Healer's Key

Yexiya's frost sword pierced Atiya's chest.

A chill burst forth from the wound, freezing her heart, spreading along her blood vessels, and turning her entire body into frost.

Atiya stopped breathing.

The sword she swung merely grazed past Yexiya from behind, failing to strike Yexiya body or even touch a single hair.

But Yexiya staggered backward, an expression of disbelief on her face.

A faint sound rang out, like the sound of ice cracking deep within the surface.

The "Eternal Frost·Condensation" domain has cracked.

Like a shattered mirror, layers of icy light crumbled. The frozen wind began to flow again, and the Crushed Stone that had been slow to fall on the battlefield finally crashed to the ground with a series of crackling sounds.

"You actually!"

Yexiya's hands trembled.

She could clearly feel that the source of her power had been cut and stripped away by this sword.

Having just arrived in Taya, she possessed Destiny Level power brought from Eden that surpassed that of this world, yet she had not yet integrated into this realm. There remained a hidden rift between her and this world.

And the method of exploiting this flaw was precisely what she herself revealed to the enemy!

The frost patterns peeled off Yexiya's arm, and the Magic Power within her body surged through her meridians as if it were being attacked, making it difficult for her to even stand.

The members of the Plundering Clock who were traveling with her immediately rushed over and helped her up. The one who had been traveling with her earlier Quarter Hand, took out a set of magical items from his pocket and attached them to Yexiya.

A sacred relic from the Orcs, "Zuyi's Blessing." It resembles a bird-beak mask and is also known as the "Healer's Key."

A green healing light then shone forth, like a flowing vine, enveloping Yexiya's figure and continuously repairing her injuries.

"Get the adults away quickly," Quarter Hand said in a deep voice.

Yexiya was escorted away by several members.

Only then did the Quarter Hand dare to show the regret and annoyance on his face. He glared hatefully at Atiya. He never expected that dealing with a mere peak Legendary would cost Lord Clock Hand Needle so much.

This will seriously affect the organization's subsequent strategic plans.

The members of the Quarter Hand drew their weapons and turned to walk towards the heavily wounded Leoni had collapsed to the ground.

Since things have come to this, I might as well collect this small amount of interest.

A flash of white light appeared.

Domain, "Sin-Cleansing Silence!"

The figure of the Regretful Monk Cortes appeared in the air.

He glanced casually at the scene, but his gaze suddenly sharpened when he saw Atiya.

Then, Cortes raised his hand and began to treat Leoni.

A powerful healing spell descended, and holy light poured into Leoni's body like a spring. The deep, bone-revealing wound on his chest and abdomen gradually closed up in the light, and the chill that had frozen his flesh was slowly dispelled.

The Quarter Hand and its two Minute Hand immediately tried to intervene.

But as soon as they raised their weapons, they found themselves unable to unleash an attack.

Their minds were forcibly filled with peace and forgiveness, overflowing with a devout longing for a beautiful and pure land. The murderous intent that had just arisen was dispelled by these overflowing thoughts.

Cortes looked at the enemy, but he too was unable to attack.

The weakness of the "Sin-Cleansing" field lies here: it fails to distinguish between friend and foe. Of course, this "attack" does not include words.

"A mere cult," Cortes scoffed as he treated Leoni. "Is this all there is to your faith in false gods?"

The Quarter Hand's eyes were gloomy, and the veins on his forehead were throbbing.

He walked step by step toward Cortes, intending to swing his knife.

But after raising the blade, his wrist trembled incessantly.

The murderous intent was washed away by the domain, and the anger was forcibly twisted into a kind of absurd peace.

At one point, he even had a genuine urge to lay down his weapons and kneel down in repentance.

This filled him with terror.

Cortes continued:

"I heard your false god is a snake?"

"Snake skin and snake gallbladders should be suitable for medicinal use, right?"

The two members of the Minute Hand team began to breathe heavily. Cortes ' domain had turned the battlefield into a prison of repentance.

Their reason was torn in two; one half wanted to kneel down, and the other half wanted to kill.

The members of the Quarter Hand exerted force again, the blade was only half a foot away from Cortes ' neck, but it just wouldn't fall.

Cortes continued his treatment, oblivious to the fact that he was speaking with a detached sarcasm.

"If your false gods saw their so-called devout believers—"

"The way they wag their tails and beg for mercy before the great and radiant God of Light."

"Don't you feel gratified?"

The Quarter Hand clenched its teeth, letting out a low growl like a wild beast.

The two Minute Hand next to it are in similar condition.

Their faces were contorted, and their eyes were bloodshot.

The urge to attack was ignited time and again, only to be crushed by the domain each time, leaving only the pain of having one's faith humiliated, repeatedly crashing against one's mind.

"Don't rush," Cortes said. "We'll hold a conversion ceremony for you in a bit. Our Church of Light is very generous."

"Since snakes can be used in medicine, it means they are skilled in medical treatment!"

