Lin Qin returned to Red Flame City and went straight to the Mercenary Guild to turn in his mission. When he handed the mission supervisor the Black Crystal, which still radiated an evil aura, along with the intelligence he had gathered about the Dark Church and the Soul Gathering Array, it caused quite a stir.
The one who received him was an experienced senior clerk. He carefully examined the crystal, then listened to Lin Qin's brief account. His expression grew grave.
"The Dark Church... the Soul Gathering Array... collecting souls..." the senior clerk murmured, his brows knitted. "Lord Lin Qin, the information you've provided is extremely important. This goes far beyond the scope of an A+ mission. I'll report it to my superiors at once and send a copy to the Empire's military. We'll settle your mission reward at the highest rate and give you an additional bonus for your contribution of intelligence."
"Just pay me according to the rules." Lin Qin didn't care much about the reward. He was more concerned about what would happen next. "The Dark Church is active along the Empire's border, and its intentions are unclear. How do you plan to deal with it?"
The senior clerk sighed. "In matters like this, the Mercenary Guild mainly provides intelligence and assistance. The Empire's royal family and the various great temples will decide how to respond. But since the Dark Church is involved, I doubt this will end quietly. Thank you for the warning, sir. We'll step up our efforts to gather information."
Lin Qin nodded and said nothing more. He collected his generous reward, then left the Mercenary Guild.
As soon as he stepped outside, a royal guard approached and said respectfully, "Lord Lin Qin, His Majesty requests your presence. He hopes you'll come to the palace for a meeting."
Lin Qin wasn't surprised. The intelligence he'd submitted concerned the Dark Church, so the royal family must have heard about it right away. It seemed the emperor couldn't sit still.
"Lead the way," Lin Qin said.
Guided by the guard, Lin Qin returned to the magnificent Red Flame Imperial Palace. This time, he was taken straight to the emperor's study. Besides Joanne O'Brien, the emperor of the O'Brien Empire, two others were there. One was Rock Sword Saint Hederson, whom Lin Qin had met before. The other was an elderly man with a full head of white hair and beard, dressed in a red mage's robe. A powerful, blazing surge of Fire Element magic radiated from him. He was clearly a Saint Magus.
"Lord Lin Qin, please sit," Emperor Joanne said. He looked to be in his forties, with a stern face and sharp eyes. He had the imposing air of a ruler, yet treated Lin Qin, a Saint Realm expert, with considerable courtesy.
"Your Majesty." Lin Qin gave a slight nod and took a seat across from him. Hederson nodded in greeting. The old mage in red watched Lin Qin with curiosity.
"This is Ralph, the Empire's chief court mage and Fire Master," Emperor Joanne introduced him.
Saint Magus Ralph smiled at Lin Qin. "Not bad, young man. Hederson rarely praises anyone."
Lin Qin simply replied, "Saint Magus Ralph."
Emperor Joanne got straight to the point. "Lord Lin Qin, we've heard about what you discovered in the Death Desert. The Dark Church is reaching farther and farther."
"They seem to be plotting something. They're using a Soul Gathering Array to collect souls, feed some sealed being, and sow chaos." Lin Qin told them what he had learned.
"A sealed being..." Saint Magus Ralph stroked his beard, his expression grave. "The Death Desert has a long history and is steeped in legend. If the Dark Church really is targeting some ancient seal, we could be in serious trouble."
Hederson said in a low voice, "Whatever they're planning, we can't let them succeed. They won't be allowed to run rampant along the Empire's borders."
Emperor Joanne turned to Lin Qin. "Lord Lin Qin, you've rendered a great service this time. You not only dealt with the threat to our borders, but also brought us crucial intelligence. On behalf of the Empire, I thank you."
"It was my duty," Lin Qin said.
After a moment's thought, Emperor Joanne said, "You're powerful, Lord Lin Qin, and you care about justice. The continent is beset by undercurrents, and the Dark Church is stirring. The Radiant Church may not be keeping quiet, either. I once again sincerely invite you to join the Empire and help us repel our enemies. The Empire is willing to offer you the honored position of Saint Protector of the Kingdom, along with every resource and privilege you could want."
The position of Saint Protector of the Kingdom carried great prestige, ranking just below the War God. It was clear how eager the royal family was to recruit him.
Lin Qin shook his head again. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. But that isn't the path I wish to take. I'm used to walking alone and pursuing the pinnacle of strength. Still, if the Dark Church threatens the peace of the continent, I won't stand by and do nothing."
He made his position clear: he wouldn't join any faction, but he had his own principles when it came to matters of right and wrong.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Emperor Joanne's eyes, but he didn't press the matter. Those who had reached the Saint Realm each had their own convictions, and you couldn't force someone to join. Getting this promise from Lin Qin was already a good result.
"In that case, I won't insist," Emperor Joanne said. "While you're in the Empire, if you need anything, just ask. The Empire will always be your friend."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After leaving the palace, Hederson walked beside Lin Qin.
"The Dark Church won't take its defeat lying down," Hederson said. "You ruined their plans. They may set their sights on you."
"I know." Lin Qin wasn't afraid. "If they come looking for me, all the better."
Hederson glanced at him, admiration in his eyes. "Your Thick Earth Seal seems to have improved again."
"I've gained a little insight." Lin Qin didn't deny it. His battle with Hederson and his experiences in the Death Desert had both given him a new understanding of how to use his power.
"Good." Hederson nodded. "The path of martial arts is like rowing upstream. Keep at it." Then he parted ways with Lin Qin and headed in the opposite direction.
Lin Qin returned to the inn and began sorting through what he had gained from the mission. Beyond the material reward, what mattered more was his heightened vigilance toward the Dark Church's movements and the steady improvement in his own strength.
He decided to stay in Red Flame City a while longer. The city had abundant resources, making it a convenient place to gather information and improve himself. He also wanted to see how the Empire and the other factions would react to the Dark Church incident.
Just as he had settled down to cultivate, the inn's attendant knocked and brought him a letter. There was no name on the envelope, only a faint, familiar surge of Water Element magic.
Lin Qin opened it. Inside was a message written in Aileen's neat hand.
"Lin Qin, I was glad to hear your reputation is growing in the O'Brien Empire. Everything is well with me at the Magic Guild, so don't worry. Fenlai City has been unsettled lately, too, with undercurrents stirring. Please take care. I hope we'll meet again soon."
The letter was short, but the corners of Lin Qin's cold lips lifted slightly. He carefully put it away and looked toward Fenlai City.
Fenlai City was unsettled, too... It seemed a storm really was brewing across the Yulan Continent.
He took a deep breath, pushed aside his distracting thoughts, and immersed himself in cultivation once more. No matter how the world changed, improving his own strength would always be the most important thing.
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