CHAPTER 789: CHAPTER 596: THE GODDESS’S STATUE

Like the other buildings in Sandstorm City, the temple was also constructed of Obsidian, its black main structure exuding a solemn aura.

Surrounding the temple, more flowers and green grasses were planted, trees providing shade, full of lively vigor and vitality.

Above the temple, the mark that once belonged to Uller, the god of winter and hunting, had been completely erased, replaced by a symbol of holy light resembling a scepter.

Having done his homework in advance, Tonglu knew that was the symbol of the Life Goddess Eve.

The temple’s doors were enormous, at least from Tonglu’s perspective, grand enough to be called magnificent, and seemed to have been expanded quite a bit compared to his memory.

Yet, seeing the elves coming and going, he understood the reason why.

The fervor of belief in the Life Temple seemed exceedingly high, with new elves entering and exiting almost every moment. Under such circumstances, the expansion of the temple doors seemed justified.

Watching the elves come and go, Tonglu was filled with emotion.

In the Segis World, the flow of believers in a True God’s temple often represented the cohesive power of that True God’s faith.

The higher the cohesive power of faith in a True God, the more devout the believers’ faith, and the more believers would journey to the temple to pray.

And such a lively scene as this, with countless believers in the Life Temple, was something Tonglu had only seen in Mania City, the domain of the Holy Mania Empire.

But Mania City was the Holy City of the Eternal Church, already a sacred place for various human religions, entirely different in nature from the Sandstorm City before him.

Sandstorm City had only been captured by the elves a few months ago...

For such a city to have so many devout believers was truly astonishing.

At this thought, Tonglu couldn’t help but ponder to himself:

*No wonder the Life Goddess could rise so quickly,* *no wonder the Elf Clan could defeat the Half-Beasts so swiftly.*

*Such formidable cohesive power of faith probably surpassed that of all the True God Churches.*

*Alas...*

*If only the Dwarf Clan’s faith could thrive like the Life Church’s.*

*If so, the once-united dwarf pantheon wouldn’t have collapsed, nor would the Dwarf Civilization have fractured.*

Tonglu sighed to himself.

"Lord Tonglu, we have arrived."

The enthusiastic and cordial voice of an Elf Girl rang in his ear, pulling Tonglu’s thoughts back.

He withdrew his gaze from the temple, his expression slightly solemn, and nodded gently.

The carriage door was opened from the outside, and two elves in white Priest Robes warmly greeted Tonglu.

"Lord Tonglu, Lord Serenadil has been waiting for you for quite some time in the temple."

The Elf Priest said with a smile, almost reaching out to shake his hand in excitement.

The smile was so sincere that it made Tonglu have the faint illusion that he was being flattered...

Tonglu shook his head vigorously, casting out the inexplicable illusion from his mind.

But at the same time, the emotions in his heart deepened:

*The Elf Clan truly is a warm and friendly race...*

*And the efficiency of their church is remarkably high!*

He had only just arrived at the temple, yet it seemed every elf knew of his arrival.

Not only that, but the elves were also very attentive in their reception, understanding his urgency, without the formalities and pretentiousness typical of other True God Churches...

*Efficient, enthusiastic, pragmatic.*

Tonglu nodded silently.

Vaguely, he found himself having a greater fondness for the elves.

Of course, if Tonglu had known that it was upon his entry into Sandstorm City that the related players received a notification of a hidden task activation and wished to complete the task quickly and smoothly...

Perhaps he wouldn’t have thought this way.

Adjusting his attire, Tonglu gave a friendly smile to the welcoming elves, then followed the Elf Priest into the temple.

The temple’s interior was spacious, seemingly expanded with many annexes, each filled with numerous elves praying devoutly.

Tonglu could even hear their fervent praises:

"Praise nature, praise life, praise the great Life Goddess Eve!"

Resounding one after another.

Many elves were making wishes, although the contents of the wishes were peculiar, such as "Bless me with drawing a legendary card," "Bless me with obtaining rare skills," "No more plain equipment, please"...

It was a bit hard to understand.

But even so, Tonglu still sensed the elves’ high spirits and sincere devotion.

