Chapter 1522: Observation Post
Although Unulatu had fallen, the Heron Society had not. Utu was still around, and so were the humanoid insects. After all, they still had Ixchel backing them.
Qi Xuansu’s first suspect was naturally the Heron Society.
However, after a thorough investigation by the Juesheng Hall, it was discovered that the rumors had actually originated from within the Western Daoist Order itself.
Thus, Tantai Ying informed Huangfu Ji of the matter. Since the entire incident had stemmed from a leak, the most likely suspects were people close to Huangfu Ji.
When Huangfu Ji learned of the matter, he was furious. Although he was not directly involved, it was connected to him. If this incident truly caused problems with Qi Xuansu’s promotion to Omniscient Sage, how could he possibly face Qi Xuansu afterward?
With Huangfu Ji’s status and position, his anger was no trivial matter. It did not take long before the person responsible for the leak was identified.
The outcome was rather dramatic. The culprit had accidentally let the information slip while drunk and had not intentionally leaked it. After all, people needed topics of conversation at drinking tables. They either discussed affairs of state and grand strategies, or they talked about romantic scandals and relationships.
This particular matter happened to involve both politics and a scandal. No one cared whether anything romantic had actually happened between Qi Xuansu and Huangfu Xi, but the fact was that they were both seen at a pleasure house in close proximity.
That was how the story of Huangfu Xi secretly meeting Qi Xuansu spread like wildfire. Those who heard it at drinking gatherings embellished it further before passing it on. Scandals concerning the private lives of important figures were always popular subjects, and eventually the story evolved into Tawantin’s own version of the Misir queen’s legend.
Huangfu Ji demoted the subordinate who had caused the leak by three ranks while retaining him in service. As for the others who had spread the rumors, they were suspended and demoted, with the lightest punishment being a major disciplinary demerit.
In truth, Huangfu Ji understood that this only explained the origin of the rumor, which was the leak itself. Initially, the rumors had circulated only within the Western Daoist Order. Who had spread them so widely in such a short period of time, allowing them to escape the confines of the Western Daoist Order? There was certainly someone else behind it.
Once a rumor reached a certain scale, tracing it became extraordinarily difficult. Many people would spread it of their own accord. Moreover, the Western Daoist Order was not as tightly controlled as the Daoist Order itself. As such, all the Juesheng Hall could do was prevent the rumors from spreading further.
Although the more vigorously something was officially denied, the more believable it seemed, Qi Xuansu had little choice in the matter. Whether the people of Tawantin believed it or not had no bearing on his promotion to Omniscient Sage. The most important thing was that the people in Jade Capital did not believe it.
With matters having developed to this point, even Qi Xuansu had no choice but to accept the explanation.
However, while investigating the source of the rumors, the Juesheng Hall made an unexpected discovery. They inadvertently uncovered a traitor within the Western Daoist Order, a man who had been turned by the Evangelical Ministry.
Since an external force was involved, the matter became much easier to explain. Naturally, all responsibility could be placed on the Steam Evangelical Sect.
Of course, Qi Xuansu did not believe such reasoning. External forces harboring ill intentions certainly existed, but not every problem could be blamed on outsiders. Even so, he had to admit that it was a more presentable explanation. Redirecting conflict outward was better than allowing it to explode internally.
This traitor had also helped spread the rumors, though it had nothing to do with any assignment from the Evangelical Ministry. He had done it purely out of personal interest, joining in for fun.
As a result, while others merely received demotions and disciplinary records, he was sent straight to the Nether Prison.
The entire affair was absurd from beginning to end—from a Western Daoist drunkenly leaking secrets at a banquet to a Steam Evangelical Sect spy exposing himself through idle gossip. The Northern and Southern Continents were truly evenly matched adversaries.
Of course, the Evangelical Ministry had its own defense. The exposure of Ape God had ruined years of preparations. Anyone even slightly competent had already been captured, leaving only a person of this caliber behind.
Perhaps to cover up their embarrassment, the Juesheng Hall took the opportunity to launch a crackdown on external forces, starting with this Evangelical Ministry spy. The remarkably unprofessional spy confessed everything without requiring any interrogation methods, asking only for a lighter sentence.
According to his testimony, the Steam Evangelical Sect had established a secret observation post near New Paititi, hidden deep within the rainforest mountains. The Southern Continent was vast and sparsely populated, filled with jungles and rugged terrain. Once a small force infiltrated the region, tracking it down was genuinely difficult.
The spy did not know the exact location. He only knew that such an observation post existed.
Juesheng Hall’s primary existence was to guard against the Holy Court. Thus, Juesheng Hall immediately launched a large-scale mountain search operation, determined to locate the Steam Evangelical Sect’s observation post.
Persistence paid off. Eventually, the Juesheng Hall discovered traces connected to the observation post near an ancient tomb.
This time, Tantai Ying decided to personally lead the operation and eliminate the observation post. She also reported the matter to Qi Xuansu. Since she was now under Qi Xuansu’s command, a decision made by the Gold Council, she still needed to show proper respect to her superior.
