Chapter 841: A Spectacle That Misleads the Nation

Lei En stood among the Extreme Warriors, receiving their worship.

He looked at these Extreme Warriors who, even half‑kneeling, were almost as tall as he was, and with his Soul Eye saw clearly the shift in faith of some of them. As their original body, the Symbionts had gradually progressed from ordinary barbarians to today, subtly changing them; this change was bound to happen sooner or later.

For him, this was undoubtedly a good thing.

The god of Loyalty and Glory, Giliman, still slept in the Astat Temple, and he did not want that, should the deity suddenly awaken one day, to wrest control of the Extreme Warriors from him.

If Giliman continued to sleep, there would be peace.

Otherwise…

Lei En didn't mind acquiring another Divine Fire.

"Go, brothers."

He shouted, "Train on the outside plateau; the sooner you become familiar with powered armor, the better. Many battles await you in the future, and countless enemies need you to eliminate them."

"Yes, boss!"

The Extreme Warriors responded with a roar, rose, and entered the portal leading to the uninhabited plateau.

Lei En assigned two Thundercast Celestial Soldiers to oversee their training, returned to the mechanical alchemy lab to continue work, and noted that the gathered materials could still forge thirty more sets of powered armor; many components were already completed, awaiting assembly and testing, aiming to finish within three months.

A few days later.

It was a clear day.

The sky stretched for miles without a cloud, the temperature neither cold nor hot, very pleasant.

All of Gotham City was enveloped in a fervent atmosphere; crowds swarmed the streets, carriages and horses streamed continuously, and wherever one went, the murmur of people's discussions could be heard. After half a month of promotional buildup, almost everyone knew that the mysterious building in Shield Island Bay had been completed, and a grand opening ceremony would be held today!

That massive shadow screen had been blocking the sky for nearly two years.

No matter where one was in the city, looking up revealed that sky‑covering shadow; its appearance had sparked countless curiosities, with people inquiring everywhere.

Yet no one knew what lay within the shadow.

The residents of Gotham gradually grew accustomed to its presence, and now it was finally about to be revealed.

Shortly after dawn, many residents gathered on the western side of the city, climbed the thirty‑mile‑long city wall, hoping to claim a spot nearest to Truth Island.

Normally, the wall prohibited climbing, but today was an exception.

Some people fought over positions; even with the Holy Spear Knight Corps maintaining order, several bloody incidents still occurred.

Soon, the wall and the dock were packed with people, and from the high‑rise windows and rooftops on the western side, countless eyes stared toward Truth Island.

Many who failed to secure advantageous spots simply left the city for the Aibolaken Peninsula, or even crossed to the opposite side of the bay, standing on the weed‑covered shore to watch the ceremony.

The wide bay held no ships; the waters had been cleared.

The vessels that arrived this morning were all forced to remain at the bay's mouth; crew and passengers hurried onto the decks, watching Truth Island from afar.

But they only saw a group of Holy Lance Knights riding bronze steeds, patrolling the sky around the island's shadow screen.

Approaching noon.

Finally, amid the eager anticipation of hundreds of thousands, the towering Wu Shi Ta on the high‑ground fortress in Gotham City rang out a resonant bell.

Ding!

A bright magical radiance burst from the apex, the fortress gates opened, and two squads of bronze steeds galloped out, clearing the way ahead.

Then a convoy of more than thirty automobiles, like a long dragon, emerged from the fortress under the escort of the Holy Spear Knight Corps. The convoy descended from the heights, traveling west along the wide avenue, which had long been cordoned off, its sides packed with onlookers.

"Look!"

"It looks like the Speaker Lei En is in the first car."

"It's not 'looks like', it's him."

Amid the chatter, many recognized the occupants; at first glance they saw Lei En, and an elderly wizard with snow‑white beard and hair sitting behind him. Some who knew the wizard were instantly astonished, exclaiming, "Speaker Lei En's teacher, Master Anxiwodasi!"

"Master Anxiwodasi even came."

A few people's attention shifted to the front passenger seat, where Lei En's chief maid Franjasika sat; her beauty, even in a fleeting glance, left men spellbound.

Lei En's automobile sped past quickly.

Each subsequent car carried a figure renowned throughout the Empire—either a Holy Soul Wizard or an Imperial Senator, and even His Excellency Consul Gneus!

