170: Chapter 170 Pollution is Spreading

"I... I'll go, go to the church."

Seeing the overwhelming impatience in Rona's eyes, Yisa hurriedly agreed to go to the church with him.

In fact, she had wanted to visit the church ever since she discovered the abnormality in her body.

However, because she had an appointment with Rona, the matter had been delayed.

Rona's suggestion could be considered exactly what she wanted, albeit barely.

It was just a pity about this date.

...

It was still daylight in the Ximi Starfield, but upon arriving at the church entrance, Yisa was surprised to find it already packed with people.

After arriving here, she was squeezed so tightly she couldn't even get through the church doors.

The people gathered around the church looked around with a tacit understanding, not communicating with anyone around them.

"This... could it be that something is wrong with all of their bodies too?"

Looking at the residents around her who seemed preoccupied, Yisa had already guessed their purpose for being here.

She couldn't help but feel a shock in her heart; she hadn't expected this mysterious pollution to spread so terrifyingly.

Suddenly, Yisa noticed Rona, who had maintained an indifferent expression the entire time.

From beginning to end, he seemed like an outsider, able to maintain a calm demeanor even in such a dire situation.

"Rona, do you know something?"

Intuition told Yisa that the Rona before her definitely knew something.

"Yeah, I know everything."

Hearing Yisa's question, Rona nodded nonchalantly.

Just as Yisa was about to ask more, she heard Rona continue:

"But even if I know, what does that have to do with you?"

"I..."

Yisa opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.

Rona was right; even if he knew what was going on, what did his knowledge have to do with Yisa?

She couldn't exactly force Rona to tell her everything he knew, could she?

Yisa lowered her head, comforting herself in her heart.

It must be that this matter involves something too significant, and Rona is worried about her safety, which is why he won't tell her.

It must be that!

She tried her best to convince herself of this reason, but unknowingly, Yisa's lips had been bitten until they were white.

"What's wrong with you?"

Seeing Yisa's eyes redden again, Rona asked in confusion.

Mortals were such a hassle; he didn't think he had said anything particularly out of line, had he?

Why did this mortal look like she was about to cry again?

"No... it's nothing."

Yisa blinked hard and shook her head slightly, indicating she was fine.

"Oh~"

Rona gave an "oh" and didn't press further, but this "oh" was like the straw that broke the camel's back; Yisa's tears flowed uncontrollably from her eyes.

Noticing the situation here, the crowd waiting outside the church suddenly became interested.

Their gazes fell on them intentionally or otherwise, making Rona feel extremely uncomfortable under the scrutiny.

...

"Lord Bishop, the external pollution is still spreading, but we have yet to find the source."

"According to our understanding, the level of this pollution is roughly at the Demigod level."

"Currently, the only thing that could be considered good news is that the consciousness of the infected remains clear."

In the planet's central cathedral, a young priest was reporting with a solemn expression to Archbishop Saidai.

Outside this room, there was a continuous stream of mortals coming to have their physical pollution healed.

This planet was under the protection of the Ximi God; the pollution could only damage the mortal flesh and could not affect their consciousness.

Physical pollution could be cured after bathing in the divine radiance within the church.

The problem was that even if the pollution was cured, those people would be polluted again after leaving the church.

The primary issue now was to contain the spread of pollution, then find and deal with the source.

For the past two days, Saidai had been in a state of high tension; even as a high-level Transcendent, his expression was somewhat weary at this moment.

Saidai looked up at the priest in front of him and asked.

"Can we determine through what medium the pollution is spreading?"

Hearing this, the priest first nodded, then sighed.

"We can, but it's already too late."

Meeting Saidai's questioning gaze, the priest explained:

"The pollution is spread through water element creatures, but by the time we discovered this, almost all water-containing substances on the planet had already been polluted."

As he said this, the priest's face showed a clear look of dejection.

Seeing this, Saidai also sighed.

He didn't blame the priest; after all, on this fringe planet, the strongest person was only him, a Rank Seven Transcendent.

When facing Demigod-level pollution, they had no choice but to wait inside the church for reinforcements from the high-level priests of the central cathedral.

"I have already notified the central cathedral."

"They have sent Bishop Chris."

"Bishop Chris is a veteran Legend-rank powerhouse; he has dealt with pollution of this level many times."

"As soon as he finishes his current tasks and arrives here, we will be saved."

