Hofur City is the premier large city in Misha County, similar in scale to Black Tower City. It boasts convenient transportation, a large population, and complete facilities. Although it has lost its former prosperity after the Plague outbreak, it still possesses sufficient foundations…
For example, four rather large cathedrals.
Due to its direct border with the Holy Realm's Southern Territory, Misha County has a rather large base of believers. Regardless of their level of piety, the Holy Church United is very popular here, especially the top-ranked Dawn Sect and sun god sects. Almost every large city has multiple churches.
Hofur City is naturally no exception. In addition to the Holy Church United Chapel in the central urban area, there is also a sun god Cathedral, a Justice Cathedral, and two Dawn Sect Cathedrals within the city. Their scales are not small, far incomparable to small churches like those in Dieyan City, and the number and average quality of their clergy are also quite good.
It's just a pity that as one of the core areas where the Plague first broke out, nearly half the city's population died here during the previous period. This was still under the premise that the local church and various neutral organizations reacted quickly; otherwise, it was highly possible that all civilians in the city, except for those High-Rank combat professionals, would have perished.
Finally, on the fifth day after the Plague outbreak, Hofur City realized that resistance was futile and began official evacuation. The Adventurers' Guild, Mercenary Guild, Mage Association, and the three major churches—sun god, Justice, and Dawn Sect—were primarily responsible for organizing civilian relocation and providing escorts along the way.
It's just a pity that Misha County was quickly infected throughout…
The migration became a joke. The Plague ravaged the entire Misha. Civilians fled Hofur City but did not escape the shadow and fear of death. Most of the original escorts were also transferred to the border blockade, and the situation did not improve at all.
In short, those who could leave left, and those who couldn't mostly died here. Hofur City thus became 'quiet' until the arrival of Xia Lian and others.
"It would be great if High-ranking Bishop Balando or High Priest Pacino were here," Xia Lian sighed, tugging at her ear helplessly. "Unfortunately, they are currently in Reading City to the west and the Eastern Border blockade, respectively, and can't get away. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had to ask Wang Yu for help."
Yu Cheng timidly raised her small hand: "Um, I think for something that requires a High-ranking Bishop and a High Priest… I might not be able to do it."
There was nothing wrong with what she said. One must know that the two individuals Xia Lian just mentioned were the highest-ranking officials of Hofur City's two Dawn Sect churches. That High-ranking Bishop Balando was also the Holy Church United's primary authority figure in Misha County, and his strength was absolutely incomparable to Yu Cheng, this little newbie.
The young girl was very worried that she would mess things up.
However…
"You're wrong, Wang Yu," Xia Lian chuckled, shaking her finger, and slowly said, "In fact, you are much more suitable than both of them. Even if you are inferior to them in terms of strength, clerical rank, or wisdom, you are still the most suitable person to help me activate the Great Purification Spell."
Yu Cheng blinked blankly: "Why?"
"Because you are a God-blessed one."
Mo Tan suddenly said with a smile, then turned to Xia Lian: "Right?"
"That's right." Xia Lian looked at the former approvingly, then pointed at Yu Cheng and herself respectively: "There are fewer than five God-blessed ones in the entire Dawn Sect, and two of them are the previous and the one before previous Popes. The latter died a long time ago, and the former disappeared after resigning. The remaining ones are Ascetic Tom and the two of us."
Mo Tan asked with interest: "Is that Ascetic Tom also not as suitable as Yu… Wang Yu?"
"I think so." Xia Lian nodded solemnly, but a hint of a smile was in her eyes: "If we're just talking about affinity, Wang Yu and I are much stronger than Tom, even though that guy's understanding of divine spells and doctrines is unprecedented."
Yu Cheng tilted her head: "Then why is the Goddess more affable with us?"
Mo Tan also expressed his curiosity.
"Alas." Xia Lian sighed deeply, her eyes full of emotion and vicissitude: "Do you two really want to hear?"
"Uh… if it's inconvenient for Holy Maiden to say, then never mind." Yu Cheng was a good child and immediately realized that her previous question seemed inconsiderate.