Of course, if he knew that most of the praying elves, and those entering and exiting at the temple doors, were actually players heading to the temple to access the exchange mall...

Perhaps he wouldn’t have thought this way.

Passing through the solemn yet lively main hall and side halls of the temple, under the guidance of the Elf Priest, Tonglu arrived at the entrance of a side chamber at the back of the temple.

"Lord Serenadil is waiting for you inside, please enter."

The Elf Priest said enthusiastically.

"Thank you."

Tonglu nodded gratefully.

Then he pushed open the door and walked inside.

The door behind him slowly closed, and Tonglu found himself in a room that resembled a study.

At the center of the room was an elven-style desk, behind which were bookshelves filled with a variety of books. To one side of the bookshelf stood a tall male elf with his back to the door.

He had beautiful silver hair and wore a traditional elven long robe, adorned with the symbol and images of the Life Goddess.

Upon hearing the door, he put down his book and slowly turned around.

A pair of bright blue-violet eyes like stars looked at Tonglu, and a gentle smile appeared on a face so handsome that even a Dwarf Warrior couldn’t help but pause for a second:

"You must be Lord Tonglu of the Dwarf Kingdom, hello, I am the current City Lord of Sandstorm City—Serenadil Moonlight."

So, he was of the Elf Royal Family!

Who would have thought that an Elf Royal still existed!

Although the other party’s strength was only Silver Upper, Tonglu dared not underestimate him, for the royal family status was notoriously high among the elves!

Not to mention, if the intelligence was correct, this was also a Divine Favored, and since a Divine Favored could summon the power of a True God, his true strength couldn’t be judged by his apparent power.

At this thought, Tonglu’s expression turned solemn, and he offered a formal bow, speaking seriously:

"Indeed, Lord Serenadil, I am Tonglu, from the Dwarf Kingdom, entrusted by our National Church’s Pope, tasked to seek assistance from the Elf Clan to help seal the evil forces beneath the Dwarf Kingdom..."

Serenadil gently nodded and smiled:

"I have received the oracle from the Goddess, who already anticipated your arrival; moreover... the Life Church has prepared everything."

His voice was warm and pure, quite pleasant to hear.

"Lord Tonglu, please follow me, the Goddess has prepared a powerful Divine Artifact, which will be key to the seal."

Saying this, Serenadil headed outside.

A powerful Divine Artifact?

Tonglu’s expression lit up with joy as he quickly followed.

The door was pushed open, accompanied by cries of surprise, and a group of elves eavesdropping at the corner tumbled over.

Serenadil’s mouth twitched.

"Hahaha, Lord Serenadil, continue your conversation, we still have things to do, we’ll take our leave."

The elves chuckled awkwardly, then scrambled to their feet and hurriedly dispersed.

Serenadil: ...

Tonglu: ...

"Ahem, pay them no mind, Chosen Ones are sometimes like this."

Serenadil said with a light cough.

Chosen Ones?

Tonglu was slightly taken aback.

He felt as though he had heard this term somewhere before, but couldn’t quite recall...

Following Serenadil, Tonglu soon arrived at the temple’s main hall.

Within the main hall was a statue of the goddess five meters tall, crowned, holding a scepter, adorned in a regal and ornate Divine Robe. Even just a statue, her dignified beauty was evident, capable of captivating nations.

It was the statue of the second-generation God of Life and Nature, the Life Goddess Eve.

Serenadil came before the statue and prayed devoutly.

Suddenly, the temple was filled with a bright light, and a distant, ethereal hymnal reached them.

The holy and majestic aura filled the entire hall, and under Tonglu’s awe-struck and expectant gaze, dots of golden light gathered before Serenadil.

Moments later, the hymnal faded, the aura withdrew, and the light in the temple gradually dimmed, leaving a small goddess statue, about thirty or forty centimeters tall, in front of Serenadil.

The statue itself shimmered with some divine light, clearly blessed by the True God in some way.

Serenadil gently picked up the statue and placed it in Tonglu’s hands.

"Lord Tonglu, this is the Divine Artifact bestowed by the Goddess, the key to sealing the evil forces."

He said with a smile.

A Divine Artifact?

This... wasn’t it just a statue?

Tonglu was slightly bewildered.