"Is everything going smoothly in this regard?"

"Very smoothly. As you know, the countryside and suburbs are places where Reya’s faith is more widespread, and more nuns of the Dawn Church come from impoverished families. So we have successfully selected 96 young girls and are cultivating them here. It is expected that 24 Apprentice Nuns will be trained."

Even though 24 nuns are just of the Initial Apprentice Level, they can significantly enhance the productivity of the Territory. They will feel the Divine Grace in the Church, learn the teachings, and understand much knowledge to guide farmers and herders in production.

And as the most generous Divine Spirit, as long as these nuns reach the official stage, they can obtain the first Divine Magic.

Su Li couldn’t help but click his tongue and asked, "Is the elimination rate that high? Out of nearly 100 girls, only 24 can be trained as Apprentice Nuns."

This ratio is indeed harsh, considering that the selection of Apprentice Knights only requires one out of ten in the Armed Attendant Camp. And harshness has never been Reya’s style; she is a merciful and generous Divine Spirit.

"Of course." Vandar said with great seriousness, "We also have a complete process for selecting Apprentice Nuns. First is the dual screening of faith and talent. Candidates need to come from impoverished villages or suburbs, so they can better appreciate the themes of cherishing hope and perseverance in the Dawn teachings. Then we prioritize selecting women who are in harmony with the Wind of Jilun or possess practical skills such as medical treatment, and childbirth assistance."

"After being selected, they must complete the ’Dawn Baptism’ in front of the Holy Pool, immersing themselves in the Mother Earth’s Holy Pool, receiving the cleansing baptism of the pool’s water, and feeling the Divine Grace of Mother Earth under the infusion of Earth Vein Energy. Then by regularly illuminating the lavender and rosemary fields, as well as the wheat fields and orchards around the Holy Pool, they experience the Power of Nature and Life. During these two processes, those with weak faith, who are frivolous and light, unwilling to be down-to-earth, will be eliminated."

"Then these girls who pass the first round of screening will participate in medical childcare and guidance for increased agricultural production in impoverished villages, and document at least three ’Miracle-level rescues’, such as safe delivery of mothers and babies in difficult births, revival of barren lands, and spring revival of withered trees."

"Then by generating revenue through various Church industries such as herbs, Holy Images, and crafts, proving their ability to maintain the Monastery’s economic independence and can guide villagers in daily rural affairs, they can finally pass the selection to serve as a Monastery nun in a village or a stronghold." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Of course, before assignment, we conduct a final political stance review. The Church’s Order of the Wrath of Nature secretly examines whether candidate families are involved in gray industries like smuggling with Beastmen or black market potion trades. Then these nuns must sign the ’Dawn Oath’, pledging never to join other sects and to prioritize helping and guiding distressed people in the Hesse Territory, such as farmers and herders."

Su Li then asked concernedly, "When will their training be complete, and is there any way to quickly enhance their strength?"

Vandar thought meticulously for a moment and replied, "According to the teachings, it will take at least half a year for them to become Apprentice Nuns, even with the infusion of the Mother Earth’s Holy Pool. It’s estimated that not until after the summer harvest, during the day when the grass and trees wither, can they officially become Apprentice Nuns and be assigned to villages and strongholds in the Territory."

"If there are special rituals like the Dawn Pastoral, Flower Crown Oath, and Spring of Grass and Trees, there indeed is a chance to ensure that the nuns we cultivate receive more of the Divine Grace from the Goddess, and once training is complete, their Tier is at least +2, with some even reaching Tier +3 or +4."

Tier +2 means that they will have the level of High Tier Apprentice Nuns immediately upon completing their cultivation. Tier +3 barely means that they have the strength of Initial Tier official nuns upon completion, which ensures they will certainly receive a Divine Magic from Reya.

Su Li immediately asked, "Then what are the conditions required for holding a basic Dawn Pastoral ritual?"

"At least 100 goblin shaman skulls, 100 types of flowers, and 100 Extraordinary Ears seeds are needed. Her Majesty, the Dawn Goddess Reya, only prefers these lively items; she has no interest in gold and silver artifacts. Of course, requiring goblin shaman skulls is her punishment for these evil creatures, after all, they often like to attack rural villages, which have always been places of the Goddess’s faith."

The 100 Extraordinary Ears seeds are relatively easy to solve; the Territory already has them on hand. Although the price equals at least 100 Golden Crowns, the mass cultivation of nuns is worth accepting.

By mobilizing hunters, gatherers, and workers from various farms, strongholds, and logging camps, the 100 types of flowers can likely be found as well.

However, finding 100 goblin shaman skulls is indeed challenging; these are materials and loot collected after battles that the Territory will not specifically gather. Probably, only certain mercantile associations might have them, but not in numbers over 100. We must mobilize Adventurers and Bounty Hunters to clear monster camps to find them.

But this cost is likely not small.

So Su Li furrowed his brow and asked, "The wealth consumed in holding such a ritual nearly approaches the direct purchase of 24 nuns. What is the point of doing this?"

Vandar immediately said, "Of course, there is meaning, and it is of great significance! The successful holding of such a ritual will greatly please the Dawn Goddess and grant us the Divine Grace laid by the Goddess. The entire Territory will be bathed in the blessings of the Goddess, with flowers blooming, grains abundant, birds and beasts joyful. Orchards, wheat fields, fish ponds, pastures, and so on will be thriving and usher in a bountiful harvest."