The methods Lu Cang had indirectly displayed were proof enough.

And they were more than enough to intimidate them.

With the lives of these high-ranking members now threatened, they would naturally restrain their subordinates.

Although Lu Cang hadn’t been explicit, he had forbidden them from causing unnecessary complications or stirring up trouble.

It was as if he hadn’t completely banned the activities of the Death Church.

But in reality...

’Who could possibly figure out the temperament of this capricious Divine Spirit?’

’If they were the ones in charge of enforcement, would they choose to loosen the reins on their subordinates’ activities or rule with a strict hand?’

’Heh, anyone with a shred of sense would realize that they had to be strict about everything. Banning all activities was the best choice.’

But Lu Cang had also considered that the kind of people who joined a Cult weren’t necessarily sane.

If they truly wanted to do something, they would naturally bring the matter to him for a decision in order to avoid breaking his rules.

And if some fucking idiot really went off to cause trouble without asking for permission or reporting up the chain...

Hah...

...then he would have an excuse to enforce his rules and purge them.

Regardless.

The movements of the Death Church were now under extreme restriction, and their every move was under his control.

"Iz, there are so many Death Spells here."

"I saw them when I was outside just now. Let me see..."

Iz pulled a book from the shelf.

He flipped through the spells inside.

...

After becoming a Bishop, life didn’t change all that much.

The two remaining Elders seemed to have absorbed the assets and internal resources of the one-armed Elder.

They even had the good sense to leave a share for Mu.

Lu Cang arranged for Mu to report to him once a week.

If something urgent came up, Mu could find him at the White Tower under the pretext of an academic exchange.

But under no circumstances was he to visit his residence.

As for the Soul Devouring Dagger...

Lu Cang tested it on some Black Ants. It could, at the very least, rip the souls right out of them.

A single touch was all it took.

The extracted souls could be directly absorbed by his Soul Dominator ability.

But against a more powerful Demon...

Lu Cang hadn’t tried it yet.

’In truth, I can already kill a Tier Six King Level Demon as I am now.’

’The only enemies that would truly require the Soul Devouring Dagger are likely Tier Six Nation Destruction Level and above.’

’Where in the world am I supposed to find a Tier Six Nation Destruction Level Demon right now?’

Besides, Lu Cang had no intention of messing with ferocious Demons during the months of Death and Destruction.

If he had to choose a month...

Lu Cang would prefer it to be the month of Sophia of Life and Growth.

It was extremely hard to die during that month, making it the safest.

His second choice would be Harvest Moon.

「December 6th.」

The conditions for becoming a Level 3 Decryption Scholar had been met.

In fact, as he spent a little more time each day on the Decryption Scholar Profession, the score required for promotion had dropped slightly.

It had decreased from 150 points to 148.

Uh...

’It doesn’t really make a difference.’

However, it probably served as indirect proof of one thing.

The requirements for promotion were not set in stone.

If one consistently practiced a certain principle over a period of time, the corresponding promotion requirements would be slightly lowered.

Finally.

He could finally promote to Level 3 Decryption Scholar.

’After I complete my promotion to Level 3 Decryption Scholar, next should be Level 3 Death Priest. Extracting the souls of others, offering them as a Sacrifice to Death...’

’Even if they’re just ants...’

’I feel like killing hundreds of millions of living creatures every day should count as practicing the principles of Death quite well.’

’If not, the number of souls I’ve offered in Sacrifice should be more than enough.’

’I’ve done the killing, and I’ve performed the Sacrifices...’

’You could say I’ve practiced it to perfection.’

’In the study of Death, Death itself doesn’t discriminate.’

’The death of a Demon is still death, and the death of a human is still death. Death itself treats all equally.’

’The death of a maggot and the death of a human.’

’According to the principles of Death, they should be equivalent.’

’The only difference lies in the quality of their soul.’

’And as it happens, to me, their souls are also equivalent.’

’Come to think of it...’

’Perhaps I’ve practiced the principles of Death more perfectly than those of any other Profession...’

’Could it be that I really am the God of Death?’

At this thought, Lu Cang couldn’t help but chuckle.

Stepping into the Promotion Hall, he found Kumironi already waiting in a private room.

Professions from a Secret Scroll had to be advanced in a private room.

Although Decryption Scholar wasn’t a forbidden or illegal Profession, this was a stipulation of Lorren law.

Lu Cang could have used his privileges as Chief Mage to be a little defiant.

But there was really no need.

Promotion, decryption—

The promotion from Level 2 to Level 3, the puzzles presented by the Decryption Scholar Profession were far more complex, and not just in terms of pure intellectual difficulty.

They also tested the breadth of Lu Cang’s knowledge in various fields of decryption.

If not for his recent period of intense study, he might not have been able to achieve a perfect performance during the promotion Ritual.

Fortunately—

He understood all the material this time, so the promotion went off without a hitch.

With another surge of Spirituality...

Lu Cang had discovered something...

The growth in Spirituality that came with leveling up seemed to be based on the amount of Spirituality he already possessed.

The higher his existing Spirituality...

...the greater the increase would be upon leveling up.

At the very least, Lu Cang refused to believe that an ordinary Decryption Scholar could gain this much Spirituality when promoting from Level 2 to Level 3.

This time, Lu Cang clearly saw the increase in his Spirituality.

It was a clear, quantifiable increase.

It was a new mass of Spirituality that had seemingly sprouted out of thin air from his original pool.

His Intuition told him that this new amount was perhaps as much as one-third of the total Spirituality he had when he first arrived in this world.

’Could a normal Decryption Scholar gain that much Spirituality when promoting from Level 2 to 3?’

With the completion of the Ritual...

Lu Cang could clearly feel that he was now a Level 3 Decryption Scholar.