"The Second Calamity, Xu, the Angel Envoy who devours the world. Such a grand title indeed."

Lu Luo read the name while looking at the mural of flesh, and Qi Xinzhu looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Shh? Lu Luo, do you need to use the bathroom? Or perhaps, you could step over to the corner to handle it? We've been together for so long, I don't mind."

Black lines covered Lu Luo's forehead.

"No, that's not it. I'm talking about the name of this piece of flesh; it's called Xu, also known as the Second Calamity."

"The Second Calamity? Xu? What a strange name. Although I don't know what's so special about it, it sounds pretty formidable."

Qi Xinzhu couldn't understand the text on the mural, but she could still grasp the content depicted by the images. The flesh lump called "Xu" was frantically devouring everything around it. Other creatures, forests, rivers, and even stones, ashes—it could consume them all. In the end, it seemed that the monster was defeated by humans.

The content that followed was mostly textual narration, which Qi Xinzhu couldn't understand.

"What else is written after that?"

Lu Luo looked at the mural, his expression gradually becoming complex and bizarre. However, he still fulfilled Qi Xinzhu's request and began to slowly talk about the monster, Xu.

"Xu is a name defined by humans, and its origin is quite simple. Xu can perceive the aura around it, and if you make any sound, release any scent, or are directly exposed in its line of sight, it will chase you down and devour you until you are dead. So, when people discover Xu, they must, shh... not talk! The name 'Xu' came from this."

Lu Luo's explanation surprised Qi Xinzhu, as this origin sounded similar to the monsters found in myths or fairy tales.

"Is there anything else?"

Lu Luo nodded, but it wasn't this part of the story that made his expression so complex.

"The birth of Xu is clearly recorded, yet its creation was very much accidental. In ancient times, humanity's excessive use of synthetic materials, and the abuse of mixed energies, led to severe energy pollution across the entire world. Many types of energy, after polluting the world, combined with the Dark Energy transmitting from the void. This triggered a mutation in some discarded synthetic materials, which resulted in the appearance of Xu."

"From what you've said, the Dark Energy mentioned here seems to predate the accounts in history books, right?"

Qi Xinzhu quickly detected the key point of the mural's information. If the content here is true, then Dark Energy's emergence might date back much further than what's recorded in the history books.

"Yes, if everything here is true, it looks like Dark Energy appeared much earlier than what's documented in the history books. It's just unknown why the Dawn Church would alter so much of the history, then leave behind this mural here."

"What if the mural wasn't left by the Dawn Church?"

"That's possible too, but it's hard to imagine anyone besides the Church having a similar or comparably strong power."

Lu Luo was telling the truth; the Church's power was definitely among the topmost within the entire Alliance. Rewriting history is something done by many in the past, usually by rulers. The current real ruler is the Church, so he still believed that this is something left behind by the Dawn Church.

I just don't know where we are now. In the Second Ring? Or some other unknown place? Is this fluctuating Holy Radiance the Dawn Disc?

"If Xu is a mutated synthetic material, then what was the synthetic material?"

"I wouldn't know either, there's too little information here."

Lu Luo shook his head, not revealing to Qi Xinzhu the last part of the mural's information. It wasn't that he didn't trust Qi Xinzhu, but the information was just too shocking. Their current situation was bad, and sharing these matters with Qi Xinzhu would only add to her worries.

*The power of 'Xu' is very strong, and it is extremely cunning. During its growth, it continually devoured everything around it, whether it was life or matter, it took it all. The several human encirclements of 'Xu' all ended with it escaping to the underground. After dozens of years of strife, 'Xu' finally grew into a Ninth Tier lifeform. It kept devouring, absorbing, enhancing! When it reappeared before mankind, people had given it another name: Catastrophe, Second Angel Envoy—the World Devouring Core.*

The name, World Devouring Core, ugh! To be honest, I feel a bit panicked inside. I'm even somewhat grateful that I concealed those Sequences. Looking at it now, the Devourer... in terms of abilities and form, resembles 'Xu' from the mural too closely. Was the Devourer Sequence itself once a Ninth Tier lifeform? Does Ninth Tier correspond to the current Ninth Tier? If so, then would 'Xu's' strength be equivalent to the current sky-dwelling behemoths? If 'Xu' was so powerful, how was it defeated?

Lu Luo painstakingly examined the entire mural, which simply explained that 'Xu' was ultimately defeated by humans. But the specific details of the battle, who and how 'Xu' was defeated, were all omitted. It was as if that part of the process had been deliberately left out.

