The trio, tainted with evil, followed the red-robed priest deeper into the palace, and as they crossed a crossway, Igula suddenly turned to look at the nearly worn-out plaque on the wall. Ash glanced at it and immediately understood Igula’s intent.
Though the writing on the plaque was almost illegible, and Ash was certain he didn’t recognize the first two characters—likely native words from Senluo—the last three were unmistakably the Universal True Language of Technique Spirit, still faintly discernible: "Card Room."
Unless the Temple of Tribulation belonged to a sect of gamblers, there was no reason for a card room to be set up inside the palace. Furthermore, while soaking, Ash had noticed many discrepancies—the bathhouse was undoubtedly opulent, with the Fish-Slicing Dragon’s water inlet, and walls adorned with murals from Miracle Park, all fitting the sect’s style.
However, the towels provided by the Holy Temple were ordinary cotton, not even worthy of wiping feet in Shattered Lake Prison, let alone behinds. Similarly, the clothes provided for them to change into were extremely plain. Initially, Ash thought the poor quality of the red-robed priests’ clothing was meant to reflect the spirit of hard struggle characteristic of the tribulation, but it now seemed their light industry was not well developed.
Luckily, Igula had clothes in his Space Card, and though they were all his, the three were not significantly different in size and could manage to wear them.
Moreover, there were many other oddities: broken ceilings, walls, and floors were patched up with gray-white mudstone, which, although functional, was clearly not aesthetically pleasing. It wasn’t that they lacked Earth Mages, but the Earth Mages could only manage such repairs—either there was a shortage of Earth Mages here, meaning they had to make do—which was obviously not a convincing argument since this was a vital place within the sect—or the Earth Mages didn’t have the brick and mortar formula for this structure, and they had done their best.
High-quality brick and mortar formulas are unique societal legacies, not even counted as miracles but as luxury items that one could live without. Hence, without proper training, an Earth Mage could only produce the most basic and practical mud.
This wasn’t a temple built by the Temple of Tribulation; instead, it was a spoils of war that they had usurped, and their technical level was far below that of the original builders.
However, when the red-robed priest opened the innermost room and signaled everyone to take off their shoes and put on robes before entering, the hot wave that hit them made Ash and the others immediately realize the original purpose of this ’palace’.
As if to scorch their throats, hot steam filled the entire hall. They stepped on the crisscrossing dry wooden floor and saw, amidst warm orange light, a square platform made of wooden boards in the center of the hall. On the platform lay an oval volcanic rock, and atop it, a white tiger made of what seemed like white jade flames lay, its gender indiscernible but its identity clear from the five tail-like Void Wings behind it.
Flame White Tiger with Five Tails!
Ash and Igula were so choked by the steam that their scalps tingled, now clearly seeing this room’s original form—a steam room typical in large bathhouses!
No wonder they had come across a card room on the way!
No wonder when Ash expressed a desire for a bath, the temple could arrange a luxurious pool nearby!
This place was indeed a bath center!
It wasn’t hard to understand why a bath center was decorated in such a luxurious, dazzling style—people seek either dim serenity or bright excitement while resting, and the decor helped the patrons get into the right mood, with quiet zones for rest and noisy ones for entertainment.
But why would a Divine Sect use a bath center as a temple headquarters!
And why would a Divine Being use a steam room’s platform as its divine seat!
Ash and his companions had realized that Senluo, this kingdom calling for the summoning of the First Gospel to rescue it, might surprise them in many ways.
Even as the scorching steam infiltrated the area, the priests in thick red robes were still able to speak normally. They respectfully bowed to the Flame White Tiger, their hands clasped: "We ignite the endless tribulation fire in a wild chant, offering the brightness of wisdom to the sun, never to be extinguished; we merge into the vivid red of tribulation fire, returning the confusion of the soul to the earth, never to waver. We will reunite in ashes, but ultimately reignite in darkness."
"Praise the Tribulation Fire Technique."
"Praise the Tribulation Fire Technique," Ash and the others genuinely worshipped.
During the journey here, the red-robed priest had explained in the simplest terms what Divine Technique meant—a second possible outcome for a Mage after death.
Yes, aside from falling into Hell and merging with the Void Realm, a Mage in the Land of Senluo could also have a second end: transforming into a Divine Technique, becoming a demi-god almost akin to a five-winged Divine Being.
Compared to true Divine Beings, demi-gods could not maintain human form, often appearing as beasts, and their powers were much weaker, prone to self-destruction and even vulnerable to being killed by Mages—although Ash did not know if true Divine Beings could be destroyed by Mages.
Mages were a group of intelligent individuals seeking truth and discarding falsehood; naturally, they wouldn’t deign to call these demi-gods Divine Beings, but referring to them directly as ’demi-gods’ seemed disrespectful, so they coined the term ’Great Skill,’ signifying a being wielding mighty Laws.
But one thing common between Divine Beings and Great Skills was this: they were Technique Spirits without self-consciousness, possessing only the primal instinct to expand. The Spider Web of the Heavenly Kingdom of All-Knowing was merely an aid; it was the innate instinct for expansion within the Gospel Divine Beings that spread the Gospel System to every corner of the kingdom.