Chapter 560: Chapter 150: The Holy See Crisis_1
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At this moment, the assassins’ world destroying slash had finally gathered enough energy. Mie Yi took the lead. Under his command, twelve assassins simultaneously bellowed: "Kill!" A massive black energy blade, intertwined with their simultaneous downward slash from the narrow swords, fell from the sky. It was as if they were opening the heavens and splitting the earth, slicing towards Ah Dai, who was enveloped in a blue glow.
Ah Dai huffed coldly. The entire warehouse had turned completely dark, the black energies were virtually invisible. Although Mie Yi could sense the power of the world destroying slash being unchanged, the energy sent out by their side seemed to be continuously weakening. Suddenly, the Sword of Hades in Ah Dai’s hand disappeared. His black hair began to float upwards, his hands were spread out. Amid the rampaging energy, his outer garment had turned into dust, revealing the Giant Spirit Snake Armor beneath. Ah Dai’s whole body was subtly shaking, and his red pupils paired with his floating black hair, gave him an eerily strange appearance. His figure became hazy. From the darkness of the warehouse, ambiguous energies seemed to surge, continuously stirring as the dark space gradually turned into a peculiar blue. On seeing their black energy blades suspending mid-air, incapable of advancing further, Mie Yi and his twelve men saw rings of blue energy continuously revolving around them. The world destroying slash was being constantly diminished by the blue energy until it was only half the size as before. The bodies of the twelve assassins were unable to move, as if constrained by something unknown.
As the main control of the world destroying slash, Mie Yi felt the powerlessness most distinctly. He did not know what tactic Ah Dai had used, but he was acutely aware that this man, who had claimed to be the Grim Reaper, could no longer be vanquished by the world destroying slash. A glint of cold light flickered in Mie Yi’s eyes, he thought to himself, instead of dying together, I should save myself. The world destroying slash was under his guidance. At this juncture, Mie Yi was driven by selfishness. He abruptly retracted the remaining energy of the world destroying slash towards his body. Under this chaotic force, blue radiance suddenly filled every corner of the warehouse. At that moment, the Evil Aura, which had remained silent until now, violently erupted with hundreds and thousands of times its initial strength.
"Boom-" The massive energy fluctuations made the ground quiver. Despite the power of the wind barrier of the warehouse, it could not resist the rampage of such extreme energies. The roof of the entire warehouse vanished under the surge of the malevolent aura. Every object in the Netherworld was crushed into dust by the Ultimate Evil Energy. The ground was filled with densely arranged pits, the warehouse had been utterly annihilated. Fortunately, due to the enormous amount of energy contained in the Netherworld being highly compressed, the explosion was contained within its controlled region, thus not affecting the other places outside the warehouse.
In the outer world, Mie Feng anxiously waited. Ah Dai had been inside for half a day. Except for the loud bang Ah Dai produced when he kicked the door, she had not observed any other noise. Every time Ah Dai eliminated the assassins from the Assassin’s Guild point, he would quickly come out, but this time he had been away for a long time. Mie Feng couldn’t help but feel worried. Just as she was deciding whether to go in and check on him, a huge shock came from beneath her feet. In surprise, Mie Feng leapt into the air and retreated further under her innate response as a thief. The moment she moved away from the courtyard wall, an anomaly occurred. The entire ground shook as if it were boiling, a dark blue light shot into the sky. With a rumbling explosion, Mie Feng, floating in the sky, saw the massive warehouse inside the courtyard explode, it completely exploded. The huge energy shockwave made the three-yard tall courtyard wall around the warehouse collapse entirely, smoke ascended like a mushroom cloud. A peculiar atmosphere permeated the air, this devastating energy made Mie Feng’s heart tremble violently. She was the first person to witness the might of the Netherworld.
At this moment, there was no more hatred or killing intent in Mie Feng’s heart, only concern for Ah Dai. She didn’t mind the dust in the air, rushing towards the ruins of the warehouse like a madwoman.
