At this mont, Bai Qingshuang stood before the Dawn Disc.
It appeared she was speaking to the Dawn Disc, but the disc seed unresponsive.
The surrounding Church guards exchanged glances. As rotating guards of the Inner Ring, they were cut off from outside information while on duty. This was to maintain the purity of the Inner Ring. Therefore, although they knew the fierce battle in the Second Ring had concluded, they were unaware of the outco.
Now that Bai Qingshuang was here, they weren’t particularly surprised, nor did they intend to stop her. Under normal circumstances, Bai Qingshuang was already the highest authority within the Church. No one could refuse her desire to see the Dawn Disc.
"The Judgnt Chief seems to be injured."
"Yes, I noticed too. Her clothes are entirely stained red; she’s seriously wounded."
"So, the sounds of battle just now, was that the Judgnt Chief and soone else? Who could that person be?"
"I don’t know, but anyone who can injure the Judgnt Chief must be a formidable figure."
In the eyes of these Inner Ring guards, Judgnt Chief Bai Qingshuang was almost synonymous with invincibility. Anyone who could harm the Judgnt Chief here must indeed be a formidable figure. However, they didn’t plan to disturb Bai Qingshuang at this mont; they would simply remain vigilant at their posts. The Judgnt Chief’s battles would naturally be resolved by the Judgnt Chief herself.
At this ti, Bai Qingshuang, standing before the Dawn Disc, had not received a response from it. The Dawn Disc continued to emit pure Holy Radiance, specks of white light falling upon Bai Qingshuang, which her body quickly absorbed.
Bai Qingshuang sighed and, looking at the Dawn Disc with a complicated expression, said, "What exactly do you want?"
The Dawn Disc still did not respond. At this mont, Bai Qingshuang, the legend who could supposedly converse with and control the Dawn Disc, seed to have completely lost contact with it. The disc’s previous actions also left Bai Qingshuang baffled.
"Only I can lead us to victory. Stop interfering with .
"Otherwise, even if it ans shattering you, I will not hesitate."
Bai Qingshuang delivered these harsh final words to the Dawn Disc, then turned and left.
After her departure, the Dawn Disc continued to rotate, but its rotation seed slightly faster than before. Particles of Holy Radiance continued to spread to every corner of the Inner Ring. This was a form of particle pollution, caused by the dispersing Holy Radiance energy. It was why most Sixth Tier beings in the Inner Ring needed the disc’s final reserves of energy to reach the Seventh Tier level.
Yet, ordinary Transcendents could not sense this pollution at all. The power of the Dawn Disc gave them a pleasant sensation. But few knew that if one basked in this comfortable sensation for too long, they would completely lose the potential to achieve a breakthrough on their own.
This situation could not be said to be entirely bad, because most people would never reach the Seventh Tier. Therefore, the energy of Holy Radiance was definitely beneficial for them.
Not long after Bai Qingshuang left, Pope Fan Zhen arrived with Li Hongyun, who had just received so basic first aid.
Upon seeing the two, the guards were montarily stunned, then imdiately went on alert.
"Who are you two? This is a critical area of the Inner Ring. What is your purpose in coming here?"
The guard captain suppressed his subordinates’ urge to act. Normally, as guards here, they should have attacked any intruders imdiately. They refrained from attacking this ti for a simple reason: Pope Fan Zhen and Li Hongyun had flown here.
Flight indicated Seventh Tier power. Their group could not hope to contend with two Seventh Tier beings. They were among the most elite Believers of Light of their generation, personally approved by Judgnt Chief Bai Qingshuang to be stationed here. Despite being elites, contending with Seventh Tiers was ultimately unlikely. The fact that they could fly here without being stopped by the Church’s Second Ring masters already spoke volus. Moreover, the Holy Radiance emanating from the man before them was intensely powerful; undoubtedly, both individuals were from the Church. However, their exact identities were unknown.
"Fang Qiming?"
"Ah? Your Excellency, do you know ?"
"Of course, I know you. I even guided you for a considerable ti."
The guard captain was sowhat perplexed; he had absolutely no recollection of the man before him. Additionally, he was already over forty years old, yet the man before him clearly looked to be in his thirties. Even if he appeared younger than his actual age, adding another ten years would only make him about the sa age. How could he have possibly ntored him? The claim that he had guided him for a significant length of ti was even more implausible.
"Aren’t you being a bit presumptuous, Your Excellency? Even if you are powerful, you shouldn’t speak so recklessly."
As the captain responsible for guarding the Dawn Disc, Fang Qiming remained composed, showing neither servility nor arrogance when facing a Seventh Tier. This deanor earned Fan Zhen’s admiration. He nodded approvingly at Fang Qiming.
