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Chapter 298 Idol Worship
Just as Wang Xi was still studying the power of the Stigmata and the "Miracle of Mourning", he suddenly realized something.

"somebody is coming."

Wang Xi put down his hand, turned to look out into the courtyard, and added to Olivia, "There are many people."

The white-haired nun was slightly taken aback.

Then I followed Wang Xi's gaze.

It was quiet.

A hint of doubt flashed in her eyes, but she didn't ask any questions. Instead, she waited quietly for a while.

About a minute.

A large group of people walked briskly toward the monastery.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a thick beard, wearing a black fur cloak, and a fine longsword was tied at his waist.

The remaining forty or fifty people were all men and women in linen shirts and unkempt hair, who seemed to be ordinary local residents.

Olivia was surprised; Shiv's perception was even stronger than hers, and he had sensed the arrival of this group of people before her.

She stepped forward, placed her hands clasped over her lower abdomen, and said to the bearded middle-aged man:
“Lord Graham, today is not Sunday. What are you doing bringing so many people to the Abbey of Our Lady?”

“Sister Olivia.” The middle-aged man nodded to her. “Just now, a blinding holy light descended from the sky and seemed to have landed right here. Many citizens of Black Sand Territory witnessed this phenomenon, and as the lord, I naturally had to come and investigate.”

Olivia sighed inwardly.

She knew she couldn't hide it anymore.

Fortunately, Baron Graham was an upright and kind man, one of the few lords who upheld chivalry in the land of Sariel, a place of suffering, and was trustworthy.

Then, the white-haired nun sighed softly, her tone complex: "Your Excellency, the strange phenomenon you witnessed... is actually a miracle sent down by the Supreme Will."

"Miracle?!"

As soon as this statement came out, the whole place was in an uproar.

Even Baron Graham looked horrified.

The nun turned to look at the young man on the stone pier not far away: "This is Shevchenko, one of your subjects. He died of the plague and I buried him here myself. Just now, a miracle happened, and he... came back to life."

"?!"

Baron Graham's pupils contracted as he stared at Wang Xi in disbelief.

Black Sand Territory is not large, with only a few hundred households, and he remembers every single one of them.

He certainly remembered Sherwin Milerco, that introverted, taciturn, yet kind-hearted and pitiful young man whose parents had died early.

He remembered that not long ago, it was he who had approved the burial of this body.

This face...

It was a far cry from the previous description of him as withered and covered in pustules, but his facial features were indeed those of Xiwen.

"Xiwen? Is it really you?!"

An excited voice rang out from the crowd behind Graham.

A stocky, honest-looking young man with long hair squeezed out.

His name was Hobbs Roy, an ordinary citizen of Black Sand Territory and a devout Catholic who often helped Olivia repair the monastery.

He and Xiwen were considered relatively close friends.

Hobbs, his face beaming with joy, strode up to Wang Xi, wanting to grab his hand but hesitating: "My God! Xiwen, you're still alive!"

"This...this is truly a miracle!"

Wang Xi looked at the excited and unfamiliar Hobbes in front of him and smiled gently: "Hello... I'm sorry, I don't seem to remember much about the past."

He responded according to the predetermined "amnesia" script.

At this moment, Olivia explained:
"Xiwen lost his memories of his previous life... A miracle gave him a new life, but it also took away his past."

Hobbes's ecstatic joy was instantly replaced by regret: "It's alright, it's good that you're alive, being alive is the greatest blessing... Thank you, Most High Will! Thank you, Holy Father and Holy Mother!"

He began to pray, very devoutly.

Those who had accompanied Baron Graham were in an uproar and began to discuss the matter.

"Resurrected from the dead?!"

"It really is Xiwen! I recognize him!"

“Sister Olivia was right, this is a great miracle!”

"The Supreme Will has manifested! It has descended upon our Black Sand Territory!"

"Great!"

The people looked at Wang Xi with awe, curiosity, and an almost fanatical worship.

Several emaciated and weak women even tried to step forward and touch Wang Xi's body or the hem of his clothes, as if they could absorb the aura of miracles and get rid of their own ailments.

"Back off! All of you, back off!"

