The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　Even Chris, clad in her golden armor, dared not venture too far. While Dark and the others kept their sights set on the "Heavenly Court," this Mountain of the Gods was actually the first hurdle they needed to overcome—and it wouldn't be easy.

　The entrance to the "Heavenly Court" is located at the highest peak of the Mountain of the Gods. There, dark clouds gather and thunderclouds roll, exuding an extremely oppressive and terrifying aura.

　When that aura occasionally leaked out, it would make the people stationed at the foot of the mountain uneasy and plagued by nightmares.

　"What are you looking at?" Professor Mitya asked as she walked over. Dark looked up and said, "I'm looking at that cloud."

　Professor Mitis said, "That flash of lightning was so dazzling, like a beacon."

　Dark agreed wholeheartedly: "Indeed. With such a clear aura as a guide, there's no need to worry about losing your way in the fog."

　Professor Mitis said, "We'll be fine." Dark said, "I hope so."

　Their conversation itself wasn't very meaningful, but it helped relieve their current psychological stress.

　The closer one gets to the Mountain of the Gods, the more one can feel the oppressive atmosphere that penetrates to the core, making it hard to breathe.

　Dark rubbed the "Shami" in his arms, then suddenly turned to face behind him and whispered, "Looks like they've arrived too."

　The Holy Church's party arrived earlier than the Northern Warriors, and Dark immediately spotted Bishop Sabrina Melville sitting high on the back of a unicorn.

　In legends, unicorns can only be touched by pure maidens. While this is not actually true, they do have equally strict requirements for their riders.

　A unicorn of the light attribute, it can only be ridden by knights whose light magic is pure enough.

　They are almost exclusively the mounts of Holy Knights.

　Bishop Sabrina Melville's unicorn was pure white and holy, elegant and noble. It shared the same temperament as its master, even possessing a pair of azure sapphire eyes.

　Comparatively speaking, the "Twin Paladins'" unicorn mount is more agile and exudes a sense of power.

　The golden-armored knights who came with the group were not just the two of them; the other golden-armored knights also rode unicorns and were constantly on guard about their surroundings.

　For the Holy Church, the Golden Armored Knights are already among the top-tier high-level forces, and each Golden Armored Knight holds an extremely high position within the Church.

　This operation involved a total of six gold-armored knights and thirty-six silver-armored knights, including the "Twin Paladins," demonstrating the importance the Holy Church placed on this mission.

　Moreover, Dark sensed an extremely strong aura of light from the two chariots protected among the paladins.

　“It seems they’ve brought more than just knights,” Dark said in a low voice. Professor Mitya replied, “The better prepared they are, the better for us. Let’s go and meet them.”

　Dak nodded and walked toward the Holy Church's procession.

　“Welcome to the team, Bishop Sabrina Melville.” Darke reached out and helped Bishop Sabrina Melville down from her horse.

　After dismounting from the unicorn, Bishop Sabrina Melville frowned slightly as she looked at the pumpkin carriage ahead and asked, "Where is your entourage?"

　Dark smiled and said, "They're all in the carriage."

　Bishop Sabrina Melville said, "Shouldn't we be more open as partners?"

　Dark said, "Why do I need to call everyone out of the carriage so that His Excellency the Bishop can see them one by one?"

　Bishop Sabrina Melville frowned slightly and said, "I mean, how many of you are there?"

　Dark said, "Fourteen."

　Bishop Sabrina Melville said, "Fourteen."

　Dark shrugged and said, "This is all the elite we can muster. Sending those who are not strong enough to Mount Gods will only bring unnecessary sacrifices. This is one of the reasons why we are seeking cooperation with you."

　Then he glanced at the Holy Church's group and said casually, "Why don't you streamline your forces? In a place like the Mountain of Gods, an overly large group may not necessarily be of any help."

　Bishop Sabrina Melville waved her hand and said, "No need. Now that we're here, each of us is mentally prepared to face anything."

　Dark said, "Inside those two chariots..."

　Bishop Sabrina Melville said, "Each chariot has three people inside, and the rest are supplies. The entire team consists of forty-nine people."

　Dark nodded slightly and said, "Seven times seven is forty-nine, a delicate number. I hope our cooperation will be pleasant."

　Bishop Sabrina Melville asked, "And the Elves?" Dark replied, "Unfortunately, they don't want to have any further interaction with us."

　Bishop Sabrina Melville: "Very well, we don't want any more contact with them either. Hopefully, they won't cause us any trouble as they enter the Mountain of the Gods."

　Her tone carried a hint of murderous intent.

　“People from the Inquisition are a real problem…” Dark thought to himself, then said, “My opinion is to avoid conflict as much as possible. Unnecessary conflict only brings unnecessary sacrifices.”

　Bishop Sabrina Melville gave a soft hum and then spoke in a low voice to the "Holy Knight" who had also dismounted.

　Dak politely stepped aside and began to speak quietly with Professor Mitia. The composition of the Holy Church's ranks was already out in the open.

