Chapter 1 The Final Secret Prison

Outside the last secret prison.

Su Ye, Yao Jin, and the heavily armored guards were all waiting.

The Grand Elder closed the door to the secret prison. No one knew what was happening inside... but some things could be inferred. The Second Elder wouldn't have committed suicide for no reason.

Yuan Yang was Meng Xizhou's mentor.

He had provided a great deal of help to the Meng family. Meng Xiao was able to sit in the position of Saint Son of the Temple as the Grand Duke of the Northern Continent because of his efforts.

However, everyone in Guang Ming City knew that the reason Yuan Yang did these things was only because of Meng Xizhou—

He treated Meng Xizhou extremely well. He had no children under his knees for more than seventy years, so he regarded him as his own.

The Guang Ming Divine Maiden's talent, comprehension, and aptitude were all top-notch. The Temple hadn't encountered such a genius in nearly a hundred years. The Grand Elder had cultivated countless young life-devotees in Xi Hai Du, searching through all the talented young people in the church.

Yuan Yang only found one, and he found the most powerful one!

The longer one stayed in the Temple, the more one knew that the relationship between the Grand Elder and Yuan Yang was extraordinary.

These two martial brothers rarely contacted each other on weekdays, but their relationship was extremely deep.

In these years, Yuan Yang desperately searched for the [Undying], offending many people and causing a lot of trouble...

When these troubles reached Guang Ming City, the Grand Elder came forward to settle them.

Yao Jin sat in his wheelchair, wiping the blood from the corner of his lips with a handkerchief. His cheek, after being slapped, still felt hot and painful.

But his eyes were dull.

These injuries were nothing.

What he was worried about... was the aftermath of Yuan Yang's suicide.

If the Second Elder used his death as the price to have the Grand Elder fulfill a last wish... then the Grand Elder would probably find it difficult to refuse.

If that wish was to let Meng Xizhou leave the secret prison.

Then perhaps today, Meng Xizhou could really leave this place.

Yao Jin didn't know what the scene would be like when the door of the secret prison opened next.

...

...

The crowd didn't wait long.

In less than a quarter of an hour.

The heavy door of the last secret prison slowly opened, and a faint bloody smell floated out of the darkness. The Grand Elder appeared in everyone's sight, dragging a blood-stained and muddy priest robe.

He was alone.

The heavily armored guards who had been waiting nervously were stunned for a moment. They weren't fools. They knew what the Second Elder's suicide meant.

Only the Grand Elder appeared.

That meant... the Divine Maiden was still imprisoned in the secret prison.

"Yao Jin, from today onwards, you are stripped of your identity as 'Warden of the Secret Prison', and you don't need to participate in the upcoming Fire Seed Trial."

The Grand Elder said calmly, "Saint Son Su Ye, please take over the secret prison for a period of time... Before a new 'Warden' is found, the task of guarding the Divine Maiden will be handed over to you."

"Yes... this is what I should do."

Su Ye said in a deep voice, readily agreeing.

After hearing this disposal, Yao Jin's mood was a little complicated. The Divine Maiden was still imprisoned, indicating that the Second Elder's death hadn't changed anything.

But, hadn't it really changed anything?

He looked into the Grand Elder's eyes, and from those eyes, he saw a trace of fatigue that was difficult to detect.

"Grand Elder—"

Yao Jin spoke. He didn't mention the secret prison, nor did he plead for himself.

He just asked softly, "Where should I go?"

"..."

The Grand Elder silently looked at this younger generation whom he had once greatly admired.

He understood everything that had happened in this secret prison with just one glance.

As for how Yuan Yang died, and who had invisibly pushed him along in this process, he was also very clear about it.

Yao Jin hadn't actually done anything wrong, because the Guang Ming Divine Temple only looked at results, not the process... If Yuan Yang had successfully obtained the whereabouts of the [Holy Book], even if he was told that Yao Jin had privately tampered with the plan during the mission, he wouldn't have made a real punishment.

But now, the whereabouts of the [Holy Book] hadn't been obtained.

His martial brother, however, committed suicide in prison.

His voice was hoarse, "Sunset Mountain."

Sunset Mountain, next to Hong Hu Lake, was where many members went to meditate and recuperate.

Those former important members of the Temple, if they were old, or had physical disabilities, and couldn't perform tasks, would be arranged to go to Sunset Mountain. This was still in the core area of the "Temple", but those on the mountain no longer held actual divine power.

They still wore the robes of the Temple.

But they no longer belonged to the core of the Temple's power hub.

As soon as these three words came out... everyone understood that this "shadow" who had finally gained appreciation and was entrusted with important tasks, hadn't even had time to stand in the light before being rearranged back into the darkness.

"...Yes."

Facing this arrangement, Yao Jin's expression was very calm.

The Grand Elder left the secret prison, and Su Ye also left with him.

Those few heavily armored guards followed Su Ye and left together... A dark and cold wind blew past, and Yao Jin, who was left behind by everyone, turned his head and looked at the heavy door of the last secret prison slowly closing.

He smiled silently, pushing his wheelchair alone, leaving this dark place that no longer belonged to him.

From one darkness, to another.

...

...

In the following days, Guang Ming City seemed to become much quieter and more peaceful.

The Holy Ceremony celebrations didn't stop.

Countless believers paraded on the streets day and night. No matter who looked at it, this scene had nothing to do with the word "quiet."

However, the Gu family night watchmen scattered throughout Guang Ming City did nothing but eat, drink, and sleep every day, and the Holy Enforcers' task was just to keep an eye on them... For the Temple, this was the greatest quiet!

Su Ye stared intently at the Gu family mission.

