Kaidan Game Train: Abide Rule or Die!-Chapter 2178: Diverging Opinions Within the Divine Temple
Although the temperature in Purple Lake City is much better than in the small town, you can still feel the weather gradually cooling. But the moment you step into the Divine Temple, it’s like entering a whole new world—extremely comfortable temperatures, and the air is fresh without any trace of change despite the crowd.
Upon entering the temple gates, there’s a wide open space, with only one tall tree on each side, each over ten meters tall. The foliage is so dense, it covers a large area, making it hard for sunlight and rain to penetrate.
Many worshipers linger under the trees, either standing or sitting, seemingly enjoying the atmosphere beneath the branches.
Huang Mao squeezed into a spot, stretched his arms wide, and took a deep breath, muttering curiously, "There’s no scent at all."
"How can that be," A Hai was under the tree too, with a look of contentment, "The scent of the leaves is very fresh."
Huang Mao, unsure, sniffed again to confirm his sense of smell was fine, then tested the air with a detector, "See, I told you there’s no difference between the air here and elsewhere... you try smelling it too if you don’t believe me."
The last sentence was directed at Xu Huo.
As an injured person, Xu Huo received preferential treatment from the local believers; people made way for him and even nudged him closer to the tree trunk.
"The tree in front of the Goddess is beneficial to your health if you breathe in deeply." a middle-aged woman said.
Xu Huo thanked her, then followed their example, immersing himself in the refreshing air beneath the tree.
Huang Mao watched for a while and couldn’t help asking, "Can you really smell it? What does it smell like?"
Xu Huo thought for a moment, "A bit like the scent of leaves, and a bit like flowers."
Huang Mao looked skeptical, "What kind of scent is that?"
"An aroma that varies from person to person." Xu Huo smiled faintly, gesturing for assistance to push him further in.
Beyond this open space was the main hall’s gate. The central figure in the main hall was supposedly the Goddess Statue, but it was completely shrouded in red cloth. Judging from the shape underneath the cloth, it seemed the statue was standing.
Believers were accustomed to praying under the covered statue, proceeding afterward along side paths deeper into the temple.
Unlike typical religious sculptures of other Immortals within the church, apart from the Goddess Statue, the rest of the main hall, including the floors, walls, pillars, and the ceiling were adorned only with patterns. The chaotic and obscure patterns, at a close look, might resemble trees or flowers, but as soon as you blinked, the image from a second earlier no longer seemed coherent.
This kind of chaotic pattern often causes discomfort, but the believers appeared as calm as they had been under the tree. They spontaneously chose a spot to stand still, observing the patterns with peaceful expressions, as if in meditation.
A Hai was the same.
Huang Mao failed again; he circled the Goddess Statue, sometimes staring at the ceiling, other times at the floor, and gave up within five minutes.
Not wanting to say anything offensive on someone else’s turf, he asked his only ally, "Did you see anything?"
Xu Huo seemed to have his gaze fixed somewhere; after a few seconds, he replied as if waking from a dream, "Perhaps a dreamlike vision of life."
"Is it that profound?" Huang Mao followed his gaze but couldn’t discern anything, "I can’t make out anything."
"Why is the Goddess Statue covered? Is it not fit to be seen?"
The temple staff nearby gave him a disapproving look but said nothing.
Huang Mao, ever sociable, nudged closer and asked, "I’m new here and haven’t seen it before. Can you tell me why the Goddess Statue is covered, and can it be revealed?"
"Today, the Goddess doesn’t want to see anyone," said the temple staff curtly.
"How do you know? Did the Goddess visit you in a dream?" Huang Mao asked, puzzled.
"It’s an order from the Divine Envoy, who can receive the God’s inspiration." The temple staff bowed respectfully toward the statue.
"So the Divine Envoy told you, but how do you know what the Divine Envoy says is really the Goddess’s will? Maybe the Divine Envoy is making it up?" Huang Mao speculated deliberately.
"What nonsense are you spouting!" The temple staff frowned in displeasure, "Even if the Divine Envoy fabricated the Goddess’s words, they would be punished, just like those who can’t even pass the temple gate."
The last sentence seemed to carry a bit of intimidation, prompting Huang Mao to bow to the Goddess Statue once more before inquiring, "Where is the Divine Envoy then?"
The temple staff indicated they should bypass the Goddess Statue and proceed inside, where, if fortunate, they might naturally encounter the Divine Envoy.
Huang Mao returned looking bewildered, clutching the wheelchair, "From the way that sounded, the Divine Envoy is also a matter of perspective... Seriously, in a place this big, where could someone hide? Unless they’re not human!"
Xu Huo pointed his chin further inside, "No need to rush, look ahead."
By then, they had circled to the back of the main hall. Exiting through a door, they found a small garden, and opposite that was a hall at least ten times the width of the main hall. It didn’t have a gate but featured five stone slabs resembling screens, and the believers chose one of the passages to enter.
As for what lay inside, from outside the door, it seemed to be an empty space, with nothing but chaotic patterns; however, anyone who passed through the corridor would disappear within two or three seconds. This sudden disappearance meant that Xu Huo and his companions could not perceive anyone inside the hall from the outside.
Huang Mao checked the time, "There must be hundreds of people who went before us. Even if some have already completed their prayers and left, there should still be thirty or forty people inside, yet we can’t feel a thing from outside."
He glanced around again, "There’s no other route; this is the entirety of the Divine Temple. Could this be some kind of venue prop?"
"That’s possible." Xu Huo nodded.
"Should we go in?" Although carefree in appearance, Huang Mao was actually very cautious, "If there’s a compulsion effect, we might not be able to get out after entering. To meet the Divine Envoy, we might not have to risk this."
His gaze shifted towards the nearby believers.
There were quite a few with the same idea; a moment later, a player took a believer hostage to coax the Divine Envoy out. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺
The believers became anxious, and the temple staff hurried over to intervene, "Seeing the Divine Envoy is simple enough; just enter the Inquiry Hall. No need to harm innocent people."
"Do you take me for a fool? Who knows if there’s a trap inside? What if I go in and can’t come out?" the hostage-taker proposed.
"What trap? Who would set a trap?" The temple staff was incredulous, "Do you know where you are? This is the Divine Temple, dedicated to the Goddess. Who would dare desecrate it just to trouble you Outer Zone people?"
"If you want to see the Divine Envoy, enter; if not, leave immediately. Do not disturb the Goddess!"
