Chapter 1 The Inception

"What if I refuse?"

The woman's voice in the secret prison was clear and cold.

"You are a goddess, I can do nothing... but is there really no one in this world you care about?"

Yao Jin smiled and said, "Lord God is selecting a 'Fire Seed Inheritor.' Many guests have arrived in the Western Continent these days. I heard that the Gu family from the Eastern Continent has also sent an envoy."

Upon hearing the name Gu, Meng Xizhou's expression changed slightly.

The goddess, who had been sitting quietly for many years, had a wisp of baleful aura lingering between her brows.

"Yao Jin, this is a matter between you and me... don't involve the innocent."

"What are you talking about?"

Yao Jin lowered his eyes and smiled: "I still have this bit of self-awareness. Yao is insignificant and not qualified to play against the young master of the Gu family, let alone involve him in the game. But some things are not something I can control... You haven't contacted him for many years, have you?"

After being imprisoned in the secret prison.

Rumors from the outside world spread, and no one knew the truth.

But Gu Nanfeng must know... Meng Xizhou couldn't be serving the Lord God all the time and have no news, as the rumors said. She must have been placed under confinement!

"Alright, I won't disturb you anymore."

Yao Jin said gently, "Don't worry about the *Saint Book*. Take your time to think about it."

...

...

Leaving the dark corridor.

Yao Jin's mind reconnected with the *Deep Sea*, and he began to browse the files.

The Western Continent had limited access.

The Temple could only retrieve a portion of the Donglai case files from Yinghai District.

Such case files involving the secrets of a continent were often concealed by the higher-ups... Those outside who wanted to know the truth could only look at the official "reports."

But smart people knew.

Only half of what was in the reports was true. To discern the answer, one needed to delve into the essence.

"Donglai Zhengcang was executed on the same day that the Yuanding Island negotiations were completed."

"The Eastern Continent fleet is on its way back to Nagano..."

Yao Jin was thoughtful.

The leader of this fleet was Gu Nanfeng. The Yuanding Island coastline blockade had been lifted. People didn't know the truth about what happened in the Ice Sea... But the truth at this time was no longer important.

The thirty-five cloud ships dispatched by Guang Ming Bi Lei and the Tower of Origin were likely never to return.

The joint fleet of Nagano in the Central City gave the reply that a severe climate suddenly occurred in the Ice Sea, causing the fleet to become lost. They didn't know what happened.

This statement was absurd.

But no matter how absurd it was, Guang Ming Bi Lei could only accept it... because they hadn't received even a shred of news or images. Yin Zhuo, the leader of the Western Continent fleet, was still missing.

These were not what Yao Jin cared about. He cared about the time on this secret report.

Donglai Zhengcang's time of death would only be earlier than the official report, not later. And at this time, Gu Nanfeng was still commanding the fleet.

Yao Jin guessed that in the *Snake God Faith* case, a chess player from the Eastern Continent was secretly setting up the layout.

In his heart, the person who best fit the conditions was Gu Nanfeng.

But the timing didn't match.

"Could it be... a 'shadow' like me, who has never appeared in the public eye?"

Pushing the wheelchair out of the secret prison, Yao Jin narrowed his eyes. The fierce sunlight of the outside world fell on him, making his body feel warm. His complexion was very pale, as white as the Guang Ming Bi Lei's robes. A breeze blew, and Yao Jin breathed out a sigh.

Two Holy Arbitrators hurried to meet him.

"Lord Yao Jin, envoys from all continents have arrived. The Grand Elder has instructed us to do our best as hosts... Some people need you to meet with them personally."

This matter.

Was originally Yuan Yang's responsibility.

But Yuan Yang had been thrown into the secret prison... so it was just right for Yao Jin to take over.

Yao Jin looked calmly at the sun in the sky, his eyes somewhat dazed.

Under this sun, how many shadows like himself could never see the light?

The Guang Ming Bi Lei cultivated countless life-givers, hidden agents, and shadows.

The lives of these people were mostly very short and tragic.

Those who could stand in the sun alive were one in ten thousand lucky ones.

"You just said that envoys from all continents have arrived. What about the Eastern Continent? Did Gu Nanfeng come?" Yao Jin came back to his senses and said in a low voice.

"There are envoys from all regions of the Eastern Continent."

One of the Holy Arbitrators hesitated for a moment and said, "Nagano... did send someone, but the Gu family didn't send anyone."

"Heh..."

Yao Jin gave a faint sneer.

The Western Continent was setting, such a big deal, the Gu family wouldn't send someone?

Whether others believed it or not, he wouldn't believe it.

Due to the explicit regulations of the Five Continents, Transcendent beings above the title level needed to apply to the Council in advance for intercontinental travel and must pass the approval before they could formally act. Otherwise, the consequences caused in the intercontinental mission would be fully borne by the place of origin.

Gu Nanfeng didn't show up simply because he didn't want to openly confront the law.

"Lord, there is something that needs to be reported to you."

Another Holy Arbitrator said in a low voice, "Many years ago, the Lord God once appointed an *Apostle* in a foreign continent..."

Before the Holy Arbitrator could finish speaking.

Yao Jin frowned and said, "Song Ci of Dadu?"

