Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

While the empress was gathering more troops from the surrounding cities and towns, the grand commander led a small group of Transcendents towards Rabu. Their goal was to confirm that the Buddhist temple was involved in the heretic cult.

“My lord, above that mountain is the Buddhist temple.” One of the imperial guards pointed at the top of the mountain before them.

The Grand Commander looked up and furrowed his eyebrows.

It had been years since he last set foot on this mountain. The vegetation had become denser, and it looked untouched by humans for a long time.

However, if one were to look closely, they would see a hidden pathway within this lush vegetation.

“Tell our men to spread out and don’t let anyone climb down the mountain. I will go up alone.” The Grand Commander told his men.

“We follow your commands!”

After giving a few more instructions to the warriors, the Grand Commander climbed up the pathway.

He wanted to see if the Buddhist temple had truly become a part of the heretic cult.

Deep in his heart, he didn’t want to accept it. He had seen how much the Buddhists had cared for the people.

I hope that you guys have not fallen to the temptations of the heretic cult!

On his way to the top, he discovered the probing of multiple individuals. They were discreet, but he quickly sensed the fluctuations of their mana.

Transcendents… He frowned. He didn’t sense any hostility from them so he didn’t give much of a reaction.

Suddenly, when he was about halfway to the top, he saw a group of monks climbing down the pathway. They were led by a feeble old monk who could hardly walk on his own.

Seeing this old monk, the Grand Commander raised his eyebrows in surprise. He recognized the old man.

It was the former abbot of the temple.

He wasn’t a Venerable, but he was a deeply respected man. It wasn’t because of his strength, but because he served the people.

“It has been a long time, my lord.” The old monk spoke with a carefree smile.

The Grand Commander stopped walking and looked at the old man. He cupped his fists and responded. “Respected Abbot, I’m glad to see you alive and well. You didn’t have to come here to greet me. It is windy out here.”

The old monk chuckled and waved his thin arms. “I’m no longer the abbot. I’m just an old monk now.”

The Grand Commander sighed at his words. The spirited abbot back then had already become a feeble old man. Time really flies by so fast.

“We can talk at the temple. I have something I wish to discuss with you.” He spoke to the old man.

The old monk’s face suddenly turned serious. He opened his eyes and stared deeply at him. “I’m afraid that isn’t possible. We can talk here.”

Hearing this, the Grand Commander frowned. “What do you mean by this? I thought the temple was open to all visitors. Did the rules change over the years?”

The atmosphere suddenly became tense as the Grand Commander intentionally released his aura.

The monks shielded the old man, their faces solemn.

“My lord, please recall your aura!” One of the monks cried out, his face covered in sweat.

The Grand Commander was just trying to scare them so he immediately took back his aura. “You aren’t hiding something from me, right?”

The old monk let out a long sigh. “I guess my foolish disciple has already fallen.”

“He was a good kid, but his heart hid an overwhelming greed that I failed to see. He didn’t realize that he had taken the poisoned chalice offered by the leader of the heretic cult.”

With a cold look, the Grand Commander said. “So are you saying that the temple is already under the control of the heretic cult?”

The old monk shook his head. “No… My foolish disciple knew that he couldn’t command all the Buddhists to follow those evil people. He only took those under his teachings. The rest of the monks are unaware of the truth.”

“Then why do you refuse to invite me to the temple?” The Grand Commander was relieved that the temple hadn’t completely fallen into the hands of the cult.

“Because he is there.” The old monk responded with a grave look.

“You will only get yourself killed if you go up there. Please return and bring a much stronger army if you want to defeat that man. The people you brought aren’t enough to take him down.” He added.

Just as the Grand Commander was about to respond, a heavy, overwhelming aura suddenly fell upon him.

“…!”

It came without warning, catching him off guard.

“He is here! You should run!” The old monk’s face fell.

It’s too late for that.” A serene voice drifted into their ears.

The next moment, a purple-haired man came flying from the sky. He slowly descended and landed between the group of monks and the Grand Commander.

“Kim Chon-jae!” The old monk’s eyes flashed with anger.

It was the leader of the heretic cult, Kim Chon-jae.

Kim Chon-jae ignored the old monk and kept his eyes on the Grand Commander. “You must be Ludwig, the Grand Commander of Veronica. How long has it been since we last saw each other?”

The Grand Commander was struggling to move under the immense pressure brought upon by Kim Chon-jae’s aura.

He hasn’t even activated his domain, but I can hardly move! Just how strong has he become?!

He was terrified by the other party’s power.

He thought the empress’s strength was just on par with his man’s, but it seemed like there was already a huge gap between them.

The Grand Commander gritted his teeth and replied. “So you were hiding here all this time…”

Kim Chon-jae raised an eyebrow, looking like he had heard the funniest joke of his life. “Your mouth hasn’t changed at all, Ludwig.”

He paused, his eyes turning cold.

“I planned to hold the Astanian Prince hostage to keep the Astanian Army in check, but a better hostage has come right at my doorstep…”