134: debate

Blade Claw returned to the palace, ignoring the trembling subordinates who had come to welcome him, and walked straight into the secret chamber.

In the center of the chamber stood an altar carved from obsidian, covered in twisted runes.

Blade Claw sliced his wrist, letting his blood drip onto the altar.

The runes seemed to come alive, emitting a faint glow.

Within the light, a blurry figure gradually appeared.

"Teacher." Blade Claw spoke in a low voice.

"Oh? It's you, Blade Claw." Artemis's voice came from the light. "What, are you in trouble?"

"Teacher, there is a blasphemer named Rock Stele who is a bit tricky." Blade Claw did not hide it.

"Rock Stele?" Artemis seemed interested. "If even you find him tricky, it seems his strength is quite good?"

"It is not that, Teacher. His strength is not worth mentioning. What truly makes me feel he is tricky is that I felt the power of an Envoy when I fought him."

"An Envoy?" Artemis pondered for a moment and said, "In that case, come to me. Tell me exactly what happened. I will wait for you at the Lake of Heaven on Laviko Mountain."

With that, the light dissipated, and the runes returned to calm.

Blade Claw memorized the location Artemis mentioned and turned to leave the secret chamber.

He called his Confidant, arranged a few things, and left the palace alone.

When Blade Claw arrived at Laviko Mountain, the setting sun had already retracted its last trace of afterglow.

The Lake of Heaven was like a mirror, reflecting the deep blue sky and a few cold stars that had appeared early. By the lakeside, Artemis stood quietly, looking into the distance.

Blade Claw walked behind Artemis, knelt on one knee, and lowered his head: "Teacher."

"Get up." Artemis did not turn back, his voice flat.

Blade Claw stood up and stood behind Artemis, maintaining a respectful posture.

"Tell me about that guy named Rock Stele." Artemis spoke, breaking the silence.

"Yes." Blade Claw replied, recounting the process of his battle with Rock Stele in detail, emphasizing Rock Stele's novel use of the Visualization Diagram and that binding force that made him feel wary.

Artemis listened quietly without interrupting. Only when Blade Claw finished did he slowly turn around to look at him.

"Do you think he is an agent like you? With an Envoy behind him?" Artemis asked, with no emotion in his tone.

Blade Claw hesitated for a moment and replied: "This Disciple dares not jump to conclusions. However, that binding force is unusual. Apart from 'God's' Envoy, I cannot think of anyone else who could possess this power."

Artemis smiled but did not answer Blade Claw's question directly. Instead, he said: "Blade Claw, do you know what you are experiencing?"

Blade Claw was stunned and immediately replied: "This Disciple does not know."

"This is a test from 'God' for you." Artemis said slowly.

"A test?" Blade Claw frowned. "This Disciple does not understand."

"My Lord needs loyal servants." Artemis looked at Blade Claw with deep eyes. "I have always seen your loyalty to God."

"But you must know, even the most loyal faith needs tempering." Artemis continued. "Even a weapon requires a thousand hammerings, let alone faith."

"But God only needs one person by his side."

"Could it be... is Rock Stele..." Blade Claw suddenly thought of a possibility, his expression changing slightly.

"Whether he is or isn't, does it matter?" Artemis interrupted Blade Claw's train of thought. "What matters is how you respond."

"I hope that in the near future, I will see you... serving before the throne of 'God'." Artemis's voice became ethereal. "That will be... my honor."

Blade Claw looked at Artemis, this teacher who had guided him to the Peak of power, complex emotions churning in his heart.

He knelt on one knee and said solemnly: "This Disciple... will definitely not fail the mission."

Artemis nodded, his figure disappearing by the lakeside. Seeing Artemis leave, Blade Claw bowed respectfully again before standing up and leaving.

The night wind brushed across the lake, creating ripples, and Artemis's figure appeared once more. He turned to look at the four figures that had appeared out of nowhere, his brow furrowed into a knot.

"What are you doing here?" Artemis's voice carried a hint of impatience; he did not like the feeling of being followed.

