After fumbling around for a while, Elias finally escaped that hidden, nearly nonexistent path and headed deeper into the dense forest, following the terrain.
Along the way, he casually disposed of the cultist's room key.
Around him, towering trees reached for the sky, blocking out most of the firmament; only scattered patches of moonlight dappled the ground, creating an eerie atmosphere.
The sight reminded him of the scene when he had first drunk the potion and attained an Audience.
It was just as silent, and just as hair-raising.
"Old Ed, how did you tell Captain Crowley was at least Scale Three?"
Elias walked with uneven steps, asking the question in his mind.
This problem had been bothering him for a while.
Back in the hotel lobby, the old ghost had said Crowley could kill him with a single punch, his tone as certain as if he had seen it with his own eyes.
"A Scale Two spell?"
Elias added suddenly.
After all, in this world full of scheming old bastards, if one couldn't accurately assess an opponent's strength, death wouldn't be far off.
He didn't want the next time he was haggling with someone to end with him being insta-killed by some 'big surprise' the other party suddenly pulled out.
"Not exactly,"
Edmond replied lazily.
"Do you remember the feeling of seeing the dream demon back on the island?"
"Of course I remember." Elias rolled his eyes.
"Try channeling your spirituality into your eyes,"
Edmond instructed.
"Not using 【Darkvision】 or anything like that, just let your spirituality coat the surface of your eyeballs."
Elias did so immediately.
This wasn't difficult for him.
As a cool flow of spirituality surged to his eyes, the world before him changed instantly.
It was no longer simple black-and-white night vision; the entire world seemed to have been fitted with a strange filter.
The trees, flowers, grass, and even the soil beneath his feet began to emit faint halos of varying colors.
Everything possessing spirituality was laid bare before these eyes.
"This is called 'Spirit Vision',"
Edmond explained.
"It is a basic skill for a transcendent, capable of seeing through simple illusions and concealments, as well as seeing the size of the spiritual halo on spiritual creatures."
"Remember when I said your spirituality was the size of a campfire back on the island?"
"Mm-hmm."
"I observed it using this method."
"However, the illusions and concealments that Spirit Vision can pierce only work against creatures with lower spirituality than yours."
"When you encounter high-spirituality creatures, like Crowley, you won't see a halo."
"What will I see then?"
Elias asked curiously.
"A blinding mass of light."
"Basically, something you can't look at directly."
As they spoke, the trees ahead suddenly parted to both sides without warning.
His field of vision opened up abruptly.
A massive, ruined cathedral with a distinct Gothic style sat there unexpectedly.
Tall black pines surrounded it like loyal sentinels, forcibly carving out a clearing deep in the dense forest where moonlight could pour down unhindered.
"Whoa!"
Elias stopped in his tracks, looking up at the gargantuan structure.
"It's huge!"
He marveled.
Even amidst the ruins and broken walls, one could still see its former glory; the towering spires pointed straight at the night sky, giving him a sense of déjà vu from when he had visited Notre-Dame de Paris in his previous life.
Except this place looked more like a battle-damaged version that had been burned and abandoned for a hundred years.
"They couldn't even be bothered to put up a proper entrance, just stuck a crappy sign by the road, but they built something this extravagant inside?"
Elias couldn't help but complain.
The contrast was too great; it was practically a scam.
"The Ascetic Grounds prioritize 'tranquility'; how can one be tranquil if the gates are crowded like a marketplace?"
Edmond retorted irritably.
"Besides, this place is for believers to practice, not a park selling tickets. Why would it need to show off?"
Elias nodded thoughtfully.
That made some sense.
After all, what legitimate organization hangs banners at the door every day to recruit new members?
Only pyramid schemes do that.
As he reached the massive, partially damaged oak doors.
Two acolytes dressed in grayish-white robes stood on either side like stone statues.
As Elias approached, the two of them looked up in unison, their expressionless eyes scanning him and revealing a strange look.
Presumably, they had never seen a believer coming for ascetic practice who still carried the lingering scent of blood.
However, they did not stop him.
After discerning the pure aura of the Moon Lord on Elias, the two of them silently worked together to push open the heavy cathedral doors.
Creak—
The sound of the hinges turning echoed far into the night.
The sight behind the doors refreshed Elias's perception once again.
The space inside was large, even spacious enough to be called cavernous.
On the high dome, which should have been dilapidated, hung a massive crystal chandelier. It dangled from above, and though no candles were lit, it emitted a soft, cold light of its own.
Clear, cold moonlight filtered through the well-preserved stained glass windows on the walls, casting a kaleidoscopic and surreal glow across the vast hall.
The moment he stepped inside.
Buzz—
Elias felt the effect of the 【Moonlight Blessing】 within his body surge once more.
This caused bouts of itching to emanate from his broken ribs and strained muscles.
