The sound of early morning prayers floats in the sky of the capital city on the lake. It flies into the clouds in the rainy season and turns into the sound of thunder above the sky, singing the glory of the Lord God. In the magnificent temple, hundreds of priests chanted at the same time. The pleasant smoke from the burning incense surrounds the sacred fire and spreads up and down the pyramid. At this moment, the great temple pyramid in the divine smoke is like the snake mountain of the Lord God, and the capital city in the lake is the coming of the Kingdom of God!
Shulot gently sniffed the fragrance of the divine smoke, feeling relaxed and refreshed. The incense in the Great Temple is made from a mixture of various spices, and a large amount is burned every day.
He could tell carefully that the base was relatively cheap rosin, with the fragrance of the pine forest. Then there is the red sandalwood called balsam bean, which is sweet and cool, making people feel sincerely happy. In the rich sweetness, there is also a hint of freshness and elegance, which is a calming agarwood. And after taking a deep breath, the last thing you notice is the rosewood incense hidden among the other fragrances. When burned alone, the fragrance of Dalbergia is not very strong. When burned together with other spices, it can make other fragrances more pure and beautiful.
The voices of prayer gradually subsided, but the lingering divine smoke lingered for a long time. Shulot watched the low-level priest approach the holy fire and continue to add bags of spices, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
"The spices used in one prayer alone are enough to make European kings jealous! Only the high priests serving the main god in the great temple can enjoy such luxury and solemnity. Even King Avit cannot compare with it... .”
After a while, the priests' morning prayers ended, and silence returned to the priests' hall. The high priest sat solemnly at the top, looked at Shulot below, and spoke in a deep voice.
"Praise the Lord God, who blesses God's servants! ... Priest Xiulote, how are the missionary affairs of the Huzhong Diocese going?"
"Praise the Lord God! Dear High Priest, the faith of the Lake Diocese is spreading very quickly. Every village in the north and central part of the diocese has erected a sign of the Lord God, and there are priests of the Lord God leading the believers. In the Patzcuaro Lake area, Tara The belief in the old god Sco has almost disappeared. Every year, Qincongcan City holds a grand ceremony for the main god, and tens of thousands of believers come from all directions to participate in prayers devoutly, and many people shed tears."
Shulot smiled and answered confidently.
"In the south of the Lake Diocese, the priests of the Lord God have just begun to penetrate into the countryside. The traditional nobles who hindered the spread of the faith have been wiped out, and the Mark of the Lord God has been erected in all the towns. The chief priest of Kuramo City, Yitri, organized a team of religious judges, It is used to identify and deal with recalcitrant believers of the old gods, and the effect is quite remarkable."
"Well, there was a letter from Huzhong Diocese before, which focused on the Inquisition Team."
The high priest nodded. He pondered for a while and looked at the elders present in the high priest group.
"What do you think?"
"The Texcoco Lake area is a place where the Lord God has visited several times. The Lord God's belief is extremely firm, and there is no need for religious inquisition for the time being."
The priests and elders of Yazar thought for a moment and spoke first.
"But in the city of Xilotepec in the north and the land of the Jontal people in the southwest, there are many remnants of the faith of the old gods. Inquisition teams can be formed in these two places to capture and judge the stubborn old gods. Believer!"
Then, Elder Yazar looked at Shulot again and nodded slightly in greeting.
"In addition, the three northern Otomi countries have been converted to their main gods for a short time, so there must be many old gods remaining. Although the old gods of the Otomi people, the gods of day and night, are also among the subordinate gods, the priests are We must emphasize the supremacy and uniqueness of the Lord God. The three nations of Otomi can also conduct religious inquisition!"
"Establishing an inquisition team in the three states of Otomi?"
Hearing this, Shulot raised his brows.
The old nobles of the three Otomi countries control the tribal armed forces, and most of them are currently under the supervision of the kingdom. The old priest of Oort is highly respected and leads the Otomi priest group in the mountain city to convert to the main god. Although the priests of the old gods have converted to the new gods, the power of tradition will not fade so easily. The God of Day and Night still has unparalleled influence in the hearts of the Otomi people. The naturalization of the three northern states requires a long time and patience. If a religious inquisition team is dispatched at this time, it may trigger a tribal rebellion.
Elder Yazar is a priest elder of the God of War lineage in the capital of the lake, and he has a tough style. When he was in the capital of Qinchongcan, Chief Priest Maweilo mentioned Elder Yazar, saying that he would always be the first to put forward opinions in the group of priests and elders, and would even sometimes refute the words of the high priest. But the envoy sent by his father to the Kingdom in the Lake brought a message saying that the third-level priest Yareli, the son of Elder Yazar, had a very close relationship with his father and they talked happily...
Silence fell in the main hall, and several priests and elders were thinking secretly. The high priest pondered for a while and looked at the priest elder Ugel.
"Priest Elder Wugel, what do you think?"
