Stettler's sword strike had transcended the level of 'momentum' in terms of mastery. If Lin Lei's 'Black Jade Heavy Sword' and its 'Earth's Profound Truth' could be called a special form of attack, then Stettler's sword was all about one thing: speed.
"Die?" Lin Lei's heart surged with fierce unwillingness. He didn't want to die. He hadn't yet achieved the goals he'd set for himself.
But in this world, many people don't want to die when death comes. After all, the world doesn't revolve around any one person, and there are simply many things beyond one's control.
"Boss."
Tears streamed from Bei Bei's eyes.
But suddenly, Bei Bei froze.
Not just Bei Bei — Heilu, Sessler, the Black Knight captain, the five Barker brothers, and even the crowd of onlookers in the distance were all stunned.
"What's going on?" Everyone was bewildered.
Lin Lei was on the ground, and Stettler was plunging his sword downward toward him. The long blade was incredibly close to the space between Lin Lei's eyebrows.
Yet the two of them had simply frozen in place.
Even the blood dripping from the web of Lin Lei's right hand had stopped mid-air, motionless.
In that moment, the space around Lin Lei and Stettler seemed to have had time itself frozen. Neither people nor objects could move.
And it wasn't just them — Bei Bei, Heilu, Sessler, and the five Barker brothers in the courtyard were all completely still as well.
Silence!
Oppressive, terrifying silence.
Even Stettler's eyes held an unprecedented look of horror.
"Master Lin Lei, long time no see."
A languid voice rang out, and a man in his thirties with long, disheveled black hair and a loose-fitting robe walked over. He looked the same as before — as though he'd just woken up.
"Stettler, was it? Even the little ones have reached the peak of the Saint Realm. If I don't make some progress myself, I really won't be able to show my face." The slovenly man in the loose robe waved his hand, and Stettler was sent flying as though he'd been struck by an entire mountain, his body soaring away like a meteor.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! ...
Stettler's body smashed through more than a dozen walls before finally crashing to the ground.
"Lin Lei, hasn't it been over three years?" The slovenly man smiled at Lin Lei, and at the same time Lin Lei felt himself able to move again. Bei Bei, Heilu, Sessler, and the five Barker brothers all regained their mobility.
The terrifying pressure had vanished.
"Lord Cise." Lin Lei bowed gratefully. He was more grateful to Cise than he had ever been — moments ago, he had been completely without hope. The man had saved his life; how could Lin Lei not be overcome with gratitude?
The newcomer was none other than Cise, the King of Assassins.
Sessler and the others were dumbfounded. What had just happened was truly bizarre — that Stettler had been completely powerless before this man.
The sound of rubble rolling filled the air as Stettler crawled to his feet. Though his face was covered in dust and grime, he still walked over, staring at Cise in disbelief.
"You... you... this... this is..." Stettler was completely shaken.
"What is this? Haha, tell me — what do you think this is?" Cise grinned wickedly at Stettler.
Stettler had completely lost the aura of a powerhouse. He stared at Cise in shock and stammered, "A d-divine... divine... divine domain?"
"A divine domain?"
Lin Lei, Sessler, and the others were equally stunned.
No wonder Stettler was so shaken. To completely freeze everyone's movements in the way that had just occurred — that was something only the legendary 'divine domain' could accomplish. And a divine domain could only be possessed by one who had reached the god-level.
The current Yulan Continent's four greatest powerhouses — the Martial God O'Brien, the Grand Priestess, and the two great rulers of the Dark Forest and the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
But now, the King of Assassins 'Cise' had actually acquired a 'divine domain.'
"Haha..." Cise laughed.
"Lord Cise." Lin Lei and the others looked at Cise with astonishment.
Cise stroked his mustache with a smile. "Don't be so surprised. Stettler, you lot have all been acting awfully arrogant. I reached the peak of the Saint Realm over five thousand years ago. My cultivation speed was much faster than yours. I'm a genius, after all."
Cise spat and snorted, "But then I was stuck at the peak of the Saint Realm for over five thousand years. If I didn't break through, I'd really lose face. So, a couple of years ago, I finally broke through that little membrane."
Stettler, Lin Lei, Sessler, and the rest all remained silent.
Heavens.
A god-level powerhouse had just been born.
Lin Lei could understand it. According to Grandpa Derinkoort, Cise had been a contemporary of Derinkoort himself — and had already been a Saint Realm powerhouse back then. Over five thousand years had passed, and reaching the god-level now wasn't entirely unexpected.
"Lord Cise."
Stettler immediately bowed respectfully.
Any god-level powerhouse was worthy of his utmost respect. Once one reached the god-level, empires could be disregarded entirely — they stood at the absolute pinnacle. A god-level powerhouse could destroy the Church of Light even at the cost of serious injury, and it wouldn't be difficult.
"Is there something?" Cise glanced at Stettler.
Stettler said respectfully, "Lord Cise, over all these years, your relationship with our Church of Light has been quite good. I was wondering whether you might be willing to join the Church of Light. If Lord Cise is willing, I believe His Holiness the Pope would be prepared to make any concession."
A god-level powerhouse.
Even if they had to invite him to be the Pope, Haitings would probably agree. With a god-level powerhouse presiding over the Church of Light, its standing on the continent would be vastly different.
"Not interested." Cise snorted. "I've spent all these years and can't even be bothered to manage my own 'Saber' organization. And you want me to work for you?"