Chapter 636: Three Gods Blood Oath

Click!

A shutter click sounded, accompanied by a flash of white light that froze the scene on the film, and it also made both sides of the standoff turn their heads toward a reporter beside them.

Half‑giant Lei En now had murderous intent blazing in his eyes, causing the high‑rank transcendent reporter's legs to tremble and his mouth to stammer.

"I, Chairman Lei En... I didn't mean it..."

He wore a precious soul‑protecting talisman, resisting the overwhelming force, and as Lei En single‑handedly pressed the entire Naiser Elders Council and hundreds of Naiser Wizards, his position happened to be perfect, the composition clever, allowing both sides to fit into one photograph, with the Consul and supervisory team in the background, further highlighting Lei En's massive figure.

The reporter's professional habit compelled him to raise his Camera and capture this classic moment.

Lei En never misdirected his anger, so he withdrew his gaze.

Over a hundred Naiser Wizards were frightened back, but not everyone; most Naiser Elders merely changed expression, becoming wary of him.

Especially the three strongest Elders, who stood half a step forward without retreat, showing no fear on their faces.

Keluonomanse, Bu Ao Yangsi and Ha Lawa.

"Chairman Lei En, we had no such intention."

The elder‑scholar‑looking Keluonomanse spoke, his tone light and unhurried: "Naiser Wizards are the Goddess's most faithful followers; we only uphold the honor of the Truth Temple, not act here to defile Her reputation. Please, Chairman Lei En, restrain your emotions."

Lei En stared at him for a few seconds.

It was his second time seeing Keluonomanse, and he later went back to investigate.

Keluonomanse's reputation lagged behind the other two Elders, yet his strength was the greatest and he was the youngest, already mastering two Nine-ring Techniques.

Among the other two, Ha Lawa is over seven hundred years old this year.

He is a Ten Thousand Spirits Wizard; Holy Soul Ascension requires merging a Saint Rank demon soul, but his great age has caused his soul to decay, leaving almost no hope of breakthrough.

Bu Ao Yangsi is somewhat younger, yet still over five hundred, having mastered only one Nine-ring Technique.

Keluonomanse is not yet three hundred years old; in both talent and power he surpasses the other two, making him the strongest of the Naiser Elders Council, only a step away from a Holy Soul Wizard, with great hope of breaking through before his soul decays at four hundred.

Most importantly, Lei En found that Keluonomanse harbored almost no hostility toward him.

He had met him twice—once at Sabbath Dean's investiture ceremony, and today—Keluonomanse remained calm, standing out among the many Naiser Elders. Even when Lei En insulted a Naiser Wizard by pointing at his nose, Keluonomanse did not anger, but his soul shifted to a faint orange indicating excitement, as if pleased by Lei En's provocation.

Obviously, Keluonomanse must have some scheme, or hidden motives.

Keluonomanse's words seemed tough but were actually conciliatory, easing the tense atmosphere in the hall.

"It's enough that you know this is the Truth Temple."

Lei En nodded.

He restrained his breath, then looked at Bu Ao Yangsi: "You have no evidence yet accuse me of intending to seize Fu Kong Cheng, I disdain debating you. However, the lie must be cleared…"

Lei En paused, his gaze sweeping over the reporter who had recovered from shock, "Everyone, record this."

He set aside his war‑hammer, raised his right hand to the heavens, blood flowing from his palm, and solemnly proclaimed, "I, Ryan Augustus, swear here; may the mysterious lady, the Mother Goddess, and the Sword‑bearer witness. I have no selfish intent toward Fu Kong Cheng, nor any malice toward Naiser Wizards. I have never, do not, and will never seek to control Fu Kong Cheng. If I break this, may the Three Gods immediately cast divine punishment, hurling my soul into the endless Abyss, never to be redeemed!"

The thunderous oath echoed through the hall, turning every onlooker's complexion pale.

As Lei En swore, the blood on his palm formed three sigils: a hexagonal star, a Tree of Life, and a scale, which merged into a complex crimson holy emblem, emitting vast blood‑light and hovering, rotating in mid‑air.

Three Gods Blood Oath!

It is an oath witnessed by the three deities revered by the Empire's people; only transcendent beings above legend qualify to invoke it, drawing the Three Gods' attention.

Given Lei En's power and standing, and being in the Truth Temple, the blood‑oath sigils reacted instantly.

The goddess statue outside the temple burst into radiance.

Everyone inside the temple sensed a soul‑shaking aura descending—it was the goddess's divine power!

Then two equally terrifying divine auras descended.

The Empire's three gods were all roused.

"Good."

"Kind."

"Hmm."

Three voices, each brimming with supreme power, rang in people's minds.

