"No matter what that trial entails, I will ultimately fail," Yang Kai said gravely. "If I fail the trial, that proves I'm an impostor, and you can execute me yourself! But when I entered the city, countless believers lined the streets to welcome me—I've won their hearts. Once word of this gets out, it will inevitably cause unrest among the faithful. That's when the Divine Cult can reveal the Holy Son who has already emerged in secret, quelling the turmoil. What the believers need is the true Holy Son—as for who the Holy Son actually is, that doesn't matter."
The Holy Maiden nodded. "The Banner Lords have indeed wanted to bring that person to the forefront recently, but I've had my reservations and haven't agreed."
Yang Kai continued, "The emergence of the Holy Son is a momentous event. The Divine Cult can use it as an opportunity to launch an operation against the Mo Cult, demonstrating the Divine Cult's might and fulfilling the prophecy!"
The Holy Maiden immediately grasped Yang Kai's meaning. "That's not a bad idea. Let's do it."
The two discussed some further details before the Holy Maiden donned her mask once more and departed in haste.
Throughout this entire exchange, Mu had remained silent, simply listening.
Only after the Holy Maiden left did she speak. "A Zhenyuan Realm cultivation base is indeed insufficient to accomplish anything in this world-shaking upheaval."
Yang Kai said helplessly, "I've tried to break through, but there's always an invisible shackle binding me, preventing me from shattering the bottleneck. It seems to be a matter of the Laws of Heaven and Earth—is it a contingency you left behind, Senior?"
Mu smiled faintly. "After all, you are the one destined to save this world. Intruding into this realm could easily provoke the enmity of Mo's primordial essence, so it was better that your cultivation not be too high when you entered. However, at this point, a bit more strength will make things easier."
As she spoke, she reached out and tapped a finger toward Yang Kai's forehead.
The moment her finger touched down, Yang Kai's entire body shuddered violently. He felt the invisible shackle binding his cultivation shatter in an instant. His Zhenyuan Realm cultivation surged upward in rapid stages, reaching the Shenyou Realm almost immediately, then climbing to the peak of the Shenyou Realm before finally stabilizing.
Compared to his true cultivation of Ninth-Order Opening Heaven, the peak of the Shenyou Realm was still incomparably meager. But it had already reached the limit this world could accommodate—any stronger, and it would inevitably trigger anomalies in the Laws of Heaven and Earth.
Yang Kai took a brief moment to acclimate to his dramatically increased power, then looked up. "Senior, regarding the matter of eliminating the Mo Cult—could you lend me a hand?"
He had expected Mu to agree, but instead she slowly shook her head. "This is all I can do. What comes next is up to you."
Yang Kai was puzzled. "Why is that?"
Mu's shadow appeared no different from an ordinary person, but judging by the wondrous means she had just displayed, Yang Kai knew she was far more than she appeared on the surface. If he could have her help, eliminating the Mo Cult and quelling the Mo plague in this world would be effortlessly simple.
Yet she had declined his invitation.
Mu explained, "After all, I am merely a shadow. The true power I can wield is limited. After all these years of planning and waiting, the strength of this shadow has been nearly depleted."
"So that's how it is." Yang Kai harbored no doubts. "This junior was overstepping."
He rose slowly and clasped his fists. "In that case, this junior will take his leave."
Mu stood to see him off.
As they reached the doorway, Yang Kai suddenly recalled something. "Senior, regarding that trial of the Divine Cult—what exactly is it about?"
Mu smiled. "It's called a trial, but in truth, it's the Power of Mo that I collected and sealed away in that place. Anyone who is not the Holy Son who enters will inevitably be corroded by the Power of Mo and transformed into a Mo Slave—so naturally, they cannot pass the trial. Only one who has received my acknowledgment will secretly be granted a secret art before entering, protecting them from the Power of Mo's contamination and allowing them to pass through safely."
Yang Kai immediately understood.
Mu knew full well who was and wasn't the Holy Son. When the true Holy Son emerged, she would inevitably make contact—as she had done tonight. The current Holy Maiden could then bestow the secret art, pulling off a performance right under the noses of the Divine Cult's high-ranking members and thereby earning their recognition.
"What about the current impostor in the Divine Cult?" Yang Kai furrowed his brow. "How did he pass the trial? If the Holy Maiden needs to bestow the secret art for one to pass, how was he able to remain unharmed in that environment saturated with the Power of Mo?"
Mu seemed to know what he was thinking and shook her head. "It's not what you think..."
Yang Kai was contemplative. "It seems you're hiding something, Senior."
Mu hesitated for a moment before speaking. "The previous Holy Maiden had a secret affair with the Thunder Banner's Banner Lord and secretly gave birth to a daughter. Before she died, she passed the secret art to the Thunder Banner's Banner Lord!"
Yang Kai's expression shifted slightly. "In that case, the Thunder Banner's Banner Lord... Senior, have you always known who was behind this?"
Mu nodded gently. "Though I've secluded myself here, I've kept track of everything happening in the Divine Cult. But as you said, the Thunder Banner's Banner Lord didn't actually defect to the Mo Cult. He was merely blinded by his own selfish desires. Even if he were to take control of the Divine Cult, he would still stand against the Mo Cult. There are also other reasons why I didn't want to expose him casually."
"What reason could make even you hesitate, Senior?"
Mu looked up at him and said, "The child born to the previous Holy Maiden is the current Holy Maiden!"