"Now, pass on my orders: for the time being, focus on pacifying and treating the people, and strive to ensure the civilians can safely pass through the coming night."

Watching the divine light outside the church gradually weaken, Saidai planned to go out and take a look.

Just now, he thought of a person—someone whose strength on the surface was only Half-step Legend, but whose true identity might be a 'God'.

Saidai remembered that when Lin Sheng first arrived on this planet, he also had a piece of Demigod flesh 'parasitizing' him.

This couldn't help but cause a terrifying thought to arise in Saidai's heart, but the thought only existed for an instant before he dismissed it in the next.

That kind of existence was not something he could speculate about.

Furthermore, the other party had no reason to do such a thing.

Seeing that night was drawing closer, Saidai moved around a bit and then returned to the cathedral.

Kneeling beneath the statue of god of the Ximi God, Saidai felt somewhat uneasy.

He kept feeling that this matter might have something to do with Lin Sheng; even if it wasn't related to him, he should know something.

Once this thought appeared in his mind, it was hard to dispel.

Saidai suddenly stood up.

He wanted to go to Lin Sheng's place to take a look.

...

"The power of the old lord can no longer provide you with protection. Only the great new lord can light a lamp for you in this dark night."

In an open space far from the church, a middle-aged Missionary in red was speaking passionately.

Surrounding him were mortals whose bodies already showed signs of severe aberration.

These people were all at their wits' end, which is why they had come to the Missionary.

At this moment, contrasted with these mortals, this place looked like a terrifying gathering spot for heretics.

But the red-clothed Missionary at the center was actually a genuine believer of an orthodox god.

After the Missionary felt the time was right, he gave a casual wave of his hand.

Faint divinity flew out from his cuffs and drifted into the bodies of these severely aberrated mortals.

After undergoing the baptism of divinity, the aberrations in these mortals' bodies miraculously healed; the effect was even many times faster than worshiping the Ximi statue of god.

"Perfect Lord!"

"Thank you for the Lord's gift!"

"Praise the Lord, thank the Lord!"

Some quick-reacting mortals had already begun to kneel and pray; although they didn't know which Lord to pray to, praying was the right thing to do.

"Rise. As children of the Lord, it is only right that the Lord protects you."

"Since the old lord cannot give you the protection you deserve, then let the new lord protect you."

The red-clothed Missionary gently raised his palm, virtually lifting the people kneeling on the ground.

This pilot project was exceptionally successful. He believed that after this group of mortals returned, faith in the Lord could begin to spread on this planet.

When that time came, word would spread from one to ten, and ten to a hundred; eventually, faith in the new lord would eclipse the old lord.

"Praise my Lord."

The red-clothed bishop murmured softly.

"Perfect Lord!"

"Praise my Lord."

"Praise my Lord."

Hearing this murmur that entered everyone's ears, every single person present began to praise that unknown new lord.

"Go back and bring your family, friends, or anyone you know; the Lord will have mercy on them."

"Tell them they don't have to blindly beg for the old lord's protection; the new lord can also protect them."

After the red-clothed Missionary finished saying this, he dismissed the people gathered in the clearing.

After the crowd left, the red-clothed Missionary's figure flashed and he also disappeared from the spot.

...

"Don't cry."

Looking at Yisa, whose face was covered in falling 'little pearls', Rona commanded in a forceful tone.

But his words not only failed to stop Yisa's crying, they had the opposite effect.

Yisa cried even harder.

The surrounding people frequently looked over; some had even recognized Yisa and planned to come forward to ask what was wrong.

Just then, a priest suddenly emerged from the church and shouted to the crowd:

"News has come from the cathedral. Night is approaching. Everyone, please do not linger outside the church. Go home first, and return to the church for treatment once daylight arrives."

"During the night, everyone needs to keep their information talisman in hand at all times. The divinity within the talisman will help you maintain the balance of the pollution."

Upon hearing the priest's words, the surrounding people instantly broke into a clamor.

However, in this theocratic society, the people's obedience to the priests was very high, especially since this was an order from the cathedral.

The crowd only complained for a while before each returning to their homes.

"Ro... Rona, can you come home with me?"

Yisa had stopped crying by now. She quietly tugged at the corner of Rona's clothes and asked in a small voice.

"No."

Rona refused her request directly without even thinking.

"Why?"

Yisa also knew he had no reason to agree, but she just wanted to ask him "why".

"Because the boss only gave me one day off. I have to go back once the holiday is over."

Rona answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.