Sequences, corresponding to the past catastrophes? The Devourer's sequence number is S-02, so it's the Second Angel Envoy? Does that mean the twelve Grade S Sequence Glyphs indicate there are twelve Angel Envoys in total? The sky-dwelling behemoths that are always flying, are they also one of the Angel Envoys? Goodness, I can't think too deeply about this; if I do, the implications become too vast.

Of course, these were only Lu Luo's simple deductions, without any evidence or additional intelligence information. Now, he had no way to verify the authenticity of the information on the mural. However, one thing was certain: the Devourer Sequence must be kept concealed. His strength was already very formidable. Even if he could defeat a Seventh Tier by luck with all his trump cards out, the Devourer Sequence still had to be concealed.

I don't know if the Church knows the information here. Seeing Qi Xinzhu's reaction, ordinary Church members probably don't know these things. But I can't base my safety on others. It's better to keep hiding the information about the Sequences for a while longer.

Lu Luo rubbed his chin, contemplating his future. However, Qi Xinzhu by his side delivered a heavy blow at this moment.

"Lu Luo, are you okay? You've been looking at the mural for a long time, and you seem distracted. Are you still worried about your strength? Being without strength or a Sequence doesn't matter, I will never leave you."

Oh! Those words really hit home. I then realized, forget about the Devourer for now; I don't even have the Observer, my little buddy. If I'm so weak, why bother thinking about all this? That's about enough. Thinking too much, to even believe that I'm still the tough guy who can twist off the necks of seven top fighters! Now? Now I'm being forcefully pushed around by Qi Xinzhu, unable to even resist. That's how things stand. If I think about it, if Qi Xinzhu really sticks with me through thick and thin, the days of being overpowered are still to come! What if one day I'm in a bad mood and Qi Xinzhu is feeling particularly passionate? Then, there's a good chance I'll end up pinned against a wall and overpowered again. A strong woman paired with a weaker man is truly a terrifying thing!

"Lu Luo, what are you sighing about here? Have you finished looking at the murals?"

At that point, Lu Luo nodded.

"Yes, I've finished. Let's go."

Qi Xinzhu felt there was something strange about the way Lu Luo looked at her, but she didn't say anything. He must just be in a bad mood right now! she decided.

"Okay, let's go."

Qi Xinzhu took Lu Luo's hand again, and the two continued to walk toward the front of the hall. After passing through this hall and another long corridor, Lu Luo and Qi Xinzhu encountered a second, empty hall. And behind it, there's even more! Lu Luo didn't recognize the characters in the murals that lay beyond. The glyphs were still Sequence Glyphs, but the language seemed to have changed again.

"Lu Luo, the characters here seem to be different from those in the previous place."

"Yes, they're different. I don't recognize these characters. If I'm not mistaken, there are similar murals in other rooms. And the characters in those murals, they're all very different. They must have done this to leave some traces of history."

"Traces of history?"

"Humanity was on the brink of extinction, which is why they wanted to leave traces of history, that's probably what it means."

"I see, it looks like humanity made it through in the end."

Did humanity make it through? I'm not sure. And by now, I'm becoming uncertain if this place was even left by the Church.

"Let's go, our time is limited, and I can feel it, the Holy Radiance ahead is still drawing me forward."

"Oh, okay!"

Since I can't understand them, there's no need to keep looking. Without an Observer to record things, staying here would only add to my worries. The most urgent task is to find a way out of this place and get back to a familiar environment to make long-term plans.

Moving forward, Lu Luo was still able to push the doors open with his own strength. They didn't know where the end of this passage led, but it seemed like it was prepared for Lu Luo's arrival. The connection between the Holy Radiance and Lu Luo became even tighter.

***

In the Second Ring, Pope Fan Zhen looked at the severely injured Li Hongyun in front of him, a flash of complexity in his gaze. It was Li Hongyun who threw herself in front of Fan Zhen when Bai Qingshuang's Truth Disc descended.

The loyalty of this subordinate is beyond doubt. Yet, it's strange. Bai Qingshuang seemed almost certain to win when she unleashed the Truth Disc earlier. I was in despair at the time. Such powerful energy from the Truth Disc, how could it possibly be wielded by one individual? But then, something even stranger happened: Bai Qingshuang, she interrupted her own attack. Why would she risk serious injury to forcibly interrupt the Truth Disc? I can't figure it out. But the outcome looks good for now. Although our side's victory was rather fortuitous, it's a real win nonetheless. And Bai Qingshuang has become a loser within the Inner Ring. I, Fan Zhen, have ultimately achieved victory. History is always written by the victors.

