Chapter 2179: Different Perspectives Within the Temple
Although the temperature in Purple Lake City was much better than in the small town, one could still feel the weather gradually turning cooler. But unexpectedly, the moment they stepped into the temple, it was like entering a completely different new world. The temperature became extremely comfortable, and the air was very fresh, showing no change despite the large number of people.
Inside the temple gate was a spacious open area, with only one tall tree on each side. They were over ten meters high, with lush branches and leaves that spread out to cover a considerable area, making it difficult for sunlight and rain to penetrate.
Many believers who came to worship lingered under the trees, either standing or sitting, seemingly enjoying the feeling beneath them.
Yellow Hair squeezed into a spot, stretched his arms wide, and took a deep breath, somewhat puzzled. "There's no smell at all."
"How could that be?" Ah Hai was also under the tree, a contented smile on his face. "The scent of the leaves is very fresh."
Yellow Hair uncertainly sniffed again. After confirming his sense of smell wasn't faulty, he used a detector to test the air impurities. "I told you there's nothing. The air under the tree is no different from anywhere else... If you don't believe me, come and smell it yourself."
The last sentence was directed at Xu Huo.
As an injured person, Xu Huo received preferential treatment from the local believers. After he went over, people kept giving up their spots and even deliberately pushed him closer to the tree trunk.
"The tree in front of the Goddess, smelling it more is good for your health," said a middle-aged woman.
Xu Huo thanked her and, imitating their behavior, reveled in the flowing air under the tree.
Yellow Hair looked suspicious. "What kind of smell is that?"
In someone else's territory, he couldn't say anything that might get him beaten up, so he asked his only ally, "Did you notice anything?"
Xu Huo thought for a moment. "It's a bit like the smell of leaves, and a bit like the smell of flowers."
Yellow Hair failed again. He walked around the Goddess statue, his eyes fixed on the ceiling one moment and the ground the next, but gave up after less than five minutes.
"Different perspectives on the smell," Xu Huo said with a faint smile, signaling him to help push him further inside.
Yellow Hair watched for a while before he couldn't help asking, "You really smell something? What is it?"
Ah Hai was the same.
The believers habitually worshiped under the covered Goddess statue, and after finishing, they continued further inside through the walkways on both sides.
Beyond this open area was the main hall's entrance. In the center of the main hall, a Goddess statue should have been enshrined, but it was completely covered by red cloth. Judging by the shape the cloth was stretched into, the Goddess statue inside was probably standing.
Xu Huo's gaze seemed to linger somewhere, and only after a few seconds did he snap out of it to answer his question. "Probably a dreamlike life."
Such chaotic patterns usually brought a sense of discomfort, but the believers were in the same state as before under the tree. They would spontaneously choose a spot to stand, then observe the patterns in their field of vision, their expressions calm, as if in a trance.
Unlike general religious carvings of other immortals and gods, this main hall, apart from the Goddess statue, had only patterns everywhere else, including the floor, walls, pillars, and ceiling. Various messy and unclear patterns—if you looked closely, you might see the shapes of trees or flowers, but often, with a blink of an eye, the pattern you caught a second ago would no longer look like it at all.
"That mystical?" Yellow Hair followed his gaze uncertainly, then said helplessly after a while, "I don't see anything."
"But why is the Goddess statue covered? Is it too ugly to show?"
A nearby temple staff member glanced at him with slight displeasure but didn't interfere.
Yellow Hair was very forward and went over to ask, "I'm new here and haven't seen this before. Tell me, why is the Goddess statue covered? Can it be opened for a look?"
"The Goddess doesn't want to see people today," the temple staff said dryly.
"How do you know? Did the Goddess send you a dream?" Yellow Hair asked curiously.
"It's an order from the Divine Envoy. The Divine Envoy can receive the Goddess's inspiration," the temple staff said, bowing respectfully toward the Goddess statue.
"So it's what the Divine Envoy told you. How do you know what the Divine Envoy says is really the Goddess's will? Maybe the Divine Envoy is just making it up," Yellow Hair deliberately said.
"What nonsense are you talking!" The temple staff frowned in displeasure. "Even if the Divine Envoy did something like impersonating the Goddess or fabricating her words, they would be punished. Just like those who can't even get through the temple gate."
The last sentence seemed to have some deterrent effect. Yellow Hair stopped provoking and bowed to the Goddess statue before asking, "So where is the Divine Envoy?"
The temple staff gestured for them to go around the Goddess statue and head further inside. If they were fated, they would naturally meet the Divine Envoy.
Yellow Hair came back looking confused and grabbed the wheelchair. "From what they said, the Divine Envoy is also a matter of perspective... I mean, it's just this big a place. Where could they hide? Unless they're not human!"
Xu Huo pointed his chin inward. "Don't rush. Look ahead first."
As they spoke, they had already circled behind the main hall. Exiting through the door was a small garden, and opposite the garden was a hall at least ten times wider than the main hall. It had no doors, but five carved stone slabs similar to spirit screens stood there. Believers would choose a passageway to enter.
As for what was behind, from outside, it seemed like an empty space inside, with nothing but messy patterns. However, everyone who entered through the passageway would suddenly disappear within two or three seconds—this "sudden disappearance" meant that Xu Huo and the others could no longer sense anyone inside the hall from outside.
Yellow Hair checked the time. "At least a few hundred people went in before us. Even if some have already finished worshiping and left, there should still be thirty or forty people in the hall. But from outside, we can't sense anything at all."
He then looked around on both sides. "There's no other way. This is the entire temple. Could it be a location item?"
"That's possible," Xu Huo nodded.
"So, are we going in?" Yellow Hair, though appearing carefree, was actually very cautious. "If there's a forced effect, we might not be able to come out once we go in. Wanting to see the Divine Envoy doesn't necessarily mean taking this risk."
His gaze shifted to the surrounding believers.
Many people had the same idea. Soon, a player grabbed a believer as a hostage, demanding the Divine Envoy come out to meet them.
The believers were a bit panicked, and the temple staff hurried over to intervene. "If you want to see the Divine Envoy, it's simple. Just go into the Questioning Hall. Why harm innocent people?"
"Do you think I'm stupid? Who knows if there's a trap inside? What if I go in and can't get out?" the hostage-taking player said.
"What trap? Who set a trap?" The temple staff was so angry they laughed. "What do you think this place is? This is the Goddess Temple, enshrining the Goddess. Who would desecrate the deity just to make things difficult for you out-of-towners?"
"If you want to see the Divine Envoy, you have to go in. If you don't, then leave quickly. Don't disturb the Goddess!"