Now, 1005 actually said that such a noble, powerful, and majestic being could actually fall into madness and lose its mind. How could she not be surprised?!
"I don't know if God can go crazy, but that guy was definitely crazy, and he turned into a monster."
Qi Ji paused for a few seconds, letting Hill digest his words, and then continued:
"Do you know what the nature of 'Rust Plague' is?"
"Uh...curse?" Hill answered not very confidently.
Calling the rust plague a "curse" is just a commonly accepted term used by the people of the Last Kingdom for more than two hundred years. In fact, it has almost nothing to do with the "curse" in the sense of spiritual power.
As for what this thing is, they have never studied it thoroughly, and have not even gained the slightest insight into its fundamental nature.
So when Qi Ji asked this question, she was also confused.
"The so-called 'rust plague' is essentially a 'nothing', not a 'something'."
Looking at Xi'er's increasingly confused expression, Qi Ji also realized that her explanation was too abstract. In order to make the other party understand better, she turned around and picked up a few fallen branches on the ground:
"look."
As she spoke, she used the dead branches to build a simple three-dimensional frame in front of Hill.
The structure of this frame is very clever. Although it does not use any adhesion or mortise and tenon methods, it can use its own gravity and friction to support each other and stand firmly.
"Assuming this is the 'normal' world, those branches are the laws and elements that make up the world."
Qi Ji said, seeing Xi Er nod in understanding, she stretched out her hand and took away a dead branch with extremely precise movements:
"Right now, the elements that make up the world...are missing some parts."
After losing one of the pillars, the frame instantly became unstable, but it did not collapse completely. Instead, it slightly changed its shape and continued to stand on the ground in a completely different form.
"So, the 'normal' world became 'your' world."
Qi Ji held the branch he had taken away in one hand, pointed at the crooked frame on the ground and said:
"You see, it's not something, not some evil, blasphemous curse, that has caused your world to become so sick, deformed, and insane.
"On the contrary, it is precisely because your world lacks some vital existence that makes everything so abnormal."
"Then...what are we missing?"
Hill nodded his chin in understanding, indicating that he understood Qi Ji's meaning, and then asked further.
"It's 'laws'," Qi Ji said solemnly, "your world is missing something... or some 'laws'. And 'laws' as an abstract expression of binding force is 'divinity'."
"Laws...divinity...so that's it..." Hill's eyes lit up, as if his thoughts were opened up, and he understood a lot at once.
"So you should be able to understand why the closer we are to the seal of that monster, the less affected the environment is by the rust plague."
Qi Ji threw away the branch, clapped his hands, leaned back, and supported himself on the ground with his hands:
"Rust is like 'shadow' or 'darkness'. It is not an 'existence' in itself, nor does it possess any substantial power. It merely represents a 'vacancy', an 'absence' - the absence of something that should have been present.
"And divinity is the missing 'presence'. In the face of the power of divinity, the Rust Plague has no resistance, just like in the face of light, even the thickest darkness cannot resist it."
"I understand... In other words, a portion of the divine power of that divine monster leaked out from its seal, and it was this leaked divine power that caused the concentration of the 'Rust Plague' in the area around the seal to be greatly reduced?"
Hill said with shining eyes.
"That's about it." Qi Ji did not deny it.
"Wait a minute, the closer we get to the seal, the less affected we are by the rust plague..."
After getting the affirmation, Hill suddenly seemed to have thought of something and looked confused:
"Then why did the rust become thicker the further we went? What was so special about the area we passed through yesterday that caused the concentration of rust to be so unusual?"
"To be honest, I don't know. But... I have a guess, an irresponsible guess."
Qi Ji paused for a moment with a slightly hesitant look on her face, but facing Hill's face full of curiosity and expectation, she finally sighed and said slowly:
"Could it be that the 'resting place' that your Last Kingdom is talking about is the reason why the concentration of rust in that area is so high?"
"Well, sir, what do you mean by that?"
