So she really is preaching.

That book is the Life Scripture.

The name Sophia... she must be the goddess of life and growth, and a Moon as well.

The second month—the month of life and growth. The Moon: Sophia.

A Moon is definitely a god, but a god doesn’t necessarily serve as a Moon.

There seem to be special rules governing this, but their specifics are beyond the knowledge of mortals.

All that’s known is that the months and seasons for the eleven Moons are fixed.

Only the fifth month is Purity Moon, the sole month without a Moon.

However, it seemed no one was actually here to listen to the sermon.

Voices rose and fell throughout the Church: "Lady Kumironi, look at my child! Is he a one-in-a-million genius?"

"Can you awaken my Ah Ni early?"

"Look at my child!"

"My child has loved playing with swords and warhammers since he was little. He must be a one-in-a-million genius Warrior!"

"My kid is so talented! He recites the Magic Classics every day. Maybe he’ll be a Grand Mage like Iz in the future!"

...

Sigh.

Lu Cang found the scene rather pathetic.

But after realizing the importance of Spirituality, Lu Cang could understand their desperation.

He would be worried too if he were to lose his own Spirituality.

’This feeling of Penetration, this mental agility, this sense of absolute clarity... once you have it, you never want to let it go.’

’There are just too many people.’

The surging crowd was all here to beg Kumironi for an awakening. How could she possibly handle so many people?

Kumironi, for her part, looked divine.

Standing on the dais, she was a far cry from her usual gentle, kind self.

Her gaze was placid, fixed only on the scripture, filled with an impartial Divinity that treated all as equal.

It was as if the murmuring of the masses below had nothing to do with her.

"So, Chi Cheng, what are you here for?" Lu Cang asked, lowering his head.

"Maintaining order," Chi Cheng replied, looking up.

"If anyone tries to rush the stage, I stop them."

’Oh... so, a security guard.’

’But isn’t having a Level 6 Warrior stand guard as security a bit of a waste of his talents?’

"When will Kumironi finish?"

"Probably in about two more hours."

’Looks like I’m early.’

"Want to walk around a bit?" Chi Cheng asked.

Lu Cang said, "Aren’t you supposed to be on guard duty?"

"From this distance, it’s all about the same."

’Considering Chi Cheng’s Speed, that’s true.’

So, he nodded.

Chi Cheng walked through the crowd without much obstruction, as if the throng of people automatically parted for him.

After a few turns, they entered the inner sanctum of the Church.

Away from the main chapel where Kumironi was, the Church grounds felt fresh and open, with numerous green plants adorning the courtyards.

The sight was comfortable and pleasing to the eye.

The Life Church was truly magnificent, far more than a single, small chapel.

It was a sprawling complex of verdant buildings. The covered walkways alone stretched for a kilometer, and Life Clerics in green vestments could be seen everywhere.

"These followers are almost all Healing Mages and Planters who believe in Sophia and abide by the tenets of life and growth," Chi Cheng explained.

Planter.

In Lu Cang’s understanding, it was a farming Profession for planting crops.

"Oh, that... that’s the Spring of Life. It can relieve fatigue and alleviate certain injuries and Curses."

"However, it’s only effective for those who have faith in Sophia."

"That tree is the Golden Tree. Divine Officers who work at the Life Church can pick one of its leaves every year. They’re basically worth about 3 Gold Coins."

"That’s the seed area over there. You can get crop seeds for free. Some specific crops can only be planted with the Life Church’s approval."

"These crops also sell for a higher price on the market than ordinary ones. A lot of Planters put their faith in Sophia just for these perks. After all, free seeds and higher profits... it’s hard not to be tempted."

"Of course, certain special crops also require a sufficient Planter Level and cultivation Skill to grow successfully."

’Is this some kind of farm game? You can’t plant something if your Level isn’t high enough?’

"Over there is the Life Prayer Room. If you pray there for the lives you’ve saved and the patients you’ve treated, it can be converted into Life’s Great Achievements... which you can exchange in the Church for boons or for extra healing uses."

"I’ve heard that if you gather enough Life’s Great Achievements, you can even trade them for a chance to resurrect someone. Of course, the cost is exorbitant—far beyond what an ordinary Healing Mage could ever afford."

"In addition, there are special farmlands within the chapel. Crops planted in the chapel’s fields grow faster, and the requirements for special cultivation conditions are also more lenient."

"Basically, any crop that doesn’t have extremely strict cultivation requirements can be grown in the chapel’s fields."

"Of course, you need a certain rank to apply for a plot of farmland, but since it’s mostly Planters who apply, the process isn’t that harsh. As long as you’ve been initiated into the Life Church for over two years, you can usually apply."

"See? Over there you can get free fruits and vegetables. Every day."

"On top of that, Divine Officers of the Life Church receive priority medical aid, and treatment at the Life Hall has an extremely high reimbursement rate."

...

Chi Cheng led Lu Cang on a tour of the Life Church, chattering away the whole time.

Seeing it all with his own eyes completely subverted Lu Cang’s long-held perception of what a Church was.

He had always assumed Churches were solemn, sacred places where people worked purely for passion and fanatically worshipped gods who, in turn, couldn’t care less about them.

But from what he was actually seeing...

’The benefits are huge.’

The internal benefits were astonishingly generous.

Just by believing in Sophia, you got free medical care, free Curse Removal, free farmland, free seeds, free daily fruits and vegetables, plus priority treatment and health insurance.

It was enough to make even Lu Cang a little tempted.

From the Moon to the War God, and now the Life Church...

’The gods of this world really do have an enormous influence.’

After cramming his head with knowledge about the Church, they went and had some dessert.

When they returned to find Kumironi, they saw her collapsed in a chair in the High Priest’s lounge, her face a mask of exhaustion.

Oh...

’So even a Level 6 Healing Master gets exhausted enough to question their life choices after clocking out?’

"Oh, Little Lu Cang."

Kumironi looked over at him.

"You’ve comprehended the Root Source?"

Lu Cang nodded. "Yes!"

"That’s amazing. Do you want to go change your Profession now?"

"If Sister Kumironi is tired, we can do it tomorrow."

Kumironi draped herself over the chair. "Then let’s do it tomorrow. That works out, since I can give you a check-up tonight, and the Promotion Hall should be closed by now anyway."

"Sigh... thankfully, after today, I’m pretty much done with this for the year."

"I never want to preach again..."

’Kumironi... is that really something a member of the clergy should be saying?’