Chapter 1 Guang Ming Bi Lei's Hong Hu

It had been a long time since Hong Hu (Red Lake) in Guang Ming Cheng (City of Light) had welcomed a new guest.

Not since Jia Wei's death.

The lake had been sealed off by the temple ever since.

Meng Xizhou, appointed by the Divine Seat as its successor, began to take over the entire temple.

In the past six months, Guang Ming Cheng had suffered a major upheaval, losing high-level combat power one after another: Long Qi, Yin Zhuo, Yuan Yang, Gao Mo, Jia Wei…

A full five titled experts.

Even though this city of faith had a rich foundation, it was still unable to cope with such a large deficit.

Meng Xizhou urgently mobilized all the prefectural cities within Xizhou (West Continent) to replenish the temple's ranks. There were still extraordinary individuals at the titled level within Xizhou. Although there was a lack of high-end combat power, it could be quickly replenished with the investment of a large amount of resources.

The deaths of the titled experts had greatly damaged the temple's vitality.

But it couldn't hurt its foundation.

"Your Excellency, Divine Maiden, as you instructed, the Rank Four powerhouses who came from other prefectural cities have all been arranged to stay in the temple's residences."

Batu stood with Meng Xizhou on the shore of Hong Hu.

He whispered, "There are a total of eleven people. Only about three have the hope of stepping into the titled realm."

"Three is not bad."

Meng Xizhou said calmly, "As long as they can pass the Trial of the Mind-Cleansing Pool, the 'Dream of the Light Fire Seed' will be bestowed. All eleven Rank Four experts will be included in the Elder Council… Ranked according to their past contributions to the temple and their actual combat power. Those who can advance to the titled rank will be given the treatment of formal elders."

"Yes."

Batu replied respectfully, but soon asked, "The position of Grand Elder is still vacant..."

His tone was hesitant.

This was also the biggest problem facing the temple now.

Admittedly.

The rich foundation accumulated over the years allowed Guang Ming Cheng to quickly cultivate several titled-level extraordinary individuals.

But it was impossible to create a top-level combatant like Gao Mo, who had both strength and prestige.

"Does the current temple still need a Grand Elder?"

Meng Xizhou turned her head and looked at Batu, asking this question.

Batu fell silent.

After a moment, he said sincerely, "Although Gao Mo did many wrong things, he also led the temple for a long time."

Without Gao Mo, the people in the Elder Council would be like a plate of loose sand.

And these wrong things might still happen.

The meaning of the Grand Elder's existence was to unite the Elder Council of the temple.

Those who could enter the core high-level of the temple were all powerful individuals who had cultivated to a certain level.

They needed a "leader."

"I can do what the Grand Elder can do." Meng Xizhou said calmly, "Haven't I already handled all the case files Gao Mo left behind?"

As soon as these words came out, Batu was unable to refute.

During this period, he followed behind the Divine Maiden and handled those case files that had been piling up in the temple for a long time.

Because of his physical inconvenience, Gao Mo spent most of his time living in a nutrient cabin. He often only made decisions about what the Grand Elder should do, and entrusted many important tasks to capable subordinates such as Yuan Yang, Su Ye, and Yao Jin, but after all, some things were inconvenient to entrust to outsiders.

So those that weren't very urgent or important were shelved.

In just two months.

Meng Xizhou cleared all the case files that had been piling up at the highest level of the temple for several years.

This kind of ability to handle affairs greatly opened Batu's eyes, and he was also extremely admired... In this respect, the Divine Maiden was indeed much stronger than the Grand Elder.

"You're right."

Batu said in a deep voice, "But there's one thing I must confess to you. After that night at Hong Hu, the Elder Council still has some doubts about your position in the temple..."

Meng Xizhou raised her eyebrows.

She looked at the calm lake in the distance.

This Guang Ming Cheng was like the Hong Hu in front of her, seemingly calm on the surface, like a flat mirror.

But in fact, ten meters below the lake's surface, there were turbulent undercurrents.

"Oh, who is questioning me?"

The words she spoke, seemingly casually and lightly, made Batu tense up.

"Many."

Batu sighed, "The Divine Seat chose you as the future leader, and everyone has no objections... But some of the decisions you've made have caused dissatisfaction among many people."

Gao Mo let Yuan Yang develop the power of faith.

This matter wasn't just Yuan Yang working hard alone.

The entire Elder Council of the temple was promoting the power of faith of the Guang Ming (Light) Church... That's why there were so many hidden agents in Beizhou (North Continent).

After Meng Xizhou took power, she drastically reformed the Elder Council of the temple.

"Is it those people from Xi Hai Du (West Sea Crossing)?"

Meng Xizhou smiled noncommittally.

Batu didn't answer, but this was already an answer.

Xi Hai Du, as the top-secret place for Guang Ming Cheng to cultivate shadows, this area was cut up by Gao Mo and given to the elders of the Guang Ming temple according to the size of their power and status. After the struggle on the night of Hong Hu ended, half of the Elder Council was vacant, and it was still the half that was ranked high. The remaining elders began to compete for and scavenge Xi Hai Du.

Su Ye and Yao Jin both came from here.

Guang Ming Cheng was under the scorching sun all year round, while Xi Hai Du was always hidden in the shadows.

Meng Xizhou ordered these bigwigs who were in charge of Xi Hai Du to not send out any hidden agents for a short period of time.

This ban was the source of "dissatisfaction."

From the perspective of substantive interests, not sending out hidden agents was not a loss...

But from the perspective of these bigwigs, Meng Xizhou's ban was actually a test. If Xi Hai Du followed the ban, then there would be increasingly harsh restrictions next.

