From Secret Clan to the Divine Dynasty

Karl witnessed the entire process with his own eyes.

In fact, twenty years of observation had made him very familiar with what kind of person the "Demonic Woman" Hecate Fischer truly was.

If Karno Fischer had been born in a fantasy world, he would most likely have become a wandering Taoist, uninterested in mundane affairs, abandoning the world of mortals, and traveling to the ends of the earth.

Then Hecate, who also embarked on the Path of Revelation, would be a natural-born enchantress in the fantasy world.

With a personality like hers, she was destined to be anything but ordinary and would become a special existence that caused many people headaches and fear.

Charlotte would be the first, but definitely not the only one to be "tested" by Hecate, and all those who had not undergone the "test" would probably be collected by Hecate as her "pets."

She was very fond of people, just as many people were fond of cats and dogs.

"This might be the inherent 'arrogance' of those who walk the Path of Revelation. It's not even about good or evil; they always feel they are more transcendent than others and qualify to examine and judge others, never feeling arrogant."

Karl silently pondered.

The sky of the Spirit Realm was a resplendent sea of stars. The stars not only illuminated the sky but also moved sluggishly like living creatures, emitting a soft and profound glow.

Karl's consciousness arrived peacefully in the Spirit Realm, stepping into the heartland of the Spirituality world, where he encountered an illusion made of colorful glaze. The nearby mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas were composed of pure and flawless light and shadow, brilliantly colorful yet harmoniously coexisting, like nature's exquisite masterpiece.

If an Extraordinary Exponent moved through it, they would feel as if every step was on the edge of a dream, their souls experiencing an unprecedented cleansing and sublimation.

"This is the place..."

He gazed at where he planted the "Civilization Fragments," things that the Fischer family had once laboriously found within an island in the sea, containing Spiritual Power.

The golden resplendent Civilization Fragments that had been embedded into the ground of the Spirit Realm for decades were finally taking root today, marking the critical moment of their initial sprouting!

The next moment, the dazzling golden Civilization Fragments broke through the soil, swelling and growing larger, eventually becoming an ancient, colossal Soul Tree standing upright.

Its trunk was entwined with ancient runes; its branches and foliage lush, casting shade over the sky, as if it were a bridge connecting heaven and earth.

Beneath the tree, the light from souls from all directions converged, some bright and some dark, intertwining into a series of vivid images, and those image fragments told many stories of the souls' lives before death.

Karl silently admired the giant tree he had planted.

"This Soul Tree is still not fully grown, but it has already reached such a massive size; When it truly matures, it will provide even more benefits."

The tree contained Origin Force, one of the four fundamental forces of the infinite universe, and was also connected to the strong power of the Spirit Realm.

Karl calmly placed the souls of the Fischer family one by one into the tree, and the Origin Force contained within the Soul Tree would reawaken the vitality of their original lost souls.

"In time, they can freely choose to become a Divine Envoy like Irene, or reincarnate in a more perfect form and return to the Fischer family."

"If they choose to become Divine Envoys, they will continuously grow stronger within the Soul Tree, and eventually they can be sacrificed by the priests of the Dawn Church, momentarily summoned to the material world."

"And if they choose to reincarnate, they can slowly reclaim the power of their past life; their progress in the new life will definitely be much quicker than in the last one."

But Karl knew very well that this was just a beginning; the Soul Tree was merely the initial form of the "Civilization Fragments." As long as it continued to draw power from the Spirit Realm, it would grow more vibrant and robust, even advancing to the next stage.

"Quickly, continue to grow strong."

——

The Seven Stars Empire.

Cardinal Ivan of the Tempest Church, the oldest and most experienced of the cardinals, known as "Pitch Black Tidal Surge," was currently visiting the capital of the Seven Stars Empire in the north.

Because of the previous assassination attempt on Queen Peiji of Siyate by the Rhea People, he wanted to personally convince the Seven Stars Emperor, urging the "God of War" not to continue supporting Carnia and Rhea, who were close to the Seven Stars Empire, and even advising them to stop taking action against the Cyart people.