That was the signal of cells frantically dividing and wounds rapidly healing.
"What a great place!"
Elias almost wanted to groan aloud; this was practically a natural, oversized medical device.
In his previous life, he hadn't had the chance to see those medieval European church buildings with his own eyes, yet he had encountered one in this other world, in a place he had criticized for being impoverished.
While pretending to walk slowly with his head bowed in piety, he secretly surveyed his surroundings.
His gaze eventually landed on the massive stained glass windows.
They depicted the three divine avatars of the Three-Phase Moon.
The Waxing Moon, representing 'spirituality', was a silver-haired young girl with vivid eyes; the Full Moon, representing 'warding', was a dignified and majestic silver-haired lady holding a shield and a longsword.
And the Waning Moon—representing the concept of the 'passage'.
She was also a girl.
However, she held a lantern in her hand, her face hidden in the shadow of a hood, revealing only a single strand of silver hair.
How did the prayer go again?
Herald? Guide?
Of course, these three aspects shared a common trait: they were all depicted with long silver hair.
"Hey, Old Ed."
Elias looked at the image of the Waxing Moon maiden; the more he looked, the more familiar she seemed.
"I think the little girl who haggled with me during the Audience might have been the maiden form of the Moon Lord."
"The hair color is different, but the expression..."
"You don't even remember what she looked like, yet you think you've got it!"
Edmond countered.
"Then why did she say my offering was wrong?"
Elias pressed.
"Your experience is unprecedented; who could possibly give you an answer?"
Edmond began to give up.
"Don't forget, I'm only a Scale Two."
"In the field of theology, I'm just an elementary schooler."
While the two of them were busy whispering in their minds even after arriving at the church.
On the rows of ancient pews flanking the cathedral, a dozen or so ascetics sat scattered about.
Most of them were meditating with their eyes closed, a faint spiritual glow radiating around them as if they had merged with the environment.
Suddenly.
One of the ascetics, a man with a full beard, snapped his eyes open. He frowned deeply and looked toward Elias with displeasure, barking in a low voice:
"Whose spiritual vision contains such impure thoughts?!"
"This is a place of asceticism! Not a marketplace!"
Though the voice wasn't loud, it created an echo in the cavernous cathedral.
Elias was startled.
He understood.
Translated, it meant: You're thinking too loudly!
"Keep it down!"
Edmond hurried to remind him in his mind, his voice kept extremely low.
"You're disturbing others."
"The environment here is special; the architectural structure can amplify the thoughts in your spiritual vision to the point where they can be perceived by others who are also in a state of meditation."
"Your brain is spinning like a windmill; to others, it sounds like cacophonous noise!"
"Even the mental channel doesn't work?!"
Elias was shocked.
"It doesn't! Any fluctuation of thought will be captured!"
"..."
Elias shut up immediately, even forcing his mind to go blank as he started counting sheep.
There was no choice; when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Since he was here to avoid investigation, he had to play the part of a humble grandson to the end.
He lightened his steps, like an elementary schooler who had done something wrong, and hurried down the corridor of the gathering hall with his head down, not daring to glance at the stained glass again.
It wasn't until he crossed the hall and reached a quiet corridor in the back.
The spiritual pressure here weakened slightly.
Only then did Elias breathe a sigh of relief and wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
"Can we talk now?"
He asked tentatively in his mind.
"Not even being allowed to think—that's a bit too advanced."
"Almost..."
Before Old Ed could finish his sentence.
Without any warning.
Elias felt a wave of heat in his eyes, and the deactivated 【Spirit Vision】 suddenly began to operate uncontrollably.
Immediately following that, the world around him changed.
The originally dim corridor walls began to fade and recede rapidly.
The passage became incredibly bright, as if coated in a layer of moonfrost.
And Old Ed's voice now sounded like it was coming through a thick layer of water, becoming dull and distant, like a voice from beyond the heavens.
The sound cut off completely.
The entire world seemed to have been put on mute.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
It was as if in all of heaven and earth, only Elias remained.
No.
When he subconsciously blinked his dry eyes.
Just five steps ahead of him.
A lady dressed in silver robes with a slender figure stood there quietly with her back to him.
Her long black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, shimmering with stardust-like brilliance in the light.
She seemed to have been waiting for him for a long time.
Elias instinctively took a step back, his hand reaching for his empty waist.
"The dream demon is acting up again?"
"Is the version rolling back?"
At the very moment this thought arose.
The lady turned around.
There was no process of turning.
In the blink of an eye, she was already standing right in front of Elias.
It was a face as beautiful as a divine statue.
Those brown eyes gazed quietly into Elias's terrified pupils.
Her red lips parted slightly, her voice cool and direct:
"Don't doubt it; it's just a hallucination."
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