Chapter 22 Contact with the Blood of the Candle
It was still version 1.0, and the "Phantom Demon Zhu Tiansi" had not yet descended and been defeated. The upper limit of the level of the Path of Devotion was only level 50. The highest level was the Eternal Pope of the Eternal Kingdom.
Aiwass conservatively estimated that Bishop Mathers should be at least level 39.
In Avalon, that's the pinnacle of the Arbitration Hall. A level higher would be the peak powerhouse of this world's current version—if we were to make a bold estimate, Bishop Mathers would probably already be above level 40, a supreme being who has touched the fifth level of power.
The cardinal of the Eternal Kingdom is no more than this.
But when Aiwas thought about what his adoptive father said to him before he left, he felt relieved.
This Bishop Mathers was the Supreme Bishop of the Candlelight Cathedral. In other words, he was the highest administrator of the Church of the Nine Pillars in Avalon.
If such a powerful person had not been directly impacted and killed in the subsequent turmoil in Avalon...
Then he probably changed his name and identity later.
Because Aiwass is real, there is no impression of Mathers at all.
The Eternal Kingdom is ruled by elves, so the pace of life is very slow. Not all humans can adapt to life there.
Two-thirds of the Church of the Nine Pillars' leadership are women, and over 90% are elves. The Pope who rules the Church rotates every three hundred years. The retiring Pope automatically becomes a Saint and must continue to travel the lands of the Church as an agent, bestowing gifts and mediating disputes until he is too old to walk. Only then will he return to the Church. Therefore, the only Pope who can hold the title of Pope is an elf.
Mathers was not only male but also human, a rare exception among the higher-ups of the Church. Aiwass remembered that such a person should not exist among the church's higher-ups.
Because the Nine Pillars Church has a special feature.
That's about face.
You don't have to be stunningly beautiful, but at least you can't be ugly.
Because the healing of the Path of Devotion requires physical contact with others, if the other party resists the treatment, the effectiveness of the treatment will be greatly reduced. In addition, "Sacrificial Fire" has a significant beautifying and youthful effect on the body, so the church's high-ranking officials are definitely not ugly.
But Bishop Mathers…
Is it because you are too old?
Aiwass's expression was a little subtle.
"Don't look at me, Aiwass. Look at the candle."
Noticing Aiwass's sudden glance at him, Bishop Mathers, who looked like a stern and strict class teacher, naturally said in a rather stereotypical and stern voice: "There is no light or fire on my face. You see, I am useless."
"yes."
Aiwass came back to his senses and responded obediently.
——Payment experience.
He confirmed it in his mind.
Bishop Mathers, seeing Aiwass come to his senses, slowed down his tone and continued to teach:
"Imagine that the pain, curses, deficits, and other negative factors within your body aren't a loss of something inherent in your body, but rather an increase in something negative within your otherwise balanced and healthy body. Think of it as a flowing, dark liquid, and use your mental power to move it to the position of your left middle finger.
"It's like fuel oil, like smoke. When it comes into contact with flames, it will hiss and dissipate..."
As he spoke, Bishop Mathers touched the flame with the middle finger of his left hand.
The ordinary flame suddenly became brighter.
A faint flame extended from his fingertips to his entire body, and his entire body seemed to be coated with a layer of flame film, shining with light.
The pain and aging of the old bishop disappeared as if time had gone back.
The wrinkles on his face were smoothed out, and his unnaturally pale hair regained its dark brown luster and elasticity, returning to its natural curls. His dark pupils, once cloudy and dark like solidified blood, also became brighter, like a darker amber.
His back became straight and his skin became white, clean and elastic.
He was getting younger at a speed visible to the naked eye, and only stopped when he was around thirty years old.
It wasn't about burning away the lesions or making the pain go away. It was about completely restoring the body to its "ideal state." It was like a completely refurbished electronic product—aside from the inevitable wear and tear on the battery, there wouldn't be a single sign of use.
And such a Mathers does not seem to be able to be called an "old bishop" in any way.
He pushed his hexagonal black-framed glasses and smiled smugly. Even his voice became younger:
"...It is just like this, Aiwass. This is Master Candle's gratitude and gift to us for our willingness to walk the path of dedication.
"Aside from the natural decline of their lifespan, they are free from illness and pain throughout their lives. Their bodies are always in peak condition, and therefore their lifespans are much longer than those of normal people. Even if they die of old age, it is not due to the complete and natural exhaustion of their lifespan, but rather due to premature aging caused by fatigue and wear and tear, and the subsequent acquisition of irreversible illnesses after their bodies become fragile.