　The paladin team, consisting of six golden-armored paladins and thirty-six silver-armored paladins, was incredibly fierce.

　The gold and silver armor worn by the paladin is actually a replica of the "Twelve Golden Armors." Although it is far inferior to the "Twelve Golden Armors," it can still unleash considerable power after being fused with the corresponding "Armor Cards."

　Moreover, paladins have always followed a "team route." They excel at combined attacks and have a variety of combo skills. A minimum of three people can form a triangle defense, which can be used for both offense and defense.

　In certain special magic-free environments, paladins with strong physical strength become the most solid shield.

　Since we are going to explore a highly dangerous and unknown place, we must take all possibilities into account.

　In that situation, the academy's trump card was the "Oil Serpent," a being who had achieved godhood through physical means. But it's best not to use such a trump card if possible.

　Aside from the forty-two paladins, the Holy Church also has six magic-based classes, who are likely responsible for healing, exploration, and support roles. Of course, it cannot be ruled out that they may have hidden trump cards among them.

　Dac is more skeptical of the latter.

　However, since the academy is not prepared to reveal its hand, it will naturally not investigate the actions of the Holy Church.

　Just as they were talking in hushed tones, the Northern Warriors, led by "Tiger of the North Wind," finally arrived!

　As soon as the enormous and majestic "Winged Tiger Beast" appeared, the wind element in the air was disturbed. Dak covered his bangs that were being blown up and squinted at it.

　Gavin North's team was much larger, numbering nearly two hundred at a rough glance.

　But quantity does not equal quality.

　Gavin North broke away from the North and acted independently, bringing mostly his own subordinates with him.

　Based on the academy's standards for member ability, at least 150 out of 200 people would be unqualified.

　Their lineup is quite retro, mainly consisting of warriors and knights. However, there are also magic-based classes riding "ice fish dragons." Among them, the magic-based class with special attire and a special staff with spheres at both ends should be the "weather wielder" unique to the North.

　After a quick glance, Dak instinctively felt that the casualty rate of this group must be quite high.

　However, given his current position, he cannot say much more.

　To shine in battle, to die in battle—this is the fate of a warrior. The people of the North are fierce and unyielding; if he were to offer his opinions, he might be seen as disrespectful, creating a rift with the Northern warriors.

　Dark felt a sinking feeling in his heart, and he thought bitterly, "The original purpose of seeking cooperation with them was to share the risks. Now, talking about sacrifices is just too hypocritical."

　His heart has always been soft, but sometimes he can only force himself to harden up.

　In short, the Northern Warriors are the most numerous and have the most comprehensive distribution of various professions. However, their average strength is the weakest, although there are some top-tier experts, but none are yet apparent.

　After looking around a few times, Dakdo realized that he had not found any of the "young people" from the North, so he knew that they should also be on the carriage pulled by the "four-winged dragon".

　Gavin North also seems to have the intention of keeping it hidden.

　Unlike the academy, they were probably quite certain that the Church's goals aligned with their own. Therefore, they attempted to temporarily quell the conflict through this method.

　However, given their size, they might not be able to hide enough to enter the "Heavenly Court".

　The Northern contingent suddenly stopped in the position of the Holy Church, and Gavin North leaped off the back of the "Winged Tiger Beast" and strode towards them.

　From the dragon-drawn carriage, Earl Stanley Longfellow stepped out, accompanied by a curvaceous female guard.

　o

　There are still people in the carriage, but due to the air barrier, the number of people cannot be detected at the moment.

　Dak turned his attention back to the arrival of the Northern team.

　Stanley Longfellow and the female guard were certainly not the only people working for the royal family. Judging from their appearance, they were probably mixed in with the Northern warriors, or perhaps they were lurking around using some kind of stealth method.

　Professors Dak and Mitia, representing the Academy, gathered with the leaders of the Holy Church and the Northern Region.

　"I won't waste any more words," Dark said directly. "From now until we enter the 'Heavenly Court,' I hope we can cooperate sincerely. Whatever conflicts we may have had before, I hope we can put them aside for now."

　Stanley Longfellow scoffed, "I don't need to say more. Getting caught up in hatred in a place like this is tantamount to playing with your own and your companions' lives. We're not that stupid."

　Dark said, “That’s good. Any items we may acquire along the way belong to whoever gets them. If there’s a need, we can make a trade. If it’s not necessary, or if there’s a conflict over ownership, please consider these things after the mission is over. Blind greed will only lead to self-destruction.”

　Gavin North waved his hand and said, “No need to repeat that, everyone knows what’s going on. Right now, it’s a three-way collaboration, and to ensure efficiency, we first need to select representatives. My suggestion is that each side send one person, and when a decision cannot be made, a vote will be taken, one vote per person, with no abstentions allowed. Also, appoint a deputy, who will take the place of the representative if they are unable to vote.”

　Dark and Professor Mitia exchanged a glance and then stepped back. Professor Mitia said, "Then I will represent the Academy, with Dark as my deputy."

　Bishop Sabrina Melville then added, "I am the representative of the Holy See, Albert is my deputy, and Emily is next."