This matter was no longer a secret in the Temple. Years ago, Gu Nanfeng, with the help of Meng Xizhou, infiltrated Guang Ming Bi Lei, personally met the Guang Ming Bi Lei, and obtained a token of an apostle.

The Temple didn't understand it at the time.

But later, Song Ci became completely famous in the Battle of Dadu!

For the Temple, it was actually excellent news that a top-level *Undead* like Song Ci was willing to accept the Guang Ming Bi Lei token.

So they sent Holy Arbitrators to invite Song Ci to cross over to the Western Continent.

This invitation had lasted for many years.

Yao Jin remembered very clearly that seven or eight years ago, when he was just a secret prison guard, he heard the Holy Arbitrator reporting to the Temple... Several believers in the Dadu region had been beaten by Song Ci. Such a thing had never happened in the history of Guang Ming Bi Lei. He had accepted the token, but didn't return to the Western Continent. So be it.

Beating believers was simply disrespecting the Guang Ming Bi Lei!

"Song Ci... what's wrong with him?"

Yao Jin rubbed his eyebrows and said, "If I remember correctly, didn't this guy hide in Qingzong Cemetery?"

After Bai Shu fused the Battle Flame Seed, the Eastern Continent became tough.

Battle and the Empress joined forces and began to create a "Convergence." Song Ci simply ignored the Guang Ming Bi Lei and hid directly in the domain of the Battle God. The Guang Ming Bi Lei had no way to deal with this rogue behavior.

They couldn't start a war with Bai Shu just because of an *Apostle*, could they?

"He has come out."

The Holy Arbitrator reported in a low voice, "A few days ago, Song Ci left Nagano. The call of the Guang Ming Bi Lei to the *Apostle* gradually revived. His state of mind has greatly improved in the Battle God's domain, and he can resist the descent of the *Red Lake Dream*, but the Temple can see fragments of his whereabouts... These days he came from the west, unhurried, obviously heading for Guang Ming Bi Lei. He is almost to the city now."

"Interesting."

Yao Jin exhaled a mouthful of stagnant air and said gloomily, "He is obviously here for the 'Furnace Flame Seed'. This Song is really good at opportunism!"

He took the Apostle token, took advantage of it, and then hid in the Battle God's domain and disappeared.

Now that the Lord God was about to choose an inheritor... he jumped out again!

"Many people in the Temple are dissatisfied with Song Ci. Several elders said they would take back his token insignia!"

The Holy Arbitrator sighed softly and said, "Lord, how should this person be dealt with?"

"The token was given by the Lord God, how can the Temple be qualified to take it back?"

Yao Jin shook his head. He calmed down and said slowly, "Since the Grand Elder has entrusted the matter of 'reception' to me, then there is no need for other elders to worry. You tell them not to act rashly... No matter what, Song Ci is Guang Ming Bi Lei's *Apostle*. Since he has come to Guang Ming Bi Lei, he is a guest of the Temple. Is he already at the city gate?"

The Holy Arbitrator hesitated, "Yes... and he is clamoring to see you."

"See me?"

Yao Jin smiled faintly, "Take me to see him."

A moment later, he arrived in front of the Temple. Outside the courtyard walls, the grass was lush, the sun was shining, and the breeze was rising.

"Are you the one in charge of the Guang Ming Bi Lei now?"

A very impolite voice sounded.

Song Ci frowned as he looked at the young man in the wheelchair in front of him.

"The Second Elder has temporary business, so I am temporarily handling the trivial matters in the city." Yao Jin looked at the two "young people" in front of him.

He knew Song Ci, he had seen the files countless times.

After six years of meditation in the Battle God's domain.

This person's aura had completely converged, presumably he had gone a step further than before.

He definitely had title-level strength, and a very strong one.

With one glance, Yao Jin gave a rough evaluation in his heart. In fact, according to the laws of the continents, Song Ci needed to apply to the Council if he wanted to cross continents... But after all, he had another identity, the *Apostle* under the Lord God. According to the law, he should have been extradited back to Guang Ming Bi Lei long ago, so this meeting was not a problem.

"You are?"

What really attracted Yao Jin's attention was not Song Ci, but the young man standing beside Song Ci, who looked as thin as himself.

"My surname is Lu, Lu Shi."

The young man smiled gently and said a name that Yao Jin had never heard before.

The surname Lu was very famous.

The Dadu Flower Flag was surnamed Lu. Lu Nanzhi and Lu Nanjin were both closely related to Song Ci.

But who was this Lu Shi?

Yao Jin was somewhat puzzled. He had read the case files of the Five Continents and had no impression of this person in his mind. "This guy's spiritual aura is really ordinary... Either he is an unremarkable spiritual Transcendent, with a strength of around the third rank, or his spiritual power is stronger than mine, reaching the title level or above."

This thought flashed through his mind.

Yao Jin thought that the latter possibility was very low. In the entire Five Continents, at this age, there shouldn't be more than five people with spiritual power stronger than his.

Bai Xiu, Red Dragon, Mu Wanqiu, Su Ye...

Everyone he could think of was a famous figure.

This Lu Shi didn't seem like one.

"Brother Song Ci, I have long admired your name."

Yao Jin said faintly, "I heard that you have been unwilling to move all these years, no matter how much we begged, you wouldn't budge an inch... Why did you suddenly think of coming back to see us now?"