Upon seeing this, Baron Graham drew his longsword and ordered them to stop.

The people, in awe of the baron's authority, immediately cowered and refused to advance.

Even Hobbes immediately spread his arms and shielded Wang Xi with his body: "Miracles are sacred and inviolable!"

Just as the chaos subsided, another group of people hurriedly arrived at the monastery gate.

They wore matching red robes with gold-trimmed hoods.

The leader was a young man with an arrogant face and sharp eyes, wearing a badge on his chest that symbolized a priest of the Holy Blood Church.

They were from the Holy Blood Church in Black Sand Territory, and were clearly also alarmed by the golden light.

Father Lambert's gaze swept across the scene like a hawk's, and when he saw Wang Xi, he was slightly taken aback.

But soon, things returned to normal.

“Sister Olivia, a holy light just descended upon this place; it seems a miracle has indeed occurred…”

Lambert looked at the young man who was being shielded by Graham and Hobbes, and said calmly.

"What do you want to do, Lambert?"

Baron Graham frowned and asked in a deep voice.

The priest's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile:

“Very good. Miracles belong to the Sanctuary, and the gifts of the Supreme Will must be guided by the Sanctuary. We must bring this person back to the Sanctuary so that His Holiness the Bishop may personally verify his mission of resurrection.”

After he finished speaking, the two deacons of the Holy Blood Church behind him immediately stepped forward.

"Halt!" Baron Graham stepped forward, his towering figure blocking the church personnel like an iron tower, his longsword pointing in his right hand: "This is my territory, and Sherwin Mireco is my subject... No one may take him away before the situation is clarified!"

"Graham."

Lambert's face instantly darkened, his voice rising in a threatening tone: "Are you defying the Holy Temple's will? Obstructing the Holy Temple's actions is tantamount to heresy! Do you want the entire Black Sand Territory to bear the wrath of the Supreme Will?!"

Baron Graham snorted coldly, showing no fear:

"All I know is that it is my duty to protect my people from injustice on my territory... If the Holy See truly has a mandate, please send the bishop with official documents, not have a priest standing here giving orders. Now, please leave!"

Lambert narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Baron Graham, and finally squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "Very well, Your Excellency, you will pay the price for your arrogance today! Let's go!"

He turned away angrily, his red robe fluttering, and quickly left with his men.

Watching the church members walk away, Hobbes, who had been tense all along, finally breathed a sigh of relief, but his face showed even more worry: "Your Excellency, the Holy Blood Church... they won't let this go."

Baron Graham sheathed his longsword, his expression unchanged: "I know."

That's it.

He turned to Wang Xi, his gaze softening: "Xiwen... although you've lost your memory, Black Sand Territory will always be your home. How about coming back to town with me? Perhaps the familiar surroundings will help you remember something."

Wang Xi thought for a moment and then nodded: "Thank you, Baron."

He does need to understand the world, and integrating into it is the first step.

Olivia did not stop her, but quietly advised before parting: "Be careful of the Holy Blood Church. If you sense anything is wrong, return to the monastery immediately. There are miracle prayers personally arranged by the high-ranking members of the Celestial Church there that can protect you from harm."

"thank you, I know now."

Wang Xi responded softly.

Immediately afterwards, surrounded by the crowd, he left the dilapidated monastery.

The group followed the winding dirt road downhill and entered the small town built at the foot of the mountain, Black Sand Ridge.

What Wang Xi saw was shocking.

The road was a bumpy, muddy road, and the sewage that had accumulated after the rain was mixed with livestock excrement, emitting a foul stench and attracting buzzing flies.

The houses on both sides were mostly low wooden and stone structures with mottled walls and roofs covered with thick, dark-colored thatch. The windows were small and covered with greasy, yellowed animal hides or rags.

An indescribable stench of decay permeated the air.

Most of the people were emaciated and dressed in patched burlap clothes. Many had sickly flushed or dull faces, and their eyes were numb and desperate.

Coughing echoed from the dark doors and windows. Occasionally, a corpse wrapped in straw mats could be seen being carried out, while crows circled low, cawing ominously.

The entire territory was shrouded in the shadow of desolation, poverty, and disease.

