Virus King - Chapter 153

Chapter 153: Divine Grace Like the Ocean, Divine Might Like a Prison! The Shepherd!

TL: YYang

Chen Bai gazed at the people who had appeared before him.

As the most powerful force on this Western continent, they intrigued him. He couldn’t help but wonder: did extraordinary powers ever exist in ancient Blue Star?

After all, what had happened with Han Xiao before had triggered his imagination.

The Seventy-Two Pillars of Hell’s demon gods and demon kings were actually connected to Blue Star.

Could this imply that, in Blue Star’s past, extraordinary powers truly emerged?

It was highly likely.

Unfortunately, Chen Bai felt a slight disappointment.

He had followed the so-called leader of the Holy Knights all the way here, yet he hadn’t sensed any extraordinary abilities!

Even when using his spiritual perception, the other party remained a mere level 1 ordinary human.

If there was anything noteworthy, it was that this person’s five basic attributes had all reached the peak of an average human, each at five points.

This was somewhat rare.

But that was all.

After being ushered to this square, standing on a towering platform the height of a two-story building, Chen Bai noticed the cross erected there—it was dazzling. The so-called leader of the Holy Knights now gripped his spear tightly.

“Heretic! You have deceived the masses and defied the will of the Lord. By the name of God, I shall mark you on the cross so you will repent for eternity in the Lord’s Kingdom!”

Chen Bai glanced at him calmly, then shifted his gaze to the rapidly gathering crowd of Roman citizens.

They hesitated. They were uneasy. They were full of doubt.

Yet even at this moment, few dared to challenge the absolute authority of the Holy Knights.

Chen Bai was indifferent—human nature was like this.

They would side with the victor.

This was true in both the East and the West.

Chen Bai never intended to save the world. As he often reminded himself, this historical Western land was merely a garden for his leisure and exploration.

Nothing more.

As for those who wished to wound him with their thorns, the solution was simple—prune them away.

Thus, withdrawing his gaze, Chen Bai smiled at the man leading the group: “How have I deceived the masses?”

These words left the man momentarily stunned, unsure of how to respond.

Indeed, how had he deceived the masses?

Below, countless citizens exchanged glances, murmuring in confusion.

This black-haired, black-eyed man before them had healed the plague-stricken residents, saving them from the brink of disaster. Could that really be called deceiving the masses?

Even the knights within the Holy Order began to waver.

It was a moment when the lack of expertise in rhetoric became apparent.

As the knights stood in bewilderment, a figure clad in red robes, a cardinal, stepped forward:

“Heretic! You spread the plague and now reappear to resolve it—this is nothing more than a self-directed charade!

The Lord has issued His divine decree: as long as this plague-spreading heretic is executed, the plague will naturally vanish without a trace!

Grandmaster Soren, your devotion to the Lord wavers. After dealing with this heretic, you must undergo ten days of purification!”

“Yes!”

In an instant, all previous hesitation vanished.

It was replaced by a sudden realization and eyes filled with hatred.

Not just the knights of the Holy Order, but even many of the citizens below seemed to come to an understanding.

Their gazes toward the man they had knelt before in gratitude and reverence earlier now turned to anger and resentment.

Humans are such ignorant and foolish creatures.

Chen Bai nodded slightly, showing no anger.

In the scriptures of any religion, aside from proclamations of divine love for humanity, there was always a phrase to the effect of:

“Divine grace is like the ocean, divine might is like a prison.”

In this world untouched by the extraordinary, Chen Bai’s very existence was akin to that of a god.

He shook his head lightly.

The red-robed cardinal leading the charge sneered coldly: “So what if you speak? You are nothing but a demon crawling from Hell, spreading plagues and deceiving the masses. The Lord has decreed that the sacred weapon, the Spear of Longinus, shall strike you down! The Lord loves all…”

Before he could finish his words, a sharp, clear cough cut him off abruptly.

All eyes turned to the red-robed cardinal with fear.

That sound filled them with terror, for it was exactly as the so-called heretic before them had described.

The plague and disease were transmitted through such sounds.

Along with rats, fleas, and flies.

Instinctively, everyone began to back away, even the Holy Knights who stood by the cardinal’s side.

Yet, as if in response, the coughing erupted again.

This time, it wasn’t just anyone—it came from within the ranks of the knights encircling the heretic.

They were incredulous, doubting what was happening. How could warriors blessed by the Lord, devout and steadfast, also be infected?

Even if some of them had shown symptoms earlier, they had recovered quickly.

Of course, from a modern scientific perspective, this was merely because their bodies were stronger and better nourished.

As for those who had succumbed?

They were said to lack faith in the Lord, and thus deserved such a fate.

But now, the coughing seemed to spread like wildfire.

In mere moments, even Grandmaster Soren and others were wracked with violent coughing, as though their lungs were being forcefully expelled from their chests.

In the grand plaza, no one had the time to spare a glance at the dark green figure standing calmly in the midst of it all.

Soren’s blue eyes widened as he grasped the sacred weapon of the Church—the Spear of Longinus, said to have been stained with the blood of God Himself—and lunged at the figure with fury.

Yet as he neared, his strength ebbed away entirely. He collapsed at Chen Bai’s feet.

In just seconds, Soren felt his body burning with an unbearable fever.

Chen Bai gazed at the so-called sacred weapon lying before him. Slowly, he picked it up and turned his attention to the knight sprawled weakly before him. He donned the bird-beak mask that inspired fear and despair, then spoke:

“Will your Lord come to save you?”

“He will. Even if I die, my soul will follow the Lord’s guidance to His kingdom,” the weak man whispered hoarsely, gasping for breath with what little strength he had left.

Chen Bai crouched down and said softly: “Your Lord knows, but He does not care. Confused children, pure hearts, and lofty faith are as beautiful as crystals—but also as fragile. One touch, and they shatter. I admire your purity. Let me guide your lost soul. Let the flock return to their pen.”

Chen Bai stood up and walked away.

Some died on the very platform they used to judge others.

Some did not.

Some called it a miracle of the Lord.

But the citizens of Rome—and even some knights and worshippers within the Church—knew the truth.

It was because of His mercy.

He, like a benevolent father, revealed His power to humanity while carefully restraining it, delicately preserving their fragile crystal faith.

The despair of the spreading plague was like sheep running wild, and He was the sole shepherd.

In that moment, all of Rome finally understood.

What it meant for divine grace to be like the ocean, and divine might to be like a prison.

Days after this godly figure disappeared, a Plague Church was established at the heart of the Church of Light in Rome.

Its first priest was none other than the former Grandmaster of the Holy Knights, Soren.

…

Had some extra time today.