novelPart-Time Worker
| ← Ch.0695 | Ch.0697 → |
The Origin Energy Temple was located in the western area of Gullan Castle. It was on the other side of Eketala Palace, and it was right next to the Saintly Light Divine Shrine.
More specifically, it was a part of the Saintly Light Divine Shrine.
The Saintly Light Divine Shrine was the main Divine Shrine of the Iron and Blood Country. It was constructed with three main components: the Sun Temple, the Halidom Pavilion, and the Origin Energy Temple.
The Sun Temple was primarily used to offer sacrifices to Ancestors, and the interior was split into the Altar, the Pilgrimage Stage, and the Instruction Stage. The Halidom Pavilion handled treasure storage and specialization training. The Wild Origin Bone and Guardian Totem were both kept here. In addition, Ravager Bone Diviners, Soulless, Guardians, and all other specializations were trained and produced here. The Origin Energy Temple was obviously used for Origin Energy baptisms, which was also the only way for the Ravagers to control Origin Energy.
Even though it was only one of three components, the Origin Energy Temple was the most important location in the entire Divine Shrine.
This temple was more than two hundred feet tall, and it was spectacular and majestic. The whole body of the temple was constructed from different kinds of unique metals. The cornerstone was made from an Origin Energy insulator known as Nightraven Gold. This kind of gold almost completely prevented the transfer of Origin Energy, making it an incredibly useful armor against Origin Skills. A single piece of defensive equipment constructed out of Nightraven Gold could cost upwards of tens of millions of Origin Stones. Yet here, it was being used as the cornerstone for the Origin Energy Temple, ensuring that the Origin Energy contained inside would not leak elsewhere.
The main body of the temple was made from Starcloud, Silverheart, Rainbow Glass, and other Origin Energy conductors. Starcloud was incredibly resilient, and it was often used to make heavy-duty weapons to amplify the power of Origin Skills. Silverheart was incredibly soft and moldable, so it was often used to make shapeshifting Origin Tools. Su Chen's Mountain-Beheading Blade contained a certain amount of Silverheart, which was one of the reasons why it was so expensive. Rainbow Glass was even rarer; it had the best affinity for Origin Energy that people knew of. Master Arcanists loved to use it during the Arcana Kingdom's heyday. The stone's body was translucent like a gem, which was why it was often inlaid into magic staffs. The Origin Skills unleashed from this stone would have their power amplified many times over.
Even now, Rainbow Glass was an exceptionally difficult Origin Energy conductor to obtain.
Any of these materials would be exceptionally valuable anywhere else, but here they had been used to construct a massive Origin Energy Temple instead. The wealth that Su Chen was so proud of was lackluster in comparison to the temple in front of him. If he were to pool everything he had together, he might be able to buy a chunk of the castle and take it for himself.
At the very top of the temple was a ball of golden light.
It shone brilliantly like the sun.
This was the Origin Gathering Apparatus.
The Origin Energy Temple relied on this apparatus to gather Origin Energy, which it then used in conjunction with the temple's extravagant materials and extremely complicated Origin Formations to accomplish the Origin Energy Baptism.
Su Chen stood in front of the Origin Energy Temple, gazing at this massive, towering temple. He couldn't help but sigh with amazement.
Because this item was constructed with large quantities of Nightraven Gold, even an Ultimate Emperor Realm cultivator wouldn't be able to carry it away. Perhaps only the Ravagers, who had done something as dumb as construct mountains made entirely out of metal, could accomplish such a feat.
There were many guards surrounding the Origin Energy Temple, as well as Ancestors, Specialists, Temple Warriors, and normal soldiers, all running about in this place.
However, because of Danba's status, Su Chen was easily able to be brought to the Origin Energy Temple.
"I once dreamed of becoming strong enough to command all seven human countries, then slaughtering my way over here to see the legendary Origin Energy Temple myself. I never would have expected the second half of my wishful thinking to come true like this long before the first half is even close to becoming real, " Su Chen sighed.
"The rest of this will depend on you, then, " Danba said.
Su Chen thought for a moment, then replied, "I won't be able to figure anything out just from watching, though. I need to understand the principle behind its use. I will need a map of its internal mechanisms, and it'd be best if I could observe it for myself."
Danba immediately shook his head."That won't be possible. I can help you stand in front of the Origin Energy Temple, and I can even let you experience the baptism once for yourself as long as you can endure the brutal, violent energy and any other possible side effects. The rest, however, will depend on you."
"You mean that I can experience the baptism for myself, but I can't watch other people be baptized?"
"That's right, " Danba replied."I have the authority to nominate any one of my subordinates for a baptism, but I am not able to give you the permissions to stand and watch it happen."
Su Chen scratched his head, feeling a headache coming on.
Origin Energy baptisms were only meaningful for the Ravagers. The powerful side effects it had on a person's consciousness were more than enough to get Su Chen to politely decline it. Su Chen just wanted to understand and observe the process, but there was nothing Danba could do to help him in this regard.
"Hey, you guys, what are you doing standing around and watching?"
Just as he was considering how to solve the issue, a few of the Ravagers standing guard took notice of them and barked at them.
Danba frowned."I am the Gravel Lizard Tribe's Chieftain, Danba. What, are we not allowed to even stand here?"
Upon hearing that he was a Chieftain, the guard's tone became much more polite, but he still maintained his position."The Origin Energy Temple is not a place that just anyone can stand around at. If you have someone you are nominating for a baptism, please come when your appointment with the ancestor is. Otherwise, please leave quickly."
The guards of the Origin Energy Temple possessed quite a bit of status. Even Danba didn't want to provoke these guys.
Just as he was about to grab Su Chen and leave, Su Chen suddenly said, "How come that guy can go into the temple?"
