World version update

Chapter 282 Saint Sheen's Visit

The following morning, everything in Orank was as usual.

Very few of the lower classes knew what had happened at White Manor.

With the intervention of a high-sequence superhuman, information about White Manor and the White family was blocked. Even if ordinary people saw the ruins of White Manor, they would subconsciously ignore its existence.

But within the extraordinary world and high society of the Victorian kingdom, this was undoubtedly a momentous event.

The fact that the Victorian royal family, a symbol of royal power, suffered setbacks at the hands of emerging labor unions, and even made some kind of secret compromise and concession, was unbelievable to everyone.

Only the top nobles who knew exactly what happened that night felt a chill run down their spines.

In this age when the true God is asleep, apart from the seven major orthodox churches, how many people can stand up to Mr. Lu in the union?

Everyone began to realize that a new organization called the guild was about to step onto the historical stage of the kingdom.

Inside the union building, Lu Yan sat by the window, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the area below.

There, Elizabeth Victoria, dressed in casual clothes, was exchanging views and negotiating with Sain and other union leaders to learn about the general situation of the union.

Although she had shed her glamorous gown and concealed her eyes and hair with extraordinary props, Elizabeth's otherworldly and ethereal aura was still undeniable.

While a Rank 5 member might not be considered much within the royal family, they are undoubtedly the strongest member in the current guild.

With Lu Yan's appointment, both Sain and the other high-ranking members of the union treated Elizabeth with great respect.

Turning his gaze away from the ground, Lu Yan fell into deep thought.

Placing the ambitious princess Elizabeth Victoria in the position of union president, a position seemingly incongruous with her status, was by no means a spur-of-the-moment idea of ​​Lu Yan.

This move had already been quietly decided in Lu Yan's mind last night, when Elizabeth calmly and ruthlessly analyzed the pros and cons, every word of which subtly revealed her covetousness and planning for the supreme throne.

At that moment, he saw not only a princess who remained rational in dire straits, but also a qualified collaborator who could abandon fame for power and embrace "heretic" forces, and even a pawn with unlimited potential to shake up the power structure of the entire Victorian Kingdom.

Lu Yan knew that in this mysterious version, he was just a fleeting passerby.

His authority, his power, and the protection he can provide all have a clear time limit—six months.

Six months may not be a short time for an ordinary person, but it is extremely difficult to cultivate a guild that can stand firm in the turbulent world of the supernatural, has the potential to confront the church, and support the faith of the divine court and the underworld.

Six months later, when he withdrew, the newly formed guild was like a sapling that had lost the protection of a towering tree, and it would have to face the storms of the world alone.

Admittedly, given Lu Yan's current terrifying strength—enough to crush demigods and wield the scepter of kingship—he might leave behind a sufficiently illustrious reputation before he departs, enough to make many forces hesitate to attack the guild for a short period of time.

But prestige is ultimately illusory, and its deterrent power will gradually dissipate over time. The only thing that can truly protect a union is its own strength, and a local leader who can transform that strength into an effective protective shield.

He examined his current roster. Sain was performing reasonably well, but he was only the best of the worst, and his potential for navigating monsters was limited.

Even if Lu Yan expands the upper limit for him, he can only stop at Sequence Six in the end. In the eyes of the real major powers, he is probably just a slightly stronger ant.

As for Anna, the little girl he introduced into the Underworld sequence, her potential is beyond doubt.

However, potential is ultimately just potential. Both Lu Yan's extraordinary path and Anna's subsequent advancement and growth require time and resources.

Having ruled out those two options, Lu Yan's gaze naturally fell on Elizabeth.

After much consideration, Princess Elizabeth is the most suitable candidate for the present and for some time to come.

The reason is simple: this is a typical contract based on common interests and mutual needs.

Elizabeth wanted to ascend the throne that her father had held for over a hundred years and unleash her ambition.

Given her current situation, even if Prince Charles loses his right to the throne, her ambitions are nothing but castles in the air in the face of strict succession laws and powerful vested interest groups.

