Chapter 23: A Huge Wave

  In less than a fortnight, all major strongholds of the Church received news that York Minster had been raided by the Dark Church, with everyone inside slaughtered. Even a paladin and two cardinals who rushed to its aid were killed on the spot. Everyone was discussing how many troops the Dark Church must have deployed to annihilate York Minster, and how many casualties they suffered themselves.

  At this time, in the headquarters of the Illuminati Church in Rome, the Pope was sitting on that supreme throne, his face expressionless, but with a hint of anger showing, everyone knew that this was the Pope's pre-anger expression, and this time the fire might exceed any previous one, two days ago received York Great Cathedral was completely destroyed, the Pope had already been angry.

  However, today a fast horse disturbed everyone's tranquility. St Paul's Cathedral in England was destroyed overnight, with no survivors. Even the head of the Vatican Tribunal, two incumbent Saints Knights, six Cardinals, more than 20 Bishops and hundreds of low-ranking priests were among them.

  But until now, they still don't know who did it, and even the bodies of all those people are nowhere to be found.

  "Tell me what's going on here, don't tell me it's also something those dark cults do. The intelligence you provided didn't mention so many people from the Dark Cult went to Saint Paul. I need an explanation now." The Pope said with a stern face and emotionless tone, looking at the people below him.

  These past few days were just the time to prepare for the Eastern Expedition, everything was ready and only awaited the order to depart. However, two days ago, news arrived that York Minster had been completely destroyed by the Dark Church, and then just two days later, news came again that St Paul's Cathedral had also been completely annihilated overnight.

  These people below are doing what they eat, and it's not easy to destroy York Minster, but in one night, the dark power that can destroy St. Paul's Cathedral is so great that the Vatican's intelligence organization didn't even issue a warning, and it wasn't until more than ten days later that the local church transmitted the information level by level, and when he knew this news, it was already more than ten days later, and there was no news of the two holy knights' holy robes. This is something that has never happened in the Vatican's wars with the Dark Church over thousands of years.

  "Have you thought of an excuse? It's been so long and no one has responded, now I need an explanation, those angry followers also need an explanation. If you don't come up with a statement, you will all be sent to the stake by those followers who are already close to madness." The Pope was even more enraged seeing that no one below him had responded.

  "I have served the Church for over seventy years since my birth, I do not know if the Almighty still favors his enlightened followers, but this time we indeed did not receive any intelligence about the Dark Church's plan to attack St. Paul's Cathedral, it was my dereliction of duty, I am willing to pay the price for the sins committed due to my mistake, to bear any punishment from the God of Light, even if it means being sent to the stake, after all, it was my dereliction of duty that led to the destruction of St. Paul's Cathedral." An old man dressed in white robes with golden edges walked up to the Pope and knelt down, saying this to him.

  "Old York, step down. I know this doesn't concern you. You've been in retirement in Rome for over 20 years and no longer manage intelligence matters. This incident at St. Paul's Cathedral has nothing to do with you. The pagans in the Dark Church have become so rampant...I think these people below have some responsibility. As for the actions against the Dark Church, I want a plan from you within three days to resolve this matter and suppress their arrogance once again." After the Pope finished speaking, he seemed to have vented a bit of his anger, waving his hand to let Old York retreat, while sighing in his mouth.

  "I don't care how you investigate this matter, but a reasonable outcome must be produced. I hereby announce the removal of Cardinal Ballo, the Red Robed Grand Master in charge of intelligence, from all his positions and assign him to the list for the Eastern Expedition. There are also several other matters that you need to take care of. Firstly, the Eastern Expedition cannot be delayed any further, everything must be prepared and set out immediately. Another matter is the rebuilding of St Paul's Cathedral and York Minster, those people must always be under the Lord's glorious light."

  "As for the problem of not having enough manpower, I will go and resolve it. Also, this time I will summon a sacred object to assist you in defending St. Paul's Cathedral to prevent the enemy from attacking again. You think of a reason to explain to those angry church members yourselves. If none of you have any objections, then it is settled. I am tired, now disperse." The Pope said, and walked down from that throne, heading towards the back of the cathedral.

  This left the people below looking at each other in dismay, yet they did not dare to say anything more, because the previous handling was already light enough. If such a big thing happened in the past, I don't know how many people would be sent to the stake or gallows. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, except for that red-robed archbishop named Barlow, who hung his head in grief.

  "Hey, Barlo, don't be like this. Being able to achieve this result is already a blessing from the Lord. If you go to the East, you'll still have the opportunity to make great contributions." A red-robed high priest walked over and comforted Barlo, patting his shoulder as he spoke.

