Entering the Temple!

A figure appeared in midair. It was a Temple Elder who had broken away early and avoided capture. He arrived above the legion headquarters and demanded toward the camp below, "Why hasn't the legion launched an offensive?" Amplified by his dharma body, his voice rang out with deafening force, shaking the military tents until they rustled. Inside headquarters, a group of legion staff officers stepped out and bowed to the elder above. "Greetings, Elder." However, their compliance went no further than a bow. None of them answered his question, much less took a stance, because Karen himself was not present. Seeing this, the Temple Elder barked an even sharper order: "Launch an attack at once!" Right now, the only force capable of shifting the tide was an offensive from the legion. Their war machinery and coordinated battle formations could influence the deity's movements; at the very least, they wouldn't be picked off one by one like the elders. This was also why Temple Elders merely served in an escort capacity when knight orders went on campaign. Individual strength could only complement a legion, never serve as its sole foundation. The staff officers exchanged glances. Leaving aside the fact that their legion commander had already issued orders to withdraw immediately and disperse in defensive positions—and the legion had already scattered over a wide area, making it impossible to assemble in short order—the Order legion's hierarchy was strictly regimented. Without an order from their legion commander, they had no authority to direct legion movements. Most importantly, although they were a regular legion, they were not one of the Twelve Knight Orders. Unlike those legendary formations whose bloodlines grew thrilled at the sight of a deity, they were well aware of the real gap between themselves and the Twelve Knight Orders. And no one was blind to the terrifying upheaval unfolding above Luojia City. If Karen forcibly ordered an attack, then as Order believers, they would have no choice but to grit their teeth, obey, and wage war against that deity and the other terrifying existence. But since Karen had given no such order... they might as well watch from the sidelines. No one who could stay alive was eager to rush to their death. The Temple Elder had clearly overestimated his authority. Seeing that his prodding yielded no response, compounded by the humiliation of their wretched predicament, he flared in rage. "Are you trying to commit apostasy?!" *Roar!* A dragon's roar echoed from the distance, followed by the pristine white silhouette of a bone dragon appearing in the sky. At this sight, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. By now, the bone dragon was practically Karen's signature hallmark. The Temple Elder looked toward Karen and snapped, "Order your legion to attack immediately!" Karen manifested his own dharma body and responded, "Our military objectives have deviated drastically from the original plan. My legion has aborted the combat mission and switched to containment." "This is evading combat! This is cowardice!" "Elder, you are free to head back right now and lead by example." "You..." Flushed with shame and anger, the elder cursed, "Your teacher is still inside!" "My priority is the overall situation, not personal relations." Just then, Daina ran out from the communications camp and proclaimed, "Decree of the High Priest: from this moment forth, any unauthorized movement of troops by any department or individual outside the Temple will be deemed apostasy!" Once this decree was announced, the expressions of the soldiers relaxed considerably. They immediately responded in unison: "We obey the decree!" "We obey the decree!" The Temple Elder must have been furious, as his dharma body began radiating alternating rings of teal and red light. Yet he seemed to understand that he could no longer influence this legion, and both his true self and his dharma body soon vanished. Nor did he try to plunge back into the battlefield, displaying considerable prudence. Karen merely smiled. He was not surprised by this outcome. At critical junctures, his High Priest had never dropped the ball, consistently demonstrating decisive resolve and staggering boldness. This also meant that the church's forces would not intervene on a large scale—and in particular, no Order knight order would suddenly march in. That meant the situation in Luojia City was essentially under control. Along with it, the scale of the Order civil conflict was contained as well. Karen released a black crow. It fluttered down into Daina's hand. Daina unfolded the note, glanced at it, and promptly turned back toward the communications camp. Immediately after, Karen used his dharma body to reissue orders: "Without my command, no unit in the legion is permitted to move!" With that, his dharma body dispersed. Karen looked down at Kanna