Training in Wu Mountain Town

Carrying Shiheng's letter, Xifaman hid by day and traveled by night, avoiding the Shadow Church's hidden sentries and Feng Lai City's inspection checkpoints. After a full day and night on the road (a journey that should have taken half a day had stretched into a full day and night), he finally reached the Radiant Church's headquarters safely. With the unique warrior secret-command insignia on the letter, he secured an audience with a cardinal and personally delivered the secret letter concerning the level 8 magic crystal mine into the hands of the Church's senior leadership.

As the contents of the letter were passed up through the ranks and finally placed on the Pope of Light's desk, the usually composed pontiff's expression instantly grew thunderous.

A level 8 magic crystal vein had been hidden within the territory under his control, and the Radiant Church troops stationed there had been wiped out by the Shadow Church, their entire force annihilated. Only Shiheng had fought his way out to deliver the news. This was nothing short of blatant provocation and humiliation directed at the Radiant Church!

Inside the great hall, the Church's senior leaders seethed with rage. Voices rose one after another, all demanding that troops be sent to settle accounts with the Dark Church.

The Pope of Light sat upright upon his enormous throne, his imposing, stern gaze as cold as ice, sending chills through those before him. Suddenly, he slammed his hand onto the table in front of him with a dull boom that shook the entire palace.

"Dispatch three ninth-rank temple warriors at once to serve as commanders and lead three hundred thousand elite Radiant troops into battle!" The Pope of Light's voice seemed to carry supreme authority as it rang in everyone's ears.

As soon as the order was issued, everyone in the hall grew solemn. They knew this operation held extraordinary significance and concerned the Radiant Church's very survival. The three ninth-rank temple warriors chosen for the mission stiffened, a flash of resolve crossing their eyes.

These warriors were the elite of the Radiant Church's elite, possessing extraordinary strength and unwavering faith. Without hesitation, they accepted their orders and departed, swiftly assembling the troops under their command and preparing to march toward the Magic Crystal Vein.

Meanwhile, the other generals also began mobilizing troops and organizing logistical support units to ensure the war could proceed smoothly. For a time, the entire Radiant Church was caught up in an atmosphere of tense activity.

As time passed, three hundred thousand elite Radiant troops swept forth like a torrent, racing toward the Magic Crystal Vein. They had only one objective-to completely eradicate the Shadow Church forces entrenched there, reclaim the level 8 magic crystal mine that belonged to the Radiant Church, and thereby honor the officers and soldiers who had bravely given their lives.

This operation was not merely about revenge and reclaiming an exceptionally rare mineral vein. It was also meant to assert the Church's might before the major powers of the Yulan Continent and proclaim to the world-the Radiant Church's territory and dignity would never be subject to encroachment or violation by any power!

At the same time the deployment order was issued, the Radiant Church prepared generous rewards and dispatched a designated envoy, who hurried on horseback toward Wu Mountain Town to convey its concern for Shiheng, who had rendered great service, and also to thank Huohe and Xifaman for rescuing him.

The envoy's party made no grand display, but every member carried an exceptional bearing. Their arrival at the Basik Family's old residence caused a stir throughout Wu Mountain Town.

When the envoy met Shiheng, whose injuries had yet to heal completely, he treated him with great respect. First, he conveyed the Pope of Light's concern, then carefully questioned him about every detail of the fierce battle at the Magic Crystal Vein and the encirclement and assault by Theodora, the youngest son of the Shadow Church's pope. Every part of his account was recorded in meticulous detail.

Once the questioning was finished, the envoy immediately read out the Church's decree of rewards: Shiheng was named an honorary temple warrior of the Radiant Church and awarded one million gold coins, the supreme healing remedy Holy Water of Light, and a suit of Fine Iron Battle Qi Armor capable of withstanding attacks below the eighth rank, for his recovery and training.

The Church was equally generous toward Huohe and Xifaman, who had rescued Shiheng and cared for him properly. Each received five hundred thousand gold coins, along with a promise that, should either ever encounter difficulties, they could present the Church's token at any of its branch churches in Fenlai City to request aid, and the Church would spare no effort to help.

Huohe and Xifaman accepted their rewards with a wealth of emotions. They had merely lent a hand to save someone, yet the Radiant Church had treated them so generously, all because of Shiheng's unparalleled service this time. Watching from beside them, Lindana (Nalan Ruoshui) felt even more fortunate. By following Huohe to Wu Mountain Town back then, she had not only escaped a deadly disaster but now stood apart from this turmoil sweeping the continent, able to live in peace.

The envoy stayed in Wu Mountain Town for half a day. After settling the relevant matters, he departed in haste to report back to the Church.

A war between high-ranking combatants that swept across the Yulan Continent had already begun at the Magic Crystal Vein. With the Radiant Church's three hundred thousand troops and three warriors of the ninth rank bearing down on them, the Shadow Church forces were utterly unable to resist and suffered defeat after defeat. News continued to reach Wu Mountain Town, yet it did not disturb the town's peace in the slightest.

After accepting the Church's rewards, Shiheng shut his doors to visitors and devoted himself to recovering and training in Wu Mountain Town.

Shiheng drank the Holy Water of Light without hesitation. It truly lived up to its reputation as a high-grade healing potion reserved for the Church. The instant he drank it, a warm and powerful force surged into his body like a tide. This miraculous healing power seemed to possess boundless magic. Wherever it flowed, his hideous, horrifying wounds began closing at an astonishing speed! In the blink of an eye, those wounds that had exposed bone vanished without a trace, leaving only faint pink marks.

At the same time, he closed his eyes tightly and concentrated on recalling his earlier harrowing breakthrough while in his berserk state. Back then, he had been trapped in a desperate situation, but through his indomitable will and relentless pursuit of the pinnacle of martial prowess, he had broken through his limits and gained combat insights unlike any he had known before. Now, those precious experiences shone deep within his mind like stars glittering in the night sky.

Not only that, he could also clearly sense the residual aura of the destruction laws within the Purple Blood Fiend's Space Ring. Those mysterious energy fluctuations made his heart race and his blood surge. He knew that, as long as he made good use of this power and combined it with the healing power brought by the Holy Water of Light, he would certainly be able to improve further and achieve a qualitative leap in strength!

The foundation he had established by breaking through to the peak of a fifth-level warrior in that desperate situation grew increasingly stable under the nourishment of a constant supply of resources. The battle qi within him became richer and more condensed, and his aura grew ever more restrained. He seemed peaceful, but concealed within him was power far surpassing what he had possessed before.

In accordance with their earlier agreement, Huohe assigned men to guard the old residence strictly and forbade outsiders from approaching at will, allowing Lindana and her sister to live in seclusion without worry and ensuring their whereabouts were never exposed. At the same time, he kept a constant watch on the fighting at the Magic Crystal Vein and developments in Feng Lai City, making thorough preparations.

Wu Mountain Town remained the same remote, peaceful little town, yet within the Basik Family's old residence lay secrets that stirred the continent's foremost powers. There, too, Shiheng lay low, newly recovered from grave injuries and rapidly growing stronger, alongside the Nalan sisters, who concealed their identities and waited for the right moment.