"Yes," Li Ang said, "looking at this piece of text, the one who helped repair the picture must be Farlonio's ancestor, the legendary Divine Artisan."
Ernest left his image on the restored painting, looking back a thousand years to the time when the sect was initially founded, and the Oathkeeping Festival's customs were yet to take shape. And now, people look back at the traces he left a millennium later.
"He said he participated in the Oathkeeping Festival celebration. Isn't he, like us, an outsider?" Andasu asked, puzzled.
Elaphia said, "Because a thousand years ago, this festival wasn't like it is today. Even in Theocracy, it was celebrated as a festive day just like today's Ignis Sky Realm."
Li Ang was somewhat surprised. This Douding's knowledge of the Wotam Sect exceeded his expectations, and it likely wasn't just because she managed an Aerial Realm with widespread belief in this sect.
"Why did the Oathkeeping Festival become like it is today?" Zoe asked, displeased.
From her expression, it was clear she wanted to participate in the celebration, but the current Theocracy's regulations excluded her from it.
"Ernest also said, 'May peace and harmony last forever,' indicating that in his time, the Oathkeeping Festival was about conveying such beliefs," Li Ang said.
Elaphia raised her chin and began to narrate, "The festival was originally set up to commemorate the Saints, originating from their victorious battle against demons. Such a festival should inherently have positive significance.
"Not communicating with outsiders was just to prevent demon infiltration. But since the demons have been eradicated, there's no longer a need for vigilance. So, after the Goddess ascended, the Oathkeeping Festival gradually became a day of celebration.
"The tense atmosphere in Theocracy mainly developed over nearly a millennium, as various factions emerged within the sect along with its development.
"Different factions accused each other over interpretation rights of doctrines, and any minor carelessness could make them a target for attacks by the sect's enemies.
"When the Oathkeeping Festival became a festive day, it indeed became somewhat different from the original doctrine. The original doctrine required that during this festival, believers conduct themselves as we encounter now.
"If a faction supports observing traditional festivals according to public preference, they'll be accused of undermining the doctrine and opposing the Goddess. Hence, returning the festival to its original state is the safest choice."
After Elaphia finished, not only Zoe and Dorothy, who loved fun, but even ALulu, a believer herself, frowned unhappily.
Xiaoniu's sincere heart, on the other hand, stood with the public.
After a brief silence, Elaphia, the calm one, reopened the topic.
"Have you met Farlonio Ernest before?"
"Yes, before the Combat Competition at the Flashing Field began, her store appeared," Li Ang said.
The Blondie Douding nodded, not finding anything strange.
When at Falo's store, that Douding also mentioned knowing Elaphia, indicating these two families of the Haven Race had interactions since the time of Divine Artisan Ernest.
Zoe's Fire Sword was a replica of the "Passionate Talent" in Falo's hands. At the time, Falo also mentioned that only five of Ernest's sword-casting works were passed down, and both she and Elaphia were collecting these five swords.
At the time, Falo said Elaphia had a lead on one of them.
"I've been pursuing this sword."
A nostalgic look appeared in the blond young girl's eyes, "I saw on a partially decayed document that this sword last appeared in the hands of a Defender Knight of the Wotam Sect. So, I began investigating and reading sect history.
"But I've been too busy. I only went to three or four districts in the Ignis Sky Realm diocese, and none of the Bishops over there have been fully met.
"Unexpectedly, I got a lead here."
Elaphia said that earlier she only knew this sword was related to the Wotam Sect but had no way to start, so she could only inquire with the Bishops of the different sects she managed in the Fire Realm.
"At least now we can start with the church Watcher, that's something," Li Ang said.
"However," Li Ang continued, "this church Watcher, Lawrence, seems to have some significance."
ALulu responded, "That's the name of a Saint."
"Ernest is a figure from about a thousand years ago, just when there was an interval between two thousand years of the Saint following the Goddess," Li Ang said.
"Does Li Ang mean Watcher Lawrence isn't a Saint? He couldn't have lived a thousand years," Zoe asked.
"Right."
Li Ang pointed to the first painting, "Just now I was puzzled as a Saint is named Zephyrinus, just like ALulu's mentor.
"The same name doesn't necessarily mean they are descendants of Saints. The likelihood of the same bloodline continuing in the same place for two thousand years is slim. I think perhaps the Watcher inherits one of the Saints' names. According to this rule, ALulu's teacher must also be a Watcher of the Saints' Chamber," Li Ang analyzed.
"That's a possibility," Elaphia agreed.
"So, Lulu's teacher is actually a notable figure?" Zoe said.
"Notability isn't defined that way, but they must be special, considering they can guard such a site deemed sacred to the Wotam Sect."
"Since it's sacred, why disguise it with an obscure church?" Andasu asked.
"I don't know," Li Ang said.
"The teacher passed away, and we don't know where he's been taken. Little Leader Sister, where will you look next?" ALulu asked.
Her address made Elaphia's eyebrow twitch, and Li Ang's breath halted, fearing she would lose her temper.
This one, riding on a flying sword, leveling her viewpoint with taller races, simply doesn't like being looked down on like a little Douding.
Yet, she seems to have considerable tolerance for his team members, and this façade of willfulness has been seldom seen in these two days.
"That's a problem," Elaphia said dryly after holding back for a while.
Li Ang pondered, "Maybe the earlier Bishop might know something."
His words made Douding's blue eyes light up, her gaze even more glittering.
Considering this, there must be a mechanism within the Wotam Sect to dispatch Watchers since keepers have been here for millennia.
The past Oathkeeping Festivals saw no visitors because ALulu's teacher as a Watcher was still alive.
Once he passed away, a Bishop immediately came with Defender Knights, indicating that if there was no inheritance of the Watcher position, at least they should know some information.
Ultimately, it has to return to the Bishop we just saw.
"Let's go find him later," Elaphia said.
"No problem?" Li Ang was referring to handling the Guild if any conflict arose.
"Compared to the fallout of the 'Shocking Divine Soul Light,' being asked a few questions is nothing, and it won't lead to significant conflicts," Blondie Douding snorted.
"This stone chamber seems empty, let's just take a casual look before moving on."
Li Ang moved toward the nearby painting.
As per the Adventurer's conduct, he perceived if there were any Magic Power or Spiritual Light of high-tier equipment or materials, but found nothing.
One would think that if there were any treasures here, over two thousand years, the Wotam Sect would've taken them away for various reasons long ago.
The sword Ernest gifted the Keeper a thousand years ago also ended up elsewhere, according to Elaphia's documents, used by a Defender Knight.
The commemorative significance here is primary, not a treasure vault for despicable adventurers.
The stained glass in the entire stone chamber depicts the process of the Four Saints following the Goddess of Kindness, with some stories still well-known today, while others are unheard of.
The image of the oil-refined wood submerging the Saint into the earth is also among them. Here, everyone clearly knows that the one who perished was the Horned Race's Divine Power Saint Zephyrinus.
Passing by the four sarcophagi, Li Ang still switched to Spiritual Horizon for a look.
Are there really no funeral goods? Most ancient ruins have relics in almost every sarcophagus.
However, he saw spiritual reactions within three of the four sarcophagi, while one was empty.
Since the Divine Power Saint perished in battle, no remains are here, only an attire tomb.
Are the spiritual reactions from burial goods?
He focused on observing those three sarcophagi and found their spiritual reactions retained the spiritual structure of a human.
Li Ang's back felt electrified, his hair standing on end.

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