Adili held absolutely no respect for the newly appointed Hierophant, Ji Changkong. He was loudly arguing with Mu Luo, vehemently opposing Mu Luo’s decision. Furthermore, the other cultists holding the rank of Dharma Protector seemed to find Adili’s reasoning quite sound, nodding in agreement one after another.

Adili’s father, Zhalayaji, was the King of the Turfan Oasis. Among the numerous oases in the Western Regions, Turfan was a powerful state ranking near the top. Turfan was militarily strong and possessed ample troops, being one of the few regional powers that dared to challenge the Mala Heaven Sect. Because Zhalayaji believed in the Auro Faith, the majority of the Turfan populace also adhered to it.

Zhalayaji was a man who had contributed greatly to the Auro Faith. As Zhalayaji’s most outstanding son and the future King of Turfan, even Mu Luo dared not treat Adili too harshly. Otherwise, given Mu Luo’s temperament, if Adili had dared to challenge his authority, Mu Luo would have already struck to subdue him.

Ayiguli stood bowing beside Ji Changkong, quietly relating Adili’s background to him. Had he not spoken with Li Hentian and Tuoba Lie, Ji Changkong might have been quite pleased to see someone like Adili stirring up trouble. But after the counsel given by Li Hentian, he had begun to take the Auro Faith seriously.

At this juncture, Adili continued to mumble incessantly, which deeply displeased him.

“Ahem…” Ji Changkong coughed lightly, his gaze chilling as it settled upon Adili. “Adili, what exactly is it you want? From your attitude, are you suggesting you wish to become the new Hierophant of the Auro Faith? Heh, if you possess the talent, I wouldn't mind stepping down and yielding the position, provided you can make the Sacred Relic, the Celestial Origin Pearl, submit to you.”

“Ayiguli, you will handle the translation.” Having spoken, Ji Changkong glanced at Ayiguli beside him and gave a calm instruction.

Ayiguli nodded, then looked at Adili, translating Ji Changkong’s words into the Western Regions dialect.

When Ayiguli finished translating, Adili exploded in fury, glaring fiercely at Ji Changkong and shouting a torrent of words in the Western Regions dialect.

“Hierophant, Adili says you are unworthy to be our new leader. He says you are not only not from the Western Regions, but your own power level is too low. You are utterly unqualified to lead us to victory over the Mani Sect,” Ayiguli said, her expression strange, carefully choosing her words, trying to stick to what was permissible.

From Adili’s demeanor, Ji Changkong was certain he had uttered plenty of insults, and Ayiguli’s odd expression must be because some of Adili’s comments were too vulgar to repeat.

Mu Luo leaped forward, pointing at Adili and reprimanding him sharply. Adili remained entirely unafraid, merely sizing up Ji Changkong with a cold stare.

In the vast stone chamber, quite a few people silently sided with Adili, moving subtly toward him to signify their allegiance. With the support of these individuals, Adili grew bolder, actually extending his finger to point directly at Ji Changkong, his face etched with disdain.

Deep down, Ayiguli seemed not to fully endorse Ji Changkong’s position as Hierophant either. She did not sharply rebuke these people’s actions, but rather calmly continued her duty translating, offering no words in defense of Ji Changkong, nor interrupting Adili’s clamor.

His expression grew increasingly grim. Ji Changkong glanced at Mu Luo, whose strength was formidable but who was restrained by considerations for Adili’s father, and then at the downcast Ayiguli. He suddenly realized that securing his place as Hierophant would not be an easy task.

After a moment of contemplation, Ji Changkong, his face shadowed with gloom, suddenly descended from his elevated position as Hierophant and stood before Adili: “You possess the cultivation of the Five Elements Heaven Realm, while I am merely in the Four Symbols Heaven Realm. However, we can fight. You need not hold back. If you can defeat me, I will hand over all the inheritance I received from the Holy Land, including the Celestial Origin Pearl within my body!” “Ayiguli! Translate!” Ayiguli froze, looking at Ji Changkong in astonishment, then nervously glanced toward Mu Luo, remaining silent.

Mu Luo’s face drastically changed. He suddenly knelt before Ji Changkong, urgently imploring him to retract his words. He then turned on Adili, shouting accusations, berating him for being ungrateful and uttering such treasonous things.

Just as Adili was about to retort, a fierce glint flashed in Mu Luo’s eyes. He glared sharply at Adili and his group, uttering a string of words in a cold tone.

When Mu Luo finished speaking, Adili, who had been arguing loudly with him moments before, looked on in disbelief, a shade of terror in his expression. The Dharma Protectors standing beside Mu Luo suddenly knelt down, their faces masks of fear.

It was Mu Luo whom they prostrated themselves before, not Ji Changkong.

Without Ayiguli’s translation, Ji Changkong knew Mu Luo must have spoken words of extreme threat. Before, Mu Luo had consistently shown restraint out of deference to Adili’s father’s contributions to the Auro Faith. But now that Mu Luo had crossed his own line of tolerance, this fanatic religious zealot’s intent to kill surged, threatening to reveal his true nature.

Ayiguli trembled all over, kneeling before Mu Luo as well, murmuring something softly in the Western Regions dialect.

The killing intent Mu Luo had briefly revealed was intensely potent, imbued with the unique madness of a religious fanatic. It seemed likely he had a history steeped in blood.