Xia Lian looked at the two: "Alright, since you insist on hearing…"
"Huh?" Yu Cheng was stunned: "I didn't say I insisted."
Meanwhile, Mo Tan calmly got up and refilled his teacup.
"Ahem." Xia Lian cleared her throat, gazing out the window apologetically: "Old friend, you'll forgive me, won't you? After all, these two children insisted on hearing."
Yu Cheng: "…"
Mo Tan chuckled dryly, then asked cooperatively: "Indeed, so why exactly is that?"
"Because he's ugly."
Xia Lian said solemnly in a deep voice.
Yu Cheng: (⊙ ⊙)
Mo Tan: (⊙ ⊙)
Seeing that both seemed to be a bit stumped, Xia Lian quickly repeated seriously: "That's right, because he's ugly."
Yu Cheng was instantly flustered: "Holy Maiden… don't make fun of other people's appearances!"
Mo Tan, meanwhile, recalled his brief exchange with a certain Goddess and began to seriously consider the possibility of this reason.
"I'm not joking." Xia Lian still maintained a straight face, saying very, very seriously: "He is truly ugly."
Yu Cheng: "…I didn't mean that."
Mo Tan, however, sighed: "So even the Goddess couldn't stand it?"
"Yes." Xia Lian finally couldn't hold back her grin: "Tom is a particularly talented person, and his piety towards the Goddess has reached a nearly fanatical level, which is why he received God's blessing during a promotion ceremony. But because that guy is really a bit… tsk tsk, how should I put it, anyway, he's quite nauseating, so the Goddess always ignores him."
Yu Cheng continued (⊙ ⊙)
Mo Tan chuckled dryly: "That doesn't make sense."
"Anyway, that's the fact. As for how I know, don't ask, I really can't say." Xia Lian breathed a sigh of relief after 'being forced' to reveal this secret, then her tone suddenly changed: "Now, back to the main topic. Because the Great Purification divine spell I'm going to use requires resonance with divine power, a God-blessed one is the optimal choice. Do you understand, Wang Yu?"
Yu Cheng, who had just rebuilt her worldview, nodded: "I understand. What should I do then?"
Xia Lian pointed at the marked Dawn Sect church on the map and said seriously: "I need you to go to this place tomorrow to trigger divine power resonance. I will draw the resonance array for you tonight. At that time, you just need to stand inside and communicate with the Goddess as much as possible. Leave the rest to me."
Yu Cheng nodded obediently.
Mo Tan, however, asked with considerable doubt: "Is that all?"
"I'll handle the complicated parts." Xia Lian shrugged, her fair fingers tracing over the other three red circles on the map: "The divine power in these three churches hasn't dissipated yet. Although the God of Justice and the sun god are strictly speaking not part of our system, they are still part of the Holy Church United, and they can also sense some of the Goddess's power. So, as long as the resonance array is set up, I can easily perform remote control. But there in the west…"
Mo Tan glanced at Yu Cheng, who was murmuring while holding the scripture, and spread his hands: "Can only she, as a God-blessed one, communicate?"
"More or less, but not exactly." Xia Lian shook her head and simply explained: "Wang Yu's main task tomorrow is to act as a divine power node to ensure the divine spell's coverage. After I start casting the spell, she just needs to stand on the resonance array to attract the God's attention. As the core of the divine spell, I will provide the magic power. Theoretically, there shouldn't be any problems."
Yu Cheng pursed her lips: "If it's just like this, I think I can still do it well."
"But it shouldn't be just like this," Mo Tan suddenly interjected. "Will those occasional situations that happen to Wang Yu become a hidden danger?"
"I don't know." Xia Lian sighed, tugging hard at her ear: "But we have no other choice. Although the purification spell can still be completed with one less divine power resonance point, in that case, I won't be able to temporarily turn Hofur City into a God-blessed land. Even if everyone can be cured, there's no guarantee they won't get infected again afterward."
Mo Tan and the other person nodded, half-understanding, with troubled expressions.
"Don't worry, I've found a solution!" Xia Lian clapped her hands happily, then pointed at Mo Tan and laughed: "You just go with Wang Yu tomorrow!"
