The Papal might not be so muddled, yet among the devout, not one of the ten thousand years and countless Pontiffs had witnessed a Divine Messenger, and now, here he was—the moment the Messenger appeared, all the heretics retreated… It was hard for him not to think that way!

Since he thought so, Little Tiger naturally didn't hold back, frankly admitting he was the one who drove away the heretics below the mountain, adopting the air of a mystic charlatan. If the heretics knew their unintended withdrawal had given rise to a false prophet, they would probably storm up and strangle Little Tiger on the spot.

Though Ling Feng frowned deeply, she understood this benefited them both, so she remained silent. “Old man, you know my power now, don’t you!” Little Tiger boasted arrogantly, “These fellows saw me and fled in terror. What a pack of cowards!” “Yes…” Pope Woma immediately bowed his head low. All the temple guards received the news and simultaneously prostrated themselves before the pair, their eyes blazing with fanatical devotion. … “Which direction is Chen Feng in?”

Back inside the sanctuary, Ling Feng finally couldn’t hold back and asked Little Tiger. “That way!” Little Tiger pointed. “Let’s set off in a while!” Ling Feng’s tone was utterly flat, as if discussing something mundane. “Set off?” Little Tiger nodded reluctantly.

Ling Feng informed Pope Woma of their intentions. Upon hearing they planned to head towards the Kejia See, the Pope was instantly startled. “Divine Messenger, the heretics retreated in that direction. Perhaps we should gather a force before making a decision!” The heretics were rampant; if the Divine Messenger were to perish here, it would surely bring divine wrath, so hearing the pair wished to go that way, he naturally tried every means to dissuade them. “Can the [Natural Gate] not be used?” Ling Feng inquired. “It can… but there are many heretics over there, I fear for your safety!” Pope Woma said worriedly. “No need. Take us to the [Natural Gate] for transportation,” Ling Feng stated coldly.

“This…” Pope Woma finally nodded, as the words of the Divine Messenger carried the utmost weight. As the Pope, he could not leave the temple arbitrarily, so he did not accompany them. However, he dispatched a full hundred of the temple’s most powerful Cardinal and Archbishop-level guards; if trouble arose, even if victory wasn't assured, escape should be possible. Ling Feng did not refuse, and she and Little Tiger led this contingent into the [Natural Gate]. With a flash of light, they appeared in the Kejia See.

Bishop Dima had already learned that the Divine Messenger was coming his way and waited eagerly by the [Natural Gate]. Seeing Ling Feng and Little Tiger emerge, he rushed forward with a beaming smile to greet them. “Venerable Divine Messengers…” he hastily proclaimed.

Ling Feng ignored him, instead turning to Little Tiger, “Do you sense Chen Feng’s location any better?” Little Tiger scanned the area. “It still seems very far away. I can only sense the general direction!”

The distance from the Kejia See to the mine where Chen Feng was located stretched for over a hundred thousand li. This distance exceeded the range of their pact, making it impossible to feel Chen Feng’s true location. Moreover, Little Tiger had discovered a fact: due to the scarcity of magical elements in this world, the connection of his Soul Blood Pact was also constrained. If he could communicate with Chen Feng through the pact when they were one li apart before, now they needed to be within two hundred li to communicate. This was understandable, as this world inherently lacked the means to cultivate magic; otherwise, Yan Long, as a Magic Dragon, would not have allowed the people here to practice meditation. Without magic, the soul contract, which relied on magical means, was naturally limited.

Ling Feng pondered for a moment and then asked Bishop Dima, “Do you have a [Natural Gate] leading in that direction?” Bishop Dima looked where she pointed, a wry smile touching his lips. “That direction leads to Andelu Town. There used to be a [Natural Gate] there, but since all the heretics left in that direction, they completely destroyed it, so… no.”

“None?” Ling Feng repeated, a crease forming on her brow. Bishop Dima nodded, quickly flattering them, “Divine Messenger, if there is anything you need, there is absolutely no need to risk personal danger. I can send men!” “No need!” Ling Feng stated coldly.

Bishop Dima continued, “Then allow me to accompany the two Divine Messengers!” The arrival of the Divine Messengers was an excellent opportunity; if he could earn their favor this time, his future prospects would improve considerably. Although the heretics were powerful, since the Divine Messengers had arrived, wouldn't they be utterly annihilated? Bishop Dima considered this point when deliberately trying to curry favor. Furthermore, Bishop Dima harbored a secret: among the Bishops of the Eight Great Sees, he alone was a [Nether Child]. If the current Pontiff stepped down, he might be a candidate for the next Pope! It was precisely for this reason that upon learning Chen Feng was also a [Nether Child], he had unhesitatingly issued the kill order. How could he allow someone who might jeopardize his future to remain?

