"Also, Pontiff Blake seems to be inside too!" March 7th exclaimed in surprise.
Dan Heng deduced, "The tone of voice doesn't sound like him, but Stelle probably wouldn't mistake the person."
"Teacher Adrian, do you have any clues?"
"Actually, I'm not close with him."
Did you just choose to cut ties at light speed? You guy, Hacki-Adrian...
"It's fine to trick strangers, but don't trick yourself, Teacher Adrian," March 7th lectured earnestly.
Adrian smiled. Anyway, the real Blake was currently at the [Sleepless Earl] teahouse, temporarily taking over for Mr. Xiyan who was on leave, immersed in the art of storytelling.
"Five hundred times... can she really finish copying it?"
"Perhaps, she needs a little help from [Eternity]?"
The perspective shifted to Stelle. She sat on a wooden stool, seriously copying the volume of Thousand-Handed Merciful Medicus's Salvation.
"At that time, the Thousand-Handed Merciful Medicus toured the worlds, accompanied by ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine Disciples, dwelling beneath Rahu, and preaching the Dharma..." She unconsciously started reading aloud.
Feeling the soreness in her index finger and shoulder, and thinking about the remaining four hundred and ninety-nine times, Stelle suddenly regretted it a little.
"When HE spoke thus, the ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine Disciples all severed the suffering of birth, old age, and sickness."
"Merciful Medicus, the Ambrosial Arbor sprouts. Disciples with one heart, ascend to paradise together."
"Ah, I haven't even finished copying it once."
She turned her head to look at Blake, who was writing furiously, and was momentarily confused.
An Emanator of [Eternity] has overpowered stats; I have to go over and admire it.
Taking advantage of Green Hibiscus's inattention, Stelle quietly walked to Blake's side, her mimicked weapon transforming into a magnifying glass.
She wouldn't have known if she hadn't looked, but one look gave her a fright.
What Blake was copying wasn't the Thousand-Handed Merciful Medicus's Salvation at all; it was clearly The Book of Virtues of Eternity!
What, you ask how she knew about The Book of Virtues of Eternity? Mind your own business regarding 2D stuff... cough, because she saw the two prominent words on it: Eternity.
Human civilization is like the trajectory of stars, seeking the light of eternity in the vast long night. Virtue is not a solidified dogma, but the rhythm of life flowing in the blood, a resonance of souls across time and space!
Note: All characters, stories, and settings in the Doctrine of Eternity are fictitious and have nothing to do with The Book of Virtues of Eternity written by Pontiff Blake.
If there are any similarities, then the Antimatter Legion must have invaded your brain and [Destroyed] your thoughts of Eternity!
"Even the supplementary ending is memorized? Is he this capable?" Stelle was shocked. The speed of copying was already so fast that the naked eye couldn't see it clearly!
"I'm an expert at copying this stuff. Thinking back to those years... I was punished by that guy Blake to copy The Book of Virtues of Eternity a full five thousand times, almost getting locked in a dark room. Oh~ Of course, I did it voluntarily."
"Huh? Pontiff Blake, what are you talking about..." Stelle was confused. She couldn't help but suspect the true identity of the man in front of her.
"Cough cough... excuse me, let's start over. Beautiful lady, mentioning the past makes me inevitably a bit emotional, like the gears inside a machine being unconsciously turned. Please don't mind."
"Why did you suddenly become gentlemanly again! I get it, you aren't Pontiff Blake at all!"
"Damn it... was I discovered? It seems my acting skills need further improvement!"
'Blake' said somewhat unwillingly. It was careless!
"Hah! No inferior product can escape the eyes of the Galactic Baseballer! Do you know how I found out?"
"What was it?"
"You don't have Blake's exclusive special effect—Holy Light."
Stelle pointed it out directly. Blake liked to turn on an invisible spotlight every now and then when he spoke; he enjoyed the feeling of being bathed in holy light.
"Halt! Since I have seen through you, quickly state your name!" Stelle took out her baseball bat. Normal people wouldn't pretend to be someone else for no reason unless...
"The sole Deacon of the Church of Eternity—Screwlloyd."
"Hm? What is your relationship with Screwllum?" Hearing this name, Stelle recalled the scene of her first meeting with Screwllum on the Space Station.
