Chapter 5, The Wilderness of Asia, Africa, and Latin America

Of course not. Soraya displayed a gloating expression and recounted the entire story to Qif Kalan.

***

"What black-clad man?" asked Chekhov

The next day, regardless of what those people thought, Qifu left Omari. Relying on his status as a high priest, he rented a comfortable carriage and sped along the post road towards Tikuria. Along the way, carriages occasionally overtook him, rushing in the same direction and kicking up clouds of dust. Qifu lowered the curtain and could only hear the rhythmic sound of hooves passing by, which was quite rare in the past. It seemed that Tikuria was about to become a rather bustling place. As a forward base of the Afrasian wilderness, entering the wilderness from Tikuria was undoubtedly the most convenient and safest route. Once past the magnificent city of Tikuria, one would find themselves in a vast and desolate area.

I thought an earthquake had occurred

Chev disappeared outside the door. One unexpected event followed another, and everyone was left in stunned silence, exchanging glances with one another

"Listen to me until I finish speaking," Chekhov waved his hand.

I think," said Qifu slowly, "that must be the legendary Knights Templar

As Chekhov had anticipated, God Lancelot did not feel surprise, anger, or confusion; on the contrary, he was very calm, perhaps excessively so.

The architecture of the Priest Guild is quite striking, and the grand entrance is exceptionally impressive, clearly indicating that the professional priests have amassed considerable wealth. Qie Fu took a brief look around and walked in along the elegantly marble-paved corridor

"What are you doing, what are you doing?" Chekhov struggled and let out a cry

God · Ulan never expected that someone would attack him, but the incident indeed occurred. Thus, he fell like an ordinary person, and the power of the divine did not protect him; this was entirely his fault. If God · Ulan had been a bit more cautious and had displayed his divine might every time he appeared before mortals, such a tragic event would not have happened. The occurrence of such an event is a disgrace for the gods; the Lord God feels not only anger for the murder of a deity but also a greater dissatisfaction, perhaps stemming from the negligence of the gods themselves. We gods have become spoiled, intoxicated by the reverence of mortals, forgetting that we are merely servants working for the Lord God.

Indeed, not only I, but you should also be able to see that today's post road is particularly busy, almost to the point of being overwhelmed. This is all because of you

"What is my reason?" Chekhov asked curiously

Shen Lansi lowered his head and pondered for a moment

Both individuals exchanged a knowing smile

"Wait, where are you going?" shouted the red lion

Shen Lansi still wore a pure yellow wizard's robe, as if he had been waiting for a long time. Upon seeing Qifu Koran, before he could speak, he said first:

This may not necessarily be the case... Amidst the laughter of the crowd, that timid voice whispered quietly.

"As I once said," God Lancelot said coldly, "You find the answer first, and then I will tell you the answer with the book. Farewell, High Priest Kieff." With that, Lancelot opened a portal in front of Kieff.

As Chekhov had anticipated, all the inns were fully booked. At this moment, the disparity in travel speed became evident; those who traveled quickly naturally enjoyed hot meals and warm beds. The competition on the road resembled a conflict among one's own people. There was no other option; after leaving the city, Chekhov contemplated for a while and instructed the carriage to head towards a outpost outside the city, a small town called Mariv, located a few kilometers from Tikhoretsk. Although it was small, it seemed to have a priestly guild.

Chekhov pulled aside the curtain and poked his head out

Chekhov was contemplating his next plan when a swift horse galloped past him from behind. However, unlike other travelers, the sound of the hooves quickly returned after passing Chekhov's carriage. It was evident that the high priest's pass, which Chekhov had hanging outside his carriage, had caught the horseman's attention, and the horse began to run alongside Chekhov's carriage.

Dear Lord Lance, if it is convenient, please take me back to Omari, as this would save me quite a bit of trouble

I, on the other hand, am in search of the next answer," said Chekhov, hurrying along while looking back, "to find the murderer and the motive.

***

That is fine. Saying this, he slowly extended one hand, opening his palm.

