Chapter 888: Chapter 885: "Deity." (Thanks to Alliance Hierarch "Yan_Cheng")
Su Ming’an walked into the church.
Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, reflecting on the walls etched with ancient legends. Dust floated in the air like fireflies, clear and sparkling. He saw a dozen young female students sitting on the benches, engrossed in their reading, their voices resonating.
The female students were initially wary of the stranger, but upon seeing Su Ming’an’s face, they quickly relaxed. f.(r)eew ebnov\
"Wensheng, you’re here to see the Godfather again today?" A female student with a ponytail stood up: "He’s inside."
"Yes." Su Ming’an nodded.
"Wensheng brother, the talisman you taught me before, there are still some parts I don’t understand. Could you guide me again?" Another short-haired female student asked. A name tag hung around her neck, which read "Jiang Xiaosan."
Su Ming’an understood the situation—it seemed these female students were under the protection of the Godfather, having possibly lost family in the war, left homeless. If left alone in the city, they could encounter misfortune at any time. But the Godfather sheltered them, allowing them to live and study in the safest church, with occasional talisman lessons from Su Wensheng.
Su Ming’an glanced at the talisman Jiang Xiaosan held, which happened to be "Matrix Orders: Stillness," one he knew. He exchanged a few words with Jiang Xiaosan, who showed a grateful expression.
"Oh, that’s how it is, thank you, Wensheng brother!" Jiang Xiaosan smiled.
The other students immediately crowded around, asking Su Ming’an for guidance, but Su Ming’an was not the original Su Wensheng. His basics were shaky, unable to handle them.
"I’ll go find the Godfather first." Su Ming’an turned around and escaped.
"The Godfather is inside, chatting with a guest." The ponytailed female student named "Jiang Yunmeng" informed Su Ming’an.
"Wensheng brother, the college entrance exam is a few days away, let’s go together then." Jiang Xiaosan said shyly.
"I know." Su Ming’an looked at the main quest. The previous one, "Have Su Luoluo’s fan count reach ten thousand," had already been completed.
...
[Perfect Pass Task · Third Step: "College Entrance Exam"]
Task Requirement: Participate in the college entrance exam and get into North Qing University. During this period, be sure not to expose any of your other vest identities.
Task Reward: 5% Perfect Pass progress
Task Note: The third step requires you to get into North Qing University as an ordinary student to connect with more talents. My dear Wensheng.]
...
Su Ming’an encountered, for the first time, such meticulous guidance from task hints. The first step was to "go to the library to study talismans," the second step was "to have Su Luoluo’s fan count reach ten thousand and gain her trust," and the third step was "get into North Qing University via the college entrance exam." These tasks seemed unrelated but allowed for a clearer storyline.
—As if truly depicting Su Wensheng’s "life." First learning, then spending time with good friends, followed by college exams. Would the fourth step be job hunting?
Su Ming’an bid farewell to the female students and headed straight to the inner part of the church, where there was a large compartment with faint sounds of conversation; it seemed the Godfather was inside.
Su Ming’an paused for a moment, listening to the conversation inside.
"...Bishop. If an apple claims it’s an apple, its exterior is apple, societal perception is apple, and self-perception is also apple, then even if its essence is pear, it is still an apple now." The speaker’s voice was clear and elegant, reminiscent of silky textures and carrying a unique charm.
Su Ming’an felt the accent was familiar—wasn’t this the tone of Player Boris?
What are they discussing? Fruit?
"Boris." The Godfather’s voice emerged, clear as jade beads falling, contrasting sharply with Boris’s pretentious elegance: "If only society and appearance fix it as an apple, yet it consistently claims to be a pear?"
Boris laughed lightly: "What does that matter? If the whole world thinks it’s an apple, then what is it? It can only be an apple. No matter how much it emphasizes or claims to be a pear, even if its essence truly is pear, everyone will pronounce it an apple."
"Can’t be changed no matter what?" The Godfather asked.
"Difficult to change no matter what." Boris said.
"If this ’apple’ were strong enough, able to use force or even the power of faith to alter the public’s perception, forcing them to verbally admit it’s a pear?" The Godfather asked.
Boris chuckled, his laughter deep like red wine slowly poured into a glass.
