A Pawn's Passage

Chapter 1346: The Oath System

“Hearing this title come from a traitor like you only sullies my ears,” Qi Xuansu said coldly.

One of Sun Zhongnu’s prosthetic eyes flickered faintly. “Sage Qi, you’ve come to purge traitors from your own ranks.”

Qi Xuansu did not deny it. “You could say that. But I am a reasonable man. As a traitor, your death is certain. However, there’s still room for negotiation for Mr. Lopez. If you hand over a list of traitors within the Tawantin Empire or the Western Daoist Order, I can show you some leniency. Don’t you think this is fair?”

Dennis finally reacted. “Qi Xuansu! You are insulting my faith!”

Qi Xuansu was not disappointed. “So you don’t wish to talk. Very well. I don’t mind sending you on your way either. After all, you have quite a few blood debts on your hands.”

Dennis signaled for Sun Zhongnu to step back and moved forward himself. “Qi Xuansu, I hear you came from the Tiangang Hall and later joined the Beichen Hall. Coincidentally, I was once a Paladin as well.”

Paladins and Knights were not the same. Although both required divine power, the difference was similar to that between Shamans and Spirit Guards.

During the upheaval at Wuxing Mountain, the Great Xuan Emperor had employed a wandering Western Paladin. Although he required divine power granted by the emperor, his strength was not solely from external sources. It still originated from himself.

Due to differences between Eastern and Western systems, a Paladin could not be fully equated with a shaman. Their use of divine power involved an extra step, constructing an oath using divine power and then drawing strength from that oath.

In fact, Shamans also had an extra step by using divine power to construct a Spiritual Statue, and then drawing strength from it. The various stages of a Shaman’s cultivation fundamentally revolved around expanding and developing this Spiritual Statue.

In contrast, Spirit Guards and Knights used divine power directly through their armor, without the need for such an intermediary step.

Drawing power from oaths was essentially borrowing power, leveraging a small cost to gain access to power that did not yet belong to oneself.

This was a double-edged sword. While one could gain power from the oath, failing to uphold it results in losing most of that power, or even suffering backlash.

Thus, Paladins required less divine power than Knights. Yet with the same amount of divine power, they could exert greater strength.

However, due to the many restrictions imposed by oaths, they were not as convenient as Knights.

Just as Shamans had many different Spiritual Statues, oaths were likewise varied. They could broadly be divided into honor, vengeance, protection, redemption, devotion, conquest, and the crown, as well as some rarer oaths such as love.

Depending on the oath, the restrictions also differed. For example, the Oath of the Crown tested loyalty, putting the law above all, keeping one’s word, fearlessness, and fulfilling one’s duties. The Oath of Honor tested willpower, emphasizing action before intent, battle as refinement, tempering the body, and strengthening the soul.

There was also a special kind of oath called the Oath of Betrayal. Those who followed it pledged loyalty to no one, focusing only on their own power and survival and placing faith solely in themselves. Only those who were sufficiently desperate and inwardly strong could walk this path. The weak always sought outward support, looking to others or to gods as their spiritual anchor, so they would never rely solely on themselves. In addition, the Oath of Betrayal must endure the backlash of breaking previous oaths.

The advantage was that this Oath of Betrayal had no restrictions, since it contained no content, and it granted even greater power than ordinary oaths.

However, those who took this path often became addicted to violence and wealth, so they were expelled by the Holy Court for pursuing dark ambitions and serving evil powers. The light that once burned within them had been extinguished, leaving only darkness. Even the fallen apostles were unwilling to associate with such chaotic beings.

Renatus was one such Paladin. When he was exiled by the Holy Court, he wandered to the East and ultimately chose to serve the Eastern Emperor. Only the Emperor could grant him wealth, power, and everything he desired, and the Emperor also possessed enough strength to keep him in check.

From the Holy Court’s perspective, the Eastern Emperor was considered an evil power, fitting perfectly with their judgment of pursuing dark ambition.

In short, Paladins were as complex as Shamans. Due to differences in oaths or Spiritual Statues, their combat strength could vary greatly.

Dennis reached out and tore off his clerical robe, revealing a soft silver armor beneath, his entire body gleaming.

Qi Xuansu was no longer the same man from Wuxing Mountain. With his rising status, he had gained some understanding of these Western lineages and was curious as to what oath Dennis had taken.

Dennis took out a two-handed greatsword from his Space Bag, and red flames ignited across his body.

This was the Oath of Conquest, which allowed for unrestrained slaughter and was always accompanied by war.

It suited Dennis’s identity and actions well.

