290: Chapter 284 The kitten girl said—I have to go.

The luminous figure "spoke." It did not seem to emit any sound; at least, Zhang Mu did not sense any vibrations in the air.

But everyone near the Magic Tower heard a low murmur in their ears simultaneously — "True Word Spell: God Said, Zhang Mu must die."

Everyone was dazed for a moment.

"Zhang Mu? Who is that?"

"A demon from the abyss?"

"To be sentenced to death by the deity personally?"

Soon, they realized, just now... it seemed someone said that he could be called Zhang Mu?

The City Lords, including the three remaining Saint-tier individuals of Lake, shifted their astonished gazes toward the stranger beside the Princess.

His name is Zhang Mu, and he used unknown means to disguise himself as the Lord of Gur City.

Judging by the intimate standing posture between him and the Princess, this likely wasn't a secret invasion by an enemy country.

Everyone had originally been curious about what magic the man used to deceive not only the group of City Lords but even Jarvis's gaze.

As for the possibility of him colluding with the royal family to put on an act, seeing the astonished expressions of the two Grand Dukes, that was naturally ruled out.

Now, of course, everyone had no interest in caring about these things; instead, they were searching their own memories for anything related to Zhang Mu.

After all, someone who could make a deity speak would certainly not be a nobody.

They started with the renowned powerhouses of the continent.

They discovered that none of the famous Epic Professionals on the continent matched the conditions for Zhang Mu.

At least, they had never heard of an Epic named "Zhang Mu" in any country.

"A pseudonym?"

This guess had just surfaced in their hearts before being immediately denied.

God said his name is "Zhang Mu," so it couldn't be false.

After pondering for a long time without results, they expanded their search.

The results were remarkable; the City Lords soon remembered that half a year ago, the Church had issued a notice throughout Lake — a heretic had publicly violated the ban in Bala City and had now been punished by the bishop within the city.

Although the individual's strength was not very high, only an Apprentice Magician, the matter had caused quite a commotion, attracting the attention of many top High-tier Professionals.

It had been ten thousand years; finally, a brave person who dared to challenge the Church had appeared. How could it not attract attention?

One must know, it was rumored that the Church possessed a punishment of extracting the soul from a Professional's body and imprisoning it.

Everyone was not afraid of death; at most, it would hurt for a bit and pass, but endless torture was something they couldn't endure.

Therefore, the entire Saul Continent was buzzing with discussion at the time, marveling at what kind of courage it took to dare to go against the Church.

In the end, they didn't come to a conclusion, but they remembered the name.

Half a year had passed; although the time wasn't long, it was enough to relegate it to a corner of their minds.

Now that the deity mentioned it, everyone recalled it.

The City Lords suddenly realized.

"It's him?"

"Then it's not strang... it's still very strange."

"An Apprentice Magician, even with stunning talent, would at most promote to a Primary Level..."

They remembered something and all looked blankly at the man calmly hovering in mid-air ahead.

A companion nudged Danielson with an elbow and muttered, "A Beginner Magician?"

"Can a Beginner Magician from your home block a Magister's spiritual perception?"

"Uh, that's true." The companion scratched his head, "But... do you mean to say he spent half a year climbing from a Beginner Magician to a peak Magister?"

Beside them, a City Lord wearing light armor said expressionlessly, "I have been at the peak of the Sky Knight for decades, only half a step away from a Saint Knight, yet I cannot sense his magic power fluctuations either."

The three whispered quietly, but everyone present was a High-tier Professional with sensitive hearing, so they heard basically every word clearly.

Then, they were bewildered.

"He is Saint-tier? What can you do in half a year? How long did it take for me to break through to High-tier? What material is his body made of?"

This matter seemed to have a more violent impact than the deity's descent.

So much so that Danielson, who finally broke the silence, didn't ask first how he had provoked the deity: "Av... Lord Zhang Mu, you... were a Beginner Magician half a year ago?"

"At that time?"

Zhang Mu frowned and recalled for a moment: "It seems so."

"And now?"

"Magister."

"Do you take me for an idiot?"

Faced with such perfunctory "deception," Danielson felt a bit disheartened.

Let's assume he is a Magister. He clenched and unclenched his fists a few times and confirmed again: "Half a year from Beginner Magician to Magister?"

As soon as he asked, Zhang Mu finally saw why the group had suddenly fallen silent, and smiled: "One cannot generalize the physique of individuals."

That was certainly true.

Danielson, his companion, and the other City Lords all agreed with Zhang Mu's statement.

The problem was, wasn't this difference a bit too... absurd?

Just when everyone was bowing their heads in silent contemplation, the two Grand Dukes suddenly burst into action.