"I am Fan Zhen."
Fan Zhen? Fang Qiming was taken aback, and the other guards around him were also puzzled. Does the na Fan Zhen carry so special significance?
Suddenly, an expression of disbelief appeared in Fang Qiming’s eyes. "You are... His Holiness the Pope?"
"You’ve finally recognized !"
"But how is that possible?"
"The power of a Transcendent isn’t rely destructive, do you understand?"
Fang Qiming carefully examined Fan Zhen’s appearance. When he realized Fan Zhen indeed bore so resemblance to the aged Pope, he was overwheld with shock. "It really is His Holiness the Pope! Fang Qiming pays his respects to the Pope."
Fang Qiming knelt on one knee. After a mont of stunned silence, the other guards followed suit, kneeling as well. "We pay our respects to His Holiness the Pope."
Fan Zhen was not inclined to bla these n at this juncture; they were all promising prospects. In the future, they might beco his capable subordinates. He had been in slumber for three years, and it had been almost ten years since Bai Qingshuang forced him from the center of the Church’s power. Ten years! Do you know what he had gone through in these ten years? Now that he was back, he intended to reclaim everything that belonged to him. Of course, to accomplish this, he had to start with the first task: dealing with Bai Qingshuang.
"Did Judgnt Chief Bai Qingshuang co here just now?"
Fan Zhen’s question made Fang Qiming pause. The relationship between the Judgnt Chief and the Pope was well understood by many. It represented a power struggle between the new and the old within the Church. Many believed the Judgnt Chief would replace the Pope, becoming the new sovereign of the Church. In fact, Bai Qingshuang was on the verge of achieving this. Yet now, with Fan Zhen’s unexpected, younger-looking return, Fang Qiming couldn’t help but feel skeptical. Considering the injuries he had just witnessed on Bai Qingshuang, the future of the Church’s leadership is likely uncertain!
"Indeed, Judgnt Chief Bai Qingshuang did co here just now. She spoke so words in front of the Dawn Disc, then left."
A wise man adapts to circumstances. At this mont, Fang Qiming naturally understood that the victor in the conflict between the Pope and the Judgnt Chief was undoubtedly the Pope. Although the outco was surprising, Fang Qiming was quick to adapt. Indeed, experience trumps youth!
"Where did she go? Do you know?"
"I apologize, Your Holiness. The Judgnt Chief’s speed was too swift; she ca and went without a trace. With our level of strength, tracking her is simply impossible, so..."
"I understand. Continue your guard duty."
"Yes."
Fan Zhen did not press Fang Qiming further. Bai Qingshuang’s visit here didn’t surprise him, and he could guess her ultimate destination: the Doomsday Sanctuary.
He had been asleep for three years. This was his greatest vulnerability, his only period of absence. If Bai Qingshuang had prepared other contingencies in addition to her own strength, she would have surely made so preparations in the Doomsday Sanctuary during these three years. After all, to inherit and obtain everything from the Dawn Church, the Doomsday Sanctuary was an unavoidable topic.
"Lord Fan Zhen, Luo Dan and the others have been notified and are on their way," Li Hongyun said, putting away his phone. Informing the other Church elites to co here was actually sowhat risky. The secrets within the Doomsday Sanctuary were not limited to only those preserved by the Dawn Church. There were many peculiar rooms that even past Popes and Judgnt Chiefs had not fully understood. It couldn’t be helped; so parts of the Doomsday Sanctuary seed not to belong to them. The areas Church mbers could control seed limited to those the Holy Radiance could illuminate.
Fan Zhen was well aware that many secrets in the Doomsday Sanctuary remained undiscovered. Under normal circumstances, allowing others here was not advisable. But now he had no choice! Secrets, after all, are not as important as Bai Qingshuang’s life. As long as Bai Qingshuang died here, Fan Zhen was confident he could reintegrate the Church. He was very confident because he controlled the power of Life Return. New-generation Seventh Tiers like Luo Dan might still resist the temptation of Life Return. But those old-tirs, having tasted power and strength, would likely find it impossible to refuse him. He didn’t need to sway everyone; influencing a portion of them would suffice. Bai Qingshuang was already seriously injured. Now was the perfect opportunity.
"Alright, let’s wait here for them for a few minutes. Once most have arrived, we’ll reveal the secrets of this place."
"Lord Fan Zhen, is this really a good idea?" Li Hongyun looked at Fan Zhen with so hesitation. The Doomsday Sanctuary was underground in the Inner Ring, but it was not entirely under their control. Letting all the Seventh Tiers know about this place seed to diminish its reverence.