“Very well!” Ling Feng agreed to his request. After all, this was his territory, and she was unfamiliar with it; if they were truly surrounded by heretics, finding Chen Feng would be difficult. Upon hearing the Divine Messenger’s agreement, Bishop Dima beamed and ordered his retinue to quickly summon troops. He was lost in the dream of pleasing the Divine Messengers, never suspecting that the person the “Divine Messenger” sought was the very one he was trying to kill… ……………………………………………………

After one battle, the tacit understanding among all members of the contingent grew stronger. In less than three days, they had covered no less than 3,000 li. Logically, since they were all flying, their speed should have been far greater than other groups, making this short distance impossible. However, the flying contingent didn't just travel light; they also had to carry various supplies. Although Chen Feng’s waterskin wasn't small, it had its limits; he only filled it with valuable items, and not even all the Purple Fire Crystals were stowed inside. Thus, the majority of supplies were being borne aloft by the experts at the Nether Saint strength level, slowing their progress once the materiel was added. “Boss, where are we heading now?” White couldn't help but ask. “The Tressel Shrine!” Chen Feng stated calmly.

Chen Feng was unaware that Little Tiger and the others had arrived, so he wasn't concentrating on sensing their presence. He believed that only by heading towards a shrine might they find the path to the other world. “To the shrine?” White was initially startled but nodded. “A truly excellent idea! The closer we get to the shrine, the stronger the See’s forces become. We can lure these heretics into fighting the See’s forces!” Chen Feng hadn't expected White to think of that, but upon reflection, it made sense. “Report, Boss! Three thousand li ahead, a large force of heretics has appeared. It looks like a planned interception!” a scout reported.

Among the Ten Great Barracks, there was a dedicated reconnaissance battalion, or scout corps. This corps numbered only a thousand men, but they were all masters of stealth and flight, fast and sharp-witted. Three days prior, when the army departed, these scouts were dispatched. Their speed far outstripped the army burdened with supplies, so they had already scouted the situation ahead. “Interception?” Chen Feng mused. “It shouldn't be easy for a single force to achieve an interception.” “It’s not one force. There are forces active to our left and right as well!” the scout continued. “Forces front, back, left, and right—we’re being surrounded like dumplings. But I don’t quite understand why they aren't confronting the See, what exactly do they want by intercepting us?” White mused perplexedly. “Keep a close watch on their movements. Today, let’s press forward and find a town to make camp,” Chen Feng said, noting everyone looked weary after traveling all day.

White nodded in agreement. The immediate priority wasn't rapid travel, but determining the weakest point in the encirclement from which to break out. … At dusk, the people of Riga Town were preparing dinner when a golden light flew over the city walls. “Are those Gold Armored Soldiers? How can Gold Armored Soldiers fly?” “So many of them, perhaps over a hundred thousand? A force of over a hundred thousand—has the See pushed back the enemy?” “Quick, run, or it’ll be too late…”

The inhabitants of Riga Town fell into panic. This town had already suffered a period of chaos three months ago, and even the cathedral was now occupied by heretics. The fighting back then resulted in the deaths of no less than fifty thousand people in the entire town, so seeing so many flying figures approach terrified them. Just then, nearly a thousand figures shot out from within the city, flying to meet the approaching army. “May I ask what force you are? Riga Town now belongs to my God. Please detour, or you will suffer the wrath of my God!” the leading figure bowed and said. This man was the leader of the heretical army garrisoned in Riga Town.

“The heretics’ strength is truly formidable. This is the seventh town they’ve occupied,” Chen Feng remarked with a sigh. “Indeed, Boss!” White replied. In the three days of travel, they had passed ten towns, and unexpectedly, seven were already occupied. The heretical leader’s face darkened when no one answered his address. He then shouted loudly, “I ask you again to detour, or you will suffer the wrath of my God!” “Either leave, or die!” Chen Feng slowly flew to the front of the crowd and said flatly. “You…” The heretical leader’s face flushed deep red. He knew initiating conflict with the opposing side was extremely unwise, but his mission held him fast. He didn't believe the others dared to fight them, considering that the entire continent was nearly within their forces’ grasp; no matter how strong these people were, they were just grasshoppers on the chopping block, with little time left.

