Chapter 1080: Chapter 49: Cult Duel
The answer is yes.
The level 5 Mysticology trial is still selected from tasks, just with a moderate increase in difficulty: from 1 credit, 1 squad point to 2 credits, 2 squad points, restricting solo completion.
The effect range of the Sequence Potion has not been outgrown.
The next day, Kiluat, Yege, and Naxi went to the task hall. Near noon, they waited for Lu Li and the Gatekeeper to return from completing their tasks.
Mysticology level 5, Lu Li entered the tenth day of middle grade.
There are two months until Kiluat advanced to higher grade, and he is only level 6, which is nearly the peak of middle grade—level 7 belongs to the domain of higher grade.
Lu Li’s talent made the team in the task hall restless, especially the team that witnessed Lu Li complete the level 4 trial yesterday.
Although they didn’t know the details.
Even if it might offend Lu Li, even if they couldn’t get Lu Li to join their squad, they had to try—
The first to trouble them was the Viper Squad. Before Lu Li could unite with the Holy Light Squad, they approached Lu Li. Their captain, who exuded a damp, venomous, and snake-like presence, proposed a duel to Kiluat.
“I refuse.”
Of course, Kiluat wouldn’t agree. Their strength was quite different, especially since Kiluat was skilled in combat and protection rather than one-on-one duels.
As for possibly damaging his reputation by refusing the duel? Ever since Lu Li joined, the Holy Light Squad had gained notoriety within the trunk layer—even the complacent squads from the higher grades were mocking them, speculating that Lu Li would join them once he reached higher grade.
The Viper Squad captain, Gienegarde’s response was to take off his glove and throw it towards Kiluat’s face. Although Kiluat dodged the glove, a cold whisper resonated.
“I, Gienegarde, challenge you to a secret doctrine duel.”
The task hall erupted in gasps, Yege and Naxi glared fiercely.
At this moment, the returning Lu Li stood beside Kiluat, calmly looking at Gienegarde: “I will not leave the Holy Light Squad, nor will I stay in middle grade for long.”
In a month at most, as a level 6 or level 7 in Mysticology, he will proceed to higher grade study on [Curse Title Release].
Middle grade is just a transitional phase, even Professor Lu Li hadn’t understood it, except for Professor Grey.
“I accept your challenge.”
Yet Kiluat suddenly agreed to Gienegarde’s “secret doctrine duel.”
Kiluat was merely a Shallow Believer, but her family were devout believers. She couldn’t allow her family and church to be disgraced because of her.
“Three days later, in the duel hall, hope you don’t tarnish the glory of your church.” Gienegarde coldly hissed like a viper, gently bowed to Lu Li before leaving the task hall.
“Damn bastard…”
Yege clenched his fists, cursing through gritted teeth, he nearly couldn’t hold back rushing up and planting a punch on that hateful face—and he would likely succeed.
Only the Gatekeeper was right next to them, truly doing so would certainly land him in detention for a month.
“Let’s go back first.”
Kiluat lowered her eyes, calm like Lu Li.
Amid mocking, anticipation, sarcasm, sympathy, mixed emotional glances, the Holy Light Squad returned to their rest area.
“It’s all my fault… I shouldn’t have suggested everyone go to the task hall to pick up Lu Li.”
Naxi said guiltily. The cake was smeared with bird droppings, originally prepared to celebrate Lu Li’s level 5 achievement in Mysticology, but instead brought trouble.
Kiluat said nothing, once again sitting on Margaret’s bed.
“What is a secret doctrine duel?” Lu Li asked.
Naxi answered honestly: “It’s a duel between believers from different churches, staking their own and their church’s dignity, like a greatly weakened, less bloody holy war.”
“So behind the ‘fight’ for Lu Li, is there also the shadow of Gienegarde’s church?” Yege pondered. “Which church is Gienegarde from?”
“The Spider God Church.”
“I thought it would be a viper or some dark church…” Yege muttered, and Naxi urgently signaled him to be quiet.
“Don’t offend the church, they might sense it!”
Lu Li pondered quietly.
Naxi extended the conflict to the churches behind Kiluat and Gienegarde, reminding him of what Professor Chris warned days ago: Be wary of those churches. If they find you, they will spare no effort to win you over, control you, change your will, harvest your faith.
For now, they’re just coveting the prestige that Lu Li carries. But when they discover the faith surrounding Lu Li and the humanity in his body…
“So this secret doctrine duel is also a confrontation between two groups?”
Worried for quite a while, even taking a Basic Potion to check for curses or descending gazes, Yege asked again. “The Spider God Church will surely aid that bastard. Kiluat’s church should help her, right?”
“The Son of the Church has been contacting me,” Kiluat’s low murmur came from Margaret’s bed.
But she ignored them, because she clearly knew the reason the church suddenly contacted a Shallow Believer like herself—Lu Li.
Kiluat hoped the Holy Light Squad could remain pure, not entangled in the web of intrigues and interests surrounding Lu Li.
“If it really doesn’t work…” Naxi muttered.
“No way!” Yege interrupted Naxi abruptly: “We can’t sell out Lu Li. He trusted and joined us, and you want to betray him for the secret doctrine duel?”
“But we can’t win! Gienegarde has the whole church behind him. If Kiluat wins the duel, the disgraced Kiluat will… her family could even be punished and expelled by the church!”
If punishment was something Kiluat’s family could endure, expulsion was an unbearable blow—being expelled from the church marks one as an unbeliever and an apostate.
The former is a heretic, the latter a disgrace.
Since the Weird Times began to this Dark Era, unbelievers have always been heretics, apostates more reviled. Most people rely on faith in the church to hope for shelter and protection.
Those without faith are like sheep wandering outside the fence. When night falls, wolves easily pounce, tear them apart, or even don their skins to infiltrate the flock.
“Then we just need to ensure Kiluat wins! As long as the church’s reputation remains intact, the captain’s family won’t be expelled!”
“I’ve said we can’t win! That’s a whole congregation! A church incubating a Divinity!”
“We also have Lu Li!”
Merchant Anthony arrived then, bringing a letter. After Lu Li read it, he approached the door.
“Are you leaving me too…” Kiluat murmured despondently.
Her emotions weren’t quite right, but it was understandable considering the pressure she was under.
Out of nowhere, the conversation from when Lu Li first met Katerina suddenly came to mind—
“Are you always this way?”
“What way.”
“So silent, almost never speaking except to ask questions.”
“More or less.”
“You should try and change yourself, talk more.”
—and the final parting conversation in Insmouth Town.
“Remember what I said when we first met? You need to try and change yourself, don’t be so cold…”
“Try and change yourself…”
…
Looking at Kiluat’s sad and fragile face, Lu Li’s tone seemed to soften: “Fudote’s confinement is over, I’m going to the library to see her.”
“I’ll be back soon.”