Light Fortress

Chapter 1755 - 403: Light Beyond Comprehension

The Red Lake in Light City has not welcomed new visitors for a long time.

Since Jia Wei’s death.

This lake has been sealed by the temple.

As the chosen successor by the Divine Throne, Meng Xizhou began to take over the entire temple.

In the past six months, Light City has encountered significant turbulence, losing high-ranking combatants one after another, Long Qi, Yin Zhuo, Yuan Yang, Gao Mo, Jia Wei...

A total of five Titled Level individuals.

Even though this city of faith has a profound foundation, facing such a deficit is still somewhat overwhelming.

Meng Xizhou urgently mobilized all county towns within the West Continent to fill the seats of the temple. In the West Continent, there are still Transcendent individuals at the Titled Level, and although high-end combat power is lacking, investing substantial resources in cultivation can quickly compensate for that.

The sacrifice of the Titled individuals severely injured the temple’s vitality.

But it cannot harm the core.

"Lady Divine, as per your instructions, the Fourth-tier Experts from other county towns have all been arranged to reside in the temple’s mansion."

Batu stood with Meng Xizhou on the shore of the Red Lake.

He whispered, "There are eleven in total, and only about three have the hope of stepping into the Titled Realm."

"Three, that’s quite a number."

Meng Xizhou calmly said, "As long as they can pass the Heart Cleansing Pool Trial, the ’Dream of the Light Flame’ will be bestowed, and all these eleven Fourth-tier individuals will be included in the Temple Elders. According to their past contributions to the temple, and actual combat strength, a ranking will be set. Those who can be promoted to the Titled Level will receive the formal treatment of an elder."

"Yes."

Batu respectfully replied, but soon asked again, "The Great Elder position is still vacant at the moment..."

His tone was a bit hesitant.

This is also the biggest issue facing the temple now.

Indeed.

The years of accumulated rich heritage allow Light City to quickly foster several Transcendent individuals at the Titled Level.

But it is impossible to create top-tier combat power like Gao Mo, who has both strength and reputation.

"Does the temple still need a Great Elder now?"

Meng Xizhou turned back, looking at Batu, and asked this question.

Batu fell silent.

A moment later, he sincerely said, "Although Gao Mo did many wrong things, he also led the temple a long way."

Without Gao Mo, these people on the Temple Elders would be a mere scattered sand.

And those wrong things may not be repeated.

The existence of the Great Elder lies in uniting the Temple Elders.

Those who can enter the core high ranks of the temple are all strong individuals who have reached a certain height in their cultivation.

They need a "leader."

"I can do the things that a Great Elder can do too." Meng Xizhou said calmly, "Haven’t I already dealt with the dossiers left behind by Gao Mo?"

These words left Batu unable to refute.

During this time, following behind the Lady Divine, he processed the temple’s long-pending dossiers.

Gao Mo, due to his physical inconvenience, spent most of his time residing in a nutrition pod. For the tasks the Great Elder’s position should have done, he often only made decisions and delegated many important duties to capable subordinates like Yuan Yang, Su Ye, Yao Jin. Yet, some things were not suitable for entrusting outsiders.

Therefore, those not urgent, not too important were left aside.

In just two short months.

Meng Xizhou cleared the years-long backlog of dossiers at the temple’s highest level.

This ability to handle affairs opened Batu’s eyes and filled him with admiration. In this regard, the Lady Divine indeed far surpasses the Great Elder.

"You are right."

Batu said solemnly, "But there is one thing I must be frank with you, after that night at Red Lake, there were doubts about your position in the temple among the Elders..."

Meng Xizhou raised her eyebrows.

She looked at the calm surface of the lake far away.

This Light City is just like the Red Lake in front, seemingly calm on the surface, like a still mirror.

But in fact, ten meters down the water, there are lurking currents.

"Oh, who is questioning me?"

These casually spoken words seemed light, but made Batu tense up.

"Many."

Batu sighed, "No one questions the decision of the Lord Divine to choose you as the future leader... It’s just that some of your decisions have caused much dissatisfaction."

Gao Mo let Yuan Yang develop the power of belief.

This matter is not only Yuan Yang’s endeavor.

The entire Temple Elders are promoting the power of faith in the Light Church... Hence, North Continent has so many Hidden Children.

After Meng Xizhou took power, she conducted sweeping reforms on the Temple Elders.

"Is it those from West Sea Crossing?"

Meng Xizhou seemed to smile.

Batu remained silent, but this itself was a kind of answer.

West Sea Crossing, as the secret place nurturing shadows for Light City, had been divided by Gao Mo and allocated to various Temple Elders according to their power and status size. After the Red Lake night struggle ended, the Temple Elders had half vacancies, and moreover, the higher-ranking half, the remaining elders started fighting and looting West Sea Crossing.

Su Ye, Yao Jin, all originated from there.

Light City is under the constant blaze of the Blazing Sun, while West Sea Crossing is always shrouded in shadow.

Meng Xizhou ordered these big figures in charge of West Sea Crossing not to send Hidden Children outside for a short time.

This ban is the root of the "dissatisfaction."

From the perspective of practical interests, not sending Hidden Children outside doesn’t count as a loss...

But from the perspective of these big figures, Meng Xizhou’s ban is actually a test; if West Sea Crossing follows the ban, then the next will be increasingly stringent constraints.

To the very end.

The loyal death soldiers they nurtured, those who sacrifice themselves like shadows, will all be uprooted by Meng Xizhou.

