Holy Temple

Su Ye checked the resources he had on hand, made a quick estimate, and replied.

[Otherworld Traveler: What kind of barracks? How much?]

Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up when she saw Su Ye's reply. This barracks wasn't something she had bought herself; someone else had left it with her to sell on consignment.

Of everyone Lin Xiaoxiao knew, only Su Ye could afford to buy or trade for a barracks. That was why she had asked him, though she hadn't expected much.

[Little Merchant: Someone left it with me to sell on consignment. It's a third-rank barracks: Cross Nun, an Order Faction unit. It's a fairly powerful unit, too. He wants another third-rank barracks from the Chaos Faction, or blueprints, secret treasures, or wonders with long-term value.]

Su Ye read Little Merchant's message. A third-rank barracks in exchange for blueprints, secret treasures, or wonders?

"He's asking for the moon." Su Ye rubbed his brow as he read the message.

At the end of the day, a third-rank barracks was nothing special. Although Cross Nuns were powerful units, their barracks was still only third rank. Its value fell far short of a purple blueprint.

It wasn't even worth an ordinary cyan-grade blueprint.

There were several reasons for that. First, the fact that he was selling it meant he couldn't use it himself. Second, a cyan-grade blueprint was an endless gold mine, worth far more than a third-rank barracks.

Secret treasures and wonders were even further out of its league. This was just a fucking outrageous demand.

A third-rank barracks was a third-rank barracks. Without the ability to evolve it, no amount of hype would make its units anything more than ordinary troops.

Whether blueprints, secret treasures, or wonders, their long-term returns exceeded those of a third-rank barracks. Everyone agreed on that.

[Otherworld Traveler: The price is too high. I don't have blueprints or secret treasures, let alone wonders.]

Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up at Su Ye's reply. Although he said he didn't have blueprints, secret treasures, or wonders, that meant he had other things on hand.

[Little Merchant: Boss, haggling is part of doing business. What can you offer? I'll negotiate for you.]

Su Ye considered Lin Xiaoxiao's message before replying.

[Otherworld Traveler: Five Advanced Meat Resource Cards and 1,000 Origin Crystals.]

Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes shone as she read Su Ye's message. Five Advanced Meat Resource Cards, each worth 100 Origin Crystals at market price, plus another 1,000 Origin Crystals.

At this stage, that was a substantial offer.

[Little Merchant: Hold on, boss. I'll ask him for you. Wait for me.]

Su Ye took a deep breath. He wanted this barracks badly, but being willing to haggle didn't mean he had to let himself get ripped off.

Su Ye sat cross-legged in the hall and waited for Lin Xiaoxiao's message.

A little while later, Lin Xiaoxiao replied.

[Little Merchant: Boss, he says that's too little. You need to add more.]

Su Ye smiled at Little Merchant's message. As long as there was room to negotiate, that was fine.

[Otherworld Traveler: How much does he want?]

[Little Merchant: He wants ten Advanced Resource Cards and 2,000 Origin Crystals. That's his bottom line. Any less, and the deal's off.]

Su Ye read Little Merchant's message and did the math. It wasn't too expensive—equivalent to just 3,000 Origin Crystals. Only during the Novice Period could he pick up something like this at that price.

[Otherworld Traveler: Fine. Let's trade.]

[Little Merchant: Sure, boss. I've sent the trade request.]

Su Ye traded 2,000 Origin Crystals and ten Advanced Meat Resource Cards for a third-rank barracks: the Nun Church!

A white model church appeared in Su Ye's hand. Its Gothic dome and white cross radiated a sacred glow.

"Upgrade!" Su Ye gazed at the model church in his hand.

[Ding: Your third-rank barracks, Nun Church, has been upgraded to Holy Temple!!]

Su Ye looked at the pure-white temple in his hand, radiant with sacred light. It was the complete opposite of the Fallen Heaven Sanctuary, its pristine white structure adorned with angel statues.

Ethereal hymns drifted around it, accompanied by countless voices raised in prayer.

"Upgrade." Su Ye chose to upgrade the Holy Temple.

[Ding: Your barracks, Holy Temple, has been upgraded. Current level: 2. You may view its detailed attributes.]

Only after spending 100 Origin Crystals to upgrade the Holy Temple did Su Ye check its attributes.

Name: Holy Temple

Level: 2

Rank: God Level

Faction: Order

Recruitment: 20/20 (daily)

Cost: 1 Gold Coin (1,000,000)

Upgrade: Origin Crystal × 1,000, Holy Seed × 1, Gold Coin × 10,000

"Absolute Order, huh? Just like the Supreme Protocol." Smiling, Su Ye walked out of the Origin Dragon Nest.

"Good luck today. Two barracks. My territory should grow a little stronger now." Su Ye surveyed his territory.

A beam of white light rose.

A pure-white church appeared beside the Supreme Protocol.

The Fallen Angels in the territory immediately sensed the Holy Temple's presence and gathered in front of it.

"Lord God Emperor." Lilith's voice rang out. As she looked at the newly appeared church, unmistakable hostility showed in her eyes for the first time.

It was hostility she hadn't displayed even when the Supreme Protocol appeared.

That hostility wasn't directed at Su Ye, but at the Holy Temple.

Su Ye looked at Lilith and said with a touch of helplessness, "We're all comrades, Lilith."

At Su Ye's words, the hostility faded from Lilith's eyes. "Lord God Emperor, I will obey you in everything. But I can't say the same for them."

Su Ye caught the implication in Lilith's words. By "them," she meant the Holy Angel Legion he had yet to recruit.

That thought left Su Ye feeling a little helpless. Still, as long as they didn't fight, it was fine. As before, provided they didn't hold him back, nothing else mattered.

Even if there was competition, it would be healthy competition.

Su Ye walked straight into the Holy Temple's courtyard. He found that the Holy Temple and the Fallen Heaven Sanctuary were complete opposites. The Fallen Heaven Sanctuary's courtyard was filled with statues of Holy Angels.

Lilith, Istar, and Thalys followed Su Ye into the Holy Temple.

Pangilia waited outside, too large to follow them into the Holy Temple.

A statue of an eighteen-winged angel stood in the temple's main hall, both hands resting on a war sword. Its face bore a solemn, sacred expression of compassion for all the world.

Endless holy power intertwined beneath the hall's dome.

Lilith gazed at the angel statue with an amused expression, while Istar wore a look of disdain. Thalys simply followed behind Su Ye, her face expressionless.