Looking at the ruins all around, Fan Zhen's expression was somewhat ugly. This destruction was deliberate on Bai Qingshuang's part. The reconstruction will be very troublesome. The assets many people established here, their hidden wealth, and all sorts of relics and secrets—all destroyed. Bai Qingshuang, she's gone too far. After this, the matters of the Second Ring will need to be handled properly. I wonder how serious her injuries are. The fact that Bai Qingshuang didn't die under that energy blast is somewhat shocking. But she's seriously injured, and the Inner Ring is small; there aren't many places to hide. Once I consolidate the Church's power a bit, finding her shouldn't be too difficult.

Fan Zhen thought about how the Church and the Council would once again be mired in a quagmire. A smile gradually appeared on his face. Yes, a quagmire is exactly where humanity belongs. Humans should exist in a world that is relatively peaceful yet chaotic. Focusing too much energy outward only invites crises, ultimately leading to humanity's extinction.

Fan Zhen withdrew his thoughts and looked at Li Hongyun, who was still vomiting blood on the ground. His eyes began to sharpen. This sharpness was a killing intent. At this moment, Fan Zhen had already developed a desire to kill Li Hongyun. And the reason for this killing intent is quite simple: Life Return! If Li Hongyun dies, then Life Return will belong entirely to me. This would be like founding a new school of thought, a miracle on par with Holy Radiance!

On the ground, Li Hongyun's eyes became very hazy; she seemed to have come to terms with some things and also seemed to have felt a sense of relief. Speaking now carried a sense of a last burst of clarity before death.

"Your Holiness, are you going to kill me?"

"Why would you say that?"

"If Your Holiness kills me, then no one else will know about Life Return."

Li Hongyun's gaze was very serene. Even if Fan Zhen really did kill her now, she wouldn't react excessively. She had lived for over a hundred years and been loyal for over a hundred years. Now, Li Hongyun was indifferent towards death. Dying at Fan Zhen's hands is probably the last thing I can do for him. This feels more like a final resting place, my destiny's end.

"What nonsense are you talking about, Hongyun? Life Return has never belonged to just one person. Even if you die, there's still Mo Fan!"

Fan Zhen's eyes narrowed slightly, concealing his current thoughts.

"Mo Fan is already dead, Your Eminence, you should have felt it. Her Holy Radiance extinguished not long ago. Only the two of us remain as the bearers of Life Return. Once I die, the source of Life Return will be in your hands. Your Eminence, you should understand the significance of this."

Hearing Li Hongyun's words, a flicker of shock passed through Fan Zhen's eyes. Mo Fan's Holy Radiance disappearing... I only faintly sensed it. And yet, Li Hongyun can sense Mo Fan is dead? This means her perception of Holy Radiance has reached an intensity even greater than my own! Has she gained a new enlightenment of Holy Radiance on the brink of death? What remarkable talent! This kind of breakthrough is most precious.

"Hongyun, have you gained a new understanding of the Holy Radiance?"

"Yes, Your Eminence, as death neared, I found that I seemed to be closer to the Holy Radiance. Nearer to the dawn as well. Regrettably, it is already too late."

Her talent is admirable, Fan Zhen thought. If Hongyun hadn't cultivated Life Return and instead focused solely on Holy Radiance, her achievements might have been unprecedented. But this world holds no 'maybes,' nor chances for regret.

"Hongyun, I made you do so many things you were unwilling to do, do you regret them?"

"Never, Your Eminence. Li Hongyun has always been your subordinate, your shield and your sword."

Fan Zhen looked again at Li Hongyun lying on the ground, his expression indifferent. He raised his palm high as if about to strike down the next second, to end the life of this subordinate who had followed him for many years. But the next second, Fan Zhen did something that even Li Hongyun herself found unbelievable. The Holy Resurrection Light!

A great surge of Holy Radiance burst forth from Fan Zhen. The Holy Resurrection Light was the Dawn Church's strongest healing technique. Fan Zhen had just fought an intense battle with Bai Qingshuang, and at this moment, he was also very weak. Under such circumstances, his willingness to save Li Hongyun was almost unthinkable. Especially to Li Hongyun herself, who was now somewhat astonished.

"Your Eminence, why save me? Wouldn't it be better if I were dead? Bai Qingshuang has been defeated, and you are the victor. There's hardly anyone left in the Wasteland Alliance who can stop Your Eminence now. If I die now, all past secrets will vanish with me, which would be good for you and for the future of the Alliance."

While Fan Zhen was healing Li Hongyun, she had a lot to say, and the content of her words all urged Fan Zhen to abandon her at this time. However, Fan Zhen remained unmoved, continuing the treatment. Not until he had completely stabilized Li Hongyun's injuries with the power of the Holy Radiance did he breathe a sigh of relief and slowly stop.