In the center of the town, there is a small, relatively flat open space, which serves as a square. At the edge of the square stands a weathered wooden sign.

Wang Xi glanced at it as he passed by.

He noticed a bounty posted above, personally issued by Baron Graham, seemingly offering a large reward for a doctor or effective medicine to cure the plague.

At this moment, Hobbes, who was accompanying them, noticed Wang Xi's gaze and leaned closer to explain: "Baron Graham is a truly good lord, who gives his all for his people."

His tone was respectful, then turned somber: "But this angered the Blood Church. They believed the plague was a punishment for unfaithful faith, and that only sincere prayer, sacrifice, and a miracle from the Highest Will could remove it."

"Seeking 'ordinary' medicines and doctors is seen as blasphemy and heresy by them. That's why the Baron's relationship with the Holy Blood Church has always been tense."

Wang Xi listened silently, his gaze sweeping over the scribbled handwriting and Baron Graham's seal on the notice board, then over the emaciated people and the distant Church of the Holy Blood, which stood out starkly against the surrounding ruins with its brand-new stone walls and stained-glass windows. He gained a deeper understanding of the distortion of this world.

Graham led them to a slightly larger wooden house next to the square.

Before even entering, one could hear suppressed groans and coughs coming from inside. The sweet, pungent smell of plague was particularly strong in the air.

"This is a temporary place for seriously ill patients."

Graham's voice was heavy with sorrow.

"Everyone should wear the 'fragrant handkerchiefs' distributed by the 'Compassion Mutual Aid Association' and cover their mouths and noses to avoid contracting the plague."

After he finished speaking, a subordinate handed Wang Xi a white, warm, damp cloth that smelled pleasant and seemed to have been soaked in some kind of unique medicinal solution.

With Wang Xi's strength, although he was not afraid of the so-called "plague", he still followed suit and covered his mouth and nose with a white cloth.

Pushing open the door, I entered; the light was dim.

The room was quite spacious, but it was crammed with simple straw mat beds. Dozens of patients were curled up on them, some unconscious, some writhing and groaning in pain, with festering sores visible on their skin.

Several young men and women dressed in rough white linen robes and covering their mouths and noses with "fragrant towels" were moving between the hospital beds.

They moved gently, wiping the sweat from the patient's forehead, administering cloudy medicine, or simply holding the patient's hand and whispering prayers.

His eyes were focused but tired, yet he uttered not a single complaint.

Instead, it revealed a sacred and compassionate expression.

Wang Xi keenly noticed that there were faint, strangely shaped, pale gold scars shimmering on the wrists, necks, or occasionally exposed skin of these people in white.

They are all "gifted persons" who possess some of the power of miracles.

"Melancholy Mutual Aid Association Member - Nellie (Friendly/High-Rank One Star)"

"Compassionate Mutual Aid Association Member Federico (Friendly/High-Rank Two Star)"

"..."

The entry appeared clearly in Wang Xi's mind.

'Compassion Mutual Aid Society?'

Wang Xi thought to himself.

'It must be an organization with extraordinary power.'

He stood aside, observing quietly.

The small miracles performed by these Compassion Mutual Aid members seemed to slightly alleviate the patients' pain and form a faint protective aura, granting them immunity to the plague.

However, faced with such a raging disease, the power of small miracles is woefully inadequate.

The wailing did not stop; the heavy aura of death still enveloped the place.

Wang Xi's arrival and departure went unnoticed by those inside, who remained focused on caring for the suffering person before them.

Soon, he followed Lord Graham deeper into the town.

As they passed the brand-new Church of the Holy Blood, Hobbes leaned closer again: "...The Church of the Holy Blood has issued 'decrees' to all nations, requiring them to build their churches."

“But absurdly, every church has a ‘shrine of confession.’ They say that no matter what sins you commit, even murder, theft, or adultery, as long as you pray sincerely in front of the shrine, your sins will be absorbed and you will be forgiven.”

"The Baron abhors this, believing it to be tantamount to encouraging crime. How can such a thing be? Murderers don't have to pay with their lives, and prayers solve everything... No wonder the world is becoming more and more chaotic, and people's hearts are becoming more and more wicked. This is not salvation, it is condoning evil!"

