Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 680 Fierce Battle

—The “First Cardinal” Finlake, dressed in a pure white holy robe and holding a radiant golden scepter, finally appeared before Luo Xiu!

His spiritual perception was correct—Rosh was certain that when he tried to capture Bishop Donovan's profound spiritual regression, the point of return was the "First Cardinal" Finlake Saint-Lerran before him.

He had killed... all the "Sixfold Destiny" saints of the Church of Agus—even Bishop Donovan was unaware of when Finlake had killed them!

However, Donovan's papacy had become their tomb—

Luo Xiu could imagine that if he hadn't appeared here and instead allowed Finlake to eventually control Bishop Donovan, then the Church of Agus would have completely lost all the saints above the "Sixfold Destiny".

The Church will also completely lose all its power and the ability to resist Finlake and the "Primal Demon". Driven by fear, it will eventually fall apart and become lambs to be slaughtered by Finlake and the "Primal Demon" behind him!

"..."

As Luo Xiu gazed at Finlake, these thoughts crossed his mind.

However, in Luo Xiu's perception, he did not sense the profound spiritual aura belonging to the [Abyss] from Finlake—

At this moment, Finlake is still the Radiant Saint, but his holy and luminous power is mixed with the impure taste of Nothingness!
“We’ve been looking for you for a long time, Finlake.”

Gazing at the cardinal before him, who still appeared solemn and sacred, Luo Xiu spoke—

“You know why we came here, Finlake.”

"Give up resistance, hand over the demons you've hidden, and then return with us to the 'Holy Court.' Confess the reasons for your betrayal of the Holy Court, recount the blasphemous crimes you've committed, and accept the judgment bestowed by the Great Sun in an instant. Then you may still live, Finlake."

This is a necessary narrative—at least until now, in the eyes of all the saints who have come to Argus City, "Fenlake" is still the "First Cardinal" of the Holy Court, and it would be best if he could relinquish this position.

Although the hope was slim, Luo Xiu still finished telling Finlake what he had said.

While awaiting Finlake's response, Luo Xiu mobilized the spirituality of his own [Radiance], ready to attack Finlake at any moment should he make any unusual moves.

"..."

"……demon?"

Finlake tilted his head—

"What demon..."

"..."

"...?"

Finlake didn't know—he didn't know about the "Primal Demon"...didn't he know that the so-called "Eight-Winged Angel" Accipiles was actually a demon?
Luo Xiu stared at Finlake, and upon hearing Finlake's reply, he suddenly realized something and said to Finlake again:
"So, what do you intend to do to your brother, to Bishop Donovan?"

"..."

"Who is Donovan...?"

A genuine sense of confusion appeared on Finlake's face.

"..."

When Luo Xiu heard Finlake's unexpected reply, he knew that his guess was correct.

Finlake's consciousness was already in a state of chaos, shrouded by some extremely thick barrier. Something had altered his perception, numbed his senses, and guided his actions!

Then he heard Finlake making a dreamlike sound—

“I don’t know what you’re talking about… I came here only because the Great Sun Moment guided me here… There are impurities in the blood of Saint Leron, and these dead saints are those impurities.”

“I bring them purification and liberation—thereby achieving my perfection and purity… By accomplishing such a holy act, He will open the door to upward progress for me, and He will lead me on the path to the Kingdom of Heaven!”

"..."

What on earth is he saying?!
—Buzz!!!!

Just as Finlake finished speaking his last sentence, he raised the scepter in his hand, and extremely dense annihilation holy light gathered from the scepter. He had locked onto Luo Xiu, and the surging flames in the scepter were about to crash down on Luo Xiu!
"You shouldn't have come here... But it's good that you're here as a witness. I will find the true purity and essence of my body and soul, and then, I will receive the divinity and throne of Pope Lawrence, and ascend... to the realm of ultimate radiance—"

--boom!!!!!!!

The instant Finlake finished speaking, a tsunami-like burst of holy light erupted from the gleaming golden scepter!
The surge of light blasted straight at Luo Xiu—and conversely, a blazing surge of light also erupted from the scepter in Luo Xiu's hand toward Finlake!

Two dazzling golden beams of light collided violently, and Luo Xiu, looking down at the surging light, saw Finlake's silhouette flickering and disappearing in the intense golden light.

As the first cardinal of the "Holy Court," Finlake Saint-Lerran is indeed a very powerful saint.

This is beyond doubt—it was already evident from the moment Luo Xiu saw the true form of "Fenlake Saint Leron" and conducted a panel scan on him.

