CHAPTER 100: DIVINE FORMLESS JADE

Hence, Yin Shengong never intended to make a move on this day.

He was suspicious about Ren Zhongyuan's abnormal reaction, and he also needed the Generals under Ren Zhongyuan's command for the upcoming Parasite Ascension Project.

Prior to that, Yin Shengong would only continue to chip away at Ren Zhongyuan's forces bit by bit. Escalating the matter into a fullblown conflict would be a huge blow to the One Heart Church.

All of a sudden, Yin Shengong put on a benevolent and earnest expression as he said, "Zhongyuan, we've been working together seamlessly ever since you came to the One Heart Church.

“You're very sincere and reliable, and I can entrust you with any task, content in the knowledge that it's in good hands. On top of that, you're a very honest and simple man who doesn't know how to plot or scheme against others, and that's a trait that I value dearly."

This was a very scathing remark from Yin Shengong.

Essentially, he was telling Ren Zhongyuan that he was way out of his depth trying to hatch schemes and play mind games.

At the same time, this was also a message to all of Ren Zhongyuan's supporters.

This is the guy you're backing to overthrow me? What a joke!

Despite this, Ren Zhongyuan had no choice but to put on a display of gratitude as he said, "I'm very thankful for your trust, Pope Yin."

Yin Shengong rose to his feet, then clasped his hands behind his back as he continued, "However, your personality also makes you susceptible to being fooled and used by others, and that has me very concerned. This is a perfect example.

“You think that I, the pope of the One Heart Church, would collude with the Protectionists to eradicate the White Cloud Prefecture branch helm? I don't even know what to say to that... What's going on in that head of yours, Zhongyuan?

“The branch helm was under your management, and it was suddenly exposed and eradicated, so I had to have been responsible? And that's just cause for you to believe that I'm plotting against you? Where is the logic? Could it be that someone is influencing you to think this way?"

Ren Zhongyuan continued to sweat profusely.

The insinuations in Yin Shengong's words were very clear, but Ren Zhongyuan couldn't argue as any argument that he tried to raise would only be used against him.

All of his supporters were also hanging their heads in silence, not daring to speak, and clearly, Yin Shengong was the one in the driver's seat.

"Is that why you've come here to levy accusations at me when all of the high-ranking members of our church are present? Do you think they're all fools? That they would be stupid enough to believe that I would sell out the branch helm?"

Yin Shengong heaved a long sigh. "You've truly disappointed me, Zhongyuan."

"My sincerest apologies, Pope Yin," Ren Zhongyuan said with a deep bow.

A dark look appeared on Yin Shengong's face as he said, "Seeing as you've realized the errors in your ways, I will spare you from punishment, but you've set a very negative example as the deputy pope, and something must be done about that. You've been stretched far too thin lately, so for now, you can take a rest while I temporarily oversee the Battle Hall in your stead."

Ren Zhongyuan was stunned into silence. Just like that, he had been stripped of control over the Battle Hall!

Battle Hall Master Li Changshun immediately stepped forward to protest.

"Pope Yin..."

Yin Shengong instantly turned to him with a murderous gaze, "Do you intend to challenge my authority? Are you the one that's been influencing Deputy Pope Ren?"

"No! Pope Yin, please..."

Before Li Changshun had a chance to defend himself, Yin Shengong began yelling for Mu Linyuan in a furious voice.

"Elder Mu!"

Mu Linyuan immediately sprang out of hiding in a wraith-like manner before swooping down upon Li Changshun, who hurriedly rushed back in retreat.

"Pope Yin, I never..."

However, his words were drowned out once again in the face of Mu Linyuan's claw projections.

He had no choice to defend himself, but right as he began to draw his saber, Yin Shengong caught on right away as he yelled, "You dare to draw your blade?! Elder Mu, kill this traitor!"

Mu Linyuan immediately unleashed his power in full force, and a plume of black mist rose up from his body.

Countless shadows shot out of the black mist before lashing out with their claws like malicious ghosts from the depths of hell, and Li Changkong was caught completely off guard.

He only just had time to draw his saber before he was struck by a palm blow to the chest, and a blood-curdling howl rang out, but only for an instant before his head was separated from his body.

His headless body fell to the ground, while his head was claimed by Mu Linyuan, and his soul had only just begun to take shape before it was obliterated by the darkness surging out of Mu Linyuan's body.

In the next instant, Mu Linyuan reappeared in a corner of the hall over a hundred feet away, with Li Changshun's bleeding head still clasped firmly in his grasp.