beneath his feet and said, "Let's go. I'll take you to pick up gems." "Yay!" Little Kanna wheeled around cheerfully, carrying Karen as she flew toward the churning mess in the sky. The Temple Elder had been right about one thing: Ukonga was his nominal teacher, so he still had to rescue him, even at "great mortal peril." Although he and his teacher took turns calling each other father and son, he could not afford to appear completely cold-blooded and ruthless. That did not contradict the ferocious image he had projected during the Great Purge; it was crucial for how future allies would perceive him. The little bone dragon skimmed past Raniedal's colossal frame. Raniedal reached out to snatch at them, but the bone dragon narrowly dodged every time, courting disaster at every turn. The spectacle highlighted Karen's solitary courage. The little bone dragon climbed swiftly. Right at that moment, the phantom image of a new Gate of Order appeared, and Ukonga, battered into absolute despair, tumbled downward in his ruined body. Karen caught him securely, and the little bone dragon banked away smoothly. Seeing this, Diss—already standing before the gate—casually slashed downward with his sword. His control of force was immaculate: the strike grazed the tip of the bone dragon's tail, carving a terrifying trench across the sky. In truth, neither Raniedal nor Grandpa were good actors. At the very least, they hadn't put their hearts into it. Yet their performance felt extraordinarily real. Because no one would ever believe they were putting on a show. Looking at Ukonga lying before him, shattered like a jigsaw puzzle, Karen asked with concern, "Are you all right, son?" Ukonga rolled his eyes at Karen. "Your father seems to be done for. Before I die, the one I worry about most is you." "Sounds like you still have plenty of breath left." Karen reached out and gently peeled away a strip of Ukonga's skin. Over the texture of the divine artifact beneath, it looked remarkably like tender beef laid over crushed ice during a family hotpot dinner. "I don't have much meat left. Leave me some; it might still be stitched back together." "The priests will use new skin." "Having a bit more of the old skin gives a stronger sense of immersion, at least." So this was what it meant to fuse with a divine artifact. In essence, he had already become an artifact, merely wrapped in a layer of skin. Living like this truly offered little joy. Beyond the spiritual loneliness and isolation, even the physical pleasures of eating, drinking, and entertainment had been stripped away. He lived like a walking corpse. Yet if Ukonga hadn't possessed such a constitution, Diss's relentless barrage would have reduced him to less than dust. Grandpa's offensive had looked terrifying even from afar. Even now, the vault of the sky remained twisted and unrestored. Ukonga said, "Tell your legion not to advance. It's pointless." "All right, I'll order them to hold off on attacking right away." Karen threw out a black paper crow, letting it fly wherever it pleased. Ukonga smiled bitterly. "This mission failed... no, this mission is still failing." "I saw the Gate of Order reappear." "He's going in. He's heading to the Temple. That deity is protecting his crossing, barring all interference from outside." "Do you think the Temple can stop him?" "I don't know. Those fellows spend ordinary days living on their own stars; no one ever drills them in coordinated combat. Fortunately, that man doesn't seem inclined to slaughter indiscriminately." "So you're praying that the apostate upholds the code of conduct shared by fellow Order believers?" "That's all we can do. I just wonder if those old relics in deep slumber will awaken. Either way, the Temple is about to lose face in the most humiliating fashion—far worse than the last bombing." "Isn't that exactly what our High Priest wants to see?" "Watching the drama depends on his ability to clean up afterward. Otherwise, if everyone smashes the pot together, no one gets any porridge." "I have faith in our High Priest. He is, after all, the successor of Lord Tyrannus." "Heh, that man couldn't care less about Lord Tyrannus. He has nothing but insults even for the God of Order. Through his praises, he defiles our Lord by claiming he raised Him." Karen rubbed the tip of his nose and nodded. "Truly heinous." Ukonga turned his head to look down. *Roll.