"You're saying the Judgment Chief isn't dead?"

Lu Luo was somewhat astonished, but he didn't question Dumb Hair. If Dumb Hair said so, there must be a reason.

"Yes, I can confirm that my mother isn't dead. But I also can't pinpoint her exact location right now, nor can I be sure that she won't die later. The only thing I am certain of is that she isn't dead right now."

Lu Luo nodded slightly.

If the Judgment Chief isn't dead, then where could she be now? Do the Truth Disc and the Dawn Disc still exist? Just like my own Doomsday Disc has a separate, special space. If the other two discs also possess similar independent spaces, then the Judgment Chief is most likely in one of those special spaces. It's a pity I can't find such a special space; otherwise, I could try to locate the other two discs and study their functions.

"It's good that she isn't dead. As long as the Judgment Chief is alive, we still have hope of finding her."

"Yes, let's hope so." As Bai Yuetong said this, she couldn't help but feel a twinge in her nose and quietly shed tears.

Lu Luo felt a pang of sympathy and reached out to pat Dumb Hair's head, trying to comfort her.

But Dumb Hair took Lu Luo's hand and placed it on her own chest.

"Lu Luo, I came to you for serious business. My dad is looking for you. Also, the other members of the Council have already arrived."

"Hm? The other members of the Council?"

"Yes, they are already at my house now, and I've heard that people from the Church are there too. This situation seems a bit off. You need to be careful."

If there were no Seventh Tier, you could afford to wander around carefree.

No, even if there are no Seventh Tier beings, I still need to consider the safety of Qi Xinzhu and Bai Yuetong. So, often, it's better to remain low-key.

Lu Luo nodded slightly at Dumb Hair's reminder.

However, with his current strength, as long as no exceptionally formidable experts appeared, he could say that he was fearless in the Inner Ring.

At this moment, the Church's Seventh Tier were dealing with the disappearance of the Holy Radiance. They needed time to shift their Dark Energy attributes. This process might take one to two years, or even several years. As for the Council, they were loosely allied with Lu Luo, and their Seventh Tier wouldn't likely risk acting against him at this time. So as long as he was outside the Church's jurisdiction, Lu Luo was relatively safe.

"Don't worry, I'll handle it."

Lu Luo gave Dumb Hair a hug, then prepared to leave and head over to Luo Xuemin's place.

As he was about to go, Dumb Hair suddenly grabbed Lu Luo.

Then she asked a somewhat strange question.

"Lu Luo... have you ever thought about leaving?"

Lu Luo didn't quite understand what Dumb Hair meant. Leaving? What exactly did Dumb Hair mean by 'leaving'?

"Yuetong, the 'leaving' you're talking about... it must have some other meaning, right?"

Bai Yuetong hugged Lu Luo from behind, wrapping her arms around his waist. Then she rested her head against Lu Luo's back. Hugging Lu Luo from behind like this gave her a strong sense of possession and safety. At this moment, Bai Yuetong was in her greatest need of a sense of security.

"Lu Luo, you should have received my mother's legacy by now, right? After this matter is over, let's... leave."

Lu Luo hesitated. Bai Yuetong's mention of leaving seemed to imply more than just departing the Inner Ring!

"What do you mean by leaving?"

"Leaving the Wasteland Alliance. I really don't want to stay in this place anymore. Although I don't know what the outside world is like, whether it's more terrifying than the Wasteland Alliance, I think we should go and see for ourselves."

"What about your mother then?"

"If she doesn't want us to find her, we never will. Moreover, this is probably also my mother's wish; she wants to go home for a visit."

Lu Luo's nose twitched. He wanted to say that he might indeed be able to find the Judgment Chief, but after thinking it over, he chose to remain silent. Because the Disc Space was uncertain, the probability of not finding her was also quite high.

Lu Luo didn't respond immediately. Instead, he asked a different question, "How is your body holding up now?"

