Time moves to early July.
The Qilin's enhancement was gradual and gentle, so much so that scientific instruments could not detect any changes in its energy field. It roamed the world, observing everything that interested it from various perspectives.
A strange phenomenon is that when the Qilin is in this peaceful progression process, it seems unable to restrain its power, so wherever it goes, it is as if misfortune has been stripped away.
If a careful observer studies this, they will discover that during a certain period in the past, some cities or regions experienced a surprising number of accidents with zero incidents.
It's important to understand that the dense urban population means that every city is crammed with a large number of people and vehicles. Coupled with other hidden dangers, there are countless minor accidents, both visible and invisible. It's really difficult to avoid having zero accidents.
If you sit down and compare, you'll find that the accident-free areas are actually one after another, and when connected, they form a traceable route.
Later, after the Qilin flew out of the ground several times, this phenomenon gradually disappeared.
Wu You now has one more mid-level gold creature under his command, and it also possesses an ability unlike any other alchemical creature he has ever encountered before—blessing.
...
(I would like to solemnly clarify to friends of all religions that this book is a fictional world. Before the protagonist appears, the world in the book is set in an environment without magic or gods. Any content that appears is only for the plot of the novel and should not be taken as any reference to reality, nor does it represent the author's views. Thank you!)
When it comes to international influence, many people today might immediately think of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, followed by countries like Germany, Japan, and India.
But there is a small country that is often overlooked, yet it possesses the power to influence most countries in the world.
That is the Vatican, a state within a state.
On May 6th of this year, the Swiss Guard, as in previous years, recited the oath that has remained unchanged for more than four centuries.
Pope Peter Berger, however, was deeply concerned.
The Catholic Church is doing relatively well worldwide, but there is one worrying yet undeniable fact about it.
That is, as time goes by, young people's faith in God is becoming increasingly lacking amidst the dazzling pace of modern information.
Similarly, the Vatican is inevitably shifting from a religious holy site to a purely tourist attraction.
The scene of the Guards' oath recitation this year has further caused the Pope's concern.
Although the Holy Land's guards were still meticulous and their oaths were solemn and dignified, he felt that something was missing from their tone.
On that sleepless night, Peter suddenly sat up in bed.
He realized that what the guards lacked was conviction, not faith, but conviction.
Peter, now 75, believes that the young men are still religious, even if some of them are not extremely devout, they cannot be said to lack faith.
Being a knight in the guard was the highest honor in ancient times, and a knight should have the character and beliefs of a knight, be a sword and a shield, and also a beacon of light.
But nowadays, the young guards mostly see it as a job to make a living, and perhaps something to add to their resumes later on.
Perhaps previous popes didn't have to worry about these kinds of problems, but not now.
Because Peter knew that the world was changing.
As Pope, Peter naturally had his own channels of information, and the former Pope also used the internet.
He knew that the world was undergoing some kind of change, which could be just some upheaval like the doomsday prophecies of yesteryear, or it could be some kind of cataclysmic upheaval.
He had seen a lot of trivial news online, but many believers also shared their personal experiences with him.
Peter knew those people; they were true believers who would never lie to him, the Pope.
That means those events really did happen!
This undoubtedly served as a wake-up call for Peter, a thoughtful and idealistic man who always hoped to continue to promote Christianity in his own time.
However, the actual difficulties are more severe than expected. If things develop as I predicted, it is very likely that not only will the doctrine not be promoted, but even the existing achievements will gradually decline.
Especially the Druids, who have become increasingly active at some point, have had the Irish incident exaggerated and sensationalized, with countless Christians and Druids engaging in online "battles."
But through a reliable believer, Peter learned that the incident in Ireland might be true.
When other religions begin to display "miracles," and when things beyond the realm of reality become more and more frequent, a religion without any fantastical features loses its competitive edge for development.
So what about the "master"?
Peter couldn't sleep again tonight. He got out of bed, put on a coat, and went to the window.
The moon outside the window was bright, casting Peter's shadow as a line through the glass.
As someone who has dedicated my life to religious causes, I also chose to relieve my inner confusion through prayer on such an anxious night.
Every believer has the right to confess and plead their problems to a priest, but how can the pope show his sorrow?
"Lord! Perhaps the world is changing, or perhaps it isn't. As your devout follower, I feel lost. I know this is wrong, but if there is even the slightest possibility, I hope you can guide me. Amen!"
After finishing his prayers, Peter felt a wave of weariness wash over him and, dragging his no-longer-young body, decided to go back to bed.
Leave the worries for tomorrow.
But after taking only a few steps, Peter stopped.
I think I just heard a faint sound, but upon closer inspection, it seems like it was just my imagination.
But when he lay down on the bed, the sound rang out again.
It's not a hallucination!
"I heard a mysterious and melodious tune~"
"King David's playing pleased God."
"But you don't really care about music, right?"
...
"The tormented king writes Hallelujah!"
Hallelujah, hallelujah~
Hallelujah, hallelujah~
"Your faith is strong, but you need more evidence."
...
The singing was melodious yet rhythmic, and it was impossible to tell where it came from. Peter lay quietly in bed listening, as if his soul had found peace.
He knew the song; it was "Hallelujah" by a Canadian folk singer, and as a widely sung song, it was practically a Catholic hymn.
Who's singing? Is it a nun? She sings so well!
Normally, no noise or singing is allowed around the Pope's bedroom at night, but Peter did not intend to punish him; the singing brought him peace.
The melodious a cappella singing gradually faded away with the final notes.
Peter pulled the covers up; perhaps he could finally get a good night's sleep.
PS: Thank you to reader "珂珂几几牛" for another 10,000-yuan reward. Ugh, the name "麒麟" (Qilin)... anyway, I'm glad you didn't kill me.
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