Solaia Knight, are you also going to Tikuria

Please forgive my transgressions..." Chekhov bowed respectfully, then gently made a small cut with a knife. Soon, a line of blood appeared on Lance's finger, with blood seeping out.

"What are you talking about? I completely don't understand." After listening to Chekhov's account, the Red Lion was the first to speak. Looking at the expressions of the others, they were also filled with confusion. Out of concern for Marguerite, Chekhov omitted his experiences and only recounted the story of the god Lancelot. It seemed that these individuals were unaware of the profound meaning contained within, and Chekhov was not irritated by their ignorance.

After two days of arduous travel, the weary Chif Koran arrived at Ticurya, the second largest city in the southern part of the continent. The once peaceful atmosphere had been shattered by noise, as the city was filled with large groups of knights, distinguishable only by their capes, which barely indicated their respective guilds. This scene could easily frighten anyone, leading them to believe that a large-scale war was imminent. Those who were slightly older could recall the last Ticurya War, when a similar throng of knights chaotically surged into the city, using it as a base to attack a band of thieves. This situation caused considerable panic and soaring prices, prompting residents to flee. It is worth noting that knights can sometimes be even more detestable than thieves; at least thieves do not harass the city's inhabitants and engage in black market transactions, selling some illegally obtained loot. In a certain sense, Ticurya's prosperity still relies on this underground economy.

Everyone began to laugh

"So, you have found the answer," said God Lancelot

"Forgive my offense against you," said Chekhov, pulling a small knife from his clothing. "May I cut you once?"

"Would you like me to guide you, my lord?" the guard asked, bowing respectfully.

"I forgot one thing," Solaya said, "During the grand arena, you mentioned delivering a message to Grant. What kind of message is it, and how does it relate to his betrayal?"

Upon arriving in Marif, Qifu dismissed the coachman and walked alone towards the Priest Guild. Qifu seldom interacted with the Priest Guild. The so-called Priest Guild is a group composed of professional priests, and these professional priests, to put it plainly, are individuals who make a living as priests. To clarify further, they are engaged in the business of profiting from the priesthood. If someone can afford to pay a sufficient amount, the professional priests can pray to the gods on their behalf, conveying their wishes, which usually involves reporting anomalies in dimensional rifts. On the continent, it is the gods who are responsible for mending these rifts, and the Priest Guild is a collective of professional priests. If someone can afford to pay a sufficient amount, the professional priests can pray to the gods on their behalf, conveying their wishes, which usually involves reporting anomalies in dimensional rifts. On the continent, it is the gods who are responsible for mending these rifts, and if any losses occur, the gods also provide compensation in some manner. It can be said that being a priest is a lucrative profession, despite being looked down upon by high priests like Qifu.

No, quite the opposite, this story has already illustrated the issue," Chekhov said, "Well, I will only mention the important parts. After leaving Iceland, I began to pray to the gods, and then I was summoned to the divine realm, where the god Lancel was.

"It's alright, I can wait for him," he said, stepping inside.

"The priest is resting today," the guard standing in the corridor replied without courtesy, as they are usually accustomed to being arrogant.

"Forgiveness?" God Lancelot asked curiously, "Forgiveness for what?"

When Chekhov first heard Lance's complaint, he found it quite interesting, as it indicated that beneath Lance's serious exterior, there still remained a human character.

Lance nodded, and the scars on his palm quickly vanished as if they had never existed. Then, he tucked his hand back into his sleeve.

"This is how it is," said Chekhov. "We all made a mistake, thinking that the power of God is inherently present. In fact, the strength of God is like a magician's magic; it also requires a deity to manifest it."

The commercial corridor traversing the Afro-Asian wilderness serves as a vital passage for trade between the South and the North. In recent years, the primary mission of various knight guilds and their affiliated mercenary groups has been to provide robust protection for the commercial guilds operating in the Afro-Asian wilderness, with their main source of income derived from charging substantial protection fees. The Afro-Asian wilderness is perpetually fraught with unpredictable dangers, with bandits, thieves, adventurers, and independent artisans scattered throughout its corners. Most of them are the lower-class residents who have fallen here due to their inability to cope with the enormous tax system of the cities; death is a frequent occurrence, and strength is the only system that prevails. Due to the vast expanse and diverse terrain of the Afro-Asian wilderness, along with its complex demographic composition, it has also become a refuge and haven for criminals. In the Afro-Asian wilderness, everything becomes simpler; as long as your fists are strong enough, your blade is swift enough, and your mind is agile enough, you can survive.