Their figures disappeared from their original spots, and when they reappeared, they were facing the City Lords, blocking in front of Zhang Mu and Avril.

Zhang Mu didn't understand what was going on; weren't they the King...

"Junior, the process is very complicated; I will explain it to you after this is over." Avril held the ice-blue Magic Tower in her hand, her eyes wary of the City Lords opposite.

"Your name is Zhang Mu, Mr. Potter's last student, right?" Blova asked with his back to him.

"Yes."

"The situation is urgent. As Avril's uncle, I won't pursue your deception of me for the time being." Blova's magic power poured out, "Pestoya and I are seriously injured.

If it were only the City Lords from various places, we could block them, but his strength is in a peak state; we will probably die in the Royal Capital.

Of course, it won't be easy for him to kill us either; it will take at least a few hours to decide the winner. During this time, you take Avril and escape, as far away as possible."

Zhang Mu had also heard the deity's "True Word Spell: God Said" earlier and understood why the three were so tense and guarded.

The City Lords didn't have much devout faith in the deity; if it were for something they cherished, they might have the courage to resist, but Zhang Mu certainly didn't count as something they cherished.

Therefore, the allies who were on the same side just a moment ago would likely turn around and besiege Zhang Mu in the blink of an eye.

But he didn't plan to escape.

"The two of you, I..."

Before he could finish, Pestoya sternly stopped him: "Do you think we are acting in a romance drama?! Don't waste time, escape immediately!"

The commotion here also woke up the bewildered City Lords.

They looked up one after another, glanced at the luminous figure in the sky, and then looked at Zhang Mu with complex expressions.

They admired the person in front of them very much.

Leaving aside the terrifying promotion speed, just the confrontation with the Church was already admirable.

It's just... the deity told us to kill you, if we don't kill...

A City Lord dressed as a Magician had just had the thought of holding back and letting the person go, when the luminous figure above extended a finger.

The next second.

"Ah!!!"

He seemed to be suffering from extreme torture; the wail was horrifying to hear. Afterward, his body shattered, and amidst the mist of blood, a transparent shadow floated toward the high sky and soon fell into the palm of the luminous figure.

The luminous figure gently squeezed and kneaded its palm as if playing with a beloved object. The City Lord's miserable scream, like a bone-chilling cold from the underworld, pierced straight into everyone's marrow.

Finally, it seemed satisfied, and with a force of its hand, the already hoarse scream came to an abrupt end.

The City Lords seemed to wake up; their stagnant breathing resumed, and the cold sweat on their backs soaked their clothes, sticking to their skin.

Panting heavily, Danielson's reason, not yet completely shattered by fear, was flooded with confusion.

If the deity can act, why not directly seize Zhang Mu's soul, but instead force us?

Apparently, from the slight incomprehension hidden beneath the City Lords' panicked eyes, one could see that they had all thought the same thing.

It was also equally clear that they could not think of a suitable reason.

It is a deity, an existence that mortals cannot understand.

But there was one point they clearly felt.

Everyone dared not look up to peek; the sorrow in their hearts was like a dam bursting, unstoppable.

Once upon a time, they had all wondered if the deity was manipulating the Church to fool mortals.

And now...

"The deity fooling mortals?"

"Don't joke; the deity doesn't even bother to deceive; whatever it wants to do, it will do."

"We... can only accept it."

"Humiliation?"

"No, in its view, it is a favor, an honor."

"Do you think everyone is qualified to be 'insulted' by the deity?"

"Stop kidding."

"Heh... hahaha..."

Danielson's manic laughter was the... despair after the dignity of being human was trampled and crushed.

Hearing his jarring laughter, his companion slowly clenched his fists; even though his nails pierced his skin, he did not let go.

We are not even puppets.

With the deity's abrupt action, everyone understood why it had to "force" them to act.

Zhang Mu scanned them; some were laughing, some were dejected, some were angry.

So that's how it is.

"Senior, this deity is not a good thing."

The relaxed tone woke up the three who were frozen in expression.

Avril turned to look at him, and on her blank face, a bright smile suddenly bloomed: "Yeah, it's really not a good thing."

The cheerfulness of the two did not infect Blova. His voice was low: "I thought we were fearless rebels, but it turns out... we are just clowns performing for the deity."

"Hey~ don't say that..." Zhang Mu originally wanted to make a joke to ease the atmosphere, but after noticing the City Lords quietly surrounding him, he changed his tone: "They have the determination to kill; get ready for battle."

Pestoya's will was very low, not as decisive as before, and her tone was flat, as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her: "Execute the original plan; you escape, and Blova and I will cover the rear."

