From Secret Clan to the Divine Dynasty

Chapter 588: Chapter 524 Consecution “Naturalist

Upon the boundless ocean, a vast azure extended to the horizon, the waves gently swayed as if nature’s most distant lullaby.

In this vast expanse of water, a whirlpool spun abruptly on the calm sea surface, neither a product of a storm nor a masterpiece of the tide, but rather a phenomenon caused by mysterious forces beyond natural laws.

Directly above this whirlpool, a priest clad in a blue robe hovered.

His robe fluttered with the wind, resembling a deep blue patch in the profound ocean, blending with the surrounding milieu while seeming detached from all else.

The High Priest of the Sea God Cult, Ian’s face was serene and solemn, his eyes tightly closed, immersed in a meditation transcending the mundane.

Around him circulated a mysterious force indescribable, neither visible light to the eye nor a sound to the ear, but rather a deep and subtle mystical stance.

To this day, Ian had ascended to the 6th Rank on the Path of Knowledge, with powers considered formidable even within the Dawn Church.

“Naturalist”

That was a path not even Byrne had trodden on before, in fact, had their circumstances been interchangeable, Byrne would have reached the 6th Rank and perhaps even further.

However, the end dedicated to the Divine is not a bad outcome either.

A “Naturalist’s” enhancement of Spiritual Power and physical abilities followed a ratio of eight to two, also gaining two rather interesting Extraordinary powers.

These were “Collecting Samples” and “Impression.”

In the Spirit Realm, his image was that of an old man with black and white beard.

The ritual required to become a Naturalist involved numerous contacts with various forms of life, witnessing many landscapes and minerals, among others… It was best to document them all.

In essence, it was about becoming extensively knowledgeable.

As a Naturalist Extraordinary Exponent, one could conduct a short ritual upon contact, thereafter documenting specific information about a life form.

He could then learn all the details about that life form’s species, such as what Extraordinary materials they could become, and their strengths and weaknesses.

As for the “Impression” ability, it involved “imagining” recorded life forms back into memory, then using a certain amount of Spiritual Power to summon a projection of that life form out of thin air.

The strength of a life form’s projection did not depend on the strength of the original but on the amount of Spiritual Power used; if a little Spiritual Power summoned a dragon projection, it still wasn’t a match for a rabbit projection summoned with a lot of Spiritual Power.

Although the strength varied with the amount of Spiritual Power used, summoned projections still retained the original species’ characteristics. Ian had tried using the same amount of Spiritual Power to summon a projection of a dragon and a rabbit, and eventually, the dragon’s projection won after a tough fight.

Because no matter what, dragons inherently held advantages over rabbits.

Simply put, it was a very versatile summoning ability.

“The most important point is that the Projection Summoning ability has no quantitative limit. As long as there is enough Spiritual Power, I can summon very many from any species to serve me,” Ian murmured to himself.

“It’s a pity that it is still limited by the upper limit of Spiritual Power… but I am already content.”

For instance, the current scenario where he had summoned some invisible Flying Feathered Demon Beasts beneath him, making it appear as if he were floating in the air to others.

With the vast number of animals and demons in the world, many possessing incredible racial characteristics, what Ian needed to do now was continuously accumulate and “Collect Samples.”

On the sea surface, fine ripples danced to a mysterious rhythm, the trajectory of constellations, the breath of the ocean, and even the changing winds at the far horizon, at this moment, resonated subtly with Ian’s mind.

Ian’s eyes remained closed, his eyelids seemingly containing endless tranquility.

As a black shadow gradually emerged on the distant horizon, a steam-powered ship slowly entered the area, its steam engine roaring, powering the massive vessel forward through the waves, with white steam tracing paths between the azure sky and the sea.

As the ship drew closer, the people on deck began to notice the priest in the blue robe hovering above the whirlpool.

They were first surprised, then reverent, and finally deeply worshipful.

“It’s Lord Ian! Look, everyone, that’s Lord Ian!”

“Respected Lord of the Sea! Your Excellency Ian!”

“We are truly lucky to be able to see him here!”

Crew and passengers alike halted their tasks, stood at the deck, knelt by the railing, hands clasped together, their gazes devoutly directed at the priest suspended above the sea surface.

Amidst the sea breeze, Ian’s figure framed by the ship appeared even more extraordinary and otherworldly.

His aura of mystery rippled across the sea like gentle waves, spreading out in concentric circles, leaving no trace behind.

He seemed like a sage who had stepped out from ancient legends, radiating an awe-inspiring yet desirable charisma.

For the White Sea people of today, his presence was like a lighthouse in the vast ocean, guiding the souls lost in the sea of life to find inner peace and direction.

Though he did not speak, everything around him—from the sighing of the waves to the whispering wind—spoke of his wisdom.

Everyone aboard the steamship bowed down in worship, their hearts filled with reverence and gratitude.

Then, the steamship continued on its journey, the hearts of those on board touched by the priest’s mysterious power, knowing that the memory of this encounter would remain forever cherished in their lives as one of their most precious treasures.

“Hmm, I see, I understand now,” Ian suddenly nodded gently.

“Madam Christine of the High Position Family has persuaded Bishop Zane—the Tempest Church will no longer assist the Winged Folk… We can fully support the Lord of the Lightless Sea in his resistance.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

There were no people around him; at this moment, he was communicating remotely with the rest of the “Noble Blood” through his unique mysterious power.

Above the sea now dyed golden by the setting sun, Ian floated quietly, his eyes were closed, but his mind roiled like the undercurrents, churning with memories of the past years.

His thoughts returned to the distant past when Ian was a young and confused soul experiencing the uncivilized suffering and division of his own people, feeling helpless and pained.

In that chaotic era, the White Sea people were like wanderers in a forest shrouded in darkness, completely losing direction, filled with suspicion and hostility towards each other, living in poverty and fear, with no hope for the future or trust in one another.

A strong desire blazed within Ian, so intense it was, to change all this, to guide his people out of this dark forest and into the dawn’s light.

It was this desire that led him to join the Dawn Church.

“Without a doubt, this was the right choice.”

Over the decades, Ian returned to his community, teaching as a High Priest of the Sea God Cult that people should understand and respect each other, cherish life, and pursue unity and enlightenment.

Under his guidance, the White Sea people began to relinquish their doubts and hostility, and gradually, they wholly embraced the various interactions with the mainland Cyart people.

With ships laden with exotic goods and unknown cultures slowly arriving at the many islands, an unprecedented wind of change began to whisper across the ancient ocean.

Initially, the White Sea natives were curious yet cautious about these foreigners; the metal-shining tools, the roaring machines, and the strange light sources that could illuminate whole villages at night were both mysterious and fearsome for them.

But as time passed, the representatives of the Dawn Church, with kindness and patience, began to reveal the mysteries of these “modern miracles”—the roaring of the steam engine was a source of power that could propel massive ships across the oceans; the flow of electricity was a harbinger of light and warmth, illuminating the darkness, and kindling hope in their hearts!

The younger generation among the White Sea natives, especially those filled with curiosity and a desire to explore, was quickly captivated by these new technologies.

They began to learn to read and to understand simple mathematics, to appreciate and operate these complex machines; steam pumps were used for irrigating fields, improving crop yields; electricity was brought into homes, lighting up lamps.

Moreover, as the Eastern Four Kingdoms were unified and compulsory education spread, the White Sea natives gradually became exposed to a broader world.

They realized that beyond their ocean-bound homes lay many different cultures, nations, and peoples… Decades ago, this knowledge was guarded by the priests of the Sea God Cult, but now it had become widely known among many White Sea people.

As time passed, life on the major islands underwent radical changes.

Traditional wooden houses were gradually replaced by more durable and comfortable brick houses; roads were widened, and carts and bicycles began to shuttle back and forth; communication methods evolved from primitive word-of-mouth to being able to contact the outside world through telegraphs or even telephones.

More importantly, the mindset of the White Sea people also gradually changed, beginning to understand the importance of international exchange and integration, and the faith in the Sea God Cult was also subtly evolving.

The longstanding animosity of the White Sea people toward the Cyart people became less significant over time.

Eventually, with the confession of faith in the Dawn Church, the Fischer family, and the Lord of the Lost coming to light, and after nurturing many Blood Receivers of the Dawn Church in secret, Ian, who had long since replaced the upper echelons of the Sea God Cult, embarked on a comprehensive top-down reform.

To this day, well over half of the White Sea natives had converted and become followers of the Lord of the Lost.@@novelbin@@

Now, as Ian reflected on his life here, his heart was filled with immense fulfillment.

He knew that the choice he made that day was correct; he had successfully led his people out of darkness and welcomed the light.

“Without a doubt, I indeed betrayed the Sea God, but I did not betray the White Sea people… For decades, all these sacrifices were completely worthwhile,” Ian whispered softly, with no trace of regret in his eyes.