Chapter 200: Church of the Sky God [1]

The Everblazing Elder raised his hand, his long, crimson-embroidered sleeve cutting through the heavy silence of the council hall. Instantly, all eyes turned to him.

At the head of the mahogany table, the Sect Leader—a formidable Martial Lord with cold, piercing green eyes and flowing gray hair—offered a stiff, approving nod.

"Speak, Everblazing," the Sect Leader commanded, his voice deep and echoing with absolute, unquestioned authority.

The Everblazing Elder stood, clearing his throat before addressing the gathered council.

"Sect Leader, fellow Elders. As you know, I was the one dispatched to the surrounding valleys to hunt down the escaped Crimson-Spotted Leopard-kin.

Meanwhile, Brother Silver Lotus remained in Kaelos City to oversee the regional affairs and maintain our presence there."

He paused, his brow furrowing deeply as he recalled his recent stay in the border city.

"During the few days I spent within Kaelos, I had ample opportunity to measure its ruler, Mayor Henar. Although he boasts the cultivation of a Martial General, his foundation is shallow, his spirit soft, and his techniques mediocre at best.

He was weak—far too weak to ever dream of slaying an Elder of our Glorious Mythical Sect."

The Sect Leader’s green eyes flickered. "Then you believe Brother Silver Lotus was struck down by an outside force?"

"Without a doubt, Sect Leader," the Everblazing Elder declared, bowing his head.

"An unknown power has entered our domain."

A low, dangerous murmur rippled through the gathered Elders.

The Sect Leader’s eyes narrowed into sharp, lethal slits.

He slowly turned his head, facing the withered man seated immediately to his right—the First Elder of the sect.

"What do you make of this, Soul Crushing Elder?" the Sect Leader asked softly.

The Soul Crushing Elder, a completely bald man whose sunken cheeks and icy grey skin gave him the appearance of a living corpse, cleared his dry throat.

When he spoke, his voice sounded like grinding stones.

"In all the centuries since our founding, this is the first time such an atrocity has befallen our sect," the Soul Crushing Elder stated, his dark eyes burning with ruthless conviction.

"To strike down a core Elder is to declare open war upon our sanctuary. The culprit must be dragged before our gates and brought to absolute, horrific justice.

If we show even a moment of hesitation, every petty faction in the Northern Hashian Mountains will believe it is acceptable to slaughter our kin."

He leaned forward, slamming a frail-looking fist onto the table, cracking the polished wood.

"We must set an undeniable example for the entire region. Whoever did this must burn—and Kaelos City must be leveled to the ground for failing to protect our Elder!"

Nods of fierce agreement broke out across the council table.

The temperature in the room rose as the Elders released their simmering Martial General auras in a unified display of vengeance.

The Sect Leader inhaled deeply, closing his eyes for a moment as he gently stroked his long gray beard.

"Brother Silver Lotus was a loyal, devoted servant of this sect," the Sect Leader murmured, his voice heavy with lethal intent.

"His blood demands blood. He shall be avenged."

Opening his green eyes, the Sect Leader swept his gaze across the assembly, his voice snapping like a whip.

"Heaven’s Honored Elder. Peerless Supreme Elder. Divine Elder."

The three named Elders immediately stood straight, cupping their hands in respect.

"The three of you shall lead a strike force to Kaelos City post-haste," the Sect Leader ordered. "Investigate the site of the slaughter. Uncover who dared lay a hand upon Brother Silver Lotus. And once the investigation is concluded and the guilty are dragged into the light... erase Kaelos City from the map."

"We obey!" the three Elders bellowed in unison.

"However..." The Sect Leader’s voice trailed off.

A subtle, mysterious smirk touched his lips as he turned his head toward the shadowy alcove at the very back of the grand hall. "...to ensure absolute victory and leave no variable to chance, we shall not tread this path alone. You may come out now."

The Elders exchanged confused, wary glances.

None of them had sensed another presence in the room. Who could the Sect Leader possibly be addressing?

STEP. STEP. STEP.

From the deep shadows behind the high marble pillars, a young man stepped smoothly into the light.

He possessed striking, vibrant red hair that fell loosely around his shoulders, and a gentle, serene smile rested upon his handsome face.

However, what instantly drew the sharp, suspicious glares of the council was his attire:

He was clad in sweeping, immaculate white-and-gold priestly robes embroidered with the celestial crest of an open sky.

Several Elders immediately scowled, their expressions darkening.

"A priest?" the Soul Crushing Elder growled, turning to the Sect Leader with deep disapproval. "Sect Leader, what is the meaning of this? Why is an outsider—a man of the cloth—present in the sacred council chamber of our sect?"

Yet, despite their indignation, none of the Elders dared step toward the youth or speak to him with open hostility.

The moment the red-haired man had stepped into the room, an ethereal, crushing pressure had silently filled the air.

He was a Martial Lord.

The Sect Leader chuckled softly, gesturing toward the young man with an open palm.

"Allow me to introduce our honored guest," the Sect Leader declared smoothly. "This is Priest Arnold, a high-ranking cleric of the Church of the God of the Sky."

The Elders stiffened, their eyes widening slightly.

The Church was a colossal, distant religious monolith whose holy influence stretched across multiple continents.

Under the Patheon of the Sun God.

"Priest Arnold has traveled far to grace our halls," the Sect Leader continued, his green eyes glinting with ambition.

"We have reached an accord. Once this investigation is complete and those responsible for Brother Silver Lotus’s death have been thoroughly punished, the Glorious Mythical Sect will officially open its gates and welcome the divine faith of the God of the Sky into our territory."

Priest Arnold placed a hand over his heart, bowing slightly toward the council with a calm, pleasant smile that didn’t quite reach his icy blue eyes.

"May the heavens bless your hall, honorable Elders," Priest Arnold spoke, his voice smooth as silk.

"I shall personally accompany your three Elders to Kaelos City. With my holy arts and the might of your sect, we shall bring the divine retribution of the Sky God upon those who brought ruin to your brother."