Hill's eyebrows rose into his bangs, not understanding what she was trying to say.
"There is one thing that I am very curious about. What is the difference between a 'Pure White Pope' and an ordinary top-level 'Requiem Master'?"
Qi Ji tapped the tree roots beneath him with his fingers:
"Is it just that his spiritual power is stronger? Then how can he have the final say in the highest ruling body of the Last Kingdom?
"Could it be that if the Church of Redemption trains a few more powerful people like Otilia, it won't play the same role as the 'Pure White Pope'?"
"Master 105, you mean..."
"I believe that the bigwigs in the Vatican are not fools. They will not entrust the fate and life and death of hundreds of thousands of people to a war machine with only powerful strength."
Qi Ji leaned forward as he spoke, his brown eyes beneath his hood looking directly into Hill's eyes:
"Then there is only one possibility. The realm of 'Pure White Pope'... possesses certain characteristics or skills that cannot be replaced by other means."
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Chapter 483 The Power of Purification
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In the core parish of the headquarters of the Last Kingdom, in a classroom in the "training ground".
"…The time came to 192. In the second half of that year, the respected fifth generation 'Pure White Pope' died due to failure in pioneering the land, and the seven elders took over the management of the Final Church again.
"And in the middle of the following year, a 'dirty tide' occurred in the direction of the 'resting place'..."
The white-haired instructor stood behind the podium, holding a pointer and pointing at the densely packed blackboard, teaching the boring knowledge points in a steady tone.
His voice was monotonous, but the dozen or so students in the audience did not show any signs of impatience or inattention. They basically sat upright and listened attentively.
From time to time they nodded their chins to show their understanding, and from time to time they frowned and thought hard. It was obvious that they were all trying hard to digest what the instructor was teaching.
"…And just like that, the eighth battle between the Last Kingdom and the 'Filthy Tide' ended with our tragic victory. More than 10,000 people were killed by the filthy ghosts, and the total casualties were close to 50,000. Five of the seven great elders died.
"The two elders who survived the struggle are the current elders Julian and Kansangstana. The reason why Kansangstana is in his current state is also related to the incident eighteen years ago...
"You should all know this, so I won't go into details."
After saying this, the white-haired, lean instructor closed his mouth, held the pointer in the palm of his other hand, turned to face the attentive students in the audience, and stood straight:
"I've basically finished this chapter. I'll give you ten minutes to discuss it freely. If you have any questions or if I haven't explained anything clearly, please let me know."
After he finished speaking, the students began to whisper to each other, and for a moment the small classroom was filled with chattering.
For the Last Country, where the living environment and resource conditions are very limited, the "training ground" as the only official educational institution is highly pragmatic in its training of students.
In the "training ground", every time a trainee reaches the age of fourteen, he or she will be arranged to undergo the "first round of assessment" to test their level in each subject and determine in which direction their talents are good.
After the “first round of assessment”, trainees will be divided into classes and receive targeted education and training based on the assessment results.
Before the "first round of evaluation", all students received the same education, which was a highly integrated and basic "general education" specially formulated by the Holy See of Redemption.
For the last country where pragmatism is the supreme educational philosophy, history, a subject that has little practical use, is not included in the "general education" curriculum.
But when the "first assessment" is completed and the results are obtained, and the students are divided into classes according to their talents, those students who are good at management and command and are suitable for entering the administrative system after adulthood will need to study and analyze the history of the Last Kingdom.
The dozen or so students present were basically elites in the management field who would be exported to the administrative system of the Last Country in the future.
"...Teacher, if the fifth 'Pure White Pope' could live a few more years, then when we faced the eighth 'Filthy Tide'... wouldn't the losses be much smaller?"
A few minutes later, a student suddenly raised his hand and asked the instructor a question.
The instructor looked at the student, sighed, and said in a tone of regret and helplessness:
"Yes, the 'Pure White Pope' possesses unrivaled power. If we had the support of a powerful person of this level, we would not have suffered such heavy casualties.