"Shut up, Hobbes!"

At this moment, Baron Graham, who had overheard the whispers, stopped and turned around sharply, shouting at them.

"If these words get out, I won't be able to save you!"

"Understood... Your Excellency."

Hobbes then reluctantly shut up.

Wang Xi didn't participate in the discussion, only feeling a sense of absurdity welling up inside him.

It's getting dark.

Looking around at the desolate, painful, and desperate scene, a thought flashed through Wang Xi's mind.

He wanted to give it a try.

So, amidst the puzzled looks of the crowd, they walked to a relatively open area in the center of the square.

Wang Xi flipped his hand over.

There was a flash of golden light.

—"Philosopher's Stone"

The immense energy within the multifaceted ruby ​​surged forth, flowing into his body and transforming into magical power.

Wang Xi immediately activated "The Greatest Madness and Dance".

Roar! !

A lion's roar suddenly rang out, shocking Baron Graham, Hobbes, and the surrounding people.

Immediately, a seven- or eight-meter-tall white lion phantom appeared behind Wang Xi.

"W-what is this?"

"It's a miracle by Xiwen!"

Wang Xi stood with his feet apart, his body slightly lowered, and his arms moved in a rhythmic and powerful manner.

Accompanied by the sounds of gongs and drums and the laughter of children, the white lion began to dance in sync with his every move.

Clang clang!
bang bang bang!
His steps were sometimes steady, sometimes agile, and his arms were spread wide and open, as if driving away invisible evil spirits or summoning good fortune.

The drumbeats resounded in all directions, and the majestic lion leaped forth, breaking through the mortal realm.

Picking green branches brings good fortune, and the disappearance of miasma and the avoidance of disaster.

hum-

The phantom of a white lion holds a jade leaf in its mouth and blinks its golden eyes at the surroundings.

Centered on Wang Xi, a circle of golden light, visible to the naked eye, rippled outwards like water, quickly spreading to the entire square and even enveloping the nearby streets and the wooden house where the patient was housed.

After the golden light shone upon the people suffering from the plague, a miracle occurred...

The pus-filled sores on the patients' bodies began to heal and scab over at a visible speed, the persistent high fever subsided rapidly, and the heavy coughing stopped abruptly, replaced by smooth breathing.

The faces that had been contorted by pain gradually relaxed, and the eyes that had been dulled by illness regained their vitality.

"Ah! My head doesn't hurt anymore!"

"Oh...that feels so good! I feel energetic again!"

"My God, has a miracle happened?!"

"Xiwen! It's Lord Xiwen! He has cured the patient!"

Exclamations, cries, and ecstatic cheers instantly swept across the entire Black Sand Territory.

In the square, along the streets, and inside the houses, all the patients bathed in the golden light and the people who witnessed it were trembling with excitement.

Pfft!Pfft!Pfft!
The people of Black Sand Territory, young and old, like waves of wheat being pushed down, all prostrated themselves in worship toward the dancing figure in the center of the square.

Their foreheads were pressed tightly against the cold, dirty ground, and they uttered the most sincere praise and prayers.

Hobbes stared in astonishment at the scene.

At this moment, Xiwen was so unfamiliar.

Baron Graham stood frozen in place, staring at the dancing figure, his heart filled with profound shock.

Miracle……

He witnessed a real miracle firsthand, which happened in Black Sand Territory.

At the very moment the people were bowing in worship, Wang Xi clearly felt the back of his other hand and both arms.

Three burning, stinging sensations followed in quick succession.

A new Stigmata has been created.

Three brand new stigmata.

'Just as I suspected, it was the feedback that triggered a miracle…'

Wang Xi said secretly.

In reality, what he used was not a "miracle," but a power originating from another world.

This is equivalent to exploiting a loophole.

Because according to the rules of this world, there is no magic or sorcery, only miracles possess extraordinary power.

Wang Xi created a non-existent "miracle" by curing the plague patients in Black Sand Territory with the "Lion Dance" avenue, thus gaining tremendous feedback.

'It seems I've discovered an incredible shortcut…'

He glanced around at the crowd kneeling and worshipping him, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)