Repelling the Two Great Churches

An and Linley set out early the next morning and reached the ore vein in less than half a day.

From above, the situation around the ore vein was clear at a glance. The empire's camp occupied the entrance, with hills at its back and its front facing east. About five kilometers east stood the Radiant Church's camp, its white tents arranged in neat rows and an enormous Holy Cross rising from its center. About six kilometers south stood the Dark Church's camp, its black tents resembling raven feathers, with a dark Hexagram Banner erected in its center.

The two camps were not far apart. Though there had been no direct conflict between them, the tension was palpable.

Seven Saint-level energy signatures emanated from the Radiant Church's camp.

Six Saint-level energy signatures emanated from the Dark Church's camp.

The two great churches had thirteen Saint-level experts in total. Among them, Heidens, Fallen Leaves, Useno, Affleck, and Klemerson were Saint-level Peaks. With the three Six-Winged Angels, that made at least eight Saint-level Peaks. Such a force was enough to conquer a kingdom in a frontal assault.

But An had already reached the Saint-level Limit. Before him, Saint-level Peaks could not withstand a single blow.

"Big brother, how many people did you bring?" An asked.

Linley said, "Bebe, Barker, Ankh, Gates, and the Three Saint-level Dragons. Wharton is holding things together in the rear."

An nodded. Although the empire had fewer Saint-level experts than the two churches, their quality was no worse. Bebe's strength approached that of a Saint-level Peak, while among the Three Saint-level Dragons, the Thunder Dragon's speed and the Golden Dragon's magic were both first-rate.

"Let's go down," An said.

They landed in the empire's camp. At the sight of Linley, the soldiers all saluted. As the Dragon Warrior General who defended the nation, Linley commanded immense respect in the army.

Wharton had arrived at the camp ahead of them and was discussing military affairs with several commanders in a tent. When An and Linley entered, he rose. "Second brother, you're here."

An nodded. "How are things?"

Wharton pointed to the map spread across the table. "The Radiant Church and the Dark Church have already sent envoys. Their demands are simple: each church gets thirty percent of the proceeds from the Magic Crystal Ore Vein, and the empire gets forty percent. In exchange, they promise to stop preaching within the empire."

An looked at the map without speaking.

"I refused," Wharton said. "This ore vein lies within our empire. Why should we share it with them? Besides, once we agree, they'll only demand more."

"You did the right thing," An said.

Just then, a commotion broke out outside the tent. A soldier hurried inside. "Your Majesty, the people from the Radiant Church and the Dark Church are here! They... they've brought a lot of people, and they're all Saint-level experts!"

An and Linley exchanged a glance and walked out together.

Clouds hung low in the sky. Sunlight streamed through the gaps, casting dappled patches of light and shadow over the ground. The Radiant Church's seven Saint-level experts stood in midair, led by Heidens. Fallen Leaves, Useno, and Leiming flanked him, while three Six-Winged Angels stood behind them.

The Dark Church's six Saint-level experts hovered on the other side, led by Affleck. O'Casey and Klemerson flanked him, with three Four-Winged Fallen Angels behind them.

The thirteen Saint-level experts from the two churches completely sealed off the sky above the empire's camp. Their combined pressure left the soldiers below pale-faced and weak in the knees.

Heidens swept his gaze over the camp below before settling on Wharton. A gentle smile touched his lips, but there was no warmth in his eyes.

"Your Majesty Wharton, have you considered our proposal?" Heidens's voice was quiet, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

Wharton looked up at Heidens and said gravely, "Heidens, I've already told you. The Magic Crystal Ore Vein is part of the Baruch Empire's territory. No one else may lay a hand on it. Leave with your armies, and I can overlook what you've done. Otherwise-"

"Otherwise what?" Affleck sneered. "Wharton, do you think your handful of Saint-level experts can stop the thirteen of us?"

Wharton's expression darkened. He knew that if the other side truly attacked, the empire's Saint-level experts would indeed be outnumbered. But he would not back down.

"Then try us," Wharton said through gritted teeth.

Heidens shook his head and sighed. "Your Majesty Wharton, you're forcing our hand." He turned to Affleck. "Affleck, let's begin."

Affleck nodded. All thirteen Saint-level experts from the two churches unleashed their battle qi at once, pressing down on the empire's camp.

At that moment, An lightly tapped the ground with his foot and floated into the sky like a gentle breeze.

Heidens's pupils abruptly contracted. He recognized An.

"An Baruch." Heidens's voice grew low. "You're still alive?"

An hovered in midair, facing Heidens, Affleck, and the others across the intervening space.

"Heidens, Affleck. Get lost now, and I'll still spare you."

Heidens's expression changed. Affleck's face darkened as well.

"An Baruch, don't get too arrogant!" Useno snapped. "There are thirteen Saint-level experts here. How many can you stop alone?"

An finally turned his gaze to Useno.

"Useno, you talk too much," An said.

The moment he finished speaking, An vanished.

