The Man from the Vatican

"Where did you hear about this?"

Xu Mu asked with a smile.

"Our Tianyao Clan has informants in the Valley of Ten Thousand Races. They reported the news to me. I don't know if it's true or false, but I've heard that within this ancient battlefield lies the legendary Divine-level cultivation technique."

When Fu Jinyu reached this point, his tone grew excited.

A Divine-level technique could be called the most precious thing under heaven, bar none.

"I just received the news myself. I plan to go. Shall we go together?"

Xu Mu asked with a smile.

"Just you?"

"Currently, there are three people on my side."

Xu Mu thought for a moment. This time, he still planned to only bring Chen Xuan, plus Shi Fumeng.

This ancient battlefield was clearly unusual, and the people around him hadn't reached the Master level yet.

In a place like that, they would definitely still need his protection.

"Since you have companions, I won't join you. Let's meet at the destination."

Fu Jinyu said from the other end.

"That works too."

Xu Mu nodded.

...

Xu Mu continued refining pills at home, mainly medicines for healing injuries and replenishing Qi.

Only with enough of these could one preserve one's life.

A little after 3 PM, Shi Fumeng, dressed in a JK uniform, rang the doorbell of Xu Mu's villa.

Xu Mu opened the main gate and looked at the mature woman before him.

She wore the uniform, revealing her straight, long legs and little black leather shoes on her feet.

Her hair was tied in a youthful, vibrant high ponytail. Looking at her, Xu Mu couldn't help but feel like calling her 'little sister'.

"Xu Mu, let's set off now."

Shi Fumeng pressed one hand against the nearby gate. "If we can obtain that technique this time, our status will skyrocket from now on."

"Countless people share the same thought. Do you think you can defeat them all?"

Xu Mu glanced at Shi Fumeng and placed the alchemy furnace into his storage space.

"Isn't it all about luck? Maybe my luck is good this time."

Shi Fumeng said with a laugh.

"Confidence is indeed a good thing."

Xu Mu shook his head gently. "Where's the location?"

"At the border between Zhongyuan and Yanzhao provinces."

Shi Fumeng explained.

"Then I'll still take the helicopter there later."

Xu Mu called Chen Xuan. As expected, upon hearing they were heading to the ancient battlefield to search for treasure, he immediately rushed over.

While waiting for Chen Xuan, Xu Mu checked Shi Fumeng's Filial Piety Value towards him.

It was still -4.

This woman was somewhat inscrutable to Xu Mu.

Clearly, her Favorability was positive, yet her Filial Piety Value remained negative. He had no idea what inner conflict she was grappling with.

After about twenty minutes, Chen Xuan arrived at Xu Mu's place riding an electric scooter.

Looking at the woven bag on the footboard, Xu Mu said somewhat helplessly, "Old Chen, I already gave you a spatial ring. Why are you still carrying that urea woven bag?"

"Brother Mu, it's really not my fault. The main issue is that this woven bag of mine won't fit into the spatial ring."

Chen Xuan parked the scooter and walked over carrying the bag. "But the ring is indeed very useful. Things like my chopping knife that can't pass security checks can be stored inside, saving me a lot of trouble."

"Why won't the woven bag fit into the spatial ring?"

Shi Fumeng glanced at Chen Xuan. "I think you just want to show off, playing the pig to eat the tiger. Carrying the woven bag makes others underestimate you, then you seize the chance to turn the tables, right?"

"Whoa! Beauty, I'm not that bored."

Chen Xuan rolled his eyes.

"If I'm not mistaken, there should be an array formation on that woven bag of yours, right?"

Xu Mu asked with a smile.

"Brother Mu knows his stuff. There's an array formation inscribed by my master inside the bag. This formation conflicts with the spatial array inside the ring, which is why it can't be placed inside."

Chen Xuan slung the woven bag over his shoulder. "When do we leave?"

"Now!"

Xu Mu said.

...

He drove with the two of them to the Xu Family Manor, then piloted the helicopter towards their destination.

This time, he didn't notify Jiang Huihui, because a few days ago, he had received a text message on his phone.

His helicopter had been added to a whitelist.

As long as he didn't fly at high altitudes, obstruct normal flight paths, or go to major cities with no-fly zones, he no longer needed to file reports for future trips to other places.

He didn't need to think to know Jiang Huihui had helped with this.

This time's location was near Yincheng, bordering Yanzhao Province.

Xu Mu landed the helicopter on the rooftop of a hotel. As before, he casually paid a few hundred bucks as a landing fee.

The three of them came down from the hotel, ate something, and then headed towards their destination.

Upon arrival, Xu Mu found the entrance blocked by over a dozen Intermediate-level Cleaners.

The leader was an acquaintance—Du Yan from before.

Today, he was already wearing an armband with the character "Two" on it.

His hair was a mess, as if he hadn't woken up, and he held a can of beer, sitting on a nearby rock.

Xu Mu surveyed the surroundings and noticed over thirty people gathered, though most wore black cloaks, disguising their identities.

Suddenly, Xu Mu noticed a cloaked figure looking at him, then the person took out a phone and left the area.

"Du Yan! Many here have heard of your great name, but you alone can't stop us."

One of the cloaked elders said sharply.

"That's right. We agree that the mundane world of Dragon Country falls under your Cleaners' jurisdiction. But since when does the inner world also fall under your purview?"

Another middle-aged man chimed in.

"But right now, you are standing in the mundane world!"

Du Yan took a swig of his beer. "I've made it very clear. If you want to enter, you must reveal your true faces. At the very least, we need to know who you are and whether any among you are wanted by us Cleaners."

"Hahaha! Fine then. A few of us might as well drop the disguise. We're colleagues anyway, after all."

Right then, a woman's hearty laugh came from beneath one of the cloaks.

The woman threw off her entire cloak, revealing long, curly golden hair. She had blue eyes and the classic features of a Western beauty.

She appeared to be around thirty, with wide hips and a voluptuous figure, dressed in a red robe with a golden cross pattern on the back.

"People from the Church?"

Du Yan frowned. "Your Dragon Country speech is quite good."

"I started learning from childhood. I am Cardinal Amelia."

The golden-haired woman turned her head and said, "Drop your disguises."

The four people behind her all removed the hoods of their cloaks—two men and two women, all with Caucasian features.

Xu Mu was full of surprise. He hadn't expected people from the Church to come.

The Church was divided into external and internal branches. The external Church mainly dealt with ordinary people, while the internal Church's duties were similar to those of the Cleaners.

The people before him clearly belonged to the internal Church.

Du Yan gave a look to the other Intermediate Cleaners beside him.

They took out their phones and recorded the faces of the several individuals.

"The higher-ups indeed never said to restrict outsiders from entering."

Du Yan waved his hand. "You may enter."

"Thank you. May the Lord bless you."

Amelia nodded with a smile and led her followers into the formation.

"Your Lord has no jurisdiction here."

Du Yan said with a calm expression.

"Brother, didn't expect to run into you here."

Xu Mu walked over with a smile.