Nowadays, a large portion of the Siyate populace followed the Tempest Church and naturally was seen as within their sphere of influence. Cardinal Ivan of the Tempest Church did not want any problems to befall the Fischer family.

Just as Darren had previously pondered, Cardinal Ivan of the Tempest Church, as the premier figure of the Tempest Church at present, was actually the most powerful man in the Eastern Four Kingdoms, his influence surpassing even that of the sovereign of Carnia.

However, even a high-ranking individual like the Chief Cardinal of the Tempest Church received a colossal snub.

The God of War Emperor of the Seven Stars outright avoided meeting him, leaving the most prominent figure of the Tempest Church embarrassingly stranded in the capital for a full three days. The "Pitch Black Tidal Surge" not only failed to catch a glimpse of the Emperor but was also denied permission to temporarily stay in the palace.

"Let it be."

Within the inn that had been entirely booked, Cardinal Ivan, the "Pitch Black Tidal Surge," finally shook his head slowly and stood up to address the multitude of priests and servants accompanying him:

"Since the Emperor of the Seven Stars does not welcome us, let's return. Surely the vast Tempest Overlord will offer us other ways to aid the Cyart people."

He knew in his heart that his desire to prevent the people of the Seven Stars from intervening in the affairs of the Eastern Four Kingdoms had failed.

For an adult, "no response" is in fact a very clear form of "response."

As the afterglow of the setting sun gradually bathed the streets of the Capital of the Seven Stars Empire, the Cardinal's convoy slowly started, leaving the ancient city with a solemn yet sacred demeanor.

The convoy consisted of several carefully selected blue and black carriages, led by a guide carriage adorned with the Cardinal's insignia, which slowly made way at the forefront, leading the entire fleet in an orderly manner.

The main carriage, where the Cardinal rode, followed closely behind, its half-closed windows revealing a subtle air of solemnity and mystery.

Cardinal Ivan sat inside with his eyes closed, deep in thought, then looked out through a slit in the curtains, casting a profound final glance back at the ancient city.

"To be outright ignored is a first for me, it seems the Church's authority really has declined..."

As the convoy gradually moved out of the city center, the buildings along the streets grew sparse, replaced by lush trees.

Ultimately, the convoy completely disappeared at the edge of the city.

"Lord Ivan, please don't go, we hope you will stay," a young man's voice suddenly resonated from afar just then, and everyone in the convoy heard it, causing the carriages to halt one after another, ceasing to move forward.

The sudden voice made Cardinal Ivan frown from within the carriage.

He stepped out of the carriage and looked toward the forest in the distance—the voice had come from several kilometers away.

The voice seemed to belong to the "Brass Gear," Cardinal Belotus of the Reforging Church, whose power was slightly inferior to his own, yet he was still a top-level exponent, a high-level Monarch.

Cardinal Ivan frowned, pondering the other party's intentions.

"Would you really try to restrict my movements? This is tantamount to declaring war on the Tempest Church, without a doubt, and is a blasphemy against the Divine."

The voice of "Brass Gear" Belotus echoed from afar once again.

"The gods we serve will not mind at all, and as for what the Tempest Church thinks, hahaha, neither I nor the great God of Reforging could care less about your opinions."

"You must not return because Cyart must be destroyed."

Cardinal Ivan turned to look back at the Capital he had just left, well aware that the Seven Stars Emperor was the mightiest Bloodline Knight in the world and that even their communications outside the city couldn't escape that man's perception.

He asked, "Is this act of the Reforging Church alone, or does he also know of it?"

"It's not just that he knows, Lord Ivan. If you refuse to stay, he will make you stay against your will."

So that's how it is.

After listening, Cardinal Ivan closed his eyes in silence, acknowledging that although he possessed power close to Heavenly Enlightenment, he was still far inferior to the strongest knight in the world.

It seemed his imprisonment was an inevitable conclusion.

Yet, what truly moved him was the profound implications behind this event.

"The Reforging Church, the Seven Stars Empire, it seems you're fully prepared... From this moment on, the various True Gods Churches will no longer be natural allies in offense and defense, but will become factions struggling for domination of the entire world!"