Although each was a single word, those familiar with the Empire's three gods distinguished them: the first came from the God of Magic, seemingly appreciative of Lei En; the second from the Mother Goddess of Earth, also benevolent toward Lei En; the third from the Justice God Tiriel, as always austere and cold.

The blood‑oath sigils before Lei En dissipated, the oath completed.

The three deities' auras also faded.

People stared in disbelief, still unable to accept that Lei En dared to invoke the Three Gods Blood Oath and instantly received the three deities' witness.

It is the strictest and most perilous oath, with the gravest consequences.

If one lies while swearing, even a slight falsehood detected by the three great gods makes the oath fail, possibly invoking immediate divine punishment to fulfill the oath.

Nevertheless, Lei En smoothly passed the three gods' scrutiny and completed the oath.

Almost everyone's expression turned vivid.

Bu Ao Yangsi's earlier accusations lacked evidence; in truth, everyone thought Lei En's opposition to Naiser must stem from selfish motives, whether or not he sought control of Fu Kong Cheng, since he hails from the Mo Du faction, whose rivalry with Naiser has lasted millennia. Now that Augulevi Master has vanished, Lei En seized the chance to suppress Naiser.

But the Three Gods Blood Oath overturned that motive entirely.

The Naiser Wizards wore even more bewildered faces.

They had assumed Lei En deliberately targeted Fu Kong Cheng, harboring full malice toward Naiser and treating him as their greatest enemy, yet the Empire's three gods proved otherwise.

If Lei En does not seek Naiser, then why all his actions?

The Naiser Elders were also confused.

"What else can you say?" Lei En asked coolly, with the Empire's three gods backing him, not only clearing suspicion but placing him on a moral high ground.

The Soul Eye saw the hostility of several Naiser Elders vanish swiftly.

Especially Elder Ha Lawa.

He had sparred with Lei En before, reaching a certain rapport in the duel arena, then set out to investigate Naiser and disappeared. Thought dead, he was found alive but a bit gaunt, and today he remained silent.

After the Three Gods Blood Oath, Ha Lawa held no further hostility toward Lei En, and his demeanor brightened.

"This is impossible!"

Bu Ao Yang Si's reaction was fierce, shouting viciously, "You must have used tricks to deceive the Three Gods; the blood oath can be forged too!"

He turned to the Naiser Wizards and asked, "Do you really think he is that kind-hearted?"

Some Naiser Wizards nodded in agreement, but more of them remained skeptical, and the opposition to Lei En was no longer as strong.

Lei En ignored Bu Ao Yang Si.

After this clash, the Soul Eye had discerned the inclinations of the Naiser Elders—who could be won over, who could be divided, and who needed to be struck hard—everything was crystal clear.

Ke Luo Nuo Man Se again stated, "Consul, Chairman Lei En, Naiser is willing to submit to the Supervisory Committee's questioning."

Bu Ao Yang Si suddenly became anxious, "Ke Luo Nuo Man Se..."

"Naiser's acceptance of supervision is a resolution of the Supreme Council; when the Teacher was alive, everything was done by the book. Bu Ao Yang Si, I hope you will continue to follow the Teacher's Willpower," Ke Luo Nuo Man Se said, his tone always calm and unhurried, his words logical and highly persuasive.

A few Naiser Elders nearby gave a slight nod.

Bu Ao Yang Si's face turned iron-blue, unable to find a rebuttal, he finally hummed and fell silent.

Lei En smiled inwardly.

The Naiser Elder Council fell into internal strife; his own tactics were working.

He said with an unchanged expression, "Elder Ke Luo Nuo Man Se is magnanimous, truly a model for Naiser Wizards."

After speaking, Lei En dispelled his giant form, folded away his mithril flying feathers, and returned to a normal human appearance.

He flashed back to his high platform seat, exchanging a glance with the Consul.

Ge Nie Wu Si's eyes were full of admiration.

"Wizards, please sit," he said, pointing to several rows of long benches in the hall's center, the frontmost being the Naiser Elder's seat, "The questioning session will begin immediately."

After a clatter of sounds, the Naiser Wizards settled into their seats below the stage.

Ge Nie Wu Si opened the documents in his hand and shouted, "I am commissioned by the Supreme Council, responsible for supervising Naiser Floating City. I conduct an account audit each quarter; this first audit has already uncovered many issues—honestly, it's shocking!"

His tone rose higher, his expression growing more severe.

"So far we've only examined a small portion of the ledgers; over a million Gold Shields' funds and supplies are unaccounted for. It can be foreseen that more issues will emerge, and the accounts have been falsified!"

"Whoever embezzled this money, I will investigate to the end and give the Supreme Council an answer!"

"Elder Ke Si Nai De, please step forward."

Ge Nie Wu Si suddenly called a name, making those seated below jump; the Consul came up and selected a Naiser Elder, one of the stronger Elders.

Ke Si Nai De is a nineteenth‑level Elementalist, his strength second only to the three strongest Elders.