* With that slight movement, the meager flesh connecting his head to his torso gave way, and Ukonga's head snapped clean off. Fortunately, Kanna swiftly sprouted a row of bone ribs to catch it; otherwise, under normal circumstances, the head would have tumbled through the gaps in the bone dragon's frame. Karen picked up Ukonga's head and wiped the blood from the crown with the sleeve of his clerical robe. Ukonga laughed. "I used to do that often in the past." Then Ukonga turned his eyes toward Karen and asked, "The skull and mental consciousness I gave you—are they still there?" "You should have held your tongue at a time like this; you shouldn't have asked. If your suspicions were true, I could crush your head right now, wipe out the last trace of life clinging to you, and declare to the world that while I risked my life to rescue you, your injuries proved fatal and you departed from us forever." "I only asked because I was certain you wouldn't kill me. Killing me would violate family ethics." "True enough. No matter how vicious a tiger, it cannot bear to harm its own cub." "Are they still there?" "They are. Once your wounds heal, I can let you inspect them." "No need to inspect them. Pack them up and prepare them as a gift. He is the first returning god; we should win him over. Raniedal still harbors affection for our faith and our Lord." "You're truly practical." "No matter how things develop in the end, someone has to clean up the mess." "My daughter took a liking to the gems on your twin scimitars." Ukonga glared at Karen and cursed, "You're the one who's truly practical!" The little bone dragon touched down, not back at the legion camp, but beside a riverbank. Ukonga asked, "If we aren't returning to the barracks, how will you find a priest?" "The artifact you fused with belongs to the Light affinity, doesn't it?" "Yes, what of it?" "I'll find one of the Light remnants to treat you. It'll work better." "Listen to yourself! Is that something a Whip of Order minister should say?" "Doesn't matter. The largest faction among the Light remnants right now is funded and backed by me anyway. Besides, you might actually want to meet this person." "Who?" Just then, Neo stepped out from the reeds by the river. Seeing Karen cradling a head, he grinned. "Oh? My son is dead already?" Karen pointed the head at Neo. Neo said in pleasant surprise, "Hey, my son is one tough bastard!" *** Mobiten reported to the High Priest, "Your Holiness, the imperial carriage is ready. We can depart for the Temple at once." The High Priest glanced at the dispatch note that had just arrived, crushed it casually in his hand, and said, "No rush. Wait a bit longer. It has only just begun." *** Matters on the ground were largely contained, and the obstacles in the sky had been cleared. "Diss, take me with you, take me! Together, together!" Just as Diss prepared to enter the Temple through the Gate of Order, Old Hoffen stomped his feet in agitation, then dissolved into a beam of principle light that shot toward Diss in the sky. As it drew near, the light dispersed, transforming into a book. He feared that the dense aura of the God of Principles clinging to him might cause the Gate of Order to mistake him for an approaching foreign deity and close on its own. Diss held out his hand and caught the book. More precisely, the book hovered above his palm without physical contact, for it could not be touched at all. Such was the wonder of the God of Principles' private notebook, and why it could rest in the square for generations of principle clerics to revere and read without fear of theft. As for the set of notes Hoffen had given Karen, Hoffen—as the one who had "read away" the notebook—had reinterpreted its thoughts and contents, giving it a new form of existence so that it could be held in one's hands to study and contemplate. Under that alteration, not even Raniedal had recognized the true essence of those notes. Diss looked down at the book. Old Hoffen's face materialized on the cover. "Hoffen, I truly never imagined the day would come when I'd hold you in my hands." "Isn't that the fault of your... our grandson, who dropped me to my death?" "Don't slander him. You were gravely ill to begin with. You died of illness, not from a fall." "Still, I'm curious, Diss—just how many godhead fragments can you manifest?" "I don't know." "What kind of answer is that? How could you not know? There must be an estimate." "Because there is no way to start a fire, striking sparks—no matter how many—is meaningless." "Diss... your realm is already that of a god, isn't it?" "Probably." Under normal circumstances, the path to godhood involved manifesting godhead fragments, then continuously meditating upon, nurturing, and completing them. Once they were whole and birthed a true godhead, one's life state would undergo metamorphosis, marking formal ascension to divinity. "Then Rasma is truly pitiful... No, that means the Rasma Standard Law is indeed still in effect." The Rasma Standard Law was Old Hoffen's own formulation, describing the dynamic of progression between Rasma and Diss. Every time Rasma made a breakthrough and challenged Diss, Diss would crush him with an advantage of exactly one realm higher. Now that Rasma had manifested a godhead fragment, Diss was... theoretically already a god. The reason it remained theoretical was that this era did not permit ascension to divinity; the