“Let’s go!” Finally, he swallowed his anger and turned to fly back. But before he could take off, someone behind him shouted, “Open all your granaries! Send all the grain over!” “…” The heretical leader had seen arrogance before, but never arrogance like this—demanding the spoils be delivered to them: “If you want it, come and take it yourself!” he said bitterly. But the words were barely finished when a white light flashed, striking his spine directly. With a boom, he was blasted into a pile of minced meat. “How dare you be arrogant towards our Boss? You’re courting death!” The commander of the Nether Saint Camp retracted his finger and said coolly. The remaining heretics felt like weeping; just who exactly was being arrogant here… …

Chen Feng and his group didn't stand on ceremony. After dealing with the heretics, they set up camp there. The most pressing matter now was locating the granaries to secure food; the sustenance for over a hundred thousand people was a significant expenditure. “Go, lead the way!” Chen Feng commanded, ordering men to escort the captured heretics forward, while the entire Close Combat Camp followed behind. The men of the Close Combat Camp were robust and perfectly suited for hauling goods. Upon finding the granaries, they proved adept at moving the supplies. “If you approach, I will destroy the granary!” a man resembling a heretical priest shouted loudly.

“Destroy the granary?” Chen Feng cared nothing for their threats. He flicked his finger, summoning a black particle beam that shot toward the priest before him! The unfortunate priest let out a miserable cry and stopped breathing. After killing the priest, the rest of the group charged toward the granaries like wolves, like bandits.

But Chen Feng’s group couldn't be blamed for their ruthlessness. In this chaotic age, survival demanded heartlessness. Concepts like robbing the rich to help the poor, or only robbing officials but not common folk, were mere fabrications. If you didn't rob, you waited to starve. Once starved to death, clinging to principles was just idiocy. Although Chen Feng didn't particularly enjoy it, he wasn't rigidly principled either. He knew some things were permissible and others weren't. A general’s success is built on ten thousand withered bones; where there is no sacrifice, there can be no gain? The talk of not disturbing the populace was all written in historical records. How could an army of over a hundred thousand survive without disturbing the people? However, Chen Feng had disciplined his subordinates: if enough grain could be obtained from the warehouses of local churches, they were not to cause trouble in the city. If it wasn't enough… then they were to plunder! But they were only to take grain. Crimes like rape or arson, if discovered, meant immediate execution without mercy! Fortunately, in the places they passed over the last three days, the churches had stockpiled a large amount of provisions, so they hadn't yet been forced to rob the common folk.

With the grain issue settled, White requested permission from Chen Feng to summon the commanders of the ten battalions to discuss the current situation. “We are currently in Riga Town, still within the jurisdiction of the Kejia See. Based on the intelligence received, we are surrounded. The army directly in front is commanded by the Heretics’ Third Divine Messenger, with a force of 10,000 Nether Saints, 50,000 Nether Venerables, and 10,000 Gold Armored Soldiers! The army on the right is commanded by the Heretics’ Fifth Divine Messenger, with 30,000 Nether Saints, 50,000 Nether Venerables, and 50,000 Gold Armored Soldiers! The force on the left is the strongest, commanded by the Second Divine Messenger, with 50,000 Nether Saints and 70,000 Nether Venerables, though they have very few Gold Armored Soldiers—only ten thousand! The pursuers behind us, the one we defeated, currently have 50,000 Nether Venerables and 1 Gold Armored Soldier remaining. Analyzing the strengths of the front, right, left, and rear, the rear force is currently the weakest. What do you all suggest?” White pointed at the map and asked the assembled officers. Although he had the authority to deploy troops as he saw fit, to gain consensus, he gathered these generals to discuss together; perhaps a better battle plan could be conceived.

“I believe we should charge straight ahead. We have a speed advantage, and they have fewer Nether Saints. If we focus on escape during a frontal engagement, we shouldn't suffer heavy losses!” suggested one battalion commander. “Not heavy losses? The opposition has 10,000 Nether Saints, 50,000 Nether Venerables, and Gold Armored Soldiers! If we charge and they defend, they could wipe out half our forces! I think we should strike from the right. Our current direction towards the shrine is the most direct route; if we engage the enemy here, it might draw the See’s forces to intervene…”

“I think we should retreat backward. After all, the force behind us is the weakest, and no one would expect us to double back!” “I think we should charge forward first, and then charge backward…”

The room immediately erupted into a fierce debate. There were proposals for front, rear, and right, but nobody mentioned the left. Understandably so; the force on the left—50,000 Nether Saints and 70,000 Nether Venerables—was enough to terrify anyone just by its numbers. “Boss, which direction do you think we should strike from?” White asked Chen Feng when the discussions led to no conclusion. Hearing the Boss was about to speak, everyone fell silent. “We must not only break out, but more importantly, we must minimize personnel losses! Therefore…” Chen Feng deliberately paused before continuing: “I think we should strike from the left!”

“Minimize personnel losses, yet strike from the left?” Everyone was stunned. This sounded like a joke; the force on the left was overwhelmingly the strongest! Even White couldn't help but say, “Boss, setting aside the Nether Saints, just the 70,000 Nether Venerable experts are more than our contingent can withstand!” Chen Feng replied, “Don’t we still have the Thunder Roar Arrows?”

