Knowing what a powerhouse at the (Underworld Saint) level was like, if he entered the realm similar to (White), then engaging with me... would only lead to a dead end!" Chen Feng mused, a faint smile playing on his lips.

From this battle, he clearly understood his own strength. Although these (Underworld Venerables) were formidable, they were no match for him!

As he saw it now, apart from the White-Robed and Red-Robed Cardinals within the Holy See—those at the level—the level was entirely beneath his concern.

Cultivation could only reach the level of (Gold Armored Warrior); no one had ever reached the (Holy Domain) cultivation solely through practice, so that path was out of the question.

"Boss, where did those flames of yours just now come from?" White asked loudly from a safe distance, still visibly shaken.

"Ah, naturally, they come from cultivating battle energy!" Chen Feng replied. "We didn't quite finish that round, let's continue..."

"Cough, cough..." White touched his singed eyebrows and hair, a vein throbbing in his temple. He twisted around and bolted toward his horse, shouting as he ran, "The weather is excellent today, perfect for travel; otherwise, we'll be late..."

"..." Chen Feng.

In White's mind, before the Boss had even unleashed his true power after dispersing the purple mist, he had already scorched his head. If the fight had continued, he would surely have been burned alive... running was the only sensible choice!

…………………………………………………………

Silence reigned along the way. After galloping for more than three hours, they finally reached Antelu Town, the closest settlement to Hutang Village.

The layout of the town appeared remarkably crude. Putting aside comparisons to the Earth of his past life, it was significantly inferior even to the world where the Dragon Domain resided. Rough, greyish-blue buildings sprawled haphazardly across the town, utterly lacking any discernible planning. The streets varied wildly in width, and the dwellings stood unevenly, lending the place a distinctly rugged appearance.

Walking down the street, Chen Feng found it novel; the flow of people all moved in the same direction, seemingly converging on a single spot.

"They are heading to the church," White mentioned beside him. "Today is when Father Dela narrates the Divine History."

"Divine History?"

"You don't even know about the Divine History... Boss. Sometimes I genuinely wonder if you’re even from this world!" White couldn't help but remark, seeing his ignorance on such a basic matter.

"I have always been consumed by cultivation, aloof from worldly affairs, so there are many things I do not know."

White's loyalty was unquestionable, but if Chen Feng admitted he came from another dimension, the man might not cope; thus, this explanation was safer.

"At the beginning of every month, priests from all regions recount the history of the God of Justice descending to the mortal realm, spreading the doctrine to deepen the people's love for the divine!" White explained.

"Then let's go and see it too!"

"We were going that way anyway, how else would we reach the 'Natural Gate'?" White muttered, clearly exasperated by Chen Feng's lack of knowledge.

The two followed the crowd for about twenty minutes until they saw a towering structure. Chen Feng’s expression became quite peculiar upon seeing it.

The building was constructed entirely of red sandstone, topped with a classic white dome, upon which stood a slender spire carved in the shape of a staff, flanked by two symmetrical, tower-like structures whose sharp points pierced the sky.

It was the spitting image of a church from Earth!

If the staff were replaced with a cross, it would be indistinguishable from a church on Earth.

Outside the church, the crowd was already immense, stretching as far as the eye could see. A thin, elderly man dressed in a dark clerical robe slowly levitated towards the sky.

"He must be Father Dela," Chen Feng deduced his identity from the energy emanating from the old man. "His cultivation seems even higher than White's!"

"The God of Justice lives forever!" Father Dela’s melodious voice drifted down from the air, incredibly soothing to the ear.

"...After our God pointed a finger and quelled the Great Flood, the world became immensely fertile, and people settled into prosperity. But at that moment, the Insectoid race suddenly appeared in the south..."

Father Dela began recounting a series of tales about the God of Justice. Many stories sounded like utter nonsense to Chen Feng, yet the common folk below listened with rapt attention.

After listening for over half an hour to tales of how the God of Justice slew enemies, overcame obstacles, and aided all living beings—nearly all of it sheer eulogy—Chen Feng grew bored. Just as he felt weary, Father Dela's pleasant voice continued: "...My God finally left behind a peaceful and tranquil world, passing through the void from the Telysha Temple and returning to the Heavenly Kingdom!"

"Where is the Telysha Temple?" Chen Feng couldn't help but ask White beside him.

"Telysha is where the Pope of Woma resides... You don't even know about the Pope of Woma?" White asked, though upon seeing Chen Feng's utterly bewildered face, he sighed inwardly again. "His Holiness the Pope commands the Eight Great Holy Sees, meaning he rules the Eight Red-Robed Cardinals, residing in the Temple at the very center of the continent... Do you even know what a Temple means?"