Recently, Qi Xuansu had been occupied with the Beichen Hall’s efforts to rebuild its intelligence network on the Northern Continent. He would have preferred to leave the matter alone, but Sage Qingwei refused to give him that luxury. Only a few days earlier, Sage Qingwei had contacted him personally, instructing him to keep control of the overall direction and fulfill his responsibilities as Chief Deputy Hall Master. Should anything go wrong, Qi Xuansu would be held accountable.
As a result, Qi Xuansu had no choice but to involve himself. For several consecutive days, he convened meetings to discuss matters related to intelligence and espionage. Qi Xuansu had developed a keen interest in the Steam Evangelical Sect’s activities. Thus, he decided to accompany Tantai Ying on the operation to take down the observation post.
As it happened, the 3,000 Spirit Guards and the Horned Dragon flying ship had not yet withdrawn to Danxiu Mountain. Thus, Tantai Ying decided to make full use of available resources and mobilized 1,000 Spirit Guards and the Horned Dragon to suppress the Steam Evangelical Sect.
If the enemy chose to remain holed up inside, then the Horned Dragon would simply solve the problem with a cannon shot.
At this moment, neither Tantai Ying nor Qi Xuansu personally entered the battlefield. Instead, they stood upon the deck of the Horned Dragon, looking down upon the rainforest below. The Spirit Guards had already split into three groups and were advancing toward the tomb. Since the tomb had been constructed atop a cliff rather than underground, it was relatively easy to encircle. They did not have to worry about an excessive number of secret tunnels.
The priests and Knights hiding within the tomb had likewise sensed the approaching danger and were preparing for a desperate fight.
The Steam Evangelical Sect had established this observation post specifically to monitor developments in New Paititi. It also served as a relay station for intelligence. For example, news of Qi Xuansu entering the capital and deposing both the Emperor and Empress had been transmitted through this post to San Antonio in the Northern Continent at the earliest opportunity. As such, the personnel stationed here were far from ordinary. The leading priest was a Metropolitan, equivalent to a third-rank Youyi Daoist within the Daoist Order.
Inside the tomb, the Metropolitan stood atop the tomb owner’s stone sarcophagus, holding a holy scripture high above his head as he delivered what might be the final sermon of his life. “All flesh is as grass, and all its glory as the flower of grass; the grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
The Knights were different from Paladins. The former more closely resembled the Daoist Order’s Spirit Guards.
Numerous Knights knelt on one knee, their right hands pressed against their chests as they listened to the Metropolitan’s sermon.
The Metropolitan’s gaze swept across the assembly as he loudly asked, “Knights, do you possess the resolve to sacrifice everything for our Lord, even your own lives?”
The Knights answered in unison, “To defend the Lord’s glory, we shall know no fear even if we return to His embrace. It is our honor.”
The Metropolitan nodded in satisfaction and continued turning the pages of the holy scripture in his hands. “I, on behalf of the Holy Court, shall bestow upon you, the most devout servants of the Lord in the mortal world, the sacred power to overcome the evil heathens.”
Divine power originating from the St. Francis Church in St. York crossed the vast distance of space and descended directly into this tomb on the Southern Continent.
Bathed in this divine grace, the Knights’ strength surged dramatically.
The Metropolitan then offered one final exhortation to these steadfast and devout Knights. “The Supreme Will of our Lord is omnipotent. The hardships and obstacles before you are merely trials set forth by His Supreme Will. So long as you remain sufficiently devout and unwavering in your faith, the swords in your hands shall be capable of cutting through every obstacle.”
A strange echo permeated the Metropolitan’s voice. It had already surpassed the realm of ordinary encouragement and instead resembled the whispering of a devil, luring others toward a bottomless abyss.
The Knights were filled with fanatic fervor.
As the Spirit Guards approached the entrance of the tomb, these Knights that were empowered by divine grace surged out in a swarm and launched a resistance that was virtually suicidal.
Due to their fanaticism, these Knights unleashed strength far beyond their normal limits. Their souls were burning. Souls possessed value and were a form of hard currency in the world of the gods. The ancient gods demanded souls for blood sacrifices, while the Fallen Apostles sought souls in their various deceptive bargains. By burning their souls, the Knights gained power far greater than usual.
Even the most fanatical believers desired for their souls to return to the embrace of the Supreme Will after death. Such soul-burning behavior was certainly not something they would willingly choose. It seemed more likely that they had been incited and manipulated.
The Metropolitan responsible for bestowing the blessings took advantage of the chaos to flee through another exit of the tomb.
Naturally, he had his own justification. Only by staying alive could he better spread the glory of the Supreme Will. Therefore, he could not die here.
Had the encirclement consisted of only a few hundred Spirit Guards, he might actually have escaped. However, Tantai Ying had mobilized more than 1,000 Spirit Guards this time. As a result, the moment the Metropolitan emerged from the tomb, he encountered concentrated suppressive fire from the Spirit Guards.
Although most Spirit Guards could not fly, they were all equipped with firearms. The Metropolitan had anticipated this. A translucent barrier resembling an eggshell completely enveloped his body. Shielded by this protective light, he attempted to force his way through the barrage of bullets.
Tantai Ying saw this and decided to intervene personally. She leaped directly from the deck of the Horned Dragon and shot toward the fleeing Metropolitan.
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