Why bother distinguishing so much?

"After a few kowtows, we're all family."

"You heretics, Desecration!" the Quarter Hand cursed in despair.

He could no longer bear the humiliation. With a swift movement, he slashed his own neck with the blade.

A hint of relief even appeared in his eyes.

The remaining two Minute Hand, without hesitation, followed suit and simultaneously thrust their weapons at themselves.

The three corpses collapsed beside Cortes.

Cortes glanced down.

"His faith is incredibly stubborn."

"He's just not very bright."

A few minutes later, Cortes arrived in front of Atiya.

With the lifting of the frost barrier, the surrounding frost had long since faded away.

But Atiya was still shrouded in white mist, and frost covered her hair, eyelashes, and the seams of her armor, especially where Yexiya's frost sword had pierced her chest.

Atiya still held the Unyielding Blade in his hand, but its light had faded.

It's hard to say whether this Unyielding warrior was killed by Yexiya or burned himself out in the battle.

Cortes took a closer look; Atiya showed no signs of pain.

Even on his bloodless face, a faint smile remained.

Cortes remained silent for a moment.

"Facing a formidable foe, you must be happy to have unleashed that devastating sword strike," he murmured.

You've been watching the whole thing unfold!

Leoni approached, his voice laced with suppressed anger. His injuries had just been treated, but large bloodstains remained on his chest and abdomen, making him unsteady on his feet. The look in his eyes as he glared at Cortes was almost as if he wanted to tear him apart.

Cortes gave him a cold look.

"Any fire you have, fire it at the enemy."

"My relationship with you isn't close enough to risk my life for you."

"Such a dangerous enemy, I've already done my duty by staying on the sidelines and waiting for the right moment to strike."

Leoni clenched his fists; he desperately wanted to fight. Atiya's death had left him devastated.

But reason gradually returned.

Cortes is a very selfish person, so it's already commendable that he didn't kick me when I was down and instead came to my rescue at a crucial moment.

In the end, Leoni slowly loosened his fist, forcing himself to calm down.

****

Cortes ignored Leoni and formed a blessing mudra with his hands.

"I really don't want to recite it twice a day," Cortes sighed. Holy light poured from his palm, gently covering Atiya's frozen body.

"Arcane magic is the soul, the star path is the journey..."

"On this journey..."

He paused, his gaze falling on the sword that Atiya still held tightly in his hand.

"Eternally bathed in sword light!"

****

After the blessing ceremony ended, Cortes suddenly sensed something.

Atiya's weapon suddenly disintegrated, transforming into a ball of light that converged before Cortes.

Divine Favor weapons are choosing new masters!

This time, however, was completely different from when Zijin later gained Divine Favor and recognition.

The light seemed extremely reluctant. It twisted a few times in mid-air, as if trying to escape, but was ultimately pressed back to its original position by invisible rules and fell into Cortes' hands.

Holy light flowed, its radiance dreamlike and ethereal. Cortes was momentarily stunned, then his eyes lit up with undisguised ecstasy.

"I truly am the God of Light's favorite!"

"All those years of good deeds haven't been in vain!"

"With this, the authority of the temple should belong to me!"

He paced back and forth a few steps.

"No, it must be claimed to be from Augustus."

Cortes quickly calculated in his mind.

"We still need to keep him in the open; that way, we can better counter the Council of Cardinals."

As expected, they'll do whatever they want once they get a Divine Favor weapon.

No wonder the Divine Favor weapon was so reluctant just now.

Leoni even felt that if he hadn't been seriously injured and fallen, the Divine Favor weapon would have chosen him.

He retorted sarcastically, "Ke'er site, your hypocritical acts of seeking fame and fortune may fool the ignorant masses, but they're not enough."

"Do you really think you can deceive God?"

Leoni glanced at the corpses of several Quarter Hand and Minute Hand hands beside him.

"Perhaps it's because you just killed these people that the Divine Favor are reluctantly coming to you."

Cortes snorted coldly.

You should show basic gratitude to the person who just saved you.

"I'm just reminding you what you should do," Leoni said. "If you insist on being stubborn, the Divine Favor Weapon will probably abandon you and seek a new master the moment any candidate appears!"

"That's none of your concern!"

"Cortes roared."

He floated up and looked at Leoni, who was covered in blood.

"If you're not going to die, then I'll be going now."

After speaking, Cortes quickly left. The illusory scene on Su Ming's side, following the Divine Favor weapon, gradually receded into the distance.

Behind Cortes, Leoni carried the silver wolf's corpse over and placed it next to Atiya before slowly kneeling down.

He reached out and pressed his hand against the wound on his chest that had just been healed by the holy light; the bleeding had stopped, but he couldn't stop the blood seeping from his heart.

The image slowly zooms in.

The wind blew across the hills again, stirring up broken arrows, bloodstains, and shattered ice crystals, and fluttering Atiya's frosty cloak.

It stands like a monument.