Thus, discordant voices began to emerge within the temple.

Meng Xizhou was actually aware of this phenomenon, and even if Batu did not mention it, she was prepared to address it.

"Tell them that this issue will be resolved today. Call everyone from the Temple Elders, and summon the candidates as well, let them all wait for me outside the temple."

Meng Xizhou spoke with a smile: "I’m going to meet the Divine Throne, and when I return... I will give them a satisfactory answer."

Her words were gentle.

But Batu felt the chilling, murderous intent.

He bowed his head, took the order, and left.

Thus, the entire Red Lake returned to silence, as the setting sun flickered, and the great Red Lake was like a vast wine glass, reflecting intoxicating, crimson brilliance.

Meng Xizhou stepped onto the lake’s surface.

The vast Red Lake lay unimpeded in her view, with no fog and no obstructions.

She walked steadily and serenely to the very end of the Red Lake before stopping.

Meng Xizhou gazed at a small wooden cabin not far ahead.

Before stepping onto the Red Lake, her eyes had been fixed on this point.

The whole Red Lake, the entire temple... or rather, the entire Light City.

The only place she couldn’t see through or understand was this small wooden cabin, where the Light God’s Seat rested, shrouded in countless powerful Holy Lights. As long as one didn’t approach within fifty meters, there was nothing unusual about this cabin.

But if one entered within the bounds of the barrier, they would sense something different.

At least ten thousand intense Holy Lights wound around the cabin.

Meng Xizhou was born close to light, every light in this world, whether it was the bright blaze of the noon sun or the moonlight of a clear night, resonated with her... But she simply couldn’t discern the true form of the cabin within the Holy Light Barrier.

A thousand layers of light, yet still light.

If it’s light, she should be able to see through it.

And this is exactly the point that Meng Xizhou couldn’t comprehend or understand.

Perhaps it’s because her realm is insufficient, or maybe it’s because the realm of the barrier’s owner is too high?

Or perhaps these lights are not the kind of light she understands.

"You’ve come."

As Meng Xizhou’s thoughts wandered, a hoarse voice came from the cabin, with a slight cough.

"Lately, my body has always been in pain, perhaps because I’ve lived too long. I have begun to crave sleep and often dream of scenes of my own death."

The old man’s voice was weary: "The matters over at Red Lake, I’ll trouble you to handle them."

"No problem."

Meng Xizhou spoke softly: "I’ve dealt with the affairs at the temple. There are just a few minor episodes... but these aren’t significant issues."

"I’ve seen it all."

The old man smiled with contentment, saying: "The temple is now in a transition phase, and I’m grateful that you are taking the trouble to deal with these trivial matters."

"What does it matter?"

Meng Xizhou shook her head, suddenly asking: "But I wonder if you’re satisfied with my handling?"

When she spoke, her gaze fixed on the wooden cabin.

Regrettably.

The lights were too strong, intertwined like woven fabric.

She couldn’t see the scene inside the cabin, nor the expression on the old man’s face at the moment.

"I am very satisfied."

The Light God’s Seat laughed: "What happened at the West Sea Crossing, you did right... Since I chose you as my successor, I naturally support what you are doing."

Hearing this answer, Meng Xizhou felt slightly relieved.

"Gao Mo and Jia Wei are dead."

She said earnestly: "Now West Continent... lacks a sufficiently strong Titled person. This issue is a tough problem that the current temple cannot solve, no matter how much it pours resources."

"..."

The old man inside the wooden cabin fell into contemplation.

"Song Ci has renounced the identity of ’Light Apostle’ and returned to the East Continent Capital."

Meng Xizhou slowly said: "The current temple has greatly reduced influence within the Five Continents. A few days ago, I had a conversation with the Source Tower, and I could clearly feel the attitude change from Central Continent. If possible, I hope you can grant another Apostle Token."

She paused, saying: "If... a powerful being, who masters the ’origin,’ could appear within the temple, then everything would be different."

The old man in the cabin was silent for a moment, then asked: "Granting an Apostle Token is not out of the question. How do you intend to use it?"

"Find a sufficiently strong Titled within the range of the Temple Elders."

Meng Xizhou said word by word: "This is the quickest way I can think of to cultivate a being who masters the ’origin.’"

The old man smiled quietly: "Have you considered that once this method is used to create an apostle, your position will be untenable?"

"I don’t care."

Meng Xizhou said: "Besides, I am also a candidate for the Apostle Token... According to your plan, I am to inherit this Fire in the future, right?"

As she spoke, the atmosphere on the other shore of Red Lake became somewhat delicate.

This topic was somewhat sensitive.

Death is a brutal truth that everyone is loath to face, even the Divine Throne is no exception, the longer one lives, the higher the status, and the stronger the power, the more they fear death.

"I hope you can keep the temple firmly in your grasp."

The elderly voice in the cabin was very calm, casually negating Meng Xizhou’s proposal: "As for the ’Apostle Token,’ if the time is right, I will grant it... You must know that if the West Continent encounters an unsolvable crisis, it is absolutely not something a single apostle, who has touched the origin, can resolve."

"...Yes."

Meng Xizhou felt very disappointed in her heart, but she could only nod, lowering her eyes to hide her emotions.

"Besides, there is no lack of a strong being who masters the origin in Light City."

The elderly voice in the cabin said lightly: "There are those who belong to Light City, who need not remain in Light City."