Huang Ren nodded seriously.
"I didn't learn about all this until I got promoted to the parish level…"
According to Huang Ren, when clergy are baptized into the Church, they vow to renounce wealth and worldly pleasures for life. But rules are dead—people are alive.
Everyone in the system knows the truth. The vows are mostly for show, ant to fool newcors.
That's why many senior clergy in parishes and dioceses have a few illegitimate children. In the past, these children would be disowned. If they were lucky, they'd be sent to a monastery, or live as ordinary people in society. If unlucky, they'd be abandoned at birth.
But ever since the ergence of the Holy Word, a shift happened. It was as if the entire clergy developed the sa idea—one after another, they brought their children back.
The reason was obvious: they wanted their offspring to compete for the title of Holy Child.
At the sa ti, high-ranking clergy in charge of church districts would reserve all benefits for their own people—such as access to blessed relics with five- or even ten-year power reserves.
"It may look like we all get a share," Huang Ren said dryly, "but let's be honest—we're just here to make up the numbers."
At least he was self-aware.
"Still, we need to learn exorcism," Huang added with a smirk. "The ladies in the community are waiting for to save them."
After hearing all this, Gideon Black understood one thing clearly:
The Church was still the Church. Wherever people existed, so did power struggles. It all ca down to whose voice carried more weight.
As for the Holy Child title? Gideon imdiately ruled himself out.
The benefits of that title would spark fierce internal competition. As a low-ranking priest with no backing, fighting for it would be suicide.
Huang Ren's voice was getting hoarse, so he grabbed the holy water on the table and took a big gulp. Then he asked if he could spend the night at the church.
While holy relics had been distributed to many clergy, most still didn't know how to properly use them. So the Church organized basic exorcism training, sending professionals to each state to instruct frontline personnel. At least it was taking so responsibility.
As for deeper mastery of exorcism, that would be up to the individual.
Huang Ren ntioned there was a training session happening downtown the next day and invited Gideon to co along.
"It's mostly about preparing relics and simulating exorcism scenarios," he explained.
Local churches only provided this level of training. Higher-tier courses—like those in major dioceses or even the Vatican—were far more specialized, and reserved for "core personnel." Unless you received an invitation, you weren't getting in.
"After the training," Huang added, making air quotes with his fingers, "a couple of 'young masters' from the parish will show up."
"They'll be carrying official Church commissions and want help from local priests like us."
"But don't worry. They'll definitely be carrying higher-grade relics. We just have to stand back and cheer them on."
Gideon raised a brow. "Sounds like you're part of the mission too."
Huang Ren's face imdiately fell.
"Don't remind ! I used to be so comfortable in the finance departnt…"
Apparently, after the Holy Word appeared, relic distribution was put under financial oversight. Important posts like that could only be held by the 'competent'—so Huang Ren had been demoted.
As a result, after collecting this month's offerings, he was now obligated to participate in the commission too. Coincidentally, it just so happened to involve Gideon's area, so he decided to tag along.
—
The next morning…
Gideon completed his daily spiritual routine as usual.
anwhile, various system notifications ticked forward:
[Psychological Counseling 1]
Current Progress: Tier 0 (18/100)
[Holy Water Blessing]
Current Progress: Tier 0 (85/100)
[Scripture Reading 1]
Current Progress: Tier 1 (5/1000)
Thanks to the incident with Renai's family, Gideon had made progress in blessing holy water. After participating in this Church commission, he should be able to level it up.
By that ti, Huang Ren was finally awake.
The two of them drove downtown.
The training was held in a Church-run nursing ho—an outreach facility that cared for the elderly, free of charge. It was one of the few tangible welfare services provided by the Church.
They entered a large community hall, where residents usually spent ti during the day. Aside from them, several clergy from nearby churches were also present—priests, deacons, and nuns.
The instructor was a nun nad Sister Teresa, who looked elderly and scholarly, wearing round-frad glasses.
She gestured for everyone to sit.
"Today's lesson," she began, "is on how to prepare holy water—and how to determine its age."
As she spoke, she pulled out several tools and ingredients.
"To prepare holy water, you'll need purified water, salt, and a sacred relic…"
She explained that before mixing the ingredients, the salt must be blessed with an incantation before being combined with the water.
As Teresa continued, she moved on to the most crucial step—during the fusion process, the unfinished holy water must be placed beneath a sacred statue while a prayer is recited silently and reverently.
Once that's done, the mixture can be poured into a glass vial. That completes the process.
She then pulled out a piece of paper.
It was a special sheet made from sage, bay leaves, and holy oil—designed to test the purity of holy water.
Lifting a vial, Teresa extracted a single drop and let it fall onto the paper.
The surrounding clergy leaned in curiously.
As the holy water touched the surface, a faint blue hue slowly spread across it.
"That ans the batch was successful," Teresa said, holding up the paper for everyone to see.
"Standard holy water will show this shade of blue—it indicates the water is less than a year old."
"If the process fails, there will be no color at all."
She added, "Once completed, the holy water should be kept under a sacred statue. Over ti, the color it produces on the paper will deepen."
A curious believer raised a hand.
"So higher-aged holy water shows a darker blue?"
Others murmured in agreent, equally curious.
Teresa gave a small smile.
"When the holy water has been blessed for over ten years, it turns violet. Beyond twenty years, it becos pink."
Then she changed tone, voice lowering with mystery.
"If it's been blessed for over a hundred years…"
Everyone, including Gideon, leaned in slightly, eyes wide.
"…then it will emit a dazzling golden light when dropped on the paper."
A wave of wonder swept through the room—but Teresa quickly tempered their excitent.
"Holy water that old is exceedingly rare. Only places like the Vatican or major archdioceses possess it."
"As for hundred-year holy water… I've only ever read about it in sacred scripture."
The room buzzed with hushed discussion.
Seeing the chatter grow, Teresa clapped her hands gently. "Alright, now it's your turn. Everyone, try making your own batch of holy water."
Everyone got to work, retrieving their materials—including Gideon and Huang Ren.
Soon, the entire activity room echoed with the soft murmuring of scripture recitations.
Not long after—
"Mine worked!"
A deacon leapt to his feet, excited.
Teresa walked over and examined his paper. A faint blue stain had appeared.
She nodded approvingly. "Well done. Success on the first try is rare."
But the next few attempts weren't as fortunate. One by one, several participants failed—including Huang Ren.
Teresa wasn't surprised. The success rate for making holy water was closely tied to one's spiritual cultivation.
Those who practiced theology diligently and consistently would possess purer divine energy. Naturally, the holy water they produced would be of higher quality.
The successful deacon raised his chin, clearly pleased. As he noticed more and more failures around him, the corners of his mouth twitched with barely restrained pride.
Few others knew this, but Sister Teresa wasn't just a knowledgeable instructor—she also held considerable status in the diocese.
Aside from teaching, she had another mission:
To identify talented individuals for advanced exorcism training within the Church's regional system. This was a response to the looming dangers foretold by the Divine Word.
Looks like I've got a solid chance, the deacon thought smugly.
anwhile—
Gideon calmly prepared his own holy water, following the instructions. He'd done this kind of thing before, albeit more casually—usually just mixing salt and water together without all the ceremony.
Now, he carefully extracted a single drop from the vial and let it fall onto the test paper.
And then—
The pristine sheet instantly blood with a clear, vibrant blue.
But it didn't stop there.
The blue deepened… and deepened… until faint traces of violet began to appear around the edges.
Gideon raised an eyebrow.
At that mont, Sister Teresa happened to walk by and glance at his results.
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