Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 665 Departure (Double votes requested! ovo)

"...I will convey His Majesty's message to you."

Asleil nodded. He looked at Luo Xiu, then at the empty display stand behind Luo Xiu, where the [Divine Spine Black Sword] had once been stored, and sighed inwardly.

He still doesn't know whether letting Luo Xiu take away the broken sword of the "Divine Spine Black Sword" is a good thing or a bad thing.

The only certainty is that Luo Xiu, already in danger, will become even more dangerous as a result. And if Luo Xiu escapes the control of the [Supreme], it will be extremely difficult to "dominate" him.

Asleil thought to himself.

The best and most immediate way to eliminate the potential danger posed by Luo Xiu is to kill him outright, to prevent any unforeseen complications. However, Asleil is unwilling to do so, and the emperor... Emperor Augustusville, revered as a "demigod," would likely disdain such a course of action.

So, Asleil thought—since Luo Xiu had already taken away this half of the [Divine Spine Black Sword], when he returned to report to His Majesty Emperor Augustusville, he should also remind His Majesty to send out more people to search for the whereabouts of the other half of the sword.

In this way, at least the other half of the power of the [Divine Spine Black Sword]—the other half of the "Collapse" power—must be in the hands of [Supreme]. In this way, Luo Xiu will at least be unable to reforge a "Creation" quality artifact of [Supreme]'s destiny, and if [Supreme] needs anything, he can also ask Luo Xiu to return the other half of the broken sword.

This is the best way...

This would neither violate the supreme destiny of the kings nor compromise their dignity, and it would allow them to reunite the Dark Grand Duke's former divine weapon, the Divine Spine Black Sword - Rift of the Void, at any time. Asreil believed this was the best outcome. Therefore, the most urgent task was to find the whereabouts of the other half of the Divine Spine Black Sword as soon as possible!

"..."

Asleil was thinking about these things.

……

While Asleil was thinking about these things, Luo Xiu was also thinking about the same things.

After quickly browsing through the panel displaying the 【Broken Divine Spine Black Sword】, the last item, "Fragments of the Creation Artifact", made Luo Xiu realize that the other half of the "Divine Spine Black Sword" still existed.

It wasn't destroyed, but rather remained somewhere in this world—otherwise, this entry wouldn't appear on the panel. At the time, the Imperial Expeditionary Force had already conducted several thorough searches outside the Dark Capital, but they only found the half of the broken sword that they now possessed; the whereabouts of the other half remained unknown.

So, if I can obtain the other half of the "Divine Spine Black Sword"—I can fuse the two halves together, combine them into one, and reforge them into the complete "Divine Spine Black Sword: Void Rift"!
He will obtain the first truly "creation" quality artifact besides the Abyss Codex. With this as a starting point, the huge increase in his own strength is secondary. The most important thing is that it may help him in his future attempt to advance to "demigod"!
Because every artifact of "creation" quality is an artifact that affects the most fundamental source of a destiny and the "true divinity" of that destiny—and advancing to demigod may require relying on the power contained within these artifacts. Although the destinies may differ, the artifacts possess "unparalleled power," and this is always the same.

and so.

After Luo Xiu obtained the broken piece of the "Divine Spine Black Sword," he conceived a plan—

Where can we obtain the other half of the "Divine Spine Black Sword"?

There are only a few possibilities regarding its whereabouts: the knights under Emperor Augustusville have discovered all the broken swords, and the other half has been hidden by Emperor Augustusville in a place unknown to anyone; or the other half of the broken sword is still on the battlefield where the Dark Duke fell; or... someone else has obtained it.

However, none of these possibilities can be verified at present... Perhaps one could consult the Great Sun Moment and use "Divine Radiance Prophecy" to cast a divination? But it's uncertain whether the Great Sun Moment would even respond to something completely unrelated to "Radiance"...

"..."

Luo Xiu thought to himself.

While thinking about these things, Luo Xiu looked at the "Sky Pillar Knight" Asrell in front of him and saw that his expression was changing. He was obviously thinking about many things in his heart, things that were similar to his own.

It's time to leave.

If we stay in the treasury any longer, Asleil might regret it—now, immediately, we should leave the Imperial Treasury, return to Austin Manor, and lead the Saints away from the manor and the capital.

—It's time to run!
“We should go, Lord Asler.”