His level was clearly the upper limit of the seventh level of the [Radiance] Destiny Path, at lv.100. In addition, the sixth level of the [Void] Destiny Path was also his upper limit, at lv.80. He had already explored both Destiny Paths to the deepest level he could reach.

As a "Cardinal," Finlayk's profession within [Radiance] is also different from that of all other Cardinals—

—He is the "Holy Pivot of Divine Pardon"!
boom! ! ! ! ! ! !
The holy light surge unleashed by Finlake suddenly burst forth at a certain moment, completely dispersing the light surge unleashed by Luo Xiu and completely engulfing Luo Xiu's figure!
—Another "holy interpretation"!
Finlake, the “Holy Pivot of Divine Pardon,” wields the authority of “Holy Interpretation,” which allows him to largely eliminate heterogeneous spiritualities that differ from his own destiny. Now, Finlake’s elimination of the spirituality of [Radiance] further demonstrates that he is no longer a pure [Radiance] saint!
"All that God has forgiven, belongs to me."

"Whatever the gods have taken, shall become mine."

"I am the agent, who forgives my sins and the sins of all people."

"And the guilty..."

"..."

As Luo Xiu felt himself enveloped in a vast, molten ocean of flames, he heard prayers emanating from Finlake's mouth—

“And the guilty, the unforgivable, belong to me.”

"All their sins and deeds shall be returned to me—and then, to the beginning."

"In return—the holiness of its birth!"

—Buzz!!!!

When Finlake finished his prayer—all the blazing golden flames that had been burning around Rosh vanished.

What he knew was that Finlake had completed the release of an "authority"—an authority called [Divine Pardon and Holy Liberation], which was also the authority that Finlake held as the "Divine Pardon and Holy Pivot"!
The effect is that the one to whom the authority is directed will gradually lose their spirituality until it is completely eliminated.
When a person under the [Divine Pardon and Holy Liberation] resists, the rate at which their spirituality is lost will accelerate; when they use any skill that causes their spirituality to be consumed, this consumption will double again, making it a rather terrifying "loss" type of authority!

This is a Level IV authority—Fenlake can direct it at any target or fate, including [Radiance]. Once the authority hits, Luo Xiu knows that the spirituality of a Saint who has been subjected to "Divine Pardon and Holy Liberation" will be cleared within tens of seconds, and then the "maximum mana" will also be suppressed to an extremely low threshold.

Finlake first used this authority on himself—and Luo Xiu also saw that, in the pure white light that had already appeared around him, several bright and dazzling streams of light were rolling toward him!

Seeing this, Luo Xiu also raised his right hand.

Just before the [Divine Pardon and Holy Liberation] truly struck him, he simultaneously used a power—a dazzling golden light appeared on the back of his hand, the power of the [Divine Summoning Seal]!

At the same time, a pure white, sacred door appeared above Luo Xiu's head, in mid-air—

The door slammed shut, engulfing Luo Xiu and taking him away from his original position.

Then, another sacred door appeared, from which descended another sacred figure—

That's Tatia, who was summoned by the "Divine Summoning Seal" and ascended to become a "Six-Winged Angel"!
She smiled radiantly, now in the form of a pure white, holy Valkyrie. As she appeared in the air, the [Divine Pardon and Holy Liberation] was drawn to her, its ominous golden light drifting towards her—

Buzz! ! ! ! !
When the light of [Divine Pardon and Holy Liberation] shone fully upon Tatia, dozens, even hundreds, of holy shackles, gleaming with golden light, wrapped around Frania's body.

But then, these sacred shackles shattered and broke into pieces, which then turned into wisps of spiritual energy that were absorbed by Tatia and flowed into her body!
—Tartia is a "fallen angel"!
Authority such as the Divine Pardon and Holy Liberation was not only harmless to Him, but even a rare nourishment—behind Tatia, the six divine wings that were already shimmering with bright light became even more dazzling and luminous, His spirituality was thus enriched, and His power thus increased!
"Thank you for your hospitality, dear Cardinal~"

Tatia's gaze pierced through the surging light, fixed on Finlake, and she smiled sweetly.

Then, before Him—the third sacred gate appeared and opened, and Luo Xiu emerged from it.

His entire body was now ablaze with brilliant holy flames, and the scepter in his hand was as clear and translucent as amber. His eyes burned with gold, and he prayed:

"Give me the blazing sun—"

"Let it be bathed in the sun's radiance,"

"Return to the utmost purity and stillness!"

"..."

—Tier IV Authority, [The Blazing Sun of Annihilation]!
The [Radiance] authority obtained through the main storyline settlement, the [Sun of Annihilation] authority possessed by the "Supreme Sword" Monine—Luo Xiu used it, as a return of authority of the same rank to Finlake!

