The Three-Strike Pact: An End? Or a New Beginning!

The waters of Moon Lake had been utterly evaporated, leaving nothing but a bone-dry basin. The parched earth of the lakebed began to crack and fissure.

At that moment, Dus, in a languid murmur through Divine Sense, addressed Du Chen: "Francis, we merely intended to withstand three strikes. Yet, who would've thought the Dragon God would attempt to refine me with his flames... This is an unparalleled opportunity. Are you interested...?"

Du Chen's eyes blazed brighter with every word, until finally, he roared through Divine Sense: "Damn the Dragon God's hide! Fifth Brother, proceed exactly as you've suggested. Let's utterly cripple that arrogant Dragon God!"

Cripple the Dragon God?!

Dus chuckled. "The Fire Lotus Lantern, ah, fire... naturally, it's meant to intensify heat and ignite things, isn't it?"

While Battle Gods specializing in fire-elemental techniques can endure immense heat, even they have their limits. A first-tier fire-elemental Battle-Warrior, for instance, might scoff at flames several hundred degrees hot, yet if tossed into molten magma, they would inevitably be incinerated.

The Dragon God now found himself in a similar predicament. Though adept at wielding fire, the maximum temperature he could endure was that of Moonfire, a scorching inferno potentially reaching a hundred thousand degrees!

But could he endure temperatures *higher* than Moonfire? Considering the channeling time the Dragon God required to unleash his 'Azure Moon Starlight,' that technique must be his most potent Secret Technique. Therefore, Moonfire itself likely represented the absolute peak of the heat he could withstand!

A being capable of enduring a hundred thousand degrees, when placed in a flame just one degree hotter... Hehe!

Hidden within the protective shield, Dus chuckled darkly. "Brothers of the Third Trigram, do you not pride yourselves on being able to superheat anything? Come, let us add a little extra warmth to this Moonfire! Your Fifth Brother here isn't afraid of a little scorching; at worst, I'll simply be roasted alongside the Dragon God!"

On any other day, attempting to generate temperatures capable of injuring the Dragon God with the Fire Lotus Lantern would be a fool's errand. But today, we're augmenting the already immense heat of Moonfire! The Dragon God's absolute thermal threshold is precisely the temperature of Moonfire. At this juncture, even a single degree more added to Moonfire's intensity... as Du Chen would put it, that would be the final straw!

The Dragon God continued to brandish his scepter, when suddenly, an agonizing pain erupted from the scepter radiating Moonfire! *Ssssh! Ssssh!* Wisps of black smoke curled from the Dragon God's hands. His palms were seared raw, flesh peeling back in gruesome agony!

"Awooo!" The Dragon God let out a guttural roar towards the heavens, as the Moonfire's temperature progressively exceeded his limits of endurance! His hands were being roasted alive!

Clenching his jaw fiercely, the Dragon God mused, *Moonfire cannot spontaneously increase its temperature. This must be Du Chen, the Divine, reflecting my attack! Yet, he neither dodged nor launched an offensive; he merely countered. Thus, Du Chen, the Divine, has committed no foul! I, Samuel, absolutely cannot release my grip, or I shall surely be defeated today!*

The Dragon God bitterly endured the agonizing heat! Simultaneously, he had to meticulously control Moonfire's radius, ensuring it didn't harm his clansmen observing the battle!

...Finally, with a crisp *snap* accompanied by a muffled groan, the Dragon God Samuel plummeted from the sky, a sight witnessed by the Pontiff, whose mind was in utter turmoil! The very symbol of Mount Miglio's authority, the Ten-Tier Dragon God's Scepter, detached itself from Samuel's charred hands!

As the scepter clattered to the ground, the Dragon God's complete defeat was sealed!

"The Dragon God... defeated? Du Chen, the Divine, didn't even lift a finger, yet the Dragon God was utterly vanquished?!" The Pontiff's lips twitched involuntarily as he repeatedly questioned himself.

His usually sharp mind, for a brief instant, plunged into a void of thought.

With the Dragon God's utter defeat, the Moonfire still raged uncontained. In an instant, the silvery-white radiance erupted outwards, and wherever it touched, the earth cracked, foliage withered, and charred remains littered the ground. It rapidly surged towards the onlookers, its scorching heatwave already felling many less powerful soldiers!