"Ah?" Mo Tan was slightly taken aback: "I'm not a God-blessed one."
Xia Lian shrugged: "I know! You're going tomorrow to be Wang Yu's target!"
Mo Tan/Yu Cheng: ?
"How silly! Haven't you seen it before?" Xia Lian gesticulated at Mo Tan: "Wang Yu only needs to use an abnormal divine spell, and she'll immediately return to normal!"
Mo Tan's mouth twitched: "So?"
"So, if anything goes wrong tomorrow, just have Wang Yu use any divine spell on you." Xia Lian said seriously, with her arms crossed: "Otherwise, why would I specifically tell you this?"
Yu Cheng, however, looked up uneasily and asked: "Is it really okay?"
Xia Lian shrugged: "I think it should be fine, after all, the pattern has been summarized."
The two players exchanged a glance, both feeling a little uneasy.
"Alright, Wang Yu, you just need to pray obediently tomorrow, I'll go set things up first." Xia Lian smiled carefree, then turned and walked out. At the door, she gave them a meaningful look: "It's well soundproofed here, you know."
Yu Cheng, filled with shame and anger, immediately slapped a disturbed Holy Healing spell over.
Two minutes later
"Suddenly feeling so tired," Yu Cheng said weakly, lie on the table, drawing circles with both hands. "Holy Maiden is good everywhere, it's just her personality is a bit too… lively. Mo Tan Tong Xue, please don't mind."
Mo Tan unconsciously spread his hands: "It doesn't matter, I've been single for over twenty years anyway."
"Oh, that must be tough…"
"Please don't look at me with that gaze."
…
"I don't think Holy Maiden's idea is very reliable." Mo Tan was the first to break the strange silence, asking Yu Cheng in a low voice: "She shouldn't know that you're a player, right?"
The latter nodded as a matter of course: "She doesn't know. I just roughly told Holy Maiden about that talent, and she seems to have understood it a bit too simply."
"Using a divine spell skill has a certain chance to cause the next divine spell skill to mutate…" Mo Tan repeated the brief explanation Yu Cheng had sent him, tapping the table idly: "It's true that something like this can't be explained too directly."
Yu Cheng timidly touched her fingers together: "My next skill is already normal now, and I won't use any skills before tomorrow, so theoretically it should be fine… right?"
"Who knows." Mo Tan sighed, looking at Yu Cheng's somewhat nervous little face and couldn't help but smile: "In short, the success rate is still relatively high, so don't dwell on it too much."
Yu Cheng nodded gently and whispered: "But if something goes wrong, I don't think Holy Maiden's method will necessarily work."
"Then it depends on whether this game will play by the rules." Mo Tan stretched lazily and said faintly: "I think this Innocent World is not simple at all. Although your talent should theoretically just follow basic probability, who knows what's really wrong with 'Chen Wangyu' in this world? Just go with the flow."
Yu Cheng took a small sip from her teacup: "Is that really okay?"
Mo Tan shrugged and smiled: "Problems that can be solved don't need to be worried about, because you can solve them. Problems that cannot be solved also don't need to be worried about, because worrying won't solve them. So it's better to live a little easier."
"Mm!" Yu Cheng nodded vigorously, revealing a rare smile: "Thank you, Mo Tan Tong Xue."
"Cough cough, no problem, that's it then." Mo Tan paused for half a second, then got up to bid Yu Cheng farewell: "Then I'll be going now. If your mentor knows I stayed here too late, who knows what nonsense she'll spout."
Yu Cheng also stood up, holding her book: "Mm, I'm going to the prayer room. I'll try communicating with the Goddess tonight. Maybe the success rate will be higher tomorrow."
So the two of them left Yu Cheng's room together.
"Even if something unexpected happens tomorrow, don't take all the responsibility on yourself," Mo Tan said to Yu Cheng, who was about to go down a floor, at the staircase: "Just do your best."
The young girl holding the scripture paused, then smiled softly: "Mo Tan Tong Xue understands me well."
"Is that so?"
"It is so."
"Then I'm truly honored, see you tomorrow~"
"See you tomorrow."
Chapter 169: End