"..." Chen Feng.

It took Chen Feng a long time to grasp that the Telysha Temple was separated from them by a distance that housed the Eight Great Holy Sees, arranged circularly around it in an embrace.

The temple's Natural Gate was usually closed. Only the Pope could use these Natural Gates to access the various Sees, and even the Red-Robed Cardinals of other Sees could not travel to the Temple unless summoned.

However, those who worshipped the divine with extreme devotion would spend a lifetime making a pilgrimage, crossing treacherous mountains and dangerous waters, facing near-death experiences just to reach the Temple, pray, and seek blessings. These individuals often received divine rewards, allowing them to return to their homes through the Natural Gate.

In short, the only way to reach the Temple was by walking; leaving was easier, via the Natural Gate.

"Father Dela said the Flame Dragon passed through the void from the Temple just now. If that's true, it implies there might be a spatial passage near the Temple," Chen Feng mused. "That makes sense; it means if Senior Flame Dragon came to this world, it wouldn't feel so abrupt."

With this realization, he now had a target. Chen Feng looked around to see that the dense crowd of worshipers had dispersed sometime ago. Father Dela was slowly descending the steps toward the interior of the church.

"Let's go borrow the Natural Gate," Chen Feng told White.

"Borrow it?" White explained, "The Natural Gate of the church is only for the use of church personnel. I've never heard of outsiders using it; borrowing it is likely impossible..."

Before he finished speaking, White stopped short. He exchanged a look with Chen Feng; they both spotted a figure slowly approaching the church.

Seemingly sensing the approaching aura, Father Dela, who was about to re-enter, halted his steps, his gaunt face turning towards the newcomer.

"Father Dela, I am Father Hasai!" the newcomer said upon reaching the church entrance.

"Father Hasai?" Father Dela looked confused as to his purpose.

Father Hasai stated directly, "Starting today, you are replaced in your position as priest. I will be fully responsible for Antelu Town from now on!"

"Replace me? Are you an envoy sent by Bishop Dima?" Father Dela asked, unable to fully believe it.

"Yes. Do you even doubt that?" Father Hasai's expression turned displeased.

Questioning the Bishop's command was a grave offense for a believer.

"I do not doubt it, but I would like to see the written order from Bishop Dima!" Father Dela replied, neither servile nor overbearing.

"Very well, here it is!" Father Hasai produced an object from behind his back.

"Something feels off," Chen Feng sensed a strange anomaly.

Father Dela quickly extended both hands upward, but the situation shifted abruptly. Father Hasai flipped his wrist, and both palms shot forward in a flat thrust!

"Bang!" Caught completely off guard, Father Dela was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the interior of the church.

"Why are they fighting?" Chen Feng was astonished.

"There's something strange about this Father Hasai; let's go take a look," White said before sliding forward and darting toward the scene.

"Why... did you attack me by surprise?" Father Dela, severely wounded, spat a mouthful of blood, his eyes locked on the newcomer. "My God taught us that his people should be friendly and harmonious; why would you, a priest, resort to violence?"

"Your God perished long ago; what's there to teach! I am now here to propagate a new doctrine on behalf of my God!" Father Hasai's eyes flashed with ferocity.

"Your God? Ah... you are a heretic?" Fear flickered in Father Dela's eyes.

"What heretic? My God is the eternal existence! He has already issued a divine decree for us to spread the teachings. In our eyes, you are the heretics!" Father Hasai declared.

Chen Feng and White concealed their presence outside the church, eavesdropping on the conversation. Both wore expressions of surprise.

When did another deity arrive?

"You group of heretics! My God is eternal; how could he perish?" Father Dela roared, the insult to his revered deity overriding the pain of his injuries as he argued heatedly.

"Hmph, then I'll send you to meet your God!" Father Hasai raised his right hand high, and a thick, dark mist slowly rose from his palm.

This black mist exuded a potent evil energy that instantly made the chest recoil in disgust.

"Dark Energy?" Father Dela’s tone carried a note of fury.

"Heh heh, now that you know, die in peace!" Father Hasai roared maniacally and flung the black mist toward the injured Father Dela.

Just then, a "hissing" sound erupted from the ground, moving faster than lightning from outside the church, slamming directly into the black mist.

"Boom!"

The black mist collided with the sound, splashing a burst of purple flame that simultaneously vanished inside the church.

"Who?!" Father Hasai shouted, whirling around. Standing before him was a crimson-clad youth who had appeared from nowhere.

ps: I rewrote and edited this chapter; it took over four hours, and I'm still not satisfied, but please bear with it... sweat..