Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Po Ao: This Kid’s Pretty Good, I’ll Put My Stamp on Him

Light gathered and condensed between her eyebrows, finally forming a small, exquisite sun-shaped mark.

This was the proof of having received Po Ao’s blessing!

The mark looked as if it were forged from the purest molten gold, its edges flowing with faint, fiery patterns. It shimmered against the girl’s flame-like red hair before quietly fading from sight.

However, the remaining holy light didn’t just dissipate. To Ingram’s surprise and Jon’s horror, it took a sharp turn and plunged itself without question into his body—the body of a mere spectator—startling him so much he leaped to his feet!

A notification abruptly appeared on the system panel in front of him.

[The Master of Endless Light, the Lord of Endless Heat, has cast a glance upon you]

[Blessing Acquired: Po Ao’s Mark]

’What in the world is going on?!’

If not for his fear of interrupting Reya’s advancement process, Jon would have probably screamed out loud!

He stared at the new, shining purple icon that had appeared under his status bar, his composure starting to crack.

[Gaze of Po Ao (Epic · Blessing): Initial reputation with the Solar Domain faction is ’Friendly’. The effects of beneficial Divine Techniques from the Solar Domain below the Advanced Level are increased by an additional 200% for you. Once per day after the sun rises, you have one chance to clear all abnormal status effects from your body.]

On the surface, this was a powerful, long-lasting buff—a blessing with only upsides and no downsides. But every gift has its price.

And for Jon, the greatest price was...

’With this thing, how am I supposed to scheme, swindle, and pull off my usual shenanigans? I don’t want to be a good guy!’

Forcing a player like him, who held a treasure trove of future knowledge, not to stir up trouble was almost more painful than killing him!

Without a doubt, carrying this blessing meant he was now on the Sun God’s radar. Knowing that big shot’s temperament, as long as Jon wanted to keep this blessing, he couldn’t do anything... unharmonious. Otherwise, the blessing would be revoked in a heartbeat, and he might even be punished.

But he couldn’t bear to give up this blessing.

He couldn’t help it; the great god Po Ao was just too generous!

Starting with a ’Friendly’ reputation with all Solar Domain factions—not just the various organizations of the Sun Church—meant he could get past many initial hurdles on reputation alone. The benefits were countless. He could probably take on more quests than he could handle!

And then there was the additional 200% effectiveness for all beneficial Solar Domain Divine Techniques. It was limited to below the Advanced Level, meaning from Apprentice Level to Official Level, but that was a threefold increase!

Jon didn’t even dare to imagine how insane it would be if he found a Solar Domain Priest as a teammate, or simply whisked Reya away to be his personal buff machine!

And that was to say nothing of the once-per-day great Purification. It was practically a strategic-level effect, critically important in any situation.

Especially for someone like him with the [Heart of Balance] talent, whose weakness was debuffs that reduced recovery effects, this was an ability he absolutely could not give up.

Although Blood of the Earth could also remove one debuff a day, it was pathetic compared to the "remove all" granted by one of the Deities.

’Sigh... Boss Po Ao, you’ve really put me in a tough spot...’

’Is this the dilemma players who devote themselves to the Solar Domain face?’

Pure stats, pure beauty!

As the young man struggled internally, his expression flickered with uncertainty. In Ingram’s eyes, this was a clear signal that he "needed guidance."

He already thought highly of Jon after the recent incident with Geoffrey. Now, with this "deity bestowing a blessing during a junior’s advancement ceremony," he couldn’t be more delighted.

Therefore, Ingram felt it was his duty to counsel Jon—and if he could guide him onto the path of faith in the Sun, all the better!

Seeing that Reya was still standing motionlessly, immersed in the enlightenment of her first advancement, the old man didn’t disturb her. Instead, he tiptoed around her and sat down slowly beside Jon.

"Mr. Jon, are you feeling lost because of my lord’s blessing?"

"This...?"

Jon was taken aback for a moment, guessing Ingram’s intention. He couldn’t very well explain the true reason for his conflict, so he could only nod with a wry smile.

"I suppose so. It was all just so unexpected."

"Do not trouble yourself over it, Mr. Jon. My lord has always been fond of those who embrace justice. It is not uncommon for him to bestow blessings upon non-believers."

The old man removed the tall hat adorned with a golden ring from his head, placed it on the chair, and spoke softly.

"Perhaps you haven’t realized it yourself, or you don’t believe yourself to be particularly noble."

"But in the eyes of us onlookers, regardless of your original intentions, the light of justice has always shone upon you..."

"Is... that so? Am I really that good?"

Jon was a little skeptical.

It’s said that those involved are often lost in the fog, while bystanders see things clearly. A person often can’t recognize their own true nature, while others can sometimes see it more clearly.

But he felt it probably wasn’t that simple. The more likely possibility was that Po Ao had seen he was a Transmigrator and, fearing he would stir up some major trouble, gave him a blessing as both an appeasement and a warning. It was a message to not do anything truly heinous. It was just like in the game, where he and his sister Neso used pure stats to attract a large number of players and keep them from running amok.

Jon felt that this was probably the truth!

But at this stage, there was no way to verify it. It was just speculation. He didn’t have the ability to go to the Divine Realm and ask the Sun God himself what he was thinking.

It was also possible that, just as Ingram said, Po Ao actually liked him?

In any case, what was done was done.

Jon sighed and stopped agonizing over it.

Since he’d been "stamped" by the big shot, he would just have to be more careful in the future.

He wasn’t some sociopath, and he had never planned on doing anything against humanity. At most, he just wanted to use his knowledge of the future to profit, making money with his understanding of Engineering and alchemy.

Besides, he wasn’t a follower of the Sun, so he didn’t have to strictly adhere to Po Ao’s doctrines. He just had to avoid going too far.

Seeing Jon’s expression relax, Ingram felt his "counseling was effective" and decided to strike while the iron was hot, beginning to speak about the doctrines of the Sun. After what had just happened, Jon’s mind was in a bit of a turmoil, so he didn’t mind chatting casually with him.

And so, the old man and the young man began a quiet discussion in the prayer room about their "views on faith," leaving Reya to stand alone beneath the statue, deep in her own enlightenment.

The light gradually receded, the phantom of the Divine Country dissipated, and the statue returned to its former solemn tranquility.

Only Reya remained, standing quietly.

A moment later, a faint but new fluctuation of Power emanated from the girl, causing the other two in the prayer room to stop talking and turn to look at her.

Reya slowly opened her eyes.

Her emerald eyes, as if washed with Holy Water, were clear and bright. The tenacity and faith within them had grown even deeper.

She raised a hand and gently touched the spot between her brows where a warm sensation seemed to linger. Feeling the warm Power flowing through her body, she murmured softly.

"So this... is the Power of faith?"

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