Chapter 1 The Purest Summons

Great, solemn, and benevolent, grant the earth abundance and bestow hope upon all living beings, O Goddess Isis; may the divine power protect Egypt, and may the eternal light of Horus shine upon the world; born from the primordial lotus, creator of all things, O Father Nun, residing at the source of the divine river, the Nine Ennead, ruler of all gods of earth and sky! ... Please listen to my prayer, the divine message; only the purest and most devout heart can receive the mercy of the gods. I am willing to dedicate everything to Isis; please grant me the tears of the gods... Please listen to my prayer, the divine message; only the purest and most devout heart can receive the mercy of the gods. I am willing to dedicate everything to Isis; please grant me the tears of the gods...

During dinner, Lord Dick had just engaged in a pleasant conversation with Mayor Dusty, and even more enjoyable was the transaction between them, which left both parties quite satisfied. In addition to the divine stone, Lord Dick also acquired precious high-quality refined iron from the mayor, a smuggling operation, a secret not to be disclosed to outsiders, and both men tacitly understood this amidst fine wine and delicacies

At the other end of the town, in a small building near the Temple of Goddess Mu Yun, Rod Dick held a wine glass and gazed from afar through the window at the courtyard where Gabriel was located, his brown eyes reflecting a hint of depth as he silently pondered something

Gabriel: The guardian warrior of the Temple of Isis in Dreamflight City

Mu Yun: A goddess widely worshipped in the regions of Hatti, Assyria, and the Kingdom of Balan, and the guardian deity traditionally revered by the residents of Doke Town

... ...

It seems that this temple warrior from Dream Fei Si is not accustomed to restraint, always displaying her own powerful aura. This is understandable, as one of her duties is to proclaim the majesty of the divine. However, for someone like Rod-Dick, a hereditary noble of the city-state, this is not a good habit. People always need to conceal something; one cannot expose all their strength to potential adversaries, but rather reveal their true power at the appropriate moment. Yet for someone like Rod-Dick, a hereditary noble of the city-state, this is not a good habit. People always need to conceal something; one cannot expose all their strength to potential adversaries, but rather reveal their true power at the appropriate moment.

Many ordinary civilians and slaves do not know the true purpose of the divine stone; they have only seen it embedded in the staffs of priests or in the armor and weapons of noble warriors. It seems to symbolize status, wealth, or divine power. The divine stone itself is also the most expensive currency on the continent, with a value equivalent to twenty times that of an equal weight of gold, and it is indivisible

Gabriel, standing solemnly, suddenly raised her head and turned her profile towards a certain direction in the town. She sensed a mysterious yet familiar wave of energy subtly vibrating in the air, both imperceptible and strikingly clear. A strange light of comfort flickered in her eyes as she glanced back at Maria's window.

... ...

Its geographical location is indeed significant, but this importance does not entirely bring benefits to the Cape State. In the event of war, the Cape State would be the first to suffer the ravages of conflict. Meanwhile, in the seemingly peaceful era, it serves as an important port for trade and commerce with the northwest countries, brimming with countless opportunities

The divine stone is a common currency, valued at twenty times the weight of gold, and this holds true in Dook Town as well. However, the resources of Dook Town are both abundant and barren; aside from producing divine stones and iron, the meager land only cultivates a limited amount of barley for sustenance. All other necessities and luxury goods must be transported from outside. Moreover, its location is exceedingly remote, making everything brought here significantly more expensive than in other places

... ...

Rod-Dick has his own thoughts on this matter. The Tears of the Gods are merely a more precious type of divine stone. If they were to truly appear, the most likely place would be where divine stones are most concentrated. Therefore, taking advantage of the geographical convenience to arrive in Duke Town to wait would likely provide the best chance to be the first to seize the opportunity. This is certainly a gamble, but regardless of success or failure, there is profit to be made. If one is fortunate enough to succeed, everything would be perfect.

