NOVPUBThe ceremony began.
In the depths of the temple, a semi-transparent light barrier opened a gap, and Lanci, carrying his toolbox, walked in, looking up at the statue of the god.
His gaze was calm.
But it was not disrespectful to the deity.
He simply regarded the statue in front of him as a work of art, nothing more.
Lanci took a step closer, and under the watchful eyes of the orcs, he began his work process.
Once Lanci entered the barrier, the head of the Prosperous Age Business Association, Mr. Sebastian, stood next to Lord Algom, looking at Lanci’s figure with a hint of confusion, while leaning closer to Lord Algom.
"Lord Algom, pardon my directness, I haven’t heard of this Mr. Rocky’s reputation in the Palante Empire at all. Are you sure it is okay to let him do this?"
Mr. Sebastian quietly said to Lord Algom.
"No matter, his abilities have been personally guaranteed by Empress Kexiya."
With slight hesitation, Lord Algom suppressed the concerns stirred up by Sebastian and turned his focus toward the direction of the statue.
"Okay, then."
Some shadowy light flickered in Sebastian’s eyes, quickly vanishing, as he chose not to say anything more.
He actually didn’t know why such a craftsman should suddenly emerge from the Palante Empire.
With no news or military escort, he arrived at Small Stone City swiftly and covertly, leaving Sebastian unsure how to handle the situation.
After consideration, Sebastian decided not to intervene rashly.
If the man failed, the beastmen would naturally take care of him.
But if he really had some skills, he would have to inform the elders of the Blood Clan.
"Why hasn’t Mr. Sebastian heard of his name either?"
"Right, and as a Royal Craftsman, he wasn’t even sent by the military of the Palante Empire, is that really plausible?"
The surrounding bear beastmen gathered with various emotions to watch, while the bear beastman priests exchanged glances.
"Ahem."
At the sound of Lord Algom’s light cough, the priests came to their senses, stopped their prattling, and focused on strengthening the barrier.
In front of the statue.
Lanci carefully checked the overall condition of the statue, determining the parts that needed repairs.
He gently used a brush to clean the dust and wear on the surface of the statue, each touch exceedingly light.
Then, he meticulously repaired and polished the damaged parts with a carving knife and freshly prepared magical energy Crystal Sand. His technique was both steady and forceful, and his control of magic power was naturally exquisite, as if repairing the statue didn’t exert any pressure on him.
The Bear Man tribe priests occasionally chanted prayers, blessing the protective barrier around Lanci and praying that the God of Rock and Shelter would grant them luck.
At this moment, Lanci didn’t look like a particularly formidable craftsman.
Rather, he looked more like an accustomed homemaker preparing dinner at the stove, where even without much contemplation, his hands could easily react and knew exactly what to do next.
The expressions of the bear beastmen began to change.
They witnessed Lanci’s assured and competent craftsmanship, his attention to and respect for every detail.
Every movement from Lanci gradually dissolved the priests’ doubt.
As Lanci progressed with the repairs, the statue visibly returned to its former glory.
The damaged parts vanished, and it seemed as if the divine radiance of the Divine Era was reborn on the entire statue.
The expressions of the orc priests in the temple began to change.
They saw Lanci’s skill, his attention to and respect for every detail, and his concentration and reverence for the restoration work—all were taken in at a glance.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the temple, Siegler exchanged a look with the temple guard next to her, observing the surprise in the eyes of the bear beastmen.
"Did you bring him here?"
The guard asked Siegler softly, covering his mouth to the side.
He had developed a newfound reverence for the little one.
Siegler didn’t respond, simply looking once again toward Lanci’s figure in front of the statue.
At this moment, Lanci’s appearance while working completely changed her impression of him.
He really wasn’t just for show.
She saw Lanci as if he were shining brightly.
Not bad at all.
Such words seemed to flow from Siegler’s eyes.
Seeing that Lanci wouldn’t get hit, she felt relieved and turned to leave the temple.
Her attire was quite conspicuous in the temple, and since she had promised Lanci not to speak out of turn, she wouldn’t say a word while inside.
Stepping out of the temple for some fresh air and waiting for him outside was more comfortable for her.
And so, time within the temple passed, second by second.
"Who would have thought that in the Palante Empire today, there would still be such a master craftsman," said Lord Algom, trembling with excitement as he looked at the [Statue of the God of Rock and Shelter], then casting an emotional glance at Sebastian, the branch manager standing beside him.
Only in his childhood had he seen the statue in such a grandeur, and even under the hands of this craftsman, it seemed set to become even more dazzling.
"Indeed."
A flicker of barely noticeable astonishment passed through Sebastian’s eyes, not understanding where Empress Kexiya had found such a craftsman, and why he was unaware of it.
But his worries and dissatisfaction were deeply hidden beneath a facade of practiced showmanship, his gaze lingering amidst the celebrations of Lanci and the surrounding orcs.
No, that’s not right...
This guy, having come here incognito and lightly equipped, might have a falsified identity, merely staging a play with Empress Kexiya.
His temperament and foundation also suggested that it was unlikely for him to hold a low status.
For a time, Sebastian couldn’t fathom who the true identity of this Rocky craftsman might be among the nobility of the Palante Empire.
However, it probably wasn’t someone of very high status, and regardless of who it was, it didn’t matter.
Just running out like this was his biggest mistake.
Having the protection of the Seventh-order Lord within the Beastmen City-States, once he left, the Blood Clan would become the true rulers of the night on the eternal Snowfield, where all lesser beings would merely be their feasts.
Sebastian remained motionless, perfectly mirroring the smiles of the surrounding orcs.
Once the other party left, he would quietly notify Count Gregory, and let the elders of the Blood Clan deal with everything; he would also receive great credit.
...
Until faint traces of light gradually began to appear outside the temple corridors.
At the same time, the priests inside the temple also sounded the horns of celebration.
When Lanci successfully completed the repairs, the entire temple burst into an uplifting roar of cheers from the Bear Beastmen.
Every line and pattern on the statue had been meticulously restored by Lanci.
The damaged parts were skillfully reshaped, and even the Divine Era script, which had become blurred and untraceable over many years, was replenished and re-engraved by Lanci.
The statue of the God of Rock and Soil was grand and majestic, its posture dignified - with its left hand placed over its chest like an unwavering rock, the face of the statue portrayed a benign demeanor, as if silently protecting the vows and lands of its followers.
[Statue of the God of Rock and Shelter]
[Type: Artwork]
[Grade: Sacred]
[Order: 1]
[Those who admire this statue will recover a small amount of spirit and strength, and their faith in the God of Rock and Shelter may increase slightly, possibly gaining a faint understanding of Earth Attribute Magic.]
