Chapter 292: Authority

As the sun set, the evening glow faded away.

That night.

York began to address the tasks he had planned.

But then he discovered something very strange.

He noticed that the number of people at the Pluto Church was not decreasing as expected.

Instead, after a slow decrease, the numbers started increasing steadily.

As if on cue, cars began to appear outside.

Some people even entered the church cautiously, timidly greeted him, and then found a seat on the pews.

York momentarily ignored the people inside the church, assuming they rarely prayed and would stay longer since he wasn't planning to close the church for the day.

But when he saw through a 3D image that people outside were setting up camp-like equipment, York was indeed baffled.

"Are they here specifically to camp?"

He saw Mirta communicating with some people, nodding repeatedly, unsure of what they were discussing, then called Mirta in for a conversation.

The explanation he received was somewhat helpless but understandable.

"You're saying they feel safe here? That they can sleep peacefully?"

York looked at Mirta, recalling her words, unsure of what to feel.

But seeing the church filled with candlelight and people, combined with Mirta's explanation, he could imagine how the world was surviving.

Not quite living day by day, but certainly in constant fear.

"Yes, Father York." Mirta looked at the priest who brought an indescribable sense of safety just by being present, and spoke earnestly.

"They also said that after meeting you, they found a place that calms their hearts, and they don't want to leave, so..."

At this, York chuckled wryly, looking at the silently praying congregation and the people outside setting up camp.

It seemed he could feel it too.

"It looks like they are happy, alright then, you go on with your duties."

York shook his head, dismissing Mirta.

"Yes, Father York."

Mirta bowed slightly and then continued towards the outside.

Along the way, Mirta responded to the nods of the churchgoers.

It was a very harmonious atmosphere.

"So my presence can still bring about this change, let them be, as long as they are happy. After all, the church also has a duty to provide refuge."

York sighed to himself, sitting in his usual spot, letting the congregation occasionally steal glances at him as he began to manipulate the dense faith energy visible before him.

Of course, he also had to start with the first step.

That was to consecrate the image of Jesus in front of him, imbuing it with the function to convert.

Just as he had consecrated the Bluetooth speaker and the mobile phone, enabling them to function accordingly.

Now, he only needed to consecrate the Jesus image for it to convert on a one-to-one ratio.

This was a significant authority.

In the real world, churches are consecrated by the headquarters before they can have this function.

So when he discovered and mastered the skill of consecration, he found it somewhat dangerous and chose to conceal it from the church.

Because possessing this skill meant that even if he left the church, he could still use it to form his own sect, even compete with the church for followers, and possibly cause the unified church to split.

However, in the end, he couldn't keep it hidden, and the outcome was different from what he had expected.

Of course, the church only knew about his power superficially, not knowing the extent of his consecration abilities.

"Probably need about ten points of holy power..."

Based on the feedback and sensations, York remained still, his power flowing continuously toward the Jesus image on the high platform.

From the base under his feet, through the cross, to the image of Jesus.

Spreading from end to end.

So much so that the entire high platform began to emit a subtle glow.

And it was after consuming exactly ten points of holy power that York saw the result.

[10 points of holy power consecrated]

Hearing the prompt by his ear, York stopped the transfer of consecration and watched as the faith energy that had spread throughout the church began to gather under the base of the Jesus image.

"Success."

Seeing this, York finally breathed a sigh of relief.

If it hadn't been successful, then all the things he wanted to do would have been in vain, and he would have even had to sacrifice.

Now, with holy power in the church, he could continuously produce a batch of genuine clergy.

"I wonder if this church's capacity can support double digits."

York didn't hesitate, ready to call Mirta back in and baptize her, making her a true clergy member, capable of dealing with demons or corrupted beings without being powerless.

At that moment, an unexpected change occurred.

Along with the prompt, a virtual window suddenly appeared in front of him.

"What's this?"

Staring at the sudden window, York was stunned.

The window displayed not a random task or his personal data but

 all the information about Pluto Church.

[Pluto Church]

[Level One Church]

[Holy Power Accumulated: 93 points]

[Number of Followers: 1359]

[...]

Simultaneously, York felt the information from the window embedding itself in his mind, available for his recall at will.

Looking at the dense information on the window, York stopped getting up.

There was a lot.

All the data for Pluto Church.

It even assigned a level to Pluto Church.

"Level One Church…"

York looked at the related description,

"Level one can support the supply configured for one priest, level two can support three priests, level three can support five priests…"

He read through quickly, unconsciously licking his dry lips, unsure of his own status.

The grading system was very standardized; each church level increase added two slots, until level twelve, which directly supports a bishop's configuration.

And the criteria for leveling were based on the number of followers: one thousand followers for level one, two thousand for level two, continuing in this ratio.

Since there were levels, then naturally, the holy power a church could accumulate was limited.

Level one could accumulate one hundred points of holy power.

Level two could accumulate two hundred points.

And so on, extending upwards until level twelve, which could accumulate twelve hundred points of holy power.

Most importantly, according to the information fed back through this window, and added to his own feelings.

He seemed to control all of this, like arbitrarily withdrawing the church's holy power, even controlling and withdrawing the power within a priest, turning him back into an ordinary person.

Because he was the creator of all this, the source of all…

"No way…"

York murmured, "That seems a bit exaggerated."

