Above The Sky
Chapter 437 - 437 407 The Calamity Cult 23

437: Chapter 407: The Calamity Cult (2/3) 437: Chapter 407: The Calamity Cult (2/3) All elders have a weakness for this approach—the brilliant younger generation asks you to reminisce about your glorious past or to know some knowledge they are yet unaware of, and they look at you with eyes full of curiosity and admiration.

At such times, ordinary people always end up saying a bit more than they intended.

Mr.

Silver Workshop wasn’t foolish; he knew perfectly well that Ian was merely putting on an act.

How could this genius he had watched grow up possibly have the expression of an ordinary child?

At most, the young man was curious, but reverence was unlikely.

But getting Ian to play along was quite an accomplishment, after all, willing to put on an act for him was already a sign of respect.

Plus, the matter wasn’t particularly secret, so he chuckled and began to relay the details to Ian.

The history of the Dragon Worship Cult is far more than six hundred years—it has merely been ‘famous’ for six hundred years.

Its history is as long as that of the dragons themselves.

As the shadow of the first True Dragon swept across the firmament of Terra, the sparks of the Dragon Worship Cult ignited upon the earth.

Originally, there was little to distinguish the Dragon Worship Cult from the ritual spirits of the natives and various sacrificial sects in different places.

It was just that the ordinary shamans and Beast-Worshipping Sects didn’t worship dragons, or rather, they couldn’t find dragons to worship.

The local faith of the Mountain People is in the Dragon God.

If you label it the Dragon Worship Cult and seek to eradicate it, see if the Mountain People don’t revolt.

The real reason that the Dragon Worship Cult is labeled a ‘cult’ is quite simple.

“They can cause natural disasters.”

Mr.

Silver Workshop raised his head, his gaze resting on the ceiling of his company as he mused to himself with a touch of emotion, “Back in my day, I followed a trading company, doing business with the dwarves over in Ushtalav, and I once experienced firsthand the commotion the Dragon Worship Cult could cause: an earthquake unlike any I had ever seen before.”

“Even the mountains crumbled before me…

It’s only now that I’m old and unashamed that I can tell you—I was so terrified that I wet myself.” The old man laughed, his expression then turning distant.

He truly recalled that past event, his tone distant yet heavy, “It was from that time on that we never ventured north again.”

“A few years later, my caravan boss got into trouble and the group disbanded.

I took my savings and shamefacedly rolled back to my southern homeland.

Luckily, it was a stroke of good fortune that I worked my way up to where I stand today.

In a way, I owe it to the Dragon Worship Cult.”

After sipping his tea, Mr.

Silver Workshop turned to Ian, “That earthquake was the work of the Dragon Worship Cult.”

“They intended to revive a True Dragon, known as the ‘Abyssal Dragon,’ that had perished in the Ushetaraf Mountain Range, or rather, to resurrect its divine power.

They actually succeeded, which is why three mountain peaks collapsed, leading to the emergence of the Surge Flame Abyss.”

“To be honest, if they hadn’t succeeded, they wouldn’t really be an organization of any concern, but they couldn’t control the mystical phenomena of the revival of the Ancient Dragon’s power, which could indeed threaten and cause natural disasters.

Of course, in the end, they’re deemed a cult.”

The old man rambled on about various things, mixing in his many years of experience, while Ian listened with relish.

He truly enjoyed these kinds of stories; it wasn’t about currying favor with Mr.

Silver Workshop.

In summary, the Dragon Worship Cult revered the mighty power of the True Dragons and the Ancient Dragons, seeking to manifest this power through their own efforts.

They collected information about the True Dragons and Ancient Dragons everywhere, along with their remains and inheritance, convinced that behind the Ancient Dragons lay secrets ‘concerning the very source of the world.’ Of course, they certainly had other missions and beliefs, but those were the real secrets that one couldn’t know without joining them.

And within this organization, the number of members who possess the power of dragons—or who are, in fact, dragons—is not insignificant.

After all, it is easier for a dragon to obtain the power of another dragon than it is for a human.

“Who knows what they’re up to this time in South Ridge?

Especially since more than one Ancient Dragon has historically emerged from there.

If the Dragon Worship Cult manages to bring about a natural disaster, no one could bear the consequences.”

With that, the old man let out a sigh, “As for the Torchbearers, compared to our Empire’s Mirror Sea Guard, they’re somewhat like the Inspector Knights— one of the special forces from the Federation side, specifically tasked with the secret capture of mystical organizations and spies from other nations.”

“Torchbearers, illuminating the darkness; nothing surprising.”

“I see.”

