"Moreover, Pontiff Blake seems to be in there too!" March 7th says delightedly.
Dan Heng infers: "The tone of speech doesn't sound like him, but Stelle shouldn't recognize the wrong person."
"Teacher Adrian, do you have any leads?"
"Actually, I'm not that familiar with him."
Chose to cut ties at lightspeed? Haxie, you this guy...
"Deceiving strangers is fine, but don't deceive yourself, Teacher Adrian." March 7th earnestly instructs.
Adrian smiles. Anyway, Blake himself is currently at the [Sleepless Earl] teahouse, temporarily replacing the storyteller Mr. Xiyuan who took leave, immersed in the art of storytelling.
"Five hundred times... can she really copy it all?"
"Perhaps, she needs a little [Eternity] assistance?"
The perspective switches to Stelle's side. She sits on a wooden stool, earnestly copying this volume of [The Merits of the Thousand-Handed Merciful Yaowang's Salvation of the World].
"In a moment, the Thousand-Handed Merciful Yaowang wandered the realms, together with ninety-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine Sowers, residing under Luo Hu, and expounding the dharma..." She actually involuntarily reads aloud:
Feeling the soreness from her index finger and shoulder, thinking that there are still four hundred ninety-nine times left, Stelle suddenly feels a bit regretful.
"While speaking the words, the ninety-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine Sowers all severed birth, old age, illness, and suffering."
"Merciful Yaowang, Arbor of Exalting sprouts forth. The Sowers with one mind, together ascend to supreme bliss."
"Ah, not even one time finished copying."
She turns her head to look at Blake who is writing furiously. For a moment, somewhat puzzled.
[Eternity] Emanator's intensity exceeds standards; must go appreciate it up close.
Taking advantage of Green Hibiscus not paying attention, Stelle quietly walks to Blake's side, the mimetic weapon in her hand operating as a magnifying glass.
Not looking wouldn't know; one look scares a jump.
What Blake is copying, where is it [The Merits of the Thousand-Handed Merciful Yaowang's Salvation of the World]; clearly it's [The Book of the Eight Great Virtues of the Aeon of Eternity]!
What, you ask how she knows [The Book of the Eight Great Virtues of the Aeon of Eternity]? The otaku thing less manage... cough, because she saw the prominent two large characters above: Eternity.
Human civilization like star trails, in the vast long night pursuing the light of Eternity. Virtue is not solidified dogma, but flowing in the bloodline's life rhythm, the soul's resonance transcending time and space!
Supplement: All characters, stories, settings in [Eternity Doctrine] are purely fictional, unrelated to the [The Book of the Eight Great Virtues of the Aeon of Eternity] authored by Pontiff Blake.
If similarities, then certainly the Antimatter Legion has invaded your brain, [Destroyed] your Eternal thoughts!
"The linked tail supplement all remembered. This much strength?" Stelle is shocked. This copying speed is already fast to the point where the naked eye can't see clearly!
"Copying this thing I'm skilled at. Reminiscing back then... I was penalized by that guy Blake to copy fully five thousand times [The Book of the Eight Great Virtues of the Aeon of Eternity], nearly locked in the little black room. Oh~ of course, it was voluntary."
"Ah? Pontiff Blake, what are you saying..." Stelle is dazed. She can't help but doubt the true identity of the man before her.
"Cough cough... my apologies. Let us start over from the beginning. Beautiful lady, mentioning past events, I inevitably become somewhat excited, like gears inside machinery unconsciously strummed. Please do not mind."
"Why suddenly become so gentlemanly! I understand now. You fundamentally are not Pontiff Blake!"
"Damn... discovered? Seems my acting skills still need further improvement!"
'Blake' says somewhat unwillingly. It was careless!
"Heh! Any inferior product cannot escape the Galaxy Baseballer Hero's eyes! You know how I discovered it?"
"What is it?"
"You don't have Blake's exclusive special effect—holy light."
Stelle directly points it out. Blake when speaking likes to occasionally turn on the invisible spotlight. He quite enjoys the feeling of holy light bathing his body.
"Take this! Since already seen through by me, hurry and report your name!" Stelle pulls out the bat. Ordinary people wouldn't have the idle to impersonate others, unless...
"Eternity Church's sole enforcer—Screwlloyd."
"Hm? What relation do you and Screwlloyd have?" Upon hearing this name, Stelle again recalls the scene at the space station, her initial encounter with Screwlloyd.
