"Such powerful Mental Power — injuring someone from a distance, and Lei Ming had absolutely no way to resist." Lin Lei was shocked inwardly. "No wonder the Martial God said that Desley, Faen, and the other five Saint Realm limit-breakers have all reached the threshold of the god level. Just one final step away! Their strength is truly terrifying."
Wuseno didn't dare move either. His heart was filled with dread.
*Boom.* A figure burst up from beneath the water — it was Lei Ming. Lei Ming obediently flew to Wuseno's side, his face extremely pale. As he looked at Desley, a trace of fear was evident in his gaze.
Desley furrowed his brow as he regarded the two of them. "You should know that I used to be the leader of the ascetic cultivators. You should also know that I am a Saint Archmage."
Wuseno and Lei Ming exchanged a glance.
The greatest strength of a Saint Archmage was 'Mental Power.' A powerhouse like Desley, who had cultivated for thousands of years, had long since surpassed his good brother 'Hayward' in the use of Mental Power. Whether in Mental Power or in comprehension of the Laws of Light, Desley had reached the absolute limit of the Saint Realm.
Only one final step remained to reach the god level.
"Lord Desley." Wuseno addressed him with the honorific once more.
Wuseno still remembered the detailed records about Desley in the Church's archives. He knew just how close Desley had been to the legendary Pope 'Ernst.'
"Lord Ernst dedicated his entire life to the rise of our Church of Light. He established the Holy Alliance. He brought ever greater glory to our Church of Light! For over five thousand years, we have never ceased our efforts for a single moment." Wuseno's voice was low and heavy.
Desley's brow furrowed.
In his heart, he no longer felt much attachment to the Church of Light. But toward Ernst, he carried deep guilt. Ernst had treated him like an elder brother! And that brother had indeed spent his entire life working for the Church of Light, ultimately departing for the divine realm of Light.
"And this Lin Lei — he himself is a Dragon Blood Warrior. He has a younger brother, and five Undying Warriors under his command. Moreover, that magic beast of his, the mouse, is no weaker than he is." Wuseno looked at Desley. "In a few decades, that will be seven peak ultimate warriors, plus a terrifying magic beast. If they attack together, our Church is finished!"
"Lord Desley, our Church will be finished!"
"All of Lord Ernst's efforts will be destroyed!"
Wuseno's words made Desley hesitate. He still remembered the care and support his 'brother' Ernst had given him.
Lin Lei, Bing Serin, and Dilia were standing together. Bing Serin whispered a sigh to Lin Lei. "The person Desley feels most guilty toward is Ernst. Right now, he must be finding it very difficult to decide."
Ernst Academy had been named after 'Ernst.'
Lin Lei naturally knew of this person's deeds.
A sigh escaped Desley's lips. He then surveyed both groups and spoke in a clear voice. "How about this — each side takes one step back, as a favor to me, Desley. What do you say?"
"Each takes a step back?" Wuseno and Lei Ming looked at Desley in confusion.
Lin Lei was also puzzled.
"Everyone, come to the center of the lake." Desley said. Lin Lei trusted Desley, so he took Dilia's hand and flew directly to the center of the lake. Wuseno and Lei Ming, equally well-behaved, descended upon the center of the lake as well.
Lin Lei and Dilia stood at one end of the great boulder in the lake's center; Wuseno and Lei Ming stood at the other. Both sides were on their guard.
"What is Desley thinking?" Lin Lei furrowed his brow.
Desley smiled faintly. "I understand the grudge between your two sides. So… from today onward, for a period of twenty years, your Church of Light is not permitted to make any move against Lin Lei."
"Twenty years?" Wuseno protested. "Lord Desley, after twenty years, Lin Lei in his human form alone will have reached the Saint Realm. We won't be able to kill him even if we want to. That's unfair — completely unfair!"
"Silence!" A trace of anger appeared between Desley's brows.
Wuseno's heart trembled. He remembered that Desley was the one calling the shots right now.
"This condition is the step back for your Church of Light. And Lin Lei — I will make him take a step back as well." Desley looked at Lin Lei.
"Please speak, Lord Desley." Lin Lei said.
Desley smiled apologetically. "Wuseno has a point. You alone aren't a huge threat, Lin Lei, but your brother plus five Undying Warriors — together, that amounts to seven ultimate warriors. That truly could destroy the Church of Light. So I want you to agree that from now on, even if you seek revenge against the Church of Light, you are only permitted to go alone. No one else — including your magic beast — may accompany you."
Hearing this condition, Wuseno and Lei Ming actually felt a measure of relief.
What was the Holy Island? It was the headquarters of the Church of Light. There were a whole host of Saint Realm angels alone, plus Haitings, Luoye, and many other powerful figures. Add to that the large-scale magic arrays on the island… as long as it wasn't a god-level powerhouse, attacking it would be absolute suicide.
"You understand what I mean?" Desley looked at both groups.
"Our side is forbidden from making a move against Lin Lei for twenty years. In exchange, Lin Lei may only come seeking revenge by himself for the rest of his life?" Wuseno said with a light smile. "I can agree to that. If our Church of Light can't even hold off a single man, then we'd have nothing to say."
Wuseno agreed readily.
The Church of Light wasn't afraid of Lin Lei alone. What they feared was the group standing behind him.
"Lin Lei, what about you?" Desley looked at Lin Lei.
Lin Lei felt somewhat unwilling in his heart.
"Go alone to destroy the Church of Light?" Lin Lei still had self-awareness. "A church that has endured for over ten thousand years — it's definitely not that simple. And to reach the god level… even Xisai spent over five thousand years. He was historically known as the Martial God with the shortest time to ascend. In truth, the Martial God was simply lucky enough to obtain a divine spark. Relying solely on one's own effort, who knows how long it would take?"
Lin Lei furrowed his brow.
"Lin Lei!" Desley called out again. Wuseno and Lei Ming were watching him as well.
Lin Lei suddenly noticed Dilia beside him, and his heart trembled. "No matter what, I can't put Dilia in danger." Lin Lei made up his mind and said to Desley, "The Church of Light shall not attack me for twenty years. But there is one more condition — they must never be allowed to harm my family or friends."
"Agreed," Wuseno said immediately.