My dream connects to three thousand years later.

Chapter 64 Church
“This…” Ning Linglong hesitated, glancing at Li Kang every now and then.

“Let me say it! After all, she has a teacher, and if I talk about it, it feels a bit like betrayal. I don’t care!” Li Kang interjected.

After thinking for a moment, he said directly, "It's actually quite complicated! Let me summarize it briefly..."

"Actually, the Commandery controls the art of body refinement! And this art is quite popular... As for the others, any of the big religious groups you've heard of that have a name, they all control their own unique path to immortality."

"Natural Taoism has it, God-Worshipping Society has it, Snow Mountain Buddhism has it, and Knowledge-based Confucianism also has it..."

Everything else was fine, but when Chu Zhu heard that the God Worshipping Society had a path to immortality, she really couldn't hold back anymore.

What's this called? God is an immortal?

Oh, by the way, in the mythology of the God Worshipping Society... there is a saying that God is the Jade Emperor, and the Jade Emperor is an immortal. From this point of view, there is nothing wrong with it.

"So, 'The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao' is actually a prayer or sacrificial phrase of the Taoist religion of nature!" Li Kang said, somewhat uncertainly. He glanced at Ning Linglong and then added, "Anyway, as far as I know, reciting this is probably useless, right? It's more like a catchphrase now!"

"Actually, it is somewhat useful." Ning Linglong said cautiously, but when she noticed that everyone's eyes were on her, she quickly made a gesture of pulling her mouth shut, indicating that she could not continue.

Chu Zhu paused for a moment, pondering another question: if Taoism has such sacrificial language, then what about Confucianism, Buddhism, and other religions? Do they also have sacrificial language, or perhaps their catchphrases?
“That makes sense!” Chu Zhu quickly understood. Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism—these terms sound like remnants of a previous civilization. If that’s the case, it’s quite reasonable that they retain a lot of knowledge and stories from that civilization.

However, judging from Ning Linglong's attitude, even if they still have some knowledge left, they probably wouldn't be able to decipher it—otherwise, how could they have mistaken the Dao that can be spoken of for a sacrificial prayer?

“It seems I’ll have to study these cults more in the future!” Chu Zhu’s eyes gleamed with a strange light. He suspected that these cults might still contain information about why the previous civilizations perished. “Unfortunately, the branches of these cults in Jinghai City don’t have this information! I’m afraid I’ll have to go to Tianjing or even the capital to find the answer.”

Chu Zhu had visited almost all of the locations of these sects in Jinghai City, and had even read many of their books... However, he hadn't found anything thought-provoking, nor any crucial information left over from a previous civilization...

"Alright, now that things are resolved," Chu Zhu stretched, then suddenly remembered something and added, "By the way, I need to go back to the base this afternoon! You guys shouldn't be at the base, right?"

Li Kang: "..."

Ning Linglong: "..."

other people:"……"

Although they probably all guessed that Chu Zhu was doing some shady things at the base, it seems Chu Zhu isn't even willing to pretend anymore, is it?

"Wait!" Ning Linglong suddenly spoke up, "Are you sure you want to separate from us?"

Taking a deep breath, she continued, "Look, so many high-ranking union members are dead... If they were really killed by the big factory owners, then what if they become enraged after all the coercion and enticement you put in before...?"

Ning Linglong didn't continue speaking, but her meaning was clear.

Chu Zhu gave Ning Linglong a deep look and said, "I know what I'm doing!"

“Yes.” Li Kang stepped forward to speak for Chu Zhu, full of confidence. “Don’t worry, barring any unforeseen circumstances, everything will proceed as Chu Zhu predicted!”

"To put it bluntly, even if news of A-Zhu's death suddenly came out one day, as long as he didn't die in front of me, I would suspect that it was a false rumor deliberately spread by A-Zhu... He was setting up a scheme."

"...Is that so?" Although Ning Linglong was still a little uneasy, she didn't say anything more after recalling what had happened before.

Chu Zhu waved goodbye.

District Three.

The industrial area is on the left.

This is a huge church.

The building presents a Western style throughout, yet it features red bricks, arches, and glazed tiles. The fusion of Eastern and Western architectural styles creates a jarring sense of contradiction, but also reveals a certain beauty.

This is the Third District Church of the God Worshipping Society!
Many people dressed in white robes are praying respectfully here. They clasp their hands together, their faces devout, and they are murmuring prayers.

Chu Zhu: "..."

It must be said that the style of this prayer is a mixture of East and West.
Chu Zhu walked straight in and then saw a nun.

The nun was probably in her forties or fifties, with gray hair and a few wrinkles on her face, but her eyes were very clear.

"Sir!" The nun gestured to stop Chu Zhu from walking further inside. "If you are here for Mass, please wait in line!"

Chu Zhu glanced at the long queue and said to the nun, "I'm looking for Abbot Zhang Hai!"

The nun paused for a moment.

"Just write my name on the poster!" Chu Zhu paused briefly before saying, "Chu Zhu! Or Mr. Zhu."

"Okay, please wait a moment." Chu Zhu had already said this much, and the nun realized what was going on, so she naturally wouldn't cause any more trouble.

After a while.

Accompanied by hurried footsteps, Zhang Hai rushed out of the church, his face beaming with joy, and he was even wearing only a white sock on one foot...

"..." Chu Zhu's lips twitched. Are you trying to welcome me with your shoes on? You're not Cao Cao, are you?

"Mr. Zhu! Mr. Zhu!" Zhang Hai grabbed Chu Zhu's hand and shook it vigorously, his face full of surprise. "I never expected that you would actually come to find me...you came in person..."

"Um, I'm so excited, I don't know what to say! By the way, are you here to ask for our help? I've already heard about the shantytown redevelopment area..."

"Stop pretending, Zhang Zihai." Chu Zhu remained calm and said coldly, "With your connections, you couldn't possibly not know that I've already finished negotiating with those big factory owners! In fact, you probably already know exactly what we discussed, right?"

The last sentence, though posed as a question, carries a strong sense of certainty.

Zhang Hai: "...?"

Seriously, are you out of your mind? Why are you bringing this up in public? I'm putting on such a welcoming and attentive attitude, you just exchange a few polite words, and then we can all happily enter the church and discuss what you want to discuss, right?
and many more!

“…Zhang Zihai?” Zhang Hai’s pupils contracted slightly, his heart churning with emotion. His smile faded for a moment, but then returned to its bright shape. “You’re right! Hmm…why don’t we go inside and talk?”

(End of this chapter)