He knew the relationship between Gu Nanfeng and Meng Xizhou, and he also knew what Gu Nanfeng was going to do on this trip to Xi Zhou.

After Yao Jin was dismissed, Su Ye obtained the wardenship of the "Secret Prison" as he wished, but the unease in his heart didn't dissipate. Instead, it gradually increased with each passing day.

The eve of a storm is always silent.

He didn't think that Gu Nanfeng had the ability or the means to break through the Guang Ming Divine Temple's layers of deployment and reach the secret prison.

Not only was he there, but also Holy Enforcer Jia Wei, and the Grand Elder.

The Temple's experts had all gathered. Although they couldn't stare at the secret prison all the time, as long as there was any disturbance, the entire Guang Ming City would focus on it.

But he always felt that he had overlooked something.

In the mist of Hong Hu Lake, a very small boat sailed over, the small boat stirred up countless ripples, and finally slowly stopped in the heart of the lake.

"..."

Yao Jin looked at the Holy Enforcer wearing bright light armor. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he was just silent.

He had been on Sunset Mountain for several days.

He looked at the transcendent beings coming and going down the mountain...

The Guang Ming City Fire Seed Trial had already entered the third round. Those transcendent beings from other continents who had passed the Purification Pond trial had all obtained the "Fire Seed Dream" bestowed by the Temple. If they wanted to be truly recognized by the Guang Ming Fire Seed, they had to pass the spiritual trial of the "Fire Seed Dream." This level was much more difficult than the previous Purification Pond.

Only those who were compatible with the "Fire Seed Dream" were qualified to participate in the final round.

In a few days, the Temple would open up permissions, and everyone could come to Hong Hu Lake to watch the final competition. Those transcendent beings who passed the Fire Seed Dream compatibility test would have the opportunity to step onto Hong Hu Lake.

The Divine Seat was just across the lake.

Reach the other shore.

Meet the Divine Seat.

Doing these things might give them the opportunity to obtain the recognition of the "Guang Ming Fire Seed."

Even if they failed, being able to see the Divine Seat was a great opportunity.

The silence between the two lasted for a long time. In the end, Jia Wei spoke first, "Sunset Mountain is a very quiet place."

"Yes."

Yao Jin smiled, "There is light there, very beautiful light."

Every day at sunset in Xi Zhou, countless crimson rays of light would sweep across Hong Hu Lake and fall into Sunset Mountain.

It had the most beautiful sunset scenery in the world.

At the same time, one could also see the "sunrise" of the Guang Ming miracle... In the past ninety years, the new sun and the old sun had constantly alternated, with only one day of interruption.

"I already know about the secret prison."

Jia Wei said, "This is the arrangement made by the Grand Elder, and I can't change it, so you coming to see me can't change anything."

"I'm not here to beg you."

Yao Jin said with lowered eyebrows, "I just have some things I want to say to you."

He paused for a moment and explained seriously, "Although the Grand Elder arranged for me to go to Sunset Mountain for confinement, at least I still have the qualifications to enter this Hong Hu Lake... This means that I still have a chance to see you now. If a few more days pass, I'm afraid I won't be able to see you."

"Yuan Yang committed suicide after all."

Jia Wei shook his head and said, "The Grand Elder's anger is only temporary. Although I can't let you leave Sunset Mountain, I can guarantee that within the Temple, you can live with dignity, and you will have the qualification to step into Hong Hu Lake at any time."

"Holy Enforcer, I have never understood why you value me so much."

Yao Jin's expression was a little complicated.

He mocked himself, "I'm dragging such a broken body, no matter how much you train me... I can't put on such heavy armor like the [Bright Light Armor] and walk freely. I'm only suitable for hiding in the darkness, doing some shameful deeds."

"..."

Jia Wei was silent.

"In these few days on Sunset Mountain, I thought about many things and noticed some things that were not right..."

Yao Jin said softly, "Regarding the secret prison, I made a very wrong decision, which led to a very bad result, so no matter what punishment the Grand Elder makes, I am willing to accept it. It's just that looking back now, many of the arrangements here are really strange. I don't understand why I was so crazy at that time to investigate the whereabouts of that '幕后人 (the person behind the scenes),' and I was willing to bet on a game at all costs."

Jia Wei frowned.

"Intuition."

Yao Jin said softly, "I feel that my 'intuition' betrayed me."

Jia Wei stared straight at Yao Jin and said slowly, "What...do you want to say?"

"I always feel that in the depths of my heart, there is an invisible voice guiding me forward."

Yao Jin smiled lightly, "These words sound absurd, right? It's like pushing all the blame onto that illusory 'voice'... But actually, that's not what I mean. I just want to tell you, sir, that if it happened again, I would probably still do it. I can't resist the guidance of that voice. Even if I am stripped of my qualifications as the Warden of the Secret Prison, even if I am thrown into Sunset Mountain, even now, I still want to bet on another game."

"Are you crazy?"

Jia Wei's voice was a little surprised.

"I'm not crazy."

Yao Jin said sincerely, "I can swear in the name of Guang Ming that everything I just said is true."

"I came to Hong Hu Lake today just to ask you a question, sir... In the path of following Guang Ming's guidance, have you ever felt such 'intuition'?"

The Holy Enforcer sitting on the surface of Hong Hu Lake fell into a long silence.

Follow Guang Ming and receive guidance.

This was something that every believer was proud of.

Of course, Jia Wei had also felt it... and the "Guang Ming guidance" that he remembered most vividly was that刺 (stab) in Sang Zhou Cave.

...

...

(ps: Seeking monthly tickets, seeking monthly tickets~ I caught a cold this morning, so the update was a little late~)