Two nights later, Zhou Yi met Wei Wu.

He wore a white doctor's coat over a black long-sleeve shirt, and carried a small box, with a visor hat on his head.

What was particularly unusual was that he did not have the yellowish bones or dark colors like other Bone Men; his entire body seemed to have been painted with white paint, white and clean.

"Hello, Mr. Zhou, hello, Doctor Da Vinci."

The Bone Man bowed politely.

"Please, have a seat."

Zhou Yi sat on the sofa and said, "Doctor Wei specializes in treating Bone Man illnesses. Have you come here because you believe there are similarities between Bone Fish and Bone Men?"

"Yes," the other party sat on the chair, posture upright. "My research focus is on bone reconstruction and transplantation for Bone Men. However, this area of work is very challenging because there's a lack of sufficient cases and targeted medical equipment, and the surgeries themselves carry substantial risk."

"Not one of the leading Mechanical Doctors is engaged in this field; there's a lack of both theoretical and case-based deep research. I want to try some surgeries, but I can't get help or approval from the Mechanical Doctors."

"I saw that Doctor Da Vinci is actually involved in treating Bone Fish and conducting pathological research, and I thought this would be my best learning opportunity, so I took the liberty of coming here to apply."

Zhou Yi nodded, "That's not a problem. Are you a member of the Night Church, Doctor Wei?"

"Yes," Wei Wu admitted openly. "I am a member of the Night Church."

"Why did you join this organization?"

The Bone Doctor seemed to gather his thoughts, "I initially applied to join the Light Imprint School, the most powerful with the most resources. Being a member could mean access to substantial funding and opportunities to go to Holy Mountain to study medicine, which wasn't out of the question."

"However, my application was rejected, on the grounds that I lacked a referrer."

"Later, I applied to join the Light Restoration Society. They're slightly weaker than the Light Imprint School, but still one of the top academic organizations. Unfortunately, my application didn't pass the review because my research on Bone Men was deemed worthless."

"Eventually, with a try-it-and-see attitude, I applied to the Night Church."

Wei Wu scratched his head. "Although the Church isn't recognized by various cities and its promotions and public activities are prohibited, the Night Church still has some supporters and some funding. Compared to the previous two organizations, the Church's admission ritual is very simple: just pass the written test and score above the passing line."

"I prepared for two years and finally passed into the Night Church."

Zhou Yi's expression gradually grew puzzled.

Wait a minute.

This Night Church isn't quite what I had imagined.

"You say the Night Church has entrance exams?"

"Yes."

Wei Wu nodded, "The exams include two subjects; one is general knowledge, the other is specialized. You can choose your field for the specialized test, but everyone must take the general knowledge exam."

"The entrance exams for the Night Church have gotten harder over the years. I joined six years ago when it was still manageable. Now, as everyone realizes the Church's advantages, the competition has become fierce."

Zhou Yi smelled a familiar scent.

This indeed seemed like something humans would concoct.

Zhou Yi asked him, "What do you do in the Church?"

"Actually, there's not much specific work. I'm a doctor, so the Church notifies me to treat some members or to participate in some medical research. However, because my speciality is quite niche, so far, I've mostly treated a few Bone Men in the Church and otherwise haven't been very busy."

Wei Wu said smilingly, "Although funding has become increasingly scarce and hard to apply for, when I first joined, I received more funding than I expected and conducted several related medical experiments. Although they all failed, I gained valuable experience and data."

"..."

Zhou Yi found it hard to judge this Church.

He then asked Red Kestrel through consciousness synchronization.

The drone said, "What he says is largely true."

"The Night Church had a phase of massive, rapid expansion early on, absorbing numerous members, and obtained an A rating from the Mechanical City four years ago. However, after achieving the rating, they tightened the admission threshold, started controlling their scale, and cut budgets to reduce unnecessary expenses."

A level.

Zhou Yi's gaze grew solemn.

This signified benchmarks and innovation.

The last entity rated as A was the United City that pioneered the Alien City.

Mechanical City had high demands, and with a stringent rating system, it was hard to exploit loopholes.

If the Night Church truly rose to A level just by numbers, Zhou Yi wouldn't believe it.

"The Night Church's Night God isn't a fictitious figure but a distinctly existing special life form," Red Kestrel said. "The specifics are unclear. But the Night God appears at night and reveals truths to the believers, though it cannot be observed by the outside world, a point confirmed through various channels."

"Fundamentally, the Church isn't worshiping this Night God, but rather cultivating and shaping it into a deity, assembling a large congregation around the Night God, and then using the group's strength to further bolster the Night God's power."

"For the Heavenly Kingdom and sea lords, such a god-making convention threatens their ruling standings, so it's prohibited everywhere."

"The restrictions Mechanical City imposes on the Church are also because the Night Church refuses to disclose information on the Night God, leading to uncontrollable risks."

The Night God is a manufactured deity.

Zhou Yi pondered, wondering if it could also be a kind of Concept Life.

He looked at Wei Wu, "Have you ever received revelations from the Night God?"

"I have."

The Bone Doctor nodded, "As long as you are a member of the Church, you can worship the Night God at night. However, only we can sense the Night God; non-members cannot observe its presence."

"The Night God is easy to talk to; it's a very gentle deity. Sometimes it gives revelations too, but there's no harm in not listening. The Night God is more like a friend who's always near, sometimes caring about you..."

