"It seems your understanding of the Yin Yang Four Symbols Array is merely superficial."

Lin Jingxuan gazed at the Knight’s Code opposite him and spoke calmly.

"Four fortifications, at the cost of injuring two Tier Nine Imperial Knights and losing over a third of the four Imperial Knight Orders—such a result is acceptable for Great Xia, but can the Empire accept it?"

The Empire is the aggressor.

This time, attacking the Great Xia North County is equivalent to mustering the full might of the Empire.

Three Tier Nine Imperial Knights were deployed, along with more than thirty Tier Eight Knights, nearly two thousand Tier Seven Knights, and a vast number of Tier Six Knights.

And what is the outcome now?

Among the Tier Nine Knights, Louis XVII and Antonio are already seriously injured, with considerable casualties across the other levels.

Paying such a price hasn’t even allowed the Fallen Darkness to successfully invade North County.

Not to mention, with the loss of two major ultimate powerhouses, how much chance does the remaining Imperial Knight Order have against the various legions of Great Xia?

The Knight’s Code remained silent, its pages unmoving, as if completely stilled.

Within Lin Jingxuan’s pale golden pupils, endless profound text materialized, seemingly trying to see through the Original Dao Soldiers in front.

Finally, the Knight’s Code stirred.

Black mist enveloped it, shrouding the scrutinizing gaze.

"I see."

Lin Jingxuan withdrew his probing gaze, his eyes becoming deeply contemplative.

"From the very beginning, I was curious as to why the Empire would go to such great lengths to stage this drama."

"With the Empire’s strength, three Tier Nine Ultimate Powerhouses leading the four Imperial Knight Orders could simply push forward directly, making this far easier than now. So why are you so fixated on bringing the Fallen Darkness down?"

"Now I understand. The purpose is—to devour the source!"

As Lin Jingxuan uttered the words "devour the source," the Knight’s Code opposite him suddenly began to flip its pages fiercely.

With the Empire’s foundation, even a full-out assault on the Great Xia North County poses no problem.

Yet, from the outset, they infiltrated the North County with vagabond informants, planting the Pillars of Corruption in their attempt to pollute the entire region.

This was an act of unnecessary trouble.

Judging by the attitude from the Empire’s higher-ups, they regarded bringing the Fallen Darkness to North County as the sole means of "victory."

Even at the cost of losing two Tier Nine Imperial Knights and numerous other knights, they aimed to destroy the Yin Yang Four Symbols Array to summon the Fallen Darkness in North County.

This attitude made Lin Jingxuan realize something was amiss.

It wasn’t until just now that he glimpsed a hint of causation from his opponents, discerning the reason for the Knight’s Code’s actions.

"From the previous instance, and including this one, the motive behind targeting Great Xia was never about territorial power nor trivial gains from the Empire’s perspective—it was about the source!"

"You wish to devour more sources to achieve a breakthrough as an Original Dao Soldier!"

This piece of the puzzle was completed when Han Zhan returned to Blue Star from the Qinse Fruit World.

At that time, the information Han Zhan brought back contained parts about Great Xia’s Spirit Contract Technique, speculating that the Great Xia Spirit Contract Masters awaken to the world’s origins.

World origins vary, but regardless of their strength, they are tangible world origins.

If an Original Dao Soldier devours these world origins, it would lead to further advancement.

The Knight’s Code mobilized the full strength of the Empire to ensure the Fallen Darkness descended upon North County, aiming through this method to devour all the world origins belonging to the Spirit Contract Masters of Great Xia!

Understanding this, the seemingly illogical maneuvers of the Empire started to make sense.

"You realized it too late."

The Knight’s Code, exposed by Lin Jingxuan, slowed its page-flipping.

Black, twisted lines above formed new text.

"Moreover, I know of the existence of a fifth central node."

...

The fifth central node of the Yin Yang Four Symbols Array is precisely the tower at the center.

In the ongoing battle, having temporarily lost two essential Imperial figures, the Empire is once again in conflict with Great Xia North County.

Whether it’s the Intelligent Mechanism Legion or Ye Qiu’s Slaughter Spirit Legion, Shen Zheqi’s Third Legion, the Spirit Contract Master Legions led by Shang Siteng, Gongyang Jin, and Li Tugui, or the Knight Legion by Zhan Ning and Yu Lian—all have posed significant resistance to the Imperial invasion.

The tower remains at a considerable distance from them, and to traverse this gap, the Empire may have to pay an even greater price.

At this moment, a silhouette appeared beneath the tower.

It was an old man who seemed to be in his seventies.

He wore a white velvet robe, encrusted with valuable gemstones that shimmered brightly.

Whether it was the platinum crown on his head, the scepter in his right hand, or the King’s Authority Ball clutched in his left—they all reflected his status.

That was the Pope of the Old Covenant!

Among the Five Great Forces, the Old Covenant has the lowest presence.

The fall of the Twelve Apostles expedited this process, nearly rendering the Old Covenant in name only. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Only one sole commander remains, the leader of the Old Covenant—the Pope.

However, underestimating him for this would be a grave mistake.

As a seasoned Ultimate Powerhouse, the Pope has already reached Tier Nine Peak, lingering on this level for a very long time.

Having been absent from public view for ages, the world has forgotten him, forgotten what his last confrontation looked like.

Forgetfulness fosters a loss of reverence.

This seventy-something-year-old man walked, elder-like, toward the tower, resembling a devout believer.

Then, another figure suddenly blocked his path directly.

It was a presence fiery with blood-red Evil Energy, resembling a Demon God.

His upper body was half-bare, with defined, rugged muscles and sharp features.

His hands donned the same blood-red gloves, and his gaze fixed on the Pope was full of combat intent.

"Found you."

The Pope looked at the figure blocking his path and sighed softly.

"Young man, why must you oppose me?"

"Isn’t it preferable to live peacefully?"

As soon as his words fell, he lightly tapped the ground with his scepter, and the Pope’s imposing presence burst out like a tidal wave, spreading in all directions, a pale golden light paving the long steps behind him.

The golden steps each shone brillantly, resembling a pathway toward divinity.

And the man radiating blood-red Evil Energy seemed ever more a Demon God wreathed in fiery blood.

His hair flared untamed, his bare upper body defiant under the holy glow, every strand of hair flying wild, feral.

No matter how blinding the light emitted from the Pope’s body became, he kept his eyes open, staring at the other without any trepidation or retreat, even grinning widely.

"Let me reintroduce myself."

"Great Xia, Wei Qing!"

Just as his voice fell, amidst roaring laughter, Wei Qing’s blood-red Evil Energy soared skyward, staining the originally overwhelming golden light with a startling red.

Array Guardian, Great Xia’s Wei Qing, Tier Eight Peak.

Array Breaker, Pope of the Old Covenant, Tier Nine Peak!