The ceremony commenced.
A gap opened in the translucent light barrier deep within the temple. Carrying his toolbox, Lanqi stepped inside and looked up at the divine statue.
His eyes were calm.
Yet there was no irreverence toward the deity.
He simply regarded the statue before him as a work of art, giving it no further thought.
Lanqi took a step forward and began his work under the watchful gaze of the assembled orcs.
Once Lanqi entered the barrier, Branch Manager Sebas of the Prosperity Chamber of Commerce stood beside Grand Lord Algom. He peered at Lanqi’s figure with a look of subtle confusion, then leaned in slightly toward the grand lord.
"Lord Algom, pardon my frankness, but I have never once heard of this Mr. Luoqi's illustrious name back in the Polant Empire. Are you certain there is no risk in entrusting this to him?" Sebas whispered to Grand Lord Algom.
"It does not matter. Empress Khesia personally vouched for his ability."
Grand Lord Algom hesitated slightly, but kept the doubt Sebas had stoked in check, turning his gaze back toward the statue.
"Very well then."
A faint, sinister glint flashed in Sebas’s eyes before disappearing just as swiftly, and he chose to say no more.
In truth, he had no idea why such an artisan had suddenly sprung forth from the Polant Empire.
With no advance word and no military escort, the youth had simply arrived at Little Stone City swiftly and covertly, leaving Sebas unsure how to handle the situation.
After a moment's thought, Sebas decided there was no need to rashly intervene.
If the fellow failed, the orcs would take care of him themselves.
If he truly possessed genuine skill, however, then Sebas would have no choice but to alert the lord of the Blood Clan.
"Why hasn't Mr. Sebas heard of his name either?"
"Yeah, and for a royal artisan, isn't it strange that no Polant imperial troops escorted him?"
The surrounding bear-folk watched on with mixed sentiments, the bear-folk priests exchanging glances.
"Ahem."
At the light cough from Lord Algom, the priests snapped out of it, ceased their muttering, and focused on reinforcing the barrier.
Before the statue.
Lanqi carefully inspected its overall condition, determining which sections required repair.
He lightly cleared away the surface dust and wear with a fine brush, every touch feather-light.
Next, using a carving knife and freshly mixed mana crystal sand, he meticulously mended and polished the damaged portions. His movements were both steady and forceful, his mana manipulation seamlessly natural, as though restoring this sacred relic exerted not the slightest strain on him.
From time to time, the bear-folk priests chanted their litanies, bolstering Lanqi's protective barrier while praying that the God of Rock and Protection would grant them fortune.
At this moment, Lanqi did not look like some legendary craftsman.
Rather, he resembled a practiced househusband standing before the stove, preparing dinner.
Even without deliberate thought, his hands responded effortlessly, knowing precisely what to do next.
The bear-folk's expressions began to change.
They witnessed Lanqi's calm, measured craftsmanship, his attention to and respect for every minute detail.
With each of Lanqi's movements, the doubts of the orc priests gradually dissolved.
As Lanqi's restoration progressed, the statue visibly began to regain its former glory.
The damaged portions vanished, and the entire statue seemed once more bathed in the brilliance of the divine age.
The orc priests in the temple watched in awe.
They witnessed Lanqi’s mastery, seeing firsthand his respect and care for every detail, as well as his dedication and reverence toward the restoration.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the temple, Xigelei exchanged a glance with the temple guard beside her, catching the sheer astonishment in the bear-folk's eyes.
"Did you bring him here?" the guard whispered, shielding his mouth with his hand as he asked Xigelei.
A trace of awe had crept into his attitude toward this little girl.
Xigelei did not reply, merely turning her gaze once more to Lanqi’s figure before the statue.
The sight of Lanqi at work right now completely refreshed her impression of him.
He really wasn't just a pretty face.
To her eyes, Lanqi almost seemed to be glowing.
*Not bad at all.*
Such was the unspoken sentiment in Xigelei's eyes.
Seeing that Lanqi was in no danger of being beaten up, she felt reassured, turned on her heel, and walked out of the temple.
Dressed as she was, lingering in the temple was something of an eyesore anyway, and having promised Lanqi she wouldn't speak out of turn, she wouldn't utter a single word inside.
Stepping out for some fresh air and waiting for him outside suited her far better.
Minute by minute, time slipped away inside the temple.
"To think the Polant Empire still possesses such a master artisan in this era," Grand Lord Algom murmured, his voice trembling with emotion as he cast an excited glance at Branch Manager Sebas beside him.
Only in his childhood had he ever seen the divine statue in such heroic splendor—and under this artisan's hands, it was becoming even more dazzling.
"Indeed."
A flicker of imperceptible shock passed through Sebas’s eyes. He could not comprehend where Empress Khesia had found such a craftsman, nor why he himself had remained entirely in the dark.
Yet his anxiety and discontent remained deeply concealed beneath a practiced veneer, his gaze drifting between Lanqi and the celebrating orcs around them.
*No...*
*Since this fellow traveled light and in secret, his identity might well be an alias, nothing more than a play staged alongside Empress Khesia.*
*Given his bearing and foundational skill, he cannot be of low birth, either.*
For a moment, Sebas was utterly baffled as to who this artisan 'Luoqi' might truly be among the Polant Empire's nobility.
Still, his rank could not be overwhelmingly high, and in the end, it did not matter who he was.
Daring to venture out like this was his greatest mistake.
Within the orc city-state, he enjoyed the protection of a Tier 7 Grand Lord. But once he departed the city-state, out upon the Snowfield of Eternal Night, the Blood Clan would be the true masters of the dark, and any lesser being would serve merely as their feast.
Sebas stood perfectly still, effortlessly matching the joyous smiles of the surrounding orcs.
Once the fellow departed, he would quietly notify Count Gregory and leave the matter entirely to the Blood Clan's lords to handle—and he, too, would claim a great reward.
...
Gradually, a faint glint of light appeared outside the temple’s colonnade.
At the same moment, the priests within the temple blew celebratory horns.
When Lanqi successfully completed the restoration, a resounding cheer of triumph erupted from the bear-folk throughout the sanctuary.
Every line and texture upon the statue had been meticulously restored by Lanqi.
The damaged sections were masterfully reshaped, and even the ancient divine script that had grown blurred and untraceable countless years ago had been completely reconstructed and reinscribed by Lanqi.
The statue of the rock and earth god stood tall and imposing, dignified in posture, its left hand resting against its chest—as steadfast and immovable as solid stone. Yet its face bore a gentle, benevolent expression, as though silently guarding the vows and lands of its believers.
[Statue of the God of Rock and Protection]
[Type: Artwork]
[Quality: Sacred]
[Tier: 1]
[Those who admire this statue will recover a slight amount of mental and physical energy, gain a minor increase in faith toward the God of Rock and Protection, and may attain a faint comprehension of earth-attribute magic.]
Chapter 549