Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 1973: Chapter 1968: Mathematical Euphoria (29)

It’s not anyone’s church, but merely a symbol of an abstract concept.

Not too surprising an answer, indeed.

”Thank you.”

Expressing his gratitude for the Tomb Guardian’s explanation, Fu Qian moved forward and found a seat by the long table.

As a posthumous Heaven, the Paradise, so far, has indeed shown little trace related to the Superior Being.

This is why he became even more interested upon seeing the church initially.

Yet, it seems whether it’s Sin City or this true City of Bliss, the people here have no concept of the ”Stomach” they once revered.

It seems there’s just such a building here, and then they naturally interpret it.

But he cannot do that.

Although no hostile actions have been taken against him so far, his relationship with the Stomach runs a bit deep.

Not only did he destroy the projection of the White Head Holy Church, but he also took down its Ecstatic Servant—and even took advantage of it.

In any case, being recognized would make it difficult to maintain a friendly posture from it.

Even if that great being is magnanimous and doesn’t take offense, don’t forget he also has a mission.

Could it be the ”Ancient Man” that needs to be eliminated?

Honestly, it cannot be ruled out because it seems progressive—

In the false City of Bliss, there is a church without an emblem, used by karma-laden people to repent their sins.

In the true City of Bliss, the church’s elements are more abundant and accurate, and people regard it as a symbol of bliss, praying within for favor.

And the next level up?

Could it already feature a statue of the Stomach?

Even if it’s not its Divine Realm, the situation hasn’t improved.

The reason is simple: such a thing couldn’t possibly appear without a reason.

If the mission target isn’t the Stomach, it means there are two hostile forces towards him in Paradise.

He is currently in one of their churches and is unsure what the other is planning.

...

”How do people usually pray?”

This real church has even fewer people than those in the Sin City.

Fu Qian looked around and, seeing only one churchgoer behind the corner curtain, chose not to disturb and continued to consult the Tomb Guardian instead.

”Empty your mind, just knowing you’re praying for bliss is enough...because it’s something that words cannot describe; any detailed definition is wrong.”

Although previously dismissive of trying to pray in the church, once inside, the Tomb Guardian restrained his demeanor entirely.

With a respectful expression and serious tone, he explained while already getting into the state himself.

Sublime yet indescribable, any detailed definition is wrong...

Why does this sound somewhat similar to the confessions in the Sin City, where no one knows who the subject is?

Though the Tomb Guardian’s words seemed swindling, understanding such things has always been Fu Qian’s forte.

Silently contemplating its meaning, he watched the now-quiet Tomb Guardian, and in the next moment, he too exhaled and calmed himself—but did not empty his mind.

The contrast between the true and false churches might also be an easy realization for the Tomb Guardian.

But besides that, there is actually something else that also possesses this indefinable nature—a lively, endlessly sublime joy.

It was something he had witnessed in the victims of the Seed of Ecstasy.

Apart from never being satisfied with current achievements, always striving for more, what else had he learned from them?

Is intense desire cleanliness?

Not only did he not follow the Tomb Guardian’s suggestion, but Fu Qian even actively mimicked the ecstatic victims he had seen, manifesting all kinds of desires in a wild rush.

And combined with previous investigative results, namely the essence of layered joy, he continued to cultivate a new variant of ”Moderation of Moderation” from the surging desires, stacking it all the way down.

The Tomb Guardian might think church prayers are ineffective because he’s exerting force in the wrong direction.

Ecstasy might not be the ultimate purity but something so complex he couldn’t discern, like Ecstasy nested a hundred layers deep.

But what if he was wrong in judgment—so be it.

A prayer technique explored for years with no high success rate really holds no necessity to follow.

Not to mention, Fu Qian always avoids the lazy mindset of the Child of Destiny, imagining doing the same things himself and ignoring success rates.

Even if he followed through and succeeded, would he dare accept it then?

After all, a pair of eyes is always watching from above; would he really think there’s nothing fishy when such an anomaly appears?

...

Is this ”Ecstasy”?

The White Head Church is silent, with only devout prayers and Fu Qian’s vivid imagination stirring.

And at a certain moment, he felt something erupting in his consciousness.

It was like a symbol in his mind matching the winning lottery number.

No longer needing his effort, some things surged crazily, quickly saturating every synaptic twig.

Thirty-three.

Even when his brain was on the verge of being wrung dry, Fu Qian still counted clearly, the joy in his mind startlingly nested on the thirty-third layer.

Unquestionably already unrecognizable, the content beyond words’ description.

But intriguingly, it bears quite a resemblance to what emerged.

Just like how ”Ecstasy” isn’t necessarily the ultimate purity...

At that moment, Fu Qian was immensely satisfied.

Of course, this emotion was limited to deductions because within his will at this moment, there was no room for other feelings.

Under this indescribable ecstasy, the joy manifested up to thirty-three layers was instantly crushed, leaving nothing.

No wonder the Tomb Guardian and others worship ”Ecstasy” so devoutly.

And after satisfaction comes reflection.

Though currently in mortal form, Fu Qian, having undergone repeated tempering through extremes, whose will once peaked to not dare return to the real world, remains on a different level than ordinary mortals.

Yet, faced with this overwhelming ”Ecstasy”, he still struggles to cope.

It’s a unique feeling, like having the world’s beauty laid out before him, molded into notes, ultimately coalescing into a melody resonating.

And the pleasure tasted therein already stems from a higher-tier melody, unrelated to worldly joys.

This should be the Ecstasy the Tomb Guardian mentioned.

Truth be told, although the understanding may be flawed, the description is rather vividly expressed.

With the right approach, the brainstorming effect is quite good.

What I did just now was simple, reversing the approach to forcibly construct multi-layered joy in my mind, eventually evoking resonance through one layer.

However, there’s now another issue—with ”Ecstasy” in hand, what comes next?