500: The two bookish

An alarm bell rang faintly in Star's heart, but his expression remained calm: "Oh? What sort of appearance did the Lamp Bearer expect me to have?"

"High Priests in Other Realms often cover their faces, or adorn themselves with bones, appearing solemn and profound."

Zhulong chuckled, His gaze sweeping over Star's pale face and deep chestnut curls. "Your Excellency is quite handsome and refined. It seems even The Abyss can nurture a gentleman as flawless as jade."

The remark was half jest, half probing inquiry.

[Handsome and refined? Is he implying this face is too 'normal,' unlike a fanatical Abyss Priest?]

"The skin is merely a vessel for faith." Star lowered his gaze.

"The Abyss is all-encompassing, holding both light and shadow. Whether solemn and dignified or fresh and handsome, it is all merely to better serve My God and transmit His will to every corner."

"Just like you, Lamp Bearer, who can change forms as you please, personally experiencing the joys and sorrows, the bitterness and sweetness of the mortal world."

After saying this, Star raised his head again to look directly at Zhulong, deliberately emphasizing the words "faith" and "service," thereby further reinforcing his image as a devout follower of The Abyss.

Zhulong seemed quite satisfied with this answer, and the smile at the corner of His lips became slightly more genuine.

The Ice Crystal He was playing with stopped spinning. His eyes, looking through the Water Mirror, seemed capable of penetrating the skin of "Alvaro" and seeing the essence of his soul.

"Faith..." Zhulong murmured, His Divine Consciousness carrying a sense of profound antiquity.

"It is indeed an interesting thing. I have seen too many beings in the Source Realm. Some believe in power, some chase eternity, and some are addicted to desire."

"Could Your Excellency the Priest describe the one whom the Abyss Church serves?"

In the corner of the Warm Chamber, Ling Qi held up a Virtual Notebook, projecting the highlighted points onto the area in front of Star.

Description of the God of the Abyss: Refer to Chapter 7 of "A Study of the Abyss Church Religion (Ed. 003)," incorporating the triple divine nature of 'Inclusiveness,' 'End,' and 'Reincarnation,' avoiding specific appearance and emphasizing concept.

In the Water Mirror, Star crossed his hands over his chest, adopting the Church's standard prayer gesture. His right palm rested upward over the back of his left hand, thumbs interlocked, forming a shape resembling a keyhole.

"My God has no fixed form, nor a constant appearance."

"He is the Sovereign slumbering in the Lightless Deep Sea, the Key who holds Reincarnation and the End."

"The Abyss is not destruction, but inclusiveness. It encompasses everything that is lost, forgotten, and even rejected by other Deities."

"In the Church Scriptures, My God is often symbolized by the 'Mirror of Ten Thousand Faces.'"

"What every believer sees is different: those seeking peace see the Tranquil Deep Pool, those pursuing knowledge see the Endless Library, and those bearing sin... see the Abyss of Cleansing."

Star paused here, his gaze fixed on Zhulong's face, trying to catch the slightest reaction.

"My God's will rarely descends directly as an Oracle." He forced himself to continue covering up the lie.

"He prefers to cast fragments of revelation into the dreams of believers, or give subtle guidance through the direction of smoke during Sacrificial Rites, or the arrangement of light spots in a Crystal Ball."

"Just like..."

"Just like Your Excellency traverses the mortal world in the form of 'Candle Shadow Shaking Red,' using song, attire, and every word and deed to convey a certain message to those who are destined."

"It's just that the method of My God is more subtle."

This analogy was extremely bold.

Comparing the God of the Abyss with the role-playing behavior of "Candle Shadow Shaking Red." This elevated the opponent while blurring the solemnity of a deity, suggesting a hint of intimacy, as if saying, "We are both on the same path."

Zhulong indeed smiled.

This laughter was brighter than before, the corners of His eyes slightly curved, and genuine interest appeared on His meticulously made-up face.

"Your Excellency the Priest is very articulate."

He tucked the Ice Crystal back into His sleeve, adopting a more relaxed posture, almost sinking into the Soft Couch of Light and Shadow.

"It is inherently dangerous to speculate on Divine Will in a mortal body. The fact that Your Excellency can articulate faith so poetically has piqued my interest in your Church's scriptures."

"May I borrow some to read? Of course, I am willing to exchange them for certain Ancient Texts from the Source Realm."

[Oh my god! Borrowing the classics?]

Star's toes nearly curled in embarrassment, but he maintained his composure: "It is naturally the Church's honor that the Lamp Bearer is willing to look upon the classics of My God. However..."

He displayed a perfectly measured look of difficulty. "The core classics of the Abyss Church, the *Secret Canon of the Deep* and the *Key of the End*, are both engraved in the Continental Common Tongue on the stone walls of the Church's holy ground, the 'Lightless Corridor,' and cannot be removed."

"And the Copies held by ordinary Priests are crude, I fear, insufficient to present even one-ten-thousandth of My God's wisdom."

"No matter."

Zhulong: "Even the Prayers and Annotations that Your Excellency the Priest reads and studies daily will suffice. What I wish to see is the 'Abyss' as understood by a believer, not the stone carvings."

"Just like when I watch mortal opera, I look not at the flowery language, but how the performer understands the role, and how they sing life into dead words."

Since the conversation had reached this point, further evasion would only arouse suspicion.

Star pondered for two seconds.

This pause was intentional, showing prudence while giving the Warm Chamber time to prepare.

"In that case... I can recite a daily chapter of the *Deep Abyss Prayer* for the Lamp Bearer," he said slowly. "This is a mandatory lesson for Priests morning and evening, and best reflects the Church's fundamental understanding of My God."

Zhulong made a "please" gesture.

Star crossed his hands over his chest again, his eyelids half-lowered.

He used the ancient language of the Ativi Continent, but translated by the language plugin, Zhulong heard it accurately and clearly: "...Sovereign slumbering in the Lightless Deep Sea, Key of the Abyss who holds Reincarnation and the End."

"Your will is the gravity that draws all things to ruin, Your silence is the eternal proverb."

"We are the faint light flowing from Your palm, the lingering sound echoing at the edge of The Abyss."

"With devout faith as the boat, and dedication as the oar, crossing all who can be crossed, encompassing all who can be encompassed..."

The prayer was not long, only about a hundred characters.

Star recited it extremely slowly, articulating each word precisely.

When the last line—"...until all rivers return to the sea, and All Realms sink together"—fell, the magic within the stone chamber seemed to solidify.

The Purple Smoke in the Incense Burner rose straight up, twisting slightly in the lingering resonance of the prayer.

A few seconds later, Zhulong clapped, and the clear applause echoed in the Starry Void: "Excellent!"

"Though the prayer is short, its meaning is profound. Your Church's interpretation of 'The Abyss' certainly has its unique merits."

Star maintained the composed posture adopted after the prayer, subtly rubbing his fingers under his sleeve, and seized the opportunity: "It is truly the Church's fortune that the Lamp Bearer can grasp the subtle meaning within."

"To be frank with you, My God has recently... been paying attention to the Lamp Bearer as well."

He raised his eyes, his Dark Golden Pupils looking across the Water Mirror.