He knew Bai Yuetong looked like an ordinary person but had many extraordinary aspects. For instance, without relying on her Sequence or energy, she could see Specter Species in their pure spirit form. Another example was her ability to find nodes in mechanical reaction devices, with more precision than instrument readings. There was also the fact that Bai Yuetong claimed she would never undergo mutation. All these were her remarkable traits.

So, in a sense, Bai Yuetong, having inherited half of Bai Qingshuang's bloodline, possessed a lineage that did not belong to the Wasteland Alliance. She was very special, but she herself was unclear about her own condition. Perhaps in that so-called Empire, some clues about her physical condition might be found.

"My body is fine. If we go outside, I can pilot a Mecha and won't hold us back."

"Yuetong, do you think we can really make it to the edge of the Doomsday Halo?"

At this moment, Lu Luo was not being sarcastic; he was serious.

The farther one ventured into the outer wastelands, the higher the levels and chaos of the Exotic Species became. Many Great Lords, that is, Exotic Species above the Seventh Tier, continuously roamed that area. They lived in chaos, fighting, like the most primitive beasts. Unless a Monarch like Nightmare Noah emerged from among these Exotic Species, they couldn't even establish their own societies or ways of life.

Perhaps Lu Luo was very strong now, possessing the strength to fight a Seventh Tier Great Lord, but that was only against a single one. Not to mention, the outskirts of the Halo harbored Eighth Order Exotic Species without territories. Their strength might not reach the level of a Monarch like Nightmare Demon, but they were genuinely Eighth Order life forms. These Exotic Species were far more dangerous than territorial Monarchs like Stone Mother Noah. Because you could not predict where they would come from or in what manner they would appear. The destructive power of these Exotic Species was extremely formidable, and they never needed a reason to attack. Perhaps they attacked you because you resembled food, or perhaps because they simply didn't like your appearance. It was even more likely that they just wanted to attack upon seeing you.

If Lu Luo were alone, he might still be able to struggle for survival in such an environment. But if he brought them along, it certainly wouldn't be just Dumb Hair. Qi Xinzhu, for instance, would probably have to come as well. Qi Xinzhu had now lost her Holy Radiance, and without it, she had effectively lost at least half of her original strength. With such a group, it was simply unrealistic for Lu Luo to charge forward alone.

After Lu Luo posed the question, Bai Yuetong lowered her head somewhat disheartenedly.

"Alright, I was just saying."

Seeing Bai Yuetong become withdrawn, Lu Luo suddenly laughed.

"Don't close yourself off. I just mean we're not quite there yet, but just because we're not there now doesn't mean we won't be in the future. You know, just over a year ago, I was a weakling who struggled even to turn over. If you can give me a little time, maybe I'll get a little stronger, and the journey of exploration will be a little safer."

"Pfft!"

Dumb Hair looked at Lu Luo and finally laughed out loud.

Lu Luo might like to talk big and be a bit of a flirt, but he always kept his promises, and they always came true.

"Fine, I'll wait for you, wait for you to take me home."

Seeing Dumb Hair laugh, Lu Luo laughed along with her.

However, he first needed to deal with the Inner Ring Council.

"Don't worry, we're not Lone Rangers. Once we return to the Fourth Ring, the whole Circle Company will serve this goal. Individual achievements give strength; collective achievements provide resources. If we want to leave the Doomsday Halo, maybe we can start by developing the company."

Lu Luo's encouragement still touched Bai Yuetong. She nodded. "Yes, when I get back, I'll start developing a Mecha capable of exploring dangerous areas."

"I'll go see your father now. Wait for me."

"Okay."

Lu Luo kissed Dumb Hair and then left, with Dumb Hair sitting dumbfounded next to Qi Xinzhu. Utterly exhausted, she soon fell into a deep sleep. One lay on the bed, the other sat by the bedside; they were like two pitiable sleeping beauties, awaiting a prince's awakening.

After Bai Yuetong fell asleep, a faint glow hung over her head. At the same time, the Star of Dawn within Qi Xinzhu's body also slowly floated up, echoing the glow above Bai Yuetong's head. These two faint lights represented the last vestiges of Truth and Holy Radiance in the entire Wasteland.

...

