Above The Sky
Chapter 430 - 430 400 Dragon Worship Cult 13

430: Chapter 400: Dragon Worship Cult (1/3) 430: Chapter 400: Dragon Worship Cult (1/3) The trees in the mountain shivered in the crisp wind after a summer rain, their branches and leaves rustling noisily.

The sunlight laid upon the stone-paved road, where Ian led his camel beast, loaded with his luggage, and bid farewell to the Radiant Nun at the doorway of the Boleyn Workshop.

Steward Moda was at the Huai Guang Church receiving “inquiry”…

of course, this was also a form of protection.

In any case, the weary old man should go and get some sleep.

Though after waking up, the world was still this world.

But at least, for now, he should rest.

“Thank you for your assistance,” the Radiant Nun said earnestly as she bowed to Ian.

“Without your help, it might have taken me a long time to uncover the truth behind the disappearance cases around Leyan Territory.”

“In fact, you had already found the thread of truth, and it had nothing to do with me,” Ian lifted his eyebrow, put on his helmet, and responded seriously, “I simply lent a hand.”

To be honest, compared to the Radiant Nun’s gratitude to him as a collaborator, he was more thankful to her for cooperatively presenting the corrupted samples of Radiance Grass from the Fiery Flame Land.

As a result, the waters were muddied.

No matter what the truth was, all the investigators who came after had to face a question.

——Was it Baron Leyan and Fiery Flame Land colluding, or the ‘Spirit Wisdom Institute’ behind him conspiring with Fiery Flame Land?

The latter could not be confirmed, while the former seemed a bit perfunctory…

but given the timing was too coincidental, and Fiery Flame Land was indeed engaging in biological warfare recently, it couldn’t be said there was no such thing.

No matter what, no matter which side it was, the investigation would go astray.

Moreover, neither side, each with their own reasons, wasn’t very interested in uncovering the truth.

Especially the Spirit Wisdom Institute—they alone knew that the deputy division head couldn’t have perished with Baron Leyan, but as they were the true directors behind the scenes of this incident, they absolutely did not dare come forward and explain.

“Being willing to lend a hand is the greatest help.

It’s always been that way.”

The Dragon Maiden gave a slight smile, then sighed softly, “It’s just a pity that we can always only do the clean-up after the fact, the tragedy has already occurred, and the dead cannot be brought back.”

“Can the Huai Guang Church really do nothing at all?”

At this moment, Ian had already turned around and mounted the camel beast, which obediently moved its head, allowing the young man to stroke its fuzzy head.

While petting the camel beast’s head, he spoke softly, “I also know an elder from the Huai Guang Church…

I’ve asked him many things, but I never asked this question.”

“Because I know they have done much, much more…

even beyond the responsibilities they should bear, they are accountable to anyone in this world.”

“It’s just that now, I can’t help but still want to ask…”

Ian lifted his head, gazing at the nun before him: “Does Huai Guang really not act?”

Ian’s words were loaded, and he knew the question was beyond human.

Although the Radiant Nun was quite capable, it was clear she was not part of the Huai Guang higher-ups, nor was she a true cleric, so she could not answer his question.

But she was expressing regret.

Regretting that the Huai Guang Church could only do post-incident cleanup, and this made Ian curious…

curious about how the people inside the Huai Guang Church viewed their organization’s consistent policies.

So, he asked.

Faced with this question, the smile on Radiant’s face receded.

Her brows slightly furrowed, and even the light on the dragon horns atop her head slowly dimmed.

The Dragon Maiden said slowly, “…

I don’t know.”

She was somewhat frustrated, and there was a hint of confusion: “I have asked my teacher the same question, but she said I was not a real cleric and wouldn’t understand.”

“Knight, although it may sound strange, just a few years ago I was but a shepherdess in a village of the Companion Spirit People, near the Huai Guang Holy Mountain in the north…

I could also plant a few potatoes and carrots.”

As she spoke, the Dragon Maiden looked nostalgically at her hands, which bore several calluses from farming: “Although it was hard work, it truly was a peaceful life.

There were no wars, no cults, no Magical Beasts, and no oppression from the lords; we were self-sufficient.”

“I didn’t realize it at the time, but after leaving home and traveling around for so many years, I’ve come to somewhat understand why the elders in the village always said our days were like living in paradise.”

Lifting her head, the Radiant Nun looked into Ian’s eyes: “All the clerics of Huai Guang are good people.”

“They don’t tax us, don’t manage us, don’t set rules, they just periodically clear up surrounding Magical Beasts as payment, and trade with us for some food.

At the most, they mediate disputes between the villages over water sources—not by brute force, but by opening another water source, letting the disputes naturally dissipate.”

“One day, when I was trading potatoes from my home, the leading cleric mentioned that my bloodline had natural potential.

If not practiced, it would burn recklessly, harming both others and myself.

He asked me if I was willing to become a Sublimator—the Light of Huai Guang.

Ah, it was the glory of the entire village, and my fortune.

How could I refuse to become a monk of the Huai Guang Church?”

