Chapter 216: The Heretic’s Seal

Sitting in the dim silence of his private quarters, Roy fully shed his spiritual link with the moonlight bird, his golden-crimson eyes settling back into the wrinkled sockets of the Peerless Supreme Elder.

He leaned back against the silk-cushioned chair, letting out a slow, heavy exhale that echoed quietly through the room.

"Telvanus was right," Roy murmured to the empty air, a grim, razor-sharp edge entering his tone.

"The Sky God has not only caught wind of my presence in these mountains, but he is far more cautious and methodical than I anticipated."

Roy slightly tilted his head, his fingers tapping a slow, rhythmic cadence on the wooden armrest.

"He knows an unknown divine force wiped out Kaelos City, but rather than recklessly descending or immediately burning his resources to manifest an Angel, he is deploying his Church as a living probe.

He wants to challenge my faith, test my strength, and bait me into making a move."

A dark, cold smirk touched Roy’s stolen features. "And what better way to force an unknown god into the open than by ordering his Church to hunt down and execute that god’s Apostle? It is a classic tactic to trigger a response."

His eyes flickered with a dangerous, calculating light as he stood up, walking toward the window to watch the dawn light break over the soaring mountain peaks.

"I will need to move meticulously this time," Roy thought, his mind weaving through every possible counter-play. "And above all... I must never let anyone discover that the real Peerless Supreme Elder is dead.

This identity is far too valuable to lose. It will serve as my ultimate dagger until the day this entire sect is purged from the face of the continent."

The next morning, the grand bell atop the central peak chimed thrice, its deep, metallic resonance rolling across the mist-shrouded valleys of the Glorious Mythical Sect.

The core Elders were summoned once again to the main council hall. One by one, the powerful cultivators filed into the high-ceilinged room, taking their assigned seats around the long mahogany table.

Roy, maintaining the flawlessly stoic and elderly facade of the Peerless Supreme Elder, sat quietly among them, his expression completely unreadable.

Every eye in the room fixed upon Sect Leader Mao Zedion, who sat brooding at the head of the table.

Standing directly behind his dragon-carved throne, dressed in immaculate white-and-gold holy robes, was Priest Arnold.

The red-haired cleric maintained a calm, serene smile, his arms tucked neatly into his flowing sleeves.

Sect Leader Mao cleared his throat, the sound booming like heavy iron through the quiet hall, instantly drawing every Elder’s absolute attention.

"Elders of the Glorious Mythical Sect," Mao Zedion declared, his green eyes burning with a rigid, lethal intensity.

"As of this sunrise, our faction officially recognizes the so-called ’Church of the God of Beast’ as an abhorrent, demonic order and humanity’s greatest enemy within the Northern Hashian Mountains!"

A quiet, uneasy ripple went through the seated Elders, but the Sect Leader raised his hand, silencing any potential murmurs before continuing his decree.

"Starting today, an absolute mandate is issued across all lands under our domain," Mao Zedion barked, his voice filled with unquestionable authority.

"Anyone found harboring, worshipping, or speaking the name of this ’God of Beast’ shall be publicly executed for high treason against humanity! Furthermore, every city, town, and village under our jurisdiction will immediately institute a forced population census.

Every single individual will be thoroughly vetted, registered, and investigated to root out these evil, subterranean worshippers from our soil!"

The sheer extremity of the declaration sent a shockwave through the council chamber.

The Elders exchanged confused, hesitant glances.

Conducting an absolute census and declaring a full demonic purge across dozens of major cities would freeze trade, destabilize local economies, and spark widespread panic among the populace.

Great Sage Elder, a frail-looking man with long white hair and deep, scholarly robes, raised his hand.

Sect Leader Mao acknowledged him with a sharp nod.

"Speak, Great Sage Elder."

Great Sage Elder leaned forward, his brow furrowed in genuine concern and skepticism.

"Sect Leader... with all due respect, such an extreme decree will throw the entire Northern Hashian region into chaos. To brand an entire religious movement as a demonic order and execute common folk on mere suspicion requires undeniable justification.

Why have we suddenly taken such a drastic stance when we have yet to see their forces march upon our gates?"

Before Sect Leader Mao could open his mouth to answer, a smooth, melodic voice cut gently through the tension in the room.

"Allow me to answer your noble concern, Great Sage Elder," Priest Arnold interrupted smoothly, taking a single step forward from behind the dragon throne.

The red-haired cleric bowed his head slightly toward the council, his tone polite, gentle, and utterly devoid of hostility, yet carrying a subtle, heavy weight that demanded total silence.

"I apologize for intruding upon the internal governance of your esteemed sect," Priest Arnold spoke, his smile remaining completely intact as his icy blue eyes swept over the seated martial masters.

"However, this matter has far surpassed the boundaries of mortal politics. Last night, the Almighty God of the Sky granted a direct, holy divine revelation onto his humble servant."

The hall fell dead silent at the mention of a direct divine revelation.

Priest Arnold raised his right hand, his voice ringing out like a sacred chime into every corner of the room.

"Through this holy vision, our Lord revealed the absolute, vile truth behind the Church of the God of Beast. They are no mere misguided cult, my friends... they are a bloodthirsty, monstrous order actively conducting forbidden human sacrifices in the dark!"

Priest Arnold’s eyes narrowed into slits of righteous fury as he delivered the forged heresy. "They butcher innocent mortals to feed their dark altars, and worse... they utilize vile, forbidden alchemy to warp the bodies of men into bloodthirsty, mindless beasts! Such unnatural abominations are a plague upon the mortal realm.

They cannot be spared, they cannot be reasoned with, and they must never be allowed to roam freely across this continent!"

Sitting near the middle of the table, Roy leaned back in his wooden chair, his stolen, wrinkled face set into a grave, solemn nod of agreement.

Yet, deep within his soul beneath the Peerless Supreme Elder’s skin, Roy was laughing hysterically.

’Human sacrifices? Turning men into beasts?’ Roy thought, his golden-crimson eyes glinting with dark, mocking amusement.

A brilliant, desperate smear campaign, little priest.

’You want to make my Church the absolute enemy of humanity before I even reveal my banner? What a joke’ Craig sneered internally.

’Let’s see you try’

***

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