The meat rots in the pot.

Even if the people of the Wealth Church have shifted to the Worship Sect of Joy, does it mean that their previous relationships and beliefs no longer matter?

When the Lady of Wealth returned, many immediately rejoined.

The alliance between the two goddesses is still intact.

They may squabble over their own things within their nest, but if others try to interfere, it becomes a whole different story.

The Mother of Great Bliss cannot die.

When it comes to matters concerning the fundamental nature of the sects, the Five Fierce Women see things more clearly than the Master of Revelry, and even more so than the Mother of Great Bliss because they know that during this pivotal moment of the Lady of Wealth’s disappearance, if the Mother of Great Bliss is assassinated, the secular influence of the two sects would truly collapse.

At that time, it would be like eggs cannot remain unharmed under a broken nest.

How many years have passed since the Saint’s Calamity ended?

During this time, neither goddess had any significant achievements, making them easily looked down upon. Then, just as the Saint’s Calamity ended, someone attempts to assassinate the Grand Matriarch of the Joy Worship Sect (similar to a Shepherd Leader), which is not just a slap in the face but an attempt to uproot their foundation in Selron.

In necessary times, the Wealth Church will protect the Mother of Great Bliss, and the Mother of Great Bliss herself gradually realized this, leading to her close cooperation with Duncan.

This is in fact implicit approval.

No matter the internal power struggle, it is still their own issue. The Wealth Church and the Worship Sect of Joy are already a joint ruling church, albeit with some uncertainty about who will lead and follow in the future, and whether the Lady of Wealth will return and what changes she’ll bring. But for now, they are still the closest allies.

This is the value of a unified front.

It’s also the key reason why Duncan boldly reveals his identity without fear, though some fools, indulging in revelry every day, still fail to understand how to trip him up.

Duncan does not yet have much prestige, but once he’s achieved victories, it will be time to deal with them.

With the power of a great victory, even the Mother of Great Bliss will have to bow to him.

For this achievement is something even the Lady of Joy must take seriously, and the Mother of Great Bliss is just a mortal favored by her, one of her harem, while if Duncan can defeat the opposing sects, anyone with sense knows which is more important.

As Duncan finished speaking, the mark of the clown completely transformed into a green unit. He showed slight respect as he bowed to Duncan and quickly disappeared into the shadows.

Before leaving, he respectfully said, "The Joyous High Priest will offer all necessary assistance to you!"

Unified against external threats.

Duncan needs a united front to first clear out external enemies, and then deal with the mess at home.

If it weren’t for the constant infighting between the Wealth Church and the Worship Sect of Joy, the enemies wouldn’t dare be so brazen.

After all, they are the churches of two True Gods.

Duncan’s gaze was calm. Before departing, he went to the secret stronghold of the Five Fierce Women, Della-Isgeil, and returned with a peculiar Elf War Bow and twenty-one Enchanted Arrows.

The group set out as night fell, moving stealthily from the direction of the Arken River, closing in on Selron, which was Dragon Worship Sect’s territory.

At the break of dawn.

In a hidden valley, there were waves of suppressed groans of pain.

As a tall, thin half-elf crouched on the cliff side of the valley, the figure of the clown also snuck over in the shadows.

"Those lunatics are conducting the [Pure Pain] ritual,"

Shadow Dancer-Kevin observed the situation below and said in a low voice, "They’re nearly done with the prayers."

Duncan didn’t directly lead them to take down the enemy’s base.

Instead, he first practiced on a nearby stronghold; he needed a dazzling victory to shock these people until they were completely subdued and willing to obey his orders.

In the morning, Lavita’s Priests would whip themselves and then kneel in prayer to invoke the Divine Technique.

Their followers would conduct a ritual called [Pure Pain] on the four seasonal festivals of the year, where the Priests would walk barefoot on barbed wire, spikes, or glass fragments in a circle, singing the Holy Song and dancing while the High Tier Priests would randomly ’gift’ them with a long whip. Those whipped are believed to be favored by the Goddess of Torment.

They also held a small ritual called [Candle Flame], where they sang the Holy Song and danced in prayer around burning candles, using the candles to scorch their bodies until the High Tier Priests extinguished the flame with sacred wine.

Whip, candle, masochism.

The church of Lavita not only torments others but also themselves, believing that pain leads to transcendence.

The ceremony below had reached its climax.

The journey of pain was about to begin, but before that, several followers were kneeling around the altar, their upper bodies bare, both men and women, with scars all over their bodies. Nearby, Priests burned them with candle flames, first dripping wax, then roasting directly with the flame, praying to the Goddess of Torment amidst the pain.

"A bunch of lunatics!" Selstar-White expressed disdain, yet her eyes were tightly fixed on the direction of the Candle Flame ritual, curious and repulsed.

Sometimes, even the followers of the Goddess of Love would use candles, but not in such a cruel manner.

Their intention was purely for sensory enjoyment.

Duncan had already opened his God’s eye view; he scanned those present and said sternly, "Act according to the plan!"

The group nodded and quickly started moving.

A light breeze swept by.