"Barren Wheat Field Lv1 (Upgradable)"
"Current Effect: Crop growth speed +20%. Crop: sunlight wheat, satiety effect +20%, can improve physique."
"Lv2: Wheat field yield +20%, crop upgrades to sun-essence wheat, satiety effect +50%, can accelerate the cultivation of battle qi and magic."
"Upgrade Conditions: Sunstone x10, Lv1 wheat field quantity reaches 5 (not met), plant more than 10 sunflowers around the wheat field (not met)."
Roman pressed his palm, signaling for silence, and at the same time helped up the rat-eyed man who had been trampled to near death.
"God's love is long-suffering, yet also kind."
"I came into the world not to judge, but to save."
"Rise, lamb."
Roman’s expression was solemn as he withdrew his right hand, which had been continuously kissed, and slowly closed his eyes.
He couldn't keep up the act for too long; he might expose himself.
The surging crowd stirred, waiting for Roman to speak. When he opened his eyes again, he subtly shifted his body, dropping his solemn expression, looking a bit more approachable.
"With the defilement removed, the miracle has appeared. I shall fulfill my promise now."
Roman waved his hand, parting the crowd. The villagers obediently retreated to either side following his gesture. The weary poor farmer still gazed foolishly at the plump wheat ears.
Until twelve copper coins were placed before him.
"I, Roman Lierles, fulfill the promise I just made, bestowing upon the most devout... lamb... in this exorcism ritual."
Roman felt a bit awkward; he didn't recognize this fellow, and the original owner's memories had no impression of this poor farmer.
Nosia trembled as he accepted the copper coins, his eyes brimming with tears. This was one of the few good things he had experienced where effort was rewarded.
"Now, I will share the miracle with all the villagers present. You ask, and you shall receive."
"From now on, the people of Lieshi Territory will all be able to eat holy wheat, and they will all eat their fill."
The villagers gathered to the side were silent for a moment. Then, someone started the first applause, and instantly, the entire place erupted in cheers and thunderous applause.
Loyalty!
The villagers hadn't expected to not only witness a miracle with their own eyes but also taste it with their own mouths.
Even those who were not so firm became firm.
In this world where one ate one day and starved the next, who wouldn't want a free meal?
However, between the two choices of cooking it directly or grinding it into flour and baking it, the two factions were in a heated debate.
Some believed that the God-given miracle should not be destroyed, and every grain should be preserved intact; they even wanted to swallow it raw.
The other faction, however, believed that since it was God-given, no matter how meticulously it was processed, it wouldn't be excessive, as this would express their reverence for the divine gift.
After much commotion, both sides could only ask Saint Roman Lierles for a holy judgment.
Saint Roman stated that both were good and both demonstrated reverence for the divine gift, and there was no blasphemy involved.
Roman naturally reclaimed his original lord's rights, and even gained a bit more.
No one raised objections; no one doubted that Roman was about to lead Lieshi Territory to greatness again. After all, Saint Roman had promised that the villagers would have more holy wheat to eat in the future, and His promises would be fulfilled.
The amount of wheat harvested from one barren wheat field was very limited. If it were truly to feed the nearly three hundred villagers who had come, each person would only get a small amount, and a certain number of seeds also had to be reserved.
But it was only when people truly swallowed it that they genuinely understood the meaning of the divine gift.
"I... I'm full?"
"No... I feel like I have strength again!"
"My... my wound..."
After three refusals and three concessions, Roman reluctantly tasted a bit of the holy wheat and then put a small stalk in his pocket.
From his personal feeling, the so-called holy wheat was not delicious.
Lack of seasoning, simple cooking, terrible taste.
But the feeling of fullness was strong, and after eating it, he could feel a warm current flowing through his body. Roman felt that his body was no longer so sore and swollen, and that was all.
But was it too exaggerated for these villagers to kneel and pray, crying profusely?
He certainly knew that after witnessing a miracle with their own eyes, these guys would be able to taste layers and deliciousness even if they ate ordinary wheat or even inferior wheat.
Yet, he still hadn't anticipated the impact of the holy wheat would be so strong.
What Roman didn't know was that the impact brought by the sunlight wheat was only a part of it, and his promise to the Lieshi Territory villagers was the main reason for their current tears of gratitude.
From now on, every villager would be able to eat holy wheat, and they would eat their fill.
The blacksmith Ragnar crawled and wriggled to Roman's feet, weeping profusely.
"Your Excellency, Saint Roman, I humbly repent, I regret, I have committed too many sins, I beg for the Lord's forgiveness, I beg for your forgiveness!"
Just as Roman was about to quietly comfort him, Ragnar said something astonishing.
"I am willing to offer all my savings to show my determination to atone for my sins. May the Lord forgive my transgressions."
The buck-toothed man and the rat-eyed man next to him heard this as if granted a great pardon and immediately slid to Roman's feet, falling to their knees. They all declared their willingness to offer all their savings and assets, and even escalated their offers to include the income from their labor for the next ten, twenty years.
They only sought to receive Saint Roman's forgiveness.
Roman paused when he heard this.
He hadn't expected such a situation to arise.
He wasn't the only one stunned; the surrounding crowd, who had been kneeling, also began to stir. The devout believers shuffled on their knees to Roman's side, weeping profusely as they expressed their sincere desire to repent. Some immediately pulled out their copper coins, and even silver coins, offering them and stating their willingness to relieve Saint Roman's worries.
Those with a little wealth followed suit, pulling out their savings, their eyes revealing shrewdness. They thought that as long as the money they offered now was enough, Roman would surely notice them, and they would be one step closer to the divine!
However, the faces of most people became hesitant. They didn't have that much wealth and could barely make ends meet, hovering between warmth and hunger, living one day at a time.
And the faces of some poor people turned pale.
They ate one day and starved the next; how could they possibly offer any money to the divine?
How, then, could their committed sins be atoned for?
The poor farmer Nosia's expression was particularly pained. He clutched the copper coins in his hand, at a loss.
He utterly hated Ragnar, hating why he had to say such things at this moment.
He could also be devout, he was also willing to repent, but if others offered more money than him, did that not mean their willingness to repent was stronger?
Would the divine still notice him?
Would he still have hope for a good life in the future?
Would he still be able to eat holy wheat, would he still be able to eat his fill?
Nosia's eyes brimmed with tears again. He choked back sobs, clutching those copper coins tightly.
He desperately wanted to pull away and leave, to go home and tell his wife and daughters that he had earned money, that the family wouldn't have to starve anymore.
He wanted to see his wife's relieved expression, he wanted to see his children's happy smiles.
And not their forced brave smiles and their bullshit lies of 'I'm not hungry'.
But what if he wasn't willing to give, and the divine no longer favored him?
Nosia bit his lip tightly. He shuffled over little by little, trembling as he squeezed to the very front, his loose teeth chattering.
He could barely make a sound. Large drops of cloudy tears slid down his weather-beaten face, mixing with the blood dripping from the corner of his lips.
"Ro... Lord Roman, No... Nosia is also willing to offer..."
Nosia choked, his hoarse voice sounding as if it were torn from his vocal cords. He forced a fawning smile, holding up the copper coins he had just received from Roman with both hands.
"No need."
Roman said indifferently.