Fan Zhen, of course, knew this wasn’t ideal, but at this point, he couldn’t afford to care. Only if Bai Qingshuang died could everything return to the right track!
"It’s not a matter of good or bad. Just the two of us might not be enough to capture her. Bringing these people here now is naturally the best choice."
Li Hongyun frowned slightly, again hesitating, "But if so many people learn about the Doomsday Sanctuary, it contradicts our desired style of returning to how things were."
Fan Zhen looked at Li Hongyun with a touch of surprise. Why is this subordinate, who has always been obedient, questioning twice in a row now?
"Hongyun, are you questioning ?"
"I apologize, Your Holiness."
Li Hongyun said no more, and Pope Fan Zhen gave a slight nod. "Good, then go carry it out."
"Yes!"
Fan Zhen looked at Li Hongyun, a trace of confusion in his eyes.
Lu Luo and Qi Xinzhu passed through two more halls and traversed three corridors, arriving at a room filled with colorful bubbles. The place had a sowhat dazzling quality, which seed out of place compared to the solemn halls they had encountered before.
"Lu Luo, I feel sothing is odd here!"
"Hmm, you don’t need to feel it; this place clearly looks strange. Be careful, and don’t touch these bubbles."
"Okay, I understand."
Qi Xinzhu was walking in front of Lu Luo. Now that Lu Luo lacked strength, she naturally had to protect him. Therefore, Lu Luo didn’t object to her walking in front, rely cautioning her to be careful.
They moved forward cautiously. Though curious about the bubbles, both knew what was important. They didn’t indulge their curiosity excessively in this place. An outburst of curiosity can kill more than just a cat. It can kill a person too.
The room was large, making it sowhat difficult for them to navigate through the bubbles. Just as they reached roughly the middle of the room, a rustling sound erged.
"Lu Luo!"
With her strength, Qi Xinzhu naturally heard the distant sounds and instinctively alerted Lu Luo. But Lu Luo’s expression was blank.
"What? What’s wrong?"
Only then did Qi Xinzhu rember that Lu Luo had lost his strength, including his perception-type Sequence. He was just an ordinary person now. Therefore, Lu Luo hadn’t even noticed the hidden things in the room yet.
"There’s sothing here, and likely quite a few of them."
Hearing Qi Xinzhu’s words, Lu Luo’s expression also turned grim. He hadn’t expected to beco so dull one day. Fortunately, though Lu Luo’s perception was dulled, his mind hadn’t lost its basic judgnt.
"Here, take an energy grenade."
"A grenade?" Qi Xinzhu was startled. With their increased strength, they hadn’t used grenades in a long ti.
"Yes, let’s use the grenade to attract their attention first."
"Oh, okay."
Qi Xinzhu took the grenade from Lu Luo, pulled the pin, and threw it towards the things in the darkness.
BOOM!
Flesh splattered. From the looks of it, these creatures didn’t seem very strong. At least, they weren’t strong enough to ignore thermal weapons. If that was the extent of their strength, then Qi Xinzhu should be able to handle them.
Lu Luo picked up a shattered claw. Judging by its shape, it seed to belong to so kind of reptile. It was unknown whether these creatures were Exotic Species or ordinary animals. Why could they live in this place? Lacking the Observer, Lu Luo had many unanswered questions. Since there’s no Observer, I can only resort to the crudest thod of testing.
"Xinzhu, help check if there’s any Holy Radiance inside these creatures."
No one answered Lu Luo.
"Xinzhu? Qi Xinzhu?"
Still, no one answered. Lu Luo knew that Qi Xinzhu would not casually ignore him. So, when he received no response, Lu Luo’s heart sank.
He looked around. Besides the colorful, moving bubbles, everything else seed frozen in ti. Qi Xinzhu was not far from him, about two to three ters away. After a mont’s hesitation, Lu Luo walked toward his wife. He placed his hand on Qi Xinzhu’s shoulder.
"Xinzhu, are you alright?"
Lu Luo received no response from Qi Xinzhu. Instead, he heard a crisp sound.
POP!
Lu Luo knew it was the sound of a bubble bursting. His vision plunged into darkness.
「After a long ti.」
Lu Luo didn’t encounter any potential crisis or attack. It was as if the world had abandoned him until a little girl’s voice ca from not too far away.
"Daddy, Daddy! Co play with !"
Deep down, Lu Luo had a feeling that the ’Daddy’ the little girl was calling was him. And in that sa direction, Lu Luo saw a door.
That was the only light in this place!
Reviews
All reviews (0)