The energy of the Netherworld was indeed powerful, the entire structure of the warehouse had been vaporized. The smoke gradually dissipated under the gentle breeze, as Mie Feng rushed into the wreckage, she felt a terrifying aura that could bring death. She stopped, looking towards the direction of the frightening aura. As the smoke cleared, she saw Ah Dai, his body completely enveloped in scale armor. Ah Dai’s eyes were blood-red, staring at her, his body trembling slightly. There was no sign of life in his eyes, completely enveloped by the breath of death. Mie Feng knew that the malevolent aura inside Ah Dai had flared up again, more intense than the last time. She tentatively called out, "Ah Dai, you..."
Ah Dai’s body suddenly moved, rushing towards her like lightning. Mie Feng was shocked, she could see from the bloodthirsty light in Ah Dai’s eyes that he intended to kill her! In the face of danger, she urged her fighting energy and threw both fists at Ah Dai. Ah Dai didn’t dodge or change direction. With a loud noise, Mie Feng’s fists accurately hit his chest. However, Mie Feng was frightened to find that her fighting energy couldn’t affect Ah Dai at all. It was completely neutralized by the faint gray energy surrounding Ah Dai. Under the intense vibration, Mie Feng was hit and flew backwards. Ah Dai didn’t let her get away, he quickly followed, and extended his right hand. Five strings of violet energy with a touch of gray glow continuously flickered on his fingertips, aiming straight at Mie Feng’s head. He had already locked his aura onto Mie Feng, leaving no place for her to dodge. She watched helplessly as Ah Dai’s hand, filled with the breath of death, reached out to her.
At the moment of life and death, Mie Feng’s heart suddenly became surprisingly calm. The scenes of her time with Ah Dai appeared in her mind again and again. Just as Ah Dai was about to end her life, Mie Feng mustered all her strength and yelled, "Ice!"
The sharp sound echoed in the vacant ruins of the warehouse. Mie Feng collapsed on the ground, drenched in sweat. Ah Dai’s energy-ridden hand stopped less than half a foot from her face. The purple-gray energy pulsated continuously, the fluctuating airflow causing Mie Feng’s pale face to sting sporadically.
Ah Dai’s red eyes flickered with a complex expression, as if struggling with something. The red color gradually faded, returning to its original black. With a retch, Ah Dai spat out a mouthful of blood and fell to the ground, his body convulsing uncontrollably. The gray, white, and blue energies appeared interchangeably. He painfully clutched his head, his body convulsing. Mie Feng sat on the ground, watching Ah Dai convulse, unable to make a sound for a long time. Voices gradually appeared outside the warehouse, evidently, the commotion here had alarmed the people of Tai Ang City. Mie Feng was shocked and whispered to Ah Dai, "How are you? Are you lucid?"
After Ah Dai used the Netherworld, although he successfully eliminated the remaining assassins, he himself was invaded by the massive evil aura contained in the Sword of Hades. Compared with the evil aura from the Nether Shadow earlier, the Netherworld was much stronger. Even if Ah Dai’s life energy had reached the highest level of nine, it was hard to resist. After the Netherworld exploded the entire warehouse, the ultimate evil energy immediately converged centered on him. Fortunately, before using this technique, Ah Dai had retracted all his fighting energy to protect his heart meridian and spiritual territory, thereby retaining a slight clarity. When Mie Feng yelled "Ice!", the goodness in his heart finally broke free from the shackles of the evil aura, regaining control of his body. However, due to extreme energy depletion and previous injuries, Ah Dai’s body was extremely weak. The remaining energy in his body was barely enough to resist the evil aura, which was why he spat out blood and collapsed on the ground.
With a hoarse voice, Ah Dai said to Mie Feng, "Quickly... take... me away... from here, I... can’t suppress... the evil energy... I need... to... find... a place... to rest and recuperate..."
Mie Feng was overjoyed, as long as Ah Dai’s sanity recovered slightly, there would be hope. Without hesitation, she pulled up Ah Dai’s arm, turned around, and carried his tall body on her back. Mobilizing her internal energy, she rushed toward the direction where there were fewer people.