　Gavin North said, "Then I am our representative in the North, and Stanley is my deputy."

　Bishop Sabrina Melville glanced at the dragon carriages in the Northern contingent and said, "I'd like to add that proper concealment is fine. But I hope that it won't slow down the procession when real danger arises. I assure you first that the Holy Church will go all out."

　Gavin North said, "The North will also go all out. Of course, before entering 'Heaven's Court'."

　Professor Mitya nodded and said, "While I personally hope we can maintain our cooperation after entering the 'Heavenly Court,' it seems unlikely. In that case, we'll follow your advice. Best of luck to us."

　Bishop Sabrina Melville: "The Holy Light will protect us." Gavin North said: "The North Wind will grant us equal protection." With that, everyone returned to their ranks.

　Dark and Professor Mitia went straight into the carriage.

　“Rest for fifteen minutes, then head towards the Mountain of the Gods. They seem to be in a hurry,” Professor Medea said.

　Dark said, "It seems that failing to reach an agreement with the elves isn't such a bad thing after all. Now that the elves are acting alone, they're obviously worried about being the first to enter the 'Heavenly Court.'"

　Professor Cazell cautioned, "It would be ideal to enter the 'Heavenly Court' as soon as possible, but we cannot be reckless; our personal safety must remain our top priority. I believe Artemis wouldn't want any of us to sacrifice ourselves in the attempt to rescue her. In short, be prepared for a long battle."

　Lily immediately decided, "Leave the adventures to me and Kazel! We're professionals!"

　Professor Cazell glared at her: "Especially you!" Professor Lily immediately pouted and fell silent again.

　The people inside the vehicle quickly discussed the information they had just received. Then Professor Mitia and Chris got out of the vehicle, gave Marcus Langdon and Dani Sophie a few words of advice, and watched them return to the camp.

　After that, everyone began to summon the magical spirits.

　Ten magical sprites soon appeared around the carriage.

　"Serpent Goddess" Nix had only recently become human and had not yet mastered magical techniques.

　Apart from Chris, the other maids did not make a move. Although they could also use magic cards, they were not proficient, so it was better for them to conserve their energy and wait for the time to be used.

　Chris, on the other hand, summoned a shadow creature to assist in reconnaissance.

　Furthermore, considering the mana consumption and the fact that they had only just entered the Mountain of Gods, the professors did not summon their own ace spirits. However, they all chose nine-star magical spirits of the third tier.

　Aurora also summoned a second-tier six-star magical spirit, a round, fairy-type magical spirit with a pair of dragonfly-like thin wings on its back—"Round Fairy".

　The "Round Fairy" has extremely short limbs that sit atop its round, fluffy head. However, it has very large eyes with vertical pupils like a cat's, pink fur, and a circular mark on its forehead, making it quite adorable.

　This magical spirit, accidentally created with Ergani's help, possesses an exceptionally strong sense of danger, and its ultimate skill is called "Danger Premonition".

　Under Aurora's command, it lay on the roof of the carriage, alertly observing its surroundings throughout the journey, and issuing a warning if it sensed any danger.

　In addition, Ergani herself summoned her own magical spirit—a very short and thick snake.

　The snake was grotesque, about the length of an arm but as thick as a thigh, with a pair of angelic wings growing from the back of its neck and a colorful angelic halo above its head.

　It floated in the air with its wings spread, its whole body limp. But its eyes were quite lively, and it seemed to have a strong sense of curiosity.

　Ergani called it the "Celestial Serpent," and the colorful "Celestial Halo" on its head could grow larger in an instant, creating a kind of "guarding" stance.

　Normally, its "Heavenly Aura" can enhance the thinking abilities of allies within its range.

　It is a magical spirit with the style of a "god of wisdom".

　"Heavenly Serpent" is also a six-star magical spirit. However, it exudes a faint divine aura, and there is a high probability that it will have an improvement in "rank".

　After Ergane summoned it, she also ordered it to fly to the roof of the car and lie down with (the round fairy) to act as a "mascot".

　Under these circumstances, Dark did not hesitate and immediately summoned "Virigion".

　Excluding the magical spirits Chris, Aurora, and Ergani, the sudden appearance of a total of seven nine-star magical spirits attracted some attention.

　With the appearance of these seven nine-star magical spirits, the academy's seemingly weak "one-carriage" lineup finally became somewhat interesting.

　During their rest period, the Holy Church and the Northern Region observed the magical spirits of the Academy, trying to identify the fourteen people inside the carriage.

　There aren't many mages who possess nine-star magical spirits. In fact, in the past two years, students who have successfully graduated from St. Marian Academy have already reached the top of the mages' ranks.

　With the rapid development of magical technology, St. Mary's Academy and the Holy Mystic Academy are undoubtedly at the forefront.

　That's why so many senior students were able to successfully create the Nine-Star Magical Spirit Card.

　However, the overall number is still quite small.

　However, it is obviously impossible to identify the academy's archmage based on the star rating of the magical spirit.