She desperately needs a powerful, unconventional external force—one that can give her the power to overturn the game in the future battle for the throne.

Lu Yan, who wields the scepter of kingship, possesses overwhelming strength against demigods, and has explicitly stated his ability to influence the succession of the throne, is undoubtedly the strongest and most reliable ally she can rely on.

On the other hand, Lu Yan and his union also need Elizabeth.

With Lu Yan's strong intervention and support, the union is now about to complete the integration and annexation of the entire Orank Industrial Zone.

This not only means that the union has control of the city's most important economic lifeline and a huge working base, but also that its influence will spread like wildfire from Orank, gradually sweeping across the entire Kingdom of Victoria, and may even extend to other surrounding kingdoms.

This force is not exceptionally powerful, but it can influence the course of the kingdom. For Elizabeth, the guild is no longer just an organization, but her greatest asset in ascending to the throne.

Controlling the labor unions is tantamount to controlling the lifeline of the times and the power of tens of thousands or even millions of people. Once this power is effectively organized and guided, it is enough to make any traditional forces that underestimate it pay a heavy price.

For the unions, Elizabeth's involvement means a powerful protective shield and spokesperson. Her status as a member of the royal family itself carries a certain symbolic meaning and a buffering effect.

More importantly, her ambitions are firmly tied to the interests of the union, which will inevitably lead to greater expansion of the union.

"However, all of this depends on one thing: the attitude of the church."

Lu Yan murmured to himself in a voice only he could hear.

Turning his head to look at the front door, Lu Yan said in a leisurely tone:
"Please come in!"

The heavy oak door to the office was slowly pushed open by an invisible force without making a sound, as if controlled by a ghost.

Soft light from the corridor outside filtered in, outlining a tall, slender figure. Then, a clergyman dressed in a pristine white robe entered the office.

This white robe was not made of ordinary fabric; it subtly exuded a holy radiance, and its edges were embroidered with intricate yet understated silver patterns, symbolizing its extremely high status within the Church of the Seven Gods.

The newcomer had a slender face and a peaceful yet profound gaze. He was none other than Saint Sheen, the pinnacle saint of the Church of Seven Gods, with whom Lu Yan had briefly collaborated during the Great Collapse version.

Saint Sheen's steps were steady and quiet. He first walked to the center of the office and, facing Lu Yan, who sat upright in the main seat with an aura as restrained as an abyss, meticulously performed a standard church greeting, lightly touching his left chest with his right fist and bowing slightly.

"Mr. Lu."

Saint Sheen raised his head, his gaze calmly fixed on Lu Yan, his tone gentle and respectful, like a spring breeze, carrying a soothing power, "Long time no see."

The moment Saint-Hein stepped into the union building, Lu Yan already knew of his arrival, and even sensed the subtle tension and seriousness hidden beneath his calm exterior. Lu Yan was not surprised to have an acquaintance visit.

After all, in the previous version, he encountered dozens of saints from the Church of the Seven Gods, among whom there must have been saints from the Church of Steam.

The two versions are too close together, making the information mapping clearer, especially since Saint Sheen would inevitably know more under the special circumstances of the Great Collapse version.

Last night, he displayed a projection of the Divine Court and the Underworld in his confrontation with the Staff of Kings. Saint Sheen had seen the Underworld and the Divine Court in the Great Collapse version, and given that Lu Yan's name was not deliberately hidden, it was only natural that he knew the key.

The only thing that surprised Lu Yan was that Saint Sheen came alone, without any other powerful figures following him, and he didn't have any powerful sealing artifact aura on him, which piqued Lu Yan's interest.

Lu Yan nodded slightly, indicating that there was no need for formalities. Leaning back in his chair, his posture was casual, yet he possessed an air of profound composure, as if the entire office space was pulsating slightly with his breath.

“Saint Xien.” Lu Yan’s voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, and he cut straight to the point, “What is it? Please speak freely.”