After four years of not seeing each other, Ugel's face has become rounder and his smile has become more kind. His eyes flashed slightly, and then he answered with a smile.
"In the city of Hilotepec in the north and the land of Jontal in the southwest, religious inquisition teams can be established to spread the glory of the Lord God and guide those lost people. As for the three Otomi states in the northwest, Orr The chief priest of the special sect has been in charge of the land of Otomi for decades, so he is naturally capable of handling everything. I heard that he has been working hard on religious affairs all day long, and his soul has become closer to the main god. You might as well wait a little longer..."
Shulot lowered his head and said nothing. The closer the soul is to the Lord God, it means that it is about to go to the Kingdom of God. After the death of the old priest of Ort, the independence of the Otomi priesthood will be gradually taken away. In fact, in Shulot's heart, he did not want to see the Ottomi priesthood become its own entity.
"Excellent! Priest and Elder Ugel, you have a profound understanding of the teachings of the Lord God. The Lord God controls the sun and thunder. He is both warm and kind, but also severe and decisive. The spread of religious affairs should also be like this!"
After hearing the satisfactory words, the high priest nodded and spoke decisively.
"Legal Decree: Set up a religious inquisition team in the city of Xilotepec and Qiongtar to handle civil religious affairs for a period of two years! After two years, we will make a decision whether to continue based on the religious situation in the two places."
"Praise the Lord God! May His glory be spread throughout the earth!"
Many high-ranking priests saluted at the same time, and this religious order was finalized. Soon, the flames of the Inquisition will be ignited in the peripheral parishes of the alliance, strengthening the spread of the faith of the Lord God.
After the ceremony, a priest hurriedly walked down the main temple with a decree. Afterwards, the hall returned to solemnity.
"Priest Xiulote, you reported to me the miracle in the sky in the Lake Diocese not long ago."
The high priest pondered for a while and spoke loudly.
"Now, in front of all the priests and elders, I can elaborate on this."
"I obey you."
Shulot smiled, nodded to several priests and elders, and then spoke slowly.
"The Divine Enlightenment Office in the Lake Diocese was inspired by the Lord God. The Divine Enlightenment Priests learned the natural principles of the Lord God and were able to use the power given by the Lord God to raise a huge rubber paper ball two hundred meters into the sky! Not long ago, The miracles in the sky of the Kingdom in the Lake come from the creation of God’s revelation.”
"What! Up to the sky?"
"Giant rubber paper ball?"
"The natural principles of the Lord God?"
"Another creation of God's Enlightenment!..."
The high-ranking priests spoke in low voices, and low discussions resounded in the hall. Several priests and elders looked at each other, did not speak, and just thought secretly.
"Exactly!"
Shulot nodded solemnly. He thought for a moment and then explained simply.
"Dear priests of the chief gods, there is a striking link in the Alliance's traditional ceremony to worship the rain god Tlaloc. That is to take out the intestines of a jaguar or a lynx, tie one end, blow on the other end, and then tie them all. . Then, use the holy fire to burn the intestines for a while, and it will fly to the top of the temple..."
Upon hearing this, the priests present nodded. This is a traditional ritual that demonstrates the rain god's control over the power of the wind. Sometimes the temple warriors are asked to shoot arrows to explode the air intestines in the air, imitating the sound of thunder. Ordinary people will be in awe of such a ceremony. However, as the main god has become more unique and supreme, the sacrificial procedures for subordinate rain gods have been greatly simplified, and such ceremonies have not been held for several years.
"The Lord God is supreme and powerful. He also controls the power of wind, and his power is far greater than that of the Rain God!"
Shulot paused for a moment to set the tone for the invention of the hot air balloon. In the eyes of the powerful theocratic priesthood, whether most new inventions are defined as blasphemous or miraculous is a matter of words. In fact, it doesn't matter what is invented. Who invented it and who controls it is what matters.
"So, with the power of the Lord God, the Lake District Divine Inspiration Institute created a rubber paper ball with a diameter of several meters, and it rose into the sky with the help of the power of the holy fire! The emblem of the Lord God was drawn on the paper ball that was lifted into the air to send messages to the children on the earth. People, declare the glory of the Lord God!”
The low discussion sounded again. Upon hearing this, the eyes of the priests and elders lit up. A flying fetish that can rise into the sky, symbolizing the Lord God! The missionary value of it is naturally self-evident.
"Excellent! The chief priest of the Xiulote Sect has truly been inspired by the gods and spreads the glory of the Lord God!"
The round face of the priest and elder Ugel shook and he showed a kind smile.
"The Alliance's Divine Inspiration Institute needs to build such a flying divine object as soon as possible. It is best to use it in the New Year's Festival at the end of the year!"
Hearing this, several priests and elders present nodded and looked at Xilot. After Shulot left, the Alliance's Apocalypse gradually became marginalized and was assigned many manpower by high-ranking priests. Now it has almost lost its ability to research and develop, and has turned into a craftsman camp focusing on manufacturing. Without strong guidance and supervision from the upper echelons of power, it would be difficult for institutions and systems that transcend the times to survive.