“So I had a teacher, who took me and other students to travel around various places, and eventually arranged a position for me in Nauman City, instructing me to learn from the experience in this hub of travel.”

At this point, Radiant’s tone became even more resolute.

She lifted her head and said earnestly, “Please forgive me, Knight, for telling you such trivial matters…

but what I actually want to convey is, Huai Guang doesn’t neglect everything.”

“Aside from actively quelling major disasters, we also handle problems brought about by ‘non-human’ entities.”

“For example, Magical Beasts, Alien Forms, or the spirits summoned by cults like the ones in South Ridge, where the local church believes the disappearances are the work of a local cult.

Add to that the prayers of the faithful, and that’s why I was dispatched.”

“However, when it comes to actions like Baron Leyan’s abuse of his Domain Residents—matters ‘among Humans’—Embrace Light’s approach is more about, say, finding another water source to naturally stop the conflicts and oppression, much like handling my hometown’s water issue.”

“This is what I understand as ‘Embrace Light,’ much like the sun prompts one to shed heavy Armored Clothing and garments, no longer on guard against each other; whereas the cold wind can’t do that, and forcibly stripping people makes them even more wary.”

“But…”

At this point, the Radiant Nun sighed deeply, “The affairs among Humans are not as simple as sourcing water, and neither the sun nor the cold wind can help…

Most of the time, neither can we.”

“I’m sorry, I might not be making myself clear, but that’s the gist of it.

I don’t think Embrace Light’s method is wrong, but perhaps…

it might not be the best.”

“No.”

Ian, who had been listening quietly, spoke up, firmly rejecting the Radiant Nun’s statement, “You’ve spoken well, very to the point—I think I’ve got a good grasp of it now.”

The young man’s eyes lowered as he came to a realization, thinking to himself, “An anarchist?

Or within the collective anarchy, the most extreme kind of ‘pastoral order’?

Rejecting authority, leaving everything to individuals, and letting nature take its course with everything else?”

“Where did this bunch of madmen come from…” Ian couldn’t help but feel helpless, “Introducing this concept in a world with Sublimators?

No, no, I’m wrong.

It’s precisely because there are Sublimators that they think of trying this approach, given everyone’s high productivity…

But isn’t Embrace Light itself a form of authority?”

Although somewhat one-sided, according to Yingguang, around the Huai Guang Holy Mountain in the north, there are no towns, only villages made up of ethnic groups living together.

The villages practice natural farming, managing their own water sources, and trading necessary goods among themselves.

There are no emperors, no kings, no governors, or any ‘rulers’—not even a nominal village head.

This type of flat social structure, whether it’s what Embrace Light intends to build or simply a result of their unwillingness to manage too much, thus leaving things to nature, reveals their tendencies.

—Embrace Light is unwilling to intervene in the problems of human society and prefers to maintain an ‘independent’ perspective from outside human society.

Anarchy, non-intervention, responding only to disasters, not getting involved in society.

All of these are minor details.

In Ian’s view, this independent perspective may actually be key.

—Is it a requirement of the book of Prophecy?

Or a special condition of Spirit Energy?

As a Prophet himself, Ian felt he could understand…

Perhaps, the ‘Prophecy’ in the Huai Guang Church, which can predict all disasters, is a contributing factor.

Because it is independent of humanity, it can therefore see all of humanity’s future.

“Thank you very much.”

Recording his thoughts on the Silver Chip, the young man smiled, his voice transmitting through the helmet, “Then I hope there will be a day when we meet again.”

“Likewise.”

The Radiant Nun nodded, suddenly remembering something, “Right, Knight, if your next destination is Nauman City, please slow down your travel if you can.”

“Nauman City is currently under martial law.

According to my fellow brother and Executor of the Glorious Sword, there’s big trouble in the city.

The Archbishop of the Great Flame has closed his doors, and it seems Marquis Barton might have been targeted for assassination—it’s possibly due to Upper Feiyan Land, but it could also be due to Canaan Moore, or maybe even the Dragon Worship Cult.

The accounts are extremely confused and the Capital Region of South Ridge is in total chaos.”

As she said this, she too could not help but sigh, “In any case, it’s better not to go so soon.”

“Fellow brother?

Upper Feiyan Land?

And other matters?”

Ian was ready to leave, but stopped at her words.

He inquired with confusion, “Forgive my frankness, I was somewhat baffled just now— isn’t the Executor of Redemption Light, um, a lady?”

Yingguang explained tactfully, “But she prefers to be called ‘brother’…

perhaps it’s…

um, a personal predilection?”

“I see,” Ian remarked thoughtfully, “To each their own…

Thank you, Radiant Nun.”

“It was simply sincere advice.”

With those words, Ian rode off on the Camel Beast, and the Radiant Nun watched as the animal traveled into the distance.

She then turned and prepared to return to the church to proceed with the handover with members of the Imperial Truth Institute and the Noble Court.

After covering some distance, the expression hidden beneath Ian’s helmet gradually turned serious.

“Dragon Worship Cult…” he murmured to himself, “Linda’s Prophecy…”

“The prophecy that changed because of me?”