Necromancers are frantically stationing troops in the apocalypse.

Chapter 1036: Public Training of Heroes
Upon seeing the value of faith, Wu Heng's pupils suddenly contracted.

His faith level skyrocketed from 6000 to over 11000. He felt a surge of electricity run through his spine, which straightened his languid posture.

In just a few days, it surpassed all previous accumulations.

Spreading the faith in the apocalyptic world was indeed the right choice.

With the credibility of the Underworld and the halo of "human leaders" as endorsements, the spread of the Lingqi Cult's faith far exceeded expectations.

At this rate, the threshold of 50,000 believers will be broken within six months.

Then I'll be able to see for myself what the realm beyond heroes truly is.

"Hello? The signal is down?" Li Yahong's voice came through again.

Wu Heng composed himself and said, "Well done, you can continue preaching."

“Oh, right…” Li Yahong suddenly lowered her voice, “Those people in the EU set up a ‘Church of Dawn’.”

"The EU?" Wu Heng raised an eyebrow.

“Based on the intelligence we’ve gathered, this church seems to be imitating our church.” Li Yahong paused slightly. “It’s the kind of thing where… we established a church, and they want to establish one too. Regardless of its purpose, there’s no harm in following suit.”

Wu Heng understood instantly.

Hearing Li Yahong say that I thought another religion, like the Sun Cult, had appeared that was related to a church in another world.

It seems that the EU is following suit...

In other words, the other party didn't know what the church was for, but the Yama Palace always acted faster and had a clear effect afterward.

Learn it yourself first; if it's really useful, it won't be too far off.

"Will this affect our missionary work?" Wu Heng continued to ask.

"The impact isn't significant. They've sent people several times to try and contact our people, and their attitude has been quite friendly. It seems like they're trying to find out what's going on," Li Yahong said as she thought to herself.

"If it doesn't have a big impact, we don't need to worry about them for now. Let them learn if they want to; they'll never figure it out even if they spend their whole lives." Wu Heng shifted to a more comfortable sitting position.

Li Yahong muttered, "Forget about them, I still don't understand what's going on."

Wu Heng smiled and continued, "How is the training of the priests going?"

“There’s no problem with missionary priests in China; they’ve already been sent to various places to spread the word. The main challenge is getting priests from abroad. There’s the language requirement, and the distance is much greater,” Li Yahong said.

After a brief pause, he continued, "We also came up with some ideas, such as recruiting priests from the local area. For example, in New Eden, we recruited 15 prospective priests. After they have completed their studies, they will be sent out to preach in other local sanctuaries."

Wu Heng listened and thought it was pretty good. "This method is good. Let's do it this way for now. Then our people can be managed as local bishops, and the rest will be local missionary priests."

“That’s what we were thinking too. If there are no problems on your end, I’ll have this method implemented in other places as well, which will speed up the missionary work,” Li Yahong confirmed again.

"No problem, go for it!"

“Okay.” Li Yahong smiled.

Wu Heng tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, pondered for a moment, and said, "Increase the resources invested in missionary work, and also improve their treatment. I want to cover all medium-sized bases with priests within half a month. If there are any bases that do not cooperate, you can write down their names."

"Understood. I'll discuss it with Qi Hancai and Sister Zhao, and finalize this matter as soon as possible," Li Yahong said.

We've finished discussing missionary work.

"As for cultural relics, are there any new cultural relics being sent over?" Wu Heng changed the subject.

"Not yet. We've sent you most of the artifacts with inscriptions in the last few visits. We're still collecting the rest, and I don't think there will be many left," Li Yahong sighed.

"Ask again, send as many as you can, and I'll sift through them again," Wu Heng said.

"Okay! I'll go and communicate with them."

"And what about the matter of Goddess Nuwa that we mentioned last time? How's the investigation going?" Wu Heng continued.

“We found a few locations, but most of them were newly built as tourist attractions. We are currently screening them and will notify you when we have the results,” Li Yahong said.

"Okay!" Wu Heng agreed.

After we finished talking, I hung up the phone.

Granda put down her phone and turned to look at her. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, it's just that the collection of faith is progressing relatively quickly. We'll ask Li Yahong to increase her investment in this area," Wu Heng said casually.

Granda thought for a moment and said, "This world still has the advantage. People are used to receiving information from the outside world through radio. The Spirit Revelation Cult can quickly cover so many people. Even if there are few believers, even if the conversion rate is low, the base number is there, so the faith will not be slow... and it will get faster and faster."

“Indeed.” Wu Heng nodded in agreement.

Xiao Xiao floated over and said, "If I had known, I should have established the Lingqi Sect from the beginning!"

