Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Black Vatican (黑教廷) |
| Occupation/Role | Clandestine organization responsible for attacks on civilians and cities 14 205 |
| Status | Heavily purged; Pope Pamish is killed and Salang is captured 628 629 |
| First Appearance | Mentioned in connection with Ye Xin Xia 3 |
Organization
| Rank | Documented role or member |
|---|---|
| Pope | Highest stated rank. Pamish secretly holds the position while serving as Temple Mother of the Parthenon Temple 145 627. |
| Cardinals / Red-robed Archbishops | Rank below the Pope; Salang and Leng Jue command their own operations 145 422 441 628. |
| Blue-robed Deacons | Rank above Black-robed Priests. Pei Li is both a Deacon and an Executioner, a role associated with assassinations 145 290 291. |
| Black-robed Priests | Rank above Gray-robed Believers and relay orders from Deacons; Mu Yuang holds this rank 21 145. |
| Gray-robed Believers | Lowest-ranking followers 21 145. |
- Known figures outside the stated rank ladder — Mu He is identified as the Tiger Jin Great Deacon; Wu Ku, the Black Apothecary and Intermediary Leaders take part in Salang’s operations 222 564 565 627.
- Factions — Pamish’s and Salang’s followers are both present at Ye Xin Xia’s Temple Mother ceremony, with Salang’s faction preparing to attack the Pope’s faction 628.
Methods and Resources
- Infiltration — Members conceal their identities within institutions: military instructor Bai Yang is exposed during the Bo City crisis, Pamish serves as Temple Mother, and Black Vatican agents operate inside the Judgment Society 23 24 566 627.
- Recruitment — Blue-robed Deacon Fang Shaoli exploits Zhao Pinlin’s desire for Wang Xuxu and Mu Ning Xue to win his loyalty 260.
- Beasts and curses — Members deploy Black Beast Demons and Curse Beasts. A Forget Worm is planted in Zhang Xiao Hou to obstruct his memory of Mu He; Salang’s curse prevents undercover Judgment Society member Blue Bat from speaking freely 21 22 223 564 565.
- Assassinations — Executioners carry out targeted killings. Pei Li attacks Song Jie in a coffee shop but is captured 290 291.
History
The Black Vatican uses the Bo City crisis as a trial for its later Ancient Capital operation. During the disaster, a group led by a Black-robed Priest attempts to seize the Sacred Spring, while Bai Yang reveals his allegiance when he tries to take it from Song Jie and Mo Fan 21 23 24 205.
In Magic City, the organization targets Song Jie and Mo Fan. Song Jie and Tang Yue capture a Blue-robed Deacon and additional believers; the Judgment Society then investigates the network’s movement toward Ancient Capital 142 149 205. There, its investigation identifies Mu He as the Tiger Jin Great Deacon. The Judgment Society captures dozens of members, while Salang is exposed among the city’s high-ranking officials 222 223.
Later operations cost the Black Vatican further personnel and strongholds. Song Jie and Mu Ning Xue attack its Chongming Island base, and Song Jie defeats Leng Jue while his remaining followers flee 257 261 441 442. In the Andes Mountains, Song Jie captures Wu Ku and the Black Apothecary and disrupts a plan involving rain; Salang orders her subordinates to evacuate 565 566.
At Ye Xin Xia’s Temple Mother ceremony, Song Jie and Ye Xin Xia act against both the Pope’s and Salang’s factions using lists of their members. Black Vatican members begin dying during the ceremony. Song Jie subsequently captures Salang, and Ye Xin Xia kills Pamish 627 628 629.
Bounties
Tang Yue gives Song Jie these rewards for confirmed Black Vatican members, dead or alive. A claim requires identification or evidence of membership 142.
| Rank | Bounty |
|---|---|
| Gray-robed Believer | 500,000 |
| Black-robed Priest | 9 million |
| Blue-robed Deacon | 120 million |