Du Chen instructed through Divine Sense: "Aliza, hold your niece close! Deboning, protect Andy! Everyone, remain calm. My Fire Lotus Lantern, which can unleash fire, is equally capable of absorbing these now uncontrolled flames!"

Du Chen's faction, however, remained utterly unperturbed, for they knew that despite Moonfire's ferocity, it posed no actual threat. But this crucial detail remained unknown to others!

"Your Majesty, quick, save Your Majesty!" Thorog urgently cried out, being the first to rush forward!

"Extinguish the fire! Find a way to put it out, quickly!"

"Hurry! The Dragon God is defeated, Moonfire is uncontrolled, and the Eye of Heaven Forest is about to be incinerated! Retreat, quick!"

The scene descended into utter chaos!

Yet, at this very moment, a sudden, unforeseen anomaly manifested!

The Moonfire, which had been confined to Moon Lake, suddenly erupted the instant the Dragon God plummeted. Losing its master's control, it raged wildly, devouring everything in its path, filling the sky with rampant silver light! But then, as if drawn by some unseen power, the scattered flames, which had been everywhere, swiftly changed course and converged towards a single, precise point...

A swirling mass of silver flames formed a fiery vortex in the sky, gradually being absorbed by some unseen entity, creating a spectacle of breathtaking beauty!

Witnessing this, Du Chen chuckled. "Fifth Brother, splendid work! Though I bear some responsibility for this inferno, it would have been a truly benevolent act to contain it for the common good! Quickly absorb the remaining flames, then continue to bamboozle the Pontiff. Haha, that old geezer must be utterly dumbfounded by now!"

"Francis, I have good news and bad news for you!" Fifth Brother suddenly drawled, a wry tone in his voice.

"The good news is, our plan was a resounding success! The bad news is... someone else stole my thunder. I wasn't the one who extinguished this Moonfire!"

"That was...?" Du Chen was momentarily stunned. Besides Fifth Brother, who else possessed the power to absorb Moonfire, a force potent enough to defeat the Dragon God himself?!

He gazed upwards, meticulously tracing the fiery vortex's trajectory. His eyes swept from top to bottom as the Moonfire swirled and descended, utterly disregarding Du Chen, the Divine, still suspended at the lake's bottom. It then burrowed into... the black rock at the bottom of Moon Lake, the very one radiating the Silver Moon Illusion!

Du Chen inwardly chuckled at his own momentary panic. Moon Lake's ability to absorb battle qi inherently stemmed from this very rock. So, while its absorption of Moonfire appeared exceptionally potent, it wasn't entirely beyond the realm of possibility... Regardless, his overarching plan had triumphed!

Having absorbed every last vestige of Moonfire, the rock suddenly ceased radiating its Silver Moon Illusion. Yet, its brilliance did not wane; instead, it pulsated with flickering moonlight, and its massive form began to swell and contract, as if... a gestational matrix nurturing new life!

All was calm now, and the onlookers once again gathered at the shores of Moon Lake.

The Dragon Clan, concerned for their Dragon God, rushed forward to protect Samuel as the flames vanished, paying no heed to the rock's strange metamorphosis. But the Pontiff, leading his own entourage, once again encircled the Moon Lake, staring at the rock with a furrowed brow, lost in contemplation.

"To think this rock possesses such formidable power, capable of absorbing Moonfire, even from the Queen of Gods' Secret Technique! I truly underestimated it! Mas, didn't you report last time that this rock's absorption capabilities couldn't reach such a degree, and thus suggested I construct a platform on the lake's surface to complement it?!" the Pontiff demanded of Mas! In truth, his unvoiced question seethed: *Damn it, if this rock can absorb Moonfire, it's an invaluable treasure! Mas, you shouldn't have been so short-sighted!*

Mas's wide eyes rounded, and he quickly defended himself: "Old One, this isn't my fault! Back then, three Godfathers collectively investigated Moon Lake, and none of us discerned anything unusual about this rock!"

