Chapter 384 382-The Opening of the Temple
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze towards Monroe icy and piercing.
Unfazed by Ethan's demeanor, Monroe, bold as a young calf, stared back without a hint of fear.
To him, Ethan was merely an outsider.
If Ethan were to act, what could one man do against the many members of the Shadow Clan?
Just as Ethan was about to speak, Sherry stepped in front of him, her voice gentle:
"Whether or not I am the Holy Maiden should not be decided by you. I was chosen by the High Priest. If you no longer wish for me to serve as the Holy Maiden, I am willing to step down."
"Boom—"
Sherry's words exploded like a bomb among the members of the Shadow Clan.
Refusing to be the Holy Maiden of the Shadow Clan?
Such a statement coming from the mouth of the Shadow Clan's Holy Maiden was unprecedented.
"You insolent child, do you think the Shadow Clan is a place you can just come and go as you please?"
"Sherry, how could you be so ungrateful? If it weren't for the Shadow Clan, would you even be standing here?"
"My God, Shadow God, do you hear this? These are the words of our Holy Maiden, unsettling our hearts!"
"..."
Ethan's lips twitched slightly. Although he was moved by Sherry's words, saying such things now only seemed to exacerbate the conflict.
Before Sherry spoke, there was only mild dissatisfaction with her among the clan.
But with her statement, most of the Shadow Clan would now be discontent with her.
Sherry was still too young.
Ethan stepped forward, speaking softly:
"There's no need for such outrage. Who are you trying to impress?"
"Sherry simply meant that if you believe the Holy Maiden of the Shadow Clan shouldn't act in such a way, she is willing to resign from her position. As for whatever she has received from the Shadow Clan, I am willing to compensate."
Sherry glanced at Ethan, her eyes brimming with moved tears.
After such a long time apart, Ethan's feelings for her were still profoundly deep.
The High Priest, too, had been shocked by Sherry's earlier words.
He genuinely feared that Sherry, because of Ethan, might just leave, showing no concern for the Shadow Clan.
Now that Ethan had made his stance clear, it somewhat settled the High Priest's heart.
"Sherry, such words should be spoken less often..."
Before the High Priest could finish, Dart interrupted him:
"What do you mean by 'spoken less often'? High Priest, have you really become senile? It's clear that Sherry no longer has any loyalty to the Shadow Clan. The only thing we can do now is..."
Dart's gaze towards Sherry was tinged with a surging crimson:
"...is to strip her of the Shadow Clan's heritage within her, and then cast her out of the Shadow Clan. This is the only course of action."
Sherry's eyes flickered, about to speak, but Ethan pulled her back.
He shook his head slightly at Sherry and whispered to her:
"Don't speak yet, let's see what the High Priest has to say."
The High Priest looked at Dart, moonlight casting down, reflecting off his cloudy eyes in a way that made it seem as if the High Priest was shedding tears:
"Dart, I understand what you're implying. You're seeking to seize power, aren't you?"
Dart's expression shifted, uncertain of the High Priest's intention.
The High Priest, so bluntly voicing his inner thoughts, caught Dart off guard:
"Seize power? Of course not. I am thinking of the future of the Shadow Clan. The clan is no longer fit to be in your hands. You are too old, your thinking completely rigid. You never stand on the side of our Shadow Clan people."
Dart's voice was incredibly persuasive, his tone fluctuating with emotion, winning the approval of the surrounding Shadow Clan members who stared fixedly at the High Priest.
This hero of the Shadow Clan was now being portrayed by Dart as a shackle to the clan's progress.
Ethan remained silent, standing still, watching the Shadow Clan's unfolding drama.
The members of the Shadow Clan were completely frenzied, their fanaticism somewhat terrifying.
Such emotions were bound to lead to trouble.
At this moment, the High Priest's expression was ashen, filled with anguish.
He had never imagined that his twilight years would look like this.
"Fine," the High Priest said, placing his staff horizontally, "If that's the case, I am willing to relinquish my power."
Ethan's pupils constricted sharply. If power were to fall into Dart's hands, the Shadow Clan's extinction might not be far off.
Sherry, too, looked shocked, turning back to whisper:
"High Priest, you can't..."
"Don't do this, High Priest! Our clan can't be without you."
