Chapter 96 - 92: Silver Believers

Chapter 96: Chapter 92: Silver Believers

[New Item Obtained: [Silver Believer]]

[Current Physique 167 (167+0), Swordsmanship 108 (108+0), Assassination Techniques 163 (163+0), Speed 229 (229+0), Power 139 (139+0), Charm 11 (1+10), Magic Power 10 (0+10), Shadow Bonus 40%]

[You have been chosen by the God of Tiger to become a Silver Believer. You have mastered High Level Purification Technique, High Level Healing Technique, High Level Inspiration Technique, and can create Silver Holy Water.]

[Go to the Empire Capital Cathedral to undergo the believer test. You will receive the transcendent status and honor befitting a Silver Believer.]

Lian felt his entire body bathing in the radiance of the God of Tiger, his skin glowing with a pale light.

This kind of special effect, usually reserved for a Goddess, felt somewhat out of place on a tough, hard-as-steel man, making Lian a little uncomfortable.

This made Lian feel like he was one step closer to becoming a pretty boy.

Of course, this radiance was only noticeable upon close inspection. It wasn’t as if he was a walking sun, blinding everyone he met, nor could it light up the dark.

’The most pleasant surprise is that I actually gained a new stat: Magic Power. The value went from 0 to 10.’

’Having a Magic Power stat means I can finally use and learn real Magic!’

No wonder the Holy Scripture says the true watershed for believers of the God of Tiger isn’t between ordinary believers and True Believers, nor between True Believers and High Level Believers. It’s becoming a Silver Believer!

Before the Silver Believer rank, all the Purification, Healing, and Inspiration Techniques the believers mastered were merely "arts," not true Magic. They relied on borrowing power through prayer to the God of Tiger to perform these arts. Sometimes, they would even fail, because the God of Tiger didn’t always answer.

After becoming Silver Believers, they possessed their own reserves of Magic Power. Even without a response from the God of Tiger, they could use their own power to perform their techniques, which could now be considered true Magic.

Although this Magic was still nothing compared to that of a Witch, at least it wouldn’t spiral out of control.

Lian could vaguely feel a channel of Magic Power opening up within his body, located, it seemed, in his heart.

If his heart was a fragile castle, then this channel of Magic Power was like a wall surrounding it, invisibly taking on the duty of protecting it and amplifying its strength.

Neither the Knight’s Path nor the Assassin’s Path offered any way to strengthen the heart, yet the path of a believer did. For Lian, this was a delightful and unexpected bonus.

’I could probably borrow some Magic Books from Father Simo to look through,’ Lian thought. ’Maybe I could learn a few minor spells.’

On the surface, Father Simo was just an ordinary True Believer, not having even achieved the rank of High Level Believer. This was because, like Lian, he was a "hidden believer."

A "hidden believer" was someone who hadn’t gone to the Church Court in the Imperial Capital for official certification, instead choosing to develop their power discreetly on their own.

Father Simo likely only wanted to be known as a True Believer, not wanting anyone to find out he had already reached a higher level.

As for the reason, Lian guessed it was most likely related to the Grand Priest of Green Shade Territory.

’As for the specific reasons, I don’t want to waste time guessing,’ Lian thought. ’It would take too much mental energy, and as a Lord, I already have more than enough on my plate.’

Speculating was pointless. He just needed to know that Father Simo posed no threat to him.

’Whatever grudge Simo has with the Grand Priest, what does it have to do with me?’

Compared to the Grand Priest of Green Shade Territory, whom he’d never met, Lian naturally felt a greater affinity for Simo. They were both "unorthodox," after all, and Simo had been working for him for a long time.

On top of that, his Charm Value had also increased by 10 points.

’Although I already considered myself quite charming, I’m not sure if this Charm Value has some other meaning.’

’Otherwise, why was my starting Charm Value a mere 0? That just doesn’t make sense.’

Furthermore, becoming a Four-star Shadow Knight only increased it by a single point, which proved just how rare Charm Value was.

’But now, the [Silver Believer] effect has boosted it by a full 10 points. It seems Charm Value is somehow connected to faith in the gods.’

Catherine turned over, interrupting Lian’s thoughts.

Her jade-like hand came to rest on his body. On her lovely face, thick eyelashes cast soft shadows. Her full, plump lips, slightly upturned, parted as she began to murmur, apparently talking in her sleep.

Lian leaned in to listen and heard Catherine calling his name.

’Hmm, followed by the word "don’t."’

Lian wrapped his arms around Catherine, kissed her forehead, and decided to make her dream come true.

Catherine, waking in a daze, saw Lian bathed in a soft glow, like a Celestial God descended to the mortal realm.

This made her fall even deeper under his spell. It was another sleepless night.

Later that night, Sophie, standing outside the tent, realized that Lian was still hard at work "Cleaning Entries." She couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for him.

She thought of Lian as an incredibly diligent Lord—kind-hearted, noble, intelligent, and brave.

’I have to do my best to be his Guardian Witch, too.’

The next day, Lian resumed the business of accumulating Points.

With his capable minister, Alex Pool, helping out in the camp, Lian barely had to worry about administration. He could focus solely on "treating" the Guards infected with the Aging Disease.

Kob, meanwhile, would take his men out on patrols, dealing with the Skeleton Monsters that tried to raid the camp. These small skirmishes allowed them to collect a fair number of Magic Crystals.

Half a month later, Lian’s Points had reached 150,000.

The Item Mall had also refreshed with a new item.

[Five-star Radiant Knight] (Silver) You are a Five-star Radiant Knight who has mastered the Bright Sword. You are the bane of malevolent entities such as vengeful spirits, phantoms, and Evil Spirits. Your superior genes can be passed down to the next generation, producing exceptionally talented offspring. If you have enough mistresses, you can try to sire more children; your descendants will become the rising stars of the Empire. Physique +80, Swordsmanship +80, Speed +80, Power +80, Charm +5.

Exchange for: 50,000 Points.

Knights of Five-star rank and above receive unique titles. Of course, all knights from Three-star onward can be referred to as Glory Knights, as "glory" signifies that one has stepped into the realm of the extraordinary.

Lian wiped the sweat from his forehead. ’No wonder there’s that joke about Five-star Radiant Knights making the rounds in the Empire.’

Most Radiant Knights are found in their mistresses’ beds, not on the Empire’s border battlefields.

A Radiant Knight’s duty is to spread their "radiance" across the land... by scattering their illegitimate children in every corner of the Empire.

Of course, this was just a joke at the expense of Radiant Knights; most of them were actually quite respectable.

Take Knight Kage Mori, for example. After swearing allegiance to the Jackson Family, he remained single his entire life, still a bachelor at fifty.

’Bright Sword sounds like a decent skill,’ Lian mused. ’Looks like in addition to Snow Walk, I’ll need a proper Knight’s Sword.’

’I can’t just use Snow Walk to perform Bright Sword, can I? Even though I did use a Knight’s Sword for my One-Sword Style before... and even personally modified it into a saber.’