Isis: In mythology, she is the mother of Horus, the guardian deity of Lower Egypt, and the revered holy mother of the Egyptians

Horus: The chief deity and god of kingship worshipped by the Egyptians, the Egyptian pharaohs are said to be the earthly embodiment and representative of Horus

With so many personal guards and attendants brought along to protect the Saintess and serve Lord Gabriel, the large convoy was naturally stocked with various supplies, primarily the most popular fine wines and delicacies from Duke Town. With Lord Gabriel present, the checkpoints at the borders of Aju and Hatti would naturally allow passage without any inspections, and no taxes would be collected.

The most important product of Doke Town is not high-quality fine iron, but rather divine stones. These are extremely rare on the Tian Shu continent, with the Kingdom of Hati's Xuyabang being one of the significant production areas. The divine stones produced in Doke Town account for nearly half of the total output of Xuyabang. Every country on the Tian Shu continent requires divine stones, especially the noble priests in various temples who possess supreme divine arts and have an exceptional thirst for them

The Pharaohs of the Egyptian Empire claimed to be the earthly embodiment and representative of Horus, the son of the gods, ruling as the divine king of Upper and Lower Egypt. The traditional guardian deity of Lower Egypt is the goddess Isis, who is said to be the mother of Horus, with her main temple located in the capital of Lower Egypt, Memphis. Almost every country on the continent of Tian Shu is governed under a system where royal authority and divine authority are unified, with monarchs proclaiming themselves as representatives of the deities. The temple of Isis in the city of Memphis serves as the most important center of power in Lower Egypt.

Amon's posture while holding the large hammer is somewhat comical, with his hands positioned quite forward. From his wrist to his elbow, his entire upper arm is pressed against the handle of the hammer. He is not particularly tall, as he is only fourteen years old this year and has not yet fully matured into adulthood

Upon arriving in Duke Town, Maria prays devoutly every day, while Rod Dick, the one who fabricated this lie, has grown somewhat impatient. In this small town, where blacksmith forges burn everywhere, the harsh environment is unbearable for Lord Dick, who hardly wishes to stay even a day longer, and he cannot help but recall the legend of the Tears of the Gods

Gabriel, however, was completely unconcerned, not only out of a sense of refinement but also out of a noble pride

Gabriel seemed unaware of the immense value of the longsword she wore so ostentatiously at her waist. If a person were to walk with it, the sword would likely attract robbers rather than serve as protection. Thus, Gabriel journeyed alone from Dreamfly to Cape State with her longsword, and even Rod-Dick was astonished; how fortunate she was to arrive safely! Perhaps the thieves along the way recognized her identity and dared not offend the Temple of Isis.

The background of the divine system in this chapter

In the territory of the Aigyptian Empire, along the River Roni, there are two vast fertile lands known as Upper Aigypt and Lower Aigypt. Gabriel is a knight sent by the Temple of Isis in the capital city of Dreaming City in Lower Aigypt to protect Maria, in response to the report and request from the high priest and governor Rod-Dick of the Cape of Lower Aigypt. Anyone who has passed the divine test and is qualified to become a guardian saint of the goddess Isis and a candidate for the *Book* of the goddess will be provided protection by the Temple of Isis.

Aiko - Maria: A candidate for the saint from the Cape State of the Aegis Empire, with the potential to become the Guardian Saint of the Temple of Isis in the City of Dreamflight. The Aegis Empire is divided into Upper and Lower Aegis, with Dreamflight being the capital of Lower Aegis.

Currently, the Hatti Kingdom is subservient to Egypt, but Lord Dick has also vaguely heard that many lords of the Hatti city-states are dissatisfied with this subordinate fate and are eager to unite and secretly resist. Coincidentally, the Temple of Isis is selecting a priestess, and Dick certainly hopes that this priestess will come from the Cape City-State. This not only signifies the glory of the city-state, but also, in the event of future conflicts, he hopes that the Temple of Isis and the entire Lower Egypt will provide greater protection for the Cape City-State.

The Temple of Isis sent only one person, which is quite beneficial as it saves a substantial amount in bribes. Upon meeting Gabriel, Dick felt that this guardian of the temple was different from many greedy priests; she resembled a proud little rooster, disdainful of accepting any bribes, and it appeared that she had little concept of wealth.

