Chapter 28: Priest of the Earthly Mechanism

"The Heavenly Dao Shrine station is approaching. Passengers intending to disembark, please prepare in advance."

Following the conductor’s announcement over the loudspeaker, Lin Xiao stepped off the tram along with the crowd. This was his first visit to the Heavenly Dao Shrine since he had transmigrated, and the scene before him was entirely different from what he had expected.

There was no towering mountain gate, nor were there endless stone steps. Apart from a somewhat archaic architectural style, the Heavenly Dao Shrine looked, at first glance, like nothing more than an excessively large wooden structure. Even more surprising was its location; it was not nestled in some scenic, spirit-rich mountain range, but situated right in the heart of the Donghai City central business district.

"Well, I suppose when you have deities backing you, you don’t need the kind of mystical, overly obscure atmosphere people used to create for a sense of mystery," Lin Xiao mused to himself.

In truth, he actually preferred it this way. Being in the central business district made it incredibly convenient for everyone to visit. It had taken Lin Xiao only three tram stops and ten minutes to arrive. He strode forward, ascending the steps toward the main hall.

It was only when Lin Xiao drew near that he felt the building’s true essence. The entire hall was constructed from lightning-struck, dark-submerged wood. The surface of the timber shimmered with purple-gold grain, each annual ring appearing to contain the fundamental truths of the universe. The moment he stepped through the entrance, a gentle surge of spiritual energy washed over him like a spring breeze. The spiritual power within his own body stirred, and every cell in his being seemed to rejoice.

If Lin Xiao likened the source energy required for an esper in this world to level up as "EXP," then the spiritual power consumed when using an ability was his "MP." This state of heightened spiritual activity meant that being inside the Heavenly Dao Shrine was like standing next to a fountain of mana, allowing for much faster recovery.

"There’s definitely something to this place!" Lin Xiao remarked.

He looked up at the plaque hanging above the main entrance. The four characters for "Heavenly Dao Shrine" were written in a bold, sweeping calligraphy, set in gold against a black background. It was said to be carved from Sacred Spirit Wood that was ten thousand years old—a level of spiritual timber where even a fingernail-sized piece would be enough to incite a brawl among espers outside these walls, yet here, it was casually used for a door sign.

"I was the shallow one..." Lin Xiao couldn't help but shake his head with a self-deprecating smile. From a distance, he had truly thought the Shrine was embracing simplicity, disdaining any supernatural displays to project authority. Now it seemed they had simply transformed ostentation into restraint and showiness into substance. This approach—hearing thunder in a silent place—was far more awe-inspiring than any contrived spectacle.

Entering the main hall, Lin Xiao was met with a scene of bustling activity. The hall was packed with people there to attend to their affairs. His gaze swept over the crowd and quickly locked onto a gilded sign on the east side of the hall: the words "Pavilion of Spiritual Objects" shimmered in gold.

However, Lin Xiao turned in the opposite direction. Beside a pillar on the west side, a plaque made of green jade displayed the words "Office of Registration" in a solemn, upright script.

It was time to get his license—his esper license.

In this world, everyone possessed two crucial documents. One was the citizenship card issued by the Federation at birth, recording everything about a person as an ordinary citizen. The other was the esper license issued by the Heavenly Dao Shrine after one reached the age of eighteen and underwent the Rite of Pain. To handle any affairs in the supernatural realm, this license was required. It could be said that the esper license was even more important than the citizenship card.

From the notification letter he had received from the Shrine a few days ago, Lin Xiao learned that his original self had already submitted the application materials after the Rite of Pain. Thirty days had passed, and the document was ready. But the person here to collect it was now him.

Lin Xiao navigated through the throng and reached the sandalwood counter of the Office of Registration. A young girl in a moon-white shrine uniform was bowing her head, organizing paperwork. The copper nameplate on her chest read "Apprentice Priestess – Su Wan."

"Hello, I am here to collect my esper license," Lin Xiao said, placing his citizenship card on the counter.

Su Wan looked up. Her dark hair, tied in a ponytail, slid over her shoulder, and a few stray locks fell by her ears, making her skin appear as fair as fresh snow. Lin Xiao couldn't help but linger on her for a moment; the Shrine’s moon-white uniform truly gave the beauty a unique charm. It was far more alluring than any flight attendant uniform. Was this the "uniform temptation" of another world?

Their eyes met, and the tips of Su Wan's ears turned bright red. "P-please wait a moment... the license is indeed ready, but... it is not kept with me."

Lin Xiao: "..."

Wait, you haven't even checked my citizenship card! How could you know the license was ready without verifying my identity? Even more suspicious, if the document was prepared, why couldn't it be collected here?

"Then where should I go to collect it?" Lin Xiao asked, puzzled.

"Please follow me!" Su Wan stood up and hurried behind a screen, leaving behind a faint scent as her white skirt fluttered.

Lin Xiao followed her through winding corridors, feeling increasingly uneasy. Where was she taking him? When they reached the depths of the Shrine, Su Wan pushed open a wooden door and said, "Please wait here for a moment."

Without giving Lin Xiao a chance to ask further questions, she turned and hurried away, her face burning. Lin Xiao was left alone in the room, completely bewildered.

What was going on? Had he done something wrong? The situation felt strangely familiar, like the feeling of Lin Chong accidentally stumbling into the White Tiger Hall.

Fortunately, it wasn't long before fragmented whispers drifted in from outside the door:

"...is he really here?"
"...Aunt, isn't this the person you've always...?"
"...Indeed... it's just that seeing him like this... is he the same as in the photo...?"
"He’s even more handsome in person than in the photo!"

Following the voices, a female official in a moon-white shrine uniform stepped in, with Su Wan following behind, head bowed and face flushed. The official looked to be in her early thirties, her long, raven-black hair neatly pinned up. The years had etched a few fine lines at the corners of her eyes, which only added to her mature grace.

She walked quickly to Lin Xiao, her eyes brightening as if she were looking at a rare treasure. Her intense gaze made him feel a bit flustered. Just as he began to feel nervous, she spoke:

"Greetings, Mr. Lin. I am Su Huaijin, the Earth-Machine Priestess of the Donghai City Heavenly Dao Shrine."

Earth-Machine Priestess?

Lin Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. He had heard a little about the Shrine’s hierarchy. Aside from the supreme leader known as the "Palace Master" who resided at headquarters, the heads of the regional shrines were all addressed as "Priests." Those who governed all the shrines of the Southern Cross Federation were called "Heavenly Pivot Priests," equivalent to national-level leaders.

As the "Earth-Machine Priestess," the woman before him managed the religious affairs for over forty million people in the Donghai region—a status comparable to that of a high-ranking regional governor. A figure of this magnitude should only deal with major affairs. Why would his mundane license collection warrant her attention?

"Greetings, Priestess Su. May I ask, is there a problem with my license?" Lin Xiao asked cautiously.

Su Huaijin smiled. "There is no problem with the license. I simply wanted to ask, Mr. Lin, is your purpose in coming to the Heavenly Dao Shrine today to purchase an esper crystal?"

Lin Xiao’s expression froze instantly. How did she know?