The Transcend Sect had both of its Great Skills located on the 100th floor of the building, an "Upload Room", at the very bottom level. It's worth noting that although it was called a single floor, it was actually a hundred meters high with clearly divided outer spectator seats and a central arena. During the bygone Gray Fox Era, this area might have served as a sports ground, Combat Arena, or even an auction house for recreational purposes.

But in the Wasteland Era, it became the worship place for the Transcend Sect.

As the time neared 7 pm, the seats in the Upload Room gradually filled up. Other than those needed at essential posts, the majority of the Transcend faithful would attend the worship service in the Upload Room every evening without fail.

"Our Ya Sha Jin worship isn't this formal," said Tamasi, leaning against the wall in the corridor, his voice distorted under the Black Crow mask, "It's more like a casual banquet where everyone gathers to chat after dinner."

"During the day, Ya Sha Jin are either honing their skills or chasing criminals outside, hardly having time to gather, with their only break being the nighttime worship after dinner."

"At that time, recently returned warriors would talk about how many Evil Crows they had hunted, like Warrior Chiefs Qie Xiu and Kalan, who are the most frequent hunters. Kalan is particularly eloquent. He would enumerate the deeds of the Evil Crows, describing how they committed countless atrocities, escaped pursuits, and once the apprentices are filled with righteous indignation, he would change the tone, declaring how he finally caught up with the Evil Crows and subjected them to the Blood Crow Punishment, making their deaths exceedingly miserable, to everyone's applause."

"By the way, you might not know what Blood Crows are; it's tearing open the back of an Evil Crow, pulling out their lung lobes, making it look like blood-soaked wings… My first Blood Crow was done under his guidance."

"However, not everyone is obsessed with the pleasure of slaughtering Evil Crows. For instance, the 'Debater' Anoy. Whenever he is present at worship, it inevitably turns into a debate session, discussing what crimes warrant execution, discussing the helplessness encountered by Ya Sha Jin. I've debated with him too; once I encountered a Mage slaughtering a caravan, but the clues revealed that it was the caravan that first attempted to kill the Mage, and there were children among the caravan... Aside from the Master, he taught me the most."

"Besides debates and stories, what draws most interest during worship are the performances. Ya Sha Jin has a tradition of dancing, and our 'Crow Dance' is the best! Night Dew is the trainer for the dancers; whenever she is present at a worship, rather than paying attention to Kalan or Anoy, everyone waits for Night Dew's dance team performance... She always hoped I would dance too, but I'm afraid to perform in front of so many people."

"And there's Tanomu, she's very smart. We found a piano in the ruins which nobody knew how to play; she figured it out bit by bit and even composed a few songs. Her joint performances with Night Dew are always our most anticipated moments when returning home..."

As he spoke, Tamasi's voice filled with pride gradually lowered. He watched the crowded Upload Room, his heart hidden beneath the horrifying Black Crow mask, unknowing of what melody it was dancing to.

"After the worship starts, remember not to watch," he said finally. "I know my limits, but you could fall within a second."

Ash and others nodded in agreement.

Worship, inevitable in all sects, stemmed from the necessity of the Great Skills to be replenished by the believers.

When the believers worshipped, the Great Skills not only replenished their energy but could even grow stronger—this is why the Tribulation Fire Holy TempleBelieved so strongly in the capabilities of the Tribulation Fire Technique, as it was the longest existing Great Skill and theoretically the top combat power of the Land of Senluo.

Tribulation Power, Fire Power, Consciousness Force, Power of Faith... Concerning why worship could empower the Great Skills, each sect offered similar answers: they all believed Great Skills could draw energy from their followers.

Ash had initially thought so too, but Igula had a different opinion, rooted in one question: "Why do other nations not have Great Skills?"

Perhaps believers really could provide the energy to sustain Great Skills, but such energy couldn't be overt; otherwise, other nations would have updated their versions long ago.

The relationship between Great Skills and believers was a unique product of Senluo.

Igula even doubted the existence of Power of Faith; he suspected that the Kingdom of Senluo simply had a reward mechanism targeted towards Great Skills. Great Skills didn't draw energy from believers but were energized by increasing the number of followers, thus triggering a reward mechanism. The best evidence of this was the Four Pillars God Sect; the Gods of Four Pillars were not Great Skills, yet they too could draw energy through worship.

Regardless, worship, just like Great Skills, was common knowledge in the Land of Senluo. Each sect's worship differed, but one thing remained constant: if you don't plan on following the sect, never ever attend their worship.

Worship not only recharged the believers and connected them to Great Skills.

As Tamasi put it, before they lost the Ya Sha Jin Great Skill, no one wavered from the ideals of Ya Sha Jin; after they lost the Ya Sha Jin Great Skill, no one preserved the will of Ya Sha Jin.

"Simply put, worship is a brainwashing ritual between Great Skills and believers," Igula told Ash out of earshot from Tamasi.

Despite this, Great Skills had no consciousness; they were merely a conglomeration of ideals. If one could hold fast to their ideals and strive with all their might to achieve them in this wasteland, was it ultimately a good or bad thing?

Due to the special nature of worship, the Transcend Sect didn't prohibit outsiders like Ash from approaching the Upload Room. If Ash and others dared to intrude, let alone do anything untoward, eventually they wouldn't even have control over what clothes they wore.

As the clock on the Heavenly Curtain hit 18:59, Ash and company tensed up.

The Great Skills weren't placed in the central arena but were instead behind a translucent glass cabinet. Though called 'glass', its capability to withstand Legendary Magic suggested a highly specialized material.

They were confident the Silver Lamp Society would make their move during the worship because it was then that the Transcend Sect would open the glass cabinet, allowing full contact between the Great Skills and the believers. The cabinet would be opened a minute before the start of worship, when the worship hadn't begun yet but the Great Skills were already exposed, clearly the best opportunity for Silver Lamp to act.

Time trickled away, and Ash and his companions gripped their Miracles tightly, ready to strike the moment Silver Lamp appeared. Then, echoing footsteps of a running crowd sounded in the corridor; Ash turned and saw a group of elementary school students, seemingly running late for the worship.

As they passed by Ash and others, they turned their heads and glanced at Harvey. Ash recognized one of the girls, the same fearless one who had spoken up to the Necromancer.

As the children entered the venue, the clock turned to 19:00, and the worship of the Transcend Sect officially began.

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