Most of them are limited to the two major temples in Yongxing City - Sunset and Mingye. The sacrifices of the former are compassionate but aggressive (yes, these two can appear in the same person at the same time without any violation), and the followers of the latter
He is kind but neurotic (yes, there is no conflict between the two).
At least that's how Taylor feels.
But this was his first time coming to Haoyue's territory.
The Temple of the Bright Moon in the North.
Thales walked cautiously with a suspicious look on his face and came to the head priest Holm.
The statue behind the main priest is quite shocking when viewed up close, just like the statue of Nekaru.
Several eternal lamps surrounding the statue of the god were lit on the altar, slightly illuminating the dark room.
The face of the high priest was still hidden behind the veil, and his clear eyes looked at Thales with a strange color.
Unclear emotions.
Thales was a little uneasy as he stared at those clear eyes.
He turned his head unconsciously, but only saw Putilai, Nikolai, Michael and others retreating to other rooms. Little Slippery was pulled into another room by the White Blade Guards, looking back at him from time to time.
All right.
It seems like she and I are the only ones left.
Thales turned back, took a deep breath, and prepared to face the mysterious priest.
But as soon as he raised his head, he saw the statue of the Haoyue behind the High Priest of Home.
The pair of emotionless stone eyes of the Haoyue Goddess seem to be staring elsewhere forever, indifferent to everything around them.
It is completely different from the Sunset Statue in Yongxing City.
Thales still remembers the scene when he sneaked into the Sunset Temple to beg: he once looked under the steps of the altar, but was startled by the statue of the goddess - the eyes of the Sunset Goddess seemed to be on alert all the time, watching everyone closely.
People who saw her statue.
Of course, the Sunset Temple is also much more magnificent than this shabby one - Thales looked at the surrounding decorations and couldn't help but stick out his tongue - the Bright Moon Altar.
"You're confused."
Thales was startled before he suddenly realized that it was Priest Holm talking to him.
The tone of the high priest was almost the same as when she presided over the duel, and her voice was ethereal and emotionless.
Holm's eyes were still locked on him.
Compared with the chief priest Li Xiya of the Sunset Temple, this chief priest lacks an aggressive aura, but has a unique temperament that is dormant in silence.
Thales opened his mouth slightly, and with countless questions in his heart, he tentatively replied: "I...that's indeed the case."
Priestess Holm did not speak. She still stood quietly under the statue of Haoyue. Her aura matched the atmosphere of the statue behind her very well.
Thales frowned, his eyes rolled around the altar, and he couldn't help but said: "Well, actually..."
He couldn't continue.
Holm interrupted him coldly: "Have you ever seen a god?"
Thales raised his eyebrows.
God.
He really wasn't in the mood to discuss this at all right now.
Outside the temple, Rumba, Walton, Exeter and the stars - there are still a lot of troubles waiting for him!
Thinking of this, Thales sighed: "Sorry, I am now..."
But the chief priest obviously didn't want him to speak.
"As early as in unknown history, as early as when mortal beings began to compete with each other for their own insignificant lives, the concept of gods existed in the minds of mortals." Holm said lightly.
Thales was slightly startled: "What?"
Priest Holm's eyes were as clear as steaming mist, and his voice was quiet and natural.
"In the history of the mortal world, the first batch of gods are closely related to the images in the minds of mortals," she said softly: "Holy sun, bright moon, dark night, mountains, sea of shepherds, harvest, and desert."
Thales' eyelids twitched.
From mysterious temples to legends told by people, he had heard several words in it.
"These gods have no names of their own, no names that can be called by the mortal world, and no names that can be understood by the mortal world," the chief priest said slowly, but changed the topic in the next sentence:
"But these gods, do they really exist?"
Um?
Thales was shocked.
What are you doing?
Facing the officiating priest's incomprehensible questions, he looked at the stone statue and altar behind the officiating priest, and then at the officiating priest's veil. He was a little confused about how to answer and how to get out quickly.
"If I remember correctly, you are the priest of the goddess behind you," Thales grabbed his hair and said awkwardly: "And it's a bit a bit strange for you to ask me this question..."
"There is no conflict." Holm said calmly.
Thales raised his eyebrows, showing doubts.
Priest Holm turned his head sideways and glanced at the stone statue behind him: "The gods that mortals believe in and the gods themselves - they are not the same thing."
ah?
Thales was startled again.
The God you believe in is not the same as the real God?