Luo Xiu smiled and said to Asleil:

"It's getting late. Now that I've made my choice, I think we should leave..."

"..."

“Okay.” Asleil nodded.

He took one last, deep look at Luo Xiu, then turned around, walked ahead of Luo Xiu, and led Luo Xiu away from the Imperial Treasury.

……

Austin Estate.

After leaving the Imperial Treasury, Luo Xiu and Asleil parted ways in front of the main gate of the palace. Asleil was going back to the Imperial Court to report Luo Xiu's choice and the outcome to Emperor Augustusville in private, while Luo Xiu returned to Austin Manor to pack up. According to the plan, he was preparing to leave before dawn.

Luo Xiu had previously told Asleil that he planned to leave in the morning—but the plan changed. To prevent Asleil, and even more so to prevent Emperor Augustusville from going back on his word, Luo Xiu planned to run away at dawn. His purpose in returning to the manor was to inform Hubert and have him inform the other priests.

Afterwards, Luo Xiu prepared to split up with Hubelt into two groups—

Luo Xiu himself was going to the city of Agus to meet up with "Saintess" Franya and "Supreme Sword" Monine.

Meanwhile, Hubert led the clergy originally from the Red Maple City Church back to Pine Plains Territory—Red Maple City—to handle some church affairs for Luo Xiuxian.

Luo Xiu was bestowed the title of "Radiant Wise King" by Emperor Augustusville and granted more than twenty fortresses and cities to establish a new diocese of the "Holy Court"—Red Maple City, as the birthplace of "Bishop" Luo Xiu Carlos. Regardless of whether it will become the capital of the new "Saint Carlos Territory," it will be regarded as the "Holy City" of the Saint Carlos Territory.

Therefore, it is necessary to announce these messages to the clergy who remain in the Red Maple City Church, and Huber also needs to make many arrangements for Rosh in advance—the optimization of the church structure, the promotion and changes in authority of the clergy, the planning and construction of new sacred buildings, and so on. These are all things that need to be considered.

Luo Xiu knew that Hubert was already a mature acting bishop and capable of carrying out these tasks well, so he entrusted them to Hubert with complete peace of mind.

Sure enough, a happy expression appeared on Hubbard's face.

Ah, I'm so happy.

“So,” Hubbard asked Rosius, “is there anything else you need to tell me?”

"..." Looking at the somewhat tired smile on Hubert's face—looking at the dark circles around his eyes and the somewhat sunken eyes, Luo Xiu felt that Hubert was weak all over. He did have some trivial things to tell him, but after thinking about it, he swallowed them back down.

"No, um, there shouldn't be any more."

Luo Xiu smiled back at Huber and said.

Besides Hubelt, there was another “Acting Bishop” – the “Heavenly Ring Paladin” Daveld – the things Hubelt couldn’t finish, let Daveld do them!
……

Time flew by amidst the dappled moonlight and the chirping of night birds.

It was soon around three in the morning. After finishing his last business in the capital, Luo Xiu had the priests go to the residences of Asleil, Duke Kentville, and Minister Lagron to say goodbye and explain that he was about to leave the capital. Then he left Austin Manor with Hubbard and the priests.

Afterwards, Hubbard went to meet with "Celestial Knight" Daveld, and they went to gather other clergy and guardians. Before Luo Xiu returned to Red Maple City, the first phase of construction of "Saint Carlos Territory" would rely on them.

Luo Xiu had already arrived at the entrance of Austin Manor, where several waiters and another old butler were there to see him off.

Butler Old Auber, an old man who had served Duke Austin for over a decade, now personally led the servants to see Luo Xiu off, offering his farewells, leaning on a silver cane.

"May you have a safe journey, esteemed guest, Your Majesty the Wise King Rosh Carlos."

Old Ober bowed to Luo Xiu and said:
"When you come to the capital again, we hope you will still choose Austin Estate—we will always reserve the lakeside villa for you and will always serve you wholeheartedly."

After the butler, old Ober, finished speaking, the servants bowed respectfully to Luo Xiu and said in a humble and devout voice:

"We are always dedicated to serving you."

"I understand." Luo Xiu nodded.

As the butler, Old Ober, saw Luo Xiu off, the carriage that Austin Manor had prepared for Luo Xiu slowly drove toward the manor gate.

