Chapter 676: Chapter 645: The True King Ming 3 (Seeking Subscriptions)

Unbeknownst to Lin Rui, among the many priests prostrated under the Radiant Holy Altar, was Tang Wenlan whom he had met in Wang City.

She had successfully performed her duties as High Priest in Wang City, and her cultivation had also reached a level sufficient enough, thus granting her the opportunity to come to the Main Temple for a ‘pilgrimage’, to meditate on the ‘Holy Thunder Tribulation Fire’.

This was the normal procedure for the promotion of Divine Sect priests, after further meditation on the ‘Holy Thunder Tribulation Fire’, her cultivation would naturally progress, allowing her to ascend to dragon shedding of the Fifth Realm, becoming a Fifth Realm Priest, and officially entering the high-order sequence of Divine Office bearers!

However, Tang Wenlan was unlucky, just having arrived at the Main Temple she encountered such an event as the former King Ming’s downfall, followed by the Main Temple plunging into total chaos.

Fortunately, the Light Saint who was guiding her practice and meditation remained very calm, on one hand comforting their students and on the other hand forcing everyone to focus on their cultivation with peace of mind.

But the various internal upheavals within the Main Temple still cast a great shadow over Tang Wenlan’s heart.

She knew that the various local branches of the Light God Sect had long been dissatisfied with the Main Temple.

This discontentment did not arise over the past few years, but slowly accumulated over the past 100 years due to trade, distribution, and personnel arrangements conflicts which reached a climax after Yin Qianqiu’s succession.

Yet Tang Wenlan still did not expect that inside the Main Temple, there would be people advocating for an alliance among the many priests, wishing to secede from the Holy Sect and become independent!

There were those who privately colluded, intending to prevent the ‘Invincible Dharma King’ from seizing control of the sect’s administration, even expelling him from the Holy Sect, but also some people wanted to support the ‘Invincible Dharma King’ to take power, to cleanse the sect of evil spirits, purge all cunning and evil, and then go to war with the Abyss of the Five Continents. Tang Wenlan could accept these radical ideas, but those who wanted to split the Divine Sect, to attract followers and set out on their own, truly shocked her.

What was terrifying was that these people were not few in number – they actually, under the broad daylight, in front of many priests within the ‘Little Heaven of Light’, expressed their indignation and surged with emotions, brazenly promoting their ideas.

This left Tang Wenlan deeply worried, aware that this great assembly of light might very well be the eruption of all internal strife within the Light God Sect.

Not just her, many people around Tang Wenlan felt the same, worrying greatly about this assembly of light.

It wasn’t until Tang Wenlan saw the brilliant light emanating from the Radiant Holy Altar.

Tang Wenlan couldn’t help but lift her head, looking in the direction of King Ming. Due to the increasingly strong light emitted by the Radiant Holy Altar, she couldn’t see the appearance of ‘King Ming’, only a blurry figure.

However, she felt the power of the surrounding light extremely lively, and growing stronger!

The congregation of twenty-seven hundred million believers’ intentions within the Radiant Holy Altar transformed into burning Divine Flames, yet they did not harm King Ming’s robe or armor in the slightest.

They seemed to be welcoming and submitting to this ‘King Ming’, every time King Ming took a step forward, those Divine Flames spontaneously parted to the sides, clearing a path.

And the entire Main Temple was gradually evolving into a vast white world, untainted by any impurity, as if it were the Pure Land spoken of in the doctrines.

“Oh King Ming!”

Tang Wenlan trembled all over, her blood surging, she prostrated herself once more, an image of utmost piety.

Tang Wenlan believed that this was the King Ming chosen by the Holy Fire Tribulation, the true ruler of twenty-seven hundred million Light believers, the one who brings light to all living beings in this suffering world.

So in the future, she only needed to follow and support King Ming, regardless of others’ thoughts, be it secession, opposition, cleansing or whatever, she only recognized the ‘King Ming’ she believed in and followed.

The many high-order priests below the altar had different expressions.

Bright Sage Master Gong Bonan and Wan Lei the Thunder Deity were initially greatly shocked and surprised; then their expressions turned to delight, fully relaxing.

The Invincible Dharma King stared intently, watching ‘Lin Hao’ step by step ascend the high Dharma Platform, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

The rest, such as Wanyan Layman and others, were slightly stunned, then also composed themselves, shedding their face’s original defiance, sarcasm, dissatisfaction, reluctance, and even contempt, adopting a dignified and solemn demeanor, chanting the ‘King Ming Purifies the World’ scripture along with the surrounding priests.

“There must be the brilliance of Holy Thunder, the radiance of Holy Light, to do good and eradicate evil, to purify my broken body, to enlighten my clear heart, to awaken my bright nature–”

And just as Lin Rui stepped onto the top of the towering 330-meter Holy Altar, the ‘Holy Fire Tribulation Thunder’ suddenly burst into a roar, turning into the largest Holy White Fire Lotus, greeting Lin Rui’s footsteps.

Shancai Divine Envoy Zhao Chongling’s pupils slightly raised, his eyes filled with disbelief.

“It’s settled then–”

Not only did King Ming truly ascend the ‘Radiant Holy Altar’, but he also took seat upon the Fire Lotus throne!

But how long has this individual been King Ming? And he is already able to control the ‘Holy Fire Tribulation Thunder’?