  "Thank you, I know this is the Pope's tolerance and the Lord's great love, but it makes me so resentful. I am not reconciled to it, these damned heretics, don't let me run into them, otherwise I will definitely send them to hell." Nabarro said with a ferocious gaze that was unbecoming of a priest.

  At this time, Yu Feng was living in a small villa outside the city. After more than ten days had passed, his injuries had mostly recovered, although he still hadn't fully recovered. However, he could still exert about 80% of his combat strength. If he wanted to completely recover from his injuries and have no further impact, he estimated that he would need at least another half a month of secluded cultivation. But time was already running out. The news from the Dark Church was that many priests had arrived from all over, coming one after another to prepare for the reconstruction of St. Paul's Cathedral.

  He decided to first wipe out all the followers who had arrived a step earlier, and then fly to various countries such as Germany, France, and Italy to stir up some trouble. When the time came, he would return and destroy St. Paul's again after they had almost rebuilt it, and at that time the joy of the Illuminati would be great.

  Inside the Yīn Shān Fǔ, those few disciples who were in closed-door meditation suddenly felt a majestic aura bursting out of the cave and hastily stopped their sitting meditation, walking to the door of the secret room, waiting for Lǐ Xiáng to come out.

  "Master, I won't disappoint your expectations. In this more than half a month, I've broken through to the middle stage of Qi Gathering. Now, I can do some things for you." Li Xiang said to the empty air in front of him, having already sensed that his four senior brothers were standing at the door waiting quietly. He walked over and pushed open the stone gate.

  "Congratulations, Master, on your release from prison!" The four disciples said in unison.

  "You don't have to be so polite, it's all thanks to your Master's gift of the mysterious water that I was able to break through so quickly. If it were up to my own abilities, who knows how long it would take? You all must work hard and not disappoint your Master." Li Xiang saw that they had all broken through to the Pre-Heavenly Great Perfection realm, while Li Er and Li San had even entered the Daoist realm, he was overjoyed but still instructed his disciples once again.

  "Yes! Master!" The four disciples replied in unison.

  "Alas, I don't know how our Master is doing now. He went overseas alone to delay the Eastern Expedition of the Glorious Church, and who knows what dangers he will encounter? We can't be complacent just because of these achievements. There are also many talented people overseas. According to Master, all the cultivators in China have disappeared for some reason during this national crisis. We must make an extra effort now. This time, I've reached the middle stage of Qi Refining and can already leave Yīn Shān Fǔ. I'll go gather some information first, and when you all reach the initial stage of Qi Refining, I'll take you out together." Li Xiang said.

  At this moment, Li Xiang felt a surge of spiritual energy outside the mountain. Could it be that someone was visiting? Impossible! Master had never mentioned anyone else knowing about this place. Li Xiang thought to himself. He pinched his fingers together in a hand seal and opened part of the mountain gate's restrictions. Outside, he saw a flying sword hovering around the mansion. The flying sword was one that Master had refined, and with Li Xiang's current level of insight, it was easy for him to see that this flying sword was identical to the one Master had given him. So, he opened all the restrictions and let the flying sword in.

  That flying sword circled around Li Xiang once, as if confirming something, and then flew towards him. Li Xiang was also curious, but still beckoned with his hand, and the flying sword automatically flew into his palm. After taking over the flying sword, Li Xiang's body shook slightly, and a smile appeared on his face.

  After Yu Feng reached the initial stage of Hua Shen, his spiritual thoughts became extremely powerful. His Heart Nurturing Technique further advanced, allowing him to transmit his spirit through objects. This flying sword and book transmission technique is one type of object-based spirit transmission. Another example is the memory jade slip that Song Lingzi refined in the past. According to legend, when this heart nurturing technique reaches its highest level, no medium is required to convey one's thoughts across vast distances in the void. Of course, only those who have reached the Return Void or higher levels can use this technique.

  And what the flying sword transmitted was not a real letter, but rather some things that were attached to the flying sword with divine thought to find the person they wanted to find. The divine thought in the flying sword would tell its master what he wanted to say. Yu Feng was telling Li Xiang about some things he had done in the West, so as not to make him uneasy in his heart. But Yu Feng didn't mention that he was injured, only told him that he still needed to stay there for a while, but the specific time was still uncertain, and let Li Xiang continue with their own affairs, without worrying about him.

  "The Master said that over there, he has already destroyed many small churches and two large ones. One of them is the headquarters of the Church of Light in England, St Paul's Cathedral. He may still be staying there for a long time to continue causing trouble for the Vatican and delay their arrival here." Li Xiang said after receiving the message from that divine thought.