On the vast Liuyan River, a large tower ship drifted along the water. Not a single person stood on its deck.
In the grand hall on the top floor, the gathered experts numbered among the strongest.
Every person present in that top-floor hall was a Saint-level powerhouse. Nine chairs had been arranged inside, divided into three positions.
Lin Lei, Bark, and Cesler sat side by side.
Pope of Light "Haitins," Chief Judge "Usenno," and the leader of the ascetics "Falling Leaves," the three of them, also sat in a row. From the Church of Darkness, Pope "Afleike," Grand Elder of Judgment "Aokaishi," and Fallen Angel leader "Cremerson" took their seats in turn.
Behind both factions stood Holy Domain angels and fallen angels.
Haitins and Afleike exchanged a glance, each feeling a touch of strangeness in their hearts. The two of them were the heads of the two great churches—mortal enemies by nature.
Yet today, they found themselves as allies.
The one responsible for all of this was Lin Lei. A brilliantly talented figure who had grown at breakneck speed, reaching the pinnacle of the continent's powers at such a young age. Even figures as exalted as the Pope of Light and the Pope of Darkness had to bow their noble heads before Lin Lei and speak with him on civil terms.
"Haitins, Afleike." A hint of a smile played at the corners of Lin Lei's mouth. "I'm not sure what exactly you've summoned me here for?"
Bei Bei lay on Lin Lei's thigh, its small eyes fixed on the Pope of Light and the Pope of Darkness.
Pope of Darkness "Afleike" had skin as pale and delicate as a young woman's, and his voice was soft and gentle: "This time, so many of us from the Church of Darkness have come primarily to ask you, Lin Lei, to make a concession—to have your rat tide army cease its advance. I imagine Haitins and the others share the same sentiment as our side. Haitins, am I correct?"
Haitins gave a slight nod, then turned to look at Lin Lei. His gentle gaze was almost warm enough to feel like a spring breeze: "Lin Lei, would you be willing to make such a concession?"
"Are you two dreaming?" Lin Lei didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Haitins smiled faintly: "Lin Lei, as long as you make this concession, our Church of Light will also offer a great deal. We will absolutely ensure your satisfaction."
"We will do the same. Everything we offer will surely meet with your approval," Afleike added.
Both Popes were, at this moment, yielding to Lin Lei.
They did not wish to resort to force against Lin Lei. First, they had no justification, and using force now would give Desili's side reason to intervene. Second, the Church of Light had at least agreed to a covenant—it would not actively attack Lin Lei for twenty years. That term had not yet expired.
"What do you think, Lin Lei?" Haitins looked at him.
Lin Lei harbored deep disgust toward the Church of Light. Toward the cruel and violent, he merely held dislike. But toward hypocrites—people like Haitins, who outwardly appeared warm as a kinsman or parent, yet inwardly were ruthless and stopped at nothing—from the bottom of his heart, Lin Lei loathed them.
Both the Church of Light and the Church of Darkness turned their eyes on Lin Lei.
A faint smile appeared on Lin Lei's face, and from his lips came two words: "No chance."
Haitins and Afleike both froze mid-smile. At that moment, the Fallen Angel leader "Cremerson" gave a cold snort: "Lin Lei, do you intend to stand against both the Church of Darkness and the Church of Light?"
"Cremerson." Pope of Darkness "Afleike" immediately rebuked him.
Lin Lei looked at the Fallen Angel leader "Cremerson" and let out a soft laugh: "From what I understand, for an angel to descend, it needs a suitable body as a vessel. Cremerson, sir, your strength is considerable—that body must possess at least seventh or eighth-level power. Where exactly did the Church of Darkness obtain such a body?"
Bark and his five brothers had once possessed bodies that reached the eighth level through purely physical cultivation.
Lin Lei knew this all too well.
Ordinary humans, even at the peak of their training, could only achieve a sixth-level physique at best. Reaching the seventh level through the body alone was something seen only once in millennia, and even then only among the most gifted. Only the bloodlines of the four ultimate warriors could create such miracles through body cultivation alone.
This Cremerson's body likely belonged to one of those four ultimate warriors.
"Right—where did this body come from?" Bark also fixed a cold gaze on the Church of Darkness.
His five brothers had very nearly lost their own bodies to become angel vessels. The matter hit far too close to home.
"That is a secret of our Church of Darkness," Afleike replied with a smile. "Now then, Lin Lei, let us return to the matter at hand. Are you truly unwilling to retreat even slightly? If you agree to step back, you will earn the eternal gratitude of our Church of Darkness!"
Gratitude?
Lin Lei, Cesler, and Bark all laughed. Even Bei Bei, curled on Lin Lei's thigh, clutched its little belly and giggled.
"Lin Lei, you should think this over carefully," Haitins said, also looking at him.
Lin Lei's smiling face suddenly turned solemn. His gaze swept across the group as he spoke with gravity: "Haitins, Afleike—listen well. I, Lin Lei, am stating this clearly: under no circumstances will this army be withdrawn. The unification of the entire Chaotic领 is imperative and unstoppable!"
"Don't go too far, Lin Lei," Usenno snapped coldly.
When it came to the ability to "endure," Usenno was clearly no match for Haitins or the Falling Leaves master.
"Too far?" Lin Lei's brow furrowed, his gaze cutting toward Usenno like a cold blade. "Usenno, don't put on airs in front of me. I've made myself perfectly clear today—there is no way I'm pulling back my forces."
The atmosphere in the top-floor hall of the tower ship grew instantly oppressive.
"If there's anything else, say it now." Lin Lei was perfectly at ease.
Bei Bei chimed in: "Yeah, if you've got something to say, say it quick. I've got to lead my rat tide army to expand our territory some more."
Cesler's eerie green eyes swept over the figures in the hall. He let out a few low, sinister chuckles but said nothing.
The hall fell silent for a moment.
"Very well." Haitins sighed. "Our Church of Light is willing to make another concession. The territory under our control can be entirely handed over to your Baruch Kingdom for governance."
"Oh?" Lin Lei looked somewhat surprised.
What was Haitins playing at? He was actually prepared to let Lin Lei unify the entire Chaotic领.
"We are also willing to make this concession," Afleike added.
Lin Lei glanced at Haitins, then at Afleike, and thought to himself: "What exactly are these two Popes scheming behind the scenes?"