Impact

Everyone was dismantling the ferocious beasts for materials.

Carl quietly approached Guen and glanced at the Kejia Beast. "Sometimes, you really have to admit there's always someone better, and there's always a higher mountain. When I went through the Trial Grounds, I placed quite well, but I didn't have this little thing. It's rare even among those who've gone through the trials over the years. I always thought it was just a rumor."

Guen merely smiled faintly.

The Kejia Beast was a reward for clearing the Fourth Stage of the Trial Grounds. Most people could only claim the rewards for the first two stages.

Passing the Third Stage and receiving its reward were two different things.

Carl glanced around, then led Guen to a secluded spot.

"I wanted to warn you: if you really did kill a Planetary Level Fighter, you need to be careful. Everyone will assume you have strength equivalent to at least Planet Level 5 or 6. The Trial Grounds can protect you from having all your treasures stolen, but only if they judge your opponent to be someone you can't resist. Given the strength you've shown so far, the Trial Grounds won't intervene unless a Planet Level 8 or 9 Fighter, or a group of Planetary Level Fighters, tries to take your treasures. Otherwise, even if you're killed, the Trial Grounds will consider it a normal death in combat," Carl said gravely.

"And don't think low-level Planetary Fighters can't threaten you. You're only at Planet First Order, after all. It's very difficult to fight someone above your level once you've reached the Planetary Level. Right now, you're relying on your treasures. If you end up in a dangerous situation, they could still get you killed. Remember, once you're away from the Goddess Temple, the Smart Watch can't keep monitoring everyone. If you, a Planet First Order Fighter, killed another Planetary Level Fighter, it only proves that the treasures you carry are dazzling. Some people will get crooked ideas."

Guen's heart tightened. He looked toward the few Goddess Temple Fighters in the distance and saw that some of them were glancing this way now and then.

Guen couldn't help but take a good look at Carl.

Carl remained calm. "Are you wondering why I'm telling you all this?"

"A little," Guen admitted.

Carl smiled. "Because now, you finally count as one of us."

Guen was taken aback.

Carl's smile widened. "Don't let the fact that we're all members of the Goddess Temple and restricted by the Smart Watches fool you into thinking there's less infighting. That's just an illusion. Before joining the Goddess Temple, we struggled to cultivate to Apprentice Level 6 or 7 and then took part in the trials. Those hard years are what people find hardest to forget. Does joining the Goddess Temple automatically give us a sense of belonging? Many people feel a deep attachment to the lands where they grew up. The Goddess Temple may be powerful, but in their hearts, many still admire the Council of Elders and the Imperial Council."

Guen pondered her words.

It was true. Having grown up hearing it all their lives, people had been deeply impressed by the notion that the Aoyu Empire's emperor stood supreme. Compared with organizations like the Goddess Temple and the Crimson Moon Society, which they'd only heard about in passing, the Council of Elders and the Imperial Council were institutions of the empire. Most Fighters who grew up in the empire felt well disposed toward those two institutions.

"So the Goddess Temple only truly accepts you when you've actually killed Fighters from other factions, made mortal enemies, and need the faction's protection. The more you kill, the more 'loyal' you are. They'd be delighted if you offended every faction outside the Goddess Temple, because then you'd be bound to the temple beyond a doubt. Otherwise, why do you think the contribution rewards for killing Fighters from other factions are so high, even though it makes enemies?" Carl said with a knowing smile. "Don't look at me like that. I've killed a Fighter who had joined the Council of Elders too. I used the dangers of the Wild Wilderness Forest to take him out."

Carl's expression grew serious. "But even if you're strong enough, it's better not to kill unless you have to. The temple's protection is just that—protection. Your own safety still matters. Killing one is one thing. If you kill two or three, the Imperial Council will be furious. Then they may disregard the rules and send powerful Fighters to kill you. At that point, all you can do is hide inside the Goddess Temple. That would be pretty miserable."

"Thank you, Carl, for telling me all this." Guen was grateful to Carl for sharing so much with him.

Clearly, killing a Fighter from the Imperial Council had made Carl truly accept him and decide that Guen was reliable. The odds of him stabbing Carl in the back were much lower than those of other people. Otherwise, Carl wouldn't have been so sincere in offering him all that advice.

"We'll talk later. I'll go deal with the materials first." Only then did Carl return to the group.

Guen watched the distant figures and murmured, "Can I trust her?"

Three figures flew down from the sky and landed on the ground.

"My cousin ran in this direction." One of the men touched down, his face pale as he stared at the pit in the ground.

They had pursued him all the way here, finding signs of fighting along the route. Now that they'd reached this spot, he couldn't help feeling that something was wrong.

The Scar-faced Man had an aura as sharp as a blade and a cold expression. His face darkened too. He stamped his foot, and the pit crumbled open, revealing the mangled body inside. It looked as though the man had been worn down to death by the force of repeated impacts.

"Third Brother, the Flame God Armor is missing, along with his identity token and the like. His valuables are still on him," another tall, thin Fighter reported after checking the body.

"My lord, it must have been that fellow from the Goddess Temple! What a vicious hand! My lord, you have to avenge my cousin!" The dead man's younger cousin shuddered. If he'd been a little slower, he might have ended up dead there too. Although the two were related by blood, there was such a vast gap between their status and strength that he had to address the man with the utmost respect.

"Useless!" The Scar-faced Man slapped his cousin across the face. The blow wasn't hard, but his cousin didn't dare dodge it.

"Smack!"

His face reddened at once.

"You two were being chased by a newly promoted Super Tier Warrior, and you even abandoned your own kinsman. You can explain yourself before the Family Tribunal when you get back. If I go after a newly promoted Super Tier Warrior, those people from the Goddess Temple are bound to interfere," the Scar-faced Man said, his gaze growing colder. "Take the body back and bury him first. Notify all our people in East Sea Province. Travel in pairs—no, in groups of three. If you spot anyone from the Goddess Temple, stay on your guard. If you find that kid, notify me. Also, investigate his background. If he passed the Third Stage of the trials, then I can only teach him a lesson; I wouldn't dare actually kill him. If he passed the Fourth Stage, I wouldn't even dare capture him and take him back for punishment. We'd have to make the Goddess Temple pay to get him back."

The tall, thin Fighter considered this. "Since he's a newly promoted Warrior, he must have taken part in one of the last four or five trials. Not many have passed the Fourth Stage. As for this year, I've heard someone passed the Fifth Stage, but it hasn't even been a year yet. At most, he'd be Apprentice Level 9, and it's another question whether he's reached the peak. I've heard that Kan once pulled up the weeds but left the roots. His descendants hate him, and one of them joined the Goddess Temple. He's a promising talent who passed the Fourth Stage."

The Scar-faced Man raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting. "Kan? A newly promoted nobody who hasn't accomplished a thing, and he's already causing trouble? Looks like being emperor for too long has addled his brain. This is a promising talent, with better aptitude than mine. I couldn't even pass the Fourth Stage back then. If this kid really is exceptionally gifted, it might be worth sacrificing Kan and winning over his son when the time comes. I've heard about the first and second candidates, but they're unlikely to compete with that woman from the Crimson Moon Society or the High Priest. We'll need to think carefully about this one. Let's head back and discuss it. Our top priority is still figuring out how to preserve the reputation of my Imperial Council."

"Yes, Third Brother." The tall man wrapped the corpse in white cloth. Then the three of them took off and flew toward the Armory Camp.