The people of Doke Town may not be aware that they are perhaps the wealthiest residents on the Tian Shu Continent, and at the same time, this is also the most expensive place on the continent. Despite the heavy taxes imposed on the trade routes, a successful transaction can still yield substantial profits

Aiko - Maria's prayer is so devout, yet in reality, none of the divine stones produced in the Tian Shu continent, including the incredibly precious Tears of the Gods, are bestowed by the hands of the gods, but rather extracted by the hands of miners

... ...

The temple in Doke Town may not compare to those in larger city-states, but when compared to other ordinary small towns, the Temple of Horus here is sufficiently grand. It is constructed from towering white monoliths, adorned with dark blue stone carvings. The white marble used for the columns was transported from afar, while the lapis lazuli, shimmering with a ghostly azure luster, is a local specialty from the nearby mountains. Although it may be quite expensive elsewhere, it is the most common building material here

Aiko - Maria is praying to the gods at the border of the Hatti Kingdom, which belongs to the Aegis Empire, in a remote small town. In this desolate and secluded place, Doke Town is already quite sizable, with hundreds of households and two thousand residents. The mayor, Dasti, is a nobleman with the title of Lord of Hatti, and he also holds the status of a citizen of the Aegis Empire, enjoying the privileges of citizenship in the Aegis Empire

Iron can be forged into the sharpest weapons, especially when it is high-quality refined iron crafted by skilled artisans. The armor and swords made from it are both sharp and resilient, symbolizing strength, protection, and the means to plunder wealth. Many countries on this continent produce iron, but the output remains quite limited, with the production and trade of iron strictly monopolized by the authorities. The iron produced in Hatti is the most renowned, while the output in Doke Town, though not high, yields the exceedingly rare high-quality refined iron. Almost all adults in the town are both miners and blacksmiths.

He told Maria that he received guidance from the goddess Isis in a dream, and Maria conveyed this to Gabriel, persuading the temple warrior to cross the desert border and come.

The hammer appears so heavy, descending with a sharp sound of wind. Yet, when it strikes the surface of the stone, it becomes as light as a feather, producing only a crisp "ding" sound.

Dasti: Mayor of Doke Town, this town is located at the border of the Hatti Kingdom and the city-state of Syria, with the Hatti Kingdom being subject to Egypt

However, today he had no choice but to do this at home, as his father had drunk too much again, his hands trembling and unable to control the mining hammer, and he must submit a divine stone by tomorrow

In the town of Doke, there are two main temples of comparable scale. One is dedicated to Horus, the guardian deity of the Egyptian Empire, signifying the submission of this place to the Pharaoh of Egypt. It is located in the southern part of the town and is primarily constructed of white marble. The other temple is dedicated to the guardian goddess Mu Yun, who has been worshipped here since ancient times and is widely revered in the regions of Hatti, northeastern Assyria, and southeastern the Kingdom of Balen.

Although the transaction was pleasant, Rod Dick did not like this place, especially since it was permeated with an unpleasant smoky odor that made him feel very uncomfortable. He felt somewhat anxious, not knowing how much longer he would have to wait

With a crisp sound of "ding," a faint buzzing echoed in the room for a long time. Amon, holding a heavy mining hammer, struck a fist-sized round stone that gleamed with a dark luster.

In order to provide protection for the goods being transported to Duke Town, Dick also organized a caravan from the City of Cape to accompany his convoy. Naturally, the merchants were willing to follow Lord Dick's convoy, as this guaranteed absolute safety, eliminating the need for mercenaries. Furthermore, with Lords Gabriel and Dick present, the tax officials at the checkpoints along the way would not engage in malicious extortion but would conduct their duties fairly. They were filled with gratitude for Lord Dick, who showed concern for his subjects, as many noble officials would not extend such care to merchants.

Just then, a gust of wind carrying the warmth of the furnace blew in through the window, and Dick inexplicably shivered. The alcohol also wore off, and he quickly pressed his hand to his chest and prayed: "Great Goddess Isis, my thoughts are not disrespectful to you, but rather a sincere expression."