"But we won't face such a situation. Mastering the fire ritual alone will grant us health and longevity—as Master Sizhu said, 'Those who live for others need not suffer.' Health is paramount, something those who follow other paths seek but cannot obtain. Nor can we share this gift with them.
"I'm already forty-six years old this year, but after using 'Sacrificial Fire' to recuperate my body, my appearance has been restored to that of someone who's not even thirty years old. My bones, muscles, nerves, and internal organs have all been restored to this level.
"If a person exercises adequately and takes good care of their body and mind, then theoretically they could be as young as me by the time they reach my age. This is the 'positive' change that 'Fire Worship' can bring about. Of course, ordinary priests still can't do what I do. They can only turn a negative number into zero, but they can't turn zero into a positive number."
Seeing Samuel Mathers's skillful use of the fire ritual gave him a near-rejuvenating effect.
Even Oswald showed an expression of surprise and admiration.
Bishop Mathers, who had regained his youth, smiled smugly upon seeing this.
Bishop Mathers has a good impression of Aiwass and is full of expectations for his future.
So he really hoped that Aiwass could firmly walk on the path of dedication.
He had previously deliberately consumed his own lifespan, making himself look unusually old—all for the sake of being able to perform this kind of performance at this very moment. Only when his appearance was old and frail could this "rejuvenation" leave a deep and unforgettable impression.
"Of course," Bishop Mathers added hastily, not wanting to undermine Aiwass's confidence. "You don't have to rush. Priests who have just begun practicing Fire Sacrifice are usually lucky to be able to replenish their physical strength somewhat. You were just sacrificed by the demon, so your vitality must have been somewhat depleted. That's why I prioritized teaching you Fire Sacrifice. This way, you can slowly replenish the vitality, blood, and lifespan lost through the sacrifice."
"Mastering the sacred arts is simple, but not instant. Generally speaking, 'Fire Worship' is mastered within five days, and I think you should be able to master it in two days. Illumination is much simpler and can be mastered immediately, so we'll cover it last. Blessing is the most difficult, and generally takes about a week to learn.
"So, this time I'll just teach you how to practice, and when you get home..."
Bishop Mathers was halfway through his speech when his words suddenly stopped.
Because he saw that Aiwass's pupils suddenly became empty.
Suddenly, a hint of crimson, like the setting sun, seeped into his deep blue eyes. It was like the ocean at dusk: the closer he got to the top, the deeper the blue, while the lower part, like the setting sun half-sunken below the surface, shimmered with a red halo that was almost golden.
Aiwass opened his left hand towards the candlelight and touched the flame with his middle finger.
The flame ignited instantly and flowed into the blood vessels through the fingertips.
Aiwass suddenly felt a relaxing warmth.
It's like soaking in a hot spring filled with scented flowers and listening to soft music after a tiring day. Feeling the heat soothe your body, a strong sense of sleepiness and satisfaction washes over you.
In the world of pure white light that he visualized, a deer walked slowly.
The deer was transparent, a pure, dazzling red, like the finest ruby. The moment it appeared, Aiwass's gaze was irresistibly drawn to it.
——That is none other than Candle Master! The Supreme Being of the Path of Devotion, the God of Devotion!
Unlike the immense pressure brought to Aiwass by the Silver Crown Dragon of the Path of Authority, gazing at Candlestick did not cause Aiwass to experience hallucinations or pressure. This was because He had restrained His own divinity, allowing Himself to come into contact with mortals—
His body was covered in black thorns. These thorns pierced his skin, causing him to bleed crimson blood. As he walked, the blood dripped onto the ground, creating footprints of eternally extinguished crimson flames.
His huge crystal-red antlers were like candlesticks piercing in all directions, with dozens of clusters of pure white flames burning.
The deer slowly walked towards Aiwass, who was as motionless as a statue, and gently licked his outstretched left hand.
Then, He raised His head and gently placed the wound on the lower part of His neck that was pierced by the black thorns into Aiwas’ palm.
A drop of blood fell into Aiwass's hand and turned into a teardrop-shaped ruby.
Three lines of text appeared in Aiwas's mind.
That's the three-choice entry you get every time you advance on the path—
[Flame Affinity LV1 (Blue): You crushed the candle's blood and comprehended some of the essence of fire.]
[Eternal Health (White): Your body is cleansed by the blood of the candle, making you more resistant to disease.]
[Flame Vessel LV1 (Blue): You consume the Candlelight's Blood, and your soul expands.]
(End of this chapter)
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