After a brief pause, he continued, "However, I was able to succeed at the time thanks to Lady personally drawing auxiliary runes for me! When the time comes, I will give you the Skill Book to study carefully. Together, we will investigate whether those runes can be reproduced. This step is crucial; no mistakes can be afforded."

"Alright." Lilith nodded solemnly, committing the matter to memory.

A few of them chatted casually for a moment, exchanging insights on cultivating the Body Refining Technique, and after dinner, they returned to their rooms to rest or continue their cultivation.

...

Celt Kingdom, northern border.

In this cold and barren land stands a mixed-race town named 'Gray Town.'

Humans, the Bowerla Clan, and the Sub-human Race live here, maintaining a delicate and fragile balance with each other.

The buildings are mostly made of grey stone, with a rugged style and low-hanging eaves, as if perpetually crushed under the weight of the northern winds.

At the town's edge, a nondescript stone house emits a dull sound from its door hinges.

A male from the Bowerla Clan enters, tall and slim, with slightly thick earlobes and a face mostly obscured by a hood.

He bows respectfully toward the shadow within the house, his voice low, "Ladies, Madams, the intelligence from Gold and Silver Island has arrived."

The room is empty, with only a few crude wooden chairs and a stone table.

The air is filled with the scent of herbs and old books.

After a moment of silence, a cool female voice came from the inner room, "Speak."

The man hesitated slightly before replying, "The island has been completely seized by The Holy Court, and all forces and Chambers around Emerald Sea have submitted. Daily rituals of The Holy Court are held, and it is said... they have been continuously burning skeleton corpses for over half a month, with the black smoke yet to dissipate."

Another voice promptly inquired, "What about the Association?"

"The heroes of the Association have joined the ranks of The Holy Court, and all local chapters follow their commands," the man continued, "This was announced publicly."

"Is it the same for the Association here?"

"Yes! The Holy Court has explicitly ordered the apprehension of individuals related to the Spirit Awakening Sect."

The room was momentarily silent, as though even the air had frozen.

Then the initial voice spoke again, calm but with an indomitable authority, "What about the intelligence concerning Yeko Kingdom and Lundham City?"

The man bowed slightly, "No city by the name of Lundham City was found, but there has indeed been unrest in Yeko Kingdom recently."

"Tell me."

"Yeko Kingdom has changed rulers, with the Second Prince ascending. The former Queen is accused of usurping the throne and war crimes, and is being pursued across the entire realm."

The previous voice spoke again, with added gravity, "You've done well! Keep investigating, and if your Chamber encounters any unresolved issues, you can come to us at any time."

"Thank you." The man spoke no further, bowing as he exited the room.

As the door closed, silence returned to the room.

A moment later, a childish voice timidly emerged, "Uncle... he's not in trouble, is he? Why hasn't he come to fetch us?"

Then a gentle female voice replied, "Xiao Xiao, don't ask every day. If he were in trouble, we wouldn't be safe."

"But I'm worried...!" Xiao Xiao whispered, turning to another person, "Auntie! When will those bad people leave?"

Glenda calmly analyzed, "From the intelligence, it seems they won't leave. First, not finding Wu Heng ensures they stay there, and second, Gold and Silver Island is the commercial hub, so The Holy Court would definitely hold onto it for various reasons.

Lady chimed in, "Although the Holy Hall isn't bad, it doesn't compare to the prosperity of Gold and Silver Island. Once The Holy Court seizes it, they won't let it go easily."

Gold and Silver Island was built exceptionally well.

While it may not compare to modern cities, in the context of this world's development, it is a crushing advantage.

Therefore, The Holy Court wouldn't treat Gold and Silver Island like before, neglecting it once occupied.

Bella's voice was puzzled, "By the way, wasn't Yeko Kingdom's Second Prince already...?"

Glenda chuckled softly, "Whether it's the real Second Prince doesn't matter; The Holy Court only needs a name."

"Exactly!" Lady agreed, "It's never about which Prince holds power; it's The Holy Court itself."

Glenda pondered slightly, her tone easing, "But this also indicates that the Divine Spirits aren't personally handling these mundane affairs, leaving everything to The Holy Court... Brittany and the others should be temporarily safe."

Bella softly joined, "The Divine Spirits haven't come to catch us, their focus is entirely on Wu Heng."

Lady sneered, "If they were to attend to everything personally, could they still be called Divine Spirits?"

Xiao Xiao murmured again, "Then Uncle would be discovered upon arrival... how can he fetch us?"

Lady's voice suddenly softened, "Don't worry, Wu Heng is much more formidable than we think. Our best help is to hide well and wait for him."

"Mm!" Xiao Xiao nodded vigorously, as if encouraging herself, "Uncle will definitely defeat that vile Divine Spirit!"

Bella turned to Glenda, her tone serious, "What should we do next?"

Glenda's voice returned to its calm state, "Remain inconspicuous, and let the Chamber of Commerce move on our behalf! We might lend support occasionally, but we must not expose ourselves! The Holy Court's spies... are far more than we imagined."

The few Ghosts nodded in agreement.

The last traces of sound ceased in the room, leaving it empty and silent.

...

Gold and Silver Island.

The former splendor and hustle and bustle have long vanished.

Now Gold and Silver Island resembles a massive and solemn white temple, with all buildings coated in a layer of cold, hard pure white paint, reflecting an unsettlingly clean sheen under the sun.

Streets once bustling with diverse merchants and sailors now only see believers dressed in uniform religious attire.

They walk briskly and silently, even when familiar faces meet, they only give the slightest nod of acknowledgment and refrain from unnecessary conversation.

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