On the other side, Lu Luo had already adjusted his emotions and mental state and arrived at the Luo Family's council hall.

At the door were Shi Tingyu and Zhang Yifan, who were chatting idly. Upon seeing Lu Luo arrive, they stopped.

"Lu Luo, the current situation seems a bit off." Shi Tingyu had helped Lu Luo before, so she took the initiative to warn him now.

Lu Luo nodded at Shi Tingyu, slightly grateful.

"I've already roughly guessed the current situation and the reasons behind it. Don't worry, it's going to be fine."

"Alright, as long as you're aware."

As Lu Luo entered, Shi Haoxuan and Luo Xuemin were already inside waiting for him. However, it was clear this wasn't all, as they also gestured with their hands, signaling Lu Luo to proceed further inside.

"Looks like there's quite a crowd today!"

Lu Luo said jokingly. As the Council Head, Shi Haoxuan stared at Lu Luo. He seemed to be trying to discern some youthful panic and awkwardness from Lu Luo's expression, but quite evidently, he failed.

"Mr. Lu Luo, I've long admired your reputation. I am Shi Haoxuan."

"Mr. Shi Haoxuan, the pleasure is all mine. I've known of your renowned name since my time in the Fourth Ring—it's well-known."

Such pleasantries between men were often so meaningless.

After they exchanged greetings, Lu Luo shifted his attention to Luo Xuemin, who had been quiet all along.

"The Council has reformed its alliance, and many matters are back on track. So, why have you two asked me here today? Hmm, let me guess... If any significant event has occurred recently, besides the Council's reunification, it must be the recent unrest within the Church. I'm guessing the Church's people have come, right?"

Luo Xuemin and Shi Haoxuan glanced at each other. Shi Haoxuan appeared somewhat surprised, but Luo Xuemin didn't seem shocked that Lu Luo had guessed this.

"You guessed correctly. Indeed. But do you know what they are here for?"

As for the Church's purpose, Lu Luo could guess that as well.

They wanted him! Or, more precisely, both him and Qi Xinzhu. The person who issued the order was also easy to guess: Luo Dan! The woman who directly attacked them in the shelter.

With the Judgment Chief and the Pope gone, Luo Dan was now the strongest in the Church. At this critical moment, if Luo Dan wanted power, she had to do something. The Church was now without Holy Radiance, and their strength had significantly decreased. Lacking strength yet needing to assert themselves, they naturally sought to pick on easy targets. And Lu Luo and Qi Xinzhu were the best, and softest, targets.

On this issue, the Council had once again split into two factions—a division of opinion that Luo Xuemin and the others least wanted to see. But the very nature of the Council is to debate, and this kind of debate seemed insolvable.

The outside world still had only a vague understanding of the Church's situation. It was still impossible to accurately predict whether the Church had truly lost its Holy Radiance, or what the consequences would be. The Council was abuzz with discussions, but in the end, there was no clear conclusion. Some believed the Church was bluffing. Others thought that with the disappearance of both the Judgment Chief and the Pope, the Church's will had unified. A Church with a unified will might be stronger and more difficult to deal with than before.

Thus, some believed it was time to hand over Lu Luo and Qi Xinzhu in exchange for time to consolidate their own power. Others believed that now, while the Church was at its weakest, was the best opportunity. If they didn't dare to resist even when the Church was at its weakest, then continued compromise at this time would mean the Council could never hold its head high again. There would be no reason for the Council's existence.

Both arguments seemed to have some merit, and this Council meeting had been convened to decide on this very matter.

They seem to be considering abandoning you. How typical.

Looking at them, Lu Luo chuckled. "Do I even need to guess? It's just some pathetic attempt to assert dominance by treating you as inferiors. It's not interesting at all. Anyone with a bit of pride wouldn't accept their terms. Hmm, aren't we going in now?"

Luo Xuemin, looking at the ever-calm Lu Luo, didn't know what to say.