"The answer is obvious, lady. I come from Planet Screwllum. For some special reasons, I was chosen by Priestess Freesna... and brought to the Church."
Hearing this bizarre experience, Stelle frowned.
"That's not right; the way you speak doesn't sound like Screwllum either..."
"Regarding this question, you can ask Priestess Freesna. But we of [Eternity] always answer questions. Actually, she changed it all around, resulting in what it is now."
"However, I don't think this is anything laughable."
Screwlloyd said seriously. To explore the [Eternity] of inorganic life, this sacrifice was nothing.
"My self-introduction is complete. Isn't it your turn?"
Stelle waved her hand grandly. "I won't change my name or surname; I am the Galactic Baseballer!"
"Never heard of it."
"Ignorant." Stelle huffed coldly and showed the hourglass-shaped necklace to Screwlloyd.
"You know what this is, right?" She dangled it in front of Screwlloyd's eyes.
The moment he saw the hourglass, Screwlloyd became solemn, and the look in his eyes towards Stelle changed.
Is she a Pathstrider of [Eternity] just like me?
"Hey, Lady Baseballer, seeing as we are destined, come join our Church of Eternity."
"I've heard this line many times. You people from the Church really stick to your principles," Stelle remarked with emotion, clarifying her identity to Screwlloyd:
"See this special ticket? I am already a member of the [Astral Express], so I refuse."
"What a pity. My first performance metric upon arriving on the Luofu ended in failure. Sigh~ Perhaps this is destiny."
"It's okay, you don't need to blame yourself," Stelle comforted him. "Although I can't join the Church, we can visit the Church as tourists."
"Thank you, Lady Baseballer. Your words have moved me deeply. I've decided: I'll copy the five hundred scriptures for you."
Taking advantage of the inattention of the guarding Disciples, Screwlloyd wrote furiously, finishing copying the scriptures in a minute.
"Plan success!"
Screwlloyd fell to the ground with a thud. "In the end, were you just using me?"
Stelle shook her head. "How could that be? You have to believe in the morals of the Galactic Baseballer; I wouldn't do something like taking advantage of someone's precarious position."
"So... I've decided to provide cover for you and help you escape from here." Stelle spoke righteously, as if she were ready to make a sacrifice.
"No, actually I quite like staying here."
"What kind of strange little fetish is that?"
...
In the end, Screwlloyd couldn't out-stubborn Stelle and was forcibly dragged by her to Green Hibiscus.
"Please calm down, copy slowly, and slowly realize the supreme goodness and beauty of the enlightenment in the Thousand-Handed Merciful Medicus's Salvation."
"Finished copying." Stelle handed the copied scriptures to him.
"Already finished? That fast? Let me check... Hmm... hmm... You really did copy it all, and so fast and well too. It seems you two have quite a destiny with the immortals."
"Can I join the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus now?"
Seeing Stelle so excited, Green Hibiscus waved his hand, signaling: "Calm down, calm down... The initiation trial is divided into two steps. You and that Cloud Knight have completed the first step. Now... only the last step remains."
"Don't worry. The second step is very simple; it will be over very quickly."
Green Hibiscus walked out as he spoke. Not long after, he returned with a person in purple clothes.
"Let me introduce you. This... is our boss—Mauve Moon, the general manager of the Exalting Sanctum area."
Mauve Moon nodded, revealing a very satisfied expression: "I'll count you as passing the first assessment. Not running away suspiciously during the time he left is good; it deserves praise!"
"As for the second assessment... the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus's principle for employing people is: do not use those you suspect, and do not suspect those you use. So..."
"Please duel here, you two. The one who survives can officially become a Disciple."
"Me fight him? For real?"
Green Hibiscus explained: "Copying scriptures can judge your piety, but loyalty to the organization requires some stronger guarantees... It can't be helped; the rules are set here."
"Wait a minute, wait a minute... Don't do this. We came seeking immortality, not death. Making us duel suddenly like this puts us in a difficult spot!"
"Difficult? Hmph... so you mean you won't do it?" Mauve Moon tilted his head and sneered disdainfully.
"It's not that we're forcing you to duel. You can refuse, but then it's impossible to let either of you leave."
Stelle and Screwlloyd looked at each other; everything was understood without words.
"Then... can you give us a little time to prepare?"