Yalamu led five other tent leaders, pushing steadily against a countless number of monsters. He thought they could only hold on for a while, but half an hour passed and they were still tireless. Under the illumination of Bamuta’s light, they were fearless of death, not only with strong personal strength but also with very coordinated teamwork, blocking and dismantling for each other, taking turns as the arrowhead. Although Jose and the others were slightly inferior to Yalamu, Batty roughly estimated their strength as equivalent to the Four Lives.

In the selection of the Lightkeeper, Batty was outstanding. Inheriting the Mother Blade and having trained at the lighthouse, he was confident in his combat ability and wanted to be the vanguard in this exploration mission. He wasn’t just capable of striking a wooden fish; his strength was formidable... he was the weakest in this operation. Bamuta at least knew the way and had rich experience.

Seeing Batty’s embarrassment, Bamuta smiled, "Lord Batty has better talent than us. We are just older and started cultivating earlier. Yalamu and the others are outstanding among the Lightkeepers, having guarded multiple lighthouses and survived when they were young, so all they know is combat."

All they know?

"Why didn’t they become Sherens?" Batty blurted out.

"Surviving is not a condition for becoming a Sheren. It depends on Tishili’s mood, or perhaps they do not meet Tishili’s preferences," Bamuta said, "but the Deity still favors us. We joined the Lamp Lighting Church; the city was not conducive to our survival, so the Great Elder put us in the Sarawo Mine. It’s been many years since then."

Bamuta, feeling a bit sentimental, held up an oil lamp. Although the blue light was not as bright as the Round Table Conference, it brought a shock to the darkness, allowing Yalamu and the others to fight fearlessly forward.

"Lamp Lighting Church?" Batty was momentarily stunned.

"Yes, our own Roto organization. The path to the outside world is not only known to Tishili; in fact, we Roto have known about it for a long time and have been searching. But to explore, one must possess the Original Embryo or a Divine Relic, and those powers are in the hands of Shou Zun Men and Tishili. Our only way to obtain them is to become Lightkeepers. For thousands of years, the Church has passed down from surviving and enlightened Lightkeepers. Regrettably, my generation relies on the Illuminati to survive."

"Elder..."

"Lord Batty, our Lamp Lighting Church stems from the Lightkeepers, venerating the Light of Salvation. Our totem is the oil lamp. However, we have not received any response from the Deity, so now there are only a few of us barely surviving until your arrival." Bamuta held up the oil lamp and said, "You have given us hope. The Deity finally favors us again after a thousand years of waiting."

A sigh escaped from Bamuta’s small frame, as if echoing the lament of countless Roto over the millennia.

"Elder Bamuta," Batty didn’t know what to say. He felt he had been through a lot but in reality, he was less than twenty years old, "We will definitely find our way out."

"Yes, we will definitely find our way out." Bamuta smiled, "You are a Lightkeeper but also not a Lightkeeper, different from us. This exploration is actually a process of self-discovery for you, Lord Batty. This journey is long."

Batty nodded, knowing it would be difficult, but he wasn’t afraid. He was confident.

Batty watched Yalamu and the others coordinate in battle, becoming increasingly thrilled. This level of coordination, relying on each other, supporting in defense, and collaborating in attack, saving Spiritual Ability energy consumption but still delivering astounding offensive power, was the result of many battles.

Occasionally, Spiritual Energy Aggregation Beams shot out from afar—those were craftier Devourers. But once these attacks entered the range of the blue light, they were weakened. Even if they hit Yalamu and his team, they caused no harm.

The physical strength and life force of a Lightkeeper are among the most tenacious, otherwise, they wouldn’t survive on the Mist Continent.

Under the guidance of the lamp light, the battle lasted two hours, and every Fallen was cleared away, leaving corpses scattered everywhere.

"Let’s rest for a bit before moving on." Bamuta said.

After resting, everyone dared not waste time. The path was unusually wide, and they all sped up. During their march, Batty also noticed traces of human activity on this path. It didn’t seem naturally formed, or perhaps it was modified by later generations.

Bamuta saw Batty’s conjecture, "This path has been trodden by countless people."

As they advanced under the light, they could still see the scattered bones accumulated over the years. This leg of the journey was especially long, and Batty roughly estimated it might take two days. There were forks in the road and occasional attacks, but they were easily resolved. The environment differed significantly from the underground cave landscape of Sarawo, resembling more of an underground passage.

It was also Yalamu’s first time reaching here. They saw strong hope in each other’s eyes. This did not seem like a natural cave but rather a road leading outside. The outside world, which everyone had heard of in ancient legends but could not imagine because they had never seen it or had a point of reference.