Danba glanced in the direction of where his finger was pointed and found an old Ravager carrying a bucket of water as he walked to the top of the temple.
"That's one of the temple's part-time workers. They need to clean the temple every day, " the guard replied.
"So that's how it is. I understand, " Su Chen nodded.
As they left, Su Chen remained silent.
When they had left the entire Saintly Light Divine Shrine behind, Su Chen said, "Do you have a way of getting me......"
"You want to assume the role of a part-time worker so you can sneak in under the guise of cleaning the temple?" Danba asked.
Su Chen chuckled."It is indeed easier to discuss things with smarter people. I was originally wondering if I could turn myself into a guard, but it seems like becoming a part-timer worker would be better in this case. It seems that they demand more from the guards, while the cleaners are able to slip under the radar more. Also, cleaning the temple will require me to go to different locations in the temple, meaning that I will have to walk through the entire temple at least once...... That fits my goals perfectly."
Danba nodded."That's what I was thinking too. I should be able to make you a simple part-timer worker, but the question is how to ensure that you get put on cleaning duty without making any trouble for us in the future. Perhaps we should try this......"
Every morning, the Saintly Light Divine Shrine would become extremely busy.
The disciples of the temple would gather there every morning before the sun rose.
They carried milk, honey, freshly skinned beast hides and bones to this place, chanting as they entered the Divine Shrine in a very specific manner.
The Ravagers believed in the God of Rage and Slaughter, Lonperth. He represented the source of the Ravager race's power, as well as their boundless ferocity.
Lupis had nine gods in total, symbolized by the Nine Great Totems.
Perhaps because their brains were simple, the Ravagers' belief system was relatively simple. It was much less complicated than, say, that of the Harpies'.
The secular world was much more powerful than the religious world amongst the humans. All of the major religions were considered sects instead, and none of them had particularly high status. On the other hand, the Ravagers' Diving Shrine supported the existence of the entire Ravager race. The importance of this location was no lesser than Head Chieftains themselves.
In some sense, the Ravager societal framework was composed of a mix of the secular and religious. If a Head Chieftain did not have the support of the Divine Shrine, then they would be finished.
For instance, Danba had only been able to overthrow the former Head Chieftain to become the new commander because the Gravel Lizard Tribe's Divine Shrine had supported him in doing so.
The Divine Shrine's status and influence had always been greater than any secular organization or group.
In any case, the Divine Shrine had an extremely important status amongst the Ravagers. Countless Ravagers had come to the Divine Shrine to embark on a pilgrimage to seek glory.
The Head Chieftains spontaneously came here for the Origin Energy Temple, while the commoners would usually place a high priority on making a pilgrimage at the Saintly Light Divine Shrine at least once in their lifetime.
Every year, large numbers of foreign Ravagers would come to the temple, making it so that the Saintly Light Divine Shrine was always incredibly busy.
Waves of Ravager disciples walked in and out of the temple, laying down their most prized belongings underneath the blessings of the white-robed Ancestors, accepting the blessing of the holy water, then leaving full of thanksgiving.
The precious milk and honey was sprinkled into the saintly pool, which blended into the flow of the river.
Beast hides and bones were piled up like small mountains.
The bells tolled, and the sound of chants and songs rose high into the sky, permeating every corner of the place.
At this sacred occasion, everyone behaved solemnly and respectfully. Even the wildest, most unrestrained Ravagers behaved themselves appropriately and followed the ceremonial rites.
However, there were always a few exceptions.
These exceptions were even willing to disrupt the order of the Divine Shrine.
"Out of the way! Out of the way! You damned bastards, I want to have an audience with Lonperth. Lonperth, I'm here to see you!!!"
The voice of a single Ravager pierced into the ears of the tens of millions gathered in this place.
Who would dare be so openly disrespectful?
Countless Ravagers wondered silently.
An individual who was in the middle of blessing a Ravager Head Ancestor lifted his head up to see what was going on.
A Ravager was pushing his way forward through the crowd of attendees.
He was cloaked in a beast hide, and he held a jug of wine in his hand, teetering to the side as he staggered forwards.
"A drunkard?" the white-robed Head Ancestor frowned.
The Ravagers did like to drink, but very few were brave enough to come to the Divine Shrine after drinking.
Especially if they had gotten as smashed as this.
Well, they were probably only here like this because they were smashed, right?
Did this guy not have any companions? The reason this was happening was because none of the Ravagers had tried to stop him, the white-robed Head Ancestor thought to himself.
At this moment, a few of the Divine Shrine's guards had already reached him. They grabbed the drunkard who was advancing and dragged him in front of the white-robed Ancestor.
"Head Ancestor Chag, we've apprehended the drunkard. How should we punish him?"
The white-robed Head Ancestor Chag said, "Your drunkenness has caused your to act discourteously in making such a loud commotion, and you show no respect to our god by using his name directly...... As the rules state, you shall be fined three hundred Origin Stones."
"Origin Stones...... That's too expensive, and I don't have any, " the drunkard slurred."Did you not see that I don't even have a gift to offer? I am still waiting for someone to give me food. Hey, doesn't that pool have a ton of milk? And there is meat on the altar...... I want to eat meat! I want to drink wine!"
The white-robed head Ancestor stared at the drunkard."You lack Origin Stones and even more sincerity, as your goal is just to hustle some food and drink for yourself. You need to be taught a good lesson, so your punishment instead will be forced labor......"
Just as he was considering what kind of difficult task to assign, a grey-robed priest standing to the side said, "Head Ancestor, one of the part-timers responsible for cleaning the temple yesterday wasn't paying attention and fell. Right now the severity of his injuries are still keeping him bedridden."
"Oh, if that's the case, then assign him to clean the temple, " the white-robed Head Ancestor commanded.
| ← Ch. 0695 | Ch. 0697 → |