Wanted

Gilmer couldn't hold out much longer. The others could all see that at a glance.

But not everyone was capable of launching ranged attacks.

The Temple Knights inside the Light Guardian barrier could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything.

The moment they stepped or leaped outside the barrier, the immense gravity would crush them to death. Even a Level 9 warrior could only last a short while by relying on his body and battle-qi.

Lampson said, "Who are you? Do you have any idea what will happen if you kill us?"

Jonathan glanced at him coldly.

Before long, it was clear that Gilmer's Light Guardian was about to give out.

Lampson silently continued casting, preparing to use the Level 9 Light Element spell Song of Life. It was a powerful single-target healing spell that could even regenerate severed limbs, but it could only affect one person.

Better that someone else die than you. At the edge of life and death, people were always selfish.

With several sharp cracks, the Light Guardian shattered like broken glass, dissolving into specks of light that vanished into the air.

Everyone let out a scream, just like the Temple Knights before them.

Mages had fragile bodies. Even a Level 9 Great Mage was barely comparable to a Level 4 warrior. Only their powerful mental strength allowed them to hold out.

As for anyone below Level 9, whether they relied on battle-qi or mental strength, they were utterly helpless against a Gravity Field twenty times as strong as normal.

Gilmer had already exhausted too much of his mental strength. Even after using all that remained to resist, he lasted only a moment before letting out a wail and exploding into a cloud of blood.

He died even faster than the Temple Knights.

Lampson, however, had cast Song of Life on himself at the crucial moment. Its powerful healing effect, combined with his mental strength, let him live longer than anyone else.

Just as he thought he was about to meet the same fate as Gilmer, the gravity suddenly vanished. He looked up, but the black-robed man was already gone.

His face pale, he collapsed to the ground with a thud. Sweat poured down his face as he panted heavily. Looking around, he couldn't help but grimace.

It was a scene straight out of hell!

"Who was he? I've never heard of such a powerful Gravity Spell. Could he be in the Saint Realm?!"

Song of Life was still taking effect. A short while later, his body had fully recovered, and he hurried away from Wushan like a startled rabbit.

He didn't stop in Wushan. He went straight back to Fenlai City and returned to the Light Temple, where he reported what had happened to the Pope.

At the very top of the Light Temple stood a tall, bald old man in a silver robe. He was nearly two meters tall and held a staff almost as long in his left hand.

He was the supreme ruler of the Light Church, the Pope of Light, Heidens.

"Gilmer is dead? And you don't even know what the man looked like?"

Lampson knelt a short distance before him. Under the weight of Heidens's holy presence, his body trembled uncontrollably.

"The man deliberately concealed his appearance. But with a Gravity Spell that powerful, he must be a Level 9 Earth Element Great Mage. He also had some special item that made his gravity far stronger than that of an ordinary Level 9 Great Mage."

"Besides, he could hover in the air, so he must have an affinity for the Wind Element as well."

"What? You're not sure?"

Lampson said, "He never used Wind Element magic from beginning to end, so I can't be certain. But he was definitely floating in the air."

"If he wasn't a Wind Element mage, then the only possibility is—"

"Saint Realm? An Earth Element Saint Magus?" Heidens said.

Lampson thought of something and added, "Jonathan, the man from the Dark Church who came this time, is proficient in both the Earth and Dark Elements."

"Are you suggesting that a Level 7 dual-element Great Mage killed Level 9 Gilmer and all those Temple Knights?"

Lampson also thought it impossible, and fell silent.

"Lampson, why were you able to come back alive?"

Under Heidens's soul-searching question, Lampson broke out in a cold sweat. His heart pounded with nerves. "I... I don't know either. Perhaps he thought I was as good as dead and simply left. Or perhaps he left me alive to... to deliver a message to the Church."

Whoosh—

A powerful aura burst from Heidens, making his white robe billow.

"I'll deal with your matter later."

"Lampson, take Marcus, Marina, ten White-robed Priests, and a squad of Glory Knights. Capture Wesport!"

"Your Holiness, are you saying this has something to do with—"

"Go, now!"

"Yes!"

After waiting in vain for Jonathan, Wesport realized something was wrong the next day and left Fenlai City with his people.

Before they had even left the territory of the Holy Union, the Light Church had already sent people to capture them.

Lampson, Marina, and Marcus, three Level 9 experts, brought ten White-robed Priests and a squad of Glory Knights to surround them.

"Lampson, what do you think you're doing? Aren't you afraid this will start a war?"

Lampson gave a cold laugh. "Since your Dark Church struck first, the Light Church naturally can't just let you get away with it!"

"Where's Jonathan? Why isn't he here?"

Wesport said, "He went to Wushan Town, Linley's hometown, to pay his respects. He hasn't come back yet."

Lampson's expression shifted.

"What exactly happened?"

"What happened?" Lampson said angrily. "Not long ago, in Wushan Town and on Wushan Mountain, Archbishop Gilmer was attacked by someone from your Dark Alliance and killed on the spot!"

Wesport's expression changed dramatically. Jonathan's face immediately came to mind, but he quickly dismissed the thought.

Even if Jonathan was both a Level 7 dual-element mage and a Level 7 warrior, there was no way he could kill Gilmer with the Temple Knights and White-robed Priests there.

Besides, Gilmer was a Level 9 Great Mage. That made it even more impossible!

Every Temple Knight and White-robed Priest was a Level 7 expert or higher, an elite among elites.

"This has nothing to do with our Dark Church. Do you really think Jonathan did it?"

"Who knows? Perhaps you sent an expert—or hired an assassin!"

Lampson said firmly, "There's no point saying more. We'll settle this before His Holiness the Pope!"

A battle broke out!

But Wesport had brought so few people that there was no chance of breaking through!

In less than half an incense stick's time, Wesport was captured, badly wounded. His body was covered in blood, and his hair hung loose around his face. He looked utterly wretched.

The others had no value, so they were all killed.

As they took Wesport back, Lampson ordered Clyde to issue a wanted notice for Jonathan throughout the entire region.

Now that the two sides had fallen out, capturing the other side's prodigy and "recruiting" him would naturally serve the Light Church's interests better.

Jonathan still had plenty of potential, and could very well become a Saint Realm expert in the future. So the capture order specifically stated that he was to be taken alive.

It didn't matter how badly he was injured. The Light Church had plenty of ways to heal him.

By then, Jonathan had already entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range from Wushan. He didn't dare venture deep into the range, and hurried along its outskirts toward the Dark Alliance.

The Magical Beast Mountain Range was full of danger. None of the major factions could afford to send large numbers of people in to search for him; the losses would be too great.

Seven or eight days later.

Jonathan returned to the Dark Alliance.