As Mie Feng and Ah Dai’s figures gradually faded away, someone covered in grime and blood emerged from the ruins. He stumbled out of a hole in the ground, shot a resentful glance in the direction Mie Feng and Ah Dai disappeared into, then weakly limped away in the opposite direction. This survivor was none other than Mie Yi, the leader of the forty assassins who had ambushed Ah Dai. When Ah Dai’s Netherworld energy raged, Mie Yi withdrew all the energy of his World-Ending Slash to defend himself, effectively using the leftover energy from all twelve assassins to protect himself. As the Netherworld descended, Mie Yi blasted a hole in the ground with all his strength and buried himself within, using all the energy left from the World-Ending Slash to shield himself from the malevolent aura. Despite this, all his energy was still consumed by the Netherworld, most of the capillaries on his skin surface ruptured due to the violent shock from the evil aura. However, it was indeed this remaining energy from the World-Ending Slash that spared his life. When Mie Feng stormed in, he was in the midst of fighting off the evil aura invading his body, fearing discovery, he didn’t dare to make a sound. When Mie Feng uttered the word "ice" and caused Ah Dai to regain his clarity, Mie Yi couldn’t resist his curiosity and peeked at Mie Feng from the ruins. It was this glimpse that allowed him to understand how Ah Dai located each of the Assassin Guild’s bases. He knew very well that he was severely injured and stood no chance against Mie Feng, so he waited until she left with Ah Dai before daring to crawl out from the ruins.
Holy Church. Temple of Light.
The Pope was chanting a prayer charm in front of a massive angel statue in the temple, behind him stood all the key figures of the church’s highest echelons. The Red Robe Priest Mang Siu, Red Robe Priest Yu Jian, acting Red Robe Priestess Xuan Yue, Deputy Judge Xuan Yuan, Deputy Judge Ballon, Deputy Judge Fraeld, along with White Robe Priest Xuan Ye, and six other White Robe Priests including Na Sha who did not participate in the suppression of the Dark Demon Clan. They all chanted along with the Pope, for a moment, the entire the Great Hall of Light was filled with an intense sacred aura.
Three months had passed since the Church mobilised all its power to search for the dark alien races, yet they had found nothing. Over two months ago, the Pope led the Church’s army to the Tian Yuan Clan, after cooperating with the Elf Clan for half a month, they still found nothing. The three great empires and the Federation also reported to the Church, stating they didn’t find any trace of the dark alien races. Within a short period of time, these dark alien races seemed to have never existed, completely vanishing from the continents. Naturally, the Pope was irritated with the results but was helpless against the situation. Upon returning to the Church, he could only expand the Holy Knight Legion, recruiting all the reserve Holy Knights, assembling an army of nearly ten thousand. At the same time, in order to prevent the dark alien races from attacking the Sacrifice Halls in various regions, all church personnel were called back to the Church’s main headquarters on Divine Mountain. The strength of the Church reached an unprecedented concentration.
Once the prayer charm was done, the Pope slowly turned around, his voice grave, "It’s been three months now, and there is still no news regarding the dark alien races. Did they simply vanish into thin air?"
Mang Siu bowed, "Your Holiness, we have already searched everywhere we could in the Tian Yuan Clan and found nothing. I believe the dark alien races must have secret hideouts on the continent, otherwise, where could so many of them hide? The most likely place for a hideout is within the territory of the Empire of Sunset City, the hub of dark forces. Perhaps we should send people to investigate thoroughly. The Empire of Sunset has many devoted followers. Yet their ruling class has often been perfunctory towards us; perhaps it would be most beneficial if we investigated personally."
Xuan Yue stepped forwards, saying, "Your Holiness, I don’t necessarily agree. Since the dark forces attacked our team venturing to the Tian Yuan Clan, they would surely anticipate our fierce retaliation. The Assassin’s Guild and Thieves Guild within the Empire of Sunset have long been part of the dark forces. Since we could think of venturing there, they surely could as well. If those powerful dark alien races possess any amount of intelligence, they would certainly not flee to the Empire of Sunset, where all arrows point, giving us a trace to follow."
The Pope furrowed his brows asking, "Then where do you suggest the headquarters of the dark forces might be?"
Xuan Yue shook her head, "I don’t know. Every corner of the continent and even the ocean are possibilities."
