641: Chapter 641: Just Pay Taxes Normally 641: Chapter 641: Just Pay Taxes Normally “Very good, I’ve almost got a handle on it; this kind of special spell is really interesting,”
Zhao Guang examined the new spell materials.
Had his status not increased, he wouldn’t have had access to these documents.
The information in his hands was all about various special summoning-type spells, but they were all magic from ancient times.
These magics are now only to be found among some special races, and it was a mystery how the Silver Tower had managed to collect so many of them.
As he was thinking, Xi Fei suddenly walked in: “Master, people from the Temple have come.”
After changing her contract, Xi Fei could change how she addressed Zhao Guang.
But Xi Fei didn’t want to, saying that calling him “Master” made her feel closer to him, and Zhao Guang didn’t argue.
As a result, Hillna followed suit and learned to do the same.
“People from the Temple?
What are they doing here?” Zhao Guang was somewhat annoyed.
When his own territory had just started developing because it was short of hands, he wanted the Temple’s people to come and help out a bit.
At the very least, their presence could soothe the populace.
But they wouldn’t come, because nothing was built here yet.
Now that his territory had entered a stable phase of development, these people showed up.
“Let them in,” he said.
Xi Fei went out, and soon a group of people entered.
However, these people looked at Xi Fei with what seemed to be disgust on their faces.
Obviously, they knew of Xi Fei’s origins.
But treating his own people really got Zhao Guang’s blood boiling.
“Good day, Lord Xuanwu.
I am the Archbishop of the Life Temple, Acropolis.
I’ve come to discuss the matters of spreading faith with you,” one of the visitors introduced himself.
Zhao Guang’s brows furrowed.
What an attitude; he was, after all, a lord.
This superior demeanor, as if granting him a favor, truly annoyed him.
However, he couldn’t just directly confront the Temple, for the Temple’s power was not to be underestimated.
But as for Acropolis standing before him, Zhao Guang sensed that he only possessed the strength of an advanced priest.
Priests leverage divine power, giving them various advantages early on, but in the later stages, they fall behind mages.
There might not be a clear superiority between an advanced mage and an advanced priest, but once at the level of a Great Mage, mages are more powerful.
The guy in front of him had just this much strength, though he was at the pinnacle of advanced priests.
However, compared to himself, the gap was enormous.
His attitude relied solely on the backing of the Temple.
As Acropolis introduced the other people with him, Zhao Guang nodded silently.
“So, what is it that you want me to do?” Zhao Guang was curious about their intentions.
“Following the long-standing rules, you will need to provide us with a church and a certain amount of offerings, and assist us in spreading the faith,” the man said, clasping his hands together in a sanctimonious gesture.
Zhao Guang waved his hand dismissively, “I don’t have that much time.
You can pick out the place for yourselves, just let me know when you’ve chosen it.”
“And what about the offerings?”
I don’t have any faith that requires offerings.”
Acropolis’s face turned sour.
That’s right, the lord before him was a mage, and Mage Lords were the ones the Temples hated most, as there were so few mages who worshipped the divine.
It seemed gathering offerings was going to be difficult, but they didn’t care too much as they had many ways to make money.
“If that’s the case, then there’s no problem,” conceded Acropolis.
Just as several people were about to leave, Zhao Guang quickly said, “Wait a minute.
You can spread your faith as long as you abide by the laws of our territory.
If you violate them, I don’t care who you are.”
We are followers of the divine!”
“There are many followers of the divine.
If none follow the law, what kind of order would there be?”
Acropolis was at a loss for words.
Order was one of the foundations they stood on after all.
The divine they worshipped represented order, while their opposites represented chaos.
And Zhao Guang was correct in saying that the law was order.
Had it been an ordinary person, Acropolis wouldn’t have been so amiable.
But the man before him was too strong, a Great Mage no less.
Though he could maintain his pride due to the Church, he didn’t dare to seriously offend a Great Mage.
Mages had too many means at their disposal, and even priests like him didn’t want to provoke them.
“If that’s the case, then please prepare the offering fields,” he requested.
What’s that?” Zhao Guang was puzzled.
“Offering fields are farms belonging to the Church.
All produce from these farms will be used to support the development of the Church and the spread of faith.
Every Church in the area has its own offering fields,” explained Acropolis.
Zhao Guang smiled, “Have you forgotten?
You need to abide by the laws.
Here, all land belongs to the lord, and people can only lease it, not own it.”
“This is for the divine.
Are you trying to commit sacrilege?” Accusations of blasphemy were no small matter.
Zhao Guang waved his hand again, “My point is, the divine wouldn’t use our commoners’ farms and money.
Or are you implying that you are the divine?”
That was certainly blasphemous, and the people exchanged glances, not daring to take up the conversation.
Who knew what more outrageous things this man would say?
They dare not even listen to such talk.
“If that’s the case, then we shall take our leave,” they said.
“Go ahead, spread your faith however you like, but remember to pay taxes,” Zhao Guang reminded them.
You actually intend to tax the divine?” Someone finally couldn’t hold back.
“Not the divine, but humans.
After all, such things are really not needed by the divine, right?”
To a mage, the divine were just beings more powerful than ordinary creatures.
The divine mentioned in the legends weren’t without mages among them, otherwise, why would they all lack faith?
They were no match for a Great Mage, and they couldn’t possibly bother the divine over such matters.
If they had to rely on the means of the mortal world, it seemed they had no way to deal with Zhao Guang.
Among the many Temples, there were certainly super professionals, but those weren’t individuals who could be readily summoned.
Acropolis felt that he shouldn’t have come on this trip.
He had thought that once the Xuanwu Territory started to flourish, it would be a veritable paradise.
Who would have thought that its lord would be so averse to them?
He and the others had selectively forgotten the earlier invitation to assist, which they had declined.
Watching them leave, Zhao Guang cracked a cold smile, “When I needed you, you didn’t come, but now you want to come and reap the benefits.
Such nice thoughts indeed.
However, this divine power really does intrigue me,” Zhao Guang mused thoughtfully.