Ever since the miraculous performance of "regrowing severed limbs" and "growing hair on a bald head" played out in public at the entrance of the Axis Cult, the entire Thunder City had been in an absolute uproar. The name of the Axis Cult had become truly famous, and its popularity was simply off the charts.
The street in the west of the city where the Axis Cult was located was now ten times more bustling than a New Year's temple fair.
From dawn till dusk, the flow of people never ceased, shoulder to shoulder and packed so tight it was impenetrable. This surging tide of people wasn't just commoners seeking Awakening or free cake anymore; it now included a large number of new faces dressed in finery with eager eyes.
This frenzy even boosted surrounding businesses—the old lady selling flatbreads nearby could sell several extra baskets a day, and even the street vendors selling tea and low-quality peace talismans were making money hand over fist, calling the Axis Cult their true God of Wealth.
The wealthy merchants and respectable nobles, who used to look down their noses at the Axis Cult as a "shoddy setup," now changed their faces faster than June weather. A few days ago, they might have been privately mocking it as a "refuge for the poor," but in the blink of an eye, they piled on their most sincere smiles, sending servants with heavy gift boxes while they personally squeezed into the crowd (or had their stewards do it), craning their necks just to beg for an audience with Pope Furina.
Their purpose? It was as plain as the nose on your face. They were all there for her Heaven-Defying fourth Spirit Ability, the "golden doughnut vanilla cake."
The effects of this thing were too ridiculous! Calling it raising the dead or regrowing flesh on white bones was a bit of an exaggeration, but regrowing severed limbs and making chronic illnesses vanish had been witnessed by countless people! There was even the added bonus of hair growth! Which great Family didn't have a few juniors crippled by hunting Soul Beasts who had been despondent ever since? Which wealthy merchant's house didn't have an elder lingering on a sickbed with no cure in sight?
Even if their own Family didn't need it right now, how many shiny gold coin could they get by taking this "divine object," which could be stored for a while, to a larger city for auction? This had already moved beyond the realm of medical treatment; it had become a bargaining chip for power and a symbol of unimaginable wealth.
Unfortunately, these big shots who usually stood high above others couldn't even touch the hem of Furina's skirt now.
Our Lady Pope was getting a massive headache from this endless stream of roundabout requests for an audience; she hated this kind of hypocritical social interaction most of all. Consequently, she very bluntly dumped all the trouble—the gold-stamped invitations flying in like snowflakes, the expensive gifts piling up in the side rooms, and the stewards and lobbyists surrounding the courtyard trying to find any opening to get close—entirely onto Neuvillette.
She herself slipped away faster than a startled rabbit, hiding back in the Inner Court under the pretext of having "more important matters concerning the future of the sect to plan."
Neuvillette stood before the pile of invitations and gifts that nearly submerged his desk. Hearing the noisy voices outside—trying to maintain decorum but unable to hide their urgency—a faint, almost imperceptible trace of helplessness flickered in his deep azure eyes.
Thinking back to his days at the Palais Mermonia handling international trade disputes and judging major criminals, it seemed none of it was as... noisy and direct as this. He let out a sigh so soft it was almost undetectable, and in an instant, he regained his usual calm and majesty that seemed capable of freezing time.
He handled this sudden "frenzy" with astonishing efficiency. First, a well-crafted and strictly worded wooden sign was erected in the most prominent position at the gate, stating the "Provisional Regulations for Seeking Treatment" in clear, cold, and sharp calligraphy:
1. Unless it is life-threatening or a confirmed permanent disability that has proven untreatable by ordinary means, requests will not be accepted in principle. Do not waste each other's time.
2. Those with a genuine need for treatment must register first, providing a detailed statement of the injury or illness, and wait for review and preliminary assessment. Priority will be based on the degree of urgency.
3. Treatment costs are extremely high and will be discussed in person. This cult prioritizes rare medicinal herbs, Soul Engineer products, rare metals, or those who can provide long-term service to the Axis Cult through labor or skills as payment. Payment in pure gold coin is the least preferred option and will incur an additional fifty percent 'commotion fee.'
4. Queue-jumping, shouting, and bribing cult personnel are strictly prohibited. Once discovered, violators will be immediately blacklisted permanently and will never be received again in this lifetime.
Once the rules were set, Neuvillette only had to stand at the door, his posture upright, his calm gaze sweeping slowly over the crowd with invisible pressure.
Those wealthy merchants and nobles and their servants, who had been noisy and full of themselves, instantly became like roosters with their necks squeezed. They fell silent sheepishly and began to honestly study the terms on the wooden sign, then obediently (perhaps with a bit of reluctance) went to queue at the newly established registration desk nearby.
The world suddenly became much quieter. Several believers assigned to assist with registration watched this miraculous scene, their admiration for the white-haired envoy deepening by several degrees.
And what about our Pope Furina? She was curled up in her comfortable little room with no regard for her image, legs crossed, tapping away at a System light screen only she could see, with a biscuit she'd found from somewhere dangling from her mouth.
"profound water pill... hmm, good for cleansing the marrow and strengthening the Foundation, just right for someone little Yuhao's age... System, exchange for three!" A chunk of points vanished from the light screen. "foundation establishment spirit liquid... good stuff from Battle Through the Heavens. I heard Cultivating while soaking in it is like riding a rocket? The Spirit Master Ranks in this Douluo Continent place are a bit inflated; the energy level of a Spirit Grandmaster over here probably only barely touches the edge of a Dou Zhe over there? Little Yuhao is only at Rank 8 Soul Power now, a ten-year-old kid with a weak Foundation; using this to build a base is perfect... exchange for two bottles!" The points dropped another significant chunk.