The Pontiff waved a dismissive hand. "Send men to secure Moon Lake; we'll investigate this rock's peculiarities later!" With that, he bowed respectfully towards Du Chen, the Divine, who was still suspended within the Fire Lotus Lantern at the lake's bottom, and smiled. "Your Eminence Du Chen, Sama IX, representing the living gods, sends his greetings! Today's battle, Your Eminence, was truly an unprecedented spectacle!"

Du Chen cast a fleeting glance at the rock at the lake's bottom, then instructed: "Fifth Brother, leave the rock be for now. Handle the Pontiff exactly as I've taught you!"

Du Chen, the Divine, sat upright upon the Fire Lotus Lantern, slowly ascending from the lakebed, once again appearing in that sacred, indistinct form wreathed in golden mist. He did not immediately acknowledge the Pontiff, but instead turned to the Dragon Clan and inquired, "Is His Majesty, the Dragon God, faring well?"

Thorog helped the Dragon God to his feet. Samuel's hands were charred, his face pallid, and multiple burns marred his body, yet he stood firm and declared, "Your Eminence did not unleash a single strike, nor did you take a single evasive step. Merely by reflecting battle qi, you utterly vanquished me. I, Samuel, accept this defeat wholeheartedly!"

"The Dragon God speaks too highly of me!" Du Chen, the Divine, sighed. "I, Du Chen, am deeply remorseful. I once swore an oath to Heaven and Earth never to harm another, save for upholding justice and eradicating evil. I did not wish for today to..."

"Today, my Secret Technique proved insufficient, and I brought this suffering upon myself. It has nothing to do with Your Eminence!" The Dragon God managed a weak wave of his hand.

Du Chen, the Divine, bowed very slowly, then turned to the Pontiff, offering a polite salutation. "Your Majesty, I am fully apprised of the matters you discussed with Francis. Francis's will is my will!"

The Pontiff returned the bow with a knowing smile. "Your Eminence has just concluded a monumental battle; pray, seek your repose at the Eye of Heaven Temple! Furthermore, I wish to deliberate a crucial matter with Your Eminence: how best should your divine shrine be enshrined within the temple?" As he spoke, the Pontiff cast a pointed glance at the Dragon God!

The Dragon God gritted his teeth, snorted indignantly, and closed his eyes, focusing on regulating his breath to heal his grievous injuries.

Du Chen, the Divine, stated, "As for the shrine, let Francis attend to it on my behalf. It is but a trivial matter of fleeting renown, unworthy of discourse! Your Majesty, in this life, I harbor no other aspirations than to Guide Towards Goodness..."

"Your Eminence's profound magnanimity is truly admirable! Guiding Towards Goodness is also a sacred duty of the Holy Church. Thus, it appears we share a common aspiration!" The Pontiff smiled. "To be frank, the Holy Church is currently revising Divine Edicts and re-codifying laws on behalf of the gods. I deeply lament the increasing conflicts among the Three Continents in recent years, and intend to, on behalf of the gods, educate our believers towards goodness. Your Eminence's divine prestige is immense; surely you will assist me in completing this monumental undertaking!"

"Du Chen accepts without demur!" The lotus beneath Du Chen, the Divine, slowly ascended. "Your Majesty, I have pressing matters that require my immediate journey to the Azure Heaven Continent. I shall not visit the Eye of Heaven Temple, and thus, I bid you farewell! Should Your Majesty require my presence, you may simply seek out Francis!"

"Your Eminence will not rest at the Eye of Heaven Temple? Very well. Black-armored Warriors, heed my command! Respectfully escort His Eminence Du Chen, the Divine!"

The Pontiff offered no hindrance to Du Chen, the Divine's, swift departure. After that brief void in his thoughts, he firmly settled upon two conclusions...

First, Du Chen, the Divine, was far more formidable than himself. It was even possible that Du Chen, the Divine, had already attained the realm of a Twelve-Tier Battle God! However, he was isolated and lacked extensive support, vastly inferior to the Holy Church's immense power. Therefore, a foundation for cooperation between them undeniably existed!