Anyone with a bit of pride... wouldn't accept the Church's terms, right? The key issue now was that there weren't many people with backbone left in the Council. How ironic it is that Lu Luo, who facilitated the Council's re-alliance, now faced threats because of the Council's decisions. If Lu Luo had known he would be treated this way, would he still have facilitated the Council's alliance? If the Council hadn't re-allied, would it already be disintegrating by now?

Luo Xuemin's mind raced with these thoughts in an instant, and he let out a slight sigh.

"Sigh... let's go in. Today, it's time to bring closure to everything we've done."

...

In the council room, all the councilors had arrived, including Qi Xinzhu's father, Qi Lin.

At that moment, Qi Lin's brows were slightly furrowed; Lu Luo knew without asking that he was worried about Qi Xinzhu's situation. Upon seeing Lu Luo, Qi Lin immediately shot him a questioning glance. Seeing Lu Luo make a reassuring gesture, Qi Lin's expression gradually calmed down.

On the other hand, the person sent by the Church to negotiate was not any Seventh Tier, not even a Sixth Tier expert. It was Chen Mo, an acquaintance of Lu Luo. He had clashed with Lu Luo at Nightmare Castle and returned to the Church to break through to the Fifth Tier. His presence surprised Lu Luo, but not entirely.

Sending such a 'thing' over here... what rotten luck.

"He's a 'thing'?"

Indeed, he's not a 'thing'.

Lu Luo felt that if he were to perform crosstalk, he might not be half bad. However, his 'crosstalk' with the Observer was inaudible to others.

Sending him here is somewhat reasonable. The experts cherished their own lives above all; their lives mattered, while others' lives were inconsequential. The Church is taking a certain risk by demanding me and Qi Xinzhu this time. They've already lost the Holy Radiance. If they come in person now, who knows if some hot-headed individual on the Council side would act impulsively. If the families' Seventh Tier experts were to take action, Church members without Holy Radiance wouldn't stand a chance. A brick breaks martial arts; disorderly punches kill the master. Seventh Tier experts were also human, and humans feared death. If they made a reckless move at this critical juncture and got themselves killed, it would be a great injustice. Although Chen Mo also commanded Holy Radiance, his connection to Nightmare Castle meant he had also mastered the power of Exotic Species. He and Qi Gefei were currently the two people in the Church whose strength remained most intact.

Your logic is sound! However, looking at these council folks, they don't seem as bold as you've depicted.

Yeah, they all look like a bunch of cowards.

Before he knew it, Lu Luo had reached the center of the council hall. Chen Mo, standing opposite him, smiled directly at Lu Luo.

"Lu Luo, I never thought we would meet again. And to meet in such a place, under these circumstances."

"What's so surprising? Aside from sending a piece of trash like you, the Church higher-ups wouldn't dare show their faces. You're being sent out to die and don't even realize it. You truly are a dumb fuck."

With Bai Qingshuang gone, Lu Luo and the Church were now completely at odds. Whether it was Luo Dan or other senior Church members, they all wanted to get their hands on Lu Luo and Qi Xinzhu, these two Grade S Sequence holders. So, since all pretense was gone, he saw no need for further hypocrisy.

Lu Luo's words struck a nerve with Chen Mo. However, having been indoctrinated since birth with the belief in the Church's omnipotence and invincibility, he failed to realize that the Church was currently at its weakest.

He narrowed his long, slender eyes, staring at Lu Luo like a venomous snake.

"Lu Luo, cherish the time you have now, because this is probably your last. After you die, I'll take good care of Han Shiyu."

Can you tolerate this?

"No way!"

Lu Luo narrowed his eyes. Anyone who had ever targeted his women, including the Seventh Tier expert Mo Fan, had been eliminated by Lu Luo—every single one. You could call Lu Luo petty, or say he held grudges. But when it came to protecting his women, Lu Luo was always unfailingly diligent. He would always do his utmost to eliminate anyone who threatened his women.

"Alright, let's not continue this meaningless quarrel."

The speaker was a female Council member surnamed Jin. Lu Luo remembered her as Jin Chen's mother. However, lacking faith in Jin Chen's prospects, she often treated him as nothing more than a spoiled brat.

