Chapter 7 Preaching

Shen Du immediately smiled and said:

"Head that way, be careful to avoid..."

He did not finish his sentence but looked up at the ceiling, signaling to Shang Jianyao to be cautious.

In the "living area," every floor is equipped with surveillance cameras, but there are not many, just in key intersections and public spaces. In contrast, both the "internal ecological zone" and "factory zone" have far more cameras, but even these pale in comparison to the "research zone" and "management zone."

Shang Jianyao followed Shen Du's gaze, glanced at the intersection ahead, and said with a smile:

"It might not even be on."

"True," Shen Du surprisingly agreed with Shang Jianyao. This was because situations like this were common within the company, where devices were often reported as malfunctioning, only to have been broken for a long time but left standing just for show.

It was said that this chaos began when the surviving humans hurriedly retreated into underground buildings after the old world was destroyed.

And now, in the 46th year of the new era, it was perfectly normal for some equipment to be damaged. Certain production lines, hindered by resource shortages, lost technology, or missing documentation, had not been rebuilt, making it impossible to replace or repair.

"Still, we need to be careful. The company is very strict about religious activities," Shen Du reminded, holding a flashlight as he walked ahead.

Reaching the intersection, he turned off the flashlight and carefully moved along the wall, heading right. Shang Jianyao followed closely behind and once again glanced at the surveillance camera on the ceiling of the intersection. There was a red dot slowly blinking.

Shang Jianyao stared at the red dot, suddenly raising his hands and pinching his cheeks, pulling the corners of his mouth upward.

He made a silly face.

Then, rubbing his face muscles, which had been irritated by the flashlight, he imitated Shen Du and moved along the wall.

After a winding detour, Shen Du stopped in front of door 35 in Area A. He raised his left hand and gently knocked three times.

"The newborn is like the sun," a deliberately low voice came from inside.

Shen Du extended his neck, responding in the same low tone:

"Life is the most precious."

With a creaking sound, the door opened, and yellow light spilled out, gently swaying.

"This is...?" The woman opening the door noticed Shang Jianyao behind Shen Du.

She was in her thirties, clearly genetically modified, with straight black eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and upturned eyes—both beautiful and distinct.

Shang Jianyao took a step forward and said sincerely:

"It's my first time attending. Shen Uncle brought me here."

The woman slightly furrowed her brows but then relaxed and said thoughtfully:

"So you're a new believer."

She looked around and stepped aside, allowing them to enter.

Shen Du saw that the woman had accepted Shang Jianyao's identity without doubt, and he stepped into the room, casually turning off the flashlight.

Shang Jianyao followed, scanning the room and taking in every detail.

This room was much larger than the one he currently lived in, and there was a door on the innermost wall, suggesting a bedroom, bathroom, or small kitchen. This made Shang Jianyao think of his old home. The owner of the room was either living with someone who was at least at the D4 level, or had someone in the D7 group leader position.

The outer room was about two and a half meters wide, almost five meters deep. Against the innermost wall were a wardrobe and a cabinet, and between these two pieces of furniture, a nightstand and a double bed were placed. The bed was oriented horizontally, leaving a passageway leading to the inner room at the foot of the bed.

Beyond the bed, a small living room was formed with a back chair, stools, a coffee table, a writing desk, and a fabric sofa.

At that moment, two candles were burning on the coffee table, casting soft, yellow light, and many people—both men and women, young and old—were sitting around. Shang Jianyao didn't count, but judging by how packed the room was, there must have been at least ten people.

"Xiao Shang, go ahead and register first," the woman who opened the door said, pulling out a soft-cover notebook from somewhere.

Shang Jianyao took the pen and wrote his name in the blank space she opened.

"Do you recognize me?" He asked curiously.

The woman smiled and replied:

"Your parents lived nearby when they were here. We were sort of neighbors. But you probably don't remember me. You can call me Aunt Li."

"Okay, Aunt Li." Shang Jianyao said without hesitation.

"Alright, go take a seat. The 'guide' will begin the sermon soon." Aunt Li pointed to an empty stool.