Aiko - Maria this time accompanied the governor and high priest Rod - Dick of her hometown city-state to Duke Town. What she prayed for from the gods was certainly not an ordinary divine stone, but the legendary Tears of the Gods. Only by obtaining it could she gain the recognition of the high priests in the Temple of Isis in Dreamfeather City and become the holy maiden who guards the goddess Isis. According to legend, only the purest summons can communicate with the gods and receive the Tears of the Gods bestowed by the divine, which would signify that her identity has been acknowledged by the deity. Only by obtaining it could she gain the recognition of the high priests in the Temple of Isis in Dreamfeather City and become the holy maiden who guards the goddess Isis. According to legend, only the purest summons can communicate with the gods and receive the Tears of the Gods bestowed by the divine, which would signify that her identity has been acknowledged by the deity

The only guardian of this courtyard is Gabriel, as the Temple of Isis has sent only her as a warrior to protect one of the candidates for the Holy Maiden, Aiko-Maria. However, Gabriel is also aware that not far away, in the Temple of Horus in the town of Doke, there is a garrison of the elite troops brought by Rod-Dick, consisting of a total of sixty fully armed elite warriors

Amon: The son of a blacksmith in the town of Dook.

The reason he brought Maria here, aside from wanting to conduct a business deal under this pretext, was also to obtain the Tear of the Gods. The high priests of the Temple of Isis proclaimed a divine oracle, stating that a Tear of the Gods would be granted to the mortal realm, and the one who receives it will be the sacred virgin guardian of the goddess Isis

He was already somewhat drunk and muttered, "Do the gods truly bestow their grace? Is it the will of the gods or merely the fabrications of the priests? When did this ancient oracle begin to circulate? It is nothing more than a stone, no matter how precious, it is merely a useful stone. Rather than praying to the gods, it would be better to seek help from miners. Does obtaining the tears of the gods mean one is a saintess? Then what of the miners who extract it? They could very well be a filthy old man"

When people see her, what they first notice may not be that she is a very beautiful woman; rather, there is an invisible aura of confidence and proud dignity surrounding her, as if it is filled with strength, unrestrained and unapologetic.

The residents of Duke Town must pay a tax to the city-state for the divine stones they mine. According to the laws of the city-state, one out of every ten stones belongs to them as their rightful reward. At the same time, Rod-Dick is certainly aware that Mayor Dusty, who holds the power to levy taxes in Duke Town, would not be so selfless and must be withholding a considerable amount.

Maria prays in her room on the second floor. Every morning after getting up and washing, before lunch, and at dusk, she prays in this manner. She has been in Dook Town for three days, praying with piety, respect, and meticulousness. Even Gabriel, a temple warrior trained to the highest standards, cannot help but secretly admire her, thinking that she should meet the requirements of a saint, and perhaps the gods will show her favor.

It is evident that Lord Dick does not believe that she can protect Maria on her own. Although traversing the desert area between Egypt and Hatti is fraught with danger, bringing so many elite warriors seems somewhat excessive. Lord Dick, adhering to the good manners expected of a noble, said nothing, yet Gabriel could sense his dissatisfaction.

It is evident that the guardian warrior of the Temple of Isis harbors little fondness for the deities worshipped by foreign tribes. However, since Pharaoh Eju has granted permission for the preservation of the original temple, she cannot voice her objections. Her duty is solely to protect Aiko-Maria, and she need not concern herself with the affairs of others

The Hatti Kingdom is an alliance of dozens of city-states. Although the Egyptian Empire conquered this region, in order to manage it more effectively and ensure the Hattians submitted more obediently, Pharaoh Tuthmosis allowed them to continue worshipping their own guardian deities. He did not destroy the original temples, but simultaneously ordered that the Egyptian guardian deity Horus must also be venerated.

In such a remote town, the mayor's status is remarkably prominent, undoubtedly due to its unique position. Doke Town is located at the southernmost end of the city-state of Surya, which is governed by the Kingdom of Hatti. The three most famous products of Surya are also the most important goods for Hatti's foreign trade and the most precious tributes offered to the Aegean Empire: iron, divine stones, and snow fir wood

Not far from the small building where he was located stood the temple of the goddess Mu Yun. Lord Dick did not find anything inappropriate about it, as the people on this continent traditionally worshipped a variety of deities, both great and small. Some were legendary gods, while others were considered guardian deities by the local residents.