And finally.

The confidant death warriors and life-sacrificing shadows they had cultivated would all be uprooted by Meng Xizhou.

Therefore, disharmonious voices began to appear within the temple.

Meng Xizhou had been watching this phenomenon. Even if Batu didn't say it, she was prepared to solve it.

"Tell them that this problem can be solved today. Call all the members of the Elder Council, and call the candidates as well. Have them all wait for me outside the temple."

Meng Xizhou said with a smile, "I'm going to see the Divine Seat. When I come back... I'll give them a satisfactory answer."

These words were spoken very softly.

But Batu felt a chilling sense of killing intent.

He bowed his head and left.

So the entire Hong Hu returned to silence once again. The setting sun swayed, and the huge Hong Hu was like a wide wine glass, reflecting a tipsy, intoxicating glow.

Meng Xizhou stepped onto the lake surface.

The huge Hong Hu was unobstructed in her field of vision, with no fog or obstructions.

She walked so smoothly and steadily, stopping only when she reached the end of Hong Hu.

Meng Xizhou stared at the small wooden house not far away.

Before stepping onto Hong Hu, her gaze was fixed on this one point.

The entire Hong Hu, the entire temple... or rather, the entire Guang Ming Cheng.

The only place she couldn't see through, the only place she couldn't understand, was this small wooden house. This was where the Guang Ming Divine Seat rested, shrouded in countless powerful holy lights. As long as you didn't get close, standing fifty meters away, you wouldn't feel anything unusual about this wooden house.

But if you stepped into the range of the domain barrier, you would notice the difference.

At least nearly ten thousand blazing holy lights were wrapped around the wooden house.

Meng Xizhou was close to light since she was born. Every light in this world, one could say, whether it was the strong light projected by the scorching sun at noon or the flowing light scattered by the bright moon at midnight, resonated with her... But she couldn't see the true appearance of the wooden house within this holy light barrier.

Even if it was a thousand layers of light, it was still light.

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

And this was exactly the point that Meng Xizhou couldn't figure out and couldn't understand.

Perhaps it was because her realm was not high enough, or perhaps it was because the realm of the master of the barrier was too high?

Or perhaps, this light was not the light she understood.

"You're here."

Just as Meng Xizhou's thoughts were drifting, a hoarse voice came from the wooden house, with a slight cough.

"Recently, my body always feels pain. It may be because I've lived for too long. I've started to be sleepy, and I often dream of my own death."

The old man's voice was very haggard: "I'll have to trouble you to deal with the matters at Hong Hu."

"It's okay."

Meng Xizhou said softly, "I've already handled the matters at the temple properly. But there are still some small episodes... These are not big problems."

"I've seen it all."

The old man smiled with relief and said, "The temple is now in a transitional stage. Thank you for working so hard on these trivial matters."

"What's this?"

Meng Xizhou shook her head. She suddenly asked, "I just don't know if you're satisfied with my handling?"

When she said this, her gaze was directed straight at the wooden house.

Unfortunately.

These lights were too strong, layer upon layer like weaving cloth.

She couldn't see the scene inside the wooden house, and she couldn't see the expression on the old man's face at the moment.

"I'm very satisfied."

The Guang Ming Divine Seat smiled and said, "You did nothing wrong with the matters of Xi Hai Du... Since I chose you to be my successor, I will naturally support what you do."

Hearing this answer, Meng Xizhou felt a little relieved.

"Gao Mo and Jia Wei are dead."

She said seriously, "Now Xizhou... lacks a strong enough titled expert. This matter is a problem that the current temple can't solve no matter how much resources it pours in."

"..."

The old man in the wooden house fell into thought.

"Song Ci gave up his identity as the [Light Apostle] and returned to the capital of Dongzhou (East Continent)."

Meng Xizhou said slowly, "Now the temple's right to speak in the five continents has been greatly reduced. A few days ago, I had a conversation with the Tower of Origin, and I could clearly feel the change in attitude in Zhongzhou (Central Continent). If possible, I hope you can bestow another Apostle Token."

She paused and said, "If... a powerhouse who controls the Origin can appear in the temple, then everything will be different."

The old man in the wooden house was silent for a moment, and asked, "It's not impossible to bestow the Apostle Token. How do you plan to use it?"

"Find a strong enough titled expert within the Elder Council of the temple."

Meng Xizhou said word by word, "This is the fastest way I can think of to cultivate a 'Source' powerhouse."

The old man smiled and said, "Then have you ever thought that once you use this method to create an apostle, your position will not be guaranteed?"

"I don't care."

Meng Xizhou said, "In addition, I am also a candidate for the Apostle Token... According to your plan, I will also take over this fire seed in the future, won't I?"

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere on the other side of Hong Hu became a little subtle.

This topic was a bit sensitive.

Death was a cruel truth that everyone was unwilling to face, even the Divine Seat was no exception. The longer they lived, the higher their status, and the stronger their strength, the more they feared death.

"I hope you can firmly hold the temple in your palm."

The old man in the wooden house said calmly, rejecting Meng Xizhou's proposal with a few simple words: "As for the 'Apostle Token', I will bestow it if the time is right... You must know that if Xizhou encounters any unsolvable crisis, it will definitely not be solved by an apostle who has come into contact with the origin."

"...Yes."

Meng Xizhou was very disappointed, but she could only nod her head. She lowered her eyes, concealing her expression at the moment.

"In addition, Guang Ming Cheng is not without powerhouses who control the origin."

The old man in the wooden house said softly, "Some people who belong to Guang Ming Cheng do not necessarily have to stay in Guang Ming Cheng."