"Enough, escape my ass." Zhang Mu took out his staff from the Storage Pouch, "That idiot above is talking, and everyone on the continent can hear it; where are we going to escape to?"

After speaking, he continued to the silent two: "Doesn't it want to watch a show? Since you don't want to perform, then just have some backbone and tear down its stage; what's the point of throwing your lives away?"

A glimmer of light appeared in their listless eyes.

Right, tear down its stage!

Seeing them regain their fighting spirit, Zhang Mu began to stretch his body; besides, I am not alone.

The spear formation is still down there; after taking out the old man sent by the Second Prince, isn't it a piece of cake for the two of them to take care of the hundred or so City Lords who have suffered heavy losses?

As for the subsequent siege by neighboring countries, let them come.

Zhang Mu sneered in his heart, raised his staff, and said to the City Lords forming the encirclement: "What are you looking at your daddy for?!"

...

"It's started."

On the roof of a carriage traveling on a dirt road, the Young Pope stood, gazing toward the Royal Capital, and said to Lya, who was sitting at his feet with her knees hugged.

"Who is fighting whom?"

"Let me see." The Young Pope narrowed his eyes, and after a few seconds, "Over a hundred High-tier Professional City Lords and Zhang Mu."

"Is Brother Mu alone..." A pair of cat ears drooped.

"That's not the case."

"Can you finish what you're saying at once!" Lya was very angry, her ears perking up.

"Ah haha..." He scratched his head and smiled flatteringly, "Used to it, used to it; I will try to change."

Taking a deep breath, telling herself that the important thing right now was Brother Mu, Lya kept a straight face and asked, "Who else?"

"Hmm..." He looked up again toward the Royal Capital, "There is a woman who inherited Ice and Snow; she seems to be the Princess of Lake. And two Saint-tier individuals, who are Dukes of Lake."

"Can they win?"

"This, it's hard to say." He said tentatively, while carefully observing Lya's expression out of the corner of his eye.

Seeing her look conflicted, the Pope's expression changed drastically: "My Saintess, you cannot go back, otherwise something will really happen!"

Lya ignored him, her head bowed for a while: "Are there only three of them?"

Hearing this, he let out a huge sigh of relief and quickly said, "Not just that, not just that; let me see, oh, Zhang Mu's First Army has gone to support, and that Second Prince is leading a legion rushing toward him."

"Aren't legions all ordinary people?"

"Uh, actually there are also quite a few Professionals..." Stared at by Lya's serious gaze, the Pope's voice grew smaller and smaller.

Both fell silent, and only the wind whistled on the roof of the carriage.

After a long time, the Pope sighed: "I really didn't fool you. The two Saint-tier individuals on Zhang Mu's side are seriously injured, but they can still move. Cooperating with that magic array he set up, as long as the timing is right, it's no problem to take out the Saint-tier old man. Once it's resolved, the remaining City Lords are nothing to worry about. But Lya, what about the future?"

Lya rested her chin on her knees, her eyes gazing into the distance.

Seeing her silent, the Pope felt very helpless and said: "Lake's national strength is not strong. Distant empires and Kingdoms should think that the neighboring countries around Lake are enough to solve it and won't send troops to crusade. The facts are indeed as they inferred; Lake cannot withstand the siege of neighboring countries. Not to mention the several Kingdoms in the South, just the Kingdom, with a thousand years of accumulated grievances, would leave Lake stretched thin after the turmoil."

"I want to go."

"What?" The Pope saw her calm down and felt very gratified, thinking his earnest advice hadn't been in vain, but who knew that suddenly hearing this sentence, he thought he was hallucinating for a moment.

"I must go." Lya stood up, her upright cat ears swaying in the wind.

This time, he heard clearly.

"No way!"

The Pope knelt down directly, snot and tears streaming, and was about to hug her thigh and beg, but Lya kicked him away with great disgust.

"Really, no way!"

Kicked to the ground, he got up without discouragement.

If he couldn't hug her leg, kowtowing would be fine, right?

The Pope kept banging his head against the bottom of the carriage: "The deity will be displeased!"

Lya didn't even look at him, her hands on her hips, looking at the luminous figure hovering in the sky that could still be seen clearly even after the carriage had been running for several days.

"Don't you worry about it."

"..."

A smile appeared, and she reached out and patted the Pope on the head: "Take me back to the Royal Capital."

Hearing such a horrifying request, his face turned green.

"I take you?"

"If the deity gets angry, you'll be fine, but I'm dead!"

"I refuse!"

"Are you taking me or not?"

"Not taking you!"

"Fine." Lya's face darkened, and she turned to jump off the carriage.

"I'll take you, I'll take you, okay!"