"Then—it’s as it believes it to be. It says it’s a pear, and so people must see it as a pear. Even if it says it’s a grape, a peach, or a synthetic watermelon, people can only acknowledge its self-perception, and societal perception will change along with its words." Boris’s voice paused, infused with a more infectious smile: "This strong enough apple can alter the public’s perception, leading to ’pointing at a deer and calling it a horse.’ Every newborn will be educated by adults: ’Look at that apple-like thing; it is actually a pear. If you don’t believe, our entire family will be declared heretics, so you must believe that thing is a pear,’ thus ensuring ’apple’ becomes ’pear,’ stretching through human history for tens of centuries, with humans referring to it as ’pear’ in historical records."
Su Ming’an listened to the two conversing riddles. It seemed they were using metaphors and implications to discuss the issue of deity worship.
If humanity’s "destiny" is arranged by deities, then "apple" is destined to live as "apple" and die accepting the fate of being an "apple." Though it could have had the chance to become "pear," the possibility was stripped away by societal perception. The cause of all this—was humanity’s naive faith, which solidified the so-called "societal perception."
Humans naturally perceive the world with five senses, regardless of whether something is real. Human cognition is constructed, determining the values of perpetrators and victims through binary opposition. Identifying what is "apple," what is "pear," is precisely the same.
Suddenly, there was a slight sound inside, Boris seemed to stand up: "Bishop Li, this conversation was enjoyable, but will you persist in serving deities? I founded the church named ’Lighthouse’ in Queen Blanche’s Ascend Kingdom, dedicated to resisting destiny. If you can help us, perhaps deities are not invincible."
The Godfather sighed softly: "You don’t understand the enemy you face, nor comprehend the world’s vastness. Viewing the sky from the bottom of a well, you’re still a frog; I apologize for being unable to assist."
"Do you think deities are unbeatable?" Boris’s voice displayed some annoyance.
"Possible. But you’re not enough." The Godfather said.
"I’m not enough? Then who do you think is enough? Yi Zhongyu from Dream Patrol Family? Yang Family’s army mastering ancient talisman traditions? Or the Sect Hierarch of the Old Day Church? Alliance Hierarch of the Human Self-Rescue Alliance? Which of them is better than me?" Boris coldly laughed hearing the Godfather’s disregard. Having come only upon hearing about the church leader in this abandoned city being powerful, he tried recruiting, not expecting such arrogance.
"Billions of ’you’." The Godfather said.
Boris fell silent for a long time.
With that sentence blocking all replies, Boris no longer conversed with the Godfather but instead pushed open the door.
As Boris pushed open the door, he coincidentally collided with Su Ming’an waiting outside. Boris glanced, directly bypassed Su Ming’an, failing to recognize him.
Su Ming’an looked, feeling complex and indescribable—Boris was dressed in an extremely lavish robe. Red silk served as the base, with golden threads radiating across it, outlining a straight lighthouse, and the words "Lighthouse Church" stitched on the back. He also held a gold lighthouse scepter about one and a half meters long, appearing exceptionally holy.
It looked odd.
Su Ming’an glanced again; it was still very strange.
No idea what Boris was playing at.
Boris didn’t notice Su Ming’an’s gaze and walked out.
"...Is it Wensheng at the door?" a cold voice from the Godfather came from inside the room: "Come in."
Su Ming’an stopped looking at Boris and entered inside. Facing him was a giant stained glass—depicting the emerald-eyed angel descending to the mortal world, reaching out to the demon in the abyss.
A man in pure white stood before the stained glass. Sunlight streamed through the glass onto him, shimmering with colorful light spots, as if invisible white wings were slowly unfolding along the clear sunlight on his arms.
"Sit." The Godfather turned around, revealing a face as jade-like.
At this moment, Su Ming’an discovered something astonishing—the Godfather before him, with pure white hair, pure white eyes, no trace of any color on his entire body, as if an angel had descended to the mortal world—this man was identical to the State Preceptor Li Ming Yue in the game "Louyue Nation."
"How have you been lately?" the Godfather asked.
"...Alright." Su Ming’an replied.
"Hmm." The Godfather responded, looking at the thick book in his hand, without raising his head.