"High Priest, why be so impulsive at your age?"
"..."
The Shadow Clan members around the High Priest also spoke up, trying to dissuade him from his statement.
The High Priest shook his head slightly, silencing those around him.
"Heaving a deep sigh, he said, "I have felt the approach of my end. We, the Shadow Clan, have stayed in the Shadow Forest for too long, and indeed, I am no longer suitable for this position. I have hoarded this power without making any meaningful contribution to our people, and I am filled with dread. I feel that my place here is no longer appropriate."
Dart's eyes shifted, suppressing his excitement.
He had always been a patient person, able to wait until the right moment.
If he showed his excitement and eagerness now, it might invite criticism from the other clan members.
In this moment, the silence of the surrounding members was the best response to his internal jubilation.
Blood gradually cooled in their veins, and emotions stabilized as the High Priest's departure brought sorrow and even a hint of shock to many of the Shadow Clan members.
It's only in loss that one truly appreciates what they had.
At this moment, the High Priest sought to use this truth to buy himself some time.
"However, I have one condition," the High Priest's tone shifted, "I know you all desire the Shadow Clan's divine artifact - the Dark Dominator in my possession."
"But to earn the Dark Dominator's acknowledgment, one also needs the Temple's recognition. Whoever among you can gain the Temple's acknowledgment can take the Dark Dominator from me. You can become the new High Priest of the Shadow Clan."
These words instantly ignited everyone present.
Who doesn't covet power? Becoming the High Priest of the Shadow Clan would mean control over the entire clan.
Their eyes sparkled with greed and desire, as if ready to devour the entire world.
Their cheeks flushed with excitement, as if scorched by fierce flames.
Eyes wide, filled with madness and zeal, it seemed as though they had forgotten who they were, obsessed only with gaining more power.
Every cell in their bodies rejoiced, yearning to touch the Dark Dominator.
It was a symbol of authority for the Shadow Clan.
Dart's lips curled into a sinister smile, filled with a fixation and obsession for power.
His body trembled slightly, as if he had already seized the Dark Dominator, reveling in the pleasure that power brought.
The High Priest immediately doused the crowd's enthusiasm with a bucket of cold water:
"The Temple is not a place where just anyone can enter. Be mindful of that."
Having said this, the High Priest, dragging his cumbersome body, began walking away.
The Shadow Clan members cheered and rushed towards the depths of the Shadow Forest.
They were reveling in the thrill of chasing power, as if the first to reach the Temple would inherit its legacy.
After the crowd dispersed, Ethan noticed King.
At that moment, King was bound tightly and hanging from a tree, his swaying drawing Ethan's attention.
"You..." Ethan couldn't help but hold his forehead.
"Is he your man?" Sherry asked, her eyebrows slightly raised.
"Yes, my servant."
"Then let's take him down."
As Sherry spoke, a flash of light emanated from her hands, instantly severing the ropes binding King, who fell to the ground covered in mud and decaying leaves.
Ethan's eyes flickered slightly, noting that Sherry had become even more powerful.
Her strength seemed to have reached the Cocooning level, moving further along the path towards deity.
He didn't know why Sherry had become so formidable, but it was undoubtedly related to the Shadow Clan.
King removed the ropes from his body and hurriedly ran to Ethan's side:
"Master, I... I'm sorry."
"It's okay as long as you're fine."
Sherry didn't give them time to catch up: "Ethan, follow me. We need to see the High Priest."
"Yo, aren't you interested in the trials within the Temple? That's where one can obtain the divine artifact, the Dark Dominator."
"Hmph, those mediocre people getting the Temple's approval? Speed alone is useless. There won't be more than three or five who can even enter the Temple."
Ethan's curiosity about the Temple grew.
Was the trial within the Temple similar to the trial of the god?
Was it akin to the Shadow Clan's deity selecting a successor?
Without pondering too much, he closely followed Sherry.
Arriving in front of a tent, Ethan saw the High Priest sitting on a wooden stool.
The High Priest was hunched over, coughing softly, looking much like a piece of decaying wood that could be toppled with just a slight push.
"High Priest, should I enter the Temple?"
Sherry, with her hands twisted together, stood before the High Priest as docile as a rabbit.
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