Indeed it is you, Your Excellency. I was wondering which high priest was in such a hurry.

Indeed, sitting on the horse was Knight Solaya, who, upon seeing Qifu, immediately displayed a rare smile

"Of course not," said God Lancel. "In any case, harming a deity is a very serious crime, even if it is just cutting my finger with a knife. I have decided to send you to the center of the Sket Desert; you will have to walk out on your own. I wish you good luck, Qifu Koran." After saying this, it was unclear what method he used, but Qifu was suddenly pushed into the portal.

I originally hoped to receive the summons of the Lord God," said Qifu, "May I ask where Lord Melania is?"

I am looking for the priest here said Chekhov

"Esteemed knights and high priests, this is my answer," said Qifu to the crowd. "I have personally verified that God can indeed be killed by mortals." After speaking, Qifu bowed and turned to leave

Perhaps, as you said, you will only tell me the answer after I know it. Now, it is time for you to tell me the answer

Indeed. After you left, everyone seemed to have taken some sort of stimulant, immediately starting to pack their belongings and rushing towards Tikuria. I dare say that now in Omari, not a single knight can be seen, and they have even forgotten the warning from that man in black

Soraya shook her head again. "Let's not worry about him anymore... It feels like a race of pursuit now, everyone is putting in all their effort... I should be leaving too." Soraya nudged the horse's belly and galloped forward, but soon turned back again.

I am very busy

Is this chaotic story the so-called truth you speak of

"A trivial message," said Chekhov, "is about the solar eclipse"

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his waist as the man struck him hard with a punch. "Be quiet!" he hissed in a low voice, "or I'll take your life!" With that, he jumped onto a horse, placing the servant on the horse's rear, and the horse began to gallop. Soon, they left Marif and raced towards the boundless plains of Africa and Asia.

The carriage of Chief Koran sped towards such a region. After the encounter with God Lance, Chief's confidence grew; murder was not as mysterious and unfathomable as imagined. By carefully peeling back the surface phenomena, one could reveal the essence of the problem. He decided to delve into the Afro-Asian plains, hoping that, with enough luck, he could find Grant ahead of those reckless and mindless knights. Chief always trusted his intuition: Grant was not the murderer. He decided to delve into the Afro-Asian plains, hoping that, with enough luck, he could find Grant ahead of those reckless and mindless knights. Chief always trusted his intuition: Grant was not the murderer

Solaria Knight

"Looking for the murderer?" The red lion turned around, gazing at everyone, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Standing in front of a corpse, holding a sword with blood still dripping from it, is there really a need to search for the murderer?"

I do not know, after all, that is merely a rumor. None of us have seen the Knights Templar with our own eyes, nor can we deny their existence

Chev smiled. The deity Lancelot always maintained a serious and unapproachable demeanor, coldly rejecting anyone who came near. Those who did not know him would surely be frightened by him. However, everyone knew that among all the deities, Lancelot held the highest prestige, and at times, his popularity even surpassed that of the rarely seen supreme deity, Melania.

"Templar Knights?" Solaya struggled to recall, shaking her head. "Are there really Templar Knights, that so-called order of the divine guardians?"

Qie Fu walked to a well-lit area so that he could clearly see the attire of his high priest. The attitude of the attendant changed immediately; he hurriedly bowed and said, "Respected High Priest, I did not expect you to personally visit... um... the priest is not here; he has gone to attend the gathering at Tikuria, as it seems there is some significant matter occurring..."

"You don't know?" Soraya exclaimed, pulling on the reins to keep the carriage parallel. "You should have seen the chaotic union hall."

solar eclipse

I won't take up much of your time," Chekhov said, "in fact, it will only take a moment, but I must first seek your forgiveness.