With his arms crossed in mid-air, he said angrily, "If it had started then, we would have crushed the Papacy and stormed the Holy See."

“It’s not that simple.” Granda interrupted with a light laugh. “The title of Human Leader was only recently recognized by the various bases. Without this identity and the advance preparation of various resources from the Underworld, the Spirit Revelation Cult would only be regarded as a cult in the apocalypse. I feel that now is just right.”

Xiao Xiao floated over and perched on Wu Heng's shoulder. "Is there any difference? I feel they're the same."

Wu Heng didn't join their conversation. He stood up and said, "Let's go back. We still need to investigate during Courage Week."

Several ghosts brought over their respective tablets and phones.

After being stored in the spatial ring, the ghost returned to its body.

Wu Heng opened the gate and returned to the other world.

……

Stepping out of the boundary gate, I re-entered the study of the Yeko Kingdom.

Tiny dust particles floated in the slanting sunlight.

He released all the ghosts and said, "Little one, go see what Brittani is doing?"

"Okay!" Xiao Xiao replied and went through the wall.

Not long after, she flew back and said, "Princess is in the council hall, talking with several ministers. It seems they are discussing the list of participants for this 'Week of Courage'."

"She's quite busy!" Benny floated to the window, glanced outside, and said teasingly, "This princess is much more serious than you, the island lord."

Wu Heng shrugged, but before he could speak, Granda chuckled and said leisurely, "Everyone has different pursuits! Brittani wants to revive the Kingdom of Yeko, while Wu Heng's goal is to become a hero."

Granda deliberately dragged out her words, "...and also, she has many female confidantes, and she does quite well in these two areas as well."

Wu Heng, who had been listening with amusement, suddenly froze upon hearing this, pointing at her and saying, "Hey! Stop spreading rumors, you big hater!"

Benny chuckled to herself, while the Empress nodded solemnly.

Xiao Xiao looked a little confused. "Red and bright? Is it an idiom?"

Wu Heng immediately said, "Don't listen to her, I won't be friends with her anymore."

Xiao Xiao chuckled, "No way, Auntie is so nice!"

After exchanging a few words, Xiao Xiao flew over and asked, "Uncle, what are we going to do next?"

Wu Heng suppressed his smile and pondered for a moment: "I plan to go and take a look at the church."

"Huh?" Xiaoxiao said in surprise, "Isn't that just walking into a trap?"

“It’s alright, I’ll wear a mask and go over to see if they’re hiding in the church.” Wu Heng smiled. “Besides, it would be good for us if we found them first.”

Hearing Wu Heng say this, the ghosts stopped trying to persuade him.

There are no enemies in the city; now only the local churches of the Dead Church remain.

If there is still no trace of them, it proves that the enemy is not in the city at all. If they are in the city, then the two sides will engage in battle the moment they meet.

A direct confrontation is better than an enemy lurking in the shadows.

“Okay, then we’ll wait for you outside. If there’s any danger, just teleport out first, and we’ll deal with them together,” Granda said.

“Alright!” Wu Heng agreed, took out the [Faceless Mask] and put it on his face. The skin on his face twitched and changed into the appearance of a fisherman that had been recorded before.

[Teleportation] is cast, and the figure disappears.

……

Central District.

The twilight light slanted across the central square, creating a clear boundary between the two towering churches.

Wu Heng stood at the foot of the steps of the Vatican Church, squinting as he looked across.

The church of the Lingqi Church was bustling with people, with believers carrying flowers and eggs coming and going, and laughter and conversation could be heard.

The Vatican Church behind him, however, resembled a magnificent tomb, with only a few elderly people shakily stepping over the threshold.

The two sides are completely different scenes.

It reminds one of Treasure Island.

At that time, the Snake Emblem Foundation on the island was suppressed, and almost no professionals entered. On the other hand, the association across the way had installed lighting and air conditioning, and a large number of people entered every day.

History always repeats itself, except this time it's a contest between faiths.

"May the Holy Light protect you." The priest at the door spoke these platitudes expressionlessly, his eyes not even focusing on Wu Heng's face.

Stepping into the hall, a chilly atmosphere hits you.

On the platform, a gaunt priest was preaching the doctrine with a hoarse voice. Among the sparse believers below, some were reading along, while others were praying with their eyes closed.

Wu Heng pretended to read a couple of lines, then glanced at the long corridor leading to the back.

At the entrance to the corridor, there was only a Papal knight standing there, and no other figure in sight. Only the hanging light stones swayed in the breeze.

After confirming the location, Wu Heng got up and left the church. In a dark alley across the street, he cast the [Teleport] spell.

When it reappeared, it was already standing under the archway of the corridor.