Useno's expression changed drastically. He instantly unleashed the Shadow Clone Technique, and four figures shot backward in four different directions. But An's attack was not aimed at him,

A streak of azure light flashed through the Radiant Church's ranks, weaving between the three Six-Winged Angels like an azure viper. Before they could even react, the light pierced their chests. Blood gushed from their wounds, blooming into three crimson flowers in the air.

Three Six-Winged Angels, all Saint-level Peaks, killed in a single strike.

The azure light returned to An's hand and became an azure longsword-Azure Frost.

Dead silence fell.

Heidens's face went deathly pale. Lord Fallen Leaves's brow furrowed deeply. All four of Useno's figures stopped retreating, disbelief written across every face.

On the Dark Church's side, Affleck's pupils shrank to pinpoints. O'Casey's lips trembled slightly. Klemerson instinctively took a step back.

One strike had killed three Saint-level Peaks.

What kind of strength was this?

"Saint-level Limit," Heidens said hoarsely. "You've reached the Saint-level Limit."

An stood with his sword in hand. Azure wind essence swirled around him, forming a vortex nearly a hundred meters across. Countless wind blades flickered within it, radiating a cutting force that made their hearts tremble.

"Affleck," An said, his voice still calm. "Thirteen years ago, you attacked me in the Luo'ao Empire and nearly killed me. I've remembered that debt ever since. Today, you've come again. Let's settle the old debt and the new one together."

Heidens gritted his teeth and drew from his robes the Bible, which shone with holy radiance-the Radiant Church's supreme treasure. He opened it and began silently reciting an incantation. Fate Law was the only means he had of threatening An.

Affleck also took out the Dark Crystal Ball and began invoking its evil power.

But An gave them no chance.

"Wind-Cutting Formation."

An swept the Azure Frost Sword.

Countless azure wind blades flew from his sword and coalesced into an azure wind dragon. It opened its enormous jaws and lunged at the ranks of the Radiant Church and the Dark Church.

Before Heidens could complete his Fate Law, the wind dragon interrupted him. He had no choice but to close the Bible and raise a Light Shield. Lord Fallen Leaves transformed into a streak of white light and retreated at speed. The wind dragon swept through two of Useno's four figures, instantly dispersing them. Leiming raised the Fanatic's Warhammer to block, only to be sent flying by the wind dragon's impact.

The Dark Church fared no better. Before Affleck could release his evil power, the wind dragon forced him back again and again. O'Casey's Judgment Blade struck the wind dragon, producing only a few sparks. Klemerson thrust his dark longsword into its body, but the wind blades shredded his dark power.

An's second sword thrust followed immediately.

Storm Spear.

The azure glow on the Azure Frost Sword suddenly became blinding. It transformed into an azure spear several meters long and shot toward Heidens. Heidens's expression changed drastically, and he held the Bible before him. A pillar of holy light erupted from it and collided with the Storm Spear.

Boom!

The Storm Spear pierced the pillar of light, and a crack appeared in the Bible. Heidens spat blood and hurtled backward, crashing into a distant hill and causing it to collapse.

An did not pursue Heidens. He turned and aimed his third sword thrust at Affleck.

Another Storm Spear.

Affleck gritted his teeth and released all the evil power within the Dark Crystal Ball, transforming it into a pillar of black light that collided with the Storm Spear. The spear tore through the black pillar, and cracks appeared on the crystal ball. Affleck likewise hurtled backward, crashing into the Dark Church's camp. Tents collapsed, and dust filled the air.

An lowered his sword and stood in the sky, looking down at the remaining Saint-level experts.

"Who else?"

No one answered.

Lord Fallen Leaves had already fled to the edge of the horizon. Useno's afterimages dissipated, his true body nowhere to be found. Gravely injured by the wind dragon, Leiming lay amid the rubble, unable to move. O'Casey and Klemerson exchanged a glance and both chose to flee.

Of the thirteen Saint-level experts from the Radiant Church and the Dark Church, three had died on the spot, two had been gravely injured, and all the rest had scattered and fled.

An put away the Azure Frost Sword and slowly descended to the ground.

Every soldier in the empire's camp knelt. They looked up at An, their eyes filled with worship and awe. One man, one sword, had routed thirteen Saint-level experts from the two great churches.

Wharton ran over, so excited he could barely speak. "Second brother, you... you're just..."

An patted Wharton's shoulder. "Clean up the battlefield. Heidens and Affleck escaped, but they're badly wounded. They won't be back anytime soon."

Wharton nodded firmly.

Linley walked over and stood beside An, remaining silent for a long time.

"An, with your current strength, could you storm Heidens's Holy Island?" Linley asked.

An considered it. "Heidens's Holy Island has the Glory of the Lord of Light magic formation. Without God-level strength, it can't be broken. I'm at the Saint-level Limit now, only one step away from God-level. But that single step is an even greater gap than the one between Saint-level Peak and Saint-level Limit. I can't break through that formation."

Linley frowned. "Then we wait a little longer?"

"We wait," An said. "Until I become a Deity."

Linley nodded and said nothing more.