Chapter 1091: Chapter 1030: Luogong City and Holy Seat City
The previously noisy meeting hall fell silent the instant Rang Buluo spoke.
"What did he just say?" those standing in the back, including Leamington, thought they had misheard.
Mathis, straightforward by nature and sharp-eyed, spoke directly: "He said ’Saint Rania’s Life’ is a forgery, a later imitation."
It was as if a calm surface suddenly boiled, with numerous monks slamming the table in uproar.
"Can you guarantee your words?"
"Lord Rang Buluo, this is not a circus!"
"Are you a tabloid writer? If you repeat baseless claims, you’re also responsible, aren’t you aware?"
The abbots and theologians, especially those who research ’Saint Rania’s Life,’ were on the verge of madness.
What is ’Saint Rania’s Life’?
Among the most important chronicles of the Post-Gospel, it ranks in the top three.
It records the angel envoy Saint Rania’s missionary work and miracles and tells of how Saint Rania perfected the church’s rules and laws.
The most critical part is when the Saint Master ascended to heaven, granting the rule of the Eastern continent to the then Pope, Saint Rania I.
That was one of the most important sources of legal origin for the church’s secular power over the Eastern continent.
’Saint Rania’s Life’ has been passed down for a thousand years, the first chronicle learned by countless priests after mastering canonical doctrine, even their primary focus.
This is almost an unspoken rule, with the Monk Association focusing on ’Saint George’s Life,’ while those handling church administration specializing in ’Saint Rania’s Life.’
Yet this elder said the foundation of countless priests over millennia is false from the start!
How could it be false?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
At this moment, even Grandiva couldn’t sit still. He doubted the authenticity of Rang Buluo’s claim but equally trusted Horn’s reliability.
After several encounters, Grandiva realized this little fellow is unfathomably cunning.
Would Horn do such a foolish thing? Clearly, he wouldn’t.
Grandiva clenched the cloth in his hand, his gaze shifting to the debaters on the scene.
After initial surprise, Rockrua quickly steadied himself, glancing at the booklet with a sneer.
"I say, Lord Rang Buluo, you must take responsibility for your claims, we tentatively believe you.
But you must present evidence; it can’t be just content created by doubtful scriptures, right?
We previously agreed that not a word of the Gospel books can be added, deleted, or modified. If you say it’s from doubtful scriptures, I won’t accept it."
Doubtful scriptures? That seems possible!
This actually fits the stereotype of priests and monks, as doubtful scriptures within the church usually signify unreliability.
The Fifth Great Duke Conference banned doubtful scriptures, although it was the church consolidating interpretation rights from local churches and monasteries, it acted gently rather than forcibly.
The issue at the time with doubtful scriptural activities was the huge problem of "gospel annotating me."
Monks ignored the original intent, using strained interpretations to attach teachings to their own experiential conclusions.
Some were reasonable, others quite far-fetched.
The most typical example was the Norn people’s dual-faith monks using the Gospel books to prove the existence of the Norn gods.
This led to the fear that eventually the entire Miseria Church would be overwhelmed by heresy, replaced by foreign faiths.
Thus arose the Fifth Great Duke Conference, banning all doubtful scriptural activities, and only allowing a few divinity schools and privileged monasteries.
If it’s doubtful scriptures, then it’s understandable.
The monks, who had been deeply emotionally stirred with shock, rage, grief, fear, and confusion, finally calmed down.
They focused intently on Rang Buluo, wishing they could personally step down and force him to explain.
"Indeed, not a word of the Gospel can be added, deleted, or modified, adhering to the original intent, but it also contains forged parts.
Don’t forget that earlier, local churches often forged miracles, revelations, and church documents to profit themselves or their lords.
Numerous documents once considered authentic were ultimately confirmed false, weren’t they?"
Rang Buluo’s verification barely qualifies as doubtful scriptures, yet he won’t fall into this linguistic trap.
Rockrua talks of his own, while Rang Buluo speaks of his.
"Then show the evidence."
"The evidence is complex, but I can provide a simplest example." Rang Buluo raised a forefinger, silencing the room.
"Saint Rania died in Imperial Calendar 12, and the earliest complete set of Gospel books was recorded in Imperial Calendar 33.
According to ’The Imperial Historical Record’ and inscriptions of the Ocean Stele—
In Imperial Calendar 85, barbarian kingdoms in the Eastern continent converted to El Empire, and Pope Lemon I rebuilt Luogong City.
In Imperial Calendar 97, after his death, due to his great achievements, he was posthumously conferred as Holy Seat Pope.
The newly built Luogong City was also called Holy Seat City, hence the origin of Holy Seat City, am I right?"
"Don’t tell us things we already know, where’s the evidence?" Rockrua impatiently shouted.
"The evidence is within." Rang Buluo spread both hands wide, "In Imperial Calendar 97, Luogong City was renamed Holy Seat City, so why does ’Saint Rania’s Life’ written before Imperial Calendar 33 mention ’Saint Rania leads... visits Holy Seat City’?"
When Rang Buluo finished speaking, the entire meeting hall fell silent once more.
Next came the sound of pages being rapidly flipped.
"It really is!"
"So obvious... How come we didn’t realize all this thousand years...?"
"No way? Who has the Ocean Stele’s inscriptions?"
Immediately someone rushed to the door, shouting out through the window or crack: "Pass in a copy of ’The First Volume of Imperial Historical Record’ and the inscription of Ocean Stele."
"What’s happening?"
"It seems ’Saint Rania’s Life’ is fake!"
"What?!"
Amidst the clamor, a bead of sweat dripped from Rockrua’s forehead. He paced back and forth twice before retorting:
"At that time, the Gospel books weren’t the same as now.
Errors, leading to the omission of one or two words during transcription and transfer, are quite normal.
If it should have been Luogong City instead of Holy Seat City, we should revert it now.
As long as the target location is pointed out, what difference does the name make?"
Many priests, who were on the verge of collapse, finally calmed down.
They even directed grateful looks at Rockrua, realizing if ’Saint Rania’s Life’ is proven false, half of their life’s academic foundation would be lost.
Even Grandiva, pretending to be composed, had sweaty palms, shocked at how far Horn went.
If this is proven false, it’s equivalent to the church losing its foundation!
Holy Father, please do not let it be false!
Similar to Grandiva, countless monks in the hall prayed in unison in their hearts.
"Oh, really? Then look at this, in ’Saint Rania’s Life’ section 3-6, ’I will deliver the Eastern continent, and this imperial crown and the palace located at Luogong City...’
The forger seemed afraid the readers wouldn’t understand and specifically emphasized once more, ’To clarify, the imperial crown refers to the crown.’
In the next paragraph, it mentions that this crown is ’made of pure gold, adorned with various precious gems.’
Previously, the empire was constantly in conflict, so countryside priests transmitted it as such.
Yet with the revival of the Divine Ael Empire, when various documents saw daylight again, we can immediately find— the imperial crown differs from the crown! The imperial crown is made of silk and cloth!
Lord Rockrua, this can’t still be a transcription error, right?"
As he spoke each phrase, Rang Buluo took a step forward.
Every step seemed to fall heavily on the monks’ hearts, pressing them breathless.
When the last sentence escaped his lips, Rang Buluo stood less than half a meter from Rockrua.
"Lord Rockrua, what do you have to say?"
