“High Priest Sandel, your lies are baseless! The Overlord Church has always been the strongest in the Northern Continent. Lady Sigrid’s power and wisdom are beyond question.”

Gloria's direct troops immediately countered, her voice full of anger.

“What we need are allies in perfect condition, capable of shouldering important responsibilities for the Empire. Lady Sigrid, if you are truly hiding something, that is an irresponsible act towards the Empire! It will also destroy the reputation and trust of our Resurrection Church in the Protos Empire!"

But Sandel's direct troops from the Annihilation Branch ignored Gloria, their spearhead aimed directly at Sigrid.

“If the Overlord Church Leader isn’t feeling guilty, would you dare accept my challenge and see if you can kill me instantly as everyone expects? Or will you have to fight hard even against a sixth-order like me?”

“Are you worthy to fight the Church Leader?”

The high priests of the Overlord Branch stood up, their chairs slamming with a buzz. They clearly wouldn't allow such an insulting challenge. Their eyes warned Sandel that if he wanted to spar, they would play with him first.

In this imminent confrontation, the nobles and ministers began to whisper fiercely.

The Franklin Council Hall was filled with astonished, suspicious, and argumentative voices. Some people's expressions revealed surprise, while others showed worry.

They looked at Overlord Church Leader Sigrid from time to time, and then turned to Annihilation Church Leader Askesan, trying to read more information from their facial expressions and body language.

Regarding this issue, which concerned the basis of cooperation between the Empire and the Resurrection Church, even Isis turned her eyes slightly.

Previously, Sigrid could answer with silence, after all, the authenticity remained to be confirmed, and the subsequent investigation could be left to the military to determine.

The Annihilation Branch shouldn't be making accusations out of thin air, because Sigrid, as the strongest warrior, could easily prove her full strength. If what the Annihilation Branch said was slander, it would soon be slapped back by Sigrid.

“My current cultivation is approaching the final stage of breaking through the bottleneck, so my condition has naturally changed, and it is not suitable to go all out in a short period. But this does not mean that I have become weaker. If you want to see if I still have the full strength of a Cardinal Bishop, you can find a durable fellow to withstand my full blow.”

Overlord Church Leader Sigrid maintained a calm demeanor, her face serene, as she answered.

Her sharp eyes swept across the hall, immediately silencing the nobles and ministers.

Because she seemed to be asking: Do you want to fight me?

Even though they couldn't feel any pressure from her at the moment, the existence of the Overlord Church Leader made most ordinary people feel fear from the depths of their souls.

That was the difference between a giant god and an ant as living beings.

If it weren't for the protection of the barrier in the venue and the Great Sage Isis sitting there, the Overlord Church Leader could take anyone's head in an instant.

Sigrid's response and deterrence briefly calmed the emotions in the hall.

The voices of the nobles and ministers gradually lowered, and their gazes refocused on the Annihilation Branch and the Overlord Branch in confusion.

Perhaps the Annihilation Branch had learned some information about Sigrid's cultivation, so they fabricated this lie to strike the opponent hard at a critical moment.

But no one could judge a result at this moment.

During this process, Isis sat quietly, her expression still calm, but her posture revealed a deep understanding and control of the situation—

As long as she didn't say anything, it meant letting the people below continue.

The Overlord Branch and the Annihilation Branch were deadlocked.

Sandel's direct troops weren't afraid of the oppressive feeling of the Overlord High Priests on the opposite side and were about to continue speaking, but his shoulder was held down.

“Alright, Sandel, it would be impolite to say more.”

Annihilation Church Leader Askesan stood up at this time. He was tall, and his deep gray eyes were like an abyss, able to make people indulge in it, and their souls gradually lost.

Just hearing Askesan's voice, the ordinary people present felt a chill down their spines for no reason. It was an aura of absolute danger.

“Sigrid, don’t bully these little guys. If you want to prove your strength, I can fight you.”

Askesan's voice was calm, like the sands of time flowing from his mouth, each word carrying an irresistible magic.

“Amiles, do you have any objections?”

He turned to look at the Mourning Church Leader Amiles, who had remained silent on the other side.

Many nobles in the hall also looked at the Mourning Church Leader on the side directly facing Isis.

From the beginning, the Mourning Church Leader hadn't said a word.

She was wearing a church robe made of black and dark purple silk, embroidered with sacred seal patterns symbolizing the tide of death and eternal tears. Although her appearance could be seen clearly, it felt difficult to remember what she looked like.

Amiles herself wasn't a particularly active Cardinal Bishop on the southern coast of the Northern Continent. In most cases, she was the internal affairs bishop responsible for helping the Pope coordinate.

Although her reputation was as bad as that of other Cardinal Bishops, it wasn't as loud as Askesan's fierce name.

However, everyone knew that those who could ascend to the position of Cardinal Bishop of the Resurrection Church were by no means easy to provoke.

“Whatever you want.”

Mourning Church Leader Amiles replied briefly.

Askesan looked at Sigrid, with a hint of a smile, he was very interested in how Sigrid would respond to him next.

“……”

Sigrid was silent.

“What’s wrong, Sigrid? You usually want to fight me to the death so much, but now that I have taken the initiative to challenge you, you are retreating?”

Askesan asked.

“I said, it is not suitable to take action now, it will disrupt my cultivation progress. A month later, if you still dare to challenge, I promise to put an end to the grievances between us. At that time, please don’t run away like a coward as you have in the past.”

Sigrid’s voice was as sharp as a sword, full of disdain for Askesan.

“Hahahaha.”

Askesan raised his head and laughed upon hearing this.

“This is the funniest joke I have ever heard. Overlord Church Leader Sigrid has actually learned to be patient…Everyone in the Protos Empire, do you think this is normal? Do you really think she is still the Overlord Church Leader who has absolute confidence in her strength?”

When Askesan looked at Sigrid again, his eyes became colder little by little. He was telling Sigrid—

Today's Church Leader election is a tomb set up for you.

No matter who the real identity of that damn Overlord Saint is, or what hasty preparations he has made in this short month, it is meaningless and will not help Sigrid in the slightest!

(End of chapter)