Maria's residence is located at the southern end of the town, near the Temple of Horus, and is one of the most beautiful courtyards in the town, originally the residence of the mayor. Like other towns on the continent, the most important building in the settlement is the temple, which is dedicated to and worships the local guardian deities. The grandeur of the temple is also a symbol of the prosperity of a city-state.

As a noble circulating currency, the standard divine stone is the most common, with its texture, size, and shape being completely identical, showing no differences whatsoever. Its weight also serves as the standard for measurement on the Tian Shu continent, where the commonly used weight unit "zhu" is equivalent to the weight of one divine stone. It is said that extravagant priests even use divine stones directly as standard weights on their scales.

Dick certainly did not wish for Maria to encounter any mishap, so he brought along his most elite personal guard. Such a force, dedicated solely to the protection of one individual while traversing the desert, was evidently excessive, and Dick certainly had his own plans. At a young age, he became the chief administrator and chief priest of the Cape State, wielding the combined powers of politics and religion. In addition to his distinguished lineage, he also relied on his own abilities to maximize and utilize all the benefits of any given situation. At a young age, he became the chief administrator and chief priest of the Cape State, wielding the combined powers of politics and religion. In addition to his distinguished lineage, he also relied on his own abilities to maximize and utilize all the benefits of any given situation

The snow fir, produced in the western plateau of Hati and the towering mountains along the banks of the Youdi River, is the best material for shipbuilding after being soaked in cold water, sun-dried, and treated with oil and baked. Ships made from it can navigate inland lakes, rivers, and the sea, serving not only the military in times of war but also the merchants who travel between countries. Although Doke Town does not produce snow fir, the towering mountains to the east of the town are home to these trees, yet it is unimaginable to cut down the massive snow firs and transport them from the mountains.

As Maria prayed, Gabriel stood downstairs at the entrance of the courtyard. She wore a heavy longsword at her waist, with a divine stone embedded in both sides of the blade. Even in a non-threatening environment, she meticulously donned her silver armor, her expression solemn and grave. From this position, one could see the lapis lazuli dome of the Temple of Mu Yun at the other end of the town. The corners of her mouth were pressed together, and there was a barely perceptible cold smile in her eyes.

This time, the Temple of Isis has only dispatched a single warrior to protect the candidate for the Holy Maiden of Cape State. Lord Dick is clearly dissatisfied, believing that both he and the Cape State he represents have been slighted. The Cape State is located at the northeastern border of the Aju Empire, the closest point to the Kingdom of Barren and the Kingdom of Hatti, with the vast and desolate desert lying beyond its borders, making it incomparable to other fertile and prosperous city-states.

At that moment, Rod-Dick suddenly froze, as if sensing something—a mysterious fluctuation of power, both enigmatic and unfamiliar. The unpleasant heat of the furnace and the inexplicable chill seemed to be soothed by some force. Following the source of the fluctuation, it came from a household on the edge of the town

Rod Dick: The lord of the city-state of Cape Kingdom, serving as both the chief magistrate and the high priest.

Gabriel has a tall and upright figure, exuding a blend of sensuality and robust beauty. Her features distinctly reflect those of Northern ethnicities, with fair skin, a straight nose, and captivating blue eyes. Her golden curls cascade over her silver armor, creating a harmonious balance of softness and strength. She is young and beautiful, yet the children in the town, who playfully throw stones at each other, instinctively keep their distance from this courtyard, hesitant to frolic at the entrance.

The struggle for secular power and wealth is always brutal, requiring constant preparedness, the display of appropriate deterrence, and the retention of contingency plans

Rod - Dick immediately put down his cup and called out: "Fayol, come in quickly, the tears of the gods may have appeared, you must go and follow my instructions at once!"

However, his entire body was muscular and robust; as he swung the heavy hammer, the bulging muscles seemed to writhe like small snakes. According to the long-standing customs of Dook Town, children of his age were not yet qualified to mine the divine stones independently. Using Dook Town's unique hammering technique to open the ore core that had been painstakingly extracted was the final and most crucial step in obtaining the divine stones

Character List of This Chapter