Chen Feng, standing beneath the moon and thinking of Lingfeng and Xiaohu, had no idea that Lingfeng was also standing under the moon, her head bowed in deep contemplation.

“Where… where is he now?”

Lingfeng could never know that the youth she missed so dearly was currently in a mountain cave, watching another woman, completely unclothed…

“Your Grace, the reinforcements have arrived! They are confronting the heretics outside the valley. This time… it is the Woma Pontiff himself leading the charge!” Bishop Dima said softly, standing a short distance away.

Lingfeng withdrew her thoughts, turning her face.

The Woma Pontiff coming personally meant they intended to fight the heretics to the death.

“I know!” Lingfeng stated plainly. “I will go immediately to arrange a time for a coordinated attack with the leader of the [Sweep the Horizon] Legion!”

“Then I shall trouble Your Grace for the effort!” Bishop Dima replied with a smile, turning and retreating.

The heretics had mobilized nearly all their strength to surround the valley. Seeing this formation, the Church naturally assumed their objective was Your Grace! Therefore, they too had summoned their greatest strength. It could be said that whichever side won this battle would secure absolute final victory.

Lingfeng cared nothing for who won or who lost. Her sole concern was how to locate Chen Feng.

If we succeed in annihilating the heretics this time, the [Sweep the Horizon] Legion will be recognized by the Church, and finding Chen Feng will be much easier! Lingfeng thought. Her tall, slender figure moved toward the central command tent nearby.

“It is the Divine Envoy!” White greeted her with a smile.

“General White… any news of Chen Feng yet?” Lingfeng asked.

White shook his head. “Rest assured, a good person is always favored by Heaven. He will be fine!”

Hearing this utterly hollow consolation, Lingfeng’s eyes dimmed.

White looked at Lingfeng strangely and couldn’t help but ask, “Divine Envoy, why visit so late, if not just to inquire about our Chief’s whereabouts?”

“Oh…” Lingfeng then remembered the purpose of her visit. “The Church has dispatched reinforcements, who are currently facing off against the heretics. I hoped to devise a better battle plan with you for a coordinated strike!”

“The Church has sent people?” White asked, surprised, his eyes immediately narrowing. “That’s excellent. With the Pontiff leading the contingent, what is there to worry about!”

“How did you know the Pontiff was leading this time?” Lingfeng questioned.

“Ah, well… since the Divine Envoy was besieged here, I assumed… the Pontiff… would certainly come personally!” White stammered.

Lingfeng knew he was not speaking his true mind, but she did not press the issue, merely shaking her head as she walked out.

“I say, White, how did you let that slip?” Cam emerged from the side of the tent as Lingfeng left.

“Ahem, I just wanted to see what this Divine Envoy truly had on her mind!” White said, stroking his chin.

“What she has on her mind? Why do we care? Are you bored enough to go looking for trouble?” Cam retorted crossly.

White shook his head at this remark. “Don’t you find these two Divine Envoys a bit strange?”

Hearing this, Cam immediately nodded in agreement. “I think so too, but they are Divine Envoys. If they acted like us, how could they ever become Divine Envoys?”

“You haven’t grasped my meaning. Her coming here so late must be to inform us of the reinforcements’ arrival and to discuss a battle plan. Yet, when she arrived, the first thing she asked about was the Chief’s news… A Divine Envoy who doesn't care about her own safety, doesn't care about the future of the Church, but cares about our Chief—don't you find that strange?”

“You know, now that you mention it, this is indeed quite peculiar!” Cam acknowledged.

“If she cared about the Church, she would have picked up on what I said just now. But… she seemed uninterested in my words. If Bishop Dima hadn't been trailing behind, I’d truly suspect she wasn't a Divine Envoy.”

“Hush, you mustn’t speak such things carelessly!” Cam said urgently. “If she wasn’t a Divine Envoy, do you think the heretics would have encircled us completely? Would the Pontiff personally lead troops to rescue us?”

“I know she’s an Envoy, but I still feel her concern for our Chief exceeds the normal range!” White couldn't help but state.

“Perhaps… maybe she and the Chief were lovers before she became an Envoy,” Cam offered loosely.

“It’s possible, but for a Divine Envoy not to concern herself with the Church’s affairs or preach its doctrines… that’s too improper!” White argued.

Cam did not reply further after White finished, as the matter White raised had long been noticed! In summary, this Lady Lingfeng and that Lord Xiaohu didn't much resemble Divine Envoys; they were more like the Chief’s friends!

“Reporting to Lord White, Lord Cam!” A scout suddenly burst into the central tent from outside.

“What is it?” White asked.

“The Heretic’s First Divine Envoy has challenged the Woma Pontiff! His Holiness has accepted, and they have agreed to a contest tomorrow at noon!” the scout explained.

“A duel between the First Divine Envoy and the Pontiff? What… what is going on?” White and Cam were dumbfounded by the news!