Kleid stepped forward, his tone still polite, but the content was not pleasant to hear: "Artemis, what did you just say to Blade Claw?"

"Do I need to report to you what I say to Blade Claw?" Artemis snorted coldly, his tone clearly resistant.

"Don't forget, I am the Pope." Kleid emphasized, not liking Artemis's attitude. "I have the right to know everything."

"The Pope?" Artemis sneered. "Don't take a chicken feather as an arrow; you were removed as Pope long ago. Do you really think you are someone important?"

"You!" Kleid was choked by Artemis's words. He suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice: "Artemis, watch your words! Don't forget our plan!"

"Plan?" Artemis sneered. "I only know that my Lord currently urgently needs loyal warriors to fight for Him. Or do you think your so-called plan is above my Lord!"

"What do you mean by that?" Nanike, who was often silent, narrowed his eyes, his tone carrying a hint of danger. "Do you think we no longer respect our Lord?"

"I didn't say that." Artemis glanced at Nanike sideways. "But my Lord is currently creating a Cultivation system; don't tell me you don't know why."

"Artemis, don't go too far!" Bekara spoke, her charming voice becoming somewhat sharp. "Do you really think we don't dare to touch you?"

"What, want to make a move?" Artemis's eyes seemed to burn with flames. "Come on! I want to see how much weight you old rivals have!"

"Enough!" Kleid shouted, interrupting the imminent quarrel. "Now is not the time for infighting!"

"Hmph." Artemis snorted coldly and said no more.

"Artemis, everyone is working for the Lord." Kleid took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions. "But your behavior today is indeed a bit out of line."

"Blade Claw, he is just a tool." Kleid looked at Artemis, enunciating each word. "A tool... used to complete my Lord's orders."

"A tool?" Artemis frowned. "You treat Blade Claw as a tool? Don't forget we trained him as a warrior!"

"Heh, what else? Don't forget that times have changed." Kleid retorted. "Do you really treat him as your Disciple? Placing him above the Lord."

"I..." Artemis opened his mouth but found he couldn't say anything.

"Artemis, you are being emotional." Kleid sighed. "We all know you have poured a lot of effort into Blade Claw."

"But you must know, our goal is a greater cause." Kleid's voice carried a hint of seduction. "For this goal, sacrificing some things is necessary."

"You gave him a mental pillar, which does not fit our plan!" Nanike spoke, his voice low.

"Your plan? Your plan is to turn Blade Claw from a devout believer into a rebel!" Artemis roared. "Do you know that this will destroy him!"

"Destroy him?" Jonnison smiled. "Artemis, my friend, in this world, who isn't destroyed? Or has the great warlord of the Exile Star been softened by time?"

"Besides, as long as the Lord's orders can be completed, what does it matter even if one Blade Claw is destroyed?" Jonnison's voice was cold and ruthless.

"You..." Artemis looked at these guys, somewhat speechless, and finally asked Kleid: "Kleid, is your attitude toward Rock Stele the same?"

"Of course! A mere Rock Stele, how can he compare to my Lord?" Kleid said indifferently. "Artemis, your heart is in chaos. You are temporarily unsuitable to participate in this incident. Find a corner and stay there, and come out after everything is over."

"You have done enough for Blade Claw, and this is the last tolerance we can have for you. If you are still unwilling, think about whether the Lord is more important or your so-called Disciple."

Hearing this, Artemis wanted to refute something, but in the end, he could only sigh helplessly and leave silently.

After watching Artemis leave, Nanike asked: "Should we inform the Lord about this?"

Kleid shook his head. "No need. Artemis is at least clear about what is most important; otherwise, he wouldn't have left so obediently today."

Bekara interjected: "Who will take over the Rebel Army under Artemis?"

Kleid pondered for a moment, his gaze turning to Jonnison, but Jonnison waved his hand with a smile.

"Don't, don't. Blade Claw has been watching me very closely recently, and I can't free up my hands. Why not let Rock Stele take over? After all, he is penniless now and urgently needs a startup fund to make a comeback."

