Chapter 635 432: Do You Know What a Mortal Sacrifice Is?

Everyone panicked, and the tools in their hands clattered to the ground.

Ji Shengyue's face was pale, but she quickly composed herself and issued a swift command: "Don't panic! Follow the contingency plan immediately! One group will clean the site and erase all traces. The other group, with me! We'll go to the valley entrance and draw the patrol away!"

Ji Shengyue led a group of guards to the valley entrance, where they set up a few traps and misleading markers to make the patrol think there was another important target in the area.

Then, they deliberately made some noise to attract the patrol's attention.

Once the patrol was drawn in, Ji Shengyue and her people skillfully maneuvered around them, using the valley's terrain to lead them on a cat-and-mouse chase.

Fortunately, after searching the valley for a while without finding any trace of the altar, the patrol left.

After this crisis, everyone realized they had to speed up the altar's construction. Otherwise, if the Vampire Clan discovered them, all their hard work would be for nothing.

So, the group worked day and night, their busy figures never ceasing their labor in the valley.

As the altar gradually took shape, new problems followed one after another.

One night, while everyone was resting, a fierce wind suddenly began to howl, accompanied by lightning and thunder.

A mysterious beam of black light shot toward the sky from the direction of the altar.

Around the altar, strange black shadows appeared. They thrashed about aggressively, trying to destroy it.

Awakened by the commotion, Raphael and Ji Shengyue immediately rushed to the altar.

Raphael's expression was grave. The Mysterious Power was trying to stop the altar's completion.

Light naturally suppressed the Mysterious Power, so as the altar neared completion, it would inevitably draw these forces to it.

But Raphael could not intervene, as he was needed to maintain the altar at this critical moment.

Ji Shengyue also took up her weapon and stood guard around the altar with her retainers, preventing the black shadows from getting close.

The battle lasted the entire night. Everyone was exhausted, but no one backed down.

Finally, as the first light of dawn broke, the black shadows gradually faded away, leaving the altar unharmed.

In the days that followed, Ji Shengyue and Raphael led the group in overcoming one difficulty after another.

They constantly adjusted the altar's design to adapt to various unforeseen circumstances.

At the same time, they strengthened their surveillance of the surrounding area, setting up multiple hidden observation points around the valley so they could raise the alarm promptly if anything unusual was spotted. As time went on, the altar finally neared completion.

The massive altar stood in the center of the valley, emanating a mysterious glow.

Runes and Spells were carved all over it, as if heralding the immense power that was soon to come.

Ji Shengyue and Raphael stood beside the altar, looking at the fruit of their labor, their hearts filled with emotion and anticipation. "Archbishop, we did it."

Tears welled up in Ji Shengyue's eyes.

It had been such a difficult journey.

Raphael nodded slightly, a pleased smile on his face. "Yes, Her Majesty the Queen."

"Once we complete the final step and summon an Angel, we can utterly defeat the Vampire Clan and restore peace and prosperity to the Great Jing Empire."

A damp, cold mist filled the valley, where the altar—the culmination of countless hours of hard work—stood silently, exuding a mysterious and chilling aura.

Runes and Spells flickered across its surface, as if whispering of the turning point in their fate that was about to arrive.

Ji Shengyue stood beside the altar, her hair tousled by the night wind, her eyes filled with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.

She took a deep breath and spoke slowly, her voice echoing softly in the silent valley. "What is the next step to summon an Angel?"

At that moment, her mind was consumed with the thought of using the Angel's power to save the Great Jing Empire and reclaim her own authority.

But she had no idea that she was about to step into the vortex of a massive conspiracy.

The corners of Raphael's mouth lifted into a deeply meaningful smile.

It was no longer the warm and benevolent smile he had once feigned.

In its place was the triumphant, arrogant smirk of a successful schemer.

He tilted his head back slightly, a fanatical gleam in his eyes, and said unhurriedly, "We have completed the most important part. By now, I imagine the other Bishops of our Bright Holy See have completed the other stages as well."

His voice was deep and steady, filled with the confidence of someone in complete control.

"The other Bishops?"