Zhou Yi thought to himself.

I wonder if my "Radio" can observe it.

Zhou Yi said, "Try worshipping now; our company could also use an assessment to see if this will affect the operational order here."

He was prepared to see what was really going on.

...

The Bone Doctor opened his carrying case, took out several pieces of wedge-shaped wood, and assembled them into a small stand. He set up a polished copper mirror on it, fixing two rhombic stones on either side.

Then he sat cross-legged in front of the stand, muttering, "Night God, Night God, awaken my spirit."

Zhou Yi waited a long time.

Then he realized, that was it.

The Night Church's ritual was just that single line.

Wei Wu concentrated intently on the mirror, the copper reflecting the Bone Doctor's pale skull.

Zhou Yi turned on his "Radio" at the highest intensity, Channel 5.

He immediately heard a light, ethereal voice.

"Since they want to have a look, let them see. We have nothing that cannot be spoken of in front of outsiders."

Zhou Yi noticed that above the mirror stand in front of the Bone Doctor, a giant moon floated.

It was as if it had descended from the sky to this place, completely ice-white in color and clearly showing the craters on its surface. Yet its sheer size, even so close, brought a faintly chilling sense of oppression.

The voice came from this moon.

Zhou Yi then looked up.

He discovered that the moon in the night sky had disappeared.

What was going on?

Was the Night God the moon?

Zhou Yi's mind was in slight disarray.

He summoned assistant number two, Xiao Fu, to help clarify.

"It's the life consciousness evolved from the concept of the moon."

Reverse Flow made a judgment immediately, "The magnitude of this conceptual life form is truly astonishing."

"Normally, lower life forms like Bone Man would instantly collapse upon contact with its consciousness, or their own consciousness would be completely assimilated. Yet, it seems quite normal. The kind of constraint and control over energy and consciousness it exhibits looks to be within the scope of a Light Core Body... It is a native advanced life form here."

A genuine Light Core Body.

Zhou Yi was somewhat surprised, as Night Church truly had a great deity within.

"Da Zhou, try to connect with it."

Xiao Fu then said, "Conceptual life forms that actively contact ordinary life consciousness have usually evolved to a high degree. They are capable of communication, can precisely limit and control their power, and are different from the basic stages of life forms like the mic master."

"Advanced life forms can recognize each other and have mutual respect and a need for cooperation. With your unbeatable mechanical body, there is no danger in dealing with conceptual life forms."

Zhou Yi hesitated for a moment, then decided to give it a try.

He took a couple of steps forward, raised his hand, and touched the moon that was within reach.

The touch was slightly cool.

Energy input, consciousness synchronization initiated.

"Hmm?"

Instead, the other party spoke first, "You can see me? You are not ordinary life... In advanced life forms, I have never seen one like you before."

"Hello, stranger."

"Hello."

Zhou Yi also greeted the other, "My name is Zhou Yi, should I call you Night God or Moon God?"

The other laughed, almost indistinguishable from a human.

"Different life forms perceive me differently and call me by different names. In the Church, my name is Night God. A name is a way of identification and labeling, let's stick to this one."

Zhou Yi was curious, "Different forms... does that mean you can transform?"

"Of course, if it's not a suitable form, it's not conducive for consciousness interaction. But usually, I maintain my original lunar form, which everyone can accept. But if it's advanced life forms like you, I can also shift towards forms you prefer."

Zhou Yi instantly perked up, "So you mean, you will transform according to my preferences?"

"Yes."

"Just silently envisage it in your mind, and I will become as you imagine," said the Night God.

Zhou Yi searched his mind for images related to the moon.

Then the next second, the huge moon suddenly shifted and transformed into a beautiful girl dressed in a JK battle suit who blinked.

"This form is indeed unusual."

Not a magical girl warrior.

The scenery in Zhou Yi's mind switched.

Next, the girl transformed into an anciently dressed lady with a cone-shaped hairstyle and a white wide-sleeved long dress, her robes flowing.

Chang'e?

Zhou Yi thought for a moment; this image felt more friendly and reminiscent of a past era.

Let's go with you.

Night God in Chang'e form!

"So you prefer this appearance? It's a very ancient form..." The Night God examined herself as well.

The Night God in Chang'e form looked much more pleasing to the eye.

Zhou Yi thought.

Appearance is still quite important; if it doesn't look right, it indeed doesn't attract followers well. In this regard, gods are like idols.

The Night God had a unique and accurate understanding of this.

No wonder they could establish the enormous Night Church.

Suddenly, Zhou Yi noticed the Bone Doctor beside him stretching his jaw long, his body rigid, as he lifted a trembling finger.

"You... you..."

"I came first... How did it become you... The Night God is actually... like this..."

"Why would the Night God transform for you..."

Wei Wu seemed greatly shocked by all this.

"I forgot he was still here."

The Night God said, "We have a distinguished visitor this time, let's stop here today, and we can talk more next time."

She waved her hand lightly.

Then Wei Wu's head tilted, and he fainted.

"Let's continue," the Night God said.

She seemed to adapt to this body image, with her facial expressions gradually becoming softer and almost human-like.

"Now let's talk business."

The Night God said earnestly, "The Moon World I belong to is facing a calamity. Would you be willing to lend me some strength?"

Zhou Yi's face was expressionless, but his heart was in a flurry.

Me, help you?

Who am I?

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