In an instant, the surging, blazing flames that were originally under Finlay's control receded downwards as if subjected to high pressure. Then, a heavy rumble came from above, followed by a violent tremor of the Holy Throne!

--boom!!!!!!!

A fiery crimson light descended from the sky!
Like a giant, crimson sun falling into the sky, in an instant, the dome of the bishop's seat was opened, and the deep red sun, which had been shining for a long time, shot out straight out in the cloud-covered sky, instantly enveloping Finlake's tiny figure as if a vast ocean had submerged an isolated island!
The Level IV authority he possessed, [The Blazing Sun of Annihilation], was the authority he had long prepared to launch the first major attack on Finlayk!

Luo Xiu knew that he and Finlake, both being Saints of [Radiance], must both possess the "Radiant Seal," which could nullify authority. However, Finlake, who was currently using the Level IV authority [Divine Pardon], could not simultaneously use the "Radiant Seal."

That would be the moment for Luo Xiu to return the favor to Fenlake and unleash the [Sun of Annihilation] upon him!

--boom!!!!!!!

In an instant, the blazing sun had shattered Donovan's papacy, casting Finlake into the sun's furnace, forging him in its fury—

"Uhhhhhhhh!!!"

Amidst the surging, crimson and golden light of the sun, Finlake let out wave after wave of shrill and painful roars!

With the Holy See destroyed, both Roshchu and Finlake are now completely exposed outside the Holy See and in everyone's sight!

Luo Xiu had already seen Franya, whose "Holy Crown" domain had been unfolded high in the sky, and the clergy who were busy in the church—at this moment, the Church of Agus had completely become a battlefield.

Frania had previously ordered the church's clergy to evacuate—however, among the clergy, hundreds suddenly erupted in screams or maniacal laughter, indiscriminately attacking the other clergy.

Countless grotesque and twisted monsters—abyssal beasts and demons—have appeared within the church. They launch wave after wave of fierce attacks on the clergy at the edge of the battlefield, their roars and wails echoing throughout the church, and the stench of blood permeating the air.

The clergy were initially filled with fear, but under the radiant light of "Saintess" Franya, that fear was gradually dispelled by hope. The clergy launched a resistance against the newly appeared monsters, and at this moment, a series of tug-of-war battles were unfolding within the Church of Agus City!
"..."

Luo Xiu had already seen this scene.

At the same time, Franya also saw him—

And, he saw the cardinal being burned by the Holy Flame of the Sun right in front of Luo Xiu. That was the real target of all the saints who came to the city of Argus, the “instigator” of everything, Finlake!

Luo Xiu saw that the moment Franya saw Finlake, she swung her scepter at him, and in an instant, countless holy rays of light descended from the sky, radiating a very high spiritual pressure!
The light bestowed upon Finlake by the will of the "Saintess" Franya spread like holy firewood in the blazing sunlight, causing the blazing sun that was burning Finlake to rise high once more in an instant!

--boom!!!!!!!

Right where Finleyk stood, a massive explosion tore the ground apart beneath his feet, sending a blazing pillar of light soaring upwards. Such a cascading barrage would have severely injured even the First Cardinal, Finleyk.

Finlake was still trying to use the authority of "Holy Liberation" to dispel the flames surrounding and burning him, but authority of such a high position as the [Sun of Annihilation] could not be simply dissolved by "Holy Liberation."

But Luo Xiu knew.

He had a premonition that eliminating Finlake would not be so simple.

Even though at this very moment, Finlake was struggling and wailing amidst the blazing flames, and even though his spiritual responses were growing increasingly weak...

Even so—even though Finlake is at a significant disadvantage, there is still a dangerous variable surrounding him—

Buzz!
Sure enough, just as Luo Xiu was intently watching Finlake and clearly sensing his spiritual reactions,
A buzzing sound erupted in the air—a sharp, piercing buzzing sound like the vibration of metal, along with a series of low, rustling hisses from the "snakes"!

With Finlake as the origin, the profound spirituality of the Abyss finally gushed out like thick ink, erupting from Finlake's body—from the thousands of holes he had endured the intense heat of the fire!

The pitch-black "mud" enveloped him, forming a protective cocoon-like shell. Beyond that, even more dark spiritual energy gathered towards the edge, coalescing into another figure.
It was a figure that radiated both a sacred, luminous light and a deep, murky light.

"I thought... that Finlake alone... would be enough to solve everything..."

"Hahahaha……"

"..."

A chilling, sinister laugh echoed repeatedly from the chaotic figure—

He appeared.

—Achilles, the "Primordial Demon," has finally appeared!
……

(End of this chapter)