Lu Changsheng thought for a moment, then scooped a cup of water from the pool beside him and placed it in front of the old man.

"I can't read sign language. Since you can read a journal, you should be able to write. Dip your finger in water and write the words on the ground for me to see."

The old man was taken aback, not expecting Lu Changsheng to use this method.

He nodded shakily, dipped his withered, yellow fingers, which looked like charred wood, in water, and then began to write and draw on the ground.

Lu Changsheng squatted down and watched the old man write and draw on the ground.

"por...tal......portal? Door?"

Lu Changsheng spelled out the string of letters on the ground and slowly read them aloud.

"What door?"

Lu Changsheng frowned and continued to ask.

Just then—

The library door was pushed open.

Judge Cass appeared in the doorway, his back to the light, which made his face look particularly fierce.

His gaze fell on Lu Changsheng and the old man, and his eyes flickered slightly.

"My God,"

Cass strode in, his expression still calm; at least Lu Changsheng didn't see the slightest flaw in him.

"The archbishop is looking for you."

Lu Changsheng nodded calmly.

"who is he?"

He pointed to the old man on the ground.

When the old monk saw Judge Cass, it was as if he had seen something even more terrifying. Lu Changsheng noticed that his body had moved slightly forward at some point, covering the letters that had just been written with water on the ground.

"His name is Mo. He was born mute and usually works in the library cleaning. He has been guarding this church for over a hundred years."

"He's over a hundred years old?"

Lu Changsheng was a little surprised.

"Yes...it's already over a hundred years old."

Judge Cass said, glancing at Mo kneeling on the ground and Qing Shui beside him.

"His memory was quite good in his younger years, but now it's a bit fuzzy, and he often talks nonsense."

This sentence seemed to have a hidden meaning, but Lu Changsheng pretended not to understand.

"Let's go."

Lu Changsheng didn't dwell on the issue. Of course, judging from Judge Cass's attitude, he wouldn't be allowed to continue questioning him.

"yes!"

Judge Cass bowed, and then walked out of the library one after the other with Lu Changsheng.

Behind him, Mo slowly raised his head, watching the two figures leave, his cloudy eyes filled with indescribable sorrow and fear.

The door closed silently, shutting out the dim light and heavy smell of dust from inside the library.

Lu Changsheng walked with Cass in the corridor, the judge's steps steady as usual.

"What brings the archbishop to me?"

"Reporting to my God," Cass said, turning slightly to the side, his tone grave, "it concerns Echo Valley."

These three words sent a chill down Lu Changsheng's spine.

He was familiar with the name Echo Valley; the homeless man had mentioned it before, saying that anyone who had been to Echo Valley or lived near it would inexplicably go insane.

"The archbishop received reports from the believers that the sounds from Echo Valley seem to be stronger than before."

"The archbishop believes that perhaps it is necessary to use your divinity to gain insight into this matter and conduct a thorough investigation so that believers can all behold your glory."

Lu Changsheng frowned; he still couldn't be sure what was inside Echo Valley.

The two arrived at the church's council chamber, which was slightly smaller than the main hall, and a rough map of Blackwater Town hung on the wall.

Bishop Oliver was standing in front of the map, his back to the door.

Hearing footsteps, Oliver slowly turned around. His face was more tired than before, and his eyes were sunken, but a strange light burned within them.

It was a feeling of excitement.

"My God," he spoke hoarsely, tapping his scepter lightly on the ground, "Kas must have informed you that the unrest in Echo Valley has been escalating recently. Several villagers have reported that the chorus and noise coming from the entrance of Echo Valley seem to be stronger."

"Did Echo Valley exist long before?"

Lu Changsheng asked.

"The history of Echo Valley can be traced back thousands of years. There are records of Echo Valley almost as early as when Blackwater Town appeared."

"Then you must have investigated this as well, right?"

“We’ve scouted them,” Archbishop Oliver said in a low voice, “but each time we’ve suffered heavy losses; practically none have returned.”

"The history of the church records that the former archbishop led an elite group of knights and inquisitors deep into the territory, but only the archbishop returned severely wounded and went mad that very night."

"However, our expedition was not without its rewards, because the former archbishop meticulously documented every step of their exploration on parchment when they first entered Echo Valley. Based on the parchment records he later brought back, we speculate that he encountered a great terror in Echo Valley."

"Oh?"

Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow. "It's so dangerous, yet you still dare to send me there. Aren't you afraid I'll die inside?"

"What time do we depart tomorrow?"

"After noon, Knight Rex will accompany you there."

"Aren't you afraid I won't be able to bring him back?"

Lu Changsheng looked at Archbishop Oliver with a half-smile.

This group of people didn't really treat him as a god, but when they used him, they felt that he could exert godlike power. It's really a contradiction.

"You are all-knowing and all-powerful. I believe that under your protection, Rex will surely forge ahead without fear."

Archbishop Oliver's deep pupils trembled slightly.

"I need more detailed records, as well as historical documents about the valley."

Lu Changsheng made no attempt to hide this, saying, "Just in case."

Archbishop Oliver was not surprised by Lu Changsheng's words. He nodded and gave a look to Judge Cass, who was standing to the side.

Cass understood instantly.

"I have sent all the documents to your bedchamber."

"it is good."

Lu Changsheng nodded, feeling there was nothing more to say.

He returned to the underground temple on his own, and soon after, Cass and three or four monks knocked on his door.

"My God, this is the complete record of Echo Valley."

Lu Changsheng nodded, and the cultivators placed two or three books on the table before slowly leaving.

Seeing them leave, Lu Changsheng slowly picked up the top parchment scroll, untied the ribbon, and found the parchment to be very fragile, with the writing inside being very messy.

This should be the expedition record of that former archbishop.

"The echoes in Echo Valley include chewing sounds and imitation sounds."

"There were children singing hymns. The first few lines were not very clear, but the singing became clearer as it went on. Here is a record of it: 'Stranger in a foreign land, pushing a boulder, flapping his wings, stopping to eat his tail.'"

Upon seeing this record, Lu Changsheng was slightly startled.

Isn't this the same eerie poem that the choir sang at the end of today's collective prayer?

He initially thought it was the work of Archbishop Oliver, but according to the records on the parchment...

Archbishop Oliver probably didn't know what the first half of the poem was either.

Of course, there's also a good chance that Oliver wrote the first half of the choir himself.

Welcome to the fantastical world of science fiction! The entrance is here: