Both Rainor and Winay entered the city.

  The moment Winay stepped inside White Flower City, he was slightly shocked.

  The entrance district was bustling with activity. Crowded streets were filled with people moving in every direction, mixed with their contracted beasts—some small and docile, others large and intimidating. Market stalls lined the roads, packed tightly together, selling cultivation resources, tools, food, and unfamiliar items. Merchants shouted loudly, mercenaries passed by in groups, and the air felt alive with energy and movement.

  As they moved a little further into the city, the atmosphere began to change.

  The noise slowly faded. The crowd thinned. The market became far more disciplined, with fewer stalls and far fewer people. There was no chaos here—only order. Everyone walked calmly, and even the beasts moved in a controlled manner.

  Rainor noticed Winay’s expression.

  “Don’t get shocked or confused by seeing these different market zones,” Rainor said. “White Flower City isn’t just a city—it’s larger than any district on the Indus Continent.”

  Winay listened quietly.

  “Don’t forget,” Rainor continued, “this city also houses the Mercenary Guild, and most importantly, the Temple of Creation. Nearly ten thousand people visit the temple every day.”

  “That many?” Winay asked.

  “Yes,” Rainor nodded. “And they don’t pray for their personal well-being. Most of them pray for stability—for the balance of the world to remain intact.”

  He added, “As you already know, the Southern Radiant Archive is also located here. That’s where tasks are issued and records are maintained.”

  “Oh… okay,” Winay said. “Now I understand all of this better.”

  “Going forward,” Rainor said, “you’ll also start seeing disciples of the Temple.”

  Winay hesitated for a moment before asking, “Professor… is it true that everyone in this world believes in the Temple of Creation and worships the Goddess of Creation?”

  Rainor shook his head.

  “Of course, many people believe in the Goddess of Creation,” he said. “But not everyone believes in the Temple of Creation. There are also those who follow the Temple of Destruction.”

  Winay looked at him with surprise.

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  “Keep this in mind,” Rainor continued. “There are two temples in this world that represent the power of belief, and both stand at the same level.”

  After a brief pause, he added, “And you might not know this—though it hasn’t been proven—some believe that the amount of faith one holds in the Goddess can affect the blessing received after awakening.”

  Winay nodded.

  There are still many things I don’t know yet… but at least regarding the temples, I understand something now.

  “But unless you experience it yourself, you won’t truly understand,” Rainor said. “Come, let’s go.”

  He pointed ahead.

  “You see that place with four pillars at the front, each glowing in different colors? And those disciples wearing white and blue, white and green, white and yellow, and white and red robes?”

  Winay nodded.

  “They are first-generation disciples of the Temple,” Rainor said. “Since we’ve reached the temple, I’ll explain what you need to do.”

  He turned serious.

  “We aren’t allowed inside the blessing site where large groups of new cultivators receive blessings. After you enter the temple, the disciples will guide you to the chamber where the statue of the Goddess is located.”

  Winay listened carefully.

  “All you need to do is sit in front of the statue and meditate,” Rainor said. “After that, you’ll understand what to do on your own.”

  Rainor paused, then added, “For now, all you need to know is that there are four levels of blessings received from the Goddess.”

  He raised one finger.

  “The first level is commonly received by most people. It increases one’s insight into the world and is called the Mortal-level blessing.”

  A second finger.

  “The second level is more advanced than the mortal blessing. It’s known as the Votary-level blessing.”

  A third.

  “The third level is extremely rare—only seen in single digits across the entire world each year. This is the Herald-level blessing.”

  Finally, the fourth.

  “The fourth level is truly unique. Only one in ten million receives it. It is known as the Saint-level blessing.”

  Winay hesitated, then asked, “Professor… what is your blessing level?”

  Rainor smiled lightly. “Mine is a Votary-level blessing.”

  “That’s nice, Professor,” Winay said. “But aside from insight… is there any real difference? You don’t gain anything else, right?”

  Rainor stopped walking and looked at him.

  “It’s actually shocking,” he said, “that you don’t know anything about this.”

  “That’s because I was never interested in these things when I was younger,” Winay replied. “So my mother never told me.”

  Rainor sighed softly. “Alright, I’ll explain it simply.”

  He continued, “What you can see, I can also see. But what I can see, you cannot.”

  Winay frowned slightly.

  “There are things that can only be perceived through the insights granted by blessings,” Rainor said. “And the most important part of a blessing is access to the Goddess Records.”

  “The Goddess Records?” Winay repeated.

  “They contain records of the entire world,” Rainor said. “Don’t ask how they work—I don’t know either.”

  He glanced at Winay. “And yes, I can already see the question on your face.”

  Rainor continued, “Some people say there is another blessing level that grants full access to the Goddess Records. But that’s only a myth.”

  He smiled faintly. “If you want the answer to that question, you’ll have to find it yourself.”

  “That’s all I have to say,” Rainor concluded. “Now go. Enter the temple. Your name is already registered—just state it at the entrance.”

  Winay took a breath.

  “With so many doubts in mind…” he thought.

  “Okay, Professor,” he said aloud. “I’ll be right back.”

  Power isn’t always gained through combat—sometimes, understanding comes first.