“We have Thunder Roar Arrows, but without Perfect Crystal powder, they have no effect on Nether Saints, do they? The Perfect Crystals you gave me last time have all been distributed over the last two days. After all, a great battle is coming, and the stronger the force, the better! So… we don't have Perfect Crystals left to manufacture these Thunder Roar Arrows!” White explained. Thunder Roar Arrows without Perfect Crystal powder were useless against high-level Nether Saints.

“No Perfect Crystals again?” Chen Feng thought upon hearing this. I have a large quantity of Purple Fire Crystals, but with my own absorption speed, extracting many Perfect Crystals in a short time is impossible; it requires many people working simultaneously. With this thought, his eyes lit up. “Commander of the Blazing Flame Camp, gather all your men right now! Purify Perfect Crystals overnight!”

The soldiers of the Blazing Flame Camp were all fire-aligned; if they absorbed the energy from Purple Fire Crystals to enhance their battle qi, solving the Perfect Crystal issue should be swift. This seemed simple to say, but the others were confused and asked in amazement, “Have the Blazing Flame Camp purify Perfect Crystals? Isn’t crystal extraction something only Nether Venerable experts can do through meditation?”

Chen Feng smiled slightly at their astonished expressions. “My method is different from what you know. My method has a very high success rate for extracting Perfect Crystals!” White had known Chen Feng possessed a special refinement method when he saw how many Perfect Crystals he could produce before. It must have a higher success rate than known methods, or extracting over thirty thousand would have exhausted him to death. He couldn't help but ask excitedly, “A high success rate? How high? Is it perhaps one in a thousand?”

The normal success rate was one in ten thousand—meaning one Perfect Crystal for every ten thousand Purple Fire Crystals—so White suggesting one in a thousand was already an astonishing figure, a tenfold increase! “One in a thousand?” Chen Feng shook his head. “It’s one percent…” Before he finished speaking, everyone’s face showed utter shock. “One percent… that’s a full hundred times better than the original method!”

“One hundred percent…” Everyone’s minds felt like they had exploded; they couldn't believe their ears. Seeing their stupefied expressions, Chen Feng didn't bother explaining and walked out.

By this time, the Blazing Flame Camp soldiers had already assembled. Chen Feng instructed the commander to distribute one Purple Fire Crystal to each man. “Now, place the crystal in your palm and use the method I taught you to absorb the fire element within to enhance your battle qi cultivation!” Chen Feng instructed. “Watch, I will demonstrate for you first!” He stood before them, holding a Purple Fire Crystal in his right palm. His internal Domain power began to spin, and the fire element contained within the Purple Fire Crystal immediately surged toward his hand. The crystal’s appearance grew progressively clearer until, in a moment, it transformed into a Perfect Crystal.

“Ah…” Everyone jumped back in alarm, eyes wide with disbelief. The Boss’s method for refining Perfect Crystals was far too simple! White and the others exchanged glances, finally believing Chen Feng’s earlier claim. Not only was it a 100% success rate, but the refinement speed was incredible... what took others ten years, he accomplished in under ten minutes...

The Blazing Flame Camp soldiers followed Chen Feng’s method, absorbing the flame energy from the Purple Fire Crystals. Upon absorbing it, every face showed ecstatic joy; cultivating this way was more than ten times faster than their usual practice, so how could they not be thrilled? However, their current battle qi levels were still relatively low, making it somewhat difficult for them to completely drain the energy from one crystal. The fastest person took a full two hours to produce one Perfect Crystal. After he finished absorbing, Chen Feng immediately handed him a second crystal. In this manner, the ten thousand-plus soldiers of the Blazing Flame Camp manufactured over thirty thousand Perfect Crystals overnight, and through absorbing the energy within the crystals, the battle qi of every soldier in the Blazing Flame Camp was greatly enhanced! Not only were Perfect Crystals manufactured, but their cultivation levels also improved, filling every soldier in the Blazing Flame Camp with buoyant excitement.

Chen Feng ordered the Underworld Saint Camp to manufacture Thunder-Scented Arrows using the perfect crystal stones, giving any surplus to those at the Underworld Venerable strength level, urging them to cultivate their Meditative Stillness swiftly in the hopes of reaching the Underworld Saint rank as soon as possible.

A day later, the total number of these specially crafted Thunder-Scented Arrows, infused with the powder of the perfect crystal stones, reached ten thousand!

Armed with these specialized shafts designed specifically to counter the Underworld Saints, everyone's confidence soared, leading them to unanimously decide on a flanking maneuver from the left—what did they care about the enemy Underworld Saints when they possessed the Thunder-Scented Arrows!

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