Chapter 159: The Forest Pursuit and the Archbishop’s Schemes

In the forest outside Kari City, a group of people was hurrying along.

It was Laika and her companions.

Due to their sensitive identities, they could not openly travel on the main roads like ordinary people. They were forced to navigate the much more arduous forest paths.

“We must catch up!”

Laika’s heart was pounding with anxiety. Her greatest fear was that the two Audfoger people would encounter the nobles or members of the Church before they did.

If that happened, being discovered would be the least of their worries. Should those two be killed by the nobles and the Church, their only hope would be utterly shattered.

‘So… we absolutely must catch up!’

With this thought, Laika quickened her pace once more.

Unbeknownst to her, however, their situation was already dire, their chances long gone.

****

Meanwhile, Bai Yu and Ellie Roth were also moving stealthily through the forest.

Initially, they had considered simply flying away, but Bai Yu decided against it after some thought.

They still didn’t know the full extent of the power wielded by those pursuing them.

What if the enemies they had just defeated were merely the weakest of the weak, and formidable powers still lay in wait?

After all, beyond this place, in their original understanding, even if they were peerless geniuses for their age, they would still be helpless against high-tier Arcanists.

Bai Yu was acutely aware of this, having personally witnessed the immense power of Tier 8 and 9 Arcanists.

She had even experienced the power of deities. Therefore, what she needed most now was caution—absolute caution.

Her life was not the only one at stake.

There was the matter of reforging the Witch’s spiritual glow, as Moweila had mentioned.

And so many girls were waiting for her return. How could she possibly fall here? She was destined to become the King of all Women!

Deep within the forest, both parties, each with their own urgent missions, continuously wove through the dense canopy of trees.

Thanks to Bai Yu’s exceptional perception, she detected something amiss long before they reached Laika’s group.

“Wait a moment…”

Bai Yu pulled Ellie Roth back, ducking behind a large tree.

“What is it? An ambush?”

Ellie Roth shook her head. She had been monitoring their surroundings constantly and hadn’t detected anything unusual.

Bai Yu shook her head again.

“I’m not sure. I faintly sense several unfamiliar spiritual fluctuations heading in the opposite direction from us. There’s definitely an Arcanist among them.”

Bai Yu stated seriously. A Witch’s perception was not to be underestimated; she had gathered so much information while Ellie Roth had sensed nothing.

“Opposite direction, Arcanist…”

Ellie Roth lowered her head in thought. This combination of factors left them feeling utterly perplexed.

If these were pursuers, they would undoubtedly be coming from the town, searching for them.

“Could they be reinforcements?”

Ellie Roth speculated. They couldn’t rule out the possibility that their pursuers possessed communication arcanist skills.

If that were the case, enemies could appear from any direction.

“That’s possible, but if we take a detour now, it will waste too much time.”

Bai Yu frowned. Without knowing the enemy’s strength, leaving quickly was the best option.

However, they had no idea which side these people belonged to; they were utterly clueless about this region.

While their strength was more than enough to eliminate this group directly, Bai Yu would never condone indiscriminate killing without knowing their identities or intentions.

Ellie Roth whispered, offering a rather dubious suggestion.

“Uh… this.”

Bai Yu scratched her head. Despite its nature, the idea did hold some feasibility.

They didn’t have many options now; they couldn’t have it all. Even if they struck the wrong people or let a true enemy slip away, it wouldn’t matter.

They simply needed to leave quickly, as long as they didn’t harm the innocent.

Bai Yu and Ellie Roth exchanged glances, nodded to each other, and then charged directly towards the group. Their speed was so astonishing that no one had time to react.

Bai Yu and her companions had one goal: a swift victory!

****

Inside Kari City, within the Church.

The Archbishop sat in his chair, eyes closed. Despite his advanced age, his eyes still held a remarkable brightness.

In his hands, he held a book embossed with a serpent’s head. This was the Church’s most sacred text, representing the deity they worshipped.

The deity brought them everything, fending off external calamities and enemies, creating a Sacred Wall to protect them from harm.

When demons tried to lure them to the hell beyond the wall, the deity created endless blizzards to thwart all demonic efforts.

The deity created new suns and moons, bringing them light and warmth.

The deity bestowed upon them all things, protecting them from suffering. In return, they were to offer the deity their most grateful hearts and most loyal wills.

Spirit, flesh, soul, spirituality—everything.

The Archbishop closed the book. He had read its contents countless times, yet each reading rekindled his sense of the deity’s greatness and immeasurable power.

“Is this year’s sacrifice ritual prepared?” His tone was incredibly benevolent.

“Reporting, Archbishop, fifty young men and fifty young women have been prepared, along with one Transcendent to serve as the main offering.”

“That is good.”

The Archbishop nodded. This ritual of sacrifice had been performed for untold years; he himself had presided over it for decades as Archbishop.

And this was merely the annual number of sacrifices from one small town, one small place.

As for the fate of these individuals…

Naturally, they would be transformed into raw flesh, souls, and spiritual essence, all offered to the divine deity. This was their honor, not death, but an embrace into the deity’s arms.

The Archbishop smiled, quite satisfied with this sacrifice. However, he noticed that the monk beside him had not yet left.

“Is there something else?” The Archbishop spoke in a calm voice, not immediately losing his temper.

“Your Grace, a major incident just occurred in town. The City Lord was killed by an unknown assailant, and his son swiftly succeeded him. He is currently searching the entire city for suspicious individuals.”

“Hmm?”

The Archbishop’s brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this news. The report of the City Lord’s death surprised even him.

“It is absolutely true, Your Grace. Should our Church take any action?” The monk asked tentatively, a hint of fear in his voice. He knew well the Archbishop’s unpredictable nature.

“First, send some people to investigate. If a battle is necessary, try to avoid direct confrontation and let those nobles engage first.”

The Archbishop’s eyes narrowed, his voice devoid of emotion.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

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