Only God
Chapter 263 - 226 Empower with a Mission

Chapter 263: Chapter 226 Empower with a Mission

"Master Xilan, I want to know if God made a covenant with the prophets because making covenants is a mission God assigned to prophets?"

When faced with Antion’s question, Xilan provided an explanation.

"Perhaps it is, or perhaps it is not; only God and the prophets can be sure.

I remember that the prophet received the Divine Revelation of the covenant in a dream. Perhaps God had been preparing and arranging for this covenant all along."

Although Xilan’s answer wasn’t perfect, it was quite comprehensive.

In fact, this was his stance on "predestination" and "the elect" at the Great Council, just phrased differently.

Antion then raised several more questions.

Some were quite straightforward, such as: Was the situation of Al and Yarlessto at sea arranged by your God?

Questions like this were easier to answer. Xilan quoted some original passages from Scriptures and thought it over in his mind, making sure he didn’t stray from the prophet’s path before he gave his own answer.

But there were some questions that were very tricky, requiring prolonged contemplation before they could be reluctantly addressed.

For instance: Your God has never revealed Himself before you, how can you be certain that your God is the one from the "Book of Kings and Prophets"?

Or: Besides the path the prophets walked, will there be new paths for you in the future?

Facing the former question, Xilan found it extremely difficult. He couldn’t provide a perfect answer, but he did his best, responding:

"Although our God has not revealed Himself before us, the prophet ascended the high mountain of God, and his identity has been recognized by the Elf Priests.

And our service is silently permitted and inspired by our God. A servant cannot serve two masters; if our God were not the one from the ’Book of Kings and Prophets,’ how could He acknowledge our service?"

And as for the latter question, Xilan could not foresee the future. He was unsure whether God would choose new prophets or whether there would be new paths later on.

Thus, he replied:

"We are mortals, not God; we cannot discern the direction of fate. Only God knows what will happen in the future.

And whatever the path may be, the Church is willing to accept it because the Church, like the prophet, wishes to act according to the will of God."

Xilan’s answers were not flawless, and he could not make them so, but his words encapsulated some of the Church’s thoughts.

After Antion asked many questions, Daniel, who had been listening, marvelled at the youth’s intelligence. Many of his questions were ones the Church had not yet explored, and some highlighted spiritual deficiencies the Church had not even noticed.

Daniel silently committed the scene before him to memory, not daring to forget. He planned to write down this conversation on papyrus after Antion left and possibly compile it into a book of theological questions and answers, given the chance.

Xilan was equally astonished; he gradually felt that Antion’s questions, rather than doubts, were like admonitions. They were like a subtle mirror, reflecting all of the Church’s theological inadequacies.

And through this process, Xilan continually thought and provided answers, thus refining the Church’s theological thoughts.

"Master Xilan, next, I have one last question," Antion asked earnestly.

"Go ahead," Xilan said.

"Your God assigned a mission to Prophet Al and to his successors—Dertulian and Yarlessto.

So, Master Xilan,

as a successor to the prophets,

has your God assigned a mission to you?"

The words fell in the study, leaving Xilan looking startled.

Daniel too was stunned on the spot, watching Antion incredulously.

In this New Rule Garden, no one had ever thought of such a question.

Indeed, as the successors to Prophet Al, Dertulian and Yarlessto, the former climbed the high mountain and plucked a leaf, while the latter transformed into a swan at the last moment. Without a doubt, they were both mysteriously assigned missions by God.

So... As the successor to Prophet Noen—Xilan, has God assigned a mission to him?

Antion looked intently at Xilan, waiting for the reply from the leader of the New Rule Garden.

After a moment of surprise, Xilan gave a wry smile and then slowly said:

"I do not know. Before you asked this question, I had never thought about it.

It’s like the Scripture says, Dertulian and Yarlessto were mysteriously given missions by God; they were initially unaware of their own missions.

Perhaps God has also mysteriously assigned me a mission, but I do not know; I cannot be sure."

Upon hearing such an answer, Antion smiled amiably and then stood up slowly.

"Thank you, Master Xilan. You have been so friendly and knowledgeable; you’ve given me much to benefit from."

Xilan spoke:

"No, it is we who should be thankful, Antion."

When Antion heard these words, he did not object to anything, but simply smiled.

After saying goodbye to Antion, Daniel immediately followed Xilan back to the study.

The room was empty; Daniel spoke excitedly:

"Teacher... you may have a mission bestowed by God, you just don’t know it yet!"

As he said this, his entire body trembled.

Daniel prayed daily, chanting scriptures daily; he knew every story in the Holy Scriptures by heart and had preached to others countless times, feeling deeply moved while explaining the scriptures.

But this time, Daniel felt an unprecedented shock, so much so that even his soul quivered.

He narrated the scriptures day and night, yet he never imagined that one day the mythological tales from the scriptures would be so close to them.

His teacher Xilan’s figure would ultimately be recorded in the Holy Scriptures, passed down to future generations as a universal truth that would resonate through the ages.

The chanter of scriptures, too, became a person within the scriptures.

Xilan took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly.

But after regaining his composure, Xilan slowly said:

"Do not let pride overwhelm you, Daniel, for in the end, pride will turn into desire."

"That ancient King Dovlo, once a son of Yarlessto, brought about his own destruction because of desire."

"As to whether I have been bestowed a mission or not, no one knows except God."

Xilan’s emotions slowly calmed down, realizing he was not a prophet and could not fathom God’s intentions, he humbled himself, neither longing for nor craving eternal fame.

Daniel looked puzzled; he wanted to say more, eager to prove his point—that Xilan had indeed been given a mission by God.

Xilan spoke first:

"Daniel, we must not be haughty or greedy.

God may bestow, and God may also withhold.

Just because you read something into the scriptures, it doesn’t mean God will necessarily do it.

God is the God of the scriptures, not a God governed by the scriptures."

Xilan’s admonition echoed in the study, and Daniel listened intently to each word, gradually calming down, his due humility refilling his heart.

"Teacher... I was too hasty.

If we speculate about God’s intentions on a whim, acting on our own conjectures, we might bear evil fruits like King Dovlo and his son, thereby running counter to God’s guidance and inviting unprecedented destruction."

After Daniel finished speaking, he sighed softly,

"Well then, teacher, I shall leave first."

Xilan nodded, watching Daniel leave.

Xilan slowly shut the study door and paced within, his brows furrowed, unable to relax for a long time.

After an indeterminate amount of time, he came to a stop and took a deep breath.

"A mission?"

Xilan murmured to himself.

"Will I... really be like King Dertulian and King Yarlessto?"

Then he laughed at himself.

Just moments ago, he had been lecturing Daniel with right and reason, and now he was himself wrestling with the idea of a mission.

Even though Xilan was aware of what he was thinking, he couldn’t stop it.

Xilan exhaled and slowly knelt down, bringing his hands together and closing his eyes.

He was profoundly conflicted—on one hand, he knew he should be humble, desiring nothing, waiting for God’s arrangement.

On the other, he couldn’t help but wonder: could he truly, like King Dertulian and King Yarlessto, leave his own Chapter in the sacred scriptures?

Unable to resolve this dichotomy, all he could do was pray to God.

"Lord...

have you bestowed upon me a mission?

Is there something you need me to do?"

In the tranquil study, Xilan’s prayer was barely audible, perhaps heard only by him and God.

Outside the window, a serene light shone, casting the outlines of dust particles in the room.

Xilan did not know,

whether this was a direct revelation from God, or simply an unremarkable beam of light.