It was still the middle of the night.

The Death Church also tended to operate in the dead of night.

They were, in fact, already used to it.

Mu led Lu Cang to the edge of the city wall, but this was not the location of a city gate. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Mu walked directly toward the city wall.

Incredibly, he passed right through the wall with ease.

Lu Cang scanned the area with his Perception and discovered a tunnel dug through the wall, concealed by some sort of Illusion Technique.

Lu Cang followed Mu into the passage within the wall.

As they passed through the thick interior of the city wall, Lu Cang couldn’t help but scan the walls on either side with his Perception.

’Thankfully, the walls are solid.’

’No monsters hiding inside them, either.’

Once outside Kernoya, they flew straight to the west.

Lu Cang’s Speed truly astonished Mu.

He, a Level 5 Deceit Master, was somehow far slower than the Level 3 Lu Cang.

’As expected of the White Incarnation.’

’If he weren’t the incarnation of a Divine Spirit, there would be no other way to explain his immense power.’

’The implications were terrifying.’

’I heard that the one who oversaw the Lord Bishop’s Profession change was Kumironi, the High Priest of the Divine Hall of Life.’

’If you think about it that way, doesn’t it mean even the Divine Hall of Life is just a puppet in the Lord Bishop’s hands?’

’And I also heard that Lu Cang has close ties with Izparut and his group.’

’What a grand game of chess!’

’He’s laid so many hidden pieces on the board without anyone realizing it.’

’When you think about it, all these secret moves are incredibly brilliant.’

’Silently and without a trace, this lord has already taken control of all of Kernoya, and even the Lorren Kingdom.’

’But why did he allow Iz and the others to kill the old Sect Leader?’

’Could it be that the old Sect Leader betrayed the Holy Church?’

’No... The old Sect Leader hoped to create a Pure White, but this lord himself has already descended.’

’If the old Sect Leader had performed the Ritual, it might have exposed this lord’s existence.’

’So, to prevent his own plans from being ruined, he had the old Sect Leader killed?’

’It sounds a bit ridiculous, but...’

’...when I think about this lord’s disregard for life, it starts to seem plausible.’

’It’s only natural that the actions of a divine incarnation would be capricious and unpredictable to ordinary people.’

’If something displeases him, he just kills it.’

’And yet, amidst this caprice, he still manages to control the greater situation with numerous schemes.’

’I’m truly... in awe.’

’The original Bishop was probably just an insignificant pawn to him.’

’It makes sense. In the eyes of a god, what is a mere Level 6 Bishop from the small Ruelun Region?’

"We’re here."

Mu descended onto a stretch of barren flatland.

Lu Cang landed as well. His Perception swept over the area, and he instantly understood the situation.

’A hidden underground passage beneath this vast wasteland?’

’The Magic concealing this hideout is an Evil Mage’s Ritual.’

Evil Mages excelled at setting up Rituals and casting dark magic, their methods revolving primarily around Curses, agony, disease, and Spiritual Attacks.

They weren’t particularly skilled in direct combat.

Instead, they excelled at placing Curses on others from the shadows. Besides combat, they also possessed a minor ability to Refine evil artifacts.

It was a Profession with strong, well-rounded abilities on the evil-aligned spectrum.

Most Secret Scroll Professions were merely rare.

That didn’t necessarily mean they were stronger than mainstream Professions.

If they were stronger at all, it was only by a slight margin...

Only the unique, Special Secret Scroll Professions that were difficult to acquire were universally acknowledged to be in a higher tier of power.

’I didn’t expect them to have a hideout here.’

’And it must be a headquarters-level base, or he wouldn’t have brought me here.’

’A cunning rabbit has three burrows, indeed.’

Lu Cang casually tossed a few Demon corpses outside.

He left them as materials for Death Exchange.

Mu had come to understand a little of Lu Cang’s cautious style.

They entered the secret passage, traversing a deep, dark tunnel.

Soon, a massive underground palace appeared before Lu Cang.

"Lord Sect Leader, to tell you the truth..."

"Scarcely one in ten of the Holy Church’s hideouts remain. Our original main headquarters has also been destroyed."

"And it was Izparut and his group who did it."

Mu spoke like this, hoping to fish for information from Lu Cang indirectly.

However, Lu Cang’s tone was indifferent, his voice cold as he said, "What? Are you trying to fathom my intentions?"

Tens of thousands of souls faintly emanated from Lu Cang’s body, swirling around him.

Mu trembled violently.

He shook his head frantically.

"I wouldn’t dare!"

Wreathed in souls, Lu Cang slowly walked forward.

His Perception had already scanned every corner of the palace.

"I have my reasons for everything I do."

"You were all too brazen, and had already drawn the attention of the Life Church."

"You left a secret message that was discovered by the Life Church."

"They deciphered the Secret within... Who is there to blame for that?"

"You acted so recklessly. Are you going to blame me for not stopping Izparut?" Lu Cang’s words held an authority that needed no anger.

"Did you expect me to expose myself just to clean up your mess and save that insignificant Bishop?"

Mu broke out in a cold sweat and immediately dropped to his knees.

"No, I wouldn’t dare!"

"That’s not what I meant at all!"

"Your grand design is a hundred times more important than the life or death of the former Sect Leader!"

Lu Cang retracted his faint anger and said coolly, "Good that you understand."

"However, now that I have taken over this Church, you can all rest easy."

"I don’t mind playing a few games with them."

Hearing Lu Cang’s promise, Mu’s heart finally settled.

’It seems the Lord Bishop doesn’t completely disregard the Holy Church’s survival after all.’

’He’s finally getting serious.’

"Now, where does this church of mine keep its treasures?"

"I’m rather curious to see what you’ve all amassed over the years."

Mu lowered his head and led the way. "Lord Bishop, please follow me."

"We have toiled tirelessly for the Holy Church for a thousand years. Though those detestable cretins have destroyed much recently, our foundation remains."

"Our church’s most precious treasury is right here, and it has been perfectly preserved."