The vast consciousness shrouding the camp receded, and the luminous golden scales gradually dimmed.

An illusory glow emanated from a young sapling, healing Lu Li's neck wound, nurturing his nearly parched body, and awakening long-slumbering plants.

Countless buds pierced through the planks, guarding the silhouette of the bound stone pillar, but they could achieve nothing.

The plants submerged his ankles, forming a lawn, as the sapling that sprouted a second and third leaf withdrew into space.

Lu Li's face regained its color, escaping death, yet he remained in peril—he was bound to a stone pillar in a silent camp. Deprived of the heretics' guards, something strange might arrive at any moment, or everything might plunge into silence once the bonfire extinguished.

The short dagger discarded by Professor Hagrid pressed upon a patch of young grass, a mere two meters' distance like an impassable chasm—the plants, devoid of wisdom, would not heed his will.

In the distance, the alchemical tower flickered slowly like a star, while Lu Li stood alone before the pillar illuminated by the campfire, awaiting rescue... or death.

At some point, Lu Li heard the clamor of approaching disordered footsteps, metal clashing, and heavy breathing.

Lu Li raised his gaze, seeing knights surrounding a wizard, who enveloped Claire, appearing at the camp's entrance.

Not a hallucination or delirium, they truly existed.

Knights and wizards dispersed to search the camp, while Claire walked straight towards Lu Li, a thick bandage wrapped around her palm.

"You're late."

Lu Li calmly said to the approaching Claire.

If they hadn't grasped the Balance Cult's flaw for reverse sacrifice, they would have only found a camp of heretics and a satisfied, departing Evil God.

Claire drew the soft sword from her belt, stepping up the stairs, halting before the young grass, slicing through the hemp ropes binding Lu Li.

"Few know you've become a controller; if it weren't for Mother, those fools would still think some anomaly left it behind." She surveyed the quiet camp, occupied only by their side: "Where's Spitt Hagg and the cultists here?"

Lu Li broke free from the snapped ropes: "They were sacrificed."

Cairelle immediately transformed into a phantom. When her outline sharpened again, she was already on the lawn, shielding Lu Li behind her, facing the camp.

"Did another third party force get involved?"

"I sacrificed them."

"?"

Claire suddenly twisted her head, eyes revealing inner confusion.

Lu Li stepped over the young grass, explaining how the heretics who sought to sacrifice him were sacrificed by him.

"How did you do it? Even wild Evil Gods usually won't spare sacrifices to devour believers..."

"Because of the Balance Church's doctrine."

Lu Li narrated his experience, stepping down the stairs.

Claire bent down, pinching a budding twig into her pocket, followed Lu Li off the sacrificial platform, picked up a burning torch from the bonfire, and headed towards the edge barn.

"No wonder Mother just sent me... She must've guessed you'd be fine."

Squeak—

The barn's drafty wooden door creaked open, Lu Li raised the fading wooden stick to ignite the wall torch, gradually illuminating, finding the satchel in the corner.

The Doomsday Apocalypse, stomach pouch, Spirit-Calling Gun, and eyeball were all inside.

Thankfully, Xisone held them, so the pawn's power in the Doomsday Apocalypse wasn't discovered.

As he grasped the Doomsday Apocalypse, vulnerability swiftly left Lu Li's body.

Claire's expression subtly shifted upon sensing the change, but she said nothing.

Finally, hitching on the stomach bag and gun case, Lu Li and Claire left the barn.

Walking, there came clattering sounds from knight "cans" nearby. The knight leading the group had a matte armor chest depicting a symmetrical sun emblem radiating light, followed by two scribe clothed diplomats.

They belonged to the second expedition of the Glorious Knights team, which altered tasks due to Lu Li's disappearance, dispersing to find Lu Li's whereabouts.

"Mr. Luli, I am Grand Knight Kizz Vans. It's an honor to find you; it is fortunate that I'm the one who found you." Kizz Vans removed his helmet, adhering to the knightly gesture, nodded sideways and said: "Scribe, contact the other four teams that we've already found the Exorcist."

"Mr. Luli, we've detected sacrificial aura in the camp, do you know what happened?"

Lu Li then recounted the story of "prey killing the hunter" once more.

After inspecting the empty camp, Grand Knight Kizz Vans and his team escorted Lu Li back to the temporary camp at the giant tree's base.

Lu Li received a warm welcome in the camp; this was not his first encounter with the Glorious Knights, nor their first with Lu Li—for the Knights Order, Lu Li became a legendary figure during the Silent Moments when humanity fell into despair, daringly venturing into the wilderness, injuring the Time of Silence, and becoming a tale passed down to this day, embodying knight-like resilient beliefs.

Claire became silent, seemingly unwilling to reveal emotions and thoughts before outsiders.

Unfortunately, before Deputy Commander Aegon Baghdad returned, the Silent Moments arrived unexpectedly.

The Illuminant Knights had no choice but to let Lu Li and Claire return to the giant tree.

And this kidnapping incident was far from over: the aftermath left by Professor Hagrid still needed investigation, and Lu Li was forced to become a Balance Church believer.

The only relief was, the deity of the Balance Church seemed to adhere to truth rather than rely on belief to nurture consciousness.

If it is the former, controlling Lu Li's shackles will be significantly reduced, perhaps almost negligible.

"Go ask my mother; she knows whether this Balance Church is a cult of Evil Gods or the group of an ancient deity."

Claire escorted Lu Li to the Alchemy Office door, then left.

Lu Li knocked on the office door, entered upon hearing the cordial sound.

Vice-Chancellor Chris sat in a specially designed spacious sofa, wearing a hollowed-out wide-brimmed hat, seemingly just returned or about to leave, likely the latter, as she didn't tease Lu Li as usual. She sighed after swallowing a drop of potion and whispered: "I sense the breath of balanced rules."

Gently waving a hand, a book from the bookshelf waved its pages into Vice-Chancellor Chris's palm, flipping to a particular page.

"One good news, one bad news. The good news is the 'Master of Balance' you speak of resonates with your sacrifice of distorting truthful believers; He possesses orthodox balanced rules… this indicates He is an ancient deity or a servant-follower of an ancient god. The bad news is becoming a renegade will have you repudiated by the rules."

Though the rules are ethereal, faith-related rules and power cult will therefore dislike.

"Dear, my advice is to maintain your faith. Church of Truth is close to worldly rules, also close to each other, truth among opposed rules, they are natural allies, just like those God System camps. Although this deity only descends consciousness during sacrifices, seemingly caught in dilemmas, it's fortunate He cannot restrict you."

Vice-Chancellor Chris picked up her exquisitely jeweled handbag.

"But I suggest choosing for yourself. After all, besides wisdom, isn't your luck always quite good too."

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