"Life Return?"

Bai Qingshuang had obviously never heard this term before; she had done no research into the domain of life. The Fruit of Birth was a taboo for the Life Knights Group, and with Bai Qingshuang's pride, she truly disdained cultivating such an inhumane ability.

However, she and Fan Zhen shared some common ground. This was because, to break through to the Eighth Order, they had both relinquished their original power: Holy Radiance!

Although both were already at the pinnacle of the Dawn Church, its strongest members, they had unanimously abandoned Holy Radiance after reaching the peak of the Seventh Tier. What seemed like a coincidence actually had an inevitable reason behind it. The power of Holy Radiance originated from the Dawn Disc. The Dawn Disc was indeed a very useful treasure, but it also fundamentally severed the Wasteland Alliance members' possibility of advancing to the Eighth Order. Holy Radiance was power, but also contamination. After the majority of one's energy had been encroached upon by Holy Radiance, from the moment one became a Seventh Tier, they would completely become a slave to the Dawn Disc, even its food. Most of the Seventh Tier members of the Wasteland Alliance were like this; for instance, all the Seventh Tier members of the Council had taken their final step with the aid of the Dawn Disc.

On the Church's side, although most people cultivated Holy Radiance, it was precisely their familiarity with Holy Radiance that allowed them to sense the hidden threat within its power. Bai Qingshuang and Fan Zhen were no exceptions. They were too familiar with Holy Radiance, so when they reached the peak of the Seventh Tier and wished to break through to the Eighth Order, they simultaneously abandoned Holy Radiance.

Bai Qingshuang's cultivated power was Solar Flare, while Fan Zhen's was Life Return.

As Fan Zhen had said, if one disregarded law, morals, and humanity, then in terms of pathways to the Eighth Order, neither approach was wrong. Bai Qingshuang could ascend to the Eighth Order by cultivating Solar Flare, and Fan Zhen could do the same with Life Return. It was just that the cultivation process for Life Return sacrificed too many Transcendents from the Wasteland Alliance and destroyed too many families. To the mothers and children sacrificed, and to their families, Fan Zhen's actions had shed the most basic humanity. This was exactly what Bai Qingshuang detested. Not just Bai Qingshuang; any normal person would likely be disgusted by Fan Zhen's actions. He had completely trampled morality and law underfoot. Such a person would only bring destruction.

"Bai Qingshuang, many people actually know about my Life Return. But they never thought of it as a power of new life. Most people believe that Life Return is just a method for extending one's lifespan. I drew inspiration from the secret codex of the first-generation Life Knights. I also studied the dark origin power of the Nightmare Demon. The power of life is so immense, perhaps not even Holy Radiance can compare. What do you think?"

While Fan Zhen spoke, he slowly approached Bai Qingshuang. Yet Bai Qingshuang seemed to ignore Fan Zhen's approach.

She looked at Fan Zhen, her expression once again returning to its usual indifference.

"Close enough. Are you going to make your move?"

Fan Zhen was slightly startled, then he laughed again. "You've noticed. Letting me get close isn't a good choice. Aren't you going to run?"

"Why should I run?"

The moment Bai Qingshuang finished speaking, Fan Zhen vanished from before her.

"Life, Return!"

BOOM!

Fan Zhen's fist was blocked by Bai Qingshuang with a single hand, and the force of the impact generated an abnormal force field. The surrounding water vapor rapidly condensed into droplets that simply floated in the air, neither rising nor falling. Were it not for the slight tremor in Fan Zhen's fist, it would seem as if space itself had stagnated here.

Beads of sweat had already appeared on Fan Zhen's forehead, not merely from nervousness. Rather, his hand throbbed with pain!

"How... is this possible?"

At this moment, Bai Qingshuang still maintained her composure, even though she had used Great Annihilation and the Holy Resurrection Light. She had almost instantly expended all her Holy Radiance and most of her solar flares. But now, she still maintained her composure. That composure stemmed from her confidence in her own strength.

"Why would it not be possible?"

"How could your body possibly reach this extent?"

Fan Zhen's face was filled with shock. Because he cultivated Life Return, his physical condition after entering the Life Return state could reach a level comparable to Seventh Tier Exotic Species, even rivaling Seventh Tier Lords. This was his true trump card, one unknown to anyone. But just as he played this trump card, it was countered by an even stronger move. This left Fan Zhen momentarily unable to accept the reality.