Everyone had been stunned into silence.

Just like that, Li Changshun had been killed in the blink of an eye.

Of course, Mu Linyuan was certainly a very powerful warrior, but Li Changshun had also been completely off guard, and he didn't even get a chance to fully draw his weapon before the killing blow was dealt.

The other hall masters were horrified by this turn of events, while a furious look appeared in Ren Zhongyuan's eyes.

Yin Shengong met everyone's astonished eyes with a cold and sinister gaze as he declared, "From this day forth, all warriors of the Battle Hall are to remain in the Battle Hall until further notice, and I will assign several elders to carry out a process of reform! Anyone who dares to resist will be executed along with their immediate and extended families!"

With a sweep of his sleeve, several masked elders entered the hall before approaching the deputy hall masters of the Battle Hall.

The deputy hall masters turned to Ren Zhongyuan with a panicked expression as they yelled, "Save us, Deputy Pope Ren!"

Before Ren Zhongyuan had a chance to speak, Yin Shengong snapped, "Even now, you're still trying to pit Deputy Pope Ren against me! Zhongyuan, do you not realize how severely you've been brainwashed by these scoundrels? Master Bei is going to be furious with me when he sees how far I've allowed you to be led astray!"

Yin Shengong's voice was tinged with the pain of a concerned senior figure as he spoke, and the deputy hall masters had already been apprehended.

The only source of consolation to Ren Zhongyuan was that no one else had been targeted by Yin Shengong.

After a brief stunned silence, Ren Zhongyuan said, "Pope Yin, I support your desire for reform, but these are all loyal members of our church, so I implore you to spare their lives."

"Of course. Their services are still very important to our church. Go back and take a good rest, Zhongyuan. While you're at it, think about your future. I'm not going to be the pope of the One Heart Church forever, and when I'm gone, someone will have to take my place. As long as you continue to serve diligently, you will always be the primary candidate to become my successor."

"I understand, Pope Yin. I'll be taking my leave now."

"All of you can leave as well. Have a good, hard think about your futures in our One Heart Church," Yin Shengong said with just a hint of a threatening tone in his voice.

Everyone trudged out of the hall with their heads lowered, and before long, Yin Shengong was left on his own, seemingly waiting for something.

Some time later, a faint voice rang out within the hall.

"Did you hold back just now because of me?"

"So you really did come, Master Bei," Yin Shengong said with a wry smile.

What appeared to have been a faint plume of mist flew into the hall before descending in front of Yin Shengong.

It was an indistinct, hazy figure, and it was none other than Deputy Pope Bei Mingxin of the Church of the Self-Righteous.

"Impressive that you were able to sense my presence, Pope Yin," Bei Mingxin remarked.

"You think far too highly of me, Master Bei. I figured you had to have been here, given how confident Deputy Pope Ren appeared today, and it turns out my intuition was correct."

"You're as sharp as ever, Pope Yin. I should've known that Zhongyuan would be no match for you."

"You didn't come here today for Ren Zhongyuan's sake, did you, Master Bei?"

"Indeed. I'm visiting you for some other purpose, and I just so happened to be treated to a spectacular show."

Yin Shengong burst into laughter upon hearing this, then asked in a direct and straightforward manner, "Master Bei, in your opinion, how much ambition does Zhongyuan possess?"

Bei Mingxin took a deep breath, then replied, "Rest assured, Pope Yin, the conflict between our two camps is not so severe, so even if we're going to target someone, it won't be you."

"I'll take your word for it then, Master Bei. From now on, Zhongyuan will continue to be my right-hand man."

"I'm honored by your trust, Pope Yin," Bei Mingxin said with a smile. "Let's get down to business now. I need your help."

Bei Mingxin was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm sure you still recall the recent mission to cause bloodshed in the Myriad Spirit Forest. While the purpose of the mission would've been unclear to you at the time, I presume you've since found out why the mission was carried out."

"I do," Yin Shengong confirmed.

"Then I'm sure you're also aware that things haven't quite gone according to plan."

"I am aware of that too."

"As a result of certain... mishaps, the resurrection plan has to be put on hold indefinitely, and to further compound our woes, a divine avatar of the one that we're trying to resurrect has been destroyed. That is the biggest problem."

Yin Shengong was stunned to hear this. He was truly unaware of the demise of this divine avatar.

"No wonder you personally came to see me, Master Bei!"

"As a result of these setbacks, the connection between him and his Formless Divine Jade was severed, and it's since been lost."