Chapter 10: Twin Finger Mountain Maze

Thanks to Tally's decent acting, they got into the abandoned maze without a hitch.

The interior of the maze was unexpectedly spacious.

Like a massive mine shaft, the earthen walls on all sides were covered in crystal stones.

Each individual crystal only gave off a faint blue glow, but in such vast numbers, the entire maze was lit up with an unusual brightness.

When this maze had first been abandoned, some clueless residents of Shi Ying Town had thought these crystals were precious gems and entered to mine them.

It was only later, when they discovered the crystals turned into ordinary stones the moment they left the earthen wall, that they sheepishly went home.

Rod spotted blood splatter marks in a corner.

It didn't look like it had been long.

A middle-aged man dressed in priestly garb came over to greet them.

"First meeting, Vanguard Ali."

The man wasn't tall, but his shoulders were extremely broad—comparable to three Rods stacked together—sturdily built to an absurd degree.

He held an extremely thick book tightly against his chest.

Clearly, this was Father Owen.

Tally didn't make any extra moves, just gave a simple nod.

She looked at the blood nearby.

Further inside, a row of urns was set out; two of them had no lids, with half a shinbone and a skull missing its crown poking out.

Father Owen sighed at the sight.

"The road to spreading our Jiao Sect's teachings is long and arduous—so many lost lambs remain unevangelized, sigh."

"."

Rod carefully examined the half shinbone and the skull, and noticed they were covered in lizard scales.

Lizardfolk?

Lizardfolk were notoriously fanatical believers of the Lizard Mother Goddess.

Preaching to them?

Are you insane?

Rod swept his gaze over the personnel arrangement inside the maze.

Humans, kobolds, pigfolk, halflings.

Good lord, all the races with the lowest mental resistance.

If you told Rod they hadn't used mental spells, he wouldn't buy it for a second.

Looks like this Yige Sect knew it couldn't hold its ground on its own merits, so it simply went all-out using mind control.

"I heard the operation in Windwall Forest didn't go smoothly."

Father Owen had a very large face, his features as if magnified under a magnifying glass.

He smiled amiably, the wrinkles on his face clearly visible.

"That Warden wasn't weak, and he even had a treant and a succubus helping him."

Tally's face darkened, her expression brimming with unwillingness and anger.

That said, succubi really were born actresses.

After all, it's their bread and butter.

"A succubus?" Owen sounded a little surprised.

He stroked his chin and said, "We can promise to offer essence to win her over—succubi are a race well-versed in betrayal, after all. As for the treant... it can only be killed."

Tally nodded.

"The reason I've come is to borrow a few men brimming with essence."

"No rush."

Father Owen waved his hand.

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

"A letter from the Bishop: a legendary mage from Gale City intends to come to Shi Ying Town. The people there aren't our believers yet, so to prevent things from being exposed, Windwall Forest is to be set aside for now."

"This matter can't be accomplished in one stroke either."

"Indeed."

The two gradually went deeper, and the path narrowed.

Not far ahead, a fork appeared—one side was a passage leading further in, the other a massive stone door.

The stone door had archaic blue patterns on it.

They glowed with a faint, spiritual light.

Moreover, there were quite a few marks of attacks on the stone door.

"This is?"

"The maze's residents. We came here to borrow lodging, and not only did they not feel honored, they actually dared to drive us away."

Father Owen shook his head in heartfelt anguish.

Rod: "."

No need to think about it—they must have seized this place, the others refused, and they just went on a killing spree.

Rod glanced at the maze filled with crystals.

He knew some races liked to live in abandoned mazes because of the lingering spiritual energy inside.

Which race likes crystals again?

The two didn't linger long at the fork, heading toward the deeper parts.

They had walked for roughly ten minutes before finally stopping.

From there, Rod also saw Daphne.

"As expected, it's in his hands."

At this moment, Daphne's state seemed a bit off; she sat upright on a chair, her gaze blank.

There were neither guards nor chains beside her, yet she showed not the slightest intention of escaping.

From what Rod knew, Daphne was a girl who did not give up easily and was brave — she would never simply surrender like this.

It was mind control.

"This is Daphne Aguir?"

Tally asked, knowing full well.

"Count Aguir's youngest daughter, a lovely child — one of the most favored heirs in her family."

Father Owen nodded and gently stroked her head.

"Most favored, and also the most mischievous child. She ran away from home and came to a small town on the kingdom's border, thinking she had escaped her family's control — but in truth, there was never a moment she wasn't under protection."

His large hand moved to Daphne's shoulder, seemingly about to tear her clothes off.

Zzt!

A fierce current of electricity leapt out, directly repelling Father Owen's large hand.

"See, quite a high-grade magical treasure, called the Maiden's Guard. It can repel all malicious harm, and even an eighth-tier expert may not be able to dispel it."

"Then why did we capture her?"

"This is what I'm about to teach you, Vanguard Ali."

He straightened his body, his expression slowly growing solemn.

"You are a talented and steadfast believer. The Sect is in need of talent right now. Before long, I'll have Bishop Shawl promote you to Father."

Tally revealed a pleasantly surprised expression at just the right moment.

"Thank you, Father!"

"But you must understand, the Sect is not a single iron plate. There are still quite a few people skilled at distorting doctrine — they are like tumors on the human body. We need a sharp blade capable of cutting out these tumors."

"I'm willing to share the burden for you, Father!"

"Very good."

Father Owen was very pleased, and gently stroked her head.

The two did not linger here long, and continued walking deeper.

Rod had originally thought he was going to some secret room again, but to his surprise, Father Owen actually walked straight out of the maze.

This was a place similar to a back door.

Clusters of locust trees had turned completely pitch-black in the night.

Not far away, an exquisite carriage waited quietly.

"Come, Vanguard Ali, let's leave this place first."

"But Count Aguir's youngest daughter is still—"

Father Owen shook his head.

"That's enough. I've received word that the Aguir family's eldest daughter, Isabella, is on her way here. Let them rescue that Young Lady."

Rod immediately understood.

Daphne, under mind control, returning to the Aguir family — that was precisely the Yige Sect's objective.

The remaining believers currently left in the maze were all decoy cannon fodder.

By observing the spirituality within Father Owen's body, Rod learned that his rank was between the peak of fifth-tier and the beginning of sixth-tier.

With my current foundation.

I can kill him!

Thus.

He drew a steel sword from the shadows.

Minor Body Art enhancement.

Lei Guang Blade.

Chang En Fa Yin.

Tree Armor Art.

Hmm!?!!

【Tree Armor Art (Enhanced): A special enhancement when an individual possessing the 'Blessing of Trees' casts Tree Armor Art. Depending on the species of trees in the surrounding forest, corresponding abilities are enhanced differently.

Current Tree: Giant Locust Tree

Enhanced Skill: Super Strength】

Rod's eyes went wide.

Tally sensed her master's movement in the shadows.

So she pointed to the left and cried out in alarm.

"What's that!"

"What?"

Good girl, Tally!

It doesn't matter if the distraction trick is clumsy — what matters most is that the other party plays along!

The instant the Father turned his head.

Rod leapt out from the shadows.

A steel sword blazing with blue-white light came down from above, trailing the afterimage of lightning, and slashed down viciously!

(End of this chapter)