"Dear Elder Wugel, when I came east, I brought a new flying artifact to be used in the upcoming wedding ceremony. Now, the flying artifact is placed in the village on the north bank of the long embankment."
Shulot smiled gently, already prepared.
"All the priests and elders can go and check it out. When the flight is successful during the ceremony, the divine object will stay in the Alliance's Divine Inspiration Station. The accompanying Divine Inspiration Priest will also go to provide guidance, so that the craftsmen in the Divine Inspiration Station can master the manufacturing ability! ..."
"Very good! Priest Xiulote, you did a great job!"
The high priest smiled slightly and announced to the elders of the priesthood with a calm expression.
"The Divine Enlightenment Institute of Huzhong Diocese receives divine inspiration, studies the teachings of the Lord God, and controls the power of creation... Decree: The Divine Inspiration Institute of Huzhong Diocese concentrates on the study of doctrine and creates divine objects that are beneficial to the priesthood. Sunway University's The exposition of the doctrine is not within the scope of supervision of the High Priests, but it is also not within the scope of Kalmykak in the capital city of the lake!"
Hearing this, the priests and elders of Yazar were shocked and frowned. The meaning behind this decree is not just that "divine revelation is free to act without supervision", but that the Diocese of Huzhong is given the independent right to interpret scriptures and meanings! Once this right is released, the status of the Lake Diocese will be greatly improved, and even to a certain extent, it can be equal to that of Texcoco Diocese.
"Damn old guy! Even if your direct grandson is in charge of the Huzhong Diocese, there is no need to be so impatient. Give him the right to interpret the scriptures!"
Yazar cursed a few words in his heart, but he never dared to say them out. He tilted his head slightly, looked at the calm-faced high priest above him, and shut his mouth tightly.
There was silence in the hall. The priests and elders all looked down silently, and even Ugel, who was known to be kind, did not speak.
"Priests and elders, do you have any objections?"
The high priest looked around inside and outside the hall, his face expressionless, and he clenched the staff in his hand. He waited for a moment, but without waiting for a reply, he calmly nodded and ordered.
"The Lord God has witnessed! Since there is no objection, then let's do it! Write down the decree, all the elders will seal it at the same time, and then give it to the Huzhong Diocese!"
Under the watchful eye of the high priest, the senior priest responsible for recording wrote the decree with trembling fingers and sweat on his back. Then, the high priest took the lead in using the jade seal, followed by the priest elder Ugel. The edicts were passed on one after another, and all the priests and elders had solemn faces and stamped their jade seals. The situation was decided. The priest and elder Yazar sighed and finally used his seal.
Afterwards, the decree was carefully packaged and handed over to Shulot.
The high priest looked at Shulot gently, with some emotion flashing in his eyes. He lowered his eyes slightly and declared expressionlessly.
"Praise the Lord God! Chief Priest of the Shulot Sect, keep the edict. Be pious, solemn and self-restrained. Keep it in mind at all times, and don't act recklessly!"
"Praise the Lord God! Witness the Lord God! I will keep in mind the teachings of the Lord God, abide by the decisions of the High Priests, be solemn and self-disciplined, and praise devoutly!"
Shulot suppressed the shock in his heart. He lowered his head and answered respectfully, even though there was a lot of confusion in his heart.
He also understood that this decree represented an extremely important right to interpret the meaning of scripture. Normally, the high priests would never grant such rights to distant dioceses. Because that would be equivalent to cultivating a noble little Holy See in addition to the Supreme Holy See...
After hearing Shulot's oath, the expressions of the priests and elders became slightly better. Ugel nodded and said with a smile.
"Praise the Lord God! Chief Priest of the Shulot Sect, from now on, you are one step closer to the glory of the Lord God. We will stand together and serve the supreme Lord God!"
"Praise the Lord God! Priest of the Shulot Sect, may God's glory shine on you as it shines on us!"
The priests and elders responded to the greetings one after another, most of them smiling. Only the priests and elders of Yazar looked gloomy and did not say a word.
"Praise the Lord God! Dear priests and elders, the Huzhong Diocese will always obey the decisions of the high priests and do its best to spread the faith of the Lord God!"
Shulot responded respectfully. From this moment on, as the Patriarch of the Huzhong Diocese and with the right to interpret the scriptures, his status was on par with, or even slightly surpassed, the priests and elders of the capital.
The divine smoke rises far away from the jade incense burner, bringing a soothing breath. The formal audience and exchanges ended here, and the high-ranking priests relaxed and began to talk and laugh. The high priest sat high on the throne, calmly looking at the scene in front of him, with a smile on his lips, but vicissitudes of life in his eyes.
After a while, a high-ranking priest came in a hurry and reported back to the temple. All the priests and elders stood in silence.
"Dear High Priest, Prince Tlacopan comes to see you!"