“The First Divine Envoy has already erected a communication tower outside the valley and forged the Covenant of the Gods upon it! He proclaimed that if anyone can cross it, the heretics will immediately disband; if they cannot win, they must acknowledge the existence of the Dark God!” the scout reported. “The Pontiff heard this news and accepted the challenge!”

“The Covenant of the Gods?” White and Cam exchanged glances upon hearing this, their eyes filled with disbelief. “What is this First Divine Envoy trying to pull?”

Legend held that the “Covenant of the Gods” was a contract only a deity could forge. Once the stakes were set, failure to comply would result in heavenly retribution, annihilating the oath-breaker!

Is the First Divine Envoy mentally unsound, or does he consider himself invincible, utterly unafraid of the challenge?

…………………………………………………………………………

Chen Feng searched for a long time within the Sky Pavilion inside the Soul-Reaping Bow but couldn't find Xiaorou. Just as he was about to expand his spiritual sense to search, he felt a warmth on his right hand, and a small hand clasped his own.

“Brother Chen Feng, you followed me!”

Chen Feng saw the tension on Xiaorou’s face, smiled slightly, and allowed her to lead him as they drifted forward.

After flying a distance, the two arrived in the center of a circular hill.

“Is this… a hot spring?” Chen Feng asked dazedly, looking at the pool of water constantly emitting white mist ahead.

“What hot spring! This is the center of the Soul-Reaping Bow, called the [Soul Transformation Pool]! All souls absorbed by the Soul-Reaping Bow can utilize this to be purified and then become a host for their own soul!” Xiaorou explained with a smile.

“Oh? That powerful?”

“Yes. I knew Brother Chen’s soul was damaged and planned for you to enter here to recuperate. Earlier… you left in such a rush,” Xiaorou said, her face flushing slightly. “So I didn't tell you. Now that you’re here, go in and replenish your soul power!”

Chen Feng nodded, giving Xiaorou a look of gratitude.

“Can I just jump in?”

“Yes. Since you are currently in soul form, just leap in. Leave the rest to Xiaorou,” she said with a smile.

Chen Feng responded, leaped into the [Soul Transformation Pool], and immediately felt a sense of comfort spreading throughout his entire being as his physical strength and thoughts constantly increased.

Standing in place, Xiaorou waved her hand, and the headless souls that had been drifting on the periphery floated over, slowly merging into the pool water. Chen Feng felt waves of cool, refreshing power gradually integrate into his body, and his soul power was rapidly recovering!

This [Soul Transformation Pool] is truly remarkable! A high-level deity of the Soul Law… that is a divine being who has researched the Law of Souls to its absolute peak. Perhaps even a Main God’s research into souls isn’t this profound! Chen Feng thought faintly, closing his eyes and savoring the pure souls gathering around him.

If this continues, I estimate my soul power could be fully restored in less than a day! The strength I can wield after recovery—that is truly something to look forward to!

Once cultivation reaches the Saint Domain, one can borrow the power of heaven and earth. If Chen Feng could then incorporate the Great Serpent’s skills, finding an opponent below the God level would likely be extremely difficult.

Moreover, this [Soul Transformation Pool] has the effect of increasing soul power. If the time is long enough and there are enough souls, his soul power could reach an entirely new level! Even when facing a formidable opponent, burning his soul to release power beyond his current cultivation level would no longer risk soul damage!

“Gurgle…”

Chen Feng slowly opened his eyes. His soul power was now more than double what it was when he first jumped in. By previous standards, this meant his soul power had recovered by over fifty percent!

Looking at Xiaorou nearby, whose face was slightly flushed from exertion, he sprang out of the pool.

“That’s enough. Stop gathering souls for today. We need to go back now and adapt to controlling the power within my body. Recovering my soul power completely in one day might leave me unaccustomed to it!”

Chen Feng spoke truthfully. Before falling unconscious, he was a Ninth-Rank Dou Zun. Burning his soul had granted him Saint Domain power but damaged his soul. Now, his body’s cultivation had greatly advanced due to blood fusion, and his soul power was fully restored. He might not be able to control the boundless, supreme power within him properly yet! Therefore, recovering half first, adapting to the internal power, and then slowly recovering further was the way to consolidate his cultivation step-by-step.

Xiaorou understood his meaning and nodded with a smile. The two returned together to the Sky Pavilion.

Back in the room, Xiaorou waved her right hand, and the massive mirror on the wall once again reflected the situation in the mountain cave.

“Damn it, what is this woman doing?” Chen Feng roared, staring at the mirror until he nearly fainted. He saw Yu Jiao, completely naked, rushing toward him—where he was sitting cross-legged!

Does she still intend… intimacy?

PS: We currently have 53 monthly tickets. If we reach 60 or more by 12 o’clock tonight, Old Ya will add another chapter for a total of four! Give me a reason for an extra chapter, I love you all… Oh, for those worried about Harem/harem plotlines, you’ve read over a million words of the book; surely seeing a few censored chapters won’t destroy Old Ya’s purity, right? Old Ya is very pure indeed… (To be continued, for future events, please log in to m for more chapters and support the author and genuine reading!)