Believers of Eternal Radiance (Super Large Chapter, Monthly Vote Request)

He Ao had had two purposes in speaking with Locke just now.

The first was to draw out information and determine whether Locke had truly been the mastermind behind pushing Ilo down all those years ago.

The second was to divert Locke's attention and rescue the Red Skirt Little Girl, who had been helping him all along and had deep ties to this church.

He Ao had already caught Locke off guard by knocking away his surgical knife, directly saving the Red Skirt Little Girl. But she was still beside Locke. Given the power and vigilance Locke had displayed, if He Ao made his intentions too obvious, Locke might prioritize "killing" the Red Skirt Little Girl.

So He Ao first had to shift the topic onto himself and divert Locke's attention.

There was an information gap here: Locke did not know that He Ao and the Red Skirt Little Girl had met before. He had revealed as much in his words.

Combined with Locke's perception of Ilo's parents as "righteous good people," he would subconsciously assume that He Ao had saved the Little Girl on a whim. By following Locke's line of conversation and deliberately falling for his provocation, He Ao could achieve the goal of feinting east and attacking west.

"Kid, your growth surprises me."

Locke raised his hand. Invisible thin lines extended from his fingertips into the depths of the void, and terrifying pressure instantly blanketed the entire hall. Cracks spread across the wooden pews beside him before they exploded with a bang-- into countless wood shavings.

The chaotic debris instantly obscured the hall's central area and blocked everyone's vision.

He Ao made a subtle gesture, then raised his sword and sprang to his feet. He charged forward in an instant, his entire body plunging into the swirling