CHAPTER 358: CHAPTER 4: LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT! PEERING INTO THE FUTURE (PART 2)

Could the person be a Druid?

What the hell!

Are there really Druids in this damned place?

Possible.

Duncan has been here for two days, and he has hardly seen any proper plants, vegetables, or crops. But inside the other’s room, there is a small tomato plant. This thing is quite valuable, and god knows how those people who daily survive on relief food long to eat fresh fruit.

It’s a luxury item.

Bert noticed the change in Duncan’s expression and eagerly said, "Friend."

"What have you thought about it?"

"I’ve noticed your strong perception. If you’re willing to embrace the faith of the Earth Mother, you should soon get promoted, receiving the divine grace granted by the great Mother."

"It can make you live longer, even enabling you to survive on the nutrients of the earth."

Hmm?

Survive on the nutrients of the earth?

Turn into a plant?

Duncan keenly sensed a key element.

This man had no hostility from start to finish. He seemed like an eager yet inexperienced missionary. Because a proper cultist would start by asking if you desire power, wealth, authority, and such desires, right?

No, thanks, I crave Naizi.

Perhaps he discovered something from Duncan, which made him appear a bit impatient.

But judging by his proactive approach, the guy didn’t seem bad.

"Wait a minute."

After pondering a moment, Duncan said, "Does your Earth Secret Sect have a scripture?"

"Could you let me have a look, so I can consider it?"

It’s rare for a hidden sect to approach him actively; it would be a pity not to take the chance to learn a bit more information.

The man grew increasingly pleased upon hearing this and quickly walked out, saying, "Yes. Please wait for me a moment."

Shortly.

He brought over a thick book with a black cover, bearing the mark of the earth and even containing a trace of supernatural power. He carefully handed it over, saying, "Friend. Please safeguard it, and try not to let the Mechanical Divine Sect discover it."

"Though it wouldn’t cause a big hassle, they would definitely cause trouble."

Hmm?

Do you mean? Even if it’s found out by people from the Mechanical Divine Sect?

It wouldn’t be too much of a problem?

Seeing Duncan’s puzzled expression, Bert explained, "Our sect isn’t publicly acknowledged but is a secretly lawful esoteric organization."

"As long as you’re careful and don’t publicly preach the doctrines, no one will trouble you."

Are there other divine spirit sects?

Duncan reached out and flipped through the book casually. Just by looking at the first few pages, he could determine it was a proper True God sect. Some of its doctrines even aligned with Druid beliefs, proving it wasn’t one of those dubious Evil God sects.

"Does it mean, the esoteric practitioners believe in True Gods?"

"While the cultists believe in Void Creatures?"

"No."

"If there are other True Gods, then where did They go? They couldn’t all be suppressed by the God of Machinery, could they?"

"But the esoteric practitioners I’ve encountered these two days feel even fewer than the cultists."

Among tens of thousands of people, there were only about twenty or thirty esoteric practitioner marks.

Duncan continued browsing the Earth Scripture in front of him, feeling the book was quite aged, having been preserved for at least hundreds of years. The yellowed pages contained handwritten doctrinal content. Seeing him read so attentively, Bert politely excused himself, planning to ask Duncan’s thoughts again tomorrow.

Nowadays, talented individuals are basically absorbed by the Mechanical Divine Sect. These esoteric practitioners can only try to maintain their heritage by seeking those who slip through the cracks.

Today Duncan was passed over and not chosen by the Mechanical Divine Sect. He had already been keeping an eye out.

The Mechanical Divine Sect is vast and doesn’t care if there’s one more Mechanical Priest or one less.

But he cares a lot.

Throughout district F46, he had almost quietly scouted the whole area; besides Duncan, he didn’t find any other talents. In the lower Nest City, almost everyone with talent had been vetted by the Mechanical Divine Sect. Esoteric practitioners need a stroke of luck to maintain sect heritage.

Normally, people prefer to join the leading world order, the Mechanical Divine Sect, and only a very few would become esoteric practitioners.

This time, to recruit Duncan, he even risked exposing his identity.

The member of the Mechanical Divine Sect today had clearly noticed Duncan, too. These Mechanical Priests also have their task quotas. Gifted individuals are valued anywhere. If he doesn’t act, Duncan might become an apprentice to a Mechanical Priest before long.

Once branded with the ’Mechanical Mind’ mark and covered in Holy Oil, one becomes a genuine gearhead.

It would then be extremely hard to learn the esoteric heritage.

The night deepens.

By now, Duncan had finished reading the Earth Secret Scripture. The first half of the content was almost negligible; it merely extolled the greatness of the Earth Mother Goddess - Tia. Only in the latter half did things get interesting, for it recorded an incomplete secret language written in runes, similar to Celtic runes, which Duncan actually could understand.

——"The gods have withdrawn!... The God of Machinery becomes the ruler of the new era!..."

——"The divine sects transform into esoteric sects!..."

——"Continue ancient heritage and faith amidst a new era!..."

Hiss.

Why does it seem like the God of Machinery really suppressed all other divine spirits?

This world has only one orthodox state religion.

And that’s the Mechanical Divine Sect!

In the latter half of the Earth Secret Scripture, there are also recorded some supernatural rituals and spells, even ways to acquire the divine grace of the Earth Mother. This stuff, elsewhere, would be methods to become a transcendent, but Bert directly handed it to Duncan.