The presence of so many dignitaries made people realize how grand today's ceremony was.

Soon after, the convoy reached Gotham's westernmost edge.

The convoy passed through the city gate and stopped on a platform jutting into the water. Built just half a month ago, it rose suspended from the sea, covering several thousand square meters; beneath the platform lay the water surface, the edge lacked railings, but a podium with ten‑step tiers on three sides rose there.

The podium faced the direction of Truth Island.

Below the stage, hundreds of elves, dwarves, human extraordinaires, tycoons, business leaders, social celebrities, and mercenary captains—prominent figures of Gotham City—had been invited by the city hall to attend. They sat in rows, awaiting the ceremony's start.

These people watched the Imperial dignitaries alight from the automobiles.

The most eye‑catching was naturally Gotham's master, Speaker Lei En.

Accompanying him was Anxiwodasi, one of the Empire's three great heads and now regarded as its foremost, and as the elderly wizard stepped down, everyone rose in respect.

Many were greatly surprised.

A Holy Soul Wizard does not easily leave his Fu Kong Cheng, nor the Empire; Master Anxiwodasi's personal appearance in Gotham must have been for an unavoidable reason.

Then they saw more Holy Soul Wizards alight from the cars behind.

Also the snow‑white‑bearded, kindly Ouroin Master;

KangJieladeGreatSage, Duke Silverstar, Storm Queen, Sabbath Dean;

Consul Gneus, and accompanying Guard Commander Rick, Dragon Knight Haisketo;

Ms. Ishina "North Wind Blade", Lord Hestav of Thus: Thus: Thus: Shengangcheng and his wife Ms. Laila;

Vice‑President of the Mechanical Union, Beilisalu*Kar;

Dean Margarita of the Eratus Sorcerer Academy;

Her Excellency Saint Rosita of the Earth Church;

Arbitrator Cecil of the Justice Church, "Silver Radiance Sword".

There were also many legendary Wizard representatives from other Floating Cities, Mo Du nobles, and more than twenty Empire senators, none of whom were not prominent figures of the Empire, and among them were Saint Rank strong, but before the Holy Soul Wizards, the Consul, and the church representatives they seemed less dazzling.

Originally, Getan, who was sitting on the platform, was still a bit dissatisfied, feeling that the city lord had been slow, making him wait for over an hour.

Now they had not uttered a single complaint.

At this moment, there were already six Holy Soul Wizards on the platform—equivalent to half a Supreme Council—plus numerous Saint Rank strong who were renowned throughout the Empire and even the Prime Material Plane, and with Ms. Kuilu, Captain Kestajin, Captain Lifelin, and Sir Yizite, the number of Saint Rank strong was close to twenty!

The number of legends was even incalculable, at least two or three hundred.

Gotham City gathered a peak force capable of shaking the world.

From the moment Lei En stepped off the carriage, the crowd's exclamations never ceased for a single second.

Such a massive accumulation of transcendental power here, even though people tried to restrain their breath, the emanating vibrations still made countless souls shiver in horror. Some residents were merely ordinary people; being too close, they could not bear the pressure and hurried back.

More people gritted their teeth and stayed in their places.

The Empire dignitaries who had traveled from afar took seats in the front rows beneath the podium, each seat having been prearranged by Falanjiasika, with no disorder.

Under the gaze of ten thousand eyes, Lei En stepped onto the red‑carpeted steps and, unhurriedly, ascended the podium.

At once, the whole venue fell silent.

Lei En became everyone's focus.

He said nothing, standing on the empty stage and gazing across the bay at Truth Island about three miles away; after a few seconds he turned back, his back to the shadowed curtain on Truth Island, and gave the crowd below a mischievous smile.

From the audience's perspective, Lei En's figure, highlighted by the shadow, appeared especially towering, like a lighthouse in darkness, enveloped by a subtle halo.

The Saint Rank strong felt fine.

The guests beneath the Saint Rank, looking at this young man who had created countless miracles in the past seven years, felt only awe and admiration.

To this day, no one dares to underestimate Lei En; his strength and status make it impossible for anyone to even feel jealousy, only to look up.

Today's gathering of so many Saint Rank strong is proof of that.