"The answer is obvious, lady. I come from Screwlloyd's star, because of certain special reasons, selected by Priestess Freesna... brought to the church."
Listening to this bizarre experience, Stelle furrows her brows.
"Not right. Your way of speaking also doesn't resemble Screwlloyd..."
"Regarding this question, you can go ask Priestess Freesna. But we [Eternity] always answer what is asked. Actually, it was her randomly changing, becoming like this now."
"However, I do not feel this is anything very laughable."
Screwlloyd says seriously. To probe the [Eternity] of inorganic life, this bit of sacrifice is nothing.
"My self-introduction is finished. Is it not your turn?"
Stelle waves her hand grandly. "No change in name when acting, no change in surname when sitting. Galaxy Baseballer Hero at your service!"
"Never heard of."
"Ignorant." Stelle coldly huffs, taking off the hourglass-shaped necklace to show Screwlloyd.
"Know what this is, right?" She dangles it before Screwlloyd's eyes.
Seeing the hourglass in an instant, Screwlloyd becomes solemn and respectful, the gaze toward Stelle also changing.
Unexpectedly a [Eternity] follower same as it?
"Hey, this Baseballer Hero lady. Seeing how fated we are, come join our Eternity Church."
"This segment of words, I've already heard many times. You church people truly adhere to your hearts." Stelle sighs, stating her identity to Screwlloyd:
"Seen or not this membership ticket? I'm already [Astral Express] personnel, so I refuse."
"What a pity. The first deal upon coming to Luofu ends in failure. Sigh~ perhaps this is fate."
"No matter. You need not self-reproach." Stelle comforts. "Though I cannot join the church, but we can come to the church to play as tourists."
"Thank you, Baseballer Hero lady. Your these words make me doubly moved. I have decided: the five hundred times scripture, I'll copy for you."
Taking advantage of those guarding Sowers not paying attention, Screwlloyd writes furiously. In one minute's time, copies the scripture finished.
"Plan success!"
Screwlloyd "thud" falls to the ground. "In the end, you were only using me?"
Stelle shakes her head. "How could it be. You must believe in the Galaxy Baseballer Hero's virtue. Would not do such taking advantage in danger matters."
"So... I decide to help you cover, let you escape from here." Stelle says righteously, as if already prepared for sacrifice.
"No, actually I rather like staying here."
"You this what strange little hobby?"
...
In the end, Screwlloyd cannot outstubborn Stelle, forcibly brought by her before Green Hibiscus.
"Please calm your mind, slowly copy, slowly comprehend the supreme benevolence's enlightenment of [The Merits of the Thousand-Handed Merciful Yaowang's Salvation of the World]."
"Copied finished." Stelle hands the copied scripture to him.
"Already copied finished? This fast? I check... mm... mm... indeed all copied finished, and copied both fast and well. Seems you two have quite the immortal affinity."
"Can I join the secret transmission of the Yaowang now?"
Seeing Stelle so excited, Green Hibiscus waves his hand, signaling: "Calm down, calm down... the entry trial consists of two steps. You and that Cloud Knight have already completed the first step. Now... only the last step remains."
"No need to worry. The second step is extremely simple. Very soon can end."
Green Hibiscus says while walking out. Not long after, he brings back a person in purple clothes.
"Let me introduce. This one... is our boss—Purple Calla, Evernight Pavilion area's overall person in charge."
Purple Calla nods, revealing a very satisfied expression: "The first round assessment, provisionally count as you passed. Without in the time he left, becoming suspicious and fleeing. This point done well, worth commendation!"
"And the second round assessment, our secret transmission of the Yaowang's employment principle is, suspect people not use, use people not suspect. So..."
"Please you two duel here. The one who lives, can formally become a Sower."
"I fight him, really fake?"
Green Hibiscus explains: "Copying scripture can judge you two's pious heart, but whether loyal to the organization, still needs some more forceful assurance... no helping it, rules are set here."
"Wait a moment, wait first... don't ah, we came seeking longevity, not seeking death. Suddenly making us duel like this, we are very hard to handle!"
"Hard to handle? Hmph... then your meaning is not handling?" Purple Calla tilts her head, disdains a smile.
"Not forcing you two to duel either. Unwilling to fight also can, but that way impossible to let anyone of you leave."
Stelle and Screwlloyd exchange a glance, the whole matter unspoken.
"Then... can you give us a bit of preparation time?"
______
30 advanced chapters on ko-fi@com/edgeofsky