259: Chapter 259 Faith

As Zhang Huaiyuan descended, the other examinees were simultaneously teleported to various locations across the planet.

"Good luck, there's actually a metal ore vein nearby."

A tall man gently touched the corner of his eye, and immediately, red scanning rays shot out from his pupils, quickly sweeping the surroundings.

"The limit is only 120 meters. Hmm... all modules above Level Two in my body have been canceled. Have I been weakened this much?"

The man tentatively tapped a joint on his left arm. Instantly, his skin peeled back, revealing metallic, lustrous bones. As he moved, they formed a high-speed rotating drill.

"That's a relief, the basic functions are still here."

A slight smile appeared on his face.

Similar to Zhang Huaiyuan, most technology-side Scholars, although they lacked convenient advancement methods like the 'empowerment stone', had generally undergone comprehensive modifications to their own bodies.

"I'll mine this small ore vein first and forge a simple mecha. But I need to be careful; the other half of the area has a massive life energy reaction, as if a powerful life form is slumbering..."

After a brief assessment of the situation, he quickly made his choice and walked toward the edge of the ore vein detected by his scanning eyes.

Ziii—!

With a slight whirring sound, a large hole was bored into the earth, revealing the black and gray mottled ore inside.

But just as he was about to descend to collect the ore, a voice filled with slight disappointment suddenly sounded:

"Tsk, I thought it was some treasure, turns out it's just some black gold ore. It seems the power of destiny's favor has also been weakened..."

"Who's there?!"

The man's red electronic eyes flickered, and he suddenly turned around. The drill in his hand quickly shifted, transforming into a metal long saber over a meter long.

He saw a graceful figure in divine robes standing on the treetop not far away.

"It's you!"

Upon clearly seeing the person approaching, the man's heart turned cold.

Saintess Jiang Nian of the Holy Light Monastery.

The contestant who ranked just below Zhang Huaiyuan in the first round of assessment, and also the absolute core of the Holy Light Monastery.

Even fully prepared in the outside world, he would definitely not be her match, let alone in this current situation.

"How could this be? A 0.023% probability, and I still run into her. Damn it."

While he was anxiously calculating in his mind, a white ball of light flew toward him.

The man only had time to hold his metal long saber horizontally in front of him. The next moment, the light ball descended upon it.

Bang!

The long saber shattered upon impact, and the residual energy struck him directly.

The immense impact instantly sent him flying several meters. A fist-sized hole appeared in his chest, vaguely showing numerous sparking electrical circuits inside.

"Holy Light Bullet has been weakened this much?"

The woman floating on the treetop frowned slightly as she watched the man who was still able to move.

One had to know that given her status, using the power of Holy Light would inherently receive a massive boost from the Heavenly Merit Status. Yet now, she couldn't even instantly kill an ordinary modified human, showing just how much her power had been reduced.

On the other side...

The heavily injured Time Book House student struggled to stand up.

Fortunately, his body had undergone modifications, possessing a total of three artificial hearts for energy supply; otherwise, he would have been finished with that single blow.

However, the current situation didn't seem much different.

He looked at the light ball condensing in the opponent's hand again, feeling a surge of despair.

"I was already holding back the team in the last round; am I going to be the first to die this round too? Damn it... Even if I die, I, Aloa, will make you pay a price!"

His eyes turned cold, and he barely managed to pick up a piece of the shattered saber blade. He fiercely slashed his other side of the chest.

Ugh...

With a muffled groan, he endured the intense pain and dug out one of his mechanical hearts. He quickly adjusted a few circuits within it and then forcefully threw it in another direction.

—This direction was precisely where he had previously detected the powerful slumbering life form.

But at the same time, a new Holy Light Bullet struck again.

Without the protection of the metal long saber, it was predictable that being hit this time would mean certain death.

But Aloa didn't even look, his eyes fixed intently on the modified heart rolling on the ground.

Boom!

With a violent explosion, dust filled the air.

A giant black shadow roared in anger and burst out from underground.

Over ten meters long and covered in thick scales, it turned out to be an Earth Dragon!

Although this kind of fantasy-side creature was far less powerful than a true dragon, to them, who had just descended without any weapons, it was undoubtedly a terrifying boss.

"Hahaha... Let's die together, ha...!"

Seeing this, Aloa laughed maniacally, but the next moment, he was struck by the Holy Light Ball, his entire body exploding, losing all signs of life.

"So that was the calculation..."

The woman on the treetop slowly drifted down, disdainfully waving her hand to sweep the flesh mixed with metal circuits toward the Earth Dragon.

Roar!

The Earth Dragon seemed to feel insulted and roared angrily again, preparing to attack.

Its body, over ten meters long, tensed up, revealing an undeniably savage aura.

The woman, however, seemed completely unfazed. She tilted her head and looked displeased, muttering somewhat reluctantly:

"Such an unpleasant roar... Oh well, given the limited conditions, consider yourself lucky. You can serve as transportation for now..."

...

"Holy Light Monastery examinee Jiang Nian has successfully killed one participant. The friendly faction's score increases by ten points."

At the same time, in the square of a dilapidated village...

A Missionary who was standing in the center, speaking eloquently, suddenly paused, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"As expected of Her Highness the Saintess, solving an opponent this quickly. It seems I also need to speed up my progress and meet up with Her Highness soon."

A fervor and piety appeared in his eyes, and the voice from his lips became increasingly gentle:

"The Holy Lord pities all living beings..."

"The Holy Lord guides the lost..."

The soft voice clearly echoed in everyone's ears, penetrating deep into their hearts.

More and more villagers gathered in the center of the square.

Most of them were initially dismissive, but as they listened closely, everyone's faces showed peaceful smiles, and their expressions grew increasingly devout.

When the Missionary in the center recited the Holy Scripture for the third time, the first batch of villagers who arrived also began to recite along.

"The Holy Lord pities all living beings..."

"The Holy Lord guides the lost..."

By the fifth repetition, the entire village was filled with devout praises.

"Devout believers, you have now become emissaries favored by the Divine, bearing a lofty mission..."

"Go forth, and spread the glory of the great Holy Lord to every corner of the world..."

"Do not fear death; the sacred angels will personally guide us to the eternal paradise..."

"We shall live forever under the favor of the Holy Light..."

As the Missionary's gentle voice sounded again...

The villagers, as if possessed, parted a path for the Missionary to pass through, and then followed him with fanatical expressions toward the nearest other village.

As they walked, they continuously recited the 'Holy Scripture':

"The Holy Lord brings light..."

"The Holy Lord protects peace..."