Starting with the awakened Poison God: I choose the Master Thief.

"No? With your strength, kneeling for only about half an hour shouldn't have caused your legs to go numb, right?"

Mina stopped what she was doing and looked at Chu Ci with a reproachful expression.

"What do you know? I'm not like those followers. Do you think the power of faith in prayer is generated out of thin air? It needs to be gathered by the followers themselves. I used almost all my power to gather the power of faith, which is why I was weak for a while."

The power of faith? So those orbs of light were the power of faith! Chu Ci suddenly realized.

During prayer, there seemed to be more orbs of light around Mina. He initially thought it was because she appeared devout as a saintess, but it turned out that she needed to make real sacrifices behind the scenes.

"That's not right. If excessive prayer can lead to weakness, how did you manage before?"

!!!

Mina, whose back was to Chu Ci, suddenly shuddered.

"Hmm? You don't actually just kneel there like that every day waiting for your strength to recover... Pfft!"

Chu Ci's mouth was suddenly forcibly covered, preventing him from speaking.

Mina was now standing in front of him, her golden eyes glaring at him menacingly.

"Stop talking, do you hear me!"

"Mmm!"

Chu Ci nodded quickly and made an OK sign. Mina reluctantly let go of her hand, turned around and walked to the statue, fiddling with something and muttering to herself.

"Hmph! Those idiots, every time they finish praying they just leave on their own, leaving me all alone here, and they even say things like, 'As expected of the Holy Maiden, she is truly devout, and we should all take her as our role model!'"

"They're all just talk. When they pray, most of them are only willing to barely condense a single orb of faith, not even a sliver of extra power. If it weren't for them, would I have to kneel for an extra half hour every time? Honestly!"

puff!

Chu Ci couldn't help but turn her head and smile.

"You're still laughing! Is it that funny?!" Mina knew this was a lost cause, so she simply ignored Chu Ci and complained a few times.

"Haha, I just couldn't resist. By the way, since everyone else is only gathering a little power, why don't you try to expend less too? Or is it really just because of your status as a saintess that you're unwilling to do so?"

Chu Ci didn't believe it at all. Just based on the fact that this guy threatened her in the ruined ancient capital, she was seriously deviating from the image of a saint she had imagined.

Mina paused for a moment, and stopped what she was doing.

"Of course not, or rather, that's only part of the reason. As a saintess of the Holy See, she naturally has to set an example, but there are other reasons as well."

That was the end of the conversation. The girl continued with what she was doing. Chu Ci couldn't see her behind the statue, but he knew she probably didn't want to discuss the matter any further, so he decisively chose to keep quiet.

Neither of them spoke, and the atmosphere grew slightly cold.

"By the way, is there something you need my help with that you came to see me so quickly?"

Perhaps to avoid embarrassment, Mina changed the subject.

"Oh, right! I almost forgot, I did come with some questions. Could you take a look at this for me first?"

Chu Ci took out the Demon Bead.

"What?"

Mina tilted her head and looked over from behind the statue. With her strength, this distance was nothing.

"Huh? Where did you get this?"

She frowned after just one glance and quickly walked over.

"Oh, it was me from..."

Chu Ci recounted his experiences outside the ruined ancient capital as briefly as possible. The girl seemed to realize something and nodded in sudden understanding.

"I see. It seems that this thing was deliberately used on the Wolf King by those Fallen Cult members in order to prevent some people from entering the ruined ancient capital."

"Of course, this Demonic Pearl is no ordinary item; it's a pretty good treasure. These guys were really generous, letting you get it for free."

"However, compared to something like the Pillar of Pride, it really is just a drop in the ocean, not worth mentioning."

As she spoke, the girl took the demonic bead from Chu Ci's hand.

She held the beads in her hands, and a soft golden light shone through her fingers. When she opened her hands, the originally purplish-black beads had turned pure white and translucent.

Here, take it.

Mina threw the magic bead to Chu Ci.

[Demon Bead] (Purified)

Effect: After use, attacks will permanently inflict a 50% critical injury effect.

Chu Ci looked at the bead in her hand; the demonic words that had been displayed in the effect had completely disappeared.

That was resolved so quickly! Truly worthy of the title "Saintess"! (Use)

[Ding, you have used the Enchanted Orb and gained a 50% critical injury effect.]

Suddenly, a "Severe Injury" effect appeared out of nowhere below the lifesteal bar on his panel.

Thanks!

Chu Ci's voice carried a hint of excitement.

"It's nothing, is there anything else? I'm in a good mood, so I'll take care of it for you all at once."

Mina slightly raised her swan-like neck and proudly patted her chest.

"Um... I probably can't help you with what comes next. I need to find your grandfather, Bishop Krend."

...The girl was stunned for a moment, then looked at Chu Ci with a resentful gaze, as if to ask, "I was all ready to accept the test, and this is what you're telling me?"

Chu Ci awkwardly turned his head away, deliberately avoiding looking at her.

Although she was very unwilling, the girl had no choice but to accept the fact.

"Alright, I'll take you to see Grandpa after I finish what I'm doing. Don't worry, it'll be quick."

After saying that, she went back behind the statue and started fiddling with it again.

Chu Ci didn't keep up. Although Mina didn't restrict his freedom, he still felt that he should stay here.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but while waiting, he noticed that all three statues seemed to be emitting a faint light, with the one wearing the hat being the brightest. However, the halo around it seemed to have diminished a bit.

"Alright, let's go."

Mina's turn was over quickly, and in her hand floated a round container made of an unknown metal, which seemed to contain some unknown power.

Chu Ci wasn't stupid; considering the slightly dimmed light of the statue, he quickly made a guess.

"Could these be the illusory orbs of light inside, the so-called power of faith? But shouldn't the Vatican collect this power of faith to offer to the gods they worship? If the statues can preserve this power, why take it out?"

"And I remember Bishop Klund saying when discussing this topic that the gods disappeared countless millennia ago, so what is the purpose of them collecting the power of faith?"

"No, I'm having more and more questions."