Divine Flame Crystal

Chapter 626: The Ugly Appearance of the Divine Council

The explosion was only the beginning. Xingluo knew that destroying the port would force the Shenghui Chamber of Commerce to concentrate its remaining logistics resources, which would in turn facilitate Yueyun Intelligence's ability to track their every move. Yueyun's intelligence network was as dense as a spider's web, accurately capturing every movement. Xingluo watched coldly, his mind calculating, each move leading to ultimate victory. The Chamber of Commerce's struggles grew weaker, while the rise of a new power was inevitable. Xingluo knew that after this storm, he would stand at the pinnacle of power, overseeing the birth of a new order. The wheel of history turned in his hands, and the canvas of the future slowly unfolded. Xingluo's gaze was penetrating, his plans intricate. The remnants of the Chamber of Commerce clung to despair, while the banners of the new power fluttered in the wind. The people's voice grew into a torrent, propelling the wheel of history forward. Xingluo's lips curled slightly, his heart stirring with a simmering undercurrent. He knew that the dawn of a new order had quietly begun to bloom in the darkness, and he was the one who would usher in that dawn.

"When a snake curls up, it's much easier to grab its head," he said to Mo. Mo nodded in understanding, a cold glint in his eyes. Xingluo's metaphor was apt. The Chamber of Commerce's doom was imminent. Every tightening of the intelligence network narrowed the Chamber of Commerce's living space. Xingluo's fingers tapped lightly on the table, as if counting down to the impending victory. The rise of the new power was unstoppable, and he would become the ultimate chess player in this power struggle. Under his control, the great wheel of history was slowly sailing towards the other side of light.

On the fifth day after the port explosion, Yueyun intercepted the Chamber of Commerce's secret transport convoys simultaneously along three core trade routes. This time, the vehicles carried not tribute but the Chamber of Commerce's account books—detailed records of resources and funds sent to the Sanctuary over the past decade. Every page of the account books was like a sharp blade, exposing the Chamber of Commerce's greed and conspiracy. Yueyun quickly passed the information to Xingluo, whose eyes flashed with a cold light. This evidence would be the fatal blow to overthrow the Chamber of Commerce, and the anger of the people would be thoroughly ignited. Xingluo smiled inwardly, knowing that everything was under control. The foundation of the new order was firmly embedded in the cracks of history. Xingluo accepted the parchment scroll and ring, and a sense of mission surged within him. He knew that this was not only the expectation of others, but also an opportunity to explore the unknown.

Once these account books are made public, the last veil of Shenghui Chamber of Commerce will be completely torn off.

Xingluo didn't act rashly. He had Fengyu Zhiyuan Publishing House secretly print thousands of copies of the account books and send them to newspapers and free councils in major cities across the continent via magic mail birds. The account books hung like a sword over the head of the Shenghui Chamber of Commerce. Xingluo knew that the spread of information would trigger a chain reaction, and the Chamber of Commerce's credibility would collapse in an instant. Major newspapers and the Free Council responded quickly, publishing headlines exposing the Chamber of Commerce's shady dealings. The public's anger was thoroughly ignited, and the streets were filled with cries of protest. Xingluo watched coldly, laughing inwardly. The final chapter of this storm would be written by the people themselves.

Ten days later, the Holy Light Chamber of Commerce was no longer seen as a "trading giant" but as a "lonely servant of the God of Light," and the ruins of their port—a new place of pilgrimage. Horrified, internal strife intensified, and they sought to protect themselves. Xingluo seized the opportunity to incite key figures to defect, further undermining their power. Public anger grew, and the dawn of a new order grew brighter. Standing atop the ruins, surveying everything, Xingluo pondered the impending victory. He knew that improving infrastructure was the long-term solution. He began planning new magic communication towers, utilizing technology from the Great Magic Age to gradually replace the outdated intelligence network. Each tower's construction required precise calculations to ensure maximum coverage. Though Berserker lacked magical proficiency, he trusted Xingluo's vision and quietly assisted in carrying materials. Xingluo knew that only through continuous improvement could he gain a firm foothold in this otherworldly continent and ultimately realize his grand vision.