Dennis gripped the greatsword with both hands. Without prayer or incantation, he simply strode forward.

The two quickly closed the distance.

As he walked, a halo formed beneath Dennis’s feet, radiating pure light, its center shifting continuously with his steps.

Although both the Buddhist Sect and the Holy Court both revered light, their conceptions of light were not the same. The light of Buddhism was either golden or multicolored, while the light of the Holy Court was pure white, without the slightest impurity.

The halo continuously radiated a purifying aura outward. This purification was extremely domineering. Anything incompatible with it would be eliminated, leaving only pure light. As a result, this light carried tremendous offensive power, while things in harmony with it would receive great benefits and enhancement.

Simply put, it weakened the opponent while strengthening oneself.

This was the Sacred Halo of Purification and Protection, usable by any oath.

Immediately after, a second halo formed beneath Dennis’s feet. It was no longer pure light but the color of blood and fire. This was the War Halo of the Oath of Conquest.

This aura further enhanced a Paladin’s killing capabilities.

Dennis was fully aware of the strength of the opponent before him, so he did not dare hold back in the slightest.

Empowered by the two halos, Dennis shouted, “Wings of eternal flame, lift me from mortal downfall!”

A pair of wings made of flames spread out behind Dennis, spanning nearly 20 meters.

Crimson waves of fire spread outward from Dennis, even suppressing the flames caused by the flying craft explosion.

However, when the flames reached within a meter of Qi Xuansu, they abruptly vanished.

The next moment, Dennis’s wings propelled him forward, charging toward Qi Xuansu in a torrent of red flames.

Qi Xuansu neither dodged nor retreated, simply holding his blade horizontally before him.

The greatsword struck heavily against the edge of Pure Bodhi.

Qi Xuansu did not step back, and neither did Dennis. The two were locked in a stalemate, evenly matched.

However, from another perspective, Dennis had initiated the attack and even wielded his greatsword with both hands, yet he only managed to match Qi Xuansu, who held his blade with one hand. This showed the difference in their brute strength.

Qi Xuansu held the blade in his right hand, pressed his free left hand against the back of the blade, and exerted force again, pushing Dennis backward.

Although Dennis’s wings struggled to resist, he was still pushed back to his original position, kicking up a ring of flames as he landed.

“Is that all?” Qi Xuansu said calmly. “Why don’t the two of you come at me together? You might gain a slightly better chance.”

Dennis said nothing, his expression extremely grave.

He had realized the vast gap between them.

This Chief Deputy of Beichen Hall was already on the path toward becoming a Divine Being, far beyond anything Dennis could contend with.

Now, it was Qi Xuansu’s turn to attack. His entire body turned into a streak of golden light, and he instantly appeared behind Dennis. This was the Diviner’s Golden Light Leap.

Then, Qi Xuansu raised his hand and brought the blade down without any flourish.

The pale green blade descended, severing one of Dennis’s wings in a single stroke.

Only then did Dennis react and turn around, shifting from a two-handed grip to one hand as he swept his greatsword at Qi Xuansu.

But Qi Xuansu casually deflected it with a swing of Pure Bodhi. The seemingly light blade suppressed the heavy greatsword, preventing Dennis from turning around.

Immediately after, Qi Xuansu expanded to a height of 5 meters, manifesting his Manly Immortal True Form. Or rather, it would be more accurate to call it the Great Witch True Form. After all, Qi Xuansu was the most direct successor of the Great Witch lineage. Not even Yao Pei could compare to him.

Along with the Great Witch True Form came immense strength comparable to that of a primordial beast.

Qi Xuansu pressed his left hand onto Dennis’s neck, forcing the man face-first into the ground with overwhelmingly superior strength. At the same time, he stomped on Dennis’s wrist, breaking it and preventing him from holding his greatsword.

With that, Qi Xuansu’s right hand was free. He planted Pure Bodhi—now mismatched to his towering height—into the ground beside him and tore off Dennis’s other wing with his bare hands.

Although these wings were not real flesh and blood, striking the intangible with the tangible was a specialty of Martial Arts Practitioners.

After finishing, Qi Xuansu straightened up and stepped on Dennis’s back. He looked toward Sun Zhongnu and scoffed. “You’re just going to watch?”

Sun Zhongnu could only look up at Qi Xuansu in his Great Witch True Form. “The moment you appeared, I understood that I likely have no chance of survival today.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “Though it may be unnecessary, I still want to ask—why did you betray us?”

Sun Zhongnu’s charred face revealed no visible expression. He remained silent for a long time, knowing that excuses were useless, and finally chose to answer truthfully. “How could a man remain forever beneath another?”