The corridor was lined with exquisite reliefs about the Vatican. In the distance, there were sporadic footsteps. Wu Heng quickened his pace and entered the corner. Two nuns carrying trays brushed past him.

Once the footsteps faded into the distance, Wu Heng quickly crossed the corridor.

He inspected the storage room, the confessional, and the priests' quarters one by one.

Next, in the deep cellar, Wu Heng opened the tightly locked door, glanced at the empty room and the round table in the middle, and then closed the door again.

No, there really isn't...

"Stop! Who are you?"

As I turned to leave, a voice called out from behind me.

They were two young nuns, each holding a silver candlestick.

Wu Heng calmly took out a mage's hat and put it on his head. The moment he put it on, the pattern of the serpent of lies embedded in the crown flashed by.

The Crown of Lies

One's own words weave a mental illusion, causing the listener to fall into a false cognition.

When the association spared the former religious leader, it compensated him with one of the five rare items.

“I am a priest of the High Priests’ Office,” Wu Heng said calmly.

The two nuns' eyes glazed over instantly, their pupils reflecting a completely different scene.

The nun who had just spoken up said, "Excuse me, Your Excellency."

"It's nothing." Wu Heng glanced at the two of them and continued, "Has the Vatican sent any priests or other special personnel from other regions recently?"

The two frowned and pondered for a moment, "It's been a long time since we've had any visiting priests."

Wu Heng nodded and continued, "The front hall needs manpower, so you can go and help."

"Yes!" The two bowed again and quickly left.

After confirming that nothing was missing, Wu Heng used the Teleportation spell again to leave.

In the dimly lit alley.

The ghosts passed through the walls and gathered together.

"How is it?" Granda asked.

“There are no clues, so it doesn’t seem to be here,” Wu Heng replied.

"Is there something wrong with the tortoise shell, or is the crisis he's expressing not from the Vatican or the heroes?" Benny continued her analysis.

The Empress shook her head. "The only ones who can threaten Wu Heng are heroes. If it's not the Holy See, then it must be other heroes, or the gods behind them."

"Gods, come out! Let's beat them up!" The little finger swept across the tip of her nose.

Benny laughed and said, "Let's wait a bit longer. We can't beat them yet."

"How will we know if we don't fight? Let's fight all the way to the Heavenly Court..." Xiao Xiao said.

Wu Heng glanced at the few ghosts and said, "We can only wait for the Week of Courage, which is in the next day or two. They will definitely find a chance to enter the city."

The four ghosts nodded in agreement.

Wu Heng said, "Let's go back first!"

After saying that, he cast the Teleportation spell and disappeared.

The four ghosts also flew towards the palace.

……

Inside the bedroom, Brittany nestled on the bed, her slender fingers rapidly tapping on her phone screen, a smile playing on her lips.

When Wu Heng suddenly appeared, Brittany's shoulders trembled slightly, and she looked up briefly. "My lord, where have you been?"

"I went outside for a walk to see if there were any signs of the enemy, but I didn't find any." Wu Heng asked with a smile, "Who were you chatting with?"

“Sister Winmansha, we’re getting along really well now,” Brittany said with a smile, showing off.

Wu Heng smiled and said, "Bragging to him about last night's achievements?"

Brittany blushed, then raised her chin and said, "I'm definitely no worse than Winmansha, right?"

"Yes, it's just a little unfamiliar, but I'll get used to it." Wu Heng said with a smile, then asked, "How's the Week of Courage going?"

“Preparations are almost complete, and the lists of young contestants from various regions have been submitted,” Brittany said.

Wu Heng sat down to the side.

Curious, she asked, "I understand that the Week of Courage is a place for selecting talent for the kingdom, but what do they mainly do?"

Brittani pondered for a moment, then said, "The Week of Courage is also called the Arena of Courage. It was established by the king to select talents. It is mainly divided into four parts: the Trial of Perception, the Trial of Courage, the Trial of Discipline, and the Arena Battle. Generally, the top three are supported by the kingdom."

After saying that, he looked at Wu Heng and said with a smile, "With you participating this year, it will definitely be even more popular. How about we add some prizes?"

Wu Heng nodded and said, "That's a good idea. How do kingdoms usually provide support?"

“The kingdom usually promises to help you reach level 18, but if you don’t, there’s nothing they can do,” Brittani said.

Wu Heng pondered for a moment, "Then let's do this: if they can reach level 18 within the specified time, the Lingqi Sect will help them become heroes."

Brittany's phone fell onto the bed with a thud, and she immediately picked it up to check if it was broken.

Then she raised her head, her emerald eyes wide open, "You...you mean...."

A voice trembled slightly, "A public promise to cultivate heroes?"

(End of this chapter)