The Holy Judicator breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's fine — Lord Lu has no problem."
Tang Yue pressed on, "Are you sure? Don't we need to check again? So nobody can come back later and make accusations."
The Judicator hurried to give his guarantee: "No, no, absolutely fine. This data is synced with the Seven Archangels — they must review it as well. Lord Lu will receive the title of 'Magic Prodigy Certified by the Chief Archangel.'"
Even so, Lu Jun secretly ran through a bodily inspection, fearing any lingering marks or trackers. After all, in the original timeline Mo Fan passed the check too, yet the Holy Judicature still secretly planted a tracking mark on him — proof they never intended to truly let those accused of forbidden arts go.
Although the Holy City's heresy mark is difficult to detect even for a fully-cultivated Super-tier mage, Lu Jun's mastery of psychic inspection could still find traces. Fortunately, after a thorough check his body was pure as ever — no tracking mark.
He felt relieved. Good thing he hadn't rashly revealed another innate dual-path during the Treasure Hunt — if the Seven Archangels who run the Holy City had seen it, he'd hardly have passed; he'd surely hit the Blacklist.
The Holy City blacklist wasn't a joke — it existed. Seeds who might challenge Holy City order are recorded there, then quietly dealt with by any means necessary. The methods are heartless, far harsher than the Black Vetican— threats to family, and worse. It was hard to believe such cruelty could come from a major, legitimate magical power.
The two Judicators left in disgrace. The little courtyard was now openly occupied by the Nine-Continents delegation; silence fell.
Lu Jun's own problem was solved, but Mo Fan's situation was far worse.
At the foot of the Goddess Peak, Lu Jun broke the silence and asked, "So what's happening with Xin Xia? Why didn't you take her away earlier?"
"Sigh." Shao Zheng shook his head bitterly. "Xin Xia killed in public — that sin can't be washed clean easily."
"We did want to take her, but Parthenon's deep faction is truly formidable." He continued, "Even the High Matron has exploited the Divine Seal Benediction as cover, stalling for time. We from the Nine Continents can't interfere in domestic matters — you know the principle."
Lu Jun frowned, inwardly sneering — after all the twists and turns they were back where they started. He knew Izisha wouldn't let Xin Xia leave, but he hadn't expected the High Matron to step in — something that didn't even exist in the original timeline.
It made sense: feeling pressure from the Nine Continents, the High Matron and Izisha cooperated and set the stage together. From either the Parthenon Temple's perspective or the White-robed Pope's, they would never allow Xin Xia to be taken by the Nine Continents — the drama had to continue.
Lu Jun's gaze deepened. "But you made one mistake — even if you stage this, you dragged me into it."
He then asked, "What did Mo Fan say?"
Han Ji's face darkened. He said helplessly, "Pang Lai and Old Bao from the Clear Sky Hunting Agency went to intervene. Hopefully they can calm things."
Lu Jun shot back without restraint: "I know Mo Fan. He can't sit still for this. This is your fault — I warned you."
At this, Tang Yue's slender hand could not help but grip Lu Jun's palm. Her face showed worry. From her perspective, her brother had already done his best and owed Mo Fan nothing more; she didn't want him to get further involved.
The Nine-Continents dignitaries bowed their heads in shame.
"What?! Xin Xia is Salan!? What kind of joke is this? Parthenon and the Holy City are flipping truth and lies like that?"
At the foot of Goddess Peak, Mo Fan had just finished refining the Divine Seal Benediction when he heard the dreadful news. His eyes flashed crimson; he roared with uncontrollable fury.
This time Mo Fan was more enraged than in the original timeline.
In the original timeline Mo Fan had been unsure about Salan's identity; given the time and place, the theory that Xin Xia was Salan could make sense. He hesitated, even considered cutting ties with Xin Xia, and although he ultimately believed in her, he didn't hate Parthenon or the Holy City too deeply.
But this time it was different. Mo Fan had been in the Ancient Capital and witnessed Salan's death with his own eyes. Now Xin Xia had not been brought out of the whirlpool; instead she sank deeper into despair. He'd already come to see Parthenon and the Holy City's hypocrisy and corruption earlier than before.
He could not stand it. Ignoring Pang Lai's counsel, he went alone to the foot of Goddess Peak to storm the Star River Road.
Old Song did not stop him; he understood Mo Fan's feelings and said only, "Don't be impulsive. Dulank's reasoning doesn't hold. As High Priest I have grounds to prevent the opening of the Dark Judgment."
Clang, clang, clang!
Suddenly, among the peaks a series of heavy, distant bell-like sounds rolled out — deep and far-reaching.
For a moment the sound not only drew the attention of tourists in Greece gathered at the mountain foot to watch the young man storm the mountain path, it also woke countless of the "mountain immortals," who looked down in alarm.
"Someone's breaking into the Star-River Path!"
"An intruder on the Star-River trail!!!"
The high, chanting calls came one after another, quickly echoing through the sacred mountain, reverberating with the solemn, mighty tolls of the ancient bells — it all felt extraordinarily sacred.
Inside a great hall on Goddess Peak, the Grand Sage Melora and Chief Judge Dulank were consulting.
By now every strong figure on the mountain had received the report and knew what that shocking, fleeting towering serpent had been.
Dulank's face darkened. "A Huaxia totem Black Serpent, Supreme Monarch rank — this Lu Jun is no pushover. Still, I don't believe he'd dare challenge the Holy City."
They clearly looked down on the people of Jiuzhou.
Before he finished, a bell-tone from below drifted up again.
Grand Sage Melora straightened, her expression grave; after closing her eyes and receiving the telepathic report, she sneered, "Someone has entered the Star-River Path — it's that Xinxia's brother. Heh heh heh."
Dulank mocked in turn: "Let him try. He's an ant, destined to be trampled. He probably won't even reach us."
They didn't even fear Lu Jun, who owned a Black Serpent — how could they be afraid of the mere Mo Fan?
Back in the small courtyard at the mountain's base, the bell-tones still rang in everyone's minds; their expressions went slack.
Lu Jun rose, turned and squinted toward the distance. Through the white mountain mists he could just make out a winding little path glittering with chaotic light, interwoven with many colours, leading straight up to the summit.
He sighed, "Mo Fan is forcing his way into Parthenon."
At this moment all eyes were fixed on him. Mo Fan's cultivation was even stronger than in the original timeline — six lines at High level, with Thunder, Fire and Darkness each at High-Tier Level two. Charging into the Star-River Path, he carried a momentum as if cutting through everything in his path.
In only half a day he had defeated the first gate, the Greek Bronze Beast; the second gate, the Gargoyle; the third, the vampire Borah; and the fourth, the Titan Giant.
Mo Fan reached the summit!
"Parthenon, you bitches — I'm Mo Fan! Get out here and explain yourselves!"
From the peak of Goddess Peak a tremendous roar rolled across the mountains, shaking the snow atop the summit, a surge of furious wrath.
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