Instantly, everyone's gaze turned to Ke Si Nai De as he slowly rose and took a seat behind the solitary table at the front, ready for questioning.

"On the 24th of last month, your tower applied for 150,000 Gold Shields, citing a magical experiment testing flame rune explosion power. Even for the Eight‑Ring Flame Explosion technique, the material cost never exceeds 3,000 Gold Shields per run. Why did you need so much money?" Ge Nie Wu Si asked bluntly.

Ke Si Nai De replied expressionlessly, "I conducted fifty experiments."

Ge Nie Wu Si's face froze.

The reason was obviously nonsense, untenable, yet he did not dismiss it outright, saying seriously, "I will send people into your tower to check for records of fifty explosion experiments."

"On the 26th of last month, you again, under the guise of crafting magical items, took a batch of alchemical materials worth 40,000 Gold Shields from the stockpile. Where are the results?"

"It failed," Ke Si Nai De replied.

"On the 29th of last month, you had your student As Mai Ze apply for another 30,000 Gold Shields. What was that money for?" Ge Nie Wu Si asked again.

"I don't recall," Ke Si Nai De answered after pondering for a few seconds.

The audience in the stands murmured.

Ge Nie Wu Si continued his interrogation; throughout the series of large fund movements, Elder Ke Si Nai De deflected with various excuses, but any sane person could see that Elder Ke Si Nai De had serious issues—how could a Legendary High-rank Wizard forget recent events?

In less than ten days, he alone had taken over 300,000 Gold Shields from Naiser.

That money must have been embezzled.

After questioning Ke Si Nai De, Ge Nie Wu Si switched to another, a Legendary Mid-stage Naiser Wizard. He is not a Naiser Elder and has limited authority in the Floating City; only over 40,000 Gold Shields were found missing from his hands, destination unknown.

Afterwards, five or six Legendary Wizards underwent questioning in succession.

Each, to varying degrees and with many excuses, took from the Floating City between 30,000 and 100,000 Gold Shields or equivalent alchemical materials.

As the first day's questioning session neared its end, another Naiser Elder became involved.

His name was De Sa De.

De Sa De's issue was worse than Ke Si Nai De's; so far over 400,000 Gold Shields have vanished through his hands, destination unknown.

Ge Nie Wu Si fired a series of questions, and De Sa De responded with ignorance each time, offering no cooperation.

The questioning session was not a trial; Naiser Elders hold esteemed positions and cannot be subjected to magical coercion. Without concrete evidence, Ge Nie Wu Si could do nothing at the moment, only record the testimonies and later verify each case, gathering proof.

Lei En had been watching De Sa De covertly.

This Naiser Elder had originally gone to Kangjiatuo with Kui Tu; he had lied about Augulevi Master's fall, so he surely knows some inside details.

Though De Sa De appeared calm during Ge Nie Wu Si's questioning, he was actually flustered inside.

Not a single truthful word left his mouth.

Moreover, when De Sa De's gaze swept over himself, his emotions fluctuated wildly, his soul's hue turning a blackened red, his hostility toward himself akin to Bu Ao Yang Si's.

Lei En already had a clear picture in his mind.

Any Naiser Elder bearing deep hostility toward him was an ally of Bu Ao Yang Si and a supporter of Duke Hong Shi's control over Naiser Floating City. Led by Bu Ao Yang Si, Ke Si Nai De, De Sa De, Tuo Luo Ding, A Ke Sha, and Fa He Lun—these six Naiser Elders have fully sided with Duke Hong Shi.

Ke Luo Nuo Man Se also formed his own faction, backed by Elders Pu Luo Ke Ti Fu and Xie Fu Er; they were likely coerced, forced to feign support for Duke Hong Shi.

Ha La Wa and Ying Nuo La Elders showed no clear inclination, adopting a more detached attitude.

Unsurprisingly, these five Elders did not partake in the ledger falsification.

Lei En noticed a detail: the majority of the fund and supply loss from Naiser Floating City occurred after the 24th of last month.

Before that day, ParrasFloatingCity had been attacked, suffering heavy losses.

The direction of those riches was already quite evident, but how much actually reached Duke Hong Shi may only be known by the Legendary Wizards who handled them.

Lei En observed the Empire's senators and reporters in the observation seats; not only himself, many people had already guessed.

Some of the Naisè Wizards who had been kept in the dark also realized.

When the contents of tomorrow's inquiry session are leaked out, it will create massive public‑opinion pressure on the Naisè Wizards and also drag Duke Hong Shi into it. Subsequent investigations will uncover more accounting holes; continuous questioning for several days, maintaining high‑intensity pressure, will surely cause a Naisè elder to defect.

Lei En nodded inwardly; everything was unfolding according to his own plan.

(End of Chapter)