Once all the Council members had arrived, Chen Mo tapped the floor with the sheath of his sword.

"It looks like everyone is here. So that no one dies in ignorance, I will reiterate my purpose here. As everyone knows, the Dawn Church has undergone unprecedented upheaval. With both the Judgment Chief and His Holiness the Pope missing, the Church's will has now unified. With a unified will, this upheaval will transform into a reformation. As witnesses to this reformation, the Dawn Church must bring back the Alliance's sinners and the Church's traitors. Lu Luo and Qi Xinzhu committed unforgivable sins while in the Inner Ring. It was their appearance that disrupted the struggle between the Pope and the Judgment Chief. Consequently, both these venerable figures met with misfortune. At this moment, the entire Dawn Church is plunged into deep grief. To receive our Lord's forgiveness and to usher in the rebirth of the Dawn Church, I must take them both away today."

Chen Mo's voice was resounding, but after he finished speaking, some Council members gradually started to look amused. At this moment, they seemed less frightened than before. Because they truly felt the Church's weakness. The source of this shift was Chen Mo's speech itself.

If this were the Church of old, if the Church still possessed its former strength, would they need to make such a declaration? When did the Church ever need their consent to capture someone? Qi Xinzhu aside—after all, she was Grand Judge Qi Lin's daughter. But Lu Luo? He was clearly just someone from the Fourth Ring. Since when did the Church need the Council's approval to apprehend someone from the Fourth Ring? How weakened must they be to resort to such foolishness?

The heads of the three most powerful families on the Council exchanged glances. They all sensed the Church's weakness and confirmed that now was the opportune moment to resist. But the question remained: what pretext should they use? And even if they found a suitable pretext, who would take the lead?

A starving camel is still larger than a horse—they all understood this. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down—they understood this too. Confronting the Church head-on now would undoubtedly make them a target. In the ensuing power plays, the Church would certainly focus its retaliation on the family that took the lead. This was an outcome the Family Heads were unwilling to risk.

Thus, after Chen Mo finished speaking, the Council fell into an eerie silence.

Seeing this, Lu Luo almost laughed out loud.

No wonder the Council was consistently suppressed by the Church; there was truly no one of leadership material among them! If anyone with a shred of courage stood up now, they would rally public support and become a leader. Even now, with the Church having lost its Holy Radiance, these people were still scared to death. To call them 'spineless' would be a kindness.

I told you, this bunch has no real skill. You might as well count on yourself rather than on them.

Lu Luo nodded silently.

His blood began to race, and the slightest provocation would cause steam to erupt from his body.

Chen Mo, like a victor, held his head high, gazing down imperiously at Lu Luo.

"Why is everyone silent? If there are no objections, then please hand over Lu Luo and Qi Xinzhu."

At this moment, Qi Lin stood up.

Although he was an ordinary human, as the Alliance's Grand Judge, Qi Lin possessed his own unwavering dignity.

"Within the Alliance, everyone must abide by the law. Guilt is determined by law and evidence. Not by your mere words. As the Alliance's Grand Judge, if my daughter is guilty, I will be the first to apprehend her. But if she is innocent, no one shall take her away from me. Unless they step over my corpse."

Chen Mo looked at Qi Lin, then suddenly laughed. At this moment, he completely ripped away the final veil separating Transcendent beings from ordinary people.

"Grand Judge Qi Lin, you've truly become muddle-headed. Surely you're not naive enough to believe that secular laws can restrain Transcendent beings? Sins among Transcendent beings are naturally judged by Transcendent organizations. The laws of mortals have always been for constraining ordinary people. Grand Judge Qi Lin, I address you with respect due to your status and your long-standing contributions to the Inner Ring. But I also hope Grand Judge Qi Lin doesn't fail to appreciate this courtesy and attempt something beyond his capabilities. A daughter lost can be replaced, but if a man dies, he truly has nothing left. What do you think?"

Well, this guy is threatening not just Lu Luo and his wife, but now even Lu Luo's father-in-law. He's really courting death!

Lu Luo smiled. He too thought that Chen Mo was indeed courting death.

