CHAPTER 186: UNREST IN THE DEMONIC CHURCHES

Recently, the emotions of resentment and grief in the main church had been growing more and more intense, and Yan Nan knew that the Guardians were definitely pulling some strings behind the scenes to exacerbate the situation.

He slowly strode over to the window to look out at the distant sky, and he felt as if he could see Dongfang Sansan looking back at him with a faint smile, as if to say: "I've made my move, it's time for you to make yours."

"Let's just wait and see for now," he sighed after much deliberation.

***

Things had not been very peaceful of late in the Church of the Self-Righteous headquarters.

During past editions of the Parasite Ascension Project, there had always been next to no casualties from the main church because the Generals of the subsidiary churches didn't dare to touch them, yet over a thousand of them had perished on this occasion.

The average small clan didn't have the privilege of sending their prodigies into the Parasite Ascension Project, so all of the deceased Generals had come from clans of at least some significance.

In the wake of the Parasite Ascension Project's conclusion, all of these clans had been mourning their losses, casting a cloud of grief over the entire city.

To further compound their grief, all of the deceased had perished in the Parasite Ascension Domain, so even their bodies couldn't be recovered.

In particular, the parents of only children were cast into complete despair, and that wasn't even to mention the crippling grief of the widowed spouses.

As if that wasn't enough, the controversy surrounding the One Heart Church was made public for all to see, sparking widespread gossip throughout the city and the main church.

The fact that two of the deputy popes were the backers behind the two opposing factions made the entire incident even more scandalous, it had quickly become the talk of the entire city.

At the moment, there were countless conversations taking place along the lines of:

"Did you hear about what happened?"

"I did. Could it be that there's going to be a power struggle in the main church?"

"Please, no! We've only just had a few days of peace!"

"Who knows? Maybe nothing will come out of this."

Shortly thereafter, another piece of bombshell news was dropped.

"Do you know who killed all those people in the Parasite Ascension Project?"

"Of course not! There's no way to see what happened in the Parasite Ascension Domain, so no one knows!"

"Well, I do! In fact, everyone knows now!"

"Who did it then?"

"Night Demon!"

"Who's that?"

"You remember Night Demon, he's the guy that came first in the Parasite Ascension Project. He's Yin Shengong's disciple from the One Heart Church!"

"You can't just go making up stuff like that!"

"I'm not! Go and ask for yourself, everyone knows at this point!"

News of Night Demon's killing spree had indeed spread through the entire city, and many of the clans of the deceased Generals were holding urgent meetings to address this matter.

"Is it true?"

"It's what everyone's saying."

"Find out if this information is reliable! If Night Demon really was responsible, then he must be made to pay! To think that a mere disciple of Yin Shengong's would dare to do something so brazen! He must have a death wish! If Night Demon really is the culprit, then gather evidence of his transgressions as quickly as possible! Our children's deaths must not go unavenged!"

Once again, Night Demon had become public enemy number one, but this time, he was dealing with far more formidable foes than the Generals of the Parasite Ascension Project.

There were many surviving Generals from the main church that had witnessed Night Demon's indiscriminate killing sprees, so it wasn't difficult for the clans of the deceased to ascertain that Night Demon was indeed the culprit.

"Usually, for people from the main church like us, we just need to display our identities, and no one dares to kill us. Furthermore, we have access to far better cultivation arts and battle techniques than those from the subsidiary churches, so they're usually no match for us even if they tried to kill us. Initially, all of us will conceal our identities and kill enough people to fulfill our contact list quotas, then stop and take a safe approach from there.

“I ran into Night Demon in the Parasite Ascension Domain. At the time, he was killing a bunch of Divine Heavenly Church Generals, and he immediately ran away as soon as he saw us. He's definitely quite a character. As far as I'm aware, he was the only one who dared to attack us Generals from the main church, and he even took Mistress Yan Beihan's Cloud Water Heavenly Fruit from right under her nose!

“He kills without any discretion, and honestly, I think he would've killed even Mistress Yan Beihan if he had been capable of such a feat. Other than Night Demon, I can't think of anyone else who could've been the culprit."

