CHAPTER 427: CHAPTER 261: HOLY DRAGON’S PROTECTION_2

"This truly is the territory I govern!"

With his consciousness entering the inflexible Divine statue, Noah could only observe this city, which was very unfamiliar to him, from a unique perspective. Hearing laughter occasionally rising from the crowd in the square, witnessing such peaceful and harmonious scenes, Noah couldn’t help but boast a little to himself.

While Noah was feeling proud, people in the flowing crowd in the square would occasionally stop in front of the Holy Image, making wishes and praying for the protection of the Holy Dragon.

"O supreme Holy Dragon, please protect us so that we may return safely."

"Almighty Holy Dragon, make me rich. I’ve truly had enough of this impoverished life."

"O supreme Holy Dragon Emperor, may Your radiance remain eternal and immortal!"

"Holy Dragon Emperor, please bless me to rank in the top ten of my class in the midterm exam this time so that I won’t face punishment at home."

"Witness my love with Alice, I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

"Holy Dragon, let that ignorant fool of a boss get hit by an Earth Dragon Cart on his way to work today—or at least cripple him so he can’t come to the guild and give me trouble."

The adventurer group preparing to leave the city, elderly people stepping into twilight, sweet inseparable young couples, naive and clueless children, entrepreneurs longing for wealth, and workers filled with resentment and malice toward their bosses.

Noah could hear the heartfelt wishes of every citizen who prayed to him, and he could genuinely feel their emotional intentions.

Their anxiety and uncertainty about the future, the yearning for wealth, the childish statements, and the malice and curses toward supervisors, as well as pure blessings, all related to Noah’s responsibilities.

These various wishes, whether good or bad, belonged to the realm of the Power of Faith, which converged toward the Holy Image at this moment, transforming into faith power of varying length, thickness, and even color.

Without a doubt, the faith power Noah could receive was considered by the Divine to be quite low-end and even toxic, as it contained a substantial amount of curses.

This was the hidden malice and darkness within the hearts of the Wisdom Species, and a lack of filtration while indiscriminately absorbing it could corrupt and bring down even the most radiant Deity.

This highlights the significance of Divine Position and Divine Status. Divine Position is the source of a deity’s authority and power, and it also acts as a filter for faith. Divine Status can filter out the "impurities" and "toxins" in faith.

Noah lacked both Divine Position and Divine Status, so if he dared to rashly approach the faith power that contained human darkness and desires, he would meet a miserable end.

But Noah wouldn’t use it even if he could. Although Word Spirit·Emperor could allow him to use faith power, it wasn’t meant for his benefit, as it’s not a shortcut but rather a path leading to an end.

"The governance isn’t too bad."

Although those who prayed to him had various desires, things were generally fine. Thus, Noah did not plan to make any responses.

However, when he was about to leave, he noticed a simply or even rudely dressed, clear-skinned girl with a small cloth sack on her back, standing before the Holy Dragon Statue, hands clasped, silently praying,

"Great Holy Dragon Emperor, please bless Connie tonight to find a temporary job. I ask for no pay, just enough to have food and a place to sleep."

The girl, with her dry hair, pale complexion, and slender frame, silently made her wish before the Holy Dragon Statue.

This was an extremely humble wish, not even worthy of being called a desire.

Compared to pure faith without any demands wishing only for blessings for Noah, the girl before him had her own needs, and her faith contained desires, though exceedingly low ones.

So low that Noah, who had initially intended to leave, decided to stay. His gaze fixed on the humble girl silently praying before him, and he was shocked by her request.

A job with no pay, merely for food and a place to stay? Such low standards—and yet she couldn’t find it, compelling her to pray before his statue?

What a joke!

Feeling a silent sense of irony, Noah’s consciousness followed the girl. Since she worshiped and revered him, Noah’s consciousness could also rest upon her.

In just half a day, Noah understood the reasons why this girl lived so difficultly within his governed territory.

She was an abandoned orphan. Although she grew up in an orphanage, she’s unhealthy because her heart was congenitally incomplete. Forget heavy labor; even normal activities were extremely dangerous for her.

Despite this, when the girl turned sixteen, the welfare home that took in orphans no longer provided her with food, clothing, and shelter, leaving her to fend for herself.

But faced with such a job seeker, who would hire her? Even with very low demands, her health was just too poor.

Therefore, even under the rule of the Holy Dragon, the girl struggled to survive, relying on the benevolence of kind souls to fill her stomach.

When living was barely sustainable, the girl naturally had no mind to focus on her health—even if she did, she lacked the ability to resolve the issues. She dared not even visit the Heluo Medicine Hall, which was specially established for the common people.

It’s not that the Medicine Hall would refuse a poor weakling like her, but that even the most renowned Pharmacists couldn’t heal her condition; they could only temporarily relieve her symptoms.

A congenital heart defect can’t be treated with ordinary herbs and requires spiritual medicine infused with magic power or actions from High Rank Priests.

But how could a girl like her possibly obtain spiritual medicine to repair her heart, much less meet a High Rank Priest from the Temple?

"Holy Dragon Emperor, please forgive my offense."

The girl repeatedly turned down by employers returned alone to the now-deserted square at dusk. Facing the Holy Image, glowing a faint gold in the twilight, she apologized,

"But I really have nowhere else to go. I can’t trouble Pharmacist Wendy anymore. They are good people; I can’t become their burden."

The girl muttered softly, and the Holy Image remained silent, without any response. Still, she maintained her reverence, turned around to sit on the ground, leaned against the base of the Holy Image, took out a dusty-looking but meticulously cleaned toy bear from her small cloth sack, hugged it, and smiled warmly,

"It’s wonderful, Connie survived another day."

"..."

Still staying with the girl, Noah’s consciousness fell silent. Even though the Order and system he established reduced the difficulties of living for the lower class and provided them with a higher quality of life, evidently, it couldn’t reach everyone. Some still struggled through hardships.

"Goodnight, Hughes!"

The girl bid goodnight to the toy bear she held, tightened the blanket around her, and closed her eyes under the cool evening breeze.

She dared not sleep in dark narrow corners sheltered from the wind; only beneath the Holy Dragon Statue could she find a semblance of security and unattainable warmth.

"..."

This was a very ordinary, but kind-hearted girl who stuck resolutely to her principles. Her tragic circumstances and poor health did not lead to complaints or attempts to sink into decay. She continued to strive to survive.

Even Noah could scarcely sense any negative emotions from her—temporary discouragement was present, but mostly, it was her optimistic and positive will. She dearly wanted to live, even if the world seemed unfriendly to her.

Word Spirit·Emperor

The gift from the Holy Dragon descended at this moment