"Where will you sit?" Shang Jianyao asked politely.

"I can sit by the bed," Aunt Li smiled and answered.

Shang Jianyao didn't ask further, took a few steps, and sat down.

After about two to three minutes, the door leading to the inner room opened, and a figure walked out. Shang Jianyao immediately recognized her as Aunt Ren Jie's, whom he had seen at the "activity center" earlier, a D3-level employee serving on the company's "strategic committee."

Aunt Ren still wore the same polyester shirt but had changed into gray trousers. Her beautiful face showed some traces of age, yet her expression remained holy and dignified.

She walked between the bed and the wardrobe, scanning the room.

"Xiao Shang?" She immediately spotted Shang Jianyao, sitting upright.

Shang Jianyao stood, took two steps forward, and greeted her:

"Aunt Ren, I just finished registering. Shen Uncle brought me here."

Ren Jie's eyes flickered, as if thinking about something. Then, she smiled:

"I see. You've passed the examination."

"Please, sit." She gestured for him to return to his seat.

When Shang Jianyao sat back down, she looked at the others and began:

"Since we have a new believer, let me briefly introduce our congregation."

Clap, clap, clap! Shang Jianyao enthusiastically applauded.

Shen Du and the others either turned around or looked to the side, giving him blank stares.

Ren Jie, having heard that Shang Jianyao was a more lively personality, was momentarily stunned, then chuckled:

"No need for that, this isn't a company meeting."

After a pause, she spoke in a deep voice:

"We, all of us here, have never left the company. We have never truly set foot on the surface. What we know about the gray land comes from the company broadcasts, textbooks, and descriptions by the 'security department' staff, all of which have been filtered for confidentiality.

"We don't truly understand the gray land, just like we've never truly seen the sky."

Her gaze swept across the room and landed on Shang Jianyao's face:

"We know that after the old world was destroyed, there was a long period of chaos and conflict, but eventually, humans were able to rebuild order in certain regions, and a new calendar began. We also know that shadows still hang over the gray land, and the places of order are like islands in the sea, surrounded by chaos zones, wastelands, and mountains.

"The most deadly thing is the heartless disease, or the 'beastification' disease, which we still don't fully understand. Even today, we don't know its transmission mechanism. People, even ourselves, might wake up one day to find that we've turned into 'wild beasts' with no ability to communicate, reduced to nothing but the instinct to hunt."

Ren Jie paused and continued:

"But what we don't know is this: Why did the old world end? Why were we able to rebuild order?"

Rumors have been circulating among people across the gray land:

"Certain actions of the old world angered the gods, and that's why it was destroyed. The surviving people were tested and thus saved."

Some of this rumor is true, and some of it is false.

The true part is that there are indeed gods in this world, and they collectively govern time, each managing a different month, which is why they are called the 'Year Supervisors'. Some call them 'The Supreme,' 'The Gods of the Year,' 'The Elder Gods,' 'The Savior,' 'The Artist of the Past,' and 'The High Priest of the Present.'

The false part is that the 'Year Supervisors' did not destroy the old world because they were angered. It was simply the inevitable result of the world's natural progression.

Life is sacred and precious, but it will eventually fade away, and the world will too. It's just like the end of one year, preparing for the arrival of a new year."

At this point, everyone, except for Shang Jianyao, extended their arms, rocking gently, as they whispered:

"All will return to the Year Supervisor."

Their voices were low yet clear, merging into a single sound that echoed through the room.

Ren Jie looked at Shang Jianyao and continued:

"The new world has not yet arrived. Right now, it is the gods' test for all beings. Only by devoutly believing in the Year Supervisor and offering yourself as a sacrifice can you enter the new world, escape the cycle of time, and attain eternal life, free from suffering."

"Praise your mercy!" The congregation gently rocked their arms and spoke in a low voice.

Shang Jianyao mimicked their actions:

"Praise your mercy."

Ren Jie nodded in satisfaction before saying:

"Alright, let's begin the sermon in earnest."

"Our Life Sacrifice congregation worships life and reveres death, for we know that true life lies beyond death."