“I pray that from now on, you two will surely become the best of partners.”
Lu Ming reached out and gently touched the cheeks of the two children.
At his touch, the two children awoke from their sleep—not crying, but grasping tightly onto Lu Ming’s hand.
They affectionately suckled at his fingers.
As if to say, this smells just like mother!
Lu Ming withdrew his hand and gave a polite, gentle smile.
Then, he looked toward Ilena and Naya, finally bringing up the real matter at hand.
He had been planning this for a long time, only now deciding to set it into motion.
“I’m planning to establish a Fertility Church in Fos Town.”
“Ilena, Naya, you will serve as the two High Priestesses of the Fertility Church.”
“I will grant you the [Acolyte of the Goddess] Sequence.”
Lu Ming’s voice was calm, but when it fell into Ilena and Naya’s ears, it stirred up waves within their hearts.
Ilena and Naya clasped hands tightly, exchanging glances—faces full of shock and a trace of confusion.
Sequence, Supernatural.
To them, these words were as legendary as myths.
Only in storybooks had they ever heard of such things; in their eyes, each title belonged to someone of incredible stature.
To become High Priestess of the Great Highness’ Church.
Could they, truly, be honored so?
Ilena was the first to recover, pulling the stunned Naya to kneel on the ground.
They respectfully praised Lu Ming.
“Alright, you two, no need for all this formality.”
Lu Ming lifted them both to their feet.
This decision was something he’d considered thoroughly.
First, the name of the Goddess of Fertility was growing ever more renowned among the people.
Yet there was still no sign of the Fertility Church; this would hinder the spread of faith in the Goddess of Fertility’s name.
Second, he could be sure that Ilena and Naya were absolutely loyal to him.
When it came to employing others, Lu Ming followed a single principle: trust those you employ; if you doubt them, do not use them.
He pointed a finger at Ilena and Naya’s foreheads.
A dazzling stream of green-gold light flowed from Lu Ming’s fingertip, merging into the foreheads of both women.
The green-gold radiance swirled across their skin, making them appear holy and incomparably beautiful.
A hint of Lu Ming’s aura also lingered on them.
Feeling the unprecedented power now surging within, as well as the strange properties of this Divine Authority—
Ilena and Naya looked to Lu Ming in unison, full of awe.
“Lies… “
“You two don’t need to leave here these next few days. I’ll leave the matter of constructing the church to Sislia.”
“You should take time to properly familiarize yourselves with this Transcendent Power. I’ll… teach you both well.”
***
Unlike the tranquility and harmony of Lu Ming’s group—
In the far south of the Dresis Empire.
A caravan slowly made its way into a city shrouded in deep snow.
On a dozen wagons, all were men and women of other races, with some even carrying children.
In the last wagon,
A valiant-looking woman with tiger ears gently stroked the child in her arms.
“Mom, how much longer do we have to travel? When can we get to our new home?”
A trace of confusion flickered in the tiger woman’s eyes.
“Soon, very soon. Once we reach a place where we can survive, mama will find work, and then we’ll have a home.”
As the tiger woman comforted her child—
Suddenly, she was startled to discover two strangers in blood-red Divine Armor had appeared in the wagon.
“Heh, we’ve been searching long enough. Finally found a caravan. Damn the Church of the Dawn and the Goddess of Fertility.”
“Even Duke Niel dares to get involved. Truly, they show no regard for my War—”
“Hey! Enough complaining. Hurry up and take care of them, then move on to the next caravan.”
“The sooner we finish this, the sooner we can go back.”
“Hehe, Bert, why don’t we take them back and bring them to the War Fortress? Those bastards will definitely be interested.”
“Do as you like. Once this is done, I’m going to kill Neil Earl.”
“Without my lord’s command, how can war cease?”
The mixed-blood folk hardly dared to breathe, faces full of terror as they listened to the two men’s murderous words.
“Wait a minute—when did someone else get in this wagon?!”
Just as they were about to act, Bert suddenly noticed something and swept his sharp gaze around.
He gripped the Bloodstained Spear in his hand.
“What?”
Before the other could speak further—
A surge of overwhelming Transcendent Power erupted.
A powerful leg kicked out from beside the tiger woman, sending Bert and the other demi-god Supernatural flying out of the wagon.
As the tiger woman watched in fear,
A voluptuous, dark-skinned Succubus stepped out from the shadows.
The tail behind her swished vigorously a few times.
A mocking sneer played across her face.
Then, as if noticing their fright,
She smiled gently at them and bowed with elegance.
“Respected ladies, I have no wish to disturb you.”
“Now, I must go deal with some trash that should’ve been taken out long ago.”
A flash of red light appeared behind the dark-skinned Succubus, and she vanished from sight.
***
Dozens of kilometers away, upon a mountain cliff.
Two red figures were deeply embedded in the cliffside.
Bert was the first to burst from the rock, a deep crimson aura surging around him.
His Divine Armor gleamed brilliantly, as if bathed in holy light.
His face was unspeakably grim.
With a gesture, a spear instantly flew from the distance into his hand.
“Haha, hahaha, Bert, you really are a mess—the dignified Wing of War.”
“And yet, you let yourself be ambushed by some unknown Supernatural.”
“Vili, shut up.”
Bert couldn’t be bothered to spare Vili a glance, his eyes fixed on a single direction.
“Such wicked Transcendent Power. Your presence—I know it now.”
“Apostle of Sin, Zorg.”
With a flash of red light, a white-haired Succubus with an indescribable expression appeared at the cliff’s edge.
Her seductive form began to distort.
Morphing into a mysterious figure clad in black robes.
“Just as the rumors say, you love playing tricks on people. Truly disgusting.”
Zorg adjusted his mask, his voice uncharacteristically calm.
“I only enjoy mocking repulsive church dogs like you.”
“Even Ancient Evil is easier on the eyes than you.”
The atmosphere grew ever more dangerous.
“Bert, what’s the point of talking to him?!”
Vili suddenly lunged from behind Zorg, throwing a straight punch toward his head.
The sheer destructive force was chilling, with a blood-red aura rushing forth.
In that moment, Zorg seemed to see a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
On an ancient battlefield strewn with remains—
A mighty figure clad in Divine Armor, wielding a Spear and Shield, ascended the throne of the gods.
Zorg’s eyes narrowed, a sinister and violent evil will radiating from them.
A massive, indescribable malicious intent gathered behind Zorg.
It seemed to be waiting for Vili to come closer.