Useno

On Holy Island, at the highest level of the Radiant Temple, Heidens, the Radiant Pope, gazed at the sea outside the window, feeling irritated. Things had not gone well for him in recent years.

A few years ago, the Radiant Church captured Sessler, a 9th Level necromancer, along with Rebecca and her sister, who possessed pure souls. Yet before they could be brought back to Holy Island, Linley rescued them.

After much difficulty, they found the bodies of five 8th Level warriors in the Northern Eighteen Principalities. They were equivalent to five Six-Winged Angels. Once those five bodies were brought back to Holy Island, the Radiant Church would gain five Saint Realm Peak experts.

To ensure nothing went wrong, Heidens had specifically sent Steller.

Steller was a special-grade deacon and a Saint Realm Peak expert. There should not have been any problems escorting five 8th Level warriors.

At first, everything did go smoothly. Although the Radiant Church was once again ambushed by Linley, Linley at the time was still no match for Steller. Yet no one had expected Cesar, the "King of Assassins," to suddenly appear.

Cesar was the former chief instructor of the "Saber" organization. When Helen had Liewen assassinated, she had hired killers from the "Saber" organization.

Cesar had originally been one of the six Saint Realm Limit experts of the Yulan Continent. In recent years, he had taken that final step and become a Lowgod.

He liked beautiful women and stone sculptures. Because Linley had carved "Dream Awakening," Cesar had taken a favorable view of him. When Steller was about to kill Linley, Cesar intervened to save him.

As it happened, the bodies of the five 8th Level warriors belonged to descendants of Undying Warriors. More than five thousand years ago, Cesar had traveled with Amanda, the first-generation Undying Warrior, and they had been friends who would die for one another. Cesar protected those five as well.

The Radiant Church had come away empty-handed.

To kill Linley, Heidens sent another six angels to the O'Brien Empire. Yet several years passed, and they still found no trace of Linley.

Heidens had thought there would be no more bad news, but today, he received intelligence sent back by Gilmer.

"Where exactly did this genius named Lewin Andrew come from?" Heidens clenched the sheet containing the intelligence tightly in his hand, his gaze icy.

He was, after all, the Radiant Pope, and he acted decisively. Since they had already become enemies, he had to eliminate the threat completely.

"He defeated Beasley at the 9th Level peak, then broke through to the Saint Realm after the battle. Even Steller might not be able to kill him."

Although Steller was at the Saint Realm Peak, he had only grasped the barest fragments of the Laws' Profound Mysteries. Among Saint Realm experts, he had not even reached the third tier.

Heidens instructed the white-robed priest waiting respectfully at his side, "Go summon Useno."

Useno, the chief inquisitor of the Religious Inquisition, was the Radiant Church's sharpest blade. His strength was close to Heidens's, placing him among the second tier of Saint Realm experts.

On the surface, Heidens was the representative figure of the Radiant Church. But within the Radiant Church, Useno's deterrent power was no weaker than Heidens's.

"Yes."

The white-robed priest accepted the order and left.

Before long, a tall, thin man with a hooked nose and bewitching purple hair entered the highest level of the Radiant Temple.

"Heidens." Useno greeted him.

"Useno, take a look at this."

Heidens handed over the sheet containing Liewen's information.

Useno accepted it and frowned slightly after reading it.

"I estimate that this Liewen already possesses the strength of a third-tier Saint Realm expert. I need you to act personally."

"Fine." Useno did not waste words.

"He has a child with him, so he probably will not choose to cross the Magical Beast Mountain Range. You can intercept him along the passage between the Magical Beast Mountain Range and the North Sea. I hear Liewen's body has reached above the 8th Level. It would be best if you could capture him alive. If not, kill him without hesitation." Heidens spoke coldly, the killing intent in his voice undisguised.

"What if he does not take that route? What if he finds somewhere to hide?" Useno asked.

"As long as he remains in the Holy Union, he cannot hide from us. Once we have news of him, I will send someone to notify you."

"Understood." Useno turned and left.

Not long afterward, Heidens saw a streak of black light leave Holy Island through the window, heading south.

North of the Yulan Continent lay the North Sea. Holy Island was located within the North Sea, facing the territory of the Holy Union far to the south.

Between the North Sea and the Magical Beast Mountain Range was a broad passage. It was the only route linking the Holy Union and the O'Brien Empire, with countless travelers and merchant caravans passing between the two nations every day.

Holy Island, located not far north of the Holy Union, was much closer to that passage than Hess City was.

Heidens had great confidence in Useno. As long as Useno found Liewen, he would certainly complete the mission.

Heidens had always been merciless toward anyone who might threaten the church.

A streak of light flashed across the sky.

Liewen held Lena and flew rapidly northward.

He intended to take the northern passage around the Magical Beast Mountain Range and head to the O'Brien Empire.

The O'Brien Empire had the God Realm expert, the War God. The Radiant Church did not dare act recklessly within the O'Brien Empire.

Liewen had also considered crossing the Magical Beast Mountain Range, but it was, after all, the territory of Dylin, a God Realm magical beast. There were also quite a few Saint Realm magical beasts within it.

If a battle truly broke out, he feared he would be unable to spare attention to protect Lena.

He was not worried about encountering Saint Realm experts from the Radiant Church, because the Radiant Church's goal was to take Lena back to Holy Island and offer her to the Lord of Light. They certainly would not kill Lena.

But magical beasts were different. Magical beasts did not worship the Lord of Light.

After leaving Greenleaf Town, Liewen had been traveling without rest. Although continuous flight consumed a considerable amount of battle-qi, leaving the Holy Union one day earlier meant escaping danger one day sooner.

Liewen had yet to completely fuse 256 rays of light into 128. He had not yet reached the strength of a second-tier Saint Realm expert.

As far as he knew, within the Radiant Church, at least four people possessed the strength of the second Saint Realm tier: Radiant Pope Heidens, Chief Inquisitor Useno, ascetic leader Luoye, and Fanatic Legion commander Leiming.

If the Radiant Church wants to kill me, the one they send should be Useno.

Liewen was not yet confident of facing Useno. He could only hurry onward as quickly as possible.

At last, Liewen saw the broad road connecting the Holy Union and the O'Brien Empire.

The road stretched far into the distance, filled with an endless stream of merchant caravans and pedestrians.

Liewen flew from west to east along the road.

On the ground, pedestrians spotted the streak of light in the sky and cried out in alarm.

"Look, someone is flying in the sky!"

"A Saint Realm expert! That must be a Saint Realm expert!"

"I never thought that in my lifetime, I would be able to see a Saint Realm expert with my own eyes!"

Liewen ignored the discussion below. In the distance, he had already spotted the black city on the eastern horizon.

Blackstone City, the northwestern bulwark of the O'Brien Empire, was entirely black. Its city walls rose thirty meters high, like a gigantic magical beast crouching there.

Once he entered Blackstone City, he would be within the territory of the O'Brien Empire.

Liewen accelerated, but suddenly, a streak of black light shot upward from below and blocked his path.

Liewen immediately halted.

Before him stood a tall, thin man with bewitching long purple hair.

"Useno?"

Liewen had never met Useno, but his instincts told him that this was the chief inquisitor of the Religious Inquisition of the Radiant Church.