Tang Fei looked around and asked, "Who is the most capable fighter by the Archbishop's side?"

Bao Guoan stared at Tang Fei with a wary expression and asked, "Why do you ask that?"

"I'll kill a few to liven things up for the Archbishop."

"..."

An Ning rolled her eyes at Tang Fei and turned to Bao Guoan, saying, "Uncle Bao, my brother has broken through the Mountain Gate and advanced to Lesser Grandmaster."

"Lesser Grandmaster?" Bao Guoan was stunned.

He managed to become the Flame Shrine's red cardinal because he was, first, highly knowledgeable; second, his Martial Arts cultivation was exquisite; and third, a negligible reason: his father was the previous red cardinal.

He was also a Cultivator and understood what advancing to the Grandmaster Realm meant.

This kid is still wet behind the ears, even if he started cultivating in the womb... he couldn't possibly have become a Lesser Grandmaster, could he?

Tang Fei did not speak.

He picked up a teacup from the table and gently crushed it in his hand.

Yet, the water from the cup remained suspended in mid-air.

It didn't splash; it didn't fall.

It kept the same shape it had inside the cup.

Tang Fei snapped his fingers, and the pool of tea water transformed into a thin water dragon and flew towards him.

Tang Fei opened his mouth and swallowed the water dragon.

After traveling for half a day, he indeed felt quite thirsty.

Bao Guoan's gaze hardened.

You can tell a master by his first move.

Only by mastering Yin Yang Qi to the utmost could one perform such delicate manipulation.

This was something not even his cherished top-grade wish-fulfilling talismans could achieve.

Even if they could, they couldn't do it as perfectly as him.

A step close, yet a heavenly rift apart.

The thought alone was disheartening.

What had he been through?

"Are you truly a Lesser Grandmaster?"

"Genuine as it gets," Tang Fei replied.

After a moment of contemplation, Bao Guoan spoke, "I now believe you're already a district bishop0. With your level of cultivation, it's likely that no one in the entire Lingyang District could stand against you... If you wish to take the bishop position from Lei Zongnan, could he even object?"

"The Archbishop misunderstands; it's against my will... Lei Zongnan insists on me taking over his bishop position. He said, 'I'm entrusting Lingyang District to you,' and then he died. I couldn't even refuse if I wanted."

"As you know, we Cultivators aren't much interested in these mundane powers. My biggest aspiration is to sleep until I wake naturally and count money until my hand cramps..."

"If that's the case... why do you want to become a pontiff?"

"I figured since I couldn't get out of it, I might as well become the biggest one. That way, no one can control me, right?"

"..."

Tang Fei chuckled, looked at Bao Guoan, and said, "Archbishop, do I qualify to sit at the table now?"

"Your personal strength is indeed formidable, but, the Flame Shrine also has its own Lesser Grandmasters... Centuries of foundation building, and even I don't know what terrifying beings are hidden within the Divine Palace."

"If it's just you alone... along with a Holy Daughter from one district... it's still not enough."

"If a true conflict arises, I fear we'd be completely devoured, bones and all... A sure-death situation, why would I jump into the fire pit with you?"

"What if I told the Archbishop that I not only have one Lesser Grandmaster by my side but several... and, I also have thousands of mechanically armed troops... would that be enough for consideration?"

"If that's the case... then why do you still need the Flame Shrine? What can it bring you?"

"I need people, lots and lots of people... What I want isn't just the Flame Shrine, nor just the Old Land of Blue Star..."

"What I desire is New Star, I want the vast galaxy..."

"Archbishop, believe me, the Flame Shrine is just our starting point, our journey is the sea of stars..."

Masterful at indoctrination... no, baptism.

Bao Guoan, who spent his days spreading the gospel to his believers, at this moment felt his heart surge and blood boil.

What excellent propaganda material, what a pontiff...

"What am I to do?" Bao Guoan asked.

"You help me control the other Archbishops, and, if possible, even the Pope should be under our control."

"What will I gain?" Bao Guoan asked again.

