Chapter 156: Ideals and Faith
"As for plans... I have none. I'm always a loner anyway, so it's fine just to be an observer."
"As a young man, and one with sufficient power, shouldn't you have some thoughts about changing the world?"
"Changing the world? For example, wiping away the darkness from this society, creating an ideal nation?"
"Don't you all wish for a world where people can live in harmony, and effort always brings reward?" Cheng Mu continued to probe Bai Mo's thoughts.
"But I've already ascended to the position of an exploiter. If effort guaranteed an equivalent reward, what would I even exploit? Perhaps when I become so strong that power no longer matters, I might try to create such a toy."
"You're quite realistic in these regards; not at all like an idealist," Liu Zhen said, recalling his meeting with Bai Mo in the government building a few months prior.
"This is idealism with my own unique characteristics," Bai Mo quipped. "If there's nothing else, I won't disturb you gentlemen any further. I'll take my leave now."
"You may go ahead. The atmosphere among us old men isn't really suited for you anyway," Cheng Mu said with a smile, motioning for his secretary to escort Bai Mo out first.
After Bai Mo departed, Cheng Mu slowly let the smile fade from his face.
"When did a mere One-Wheel Cult dare to extend its claws so far?"
"We've been too lax in this regard lately, and they've started acting with impunity."
"Chairman, I'm afraid that's not the primary reason. No matter how lax we are, for a mere religious group to openly challenge a major power, without other backing, I find it hard to believe."
"Xiao He, elaborate for us." Cheng Mu instructed his secretary, He, who stood behind him, to begin his detailed explanation.
"Yes, Chief. According to reports from our secret agents, the One-Wheel Cult seems to have grasped some special power, or perhaps, as the analysis department concluded, one of their former pastors, now proclaimed as their prophet, Ramdo, has awakened a unique ability to gather something called 'Faith Power' and continuously empower himself with it."
"'Faith Power'? What is that?"
"The research institute estimates that 'Faith Power' might be something akin to psychic energy."
"According to the One-Wheel Cult's propaganda, the prophet Ramdo is the earthly incarnation of the One-Wheel God they worship, sent to convert all who do not believe in Him and ultimately establish the so-called Earthly God Kingdom." Secretary He picked up the document in his hand and answered the questions of those present.
"After His awakening, He utilized the 'Faith Power' of a large number of devout believers and quickly transformed into a person of immense power. Then, He secretly bestowed power upon His twelve divine officers, causing them to transform overnight into Spirit Animation Stage seventh-layer Ability Users. The two divine officers who came to Nancheng this time to spread the One-Wheel Cult's faith are among them." All of this information came from local undercover agents.
"Currently, the One-Wheel Cult's primary target remains its millennium-old nemesis, the Western Luminous Holy Church. Since the Luminous Holy Church has not produced a terrifying existence like Ramdo, they can only rely on the cooperation of the high-level secular powers across Western Europe to resist. They are currently on the defensive."
"However, the One-Wheel Cult has not completely torn off its mask; both sides are merely in a standoff, with no actual conflict erupting. It is for this reason that they intend to dispatch high-ranking priests to Nancheng to propagate their faith and simultaneously incite independence."
"Does that Ramdo grow stronger the more people believe in him?"
"It's not certain yet, but the intelligence bureau has put forward that conjecture."
"How strong is he, specifically?"
"Unclear, but all dissenting voices within the cult have vanished."
"Arrange it. Send people to first drive away those two troublemakers, then apprehend those who are acting too brazenly. Ever since the legion originally stationed there was moved to the coastal front, Nancheng has indeed become a bit chaotic."
"Yes, Chief."
"I didn't expect those guys who forbid their followers from eating apples to even conjure up a god?" Bai Mo's avatar was momentarily stunned upon hearing this. "The intelligence bureau's analysis is quite reasonable. The so-called 'god' actually possesses a Spirit Hub that can absorb and utilize specific spiritual fluctuations, converting the unique spiritual energy of countless ordinary people into their own power."
"What a terrifying ability. Could it be that if one delves deeper, after a Spirit Hub evolves into something like a divine spark, there genuinely exists the possibility of ascending to godhood through faith?" He recalled novels he had read before, which seemed to contain similar concepts. "Indeed, being born into a religious world grants one the ability to rise to the heavens overnight."
"First, Xu Li." After transplanting the purchased Spirit Hubs, the main body remaining at the testing ground consulted the register of Spirit Hubs it had recorded at the previous conference, selecting the first target to act upon.
"Gaia—Energy Cannon!" In the arena, Black Raven roared, his hands trembling slightly as he hurled a massive plasma orb at his opponent.
Even as powerful as he was, against an opponent also in the top eight, he was forced to reveal one trump card after another. To break through the terrifying defense of Huo Er Ci, who had transformed into a Sandstone Giant, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and unleash an unfamiliar plasma orb attack.
The giant, over ten meters tall, composed entirely of arena sand and stone except for Huo Er Ci's core body, had no time to dodge the formidable plasma orb hurtling towards it from Black Raven. It could only cross its arms, doing its best to shield its core in front of its chest.
"Boom! Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle..."
It was another deafening clang, but most of the audience had grown accustomed to such sounds. Only the subsequent sizzling of electricity differed from the usual pure vibration.
But before the dust could completely settle, the sounds of battle resumed in the center of the arena.
"Why are you so hard!" Black Raven gasped for breath, continuously attacking Huo Er Ci.
"Because I am this hard!" The Sandstone Giant, its arms gone and its chest cracked from the immense aftershocks of the impact, used its legs to block Black Raven's attacks.
"I can't go on like this. As long as he's on this arena, his body will regenerate endlessly. Even though I've undergone mechanical modifications and possess extraordinary stamina, I'll be the one worn down and eventually killed," Black Raven thought rapidly after his various powerful attacks proved ineffective.
"As long as I persist in using the sand and stone on the ground to wear down his attacks, it's not impossible to defeat this seeded player!" Due to Black Raven's overwhelming performance earlier, he was widely considered the top favorite to win the tournament, which greatly displeased Huo Er Ci.
"Third Gear, Power Burst!" Black Raven activated his body's reserve energy, entering a burst mode that could only be maintained for a few minutes. Endless, pure power surged through his body. Feeling as though he could now rely solely on brute force to shatter his opponent, shell and all, with a single punch, he proactively lunged towards the Sandstone Giant.
"Seeking death! You dare to fight me in close quarters?" The nearly fifteen-meter-tall giant detested ranged kite tactics, which made him feel powerful but utterly unable to unleash his strength. But now, with his opponent actively closing in, it was exactly to his liking. To give his enemy an unforgettable welcome, the Sandstone Giant also prepared to unleash a punch that would blast its foe apart..
Comments