Chapter 10: The Two-Finger Mountain Labyrinth

Thanks to Tally’s excellent acting, they entered the abandoned labyrinth without incident.

The interior of the labyrinth was unexpectedly spacious.

It resembled a vast mine shaft, with crystalline stones growing across all surrounding earthen walls.

Each individual crystal emitted only a faint blue glow, but in such overwhelming numbers, the entire labyrinth was illuminated with unusual brightness.

When the labyrinth was first abandoned, some confused residents of Shi Ying Town believed these crystals were precious gems and entered to mine them.

Only later did they discover that the crystals turned into ordinary stones the moment they were removed from the walls, and they left in frustration.

Luo De spotted splatters of blood in a corner.

It didn’t look old.

A middle-aged man in priestly robes approached them.

“Pleasure to meet you, Vanguard Ali.”

The man was not tall, but his shoulders were extremely broad—wider than three Luo Des combined, solid beyond reason.

In his hands he held an extremely thick book, clutched tightly against his chest.

Clearly, this was Father Owen.

Tally made no extra movement, simply giving a slight nod.

She glanced at the blood on the side.

Further inside, jars were arranged in rows; two had no lids, revealing half a leg bone and a skull missing its cranial cap.

Seeing this, Father Owen sighed.

“The path of spreading my faith’s teachings is long and arduous—so many lost lambs remain unconverted, alas.”

“.”

Luo De studied the half-leg bone and the skull closely, noticing scales of lizard skin.

Lizardfolk?

Lizardfolk are famously fanatical worshippers of the Lizard Mother Goddess.

Convert them?

Are you mad?

Luo De scanned the labyrinth’s personnel again.

Humans, dog-headed men, boar-headed men, halflings.

Damn, these are all the races with the lowest mental resistance.

If you told me they hadn’t used mental magic, I wouldn’t believe it.

It seems the Igo Faith knows its doctrine is weak, so it openly employs mind control.

“I heard the operation in Windwall Forest didn’t go well.”

Father Owen had a large face, his features magnified as if viewed through a lens.

When he smiled warmly, the wrinkles on his face were clearly visible.

“The forest warden is no weakling—he even has tree spirits and succubi aiding him.”

Tally’s face darkened, her expression filled with resentment and fury.

To be fair, succubi are geniuses at acting.

After all, it’s their livelihood.

“Succubi?” Owen looked surprised.

He rubbed his chin. “We can offer them spiritual essence to win them over—succubi are a race that understands betrayal intimately. As for tree spirits… they must be killed.”

Tally nodded.

“I came here to borrow a few men brimming with spiritual essence.”

“No rush.”

Father Owen waved his hand.

He walked deeper into the labyrinth, and Tally followed behind him.

“The Bishop wrote: a legendary mage from Windstorm City intends to come to Shi Ying Town. The people there are not yet our followers. To prevent exposure, we must temporarily abandon Windwall Forest.”

“This matter cannot be resolved overnight.”

“Indeed.”

The two gradually entered deeper areas, where the path narrowed.

Ahead, a fork appeared: one path led deeper into the labyrinth, the other opened onto a massive stone door.

The stone door bore ancient blue patterns.

It glowed faintly with spiritual radiance.

And it bore numerous marks of attack.

“What is this?”

“The labyrinth’s original inhabitants. We came here to reside, yet they not only failed to feel honored—they dared to drive us out.”

Father Owen shook his head in anguish.

Luo De: “.”

No need to guess—they seized the place by force, and when the locals refused, they slaughtered them.

Luo De glanced at the labyrinth filled with crystals.

He knew some races preferred living in abandoned labyrinths due to the lingering spiritual energy within.

Which race liked crystals again?

The two didn’t linger at the fork; they pressed deeper.

After walking for about ten minutes, they finally stopped.

There, Luo De saw Daphne.

“So she’s in his hands…”

Daphne’s condition was odd—she sat upright on a chair, her eyes vacant.

No guards, no chains—yet she showed no intention of escaping.

In Luo De’s knowledge, Daphne was a girl who never gave up easily and was brave—she would never surrender like this.

It was mind control.

“This is Daphne Argyle?”

Tally asked, pretending not to know.

“The younger daughter of Count Argyle, a sweet child—one of the most favored heirs in her family.”

Father Owen nodded, gently stroking her head.

“The most favored, yet also the most mischievous—she ran away to this remote border town, believing she’d escaped her family’s control, unaware she was under constant protection.”

His large hand moved to Daphne’s shoulder, as if about to tear off her clothes.

Zzzt!

A violent surge of electricity shot out, repelling Father Owen’s hand instantly.

“See? A highly advanced magical artifact—Virgin’s Guard. It repels all malicious harm; even an eighth-rank master might not break it.”

“Then why capture her?”

“That’s precisely what I’ll teach you, Vanguard Ali.”

He straightened, his expression slowly turning serious.

“You are a gifted and steadfast believer. The Faith is in dire need of such people—I will soon have Bishop Scholl promote you to priest.”

Tally displayed the perfect look of surprise and delight.

“Thank you, Father!”

“But know this: the Faith is not unified. Many twist its doctrines—they are tumors on the body, and we need a swift blade to cut them out.”

“I am willing to shoulder this burden for you, Father!”

“Good.”

Father Owen was satisfied, gently patting her head.

The two did not linger here but continued deeper.

Luo De had assumed he’d lead them to some secret chamber—but instead, Father Owen walked straight out of the labyrinth.

This was a back exit of sorts.

In the night, clusters of locust trees had turned completely black.

Not far away, an elegant carriage waited silently.

“Come, Vanguard Ali. Let’s leave this place.”

“But Count Argyle’s daughter is still inside…”

Father Owen shook his head.

“Enough. I’ve received word: Isabella, the eldest daughter of the Argyle family, is on her way here. Let her rescue the girl.”

Luo De immediately understood.

Returning Daphne, under mind control, to the Argyle family was precisely the Igo Faith’s goal.

All other believers left in the labyrinth were merely decoys and cannon fodder.

By observing the spiritual energy within Owen’s body, Luo De determined his rank was between fifth-rank peak and sixth-rank beginner.

With my current foundation.

Can kill!

Then.

He drew his steel sword from the shadows.

Minor Art Enhancement.

Lightning Blade.

Chang En Seal.

Tree Armor Art.

Hm!?!

【Tree Armor Art (Enhanced): When an individual with the 'Tree's Blessing' casts Tree Armor Art, it gains special enhancements based on the types of trees in the surrounding forest, each granting different boosted abilities.】

Current tree: Giant Locust Tree

Enhanced ability: Superb Strength

Luo De widened his eyes.

Tally sensed her master’s movement within the shadows.

She pointed left and screamed.

“What is that!”

“What?”

Good job, Tally!

The distraction tactic may be terrible, but what matters is that the target fell for it!

As the priest turned his head.

Luo De leapt out from the shadows.

His steel sword, blazing with blue-white light, slashed down from above, trailing streaks of electric afterglow!

(End of Chapter)