Su Ming’an sat for a while, never hearing the Godfather’s next sentence. He raised his head, and the Godfather still stood by the stained glass, looking at the book in his hand, as if he had forgotten Su Ming’an sitting here. This self-absorbed posture was identical to the State Preceptor in the game.
"Godfather..." Su Ming’an whispered.
"Hmm?" The Godfather turned his head slightly.
He looked very young, though he was Su Wensheng’s Godfather. He only seemed a few years older than Su Wensheng, as if eternally youthful. His white pupils gave a sense of daze, as if they could reflect all the colors in the world.
"Louyue Nation..." Su Ming’an only uttered these three words and stopped speaking, hoping the Godfather would take over this topic.
However, the Godfather just looked at him quietly, like an elder waiting for the younger generation to speak. There was no sign of impatience on his face, as if even if they stayed stiff till the end of time, he wouldn’t say a word.
"Louyue Nation’s State Preceptor Li Ming Yue." Seeing the Godfather not taking over the conversation, Su Ming’an had to finish the words himself: "Is that you?"
"Are you sure you want me to answer this question?" the Godfather said.
At this moment, Su Ming’an’s sense of crisis suddenly wavered.
"No, never mind." Su Ming’an immediately denied.
This is a world filled with [rules]. He suspected that if he rashly asked questions he shouldn’t, he might also break some [rules]. Since becoming the "Bai Shen" occupation, he was particularly sensitive to human emotions and crises.
"But I can answer part of your question." the Godfather said.
Su Ming’an sat upright.
"There once was a bewildered child, forgetful, easily losing things. So every time he went to the school, he’d quietly copy the lessons onto his arm and belly, thus avoiding detection at the door by the book-fearing old scholar. This child, upon leaving the school, spread the lessons out, allowing people worldwide to read books. Therefore, people in the world all possessed wisdom and knowledge, no longer toiling as ignorant peasants." the Godfather said.
Su Ming’an was still listening intently when the Godfather suddenly stopped, with no conclusion.
...What was this? A story, a metaphor, an insinuation?
Su Ming’an paused, secretly memorizing this story.
"By the way, I’m here this time because a deity wants to speak with you." the Godfather said.
"Hmm?" Su Ming’an was puzzled.
...Deity?
"Prepare yourself; I’ll invite Him." the Godfather said.
"Wait..." Su Ming’an realized the Godfather’s meaning and immediately reached out to stop him.
He wasn’t prepared at all!
Originally, he thought he would only meet the ultimate big BOSS, the deity, at the last moment, not fifteen days later, or twenty days later—by then he would have fully developed and conquered the earth, surrounded by powerful comrades, with clues and the plot mostly explored—and now, on the second day, the deity would be confronting him directly?
What difference is this from the ultimate BOSS blocking people in the Newbie Village?
Su Ming’an was about to speak when he saw the Godfather closing his eyes.
Sunlight streaming through the stained glass fell onto the man’s white hair, as if it were about to melt into the transparent morning light. The man’s eyes closed for a brief moment, and when he reopened them, he seemed no different from the previous second.
"Godfather, wait a bit before inviting the deity; I need to prepare." Su Ming’an grabbed the Godfather’s hand to prevent him from performing any invocation action.
The Godfather lowered his head, his gaze wandering over Su Ming’an’s hand, his eyes deepening slightly.
"Su Wensheng?" the Godfather’s voice was cold.
"..." Su Ming’an instantly understood, fearing the person before him had already changed—now the one speaking to him was this world’s "deity."
The one who mercilessly crushed Yvette with a steel frame, turned countless believers into fanatics, arranged the fate of countless humans unto death—the cold, ruthless, powerful "deity." His dominion over faith surpassing Rin, possessing a world scope far exceeding Little Love, even terrifying deep-sea tentacle monsters were His subordinates, making Him the most fitting to be called "God" unit that Su Ming’an had seen thus far.
Impossible to imagine His power, impossible to imagine His weaknesses, impossible to imagine His essence.
Facing the deity’s cold gaze, Su Ming’an shook his head, pondering slightly.
"No, I am the Lighthouse Sect Leader." Su Ming’an said.
The deity displayed a visible astonishment, a face saying "What are you talking about."