Chapter 2176: Attack from the Emblem
Probably related to religious beliefs, the people of Purple Lake City were very tolerant of cutting in line. A local standing behind Ahai even voluntarily gave up his spot after the yellow-haired man went ahead. "You out-of-towners are pressed for time. I'm a local, I can go anytime."
After saying that, he walked to the back of the line on his own.
The yellow-haired man was as delighted as if he'd won the jackpot, repeatedly thanking him before standing behind Ahai.
The local was happy to oblige, but the other players waiting in line were displeased. One immediately scowled and said, "He's not the only one in a hurry."
"But they only gave up their spot for me," the yellow-haired man replied with a grin.
The player who had spoken from further back was probably in a bad mood. Seeing the yellow-haired man get an advantage and still act smug, he immediately stepped out of the line.
The yellow-haired man showed no panic at all, rolling up his sleeves. "Think I'm scared of you?"
Just then, a government worker walked over, urging them to follow the rules, or else the government wouldn't stamp their passage stamps.
Of course, with a player's methods, getting a stamp didn't necessarily require going through proper channels. But the problem was that Purple Lake City also had its own players, and the two maintaining order here were Advanced Players.
Perhaps thinking that only two C-rank players were no big deal, the provoking player used an item to snatch the stamp and certificate from the counter. In front of everyone, he stamped it himself, then tossed it aside, shaking the certificate now imprinted with the parallel double eyes, and sneered at the crowd.
However, the workers and Advanced Players who had been about to act now stood still, staring at him. Not just them—every other local present also fixed him with a strange, mocking gaze.
This Outer Zone Player frowned and immediately turned to leave. But as he spun around, he inadvertently glanced at the certificate in his hand. He froze as if electrocuted, then his face twisted in agony. He clutched his head and fell to his knees, groaning in unbearable pain as the certificate slipped from his grasp. The moment he saw those two eyes again, he let out a tortured moan, collapsed to the ground, and began convulsing uncontrollably.
The people of Purple Lake City were used to this, but the Outer Zone Players present were horrified. Their eyes darted between him and the certificate in uncertainty: Was it some kind of special item?
Even if it were a special item, it wouldn't be mass-produced. Besides, he had just grabbed the stamp and done it himself. The problem seemed to lie in the pattern itself.
The problem was indeed the pattern.
The emblem of the Goddess Cult was two eyes stacked vertically, leaning against each other—a very simple design. The stamps given to those who had already left, as well as the double-eye patterns on street buildings, flags, and various peripheral stickers outside, all seemed normal, releasing no special power. But when that player stamped it himself, the pattern on the paper suddenly surged with immense power, and it kept radiating.
Even though Xu Huo couldn't feel what that player was experiencing, he could still sense the pressure released by the pattern.
So the pattern itself carried the power?
Xu Huo couldn't help but glance outside. Besides the Holy Land, were the five satellite cities also within the Instance's range?
But it was rare for an Instance's power to directly attack a player through a carrier like this, especially one that controlled such a fine degree over an entire district.
By now, the workers had retrieved the stamp and certificate, and the line resumed stamping. The player with the splitting headache lay on the ground for a while before waking up. He looked a bit dazed for a few seconds, then fully came to his senses and left, grinding his teeth in anger.
"Every few days, there's a player who doesn't believe it," a local in line said with a laugh. "Even if he doesn't get stamped here at the government, it's useless going to the temple. The Divine Envoy already knows he disrespected the Goddess and won't grant him entry to the Holy Land Temple."
The yellow-haired man asked the local what was on the paper and why it was so powerful. The local, a devout follower of the Goddess, proudly told him, "That's the Goddess's eyes. Though the Goddess resides in the Holy Land Temple, her eyes can see every corner of the district, protecting all of us and punishing those who do evil."
The first thing players thought of upon hearing this was the Instance's control over Clearance Players. If this was also part of the clearance process, then those who "disrespected the Goddess" might end up receiving "special attention," like that guy just now.
This realization darkened the expressions of the players present.
"The Goddess is still alive?" the yellow-haired man exclaimed in surprise. "Then how old must she be?"
The local he was talking to rolled his eyes and didn't want to say more. Ahai interjected, "The Goddess is a deity. The Holy Land Temple enshrines her statue. She is one with heaven and earth, ageless."
Treating the Goddess as an ordinary person was clearly disrespectful.
"My apologies, my apologies," the yellow-haired man quickly said. "I thought going to the Holy Land Temple meant I could see the Goddess."
"Ordinary people can't see the Goddess. Only devout believers favored by her will receive guidance," Ahai said. "But you out-of-towners, it's fine if you don't believe in the Goddess Cult. We don't practice extreme religious doctrines. Faith is a personal choice. As long as you don't break the law or harm others, you can even go to the Holy Land Temple to preach your own faith."
"That's allowed?" The yellow-haired man rubbed his chin. "Isn't this Goddess way too generous?"
A worker chimed in with a smile, "The Goddess pities all living beings. Just because your faith is different doesn't make you a bad person. Of course, she will bless you too."
Open and tolerant religious doctrines were common, but believers this open-minded were rare. Most people wouldn't go to another's highest place of worship to preach their own religion—that was usually seen as picking a fight or provocation.
"If that's the case, then the Goddess Cult is worth believing in," the yellow-haired man said. "There aren't many normal people left in this world, let alone normal gods."
The line soon reached them. When Ahai came over with two certificates, the yellow-haired man followed, offering to help carry the person.
Ahai quickly thanked him.
After they moved Xu Huo off the steps, the yellow-haired man examined the eye emblem on his certificate again. "I don't see anything special about it. Do you?"
"Same here," Xu Huo said, glancing at his own certificate.
"Then this Instance's boss must be incredibly powerful," the yellow-haired man said. "I wonder what the final clearance mission will be. With all these hidden conditions, I hope it doesn't hit us with a critical blow when we reach the Holy Land Temple."
From his tone, it seemed the Instance's details wouldn't be fully revealed until they reached the Holy Land Temple. Xu Huo paused, then said, "At least it's better than that guy who left earlier."
Being attacked by what was likely the Instance boss's power—he might end up being the first target.
"At least there's someone worse off to cushion us," the yellow-haired man said optimistically, taking the initiative to push Xu Huo. "Come on, let's go to the Purple Lake City temple now!" (Chapter End)