Crack—, crack—…

The camera flashes kept flashing; the Empire's major newspapers all sent reporters, and for publicity, Falanjiasika deliberately set up a press seat on the platform, while the municipal hall's dedicated photographer even rehearsed, ready to record the ceremony's crucial moments.

Lei En tapped his hand, signaling the reporters to stop shooting.

"Holy Souls, Consul, esteemed guests…"

Lei En spoke, and the amplification spell carried his voice across both shores of Shield Island Bay, so the attending crowd could hear clearly.

He paused, his gaze sweeping the front‑row Saint Rank strong; his soul‑eye instantly read their moods, and the overwhelming majority were filled with curiosity.

A few harbored personal grudges, such as Duke Silver Star.

Two years ago she finally obtained the Floating City, but minor issues with it caused friction—not to the point of hatred, yet she still disliked herself.

Also Consul Geneiusi, who only confirmed his attendance yesterday.

Lei En was puzzled; Geneiusi should now be riding a wave of triumph, his re‑election a done deal, and in less than three months he would become one of the few Consuls in history to serve four terms.

Yet beneath Geneiusi's composed exterior, his heart was unsettled, a bit absent‑minded.

What's the situation?

"I know, everyone is curious."

Lei En, unflustered, turned and pointed at the shadow, continuing, "What exactly is being built on Truth Island? It's worth making such a fuss and inviting everyone to Getan."

Many in the audience nodded slightly.

From the distant city walls and the tens of thousands on both bay shores, a ripple arose; this was a question everyone cared about—what exactly is being built on Truth Island?

Gotham City circulated many rumors.

The most credible and widespread rumor was that it was the God of Magic's temple, yet no one could confirm; some spoke confidently but offered no proof. The sole basis for this guess was "Truth Island", which previously had a different name, renamed by Lei En.

As is well known, the pursuit of magical truth is the God of Magic's foremost doctrine.

And Lei En is a follower of the goddess.

Gotham City has no God of Magic temple yet; building one in his own city for the goddess is entirely reasonable.

"Many speculate it's a temple," Lei En smiled, "That guess is correct, but not entirely."

The audience erupted in a roar.

The people's curiosity was all hooked by Lei En; even Anxiwodasi and the many Holy Soul Wizards of Oroin kept glancing at the shadow. Yet they found that even with their own sight they could not see through the shadow curtain, as if blocked by a mysterious force.

The three sisters of Duke Silver Star exchanged glances, sensing a familiar aura.

It was the goddess's divine power.

The Storm Queen, being hot‑tempered, stood up to urge Lei En not to stall, and Lei En already shouted, "Everyone, today is destined to be a day recorded in history; let us pray to the goddess together. Goddess protect, truth everlasting!"

The majority present, followers of the God of Magic, rose.

"Goddess protect, truth everlasting!"

"Goddess protect, truth everlasting!"

"Goddess protect, truth everlasting!"

Tens of thousands interlaced their hands in the unique prayer posture of the God of Magic, shouting in unison; the prayer rang through heaven and earth, soaring into the clouds, quickly drawing the attention of a great Willpower deep in distant void, a grand yet gentle aura brewing high above.

Even those not followers of the God of Magic could only bow their heads and remain silent at that moment.

In the solemn atmosphere, Lei En's voice reached the people: "Everyone, lift your heads; the moment to witness a miracle has arrived!"

Everyone looked up.

At that instant, the massive shadow curtain in the middle of the bay lightened, gradually revealing a grand outline.

The shadow swiftly vanished completely, and people finally saw its form.

Wow!

The dignitaries on the platform, those on the city walls, the bay's two shores, the windows, balconies and rooftops of the city's tall buildings, and even the decks of distant ships—all at this moment opened their eyes wide, pupils seeming to quake, faces frozen; tens of thousands made no sound, only the waves lapping the shore and a flock of seagulls' crisp calls.

After a few seconds of silence, the crowd instantly boiled, with cries rising and falling.

"Goddess above!"

"My god, this really is a miracle! No, this is a divine miracle…"

People stared at the magnificent structure towering on Truth Island, their shock beyond measure, mouths agape for a long time, eyes filled with disbelief.

It turned out that what was built on Truth Island was a statue of the God of Magic!

(End of chapter)