CHAPTER 35: 35 HERBERT IN THE EYES OF CULTIVATORS (SEEKING FOLLOW-UP READING!)

Under the guidance of Father Kaplan, the farce came swiftly and ended just as quickly.

In just over ten minutes, the two monks who "maliciously accused" Herbert were taken away by special personnel to the Confession Pool.

There, they would endure a twelve-hour surveillance until they confessed all their sins.

Just that much is enough to break them, not to mention the subsequent interrogation, which is the real punishment.

It’s not just physical torture but a mental breakdown... Oh, the Punishment Nun sisters of the Judgement Hall prefer to call this process "baptism."

The farce ended, but Herbert remained in the great hall.

He straightened his back and calmly met the varied gazes of the surrounding cultivators.

Herbert’s inner self was not as peaceful as his exterior.

This time, he successfully cleared his suspicion and left quite an impression on the others.

But what about next time?

Can he be so lucky to talk his way out of it again?

Herbert sighed silently in his heart:

"Strength, it’s still all about strength..."

If his strength were sufficient, they wouldn’t have so easily turned against him, and they would need more thought.

If his strength were sufficient, he wouldn’t have to come to the Judgement Hall seeking protection.

"I must figure out a way to enhance my strength, at the very least, be able to protect myself."

Enhancing strength is an urgent task. Herbert must find a way to strategize about the Third Region, Prison of Darkness, and find a chance to have a good talk with the Dark Elf Grand Mage.

Friend, it’s okay if you’re reclusive and don’t want to see me.

But don’t block me from entering the next region!

Let! Me! Pass!

The reason Herbert is so eager to enter the Fourth Region of the alien race prison is due to the geographic environment he currently needs.

Fourth Region—Molten Hell.

In that fiery and scorching area, he should be able to quickly enhance the strength of his body through the Dragon King’s heritage.

"How can I get her out of the cave? The food lure method probably won’t work; who knows what the Dark Elf likes to eat..."

As Herbert pondered, he instinctively wanted to touch his chin, but as he raised his left hand, it pulled the muscle in his palm, causing the not-quite-scabbed wound to break again.

Hiss.

He slightly furrowed his brow, forcibly suppressing the urge to click his tongue.

At this moment, a drop of blood with a crystalline luster fell from his hanging palm to the ground.

Hiss—

When that drop of blood hit the ground, it caused a change in the originally dark great hall floor.

Centered on the drop of blood, a one-meter diameter halo appeared, revealing the vibrant and complex patterns on the floor.

!!!

"Hmm? Did he use Holy Water?"

"What?"

The cultivators belonging to the Judgement Hall were no strangers to this change on the floor, as it happens when they use Holy Water to cleanse it during monthly rituals.

Only under the power of Holy Light does the great hall reveal its true form.

"Is that... Holy Blood?"

Kaplan also noticed this and, knowing more than the others, raised an eyebrow and asked Herbert, "Herbert, did you create Holy Blood on your own today?"

"Yes."

Herbert nodded calmly while picking up a cloth to wrap his hand again, "I encountered an attack from a prisoner in the alien race prison and was forced to use Holy Blood to protect myself."

He spoke with such calmness, recounting the thrilling experience in the plainest terms—though it wasn’t all that difficult or dangerous in reality.

Just a worthless vampire, starving for who knows how long, almost shriveled into a mummy.

Not worth mentioning!

Herbert was indifferent, but others didn’t know the real situation!

For a moment, everyone looked at Herbert with awe.

In the eyes of others at the monastery, the prisoners held in the alien race prison are all terrifyingly strong and extremely dangerous beings.

Though Herbert paid a price, he actually managed to escape from their hands!

This is truly an incredible feat.

Kaplan, however, knew more about the internal situation, knowing that as long as the Prison Warden doesn’t act recklessly, they typically won’t suffer harm beyond spiritual damage.

She frowned and asked with some confusion, "Why not take Holy Water from the Holy Sanctuary?"

Outside, Holy Water can be a source of income for the Divine Spirit Church, sold to various adventurers, but in the monastery, it’s one of the least valuable things.

Not only can everyone freely take it, but some rituals also use Holy Water as a cleaning source, making it scarcely more precious than regular water.

"Was I originally allowed to use it?"

Hearing this, Herbert chuckled, shrugged, and nonchalantly said, "No one ever told me about this before; I didn’t know if I was eligible to take it."

"..."

Again, the monks fell silent. This time, their gazes towards Herbert were filled with a sense of sympathy and admiration.

No one is a fool; they all understood the implications behind Herbert’s words—he was being targeted.

If he couldn’t even use Holy Water, let alone anything else.

Combined with the previous scene, Herbert’s image became clearer in the cultivators’ minds.

He was like a proud swan.

Even when suspected, he disdained explaining himself, only retaliating when absolutely necessary.

Shunned by others, he refused to bow his head, preferring to hurt himself, break his wings, use his own blood to create Holy Blood, rather than "steal" something.

"..."

Kaplan’s previously calm demeanor finally showed a change, a hint of anger appearing on her face as she turned to look at a nun who lowered her head, understanding the reason.

Among the cultivators, some held malice towards Herbert due to their past identities.

Although no one openly expressed it, there were indeed some who secretly ostracized Herbert.

Kaplan intensely gazed at the nun until her shoulders began to quiver slightly, only then did she withdraw her gaze.

She didn’t lash out on the spot but instead descended from the high platform, approached Herbert, and gently took his hand.

A warm light radiated, and Herbert felt an unbearable itch in his palm as his flesh rapidly regenerated.

After a few breaths, when Kaplan unraveled the hastily wrapped bloodied cloth, the wound had indeed completely healed.

The Punishment Nun let go of Herbert, gently patted his shoulder, and slowly said, "In the future, you can go to the Holy Sanctuary to take any resources you need."

"Thank you, Father."

A moment later, Herbert followed the other cultivators out of the Judgement Hall.

Just now, he had secretly informed Kaplan of the matters concerning Brother Grass Carp, but she showed no reaction.

Kaplan merely stated that the Chief Judge was already aware of the situation and instructed him not to worry and not to speak randomly about it with others.

Kaplan’s overly calm reaction left Herbert somewhat uneasy.

He didn’t know if the higher-ups were fishing for information or what they were doing, nor did he wish to know.

Herbert only worried about his fragile body and didn’t want to hold onto a black history of "keeping bait" in the future.

Thus, after much contemplation, Herbert decided to save himself.

That night, Herbert, for his safety, did not obediently stay in his room.

Instead... he went to another place.

.

.

"What are you doing?"

"Hmm? Can’t you see?"

Herbert, dressed in a robe, turned back with a smile at the perplexed Valentina, "I’m here to sleep with you!"

"...Huh?"

Valentina: ???