Invincibility Begins with a Super Fairy Manny

Chapter 2853: Chapter 2854: Elders Council

Footsteps came from behind. Wu Qiming didn’t dare turn his head, but his desperate will to live forced a strained smile onto his face.

"Mi... Miss, as long as you don’t kill me, I guarantee I can satisfy any request you have. Gold Coin, status, power—anything!"

Even though he couldn’t see Wu Qiming’s face, just from that trembling voice Xue An could imagine his expression must be quite a sight.

He had already expected this.

After all, for someone who’s long been pampered in a lofty position, nothing is more important than his own life.

He was curious about only one thing: as a red-robed Archbishop, Wu Qiming was at least high-ranking in the Palace of Light, so why was his strength so utterly mediocre?

But these thoughts flashed by and vanished, because Xue An simply didn’t have time to waste on this kind of person right now.

He just slowly walked up behind Wu Qiming and raised his hand to pat the back of his head.

With just that light pat, Wu Qiming screamed like a slaughtered pig.

Because he thought Xue An was about to kill him.

"Enough! If you dare scream again, I’ll really twist your head off!" Xue An said flatly.

The offhand threat worked perfectly; Wu Qiming clamped his mouth shut at once, and then he felt something was wrong.

"Y-you... what did you plant in my mind?"

"Nothing much. Just a Talisman Spell. From now on, if you harbor any thought that goes against my will, that talisman will explode immediately. I promise your head will end up more tragic than a balloon popping under the sun."

Xue An’s words scared Wu Qiming so badly his soul practically flew out of his body.

"Y-yes, yes! I understand, I promise I won’t defy you in any way!"

The sword aura dispersed.

Wu Qiming turned around, trembling, but he didn’t even dare raise his head to look at Xue An. He just kept it bowed, his heart filled with regret.

Regret that he’d let his lust override his brain, and ended up provoking such a great disaster.

Xue An naturally couldn’t be bothered to care what he was thinking.

"Have you ever seen this?"

Xue An opened his hand. In his palm lay that fragment of The Celestial Mirror.

Wu Qiming recognized it at a glance and couldn’t help exclaiming, "I’ve seen it. Isn’t this the thing the Holy Maiden always wears on her person?"

Xue An instantly felt relieved.

Earlier Ke Jinyun had said that when he went to pay his respects to the Holy Maiden of Light, he’d seen this item, but his status wasn’t high enough, so it had only been a distant, fleeting glimpse; he hadn’t dared be sure.

Wu Qiming was different. As a red-robed Archbishop, he was the person closest to the Holy Maiden of Light. Since even he said it was the same item, then it couldn’t be wrong.

"You’re certain?"

Wu Qiming nodded like a bobbing garlic bulb. "How could I dare joke about something like this? I’m absolutely sure!"

"Very good. Then take me to see her now."

A flicker of hesitation flashed across Wu Qiming’s face.

Xue An raised an eyebrow. "What? Is there a problem?"

"N-no, no problem!" Wu Qiming shook his head frantically in fright.

"Then what are you hesitating for?"

Wu Qiming’s face flushed red as he stammered, "A-actually, with my status, it’s not that easy to see the Holy Maiden. I have to apply in advance and only after getting the Elders Council’s approval can I go!"

Xue An frowned. "That complicated? Aren’t you a red-robed Archbishop?"

Wu Qiming’s expression turned awkward. "I am a red-robed Archbishop, but even among Archbishops in red robes there are ranks of higher and lower status."

From Wu Qiming’s explanation, Xue An finally understood: the hierarchy within the Palace of Light was extremely strict. Although they were all red-robed Archbishops, differences in personal strength and duties meant their positions varied greatly.

The highest ranking were those called the Elders Council.

In Wu Qiming’s words, those were the true big shots of the Palace of Light. Each possessed unfathomable strength and unparalleled influence.

As for himself, he was just a pawn with an impressive-looking title.

This could be seen clearly from the difference in how they were received by the Holy Maiden.

Members of the Elders Council could meet the Holy Maiden at any time without restriction, while he had to submit an application in advance if he wanted to see her.

Hearing this, Xue An couldn’t help growing a bit anxious.

After all, as time passed, Ke Jinyun’s disappearance would soon arouse suspicion in those around him.

And once he drew the attention of the Elders Council, all of his previous arrangements would be ruined.

By then, not only would he have to face an attack from the Giant Serpent of time and space, Shuming, lurking in the dark and striking at any moment, he’d also have to endure the wrath of the Palace of Light.

Caught between the two, his situation would be perilous in the extreme.

So Xue An simply didn’t have time to waste on this so-called application.

He pondered briefly, then said in a deep voice, "Then do you know where the Holy Maiden of Light usually appears? Who’s always by her side?"

"The Holy Maiden is naturally in the Temple of Light. Under normal circumstances, members of the Elders Council will guard the Divine Temple, ready at any time to listen to the Lord’s oracle and then proclaim it."

As he said this, a mocking smile appeared at the corner of Wu Qiming’s mouth.

"After all, they claim to be the ones closest to God, so of course they have the right to speak on His behalf."

When he said that, the resentment in Wu Qiming’s eyes was so thick it was practically overflowing.

It was clear how deeply he resented this state of affairs.

Xue An had no time to indulge him. After a brief silence, he spoke in a low voice.

"Then figure out a way to get me into the Temple of Light."

"How could that work? The members of the Elders Council usually stay in the Divine Temple. How could you manage alone?"

"Besides, even if you do see the Holy Maiden by yourself, so what? The Holy Maiden connects directly to the God of Light, her strength is unmatched. Trying to take something from her would be suicide, wouldn’t it?" Wu Qiming said anxiously.

He said this, of course, not out of concern for Xue An’s life.

In fact, if his head didn’t have the Talisman Spell Xue An had planted in it, Wu Qiming would have dearly loved for this man to hurry up and die.

But that wasn’t an option now. Wu Qiming had no idea whether the talisman in his mind would explode upon its owner’s death.

If it did, wouldn’t he have to be buried along with him?

So he tried his utmost to dissuade him, hoping Xue An would give up this unrealistic plan.

But Xue An wasn’t about to listen.

"Cut the crap and take me there now! If you’re really worried about that little life of yours, then figure out a way to get the people from the Elders Council out of there."

Wu Qiming obediently shut his mouth, then nodded helplessly.

"F-fine... fine."

With that, he led Xue An out of the little garden.

The instant they stepped back into the Extreme Fire Cathedral, a sudden flash of killing intent rose in Wu Qiming’s heart.

If I take this chance to kill this guy right now...

Before the thought was complete, a wave of intense pain surged through him. Wu Qiming crashed to the floor with a thud and started rolling around in agony.

The reason was simple: it hurt too much.

That pain from the depths of his soul was enough to easily shatter anyone who fancied themselves strong.

Only after a while did Wu Qiming collapse onto the ground, drenched in sweat.

Xue An didn’t want to waste time, so he said coolly,

"Believe it or not, if you stay down for another ten seconds, your head will explode like fireworks."