The Pope was taken aback and said, "At sea? Is that feasible? Without supplies, survival for an extended period on the open sea is unfeasible."
Xuan Yue replied, "Not necessarily. In fact, food isn’t the most necessary thing in the ocean, but water is. As far as I’m aware, present-day alchemists have developed a mechanism that perfectly separates water and salt from seawater. With such a device, a substantial ship wouldn’t lack water. If space aboard the ship were allocated for vegetables and grains, they could survive at sea for over half a year. In the past, I once..." She paused, her icy expression flickered before she continued, "I heard from Ah Dai that he and his teacher, the Flame Wizard Goris, encountered pirates on the ocean, and the pirate leader was a member of the Dark Demon Clan." The device she mentioned which separates seawater was something she first saw among Goris’s belongings in the Illusive Forest when she was with Ah Dai.
After listening to Xuan Yue, the Pope paced back and forth within the Temple of Light. After a moment, he looked at Xuan Yue and said, "Although what you’re saying could be possible, I still can’t agree with it. Firstly, the dark alien races number at least one hundred thousand. If they showed any movement in the Tian Yuan Clan towards the seaside, it is impossible that we wouldn’t receive any hint of it. Secondly, even the largest ship couldn’t accommodate a hundred thousand people without a fleet of at least a hundred ships, and such a large fleet couldn’t conceal from us. Considering these two points, even if there were traces of the dark forces at sea, it’s unlikely that it’s their main force."
Xuan Yue nodded and said, "Your Holiness, you make a good point, however, it suddenly occurred to me. Since there are so many from the dark alien race, if they planned to retreat to the Empire of Sunset City, there should have been some disturbance! Yet, we have almost scouted the entire surroundings of the Tian Yuan Clan, but found no clue of the dark alien races. Does this mean they really disappeared into thin air?"
The Pope sighed and said, "It seems our intelligence network is far from comprehensive. We’re like a blind man right now, making wild guesses. This is what we’re going to do. Ballon, I order you to personally lead fifty Judges, along with two hundred Sacred Knights who are proficient swimmers. Depart from the port of the Xi Er Xing province of Tian Jing Empire, disguised as merchant vessels on ocean patrol. When you encounter minor dark forces, eliminate them immediately. If you spot the main troop of the dark alien races, do not engage them. Try your best to locate their headquarters and report back right away. Yes, take two White Robe Priests with you. They should prove to be of help."
Ballon bowed and replied, "Yes, Your Holiness."
The Pope said, "After half a year, whether you have leads or not, withdraw immediately. The matter is of utmost importance and has to be handled with care."
Ballon nodded and said, "I guarantee to do my best to accomplish the mission."
The Pope said, "Be cautious. We must not fail! The Sky God will bless you. Now, go and prepare."
Ballon gave his consent and turned to leave the Temple of Light. Ever since their decisive defeat at the hands of the Tian Yuan Clan, the Pope had been very cold towards Ballon and his son due to the matter of Ah Dai’s desertion. This opportunity to leave the Church headquarters and carry out a mission brought some relief to Ballon. He decided to bring his son along, aiming to gain some achievements in order to offset the Pope’s ill feelings towards him.
The Pope addressed Mang Siu, "Priest Mang Siu, the affairs of the Empire of Sunset City have always been overseen by Priestess Na Yan, even though that kingdom is steeped in the influence of the Dark Forces and is very corrupt. However, there are still many faithful believers of the Sky God there. I will entrust to you the full authority over the matters of that region. You have to exert every effort to search for the whereabouts of the Dark alien races. Report immediately as soon as you have any information."
Mang Siu bowed, "Yes, Your Holiness, this humble servant will give his utmost."
The Pope solemnly stated, "Tian Jing Empire is under the care of Priestess Yu Jian, the Federation of Suo Domain will be handled by White Robe Priest Xuan Ye. As for the Empire of Huasheng, although our foundation there is relatively weak, the possibility of the Dark Forces being present is relatively small. We can temporarily let it be. Priestess Xuan Yue, you are to head to the Tian Gang Sword Sect. You have been there before and are relatively familiar. Preferably, you could meet the Sword Saint of the Tian Gang, and inform them of the situation on our end. Seek their assistance in tracing the Dark Forces. Given the strength of the Tian Gang Sword Sect in Huasheng Empire, they should be capable of patrol and investigation there. In addition, if the Dark Forces do appear, I hope to join forces with the Tian Gang Sword Sect to confront them. You must properly convey my intentions to them."