Looking at the rapidly shrinking points balance, she winced in pain, but then she thought about how this was an early investment in the'Son of the World' with infinite potential and a possibly terrifying future return on investment, which made her feel a bit better. The exchanged Medicinal Pills were contained in warm jade bottles, and the spiritual liquid was in transparent glass vials, faintly emitting unusual energy halos and a refreshing medicinal fragrance, clearly showing they were no ordinary items.
She tucked these treasures away and slipped to the backyard kitchen like a cat that had stolen a treat. It was currently the busy period before lunch; the kitchen was steamy and filled with the noise of people. Huo Yuhao was standing before a large stove, staring intently at the bubbling soup in the pot, occasionally stirring it with a long ladle, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead. Although he was young, he directed several of the aunties helping in the kitchen with great poise, his tone steady and his instructions clear.
"Little Yuhao! Come here for a second!" Furina leaned against the doorframe, waving at him with a beaming smile.
Hearing her voice, Huo Yuhao immediately turned around. Seeing it was Furina, he quickly handed the ladle to a nearby auntie and ran over, standing straight before her. He wiped his small hands on his apron, his tone respectful with a hint of undetectable nervousness: "Lady Pope, were you looking for me?"
Furina found his cautious manner a bit amusing and also a bit heart-wrenching. She pulled him aside to a relatively quiet corner and, without giving him a choice, stuffed the jade bottles and glass vials into his arms: "Here, take these. I've prepared a little something extra for you."
Huo Yuhao looked down at the items in his arms, which were clearly valuable just from their containers. Feeling the faint energy fluctuations emanating from them, he panicked instantly. His hands moved as if he'd been burned, trying to push them back, his face turning red with anxiety: "Lady Pope, this... this is too precious... I... I can't accept this... I haven't done anything..."
"If I give it to you, take it! Why are you being so polite with me?" Furina interrupted him, her tone intentionally stern, but her azure eyes were rippling with a soft smile. "Look at you, you're at the age where you're growing and building your Foundation, yet your Soul Power is only Rank 8. That won't do. These things will be of great benefit for solidifying your Foundation and accelerating your Cultivation."
She didn't explain the specific medicinal effects of each item in detail; anyway, if it was from the System, it was bound to be top-quality. In short, it was good for him, and that was enough.
Seeing the boy still holding the items, looking at a loss with eyes full of unease and being overwhelmed by the favor, Furina's heart softened. She reached out and naturally ruffled his soft blue hair (she still preferred the manga version): "Oh, stop calling me 'Lady Pope' all the time, it sounds so distant. When no outsiders are around, just call me'Sister.' I'd love to hear you call me Sister Furina!"
She paused, and mimicking the look of a big sister boss from her memories, she patted her not-so-grand chest, trying her best to look heroic: "From now on in Thunder City, your sister has your back! Let's see who dares to bully you!"
But immediately following that, her tone became much more serious, her playful expression fading: "However, little Yuhao, you have to be ambitious yourself.
A person's energy is limited. Regarding the kitchen affairs, you can now give more guidance to Head Chef Liu and Aunt Zhang. Pass on your secrets for handling ingredients, your experience in controlling heat, and your insights on seasoning. You don't need to do everything personally anymore and run yourself ragged.
You need to put more energy into your own Soul Power Cultivation and physical training.
Only when you become stronger yourself will you have the ability to protect the people you want to protect and truly master your own destiny. Do you understand?"
These words were half a reminder and half an expectation.
Holding the heavy weight of the Medicinal Pills and spiritual liquid in his arms—representing infinite care and hope—and hearing Furina's words, which were devoid of any air of superiority and filled with sincerity and deep concern, Huo Yuhao felt the softest part of his heart being deeply touched. A surge of warmth rushed up, making his nose tingle and his eyes instantly grow hot.
He pressed his lips together tightly, trying his best to suppress the urge to cry. He looked up and nodded heavily, his voice slightly raspy but firmer than ever before: "Mhm! I understand! Thank you... thank you, Sister Furina! I will definitely Cultivate hard and never let down your expectations!"
This time, his form of address changed naturally. The constraint in his tone mostly vanished, replaced by a sense of closeness and determination after being recognized and cared for.
"That's the spirit! That's the person I have high hopes for!" Furina smiled with satisfaction and gave his hair another firm ruffle. "Go on, get back to work. Remember to start using them when you go back tonight. If anything feels wrong or you don't understand something, come and ask me anytime."
Watching Huo Yuhao carefully tuck the Medicinal Pills and spiritual liquid close to his body and turn to run back to the stove, his back straighter than before and his eyes burning with a light full of drive, Furina's pride as an "investor" almost overflowed.
With the emotional card plus resource investment working in tandem, this future super-potential stock was definitely held firmly in her hands!
As for the noise and commotion outside the gate from those still persistently craving the "golden doughnut vanilla cake"? Heh, with Neuvillette, that stabilizing force acting as a "guardian deity" holding the pass, she was perfectly at ease.
And she, the great Furina, only needed to continue creating miracles and sowing the seeds of a bright future!