Compared with the Chamber of Commerce, the Divine Council is more secretive and more dangerous - they are scattered in the power centers of various kingdoms. On the surface, they are nobles and merchants loyal to the kingdom, but in fact they secretly execute the Oracle of Light.

Xingluo did not choose assassination, but instead used the method that the Yueyun Intelligence Organization is best at - public information.

A scene emerged in the air above the Magic Square, its projection so vast it practically covered the entire sky. Thousands of people tilted their heads, watching the senators they once respected, feared, and even worshipped perform a disgraceful act in a darkened chamber.

It was an enclosed hall built of white holy stone. The walls were inlaid with dense holy emblems, each of which emitted a cold white light, like cold eyes staring at the visitors. In the center of the secret room, a huge statue of the god of light overlooked everything. In the statue's hand, a black book was held. The pages turned without wind, and the various rituals recorded in it could be vaguely seen. The council members knelt on the ground, chanting forbidden spells. In the light and shadow, the faces of the council members were distorted, and their voices were low and pious. The spell echoed in the hall, and the power of the ritual gradually condensed, as if to swallow the whole world. The people witnessed all this, and they were shocked, angry, and disappointed. Deafening protests rang out in the square. Xingluo stood in the crowd, with a slight smile on his face. He knew that the end of the Divine Council had come.

A long carpet of light stretched across the floor, extending from the entrance to the platform. Atop the platform, hovered a phantom sculpted from pure light—the incarnation of the God of Light. Its face was blurred, the only clear thing visible were its cold, ruthless eyes, looking down from above. In the shadows, the councilors' piety and hypocrisy intertwined, their kneeling postures ironic under the cold, white light. Exclamations echoed from the crowd, anger and disappointment surging like a tide. Xingluo stood outside the crowd, his gaze piercing, thinking to himself: This isn't just a revelation; it's a complete subversion of faith. The foundations of the Divine Council will begin to shake at this moment.

Seven or eight members of parliament, dressed in their nation's highest formal attire, all bent down the moment they entered the hall. Some knelt on one knee, others on both, foreheads pressed to the ground, licking the carpet of light like a master's boot, treating it like a sacred object to be kissed. Their dignity shattered under the cold light, their former majesty reduced to dust.

Their mouths kept repeating humble prayers:

"Great God of Light, please listen to your servant..."

"I am willing to use my family's bloodline to be your tool forever..."

"Please grant me your grace and let my descendants be forever protected by the Holy Light..."

Their voices were filled with flattery, even a slight tremor, not out of awe, but fear of losing this protection. Their vows rang hollow in the cold light, their masks of hypocrisy shattering one by one before the truth. The eyes of the people in the square ignited with anger, the foundations of their faith crumbling. Xingluo watched coldly.

In front of the dais, a high-ranking priest of the Church of Light, draped in golden robes, slowly descended, holding in his hands a dazzlingly radiant "Holy Light Brand Stone." The light from the stone shone like a scorching blade. The priest raised the brand stone high and declared in a cold voice, "Those who violate this will be punished by the Holy Light."

"Offer your forehead." said the priest coldly.

The first councilor immediately brushed his hair back from his forehead, even having shaved his hairline to smooth it out. He lowered his head, his neck practically arched. The branding stone in the priest's hand slowly approached, its light blinding, as if to sear his soul. The councilor closed his eyes, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, yet he dared not flinch. The brand fell, and with a low groan, the glaring holy symbol appeared on his forehead. The symbol, as glaring as a brand, reflected the councilor's inner fear and humiliation.

The moment the branding stone pressed down, his skin crackled softly, and the smell of burning mixed with the scent of holy light. His mouth twitched in pain, but he immediately shifted to an expression of immense gratitude. Like a beggar finding scraps, he hastily kissed the hem of the priest's robe. The priest glanced coldly at him and turned to the next councilor.

The second councilor didn't even wait for the priest to greet him, but rushed forward and pressed his forehead against the branding stone. He held the priest's legs tightly with both hands, like a drowning man grasping at driftwood in a storm, and kept begging:

"More... a little more of the gift of light... I am willing to offer my eldest daughter to be your servant..."