Xuan Ye frowned, "But Your Holiness, the Tian Gang Sword Sect and our Church have always been at odds. Would they be willing to assist us?"
The Pope cast Xuan Ye a glance, "It seems that my decision to strip you of the Pope’s succession was very correct. You have to ask me even such simple questions. Xuan Yue, you explain it to him."
Xuan Yue looked at her grandfather before turning to her father and said nonchalantly, "Although the Tian Gang Sword Sect and our Church have always held some discord and have little interaction, they are, after all, a power of righteousness. They would absolutely not stand by as the continent falls prey to the evil forces. Therefore, as long as we notify them of this matter, the people of Tian Gang Sword Sect will surely assist us in the investigation. They are not co-operating with us, but acting for the peace of the entire continent and this is a must."
The Pope nodded slightly, "Good, Priestess Xuan Yue, since you understand this point, you may set off tomorrow. We are quite close to the Tian Gang Mountain Range though, so you need not rush. I give you one month’s time."
Looking into the Pope’s eyes, full of implications, Xuan Yue agreed, "Yes, Your Holiness. I will fulfill this duty without shame."
Xuan Ye anxiously looked at his daughter. It wasn’t that he failed to comprehend what Xuan Yue had spoken earlier. Rather, it was that he did not wish for his daughter to go to the Tian Gang Sword Sect. Ever since she’d separated from Ah Dai, Xuan Yue had changed. Her lively and wilful personality had vanished, leaving her impassive. Even towards him and Nasha, she would not open her heart. Apart from diligently accomplishing her duties as a Red Robe Priest quietly everyday, she would spend her time in tranquil cultivation and meditation. Xuan Ye was very worried about his daughter. Now, he was beginning to regret his previous attitude towards Ah Dai. He never envisioned that Ah Dai would hold such a significant position in his daughter’s heart. If Xuan Yue encountered Ah Dai during her visit to Tian Gang Sword Sect this time, there could be two outcomes. One, they could reconcile their differences, and two, she would sink into deeper sorrow. Xuan Ye was unwilling for his daughter to risk going to the Tian Gang Sword Sect. However, this was the Pope’s order and was not within his power to stop.
The Pope nodded, "Deputy Judge Xuan Yuan and Deputy Judge Fraeld, both of you should intensify the training for the Holy Knight Legion and the Judges. This is a crucial period and I permit you to use any irregular means to enhance their abilities."
Upon hearing the Pope’s words, a glint flashed in Xuan Yuan’s eyes. Even though he technically held the position of Deputy Judge, he was still undertaking the duties of a Chief Judge. Bowing, he said, "Your Holiness, I will execute your orders. I will use all irregular methods to improve the abilities of the Holy Knight Legion and the Judges."
All the people present, including the Pope, clearly felt a chill creeping up from their feet. In their hearts, they prayed for the Holy Knights and the Judges who were about to be trained by irregular methods. Who wouldn’t know of Xuan Yuan’s methods?
The Pope coughed, regretting his previous remarks a bit, and hurried to add, "Don’t overdo it either. After all, they have to be ready to adapt to changes at any moment."
Xuan Yuan nodded, his expression impassive, "Rest assured, Your Holiness. I will train them in phases so as not to impact the overall defense of the Church."
The Pope said, "That’s good. Alright, everyone go and rest now. Priestess Xuan Yue, stay for a moment. I have a few more instructions for you regarding the matter of heading to Tian Gang Sword Sect."
Xuan Yue responded and ceased exiting. She stood by the side. Xuan Ye and Nasha exchanged glances, then looked at their daughter before leaving reluctantly. Xuan Yue stood upright as if oblivious to her parents’ gaze, silently watching as the high-ranking officials of the Church left.
When only the Pope and Xuan Yue were left in the Temple of Light, the Pope said, "Yue Yue, do you know why I asked you to go to the Tian Gang Sword Sect?"
