Chapter Forty-Three: Guidance

Three days later, the group arrived at a small creek. Chen Ming sat safely atop the carriage, gazing at the mountain range ahead. From the front, waves of black mist slowly crept closer, and amidst them, threads of white and red fate intertwined into a tapestry. Deep within the ranks of the travelers, a faint golden glow appeared, tinged with a hint of black.

At this moment, Mules and the others beside Chen Ming sensed something was amiss. "Mules, there are people up ahead—strong ones," whispered a companion, whose body shimmered with a subtle light, communing quietly with the surrounding plants.

Immediately, the entire convoy halted. Those in the rear, sensing the subtle change in the aura ahead, moved to the front, peering across the divide.

Suddenly, arrows soared through the sky. "Ah!" Several people cried out in agony—the attack had come so abruptly, they had no time to prepare.

Chen Ming focused his gaze and saw that the victims were guards under Elina’s command. Before him, barriers began to materialize, intercepting the arrows one after another.

"As expected, followers of the God of Nature. How troublesome," a voice echoed from the other side. Gradually, a group of figures emerged, advancing openly toward Chen Ming and his companions.

Such boldness surprised Chen Ming, but upon reflection, it seemed only natural. With devotees of the God of Nature present, any ambush or hidden tactic would be rendered useless in this forest; all that remained was to wait and confront them on their inevitable path.

"The priest across the way, we wish you no trouble. If you choose to leave now, you may go freely," the leader, Art, called out, sizing up Chen Ming and realizing he was but a youth. His initial wariness eased, and he breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "If you decide not to intervene, you may take your belongings and even the other side’s goods away with you."

This was a cautious offer. Though he did not believe such a young priest could threaten him, the tribe behind Chen Ming warranted caution. Focused on completing his task, Art was pragmatic—he would abandon a fortune without hesitation if it meant avoiding unnecessary risk.

Hearing this, Elina and her people’s expressions changed, growing tense as they watched Chen Ming, whose face remained unchanged.

Chen Ming lowered his head slightly, as if pondering. After a moment, he raised his eyes and smiled gently. "I’m sorry, but I have no such intention."

At once, the opposing leader’s face darkened. Without another word, he waved his hand, and over a hundred men surged forward.

Though only a hundred men charged, their formation was tight, exuding a bloody, iron will that filled the air.

Beside him, Elina had just relaxed, but now, faced with the approaching bandits and their ferocity, her face turned pale. She instinctively looked to the old man at her side.

He nodded reassuringly, then tore open his garment to reveal a leather cuirass close to his body. A thread of battle energy wound around him—he was a knight.

"Guards, follow me!" he shouted, leading his men into the fray.

As the distance closed, the two sides collided. The old man fell into the thick of battle, his guards surrounded, himself entangled by another knight and struggling to hold on.

"My lord!" Mules called to Chen Ming. Though a faint hostility lingered in his heart, they were now allies by circumstance; unwilling as he might be, he stepped forward.

Chen Ming nodded and produced a pale green divine emblem, which radiated a gentle light enveloping Mules and his companions.

Instantly, Mules felt lighter, strength surging within him. He charged ahead, intercepting a knight.

With their advance, only Chen Ming and a handful of Art’s men remained facing each other.

"Priest, now is your chance—leave with your people before it’s too late," Art said, his face expressionless.

Even as he spoke, his hands did not falter. Before him, a massive blade formed from battle energy, slicing through the air at incredible speed toward Chen Ming.

The sight sent a wave of exclamations through the crowd.

"Battle energy blade—that’s an Earth Knight!"

"Despicable!"

Despair and disbelief filled the voices of those watching, scarcely daring to witness what was unfolding. At such close range, enduring an Earth Knight’s full strike would mean certain death—even a Red-robed Priest could only expect to be cleaved in two.

But just then, a light flashed in the space between them. To everyone’s astonishment, the blade dissolved, pierced by a slender spear.

Chen Ming glanced at his adversary, his expression stirring. A beam of light swept across the heavens, a spear struck its target, then exploded, sending a mangled corpse flying—dead beyond any doubt.

For a moment, all were stunned, staring at Chen Ming’s unchanged countenance, unable to comprehend what had happened.

After a while, the battle ended.

By Chen Ming’s side, Mules cast a peculiar glance at the quietly seated youth, his expression odd.

Seeing Mules’ strange look, Chen Ming shook his head with a smile, then rose and walked over to Elina.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked softly, looking at Green, who lay before him.

As he approached, Elina responded, "Thanks to your divine healing, he is almost fully recovered, though still regaining his strength."

Chen Ming nodded slightly, then looked at Greyna by Elina’s side. "I have an idea, and would like to hear your thoughts."

He paused, meeting their eyes. "Over these days, I’ve noticed you and Greyna possess remarkable gifts. If you were to walk the path of faith, your achievements could be extraordinary."

"Would you be willing to let me guide you, to become followers of the God of Nature?"

Elina was overjoyed, quickly grabbing Greyna’s hand. "It would be our honor."

Thus, following the traditions of the Church, Chen Ming performed the rite of baptism for them. The baptism itself held little power, but when conducted by a priest at the outset, it allowed the newly initiated to sense a trace of divine presence, accelerating their comprehension of divine arts.

After baptizing them, Chen Ming began to explain the doctrines of the God of Nature, its origins, and the meaning of nature.

With his divine authority, and expounding his own domain, his words were profound and clear, earning the admiration of all who listened.

So, after ten days by a creek, Chen Ming observed the two before him, studying their fate.

Above their heads, a thread of white, tinged with red, began to coalesce. This was not an external force, but power gathered from within themselves, signifying they had truly surpassed the ordinary, comprehended divine arts, and entered the rank of apprentices.

On reflection, this was not surprising. Though comprehending divine arts in a few days was swift for most, under the direct gaze of a deity it was hardly remarkable.

He looked up at Greyna. Above her head, a deep green destiny appeared, tinged with purple.

Green and purple—this was the sign of immense fortune. Though without the momentum of fate it was still useless, it was nonetheless extraordinary. In terms of strength, it equated to the fifth rank, even higher than Chen Ming himself at present.

He mused on this inwardly, but his expression remained calm as he produced two divine emblems from his breast and presented them.

These were not ordinary emblems, but crafted from his own essence, imbued with traces of divine aura. As soon as they appeared, a surge of vitality filled the air, dazzling the two women.

Compared to a few days earlier, they had undergone tremendous change, now able to perceive the emblems' true nature.

A few days later, Chen Ming gazed at the city emerging ahead.

Above the city, threads of gray and white fate interwove, occasionally tinged with faint red, forming and settling over all. Around it, a shadow appeared, thick with resentment, occupying the center and continuously absorbing the fate within.