"In the more than 200 years of history of the Last Kingdom, there have been eight 'dirty tides'. The fifth one, which caused the least damage, happened to occur during the tenure of the third 'Pure White Pope'."
"That's it..."
The students seemed to be infected by his emotions and they all showed sad expressions, as if they were lamenting the trick of fate.
"By the way, Master, how powerful is the 'Pure White Pope'? Is he stronger than the combined might of the elders and high priests? Why can one person decide the outcome of the battle?"
The student who asked the question just now suddenly thought of something and asked again.
"Oh yeah, now that you mention it, it reminds me... Sigh, as I get older, my memory is really getting worse."
The instructor was slightly stunned, then smiled bitterly as his eyes became clear:
"I forgot to mention this just now. There is an essential difference between the 'Pure White Pope' and the 'Requiem Master' and 'Disciple'. To be promoted to this level, it is definitely not something that can be achieved by talent and hard work alone.
"Of course, it cannot be said that talent and hard work are not important. However, if one of the elements is missing, then even the most diligent genius cannot reach the level of the Pure White Pope."
"What is it?" The students were all interested in him.
The instructor turned around, picked up the chalk and drew a rectangle on the blank space on the blackboard. He then drew radial lines around the rectangle and said in a serious tone:
"It is the blessing of the great 'Pure White Gate'."
“So that’s how it is…” The childish faces in the audience all revealed a look of understanding.
“We all know that a powerful Silent Soul Wizard can easily kill a demon, but this is only a temporary solution and not a permanent cure.
"What really caused our land to fall into endless tragedy was not the monsters like the filthy ghosts, but the curse that gave rise to their continuous birth, which we call the 'Rust Plague'.
"Soul-Silent Witchcraft and brute force can only 'kill' the filthy ghosts, but cannot 'eliminate' them."
The instructor put down the chalk and put his hands behind his waist:
"But the 'Pure White Pope' broke this hopeless iron rule. Blessed by the great 'Pure White Gate', the 'Pure White Pope' possesses the sacred power to directly 'purify' the rust plague!
"He can eliminate the evil spirits at their root, just like detergent cleans dirty clothes.
"This is the most impeccable and special feature of the 'Pure White Pope'. This power of 'purification' is a unique and great power that cannot be grasped by any Silent Soul Witchcraft. It is also the fundamental reason why the 'Pure White Pope' is so important!"
……
…,………
……
After a whole day's journey, Hill and Qi Ji finally arrived at the location of the sealed space of the out-of-control angel on the "Moon".
"finally reached……"
Looking at the big black block supported by several twisted and deformed trees not far away, Hill let out a long breath.
But there was no relief on her face. Instead, there was a kind of inexplicable sadness and sigh, for some unknown reason.
"Master 105, is this the seal that imprisons the divine monster?"
She stood there in a daze for a long time, pointed at the large black block with an indescribable appearance, and asked Qi Ji who was standing leisurely beside her:
"What use...is it to us?"
Near the sealed space, because of the influence of the divine power leaked from the out-of-control angel "Moon", the concentration of rust plague within a radius of dozens of miles is very low, and there are basically no evil spirits.
And the three starlight rings that have always surrounded her can also protect her from the pollution hidden in the out-of-control divine power.
Therefore, in the short term, the two do not have to worry about encountering danger.
But the problem is... they can't stay here forever, right?
We must find a way to return to the last kingdom!
Qi Ji did not answer her directly. He walked silently to the big trees that were highly twisted like hunchbacked old men under the pressure of the sealed space above, and walked around the trees.
"This is it."
Soon, she found the location of the "loophole".
The "loophole" is located at the bottom of the sealed space shell and is approximately the size of a fist. Highly polluted divine aura continuously leaks out from it, spreading across this desolate and dead land.
"Hill," she retracted her gaze and turned to look at the bewildered orange-haired girl not far away, "If I give you a chance... to obtain the power to truly 'purify' the rust plague, would you accept it?"
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