The influence of the Oro Divine Cult in the Western Regions was second only to the Manichaeism; countless people in the Western Regions worshipped the Oro Divine Cult. Upon entering Sunblaze City, Ji Changkong realized the immense power the Oro Divine Cult held there, but it wasn't until he entered this subterranean palace that he truly grasped the sheer scale of their energy.

Sunblaze City, being the largest and most crucial city in the Mara Kingdom, was tightly controlled by the Manichaeans. Yet, right here, in the bustling heart of the city, the Oro Divine Cult maintained a subterranean palace deep beneath the earth.

The long passage descended several dozen zhang deep. Led by Ayiguli, they arrived in the center of a vast, broad stone chamber. The rock walls were a dusty yellow, adorned with peculiar symbols of the Oro Divine Cult.

Devotees of the Oro Divine Cult were already waiting in the chamber. As soon as Ayiguli entered, those posted by the walls bowed in unison, greeting her in the Western Regions dialect.

These Oro devotees were relatively young, appearing to be in their thirties or forties. It was natural that they didn't recognize Ji Changkong or Li Hentian, but strangely, they didn't seem to recognize Mu Luo either, showing deference only to Ayiguli.

Ayiguli did not immediately introduce the status of Ji Changkong or Mu Luo to these ordinary followers, merely instructing them in a low voice to summon others.

"My Lord Cult Master, this has been the principal meeting place of our Oro Divine Cult for many years, hidden deep underground. Apart from core members, even ordinary followers are unaware of its existence. We have been fighting the Manichaeans for years, and this place has never been exposed. Only injured members are brought here to recuperate, and some of the Cult’s crucial gatherings are also held here," Mu Luo explained softly. "I usually remain at the Grand Temple, and Elder Batu'er presided over past important assemblies, so the devotees here don't recognize me. My Lord Cult Master, important disciples from every region will be arriving shortly. You only need to release a slight trace of the Celestial Origin Pearl's power."

Nodding, Ji Changkong said little else. At Ayiguli's gesture, he ascended the dais—the Cult Master's seat, vacant for many years—in the expansive stone chamber. Mu Luo sat in the Elder's section, while Ayiguli stood beside him.

"The few of you, please retire to the side chambers to rest for a while. This concerns the internal affairs of our sect; since you are not members of the Oro Divine Cult, you cannot remain here," Ayiguli explained to Li Hentian, maintaining an unyielding yet respectful composure. Li Hentian did not press the matter regarding these private proceedings. He understood that these ancient sects operated under strict rules, and their entry here was already an extreme exception. Li Hentian simply nodded without further comment. Following Ayiguli's indication, a devotee from the rear approached and led Li Hentian, Tuoba Lie, and the Yi Jia and Yi Rou siblings toward a side passage.

This subterranean palace of the Oro Divine Cult was immense, containing hundreds of various rooms and chambers, with the central chamber being the most colossal. Ji Changkong estimated that several hundred people could stand there without feeling crowded.

Seated boldly upon the Cult Master’s throne, Ji Changkong felt a slight undercurrent of unease. Feigning composure, he surveyed the figures accumulating in the chamber.

Cultivators at the realms of Five Elements Heaven, Six Harmonies Heaven, and Seven Stars Heaven appeared sequentially in the center of the stone room. Only then did Ji Changkong fully grasp why the Oro Divine Cult could contend with the Manichaeans for so many years; the foundation of this most ancient Heavenly Scholar sect in the Western Regions was astonishingly deep.

In a short time, six experts at the Seven Stars Heaven realm, along with over thirty masters of the Five Elements Heaven and Six Harmonies Heaven realms, had silently gathered at the center of the chamber. Each one regarded him with piercing gazes—some looked astonished, others impassive, and a few held expressions of outright disdain.

The Oro Divine Cult maintained strict hierarchies, dividing its followers into five ranks based on strength and contribution to the sect: Elder, Protector, Chief Disciple, Scholar, and Guard. Mu Luo and Batu'er were the only remaining Elders; although Ayiguli had contributed greatly, she was merely a Chief Disciple, yet to be promoted to Protector.

The devotees standing in the chamber were all high-ranking figures from various regions, most holding the rank of Protector, Chief Disciple, or Scholar. They were the bedrock of the Oro Divine Cult, having made outstanding contributions to its propagation across the Western Regions.

When nearly fifty people filled the chamber, Mu Luo raised his hand and spoke a few sentences in the Western Regions dialect. After the six individuals holding the rank of Protector took their seats in order, the rest sat upon cushions arranged on the floor, all facing the elevated Ji Changkong.

Although he had learned some of the Western Regions language from Ayiguli, Ji Changkong could not understand their conversation. As the devotees settled, Mu Luo rose alone from his seat, first bowing respectfully toward Ji Changkong, then launching into a fluent introduction to the assembly in the local dialect.

Having received Mu Luo's cue, Ji Changkong remained silent, sitting high above, watching Mu Luo speak.

"Galuo He—," a young, robust man with the rank of Protector suddenly stood up. He possessed cultivation at the Five Elements Heaven realm, wore long, flowing hair, and possessed a rugged appearance overlaid with determined ambition.

He seemed dissatisfied with Mu Luo's proposition. Standing abruptly, he offered no greeting to Ji Changkong, instead staring at Mu Luo as he argued. As this man rose, several other Protectors nodded in agreement with the young man's opinion. "Who is that, and what is he saying?" Ji Changkong asked Ayiguli, who stood beside him, unable to understand the Western Regions language.

"That is Adili, son of Zalayaji, the King of the Tulufire Kingdom and a devoted member of our Oro Divine Cult. Zalayaji himself believes in us and has made tremendous contributions over the years. If he were not only at the Seven Stars Heaven realm and a sovereign ruler, he could have become our third Elder." Zalayaji not only practiced our faith but ensured his entire family followed it. Adili, his most capable son, reached the Five Elements Heaven realm at a young age and made such immense contributions that he became the only Protector under forty," Ayiguli whispered. "Adili is saying that the Cult Master of our Oro Divine Cult should not be a Central Plains person. He resents the praise Teacher has given you, claiming you are unqualified to be our Cult Master. He proposes that the Celestial Origin Pearl be extracted from your body, you be imprisoned, and after we inherit the profound insights you gained in the Sacred Land, you should simply be killed, allowing the Celestial Origin Pearl to choose a new Cult Master among us!"

Ji Changkong nodded, but his gaze, sharp as a blade, fixed upon the still-bellowing Adili. "Adili certainly seems to have grasped the self-serving essence of our Cult's doctrine."