"The position of the second in command at the Flame Shrine, and... the opportunity to board my battleship and set foot on New Star."

Bao Guoan hesitated, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

"To let Uncle Bao know..." An Ning looked at Bao Guoan, and said nonchalantly, "While I was treating Uncle Bao, I discovered that someone had cast a Life and Death Spell within Uncle Bao's body—one thought to live, one thought to die..."

Bao Guoan's expression twisted fiercely, and he bellowed, "An Ning..."

"Uncle Bao need not worry... I will definitely devote myself to medicine, and find a way to break the Life and Death Spell for Uncle Bao."

"..."

------

After enjoying a sumptuous dinner at the Archbishop's residence, they did not leave until late into the night.

Tang Fei and An Ning exchanged smiles, feeling that the trip was worthwhile.

Of course, such an outcome had been within their expectations from the start.

The two walked side by side on the street, with a shadow that appeared intermittently trailing behind them.

"Brother, what are your plans now?" An Ning asked aloud.

"You stay in Sun City to handle affairs; there's no need to come back to Lingyang with me," Tang Fei spoke, "Since Bao Guoan has agreed to cooperate with us, let him do his job as best as he can."

"Use Bao Guoan as a bridge and Medicine Talismans as a medium, try to control the thirteen red cardinals and the Pope as much as possible."

"Of course, the premise is to ensure your own safety; if it's feasible, go ahead, if not, there are other methods... No need to force it."

"Brother, don't worry, I'll be careful." An Ning knew Tang Fei was worried about her safety, and spoke out, "I have my ways of self-protection; brother need not worry."

"Mm, I will ask Bai Wuxin to lead a team to assist you... Use those from the Flame Shrine if they are useful; if not, kill them."

"You two each have your strengths; you just need to do what you are good at."

"Yes." An Ning nodded.

She knew what she was good at, and she also knew what Bai Wuxin excelled in.

She had witnessed Bai Wuxin's actions—nearly wiping out all of those in Black Robe in the entire Lingyang District.

Tang Fei examined the side of An Ning's face veiled in black, and asked, "Did you know very early on that I would come back?"

An Ning shook her head and softly said, "I didn't know. I even thought countless times in my heart... Brother will never come back again. New Star is so nice, who would want to come back after finally getting there?"

"But then, I also thought, what if Brother decided to come back? What if Brother couldn't acclimatize? What if Brother was bullied?"

"So, I thought to prepare in advance... without anyone noticing..."

"If you came back, then naturally it couldn't be better. If you didn't return, there wouldn't be any loss."

"With the Life and Death Talisman you planted earlier, Bao Guoan would not dare to have other intentions." Tang Fei was deeply grateful, and he spoke out, "He is a very crucial figure, the success or failure of this matter depends on his level of cooperation, so we need this man's absolute loyalty."

"That is also why I confronted him directly, I had to tell him that I planted a Life and Death Talisman in his body... Once the treat is given, the stick must be raised."

"Otherwise, today after chatting with us, he might turn around and sell us out... If the Divine Palace becomes alert, it would not be easy to find another puppet."

"Indeed." Tang Fei nodded, praising, "Our An Ning has grown up, thinking things through more comprehensively, without any flaw."

"Brother..." An Ning's eyes sparkled as she spoke with feigned annoyance.

"Am I not just speaking the truth?" Tang Fei avoided An Ning's gaze.

An Ning's look made him slightly flustered.

The young girl had truly grown up, grown up in all aspects.

She was no longer the little girl who would only follow behind him.

"Brother, you're leaving me in charge of things here in Sun City, but what about you?" An Ning asked, "Where are you going?"

Tang Fei raised his head to look at the vast and boundless night sky, without a moon, and no stars in sight.

Eternally dark and gloomy.

"I'm going up there, I have to bring him back." Tang Fei said with firm conviction.

A flicker of panic crossed An Ning's eyes, then vanished without a trace in an instant.

She held out her arms, opened them wide, and said, "Brother, I'll wait here for you, until you come back... the entire Flame Shrine will be yours."

Tang Fei reached out, gently embracing her.

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