"This indeed should be our era, but our era does not belong to me alone. Hongyun, your vision is still too narrow. Having come this far, I, too, need a witness. Think no more of it; without you, if another person like Bai Qingshuang were to appear, no one would be there to take the blows for me anymore."

Fan Zhen pulled Li Hongyun up. And Li Hongyun knelt on the ground at once.

"Lord Fan Zhen, rest assured. I am ready to be your sword and shield at any moment."

Fan Zhen smiled. A loyally devout Seventh Tier is indeed a valuable asset. Li Hongyun is different from Zhou Mi, Mo Fan, and their ilk; her loyalty is absolute, stemming from her own conviction. And with a subordinate loyal to me through such conviction, what do past secrets even matter?

"Now, we don't have time to rest; it's time to check up on our juniors. Having watched the drama unfold for so long, they've really gotten off lightly. At this point, they should be making their own decisions!"

***

When Pope Fan Zhen left with Li Hongyun, in the Tribunal of the Inner Ring Church, alongside Wan Jing, the other three Holy Knights and two Seventh Tier Elders of the Church were also seated together. These people were the backbone of the Church's current generation. During the conflict between Bai Qingshuang and Fan Zhen, they did not assist either of them. Although nominally they were Bai Qingshuang's subordinates, their hearts were also filled with indecision. Most of them were older than Bai Qingshuang. Bai Qingshuang could dominate the entire Inner Ring Church through sheer force. Under the oppression of absolute force, they could only submit to Bai Qingshuang. But in their hearts, the extent to which they agreed with Bai Qingshuang's actions was another matter altogether.

Especially for many among them who were no longer young. Age is a very subtle thing. Having lived to this point, having tasted power and strength, who would willingly give it all up? These high-ranking individuals were well aware of the circumstances surrounding Pope Fan Zhen. The recent battle between Bai Qingshuang and Fan Zhen had already been witnessed by these people through certain channels. The fact that Pope Fan Zhen could return to youth was a tremendous shock and temptation for them.

When it comes to lifespan, no one would refuse. If one could return to youth, being the Pope's dog is different from being Judgment Chief Bai Qingshuang's dog. Being the Pope's dog might even bring the opportunity for that rejuvenation. That's why we've stayed put, without taking action.

"Well, gentlemen, the strife between Judgment Chief and the Pope seems to have concluded. Our meeting must come to an end as well."

"Pope Fan Zhen has won…" an aged Elder said, clearly leaning towards the Pope. He was old, and he wanted life. Moreover, he did not want something as palliative as the Fruit of Life; he wanted to return to youth. This was something only the Pope could grant them.

"But the Judgment Chief is not dead; she may yet return."

That's when Luo Dan, the current leader of the Life Knights Group, spoke up. Compared to the Pope, I lean slightly towards the Judgment Chief, though not enough to fight for her now. But regarding reform, her style appeals to me more. The Pope's ideas are too old-fashioned. Some of the Dawn Church's chronic problems really need to change.

"But Pope Fan Zhen has already won, and he should be arriving here shortly. We should also provide the corresponding answer."

"I understand that, but have you considered what we should do if the Judgment Chief is not dead? If she recovers and returns here, what then?"

Neither side would budge; each had their own arguments, and even they themselves found some merit in what the others were saying. Even in defeat, Bai Qingshuang left a profound impression on them. For the combat prowess Bai Qingshuang had demonstrated was simply astounding. Facing four opponents alone, she had slain two veteran Seventh Tiers. Though they didn't know what had happened under the final blast of the Truth Disc, they were sure of one thing: Bai Qingshuang was not dead.

It is in human nature to remain concerned about the existence of a powerful individual who has not died, wondering whether they might pose a threat in the future. Now with the Judgment Chief wounded and missing, the Pope will certainly be in pursuit. If the Pope were to catch her, and the Judgment Chief was too injured to fight back, then matters would be settled. But if she could retaliate, then the Dawn Church would be thrown back into chaos. Furthermore, what if the Judgment Chief found a place to quietly heal and then returned to kill her way back? What then? Although the Pope's strength is imposing, could he withstand an unscathed Judgment Chief having lost two companions? Based on the previous fight, it seems unlikely. Therefore, this choice is exceedingly difficult!

As these senior church members fell silent, Pope Fan Zhen, with Li Hongyun in tow, forcefully made his way here. Pushing open the door, the thirty-something Fan Zhen was smiling.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I wonder if you still recognize me in this state?"

"Your Holiness, of course we recognize you."

