Three days later, Lin Yinuo arrived for his appointment on time.
The cathedral in Fenlai City, the Radiant Church's headquarters on the Yulan Continent, was magnificent. Enormous pure-white stone pillars supported its soaring dome, and stained-glass windows depicted tales of a deity saving the world. A faint scent of sandalwood and an air of solemn dignity filled the air.
Led by a humble-looking priest in white robes, Lin Yinuo passed through a long colonnaded hall and entered a side chamber. Its furnishings were simple and antique, and portraits of past popes and saints hung on the walls. An elderly man in red episcopal robes sat in the seat of honor, watching him with a smile. His face was kindly, but his gaze was deep. This was Bishop Alvin, one of the Radiant Church's few cardinals who held real power on the Yulan Continent.
"Welcome, the empire's bulwark, Lord Lin Yinuo." Bishop Alvin's voice was gentle, carrying a soothing power. "Word of your heroic deeds in Chier Prefecture has long since spread across the continent. Even His Holiness the Pope has heard of them and praised you as a young hero of the Divine Empire."
"You flatter me, Your Eminence." Lin Yinuo bowed slightly, performing a flawless noble's salute, his expression calm, neither servile nor overbearing. He quietly circulated the [Soul Concealment Technique], suppressing his spiritual fluctuations and that trace of law aura to the utmost. In Bishop Alvin's eyes, he was now merely a young genius of outstanding talent and steady temperament-exceptional, but not too far beyond the bounds of reason.
Bishop Alvin thought, Heroes truly do emerge among the young. Steady, neither arrogant nor impatient. No wonder he achieved such military feats. But... there seems to be no unusual fluctuation of divine grace or exceptionally powerful soul aura about him. Did he truly develop that Magic Cannon on his own?
They both took their seats, and an attendant served fragrant tea.
Bishop Alvin first asked solicitously about Lin Yinuo's training and life at the institute, then congratulated him on the Baruch Clan's "revival." His earnest words were as pleasant as a spring breeze. But Lin Yinuo knew this was only the prelude.
Sure enough, once the pleasantries were over, Bishop Alvin changed the subject, his gaze deepening. "Lord Yinuo, the 'Magic Cannon' you invented possesses astonishing power and played a crucial role in the war against the Luo'ao Empire. If such a wondrous weapon, beneficial to both nation and people, could be widely deployed throughout the imperial army, it would surely deter evildoers and safeguard the peace of hundreds of millions of believers. I wonder... might the Church have the honor of working with you to promote it, spreading light and protection to more places in need?"
He offered an olive branch, his tone sincere, as though he sought nothing but faith and peace.
Lin Yinuo sneered inwardly. Cooperate? Promote it? More likely, they want the core technology and blueprints to strengthen the Church's own armed forces, perhaps even to use it to constrain the imperial family.
His face showed just the right measure of difficulty and candor. "You praise me too highly, Your Eminence. Manufacturing Magic Cannons involves some extremely rare materials that are difficult to process, as well as... certain ancient alchemical teachings I acquired by chance that cannot be replicated. Production is currently extremely limited, barely enough to meet urgent needs on the empire's borders. I truly lack the capacity to promote them more widely. Besides, these weapons are enormously destructive. If they spread, they could cause disaster. His Majesty has also issued strict orders that they must be handled cautiously."
By invoking the emperor and "ancient teachings that could not be replicated," he both rejected the Church's request and blocked any pretext for probing further, while also making his loyalty to the empire clear.
A barely perceptible trace of disappointment flashed through Bishop Alvin's eyes, but his smile remained warm. "I see. Then I was presumptuous. For one so young to understand the greater good so well and hold the empire and all its people in his heart-you are truly a blessing to the empire."
He no longer pressed the matter of the Magic Cannon, instead asking with seeming casualness, "I hear that at the Ernst Institute, you demonstrated elemental affinity rated superb in all elements. Such talent is rarely seen even once in ten thousand years. I wonder... have you felt any special connection to the great Sovereign of Light? Our lord's radiance embraces all things and blesses all living beings. With your gifts, should you be willing to bask in divine grace, your future achievements would surely be boundless."
So this was the real objective! Recruitment! Or rather, probing the source of his talent in all elements to see whether it was connected to some matter of "divine grace" or "divine abandonment."
A faint warning stirred in Lin Yinuo's heart. He was just about to give his prepared response when the [Dimensional Beacon (Fragment) · Gebados] deep within his soul suddenly emitted an extremely faint yet sharp pulse!
This pulse pointed not toward the distant Gebados Prison, but... in a certain direction within this side chamber! The beacon had sensed an exceedingly obscure trace of death and destruction, sharing the same origin as the Gebados Planar Prison, yet far purer and more terrifying!
This aura... though sealed and disguised by some powerful force, its fundamental level is extraordinarily high! Far beyond god-level! An aura of the Ed of Death at Sovereign level?! Could... one of "her" avatars really be here? At the Radiant Church's headquarters?
The setting concerning the third female lead-the avatar of the "Sovereign of Death"-instantly flashed through his mind! In the original work, the Sovereign of Death was the foremost Sovereign of the Netherworld, and her avatar had once traveled the material planes. Could it really be such a coincidence that she was hiding in the Radiant Church?
The sudden discovery shook Lin Yinuo deeply, but his expression remained unchanged. He merely used the motion of lifting his teacup to conceal the momentary change in his eyes.
He looked at Bishop Alvin, his tone carrying a hint of "curiosity" and "candor." "Your Eminence, I feel an affinity with every element, and light is naturally no exception. It's just that, when it comes to cultivation, I personally lean toward exploring the essence and laws of all things in this world. As for faith..." He paused briefly, his gaze seemingly sweeping by chance toward the direction the beacon had just sensed-a wall bearing the portrait of a certain "saint." "I respect everyone who follows the path within their heart, whether they pursue light or... explore other ultimate truths."
He spoke the words "other ultimate truths" very softly, yet they seemed to carry a peculiar cadence.
The instant his words fell-
Buzz!
Behind the wall bearing the "saint's" portrait, the exceedingly obscure aura of a Death Sovereign sensed by the beacon seemed to fluctuate ever so faintly, like a sleeping dragon disturbed by an extraordinarily slight touch that had landed precisely on its forbidden scale!
Bishop Alvin noticed nothing and continued to smile, but with his powerful soul and the beacon's special perception, Lin Yinuo clearly caught that fleeting fluctuation!
Just as I thought! It seems this visit to the cathedral has turned out more interesting than expected.
Seeing that Lin Yinuo's stance was clear and his words left no opening, Bishop Alvin knew that substantive progress would be difficult today. He pressed no further, offered a few more words of encouragement, and ended the meeting.
Lin Yinuo calmly took his leave and departed the cathedral accompanied by the priest.
Stepping through the solemn gates into the sunlight, Lin Yinuo glanced back at the cathedral's towering dome, his gaze deep.
The Radiant Church's attempt to recruit me was expected, but the unexpected discovery of the Sovereign of Death's avatar is a major variable. This being... might become the key to my future journey to the Netherworld, or even to exploring the secrets of Sovereigns. But bargaining with a tiger requires sufficient strength and bargaining chips. Now is not yet the time to make contact.
In this meeting, he had not only successfully handled the Church's probing, but also discovered a potential shortcut to a higher level. The waters of the Yulan Continent ran deeper than he had imagined.
And because of this unexpected discovery, his journey through the planes seemed to have become even more unpredictable, and even more... worth anticipating.
Before you continue