This...should this be what a sacrifice, or even a chief priest - the spokesperson of the gods in the world - should say?
Why does it sound so...reactionary?
Just listen to Priest Holm whisper: "Have you ever thought about why the bright moon behind me has a human appearance?"
Thales' eyebrows jumped slightly.
He looked at the stone statue behind Home.
The goddess's expression remained cold and indifferent.
"Why?" he asked unconsciously.
Holm's veil trembled slightly, vibrating as she spoke out: "Do you know Mingshen?"
"Myojin?"
Thales's heart moved: "Wait a minute, I've heard of this name..."
Holm didn't let him continue.
"The Supreme God, Losofia," the chief priest of the Bright Moon Temple said calmly: "It was once the only righteous god recognized by the entire empire, the creator of the world, and the supreme god above all others."
"It is not the earliest recorded god in the world, but it is certainly the most widely circulated god among humans. When the war between humans and orcs broke out, its name was sung among the first batch of god believers in humans for thousands of years.
During the time, until its complete collapse with the disappearance of the ancient empire, the rise and fall of the Myojin Church were interspersed in the history of mankind, witnessing the independence, unity and expansion of mankind."
Thales listened to Holm's history class in a daze, a little dazed.
Normally, he would be very curious and interested.
but now……
God.
Is there any better wording that can politely express "I'm hanging up the phone first" or "I'm offline first" face to face?
"The Holy Edict of the Ming Dynasty states that Losofia created all living things in her own image," Priest Holm seemed to have no concern for Thales' embarrassment. She just continued on her own: "So, humans are
He will look like a god."
She lowered her head and looked at Thales: "Do you believe it?"
Thales was stunned again.
"Uh," he shrugged, and while thinking about the reasons for getting away, he replied perfunctorily: "I...I don't know."
But the other party didn't seem to let him answer.
"The fact is that when the Myojin Church fell apart with the decline of the ancient empire, the glory of the Supreme Myojin gradually dimmed," Holm's voice gradually became softer, as if brewing a wave of emotions: "Even humans themselves have
The existence of Myojin is rarely mentioned."
The chief priest slowly shook his head, seeming to be a little mocking, but also a little emotional: "If the god really exists, if it is really the creator of everything in the world, how could it allow this to happen?"
Thales frowned slightly.
"So, gods don't exist?" He spread his hands and asked tentatively: "All gods...are all imagined by believers? Okay, eh, a very interesting point of view, I understand, I also
If something happens, then I will first..."
But Holm once again interrupted his attempt to break off the conversation.
"You're not listening to me."
Thales shrugged helplessly: "Okay, but is it really okay to talk about these things to a child?"
Priest Holm shook his head and said calmly: "You and I both know very well: you are not a child."
These simple words suddenly made Thales nervous.
The officiant continued softly: "Don't underestimate something just because it is inconspicuous or not relevant to the current priorities."
"From the moment you embark on your journey, every inconspicuous detail may be an opportunity to dominate the future: idols, daggers, shawls, tusks, brooches, messenger crows, statues, glasses, bloodline," Priest Holm narrowed his eyes.
: "Every detail."
"I'm sure you feel deeply about this."
Thales frowned.
He sensed something unusual from the officiant's words.
Three seconds later, Thales sighed helplessly.
He really didn't have time - they were still running for their lives, weren't they?
but……
"So," he asked weakly, "what exactly are gods?"
"The gods that believers believe in are only their own gods." Holm slowly raised his head and looked at the stone statue behind him.
All right.
If you really want to finish these words in a blabbering manner...
Thales took a breath.
"So, the real gods," the second prince raised his head, braced himself, and said seriously to the chief priest, "are they different from the gods in faith?"
"Is this what you want to say?"
Holm said nothing.
She just stared at Thales quietly.
Thales also looked back at her, trying not to think about his current predicament and problems.
Strangely, as he looked at the officiant, part of the heaviness he had been feeling in his heart slowly dissipated.
After a few seconds, Holm spoke softly.
"Mortals often use their own limited imagination to understand the gods in their hearts." There seemed to be a kind of magic in the eyes of the chief priest, attracting Thales not to turn away: "That is what they expect and fear.
, detested, admired, respected, worshiped gods.”
At that moment, Thales had the illusion that the other person's eyes were shining.
"Mortals give various existences and definitions to the gods in their hearts based on what they know, from image to action, from deeds to character, from birth to end, and even give them a name similar to that of mortals."