Chekhov, based on your knowledge, who do you think this person is? Who could possess such divine power

When Qif emerged from the portal, he realized he had arrived in the chaotic conference room of the Omari Knights Guild. Lance made a joke that was neither too big nor too small, which caused Qif to panic for a fraction of a second. However, this intimidation was enough to leave a lasting impression on Qif for a lifetime

"In the skies above the Sea of Desire in the South," said God Lancelot, his tone flat and rigid, entirely formulaic, devoid of any personal emotion, "The Lord God is already quite busy merely mending the rifts in the world. Other matters must be handled by me. Even I cannot afford to give you too much time. Do you think the work of the gods is leisurely? The poor gods toil diligently at their posts, wishing they could grow an extra hand." Even I cannot afford to give you too much time. Do you think the work of the gods is leisurely? The poor gods toil diligently at their posts, wishing they could grow an extra hand.

Chiev lowered his head in thought, and the expression on his face caused Soraya to feel a hint of unease

I understand. Chekhov nodded. "There is one more question: why murder a god? I do not understand what benefit this brings to the murderer. Is it merely to humiliate the arrogant deity? This... is rather childish..."

It seems that the center of the world has shifted to Tiquilia..." Chekhov murmured, revealing a mocking smile

The Afro-Asian wasteland is the largest wasteland on the continent. Its total area exceeds twice that of all habitable regions, encompassing dried riverbeds, sprawling mountain ranges, desolate grasslands, and endless deserts. Human activities are confined to the two ends of the continent by the Afro-Asian plain. On one side lies the southern urban area represented by Omari and Tikuria, characterized by a favorable climate, abundant rainfall, proximity to the Sea of Desire, and thriving commerce. On the other side is a series of small cities scattered and controlled by the Northern Knights' Guild, where a lack of resources limits the further expansion of urban areas. Additionally, there is an ice island connected to the mainland by a narrow ice path. The northern region has a cold climate and sparse population, yet it is a favored destination for knowledgeable priests, mages, and healers like Chiev, who seek solitude. Many sages who have secluded themselves there have left behind countless treasures of knowledge. Particularly, the ice island, a region blessed by the gods, has a permanent portal opened by the divine for ease of transportation, making it easily accessible.

The Supreme God severely punished the careless deity, while the one who committed the murder will face human punishment

Inside, the entire hall is exceptionally spacious, with the grand dome intricately carved with exquisite patterns, predominantly depicting the image of the chief deity, Melania, in a lifelike manner that evokes a sense of reverence upon first glance. This magnificent hall, capable of accommodating one hundred people, seems designed to impart the impression to visitors that this is the place closest to the divine. The hall is largely empty, save for a small altar at its center, where sunlight streams in from the dome above, illuminating it with a white beam of light that enhances the mysterious atmosphere. Beside the altar, there is a small, ornate table and comfortable chairs for the priests to rest, and Qifu unceremoniously took a seat. Bored, he flipped through the books on the table for a while, gradually succumbing to drowsiness, having never truly rested during the carriage ride. Thus, our esteemed high priest laid his head on the table and fell into a deep sleep.

Soraya pondered for a moment, unable to arrive at a conclusion, and thus performed a knightly salute to Qif, quickly disappearing down the road ahead

"No," said Chekhov, "you continue with your duties."

Yes, I inquired with Grant about the time of the eclipse; someone asked me to convey this to him... this is no longer important

What do you want to do! Upon hearing this, everyone jumped up, their eyes wide with terror, as if they were looking at a monster. Even the appearance of a stranger just moments ago did not cause such a panic

Not long after, a muffled sound came from the doorway, as if something had fallen to the ground, but this noise did not awaken Qifu Kalan. Then, a shadow quietly slipped in, without making a sound, like a ghost. He silently approached Qifu from behind, only able to see his back hunched over the table, rhythmically snoring. The man watched for a moment, then pulled out a large burlap sack from behind and suddenly enveloped Qifu inside it. Qifu woke up, struggled for a moment, realized that the surroundings were pitch black, and then with a whoosh, his whole body was lifted into the air. The man secured the opening of the sack, carried Qifu on his back, and ran towards the door.