But before he made his move, his gaze turned to the Speaker, Shi Haoxuan, and the Family Heads of the Li and Lin families. He felt that his Inner Ring allies, his long-term trade partners, shouldn't be so spineless. Even with the Church so weakened, they still dared not make a move. Such allies, such families, would undoubtedly sell out their friends for personal gain the moment trouble arose. Lu Luo even envisioned them kneeling before Luo Dan again.

Lu Luo waited for thirty seconds. During these thirty seconds, the heads of the three major families either feigned indifference or outright averted their gaze. None dared to stand up at this time.

Lu Luo finally turned his attention to Luo Xuemin standing behind them. Luo Xuemin, standing in the second row, had clenched his fists, his brow furrowed in thought.

However, Lu Luo was no longer willing to wait.

"Everyone..."

"Priest Chen, watch out!"

Chen Mo wanted to say something more, but Lu Luo had already appeared before him like a shadow.

The setbacks, unfair treatment, and exclusion he had endured since arriving in the Inner Ring had all been bottled up inside Lu Luo. Although he had killed Wan Jing and Mo Fan, a rage still smoldered within Lu Luo. He felt too constrained in the Inner Ring. After all, he was the boss of the Circle Company. The leader of the Fourth Ring's stronghold. His destiny was to contend for the title of Wasteland King. How could he tolerate such indignity, such humiliation here?

So, Lu Luo made his move.

His fingers, already transforming into claws, shot out and gripped Chen Mo's neck.

His speed was incredible. With no Seventh Tier present, Lu Luo was truly fearless at this moment.

Chen Mo himself didn't even have time to react before Lu Luo had him by the throat.

However, Chen Mo, though caught, didn't give up. The corners of his mouth began to tear, revealing an unnaturally wide mouth lined with sharp fangs. His palms also transformed into claws, much like Lu Luo's.

GRRR!

Chen Mo let out a beast-like growl as the aura of an Exotic Species began to emanate from him.

Seeing Chen Mo's current state, Lu Luo felt a genuine disdain. A long time had passed since Chen Mo emerged from Nightmare Castle. In that time, both Qi Gefei and Gu Fangyi had learned to perfectly control their Exotic Species auras. Yet Chen Mo still couldn't. When attacked, Chen Mo couldn't even suppress his Exotic Species reaction—his beastly instincts. Ultimately, Chen Mo's self-control was appallingly poor. He couldn't even manage his emotions properly, which was why he had uttered so many provocative words to Lu Luo earlier.

"Chen Mo, I used to think you wouldn't be the weakest among the four grooms. But now I realize I was wrong!"

Red fox fur now sprouted on Chen Mo's body, and whiskers appeared around his lips—all signs of his Exotic Species transformation. The stench emanating from Chen Mo was particularly strong, as if he hadn't bathed in a very long time. The odor was strong and offensive. Lu Luo, standing before him, waved a hand in front of his face and made a gesture of pinching his nose.

"A human who can use their stench as a weapon... this is a first for me."

"GRRR!"

Chen Mo's claws struck Lu Luo's wrist, only then did he realize that Lu Luo's wrist had also transformed into black claws. However, Lu Luo's skin was grayish-black and hairless, resembling neither animal nor human. It was completely different from their state of inheriting the power of the San Tong.

"Lu Luo, you?"

Chen Mo wanted to say something, but Lu Luo didn't give him the chance. Even though Chen Mo's strength and speed had greatly increased after his transformation, this enhancement was still insignificant before Lu Luo. The hand gripping his arm didn't budge; in fact, it tightened its grip.

CRACK!

"AH!"

Chen Mo stared at his wrist, now grotesquely broken by Lu Luo, and screamed in agony.

The Council members watched Lu Luo in horror. This act was an open defiance of the Church!

Lu Luo lifted Chen Mo with one hand, letting him bite and struggle in his grasp, showing no intention of loosening his hold.

Just as he had said before, everyone who dared threaten his women would die.

Therefore, Chen Mo was doomed to die tonight.

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