Ian nodded thoughtfully, his eyes brightening, “I’ve truly benefited from this, Sir.”

“It’s nothing, my knight.

You’ve traveled many days, and you also encountered the troublesome affairs of the Leyan Territory.

You must be tired?”

Mr.

Silver Workshop stood up with a smile, evidently not noticing the slight uplift in Ian’s tone—which meant that Ian had become thoroughly interested in the Dragon Worship Cult.

He called someone to clear the table and then turned to Ian, “Allow me to host you properly today…”

“There’s no need.”

Ian lifted his head, gazing at the window not far away, musing, “I think a secluded single room would suffice for me.

I will go out for a walk tonight on my own to experience the local customs and culture.”

“A personal preference.” The youth turned his head, speaking apologetically to the elder.

“That’s fine.” Mr.

Silver Workshop indeed knew of Ian’s preference for solitude and didn’t insist, “Don’t be polite, please speak freely.”

Mr.

Silver Workshop had actually planned to give Ian some money for him to enjoy himself in Twin Trees Town, a gesture that felt a bit like an elder giving pocket money, which was declined by Ian.

However, conversely, Ian also planned to entrust the sale of his Sharp Claw Tiger’s hide to the Silver Bazaar Company.

“It happens to be what I need—a hide with such a good condition, perfect to make a cushion,” the old man said.

Doing business, the old man was quite efficient, he heartily laughed saying, “The first Magical Beast prey of a future legendary life—the official Magical Beast prey—it has to be preserved, who knows how high a price it can fetch!”

“There’s no need for that, Mr.

Silver Workshop.”

Ian was somewhat helpless—he really wasn’t used to someone being so kind to him, but Mr.

Silver Workshop bowed his head, whispering to the boy, “Please, don’t be polite, Ian.

If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to connect with the Boleyn Workshop.”

“Do you know who’s the current managing director of the Boleyn Workshop in the south?

A disciple of Master Gossay.”

“Who’s the new deputy director?

You must know, Yisen Gard.”

“Why was I able to make a connection with the Boleyn Workshop?

And why did I get the rights to be the agent south of Indigo Mountain?”

“Ian, what do you mean ‘there’s no need?’ Do you want everyone to think that I, Mr.

Silver Workshop, am ungrateful?”

The old man seriously reached out, patting Ian’s back, “Listen, take whatever you want, don’t be polite with me.”

Ian blinked, helpless but also showing a smile, shaking his head, “Then, I shall do so…

without any reservations.”

“I’m just afraid you’re too modest.”

Mr.

Silver Workshop also shook his head, leading Ian downstairs, “A knight like you, out on a journey for experience while not being without a support system, fighting for his life as an ordinary Adventurer, how can you not have several companies responsible for supplying and transporting equipment?”

“I may only be of help to you in the Southern Territory, once you’ve crossed the Golden Prairie, you’ll have to rely on your young noble friend.”

“Mhm,”

Ian nodded slightly, yet a thought stirred in his mind, “It seems…

the system between Nobles, Sublimators, and companies is already very solid, Mr.

Silver Workshop must know that once I’m out traveling, he naturally feels he should support me.”

Indeed, a proper Knight should have his own Armored Clothing and mount, dealing with weapon maintenance and supplies by himself—where would he find the time to continue training and practicing?

And when Sublimators return from their travels, regardless of whether their strength has increased or not, at the very least, their personal networks have expanded—this is the true treasure for both parties.

On the first floor, the youth looked through the window down at the streets of Twin Trees Town.

The streets at midnight were still bustling, the roadside filled with snack stalls and outdoor pubs where people gathered to drink.

Under the dim yellow lights, the pubs and shops were noisy and lively, with Dwarves and Demihumans arm in arm, boasting about their past Adventurer tales with some of the Golden Folk.

After a day of hard work, the town’s farmers would come here to eat something, drink some barley wine, and with friends, enjoy baked dough, bread, and the like.

It was affordable and very filling.

The productivity of Terra and the plants’ efficiency in using solar energy had reached an outrageous level.

In such a world, barring unexpected events like warfare between nations or biological wars, famines resulting in death from starvation were virtually impossible—even in a recently developed area like South Ridge, which was unstable and the jungle too treacherous to access wild resources.

Even so, were it not for conflict with the Natives and two major storms, Harrison Port would also not have been faced with a shortage of food—at worst, there would have been a period where only one type of food was available…

In a structured human society, starving to death had ironically become something that required deliberate effort.

And Nobles and Sublimators rarely ‘exploited’ such resources.

Because these ordinary foods and resources were of no value to them.