Second, although he had successfully recruited Du Chen, the Divine, into the Holy Church, and Du Chen himself had not resisted, Du Chen, the Divine, was simply too powerful. Such a divine being, while not an enemy, could also not be a truly intimate friend. If Du Chen, the Divine, were genuinely appointed to a position within the Holy Church, wouldn't his formidable power directly threaten my, Sama IX's, position as Pontiff?!

Therefore, the Pontiff's attitude towards Du Chen, the Divine, was one of respectful deference, but with a firm distance maintained!

It was only when Du Chen, the Divine's, golden radiance vanished on the horizon that the Pontiff withdrew his gaze, turning to offer a faint smile to Du Chen, who stood observing from the banks of Moon Lake.

"Francis, everything we previously discussed is agreed upon! From this day forth, the Holy Church's vaults are open to you. Take as many Gold Coins as you desire, without restraint!"

Du Chen also smiled, a long sigh of relief escaping his chest. Tricking the Pontiff truly was no simple feat!

Nevertheless, this old dog still managed to snatch a white wolf from that old fox's grasp without lifting a finger!

The Five-Battle Pact between the Dragon Clan and the Holy Church thus concluded with the Holy Church claiming overwhelming victory! However, the Eye of Heaven Forest's affairs were far from settled. In the distant future, there was Constantine; and closer at hand, at the very bottom of Moon Lake, lay the abandoned sacred artifact of war, now proven capable of absorbing the Dragon God's potent Moonfire!

Even as Du Chen, the Divine, and the Pontiff finalized their elaborate transactions, the black rock at the lake's bottom continued to pulse with moonlight, its rhythm accelerating.

To others, this was nothing remarkable—just ordinary, albeit dazzling, moonlight. But...

Within the Soul World, Andy, who had been locked in a fierce battle with the Golden Behemoth, suddenly went berserk!

With every pulse of moonlight, his strength surged. In but a short span, the Golden Behemoth lost a left arm and half a left leg, now frantically fleeing for its life!

"Hey, don't you dare run off! I'm not full yet!" Andy relentlessly pursued. "I've only devoured one of your legs and an arm; let me have a couple more bites, pretty please!"

Suddenly, Andy heard Beibei's voice in his ear: "Greedy Andy, stop chasing! You've already reached the power of an Eight-Tier Aberrant Beast, and your physical body is beginning to exhibit the characteristics of a Composite Aberrant Beast!"

"Huh? I'm already Eight-Tier? Not just in aura, but a genuine, bona fide Eight-Tier?" Andy paused his chase, chuckling foolishly. "Then how many grand feasts will Master reward me with?! Heh, hehe!"

"Papa says the Golden Behemoth is gravely injured and can't escape anyway! And Laipisi has already successfully bamboozled the Pontiff, so there's no need for you to transform here. Hurry and come out; you can transform later, serving as Papa's hidden trump card... Hehe, Papa says that old fox of a Pontiff is too cunning, we must always keep a trick up our sleeve!"

Andy nodded. "Oh, I'll come out right away then!"

"Mm-hmm! When you come out, just pretend to be asleep. Deboning has already used black mist to conceal your bodily transformations... Hehe, Andy, Beibei stole some of Uncle Aliza's beef jerky; want some later? But when you finally grow wings, you *must* let Beibei ride you and fly up into the sky to play!"

After Andy agreed, he returned from the Soul World to his physical body. Yet, the moonlight continued to flicker, and Andy felt... wonderfully comfortable.

...The moonlight on the rock flickered even faster now, quicker than the blink of an eye. Yet, it was like a pregnant woman in difficult labor; everyone sensed it had reached the critical point of eruption, but it just lacked that final surge of energy, unable to burst forth!

At this moment, Andy, who had just "feasted with the flashing moonlight" and was now thoroughly sated, let out a massive yawn, ready to indulge in a long, blissful sleep!

"Awoo..." With a triumphant wolf howl, expressing the exquisite sensation of his burgeoning strength, Andy drifted into slumber!

And it was that single wolf howl! The black rock had emanated moonlight, enabling Andy's strength to surge dramatically. Andy's howl, in turn, seemed to be both a repayment for the rock's profound generosity and a resounding summons to it... In any case, immediately after that howl, the "laboring" rock instantly reached its explosive tipping point!

With a resounding *BOOM*, it detonated!