Yan Beihan was also questioned.

"I don't know if Night Demon is to blame. Why are you even asking about that? Retaliation after the Parasite Ascension Project is strictly prohibited, so don't get any funny ideas! No one is untouchable in the Parasite Ascension Domain. Those who died in there only have themselves to blame! Yes, Night Demon took my Cloud Water Heavenly Fruit, but what does that have to do with any of you?"

Everyone who approached Yan Beihan for questioning could only depart in a sheepish manner.

However, at this point, they were certain that Night Demon was their culprit.

"Let's wait for now, then get rid of him as soon as this storm blows overs!"

"Night Demon has to die!"

Ling Kong and the others were horrified by these developments, and they hurriedly began messaging Night Demon.

"Brother Night Demon, do NOT reveal your identity and true appearance to anyone! Right now, there are many major clans from the main church after your head!"

"Be safe, Brother Night Demon. You killed too many people, and the relatives of the deceased are now plotting vengeance against you!"

"Be on your guard, Brother Night Demon."

Ling Kong even held a meeting over this matter.

"Don't tell anyone that we recruited Night Demon as an ally! Otherwise, we'll be seen as Night Demon's accomplices and enablers, do you understand? This is a serious matter that concerns the safety of our six clans! If our ties with Night Demon are exposed, all of those grieving clans will rip our clans to shreds!"

His band of brothers nodded collectively in response, promising not to say anything.

Outside of the main church, eleven popes and over twenty deputy popes of subsidiary churches had lost sons.

As the most foundational and legitimate route of progression, all of their sons had to be sent to take part in the Parasite Ascension Project once they reached a sufficient cultivation base, and upon their return, they would be assigned an official post.

These people had learned that Night Demon was very likely the culprit that had killed their sons, but they didn't dare to break the rules and seek our retribution.

However, after hearing whispers that many of the clans of the main church were considering going after Night Demon themselves, all of the popes of these subsidiary churches were also tempted to make a move.

"It has to be Night Demon!"

"He has to die!"

There were some popes that had not only lost their sons, but also had to kneel while Yin Shengong basked in all the glory, and their grief and resentment was fueled by intense envy and humiliation.

While the major clans of the main church were still biding their time, the popes of the subsidiary churches were already making moves.

"Find out Night Demon's location and take him out!"

***

Ren Zhongyuan's demise was a massive weight lifted off Yin Shengong's shoulders.

Ren Zhongyuan had been accompanied by a pair of bodyguards from the main church, and he had returned to bid farewell to Yin Shengong.

As it turned out, he had been transferred to serve as an administrator in the main church's enforcement hall.

Yin Shengong held a lavish banquet celebrating Ren Zhongyuan's promotion to the main church.

Ren Zhongyuan was foolish enough to think that Yin Shengong genuinely intended to bury the hatchet, and he began asking about his former subordinates.

Yin Shengong had already killed them all, but he brushed over the subject without giving a direct reply.

After the banquet, Ren Zhongyuan prepared to depart.

Yin Shengong put on a display of exceptional acting chops, even shedding tears at the prospect of parting ways with Ren Zhongyuan, and he gave the latter many precious parting gifts as he said, "Zhongyuan, we've gone through a rough patch of late, but you've served me diligently for several centuries, and I'm really sorry to see you go."

Ren Zhongyuan was very touched by Yin Shengong's magnanimity.

On the way back to the main church, Ren Zhongyuan even expressed regret over his past actions.

"If I hadn't done what I did, I would still be the deputy pope now. I was truly blinded by my greed."

However, right as he was reminiscing about old times, Yin Shengong ambushed the trio with ten of the One Heart Church's most powerful warriors, slaying them in brutal fashion.

Even in the instant before he died, Ren Zhongyuan was still in disbelief, asking, "Didn't you already let me go?"

"Would you let me go if you were in my place?" Yin Shengong sneered.

"I would."

"In that case, you deserve to die for your naivete."