Ji Shengyue's heart sank. A strong sense of foreboding washed over her.

She stared intently at Raphael, trying to find a trace of the old familiarity and warmth in his expression.

But all she saw was a triumphant look that was both foreign and terrifying to her.

Her hands clenched unconsciously, her nails digging deep into her palms as an indescribable unease welled up inside her.

Raphael narrowed his eyes, the fanaticism within them growing even more intense. He spoke slowly, "That's right. To summon a true Angel down from the Celestial Palace, a massive mortal sacrifice is required. Do you know what a mortal sacrifice is?"

He paused, his gaze fixed directly on Ji Shengyue, and his voice suddenly became bone-chillingly cold as he enunciated each word: "It's people."

Ji Shengyue felt a bone-deep chill shoot from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, and her whole body instantly went cold.

She stared at Raphael in disbelief, her lips trembling, as a single question echoed in her mind: 'The Bright Holy See is supposed to represent light and mercy, so why are they acting like Demons?'

Especially after what Raphael had just said—to summon a true Angel from the heavens required a massive mortal sacrifice, and the offering wasn't pig heads, lamb, fruit, or pastries, but living, breathing people.

'So, who are these living people?'

'Could it be…'

Ji Shengyue's eyes suddenly widened, filled with fury and shock. She demanded sharply, "Are you planning to use the people of our Great Jing Empire as sacrifices?!"

Her voice, sharp with anger, echoed through the valley, carrying endless indignation and accusation.

"So you've only just realized."

Raphael gave a disdainful laugh, a mocking curve to his lips and contempt filling his eyes. "No wonder the entire Great Jing Empire has ended up in this state, step by step, under your rule."

"But there's no need to be angry. This is simply the fate of your Great Jing Empire."

He shook his head slightly, the smug look on his face growing more pronounced, as if mocking Ji Shengyue's naivety and ignorance.

Just then, figures in red robes—Cardinals—slowly emerged from all directions out of the surrounding woods.

Their steps were synchronized, their expressions so calm it was almost eerie, as if they were about to perform the most ordinary of ceremonies.

There were at least twenty or thirty Cardinals in total. Their figures flickered in and out of view in the mist, like phantoms emerging from the darkness.

They walked up to Raphael and nodded in his direction.

The gesture was synchronized and cold, as if announcing the consummation of some great sin.

Seeing this, the smile on Raphael's face grew even wider, almost overflowing.

He turned back to Ji Shengyue, his tone laced with mockery and triumph. "Ji Shengyue, don't think too highly of your Great Jing Empire. From the very beginning, our target has always been Chu He of the Great Xia Empire."

His words struck like a bolt from the blue, nearly making Ji Shengyue cough up blood from rage.

Her eyes flew wide, burning with furious flames, as she roared, "Do you really think your plan will succeed so easily?"

"Don't forget, the top combatants of the entire Vampire Clan are right here in the Great Jing Empire!"

"And Ye Lingyun, the Vampire Clan's Leader, is Chu He's one and only direct disciple!"

Ji Shengyue had never imagined that she would one day use Chu He's name as a bargaining chip to intimidate others.

As the words left her own mouth, her mind grew hazy.

It was as if she, too, had fallen into a dark abyss from which there was no escape.

But Raphael was utterly unfazed by Ji Shengyue's anger and threats. His expression was calm, his tone firm as he said, "All I can tell you is this:

"Once the Angel descends, there will be only one power left in this world: the Bright Holy See."

"As for your Great Jing Empire, the Great Xia Empire, the Lighthouse Empire, and the so-called Vampire Clan and Werewolf Clan..."

"...whether they still exist or have already perished, they will all be wiped from the face of Blue Star completely."

Raphael spoke these words with grave seriousness, without a hint of exaggeration. His tone was that of someone stating an indisputable fact.

It was precisely this extreme confidence, this terrifyingly casual attitude,

that made Ji Shengyue's heart sink like a stone.

She realized that she had fallen into a conspiracy far more terrifying than anything the Vampire Clan could devise.

And the Great Jing Empire, indeed the entire world, was about to face an unprecedented catastrophe!