Batty had seen a glimpse, but he didn’t mention it. It wasn’t because he didn’t want to give everyone hope, but because the teacher had mentioned that hope without assurance is a poison. The Round Table Conference could only reach his soul. This doesn’t count as hope; the true redeeming path is one everyone can reach.

After a long time, the road gradually became narrow yet smoother. Bamuta slowed down his pace, and the others followed suit. Ahead of them appeared a towering object in the shape of a massive door, blending with the surrounding mountain.

As everyone approached, they raised their oil lamps, revealing indeed a gigantic door, standing over thirty meters tall. It was truly a door!

Near the entrance, bones were scattered everywhere. Bamuta’s gaze grew intense as he looked at the grand gate. Twenty-one years, and he had finally returned.

The ancient copper gate was weathered, seemingly etched with something, but now blurred and barely discernible, he could vaguely see the Lightkeeper’s lamp.

Bamuta raised the oil lamp, "This is the place I reached twenty-one years ago, and the furthest I advanced. In the history of the Lamp Lighting Church, we’ve ventured further. It is said that beyond here, one would see a river, but there’s no more records of it."

A river?

Bamuta raised the oil lamp, emitting a blue glow, clasped his hands together, and chanted an incantation. The blue light once again illuminated the entire space, revealing a groove on the gate beneath the lamp’s light. Bamuta placed the oil lamp in, boom...

Rumble...

The gate opened with a heavy creak. Bamuta quietly retrieved the oil lamp, and everyone saw the grand hall filled with dim light.

In the center of the hall stood a huge, pitch-black stone statue, pierced by a massive chain from the dome connected to the mountain body.

Without hesitation, Bamuta led the group towards the gigantic stone statue, raised the oil lamp, and the blue light revealed the statue—a lumpy and grotesque creature, full of protrusions and bearing an ugly patched large head, seemingly impaled with several weapons.

Bamuta stared blankly; Batty and the others examined the statue briefly, then scanned their surroundings. Although spacious, there was no other exit. Behind the statue, there was a sealed door.

Yalamu looked towards Bamuta, but Bamuta did not look at them. Yalamu approached the door, pushed it, but it didn’t budge, then charged at it with Spiritual Ability.

The thunderous noise snapped Bamuta awake; the entire cavern shook a few times, yet the door remained immobile, sealed tightly as if one with the wall.

Bamuta beckoned, "That’s not how it opens."

"Elder, is this the endpoint? Beyond lies another world?" Jose asked excitedly.

Everyone’s eyes burned as they looked at Bamuta. Bamuta shook his head, "No, we’ve only ventured a short distance. Listen carefully to every word I say next!"

Yalamu and the others wore solemn expressions as Bamuta slowly handed the oil lamp to Batty, who then noticed Bamuta’s oil lamp was no ordinary lamp, inscribed with text he couldn’t comprehend, "This was our only hope before you appeared, the foundation of the Lamp Lighting Church. The path it guides is now entrusted to you."

Batty hesitantly accepted the lamp with a hint of remorse, "Elder, you are..."

Bamuta smiled, "Lord Batty is smart and calm, but our path is perilous. Many talents have emerged among us Roto, yet none have endured until the end. Several generations have fallen here. I’ve prepared for a long time; today I might win. If not, retreat until the strength is enough to return. We don’t fear defeat, losing countless times doesn’t matter as long as we win once, and it’s forever."

"Elder, why say that? Let us face it together!" Yalamu urged.

"You are all talented, but lack sufficient practice time. Protect Lord Batty with your lives; the journey of redemption can’t be rushed. Continuous growth is needed. It is my battle now and my final command." Bamuta declared.

"We will obey the Elder’s teachings!" Yalamu and the others bowed, simultaneously saluting Batty.

Bamuta looked at Batty, "Infuse your Spiritual Ability into the lamp."

Upon hearing, Batty infused the lamp with his Spiritual Ability, buzz–––

The oil lamp’s radiance intensified, instantly bathing the cavern in bright azure light, seemingly triggering some reaction. The entire cavern was aglow, revealing the fragmented bricks beneath their feet, and the walls adorned with murals, though severely damaged—a series of figures posed in various strange stances.

Bamuta smiled, "Impressive, Lord Batty. It took me a month to light this lamp."

Meanwhile, the grotesque statue before them began to tremble, chains clattering with vibration, its stone shell cracking as the enormous figure arose. Batty, Yalamu, and others immediately braced themselves.

"Withdraw to the entrance; do not interfere no matter what transpires. Remember, the journey of redemption is lengthy, requiring patience." Bamuta patted Batty, then each of the others, smiling, "This battle is mine."