However, Bai Qingshuang just tilted her head up slightly and pointed a finger at Fan Zhen's chest.

CRACK!

Faint ripples of Holy Radiance spread through the air; this was Fan Zhen's protective Holy Radiance. With one finger, it shattered.

Fan Zhen himself was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing through five or six houses before finally skidding to a halt.

Bai Qingshuang took a step forward and spoke with the air of an absolute monarch: "A strong body, a stable Sequence, and energy that transcends origin matter—their unification is the path to the Eighth Order. Even someone like you knows to enhance your body with life energy. How could I possibly not know this?"

"Fan Zhen, you used Life Return to reclaim your youth, but have you ever considered why I haven't aged at all in these past twenty-plus years?"

Bai Qingshuang's words made Pope Fan Zhen pause again. Why hadn't she aged in over twenty years?

Indeed, many people had overlooked this point: Why hadn't Bai Qingshuang aged?

"Fan Zhen, have you ever thought about how long Noah has lived, how long the Stonemother has lived, and for precisely how many years the Sky-Behemoth Leviathan has existed?"

"What does all that have to do with you not aging?"

Bai Qingshuang ignored Fan Zhen and continued speaking her thoughts. "I've thought a lot about the ages of these Exotic Species. Is it because Exotic Species naturally possess longer lifespans than humans that they can live so long? That didn't seem to be the case; many Exotic Species only lived for a few decades, or even just a few years. This is especially true for the Machinekind; once their vital functions lose activity, they perish rapidly. Even Specter Species, existing in pure spiritual forms, can experience soul energy depletion and gradually dissipate. Given that Machinekind don't live long, how did Noah survive for over 400 years? I pondered these questions repeatedly. Although no one provided me with a clear answer, I still gathered some information through my own research. What truly grants these Exotic Species Monarchs longevity isn't status or race, but formidable life intensity and a sufficiently advanced life rank. When these two combine, a being enters an exceedingly long life stage. Just like the Leviathan in the sky. According to the Shelter's records, it has lived for at least 750 years.

"So, for these past twenty-plus years, I have strengthened my body day after day, never once slacking. The power of the sun flows within my body, blazing and luminous. My body is ceaselessly seared by temperatures you could never withstand. All of this was to help me achieve a state of perfection. Though the process is excruciating, my gains are immense.

"Fan Zhen, if you understand the gap between us, then hurry up and call out those old friends of yours. You alone are not enough!"

Though Bai Qingshuang's tone was calm, her attitude had a very arrogant feel to it. Just as she had said before, she needed pressure; she wanted to use that pressure to break through to the Eighth Order. Fan Zhen was very strong, especially after using Life Return; he had far surpassed the average Seventh Tier. But it was still not enough, far from enough. She needed more Seventh Tiers, more pressure. She did not know how many Seventh Tiers Fan Zhen had hidden on his side, but she did not particularly care. If she failed, death was the only alternative.

Seeing Bai Qingshuang standing still, Fan Zhen did not feel humiliated; he merely found Bai Qingshuang arrogant.

"Bai Qingshuang, your arrogance will lead to your complete failure. Since you wish to meet them, then let them come out for a while!"

Suddenly, Fan Zhen clapped his hands together and pressed them to the ground. The Holy Radiance in his hands was like a key, activating a mechanism somewhere in the First Ring.

In a pitch-black secret chamber, four coffins lay silently. Intense Holy Radiance gradually seeped into these coffins, as if infusing them with some power. Three of the coffins suddenly opened from the inside; withered fingers slowly extended, gripping the edges of the coffins. But upon contact with the air, their fingers were like parched earth welcoming sweet dew. Within mere seconds, the fingers quickly regained their luster.

Zhou Mi, Li Hongyun, and Ye Changqing slowly sat up from inside the coffins. Like Fan Zhen, they had all reverted to an appearance of being in their thirties. After a brief moment of bewilderment, the three looked at each other, and Li Hongyun, the leader, spoke up.

"His Holiness the Pope is summoning us. Let's go now."