This time, however, Luo Xiu did not ride in the carriage again. Instead, he summoned the "Golden Pegasus," mounted the horse under the watchful eyes of old Ober and the servants, and rode Pegasus toward the end of the street.

……

Around 4 a.m.

Luo Xiu had arrived at the East Gate of the Imperial Capital. The two Divine Knights on duty there checked Luo Xiu's pass and identity. When they learned that Luo Xiu was the newly appointed "Radiant Wise King" bestowed by Emperor Augustusville, they immediately became solemn and respectful.

Luo Xiu's inspection revealed no problems, indicating that Emperor Augustusville had not issued an order to intercept him—leaving the capital in advance was the right thing to do. Luo Xiu then smiled and nodded to the two Divine Seal Knights on duty, and under their watchful eyes, he rode away from the capital.

Until behind him—the outline of the magnificent city walls grew increasingly blurred, gradually merging with the thick black clouds on the horizon, becoming one with them—

He has left the borders of the imperial capital, Augustus, and embarked on the journey to the city of Argus.

Suddenly, Luo Xiu felt as if even his breathing had become fresher—

Having already left the capital, he was no longer under the threat of Emperor Augustusville! What the Supreme Empire wanted to do to the Holy Court, or what kind of struggle the Red-Crowned Princes within the Supreme Empire were embroiled in, was none of his concern!
Compared to his time in the capital, Luo Xiu always felt like he was at the center of a whirlpool. But now that he's left, he immediately feels a change in mindset—from a fish caught in the whirlpool of the capital to a part of the waves pushing the whirlpool forward!
As expected, he still preferred the feeling of controlling the core situation from the periphery and behind the scenes... Luo Xiu thought to himself.

As for what he does next, the Supreme Being has no say in it—the first thing he needs to do is return to the Holy Court to see the results of Quesanx's transformation of Count Hayek, and also let Quesanx see the "Divine Spine Black Sword" he has just obtained!
As Luo Xiu rode Pegasus, he galloped further and further away from the imperial capital, Augustus City, towards the desolate and sparsely populated outskirts. At the same time, he spread his spiritual senses to detect whether there were any spirits around him that were monitoring or following him.

Within a 500-meter radius, not sensing a second significant surge of spiritual energy, Luo Xiu released his right hand from the reins. Deep red sword and dragon claw engravings appeared on the back of his hand—

As Pegasus raced at high speed, Luo Xiu's figure on its back gradually became illusory and blurred.

He has teleported himself back to the "Sacred Abyss"—and will later return to Pegasus's horse. This will not delay his journey to the city of Argus, and at the same time, Rosh has returned to his loyal golden throne.

……

The Royal Court of Isol, above the "Sacred Abyss"—

When Luo Xiu returned here, he summoned Indis, who opened the vortex gate to the "Authoritative Dragon Domain" for him. He stepped into it and saw the colossal dragon Quesanx that blotted out the sky.

As soon as Luo Xiu entered the authoritative dragon domain of Quesanx, he immediately felt a very hot and heavy feeling in the air.

It was as if the spiritual energy surging throughout the entire space was being subjected to considerable pressure, making Luo Xiu feel as if he were thousands of meters below the seabed. When he entered this dragon domain, its master, the giant dragon Quesanx, had already sensed him.

The colossal dragon before Luo Xiu, as large as a small mountain, began to move. Its broad, long neck gradually lowered, and its enormous, three-colored, overlapping dragon eyes were now close to Luo Xiu's. Its jaws were slightly open, and it emitted a low, scorching roar—

"……Roar."

"...You've arrived, Luo Xiu."

“I can feel it, Quesanx, your power has grown again.”

Looking at his old friend—his most steadfast "ally"—Rosh smiled at Quesanx and said:
“This time, your power has increased particularly noticeably… that is the growth of your destiny’s origin, your ‘true divinity’.”

"Let me guess, you've successfully transformed that [Supreme] Order Killer—Count Hayek—into an [Authoritative] destiny, making him your apostle, haven't you?"

"..."

"Roar."

I have cleansed him of the defilement of the Supreme; he is now one of us. He has submitted to my will; I have shown him the true majesty of Authority; he has sworn to serve me.

In Luo Xiu's mind, Quesanx's deep voice echoed—

However, he is now unconscious and asleep. Did you come here to see him now, Luo Xiu?

……

(End of this chapter)