prerequisites had been stripped away. Thus, though Diss met every qualification to forge a godhead, he could never succeed. This also meant he possessed a great many godhead fragments, because what hindered him was the inability to merge them together, not a lack of fragments. "No wonder you hate her so much. Without her, you would already be a god." This wasn't merely having hope extinguished; this was standing right at the threshold, ready to step across, only to be forcefully shoved back and have the door slammed shut. Diss shook his head. "That isn't the primary reason." "Then what is?" "If I had become a god back then, I could have saved those two children." His eldest son—Karen's father—had chosen to inherit the funeral parlor to grant his younger siblings their freedom in life, which meant choosing the Inmeres family's Order heritage. Without question, his eldest son had been Diss's most cherished child, far more so than Mason or Winnie, because he had inherited not only Diss's bloodline, but also Diss's philosophy and faith. To save Karen's parents, Diss had tried many methods. Including... becoming a god. If he had achieved divinity then, he would have had the power to save them. Yet the path to godhood had been sealed off. Thus, Diss's hatred for the God of Order was not merely over the blockade of his personal path, nor was it merely his pride and dignity reduced to livestock fodder for a deity. It was the boundless fury of a father forced to watch his two children endure agonizing torment, until he had to personally end their lives to release them from suffering! The god he believed in had rendered him powerless, even when he had possessed the capability to save them. He had believed in her, followed her, and praised her countless times. Yet this was the reward his faith had brought. "Diss, I know the weak points in the Temple's formations. I know where we can detonate them to cause maximum devastation at minimal cost. Don't hold back anymore. Let's have ourselves a glorious vengeance this time! Tear down the Temple, bring the Church of Order to..." "Hoffen." "Hm?" "Your consciousness has been invaded by Principles. It is using you to seduce and incite me." Hoffen fell silent for a moment. "Indeed. I'll go seal it back down..." The notebook glowed. A majestic face replaced Old Hoffen's on the cover, speaking in a different voice: "Isn't this what you've always wanted? Order has treated you like this, so what are you hesitating for? What are you wavering for? Heartless Order deserves the lashings coming to it! Come, make Order regret! Make Order apologize to you! That is what you deserve, is it not?" Diss smiled. "Order has already apologized." The next instant, the majestic face vanished, and Old Hoffen's face resurfaced. "Dammit, I never wanted to be revived this way. I feel less and less like myself. Who knows when I'll be completely assimilated?" "It's fine. I look forward to you sealing it." "Do you know whose avatar it is?" "I can guess." "You have that much confidence that I can pull off such a feat?" "You've already accomplished feats far more impossible than this." "What do you mean?" "Old friend, we're going in." Old Hoffen immediately slipped into character. "Let's do it, old friend, haha!" Diss stepped into the phantom Gate of Order. Following the teleportation, he emerged directly above the Temple of Order. Beneath his feet moved star after star, and further down stood magnificent, towering temples. This was the place closest to God, the holy sanctuary in the heart of nearly every Order believer. Diss raised his head slightly. Behind him, a vast, majestic, and boundless dharma body emerged. An identical figure had once stood alongside mighty existences like the God of Order and the God of Light in the depths of Karen's soul. Diss raised the wooden sword in his hand, and the phantom behind him mirrored the gesture. A horrifying pressure gathered overhead, causing the stars to tremble and divine artifacts to wail. Warning bells tolled across the entire Temple. Enraged shouts echoed from the stars and the temple halls: "How dare you!" "Impudent!" "Arrogant!" Deep within the Temple, a slumbering consciousness stirred awake, exuding an aura akin to a god's. Aside from being highly unstable, it rivaled Raniedal outside. A weathered voice asked: "Child, tell me, what is it you intend to do?" Diss drove his sword downward. A boundless torrent of power surged straight toward the center of the Temple. Three stars in its path were instantly annihilated, and a terrifying crater gouged the earth below. Landscapes collapsed, temple halls cracked and peeled away, and demonic beasts and strange existences in small pocket realms wailed in misery. Countless clerics working within the Temple wore expressions of sheer terror. As Diss carried this out, he replied in a remarkably calm voice: "I am going to teach you all a good lesson."