"Fan Zhen? We haven't fully regained our youth. Did the plan fail?"

"It's within our expectations, isn't it? Besides, there's Bai Qingshuang, that monster. Even if the plan fails, there's not much we can do."

At this moment, Ye Changqing and Zhou Mi also jumped out of their coffins. While talking, they moved their bodies, quickly adjusting to their youthful state. The fact that they hadn't reverted to their twenties didn't seem to bother them much. They seemed unsurprised by the failure of the Life Return project.

However, Ye Changqing and Zhou Mi seemed disrespectful towards Fan Zhen, calling him by name when they spoke. This contrasted sharply with Li Hongyun.

Li Hongyun paid no mind to the others' attitudes, merely urging, "His Holiness the Pope is summoning us. Hurry up and go now."

Zhou Mi and Ye Changqing looked at each other and nodded as well. Although they had little respect for Pope Fan Zhen, they were still partners in cooperation. The energy fluctuations emanating from the Second Ring indicated Fan Zhen was battling Bai Qingshuang. They had considered such a conflict, but normally, a Pope should not be killed. For Bai Qingshuang to dare make a move against Fan Zhen at this time, it could only be said that this woman truly had guts.

Just as the three were preparing to leave together, Zhou Mi stopped and, pointing to the last coffin, asked with confusion, "Eh? Where's Baldy? It's been so long, hasn't she woken up yet?"

Li Hongyun casually flicked his hand, and the last coffin shattered. However, the person they expected to see was not inside the coffin.

"She's not here?"

"There's no body either. It seems she left."

"Did she directly abandon her youthful body? What on earth is Baldy trying to do?"

"Who knows!"

"Let's go. Never mind her; the Pope is waiting for us."

"Understood."

Unable to find the person in the last coffin, the three of them could only temporarily give up. Fan Zhen was still battling Bai Qingshuang. If Fan Zhen were defeated, they would lose everything. So, they had to help.

Bai Qingshuang didn't choose to strike while Fan Zhen was summoning. She simply stood there with her eyes closed, recuperating and restoring her Solar Flare energy.

The moment Li Hongyun and his two companions departed, Bai Qingshuang opened her eyes.

"Why only three?"

Her words sounded like a question directed at Fan Zhen, as if asking why he had summoned so few people. Fan Zhen was somewhat speechless; although there were only three, each was a genuine Seventh Tier master!

However, Fan Zhen was also puzzled. The Apocalypse Riders... why were there only three? Who was the missing one?

"Bai Qingshuang, you're too arrogant. Individually, each of them was a formidable expert who had once made a name for themselves far and wide. Now that they are joining forces against you, are you prepared to die?"

"Prepared to die? Heh."

Bai Qingshuang raised her right hand, suddenly turned, and her fingertips once again erupted with a light as brilliant as the sun.

BOOM!

Wherever the Solar Flare passed, only ashes remained. This power possessed extreme destructive force. The moment it touched an object, it was as if the object experienced solar temperatures; everything was instantly incinerated, melted, and reduced to dust invisible to the naked eye. What was even more incredible was that this energy didn't radiate. The light and heat within the flare did not dissipate outwards. This was why Bai Qingshuang's attacks were so potent.

From beneath the rubble, Li Hongyun and his two companions climbed out, shaken and uncertain. The trio had just been about to make their entrance when Bai Qingshuang struck them with such a fierce blow. This single attack had nearly shattered their morale.

"This woman, Bai Qingshuang... her strength is truly monstrous!" Zhou Mi stared grimly at Bai Qingshuang, slowly drawing the greatsword sheathed on his back.

"If only Baldy were here. Without her, the effectiveness of Life Unity would be significantly reduced."

"Don't worry. His Holiness the Pope can take Mo Fan's place and form a Life Link with us."

"Fan Zhen!"

"I know."

Although they each had their own reservations, they quickly formulated a battle plan. However, Bai Qingshuang showed no intention of stopping them, merely watching as the four assembled.

"The Pope and the former Apocalypse Riders... a pity one is missing. So, are you prepared to face judgment?..."

As Bai Qingshuang raised her hand, channeling the Solar Flare, Baldy Mo Fan had already silently positioned herself less than three meters behind Lu Luo.

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