Holm narrowed his eyes slightly, touched his shoulders with one hand and pressed his hips with the other, assuming a posture similar to that of the goddess statue behind him: "For example: Errol."
Thales frowned slightly.
"So," he looked at the statue behind the main priest, and curiosity arose in his heart: "Does the goddess Haoyue have a name? Are there other gods? The setting sun? The dark night? The Lord of the mountains?"
Holm shook his head slowly:
"In the hearts of all, being given a mortal name by mortals, and then being called out by all mouths in unison - this is a connection of extraordinary significance."
"In the known records and long history, only two gods have accepted...or are willing to accept this connection."
Holm continued: "They are also the gods most closely involved with the mortal world, and are even used to name the mortal world."
Thales was startled again.
The "ordinary name" called by everyone is an extraordinary connection?
For some reason, at that moment he suddenly remembered Aixida's words: "When you become a magician and find your own name..."
threshold name.
Common name.
Thales' eyelids twitched.
Why do they emphasize the importance of names so much?
His curiosity was suddenly aroused.
"Two gods with names... uh... 'mortal names'?" The second prince scratched his hair: "Okay, one of them is Errol. I know this - Errol's world. What about the other one?
One is?"
"You are not listening to me." Archpriest Holm repeated this sentence coldly.
It didn't mean to satisfy his curiosity at all.
Thales narrowed his eyes.
But this time, the prince in front of the chief priest felt as if he was being lectured by a teacher, "Why are you so stupid?"
Before he could react, Holm had already continued speaking.
"Mortals depict gods according to their own appearance, just because that is the scope that mortals know," the chief priest said calmly: "In the midst of countless intertwined feelings of love and hate, faith was born."
"People who believe in gods gathered in groups, connected with each other, resonated with each other, and entrusted their hearts to each other. Churches and temples, altars and rituals were established one after another." Holm raised his hand and gestured to the surrounding temples: "That's it, invisible faith
Become a tangible existence.”
"The communication between the gods and the mortal world completes the first reincarnation."
Thales frowned and listened to Priest Holm's words.
"Why does the goddess Haoyue have such an appearance?" The chief priest returned to her original topic: "It's not because God created people in his own likeness, but because people who believe in her look like this."
"But you may need to understand," Priest Holm said with a stern look in his eyes, "Gods are gods, and faith is faith."
"The former is in God, the latter is in man."
Thales's heart moved.
"Wait, what do you mean..." Thales thought about the words of the officiant and said slowly: "So, the gods exist independently, and the gods in the hearts of believers are imagined by themselves?"
Holm didn't answer him directly.
"At the beginning of faith, mortals were used to classifying incomprehensible things into the category of gods." Priest Holm's eyes exuded strange emotions: "They only need to understand the existence of gods, and then leave incomprehensible things to gods.
Just go and solve it.”
"It seems that by believing in the existence of gods, they can solve those incomprehensible puzzles."
"That's exactly the biggest problem."
Thales raised his eyebrows: He didn't quite understand the other party's intentions.
"Gods are obviously things that mortals cannot understand," Priest Holm looked directly into his eyes: "Mortals think they understand gods, and use shallow thinking to believe in gods and rely on gods."
"To create God."
"That's the contradiction."
Thales exhaled and shrugged: "You want to say that the existence of gods is beyond the understanding of mortals?"
The veil of Priest Holm moved slightly, which gave Thales the illusion that she was smiling: "Or, conversely, the understanding of mortals has surpassed the existence of gods."
High Priest Holm sighed softly.
"Mortals always think about gods with their own barren thinking," she closed her eyes and said slowly: "Because life span is short, they imagine gods as eternal existences."
"Because their power is weak, the gods are preset to be existences with unparalleled power."
"Because I consider myself a member of all living beings, I imagine the gods to be stronger and higher-level beings of the same kind."
Under Thales' gaze, Holm suddenly opened his eyes, and his words slowly accelerated: "The problem is, eternity, power, life, these mortal things..."
"If the gods are indeed beyond the understanding of mortals and stand in different perspectives, do they really take this into their eyes?"
"Do they care about faith?"
“Do they care about believers?”
"Do they care about power and eternity?"
"Do they even care whether they exist or not?"
Thales watched with confusion as Holm finished speaking, but it was difficult to interrupt her.
He's not a god, is he?