Xuan Yue replied indifferently, "Isn’t it to unite with the Tian Gang Sword Sect to jointly combat the dark forces?"
The Pope nodded, "Correct, this is one of the purposes, and you are the most suitable candidate. However, I have another purpose. If Ah Dai is at the Tian Gang Sword Sect, I hope you can bring him back. I know you truly love him, and everything you are going through is because of him. My child, I do not want to see you in so much pain!"
A touch of melancholy shone in Xuan Yue’s blue eyes, she murmured, "Destiny brings people together. If it is written in the stars that we are to be together, we won’t be apart. Otherwise, no matter how hard I try, what difference would it make? I admit, I love Ah Dai, deeply, but his actions have let me down. I will not take the initiative to look for him. His cowardice has hurt my heart. If he understands my feelings for him, if he cares for me, he will definitely find me within a year. Grandpa, there’s something I must tell you. Given Ah Dai’s nature, he is not at the Tian Gang Sword Sect right now."
The Pope asked in surprise, "Why can’t he be at the Tian Gang Sword Sect? Then where would he be?"
Xuan Yue said, "Even if he wants to return to the Tian Gang Sword Sect, he will wait until the 999th year of the holy calendar, in February. He had once promised the Tian Gang Sword Saint that at that time, he will compete with the Sword Saint’s three friends. Before that, Ah Dai will not return. I know him too well, he only has two places to go, one is the Illusive Forest, and the other is the Empire of the Sunset City. The latter possibility is greater because there, he will face his uncle’s enemy, the Assassin’s Guild. Grandpa, you don’t need to persuade me anymore. If Ah Dai doesn’t come to find me, I will devote the rest of my life to the church, becoming the best priest."
The Pope frowned, "My child, sometimes, you have to fight for your own happiness, why are you so stubborn!"
Xuan Yue sadly said, "Happiness? Do you think I will be happy being with such a cowardly Ah Dai? Even if I bring him back, once something happens again, he will leave me, what can I do then? I can’t endure another setback. Grandpa, I’m going back. Tomorrow, I will head to Tian Gang Mountain." Upon finishing, she turned around and left abruptly. Two crystal tears fluttered in the air. Her slender figure looked so lonely and desolate.
The Pope helplessly sighed, murmuring to himself, "My child, why do you insist upon such torment?" Although he wanted Xuan Yue to bring Ah Dai back, to a large extent for the prosperity of the church, he equally pitied his granddaughter. Even a Pope has feelings, how could he bear to see his only granddaughter suffer for a lifetime!
Mie Feng was quickly moving through Tai Ang city carrying Ah Dai. Due to the glowing Giant Spirit Snake Armor on Ah Dai, she had put her coat on Ah Dai’s back to conceal it.
Ah Dai’s body was alternating between cold and hot, and he was in a semi-comatose state. Mie Feng was constantly harassed by the alternating sacred and evil aura, making her feel unusually uncomfortable. Finally, after traveling about two kilometers, a modest inn appeared in Mie Feng’s field of vision, and she hurriedly walked towards it with great relief.
The business was very slow at the inn. Only two staff members were casually chatting. Seeing Mie Feng carrying a person into the inn, one of the staff members approached and frowned, "Miss, have you come to the wrong place? This is an inn, not a hospital."
Mie Feng raised her head, her eyes flashing with cold light, "Less nonsense, my husband accidentally got hurt and needs urgent rest, give me a room, preferably a quieter one."
Seeing Mie Feng’s attractive appearance, the staff member was stunned, murmuring, "Okay, okay, please wait a moment."
Mie Feng stood in the lobby, breathing slightly. When she referred to Ah Dai as her husband just now, a strong and strange feeling suddenly rose from her innermost being, it seemed to be a sense of longing. Touching her hot face, Mie Feng calmed down with great difficulty.
Following the staff member, Mie Feng entered a corner room on the second floor carrying Ah Dai. The room wasn’t extravagant, but it was clean enough. She carefully laid Ah Dai on the bed and told the staff member, "You can go now. Unless I say so, no one is allowed to bother us, understand?"
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