He is merely at the Sixth Realm, yet he can withstand the spiritual shock of the ‘Radiant Holy Altar’?

Or is the new King Ming truly the master of the ‘Radiant Altar’ and the ‘Holy Fire Tribulation Thunder’?

Shancai Divine Envoy Zhao Chongling immediately bowed his head, his mind finally relaxing somewhat.

He knew the influence these two holy objects had within the Light God Sect, and today, at the very beginning of the King Ming’s succession, obtaining the recognition of both holy objects appeared to the many believers as if it were a divine miracle!

This would certainly elevate the legitimacy of the current ‘King Ming’ to the highest level, truly accepted by all levels within the Light God Sect!

Therefore, the possibility of the Light God Sect splitting in the future has, for the time being, been reduced to a minimum.

With the mid and lower-level priests harbouring strong expectations and identification with the current ‘King Ming’, even the two Vice Sect Hierarchs with the highest prestige in the sect could hardly pull enough people away to defected.

****

The Light Assembly lasted a full five hours.

In fact, the ceremonial rites of the Light God Sect were not complicated, mainly because Lin Rui took a lot of time to receive the pilgrimage of the priests of the Holy Sect and then bestow blessings upon them.

Lin Rui realized this step was indispensable. After going through this set of pilgrimage and blessing rituals, he found that his ‘Light Seal’ had established some connection with the divine fire within those priests’ bodies.

And just when the Light Assembly had barely completed one-tenth of its proceedings, Lin Rui received a message from Li Xianglong.

Li Xianglong: Xiao Rui, you must reinforce the monitoring of the Light God Sect. Communicate any internal news of the sect as soon as possible, and also, the identity of the current King Ming must be verified as soon as possible.

Li Xianglong: This King Ming is no ordinary figure; merely at the Sixth Realm, and yet able to invoke a miracle at the Light Main Altar. We predict that the Light God Sect will not collapse in a short period. However, with the Invincible Dharma King ascending, the likelihood of a full-scale war is increasing, and you should also be careful of retaliation from the Light God Sect.

Lin Rui cursed inwardly, realizing he had overestimated the Light God Sect. What sieve? It was more like a pavilion, open on all sides.

How much time had passed? Not even half an hour, and Li Xianglong was already aware of what had happened inside the sect.

Lin Rui simply replied with ‘Understood’ as if to finalize the matter, after all, the ascent of the new King Ming officially had little to do with his position as the Commander of the Spy Detection Bureau.

At the moment, his primary duties were still focused on dealing with the Outer Heaven Demons.

After the Light Assembly concluded, Lin Rui returned to preside over the ‘Great Ming Hall’ once again, discussing the sect’s matters after his ascension with the many high-level priests led by the Three Pillars, Five Envoys, and Seven Kings.

At this time, the number of people qualified to enter the ‘Great Ming Hall’ for the discussion of sect affairs was greatly reduced.

Only the Three Pillars and Five Envoys, and the Seven Kings, along with a number of Red Priests holding important positions–totaling twenty-six people, all of whom were either high-level priests with Emperor Bloodline of the Eight Realms or at the Ninth Realm Emperor Rank.

At this point, the ‘Sword Dharma King’ from among the Seven Dharma Kings also tardily arrived at the last moment of the Light Assembly, the one who had traveled the farthest. However, for some reason, his face showed continuous concern during his pilgrimage and receiving of fire at the Radiant Altar.

In addition to these individuals, the ‘Great Ming Hall’ also contained nine Light Saints and the Bright Sage Master, as well as thirty-eight Ninth Realm King Rank and Super King Martial Cultivators.

However, these Ninth Realm members do not hold a Holy Office; they are identified as ‘Light Holy Guards’ and ‘Light Elders,’ with only the right to listen, not to discuss matters.

The bloodline abilities of Tianji Martial Cultivators are extremely important.

For instance, some abilities related to time and space, as well as various bizarre and peculiar bloodlines, how could those Martial Cultivators with only Ninth Realm King Rank and Super King bloodlines guard against them? Mostly, they rely on their own cultivation and physical toughness to withstand.

Therefore, Ninth Realm Martial Cultivators with bloodlines below Emperor Rank have a very low status.

They are mostly Martial Cultivators who have forsaken combat ability in order to extend their lives, not considered important by those with Emperor Rank bloodlines and above.

If the King Rank and Super King Martial Cultivators are treated thus, the lower- and upper-tier Demons below King Rank are even more regarded as mere grass, without any right to enter the ‘Great Ming Hall.’

However, the number of ‘Light Holy Guards’ and ‘Light Elders’ indicates that the strength and foundation of the Light God Sect are still quite formidable.

–And this is just a part of the Main Temple; there are many experts from various branches and sub-temples of the Light God Sect who couldn’t make it in time.

After everyone paid homage to Lin Rui again, he saw the sharp, knife-like gaze of the Invincible Dharma King directed at him.

It was clear what she meant; now that Lin Hao had become the ‘King Ming,’ it was time to honor the promise and appoint her as the Regent Deputy Sect Hierarch of the Divine Sect.

But before Lin Rui had a chance to speak, the War Sky Dharma King stepped forward and came out of the queue.

And the first words spoken by this individual made Lin Rui’s expression rigid.