Thales scratched his head and sighed:
"But, in the myth, Errol sacrificed himself and saved the world, didn't he?" He said with a headache: "The god of the night always comes down to earth... The Lord of the Mountains even asked his followers to save those who were in trouble.
In the extremely cold weather..."
Thales did not continue.
Because he saw: Holm was smiling.
Even though they were separated by a veil, Thales somehow recognized that the chief priest of the Bright Moon Temple was smiling lightly.
"Where did you hear these words?" the chief priest said softly, as if he was afraid of waking up a sleeping child.
"Of course..." Thales breathed out, but then he was startled and his words stopped on his lips.
Just listen to him murmuring: "There are still rumors about the temple."
Thales raised his head and asked tentatively: "But this is all mortal understanding, right?"
"The real gods may be far beyond our imagination - they are another kind of existence."
Holm took a slow breath, and the veil shook slightly.
"Believers always exist before their gods, so they can believe in their own gods." She said lightly.
Thales frowned again.
He thought of something.
"High Priest Holm," he said tentatively: "You are the spokesperson of the goddess of the moon. You have also prayed, communicated with God, and conveyed God's will, right?"
Holm didn't answer.
Thales slowly opened his mouth and asked cautiously: "If the gods are really as you said, that kind of incomprehensible existence..."
"Then why did she respond to you?"
Holm slowly raised his eyes.
His clear eyes were like a beam of light shining directly into Thales' heart.
"Oh," Priest Holm's thin veil moved slightly, and her clear voice came from behind.
That's a rhetorical question:
"Did she respond?"
Thales was completely stunned.
Priest Holm slowly turned around and faced the stone statue and altar of the Haoyue Goddess.
Only then did Thales notice that in the center of the altar, there was a special eternal oil lamp, which was shining with silver...
Silver flame?
Thales' heart skipped a beat.
And a flame of this color?
Thales looked at the back of the officiant in confusion.
There are more and more doubts in my heart.
"Why," he couldn't help but ask, "why do you say these things? The existence of gods?"
Holm shook his head slowly.
"Last night, you made your first choice."
choose?
Last night’s choice…
last night……
Thales' breathing slowed down unconsciously.
"But one day," Haoyue's chief priest said slowly, "you may face important choices again - even decisions."
Choice?
Faced with an important choice again...
These, what do these mean?
The back of Priest Holm seemed to contain mysterious power, and her voice came slowly and clearly: "At that time, when you stand at an angle and height that is unimaginable by any existence, and think with thinking beyond ordinary people...
…”
"You may recall what I said today."
Thales's heart was like thunder.
Thinking beyond mere mortals...
At that moment, Thales remembered the moment of "knocking on the door".
That experience was like a dream.
The illusion that he is the world.
That kind of laziness and comfort where everything is not your concern...
At this second, looking at Holm's mysterious back, Thales was really scared.
His arms began to shake.
How did she know?
What does she know?
What exactly is she planning to do?
Thales's breathing became faster and faster.
Finally, he could no longer hold back the fear and questions in his heart, and blurted out: "Why, Priest Holm?"
"What exactly do you mean...what do you want?"
"Whether it's a shelter or... what are these words for today?"
"Why me?" he shouted.
In front of the altar, Priest Holm slowly turned his head.
Under the silver light, her veil emits brilliant light.
Like a legendary god.
"Because," Holm's eyes showed a different brilliance: "an old friend asked me to take care of you."
Thales seemed to have grasped a life-saving straw, and the impulse in his heart forced him to get to the bottom of it.
"Old friend?"
The second prince lost his temper and said loudly: "Who?"
"He believes you are different," but Priest Holm just sighed and did not give the answer: "He believes you will do better."
"He sacrificed so much."
"Don't let him down."
Thales was stunned on the spot.
Am I...different?
"besides."
"Next time, call me Jewel," Archpriest Jewel Holm said softly, "In comparison, I like this name better."
"You can leave," Priest Holm turned his back to him and said calmly: "Be careful with your choice."
The next second, the chief priest closed his lips and allowed Thales to ask questions without speaking again.
After a few minutes, Thales finally left the altar in a daze.
Only Jewel was left standing quietly in front of the altar and the statue.
After a while, Jewel slowly raised his head.
"I watched him." I saw Archpriest Jewel Holm standing under the statue of the Moon God. He was wearing a silver robe and a tulle. He looked up at the tall Goddess of the Moon and said calmly: "I warned him.
Already..."
"……Bar."
On the altar, the goddess Haoyue still looked indifferent.