"Indeed, indeed, Your Holiness's grace remains undiminished from years past."

No one would speak of spying on the battle between the Pope and Bai Qingshuang at such a time. They all played dumb, feigning ignorance, though they had seen the Pope use Life Return, they pretended to be unaware. Since Fan Zhen had arrived here, he naturally needed these people to make some basic expressions of loyalty.

"Well, you have been discussing here for so long, you must be talking about the future development of the Dawn Church, right? After all, you are the high-level executives of the Dawn Church, and you should be contributing your efforts to the Dawn Church's development and future. So, have you all thought about how the Dawn Church will develop next?"

Pope Fan Zhen's words obviously carried an undertone of coercion. But most people here did not want to pick sides. At least, they did not want to pick sides at this point in time. Unless the Pope could affirm that Bai Qingshuang was indeed dead, he would not be able to convince the majority.

Some, like Luo Dan, upon seeing the Pope for the first time, even had a fleeting thought. What would my chances be if I attacked him right now? After a brief calculation, Luo Dan discarded the idea. She was a person with a strong desire to fight, seeking out challenges against stronger opponents. But liking a challenge does not mean being brainless, and openly challenging the Pope at this time is clearly not a wise move.

"Your Holiness, you should understand our concerns. With the Judgment Chief's whereabouts unknown, the future development of the Dawn Church should wait until her return!"

An elder spoke up at this moment. He spoke for the majority. They were all reluctant to take sides at this time, although being a fence-sitter never yielded good results. But waiting for a better offer, if given the chance, was something everyone would do.

"Alright, I understand your stance. But as someone standing here in the position of Pope, I should still be able to exercise my rightful authority, right? If you all wish to see results soon, then you may have to set aside your current tasks and help me search for her. Once we find the person in question, you will have your desired result. The situation in the Inner Ring is turbulent, and you would not want this dragging on for long—neither do I. Thus, ladies and gentlemen, I ask for your assistance in searching."

Fan Zhen's meaning was also very simple: at this time, it was impossible for them to stay out of the matter. You might not help in a fight, but you can't refuse to help search for someone. This request wasn't too excessive, and after looking at each other, the Seventh Tier experts nodded in agreement.

"His Holiness the Pope is right. If we wish to end the chaos in the Inner Ring quickly, the most urgent task is to find the Judgment Chief. We will set out now, Your Holiness, wait for our good news."

Luo Dan was the first to speak and also the first to leave. She was very clear-headed. Finding the Judgment Chief is a very wise choice. With my strength and status, whether it's the Judgment Chief or the Pope who comes out on top, there won't be any change for me. The most important thing is to return calm to the Inner Ring as soon as possible.

"Then Your Holiness, we will also take our leave."

"Go."

Under Fan Zhen's smiling gaze, these wavering Seventh Tier experts left one after another. After they left, they quickly sprang into action. These people, having reached their current status, weren't fools. The sooner Bai Qingshuang is found, the sooner the chaos of the Inner Ring can be ended. If it drags on too long and Bai Qingshuang recovers a considerable amount of her strength, then there's a high likelihood she'll return and fight another battle with the Pope. This time, the battle has already damaged the Second Ring beyond recognition. If it happens again, how are we supposed to live? Many family and private assets are always stored in the Second Ring because it's supposed to be even safer than the Third Ring. But now, seeing it turned into this state, is something no one wishes for.

After these people had gone, Li Hongyun stepped forward.

"Lord Fan Zhen, what do we do next?"

Fan Zhen's eyes narrowed.

"To the First Ring."

"Now? Don't we need to integrate the Church's members?"

"As long as Bai Qingshuang is alive, such integration is meaningless. Her Holy Radiance, solar flares, and the power of the Truth Disc have all been exhausted. Now, if she is to go somewhere, there is only one place: the First Ring. So now is the best time to kill her."

"Understood."

***

While they were talking, Bai Qingshuang, covered in blood, stood in front of the Dawn Disc. Her figure appeared like a ghost, suddenly materializing. Without the slightest sign, even the guards standing around didn't know how she got there.

"Captain, over there, there seems to be someone!"

"What nonsense are you talking? The Wall Guardians haven't signaled, and there hasn't been any warning, how could there be someone?"

The captain had just finished speaking when his gaze became fixed because he had seen Bai Qingshuang in front of the disc.

"The Judg—Judgment Chief?"

Bai Qingshuang silently looked at the disc in front of her, paused for a moment, and finally lifted her somewhat weary face. The eyes that stared at the Dawn Disc seemed to be filled with anger. After a few more seconds of silence, she suddenly spoke,

"The one who interrupted me just now... was it you?"

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