Kleid thought for a moment and agreed with this proposal. The four immediately dispersed to continue their own work.

On the other side, let us turn back the time a little. After Rock Stele escaped using the Shadow Evasion Talisman, when he reappeared, he had already returned to the secret village built by Kleid.

"Swish—"

A black light flashed, and a figure appeared out of thin air, falling heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Who?!"

"Enemy attack?!"

The villagers responsible for guarding the village entrance were instantly startled by the commotion. They picked up their tools and surrounded him as if facing a great enemy.

"Cough, cough..."

From the dust came a burst of violent coughing.

"This voice... why does it sound familiar?"

A villager scratched his head, somewhat puzzled.

"Who cares who he is! Take him down first!"

Another villager was more cautious; he raised the wooden stick in his hand and approached carefully.

"Don't... don't move..."

The dust dissipated, and a blood-covered figure struggled to stand up.

"This... this is... Rock Stele?!"

Seeing the face of the figure clearly, the vigilant villagers were stunned.

They never expected to see this young man, who had taken the initiative to go out to practice the Enlightener's ideology, again in this way.

"It really is Rock Stele!"

"Rock Stele is back!"

"Quick! Go notify the others!"

After a brief shock, the villagers reacted. They dropped their weapons and helped Rock Stele up in a flurry of activity.

"Rock Stele, you... what happened to you?"

A villager looked at the shocking wounds on Rock Stele's body, his voice trembling.

"I... I'm fine..."

Rock Stele endured the severe pain, trying to force a smile, but it pulled at his wounds, making him grimace.

"Still saying you're fine! You're hurt like this!"

An elderly villager said with heartache.

"Quick! Quickly bring Rock Stele inside!"

"Go find the physician! Quick!"

"Hot water! Linen cloth! Hemostatic medicine! Bring it all here!"

The villagers were in a mess, scrambling to carry Rock Stele into the village.

Along the way, villagers kept coming to hear the news.

They looked at the blood-covered Rock Stele, all stunned.

"Heavens! Who did Rock Stele fight with?"

"These wounds... are they too heavy?"

"Could it be... he met Blade Claw?"

"Don't talk nonsense! How could Rock Stele lose to Blade Claw?"

"But... but these wounds..."

The villagers discussed, with all kinds of guesses.

"Don't crowd here! Move aside! Move aside!"

The physician finally arrived. He pushed through the crowd to Rock Stele's side.

"Move aside! Don't hinder me from saving people!"

While scolding, the physician checked Rock Stele's injuries.

"Sss..."

The physician gasped. Rock Stele's injuries were even more serious than he had imagined.

"This... how strong must the opponent be to injure Rock Stele like this?"

The physician was secretly shocked.

"Physician, is he... how is he?"

A villager asked cautiously.

"The situation... is not optimistic."

The physician frowned. "However, I will do my best to save him."

"I beg you! You must save Rock Stele!"

The villagers pleaded one after another.

"Rest assured, I will do my best."

The physician nodded and began to treat Rock Stele's wounds.

"Bear with it, it might hurt a little."

The physician warned.

"Mm..."

Rock Stele groaned, clenching his teeth, enduring the severe pain.

"This kid... can really endure."

The physician praised inwardly.

Time ticked by, and fine beads of sweat seeped out on the physician's forehead.

Rock Stele's injuries were simply too heavy; he had to concentrate fully to ensure no mistakes.

As for Rock Stele himself, he had already fainted due to his severe injuries at some point.

I don't know how much time passed.

"Huu..."

Finally, the physician let out a long breath, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and stood up again.

"How is it? Physician, is Rock Stele..."

Seeing the physician stop, an impatient villager asked anxiously.

"His life... is considered saved."

The physician's voice was a bit weak. "However..."

"However what?"

The villagers' hearts rose again.

"However, he is too heavily injured. With my medical skills, whether he can wake up depends on his own fortune."

"It's just a pity that the Enlightener left a while ago to spread the gospel to the world again. Otherwise, alas!"

The physician sighed.