Staring at the virtual window in front of him, York couldn't calm his mind for a long time.

He knew what this meant and how significant the benefits could be.

It meant he could become the master of this world, replacing God's authority from the moment he personally created a church.

"Shh!"

Thinking of something, York couldn't help but pinch his knee.

He thought, if he created countless churches in this world, then in times of crisis, could he instantly withdraw the holy power stored in all these churches for his own attack?

"This is completely a trump card, a big move!"

"Struck gold!"

York gasped, pinching his knee hard, suppressing his emotions, but a rare hint of excitement still appeared on his face.

"Didn't expect, coming to this other world, to have this change,

With this, who the hell cares about triggering random tasks,

Churches! Churches! Make a big deal!"

York suddenly felt a strong surge of motivation.

He looked at the virtual window in front of him, making a decision in his mind.

"Create hundreds of churches here, thousands of churches! Tens of thousands of churches…"

He didn't know how long it had been, but by the time York had roughly figured out this function, he called Mirta back over.

By this time, it was almost ten o'clock in the evening.

And the followers of Pluto Church were still not decreasing.

Indeed, from now on, York had begun to refer to these townspeople still in the church and camping outside as followers.

From the data of Pluto Church, the number of over a thousand followers clearly included these people.

This made York view these followers as if they were treasures, letting them continue to stay, sleep, even if it was for a lifetime.

After all, the number of followers affected the church's level; the more followers, the higher the level of the church, and the more holy power it could accumulate.

A church without followers was merely an ordinary building, akin to a castle in the air.

"Father York." Mirta arrived, standing beside the priest, not daring to sit down.

"Kneel!"

York commanded calmly, causing Mirta's eyes to widen, her heart barely containing her excitement.

"Now, you will become a true clergy member."

Mirta took a deep breath, with the surprised followers behind her slowly kneeling in front of York.

York picked up the Bible beside him, stood up, and placed his hand on Mirta's head, speaking gently.

"Mirta, are you ready."

"Ready to dedicate yourself to this world, to the followers…"

As his voice fell, the followers behind him widened their eyes, standing up from the pews to witness the scene before them.

They felt they were about to become part of witnessing history, witnessing the beginning of change.

Mirta's face was resolute as she spoke loudly:

"Father York, I am ready, with no regrets even in death."

York smiled, holding the Bible in one hand and resting the other on Mirta's head, speaking gently.

"Good."

As these words fell, his power surged again, and York began to withdraw the accumulated holy power from Pluto Church to consecrate Mirta.

Watching as a halo of holy light envelop

ed Mirta, watching as her body was baptized,

As the followers stood solemnly witnessing, York recited phrase after phrase:

"Mirta! You will become a servant of God, dedicated to His mission, becoming a spiritual guide for the followers, leading them towards the path of light and truth.

You will spread the power of love and kindness, giving people strength and courage, becoming a beacon for the followers, guiding them to find true happiness and peace in the darkness.

You will also face many challenges and responsibilities. You need to maintain humility and courage at all times, respond to the followers' needs and confusions with wisdom and compassion, becoming their confidant and comforter, supporting them in their pain and difficulties.

No matter where you are, no matter what difficulties you encounter, you must hold fast to your faith, move forward courageously. Believe that God will grant you strength and wisdom, helping you overcome all difficulties, fulfilling your mission…"

As his words ceased, the shift in history began from this moment.

The night passed.

Because of last night's witness, word spread rapidly, and many followers who slept inside and outside the church were too excited to sleep.

At the crack of dawn.

York watched one after another with panda eyes yet spirited followers politely greet him.

"Father York."

York nodded in response, among their devout gazes, slipping into the church.

"Father York."

Mirta appeared before him, bowing.

After the baptism, her body began to accumulate holy power, making her seem even more sacred, even appearing younger than last night.

This was the benefit of the holy power baptism, more longevity than ordinary people, and physical qualities that would surpass normal humans over days of consecration.

"Hmm."

York nodded.

"Start preparing for the mass, Mirta."

"Yes!"

Mirta nodded, leaving the spot.

York watched as Mirta, looking more and more like the young nun Eileen, felt a tinge of regret.

Because it was regrettable that Mirta's abilities had a limit.

Even after being baptized as a true clergy member and using holy power, she only had about twenty to thirty points of holy power.

Although through reading the scriptures and the amplification of the Bible, these twenty to thirty points could exert the effect of a hundred points of holy power, and she could draw on the church's stored holy power when inside the church,

But for him, for the current situation, it was still too weak.

Of course. It might also be because Mirta was just a deaconess, not a priest, so her limit was indeed not high.

"Hope the upcoming Purifiers produce some tough ones, I need to push back the No Man's Land forbidden zones, creating churches…"

Thinking this, York instinctively beckoned, and the church's stored holy power instantly merged into his body, freely usable, even combinable with the amplification of magic power.

"Heh, not a bad feeling, if I could create hundreds of churches, using the power stored in hundreds of churches, I must let the demons in the forbidden zones experience what is called the illumination of the holy light."

After experiencing it for a while, he casually dispersed it again, York, with his hands behind his back, walked down the central aisle towards his usual spot.

He hadn't forgotten the daily tasks.

Brothers and sisters, it's the end of the month, may I ask for your votes? If you don't have any book in mind, please consider giving them to your little brother here, my data is too poor…

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