Actually, even if he hadn’t caught her, with Cameron’s skills, she wouldn’t have been hurt landing, but being held like this felt completely different. In those safe arms, Cameron’s gaze was gentle as she looked at him softly. Henry Bennett wasn’t a fool either; he knew what he should do at this moment. He put on a graceful smile and said apologetically, “Sorry, I’m a wild man…” Just how lethal these words were to a beautiful grand duchess who had always lived in a noble’s castle—probably even the most powerful divine skills of the gods on the Divine Continent couldn’t compare.

However, this warm atmosphere was quickly broken by the tactless Old Grant, who walked over laughing heartily and said excitedly, “Good lad, you’re strong and agile—just the ideal successor I’ve been looking for! Before adulthood, guardian beasts eat a lot, so your strength will be needed…” Bishop Brooks breathed a sigh of relief, feeling secretly pleased: as long as he had a guardian beast keeper, wouldn’t he be able to have as many guardian beast warriors as he wanted?

But he overlooked Henry Bennett’s opinion. Henry Bennett shook his head and said, “I’m not doing it!”

“Why?” The other three present asked in unison. Henry Bennett shook his head and said, “I don’t want to. Whoever likes it can do it. Anyway, I’m not doing it. Buddha bless me, please don’t force me.” The three frowned. “Buddha bless? What does that mean?” Henry Bennett slipped up and casually replied, “It’s a kind of prayer, you wouldn’t understand.” Bishop Brooks’s expression changed: “Who are you praying to? Are you a heretic?” Now this was a big problem—heretics could not become guardian beast keepers of the Heluo Temple. If Henry Bennett really was a heretic, then all of Bishop Brooks’s plans would come to nothing.

Henry Bennett wasn’t stupid; even with his heels he could figure out that heretics weren’t welcome here. He quickly said, “No, I’m praying to our god—that’s just my unique way of praying.” This catch-all answer didn’t specify who “our god” was. Henry Bennett had just arrived and hadn’t even been in Tunhai City for a day—how could he know who the god of the Heluo faith was?

“You can already communicate with the god alone?” Bishop Brooks was overjoyed. Only legendary “Great Sages” among the faithful could communicate with the god one-on-one, having a special, private way of communicating. And Great Sages held extremely high prestige in the temple! The appearance of a Great Sage could greatly increase the level of faith in the temple and was very beneficial for spreading the faith.

Henry Bennett had no idea what he was talking about, but since he’d started lying, he might as well keep going. Henry Bennett nodded without hesitation: “That’s right, the god is always in my heart!”

“Heavens, praise the River Goddess! You are truly great, to have sent a Great Sage guardian beast keeper to guide us!” He crossed his hands devoutly, pressed them to his chest, and bowed in the direction of the Luo River, murmuring scripture. The grand duchess and the guardian beast keeper beside him also knelt to pray, giving thanks to the River Goddess—and only now did their Great Sage companion realize that “our god” was called the River Goddess. Although he had seen the statue of the River Goddess before, no one had told him “this is the River Goddess.” Cameron the grand duchess quietly explained to Henry Bennett the benefits of being a guardian beast keeper, and only then did Henry Bennett realize: oh, it’s not like those pig-feeding jobs on Earth! He thought it over and decided it seemed like a pretty good choice, so he nodded in satisfaction and agreed.

Everyone was overjoyed. Old Grant told Henry Bennett to report for duty the next day, starting as an apprentice. After a brief discussion between Cameron the grand duchess and Bishop Brooks, they took Henry Bennett back to the ducal residence.

Chapter 012: Feeding the Divine

The next day, Henry Bennett was officially sent into the Tunhai City Temple to become a guardian beast keeper. Bishop Brooks and Cameron the grand duchess jointly submitted a petition to the church, requesting credit for themselves.

With this achievement—a Great Sage guardian beast keeper—Bishop Brooks probably wouldn’t have to wait long before being transferred to the main church. And Cameron the grand duchess’s power would become even more secure.

All of this, for now, had nothing to do with Henry Bennett. He was led by Old Grant into a dark passageway. Following the sloping corridor, they walked downward for nearly half an hour before a huge cavern appeared before them.

The cavern had a domed structure, with the arched ceiling painted with the sun, moon, and stars. The floor was paved with bluestone slabs, engraved with rivers and mountains. Among all the rivers, one was clearly enlarged and highlighted—that was the Luo River, on which their survival depended. Even the Yama Wasteland Sea beside the Luo River was depicted, because that was the river’s final destination.

The Luo River was never actually that long or that large. As a regional river, the area it crossed was less than one-seventh of the entire Divine Continent. But on this map, the Luo River wound and stretched across the southwest of the Divine Continent like a giant dragon, dominating the southwest and eyeing the whole continent—occupying at least a quarter of the map.