Saint-Heinz straightened up, a hint of inquiry in his eyes, and slowly began to speak, carefully choosing his words:
"Mr. Lu's sudden arrival in this world and his display of such great power have shaken the entire church."

May I ask what brings you here, sir?

He paused, seemingly observing Lu Yan's reaction.

As if he had thought it through carefully, he offered his conjecture, "Excuse my boldness, but the projection you displayed last night seemed to come from the underworld, which is renowned throughout the realms. Does this mean that you intend to spread the faith of the underworld in this world?"

Lu Yan unconsciously tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a rhythmic tapping sound.

Having witnessed things unfold to this point yesterday, Lu Yan never imagined that he could conceal the spread of the underworld belief simply through his words.

Having just subdued the Victorian royal family, even the Steam Cult would be wary of him. As long as the matter wasn't brought to the forefront, the church would choose to avoid conflict head-on.

However, Saint Sheen's arrival actually gave Lu Yan some other opportunities.

"good."

Lu Yan readily admitted it, as if stating an established fact.

"I have come in accordance with the decree of the Great Emperor."

"This world is in chaos and disorder, good and evil are hard to distinguish, cause and effect are unclear, and the name of the underworld should be sung."

As he spoke, Lu Yan subtly activated the Divine Court of the Underworld within the Underworld.

Even though it has departed from the Great Transmigration version and the Divine Court of the Heavens has lost the authority of the Second Dao, its essence remains unchanged.

The supreme majesty of the Divine Court silently emanated from the Netherworld, causing even Saint Shin, a peak saint, to tremble slightly in his eyes.

In his view, the Emperor's decree represented a vast and ancient pantheon that was beginning to turn its attention to this world.

Saint-Heinz took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the pounding in his heart, and continued his more crucial probing:

"That aura of a true god who briefly appeared in this realm not long ago, even causing the strange mist that permeates the world to mutate."

He paused, each word seemingly carrying immense weight, his gaze fixed on Lu Yan, urgently seeking the answer, "Is it also related to you, sir, and the Divine Court and Underworld behind you?"

This time, Lu Yan's gaze did not waver at all, calmly meeting Saint Sheen's gaze, which was a mixture of awe, tension, and inquiry.

He nodded slightly, as if confirming something trivial, but his words were like thunder, exploding directly in the depths of Saint Sheen's soul:

"The Great Emperor of Fengdu watches over this world."

As they spoke, the order of the Divine Court and the Underworld descended upon this small room. Above the neatly arranged phantoms of deities in Fengdu City, the great aura of the Second Dao left behind by Lu Yan seemed to transcend time and descend upon this place.

"Emperor Fengdu!"

These four words, as if imbued with some kind of spiritual power, instantly pierced through all of Saint Sheen's psychological defenses.

He felt a tremor run through his body, and a chilling sensation from the deepest part of his soul instantly swept over him.

Even though he had already guessed based on various signs and the church's top-secret intelligence, when he heard this honored name spoken by Lu Yan, the irresistible pressure from a higher level of life still almost suffocated him.

He could almost clearly sense that in some distant and unknowable dimension, a pair of eyes that could see through the sun and moon and overlook the ages were slowly lowering their gaze upon this place with indifference and majesty, piercing through endless time and mist.

The mere mention of his name triggered such a terrifying response.

"Fengdu."

Saint Sheen did not even dare to utter the full name aloud, but could only silently recite it in his heart with the utmost piety and reverence.

This obedience perfectly matches the venerable name that His Holiness the Pope recently managed to capture with great risk, using a zero-level sealed artifact of the Church.

At this point, Saint Sheen had no more doubts.

Lu Yan, behind his desk, quietly observed the changes in Saint Sheen and subtly dispelled the divine court and underworld that had been stirred up in the underworld.

Saint Sheen was able to sense the Great True Name and the pressure of the Divine Court entirely because the Underworld Divine Court was right before his eyes.

In addition, Lu Yan's successful suppression of the Victoria royal family last night created momentum, and all these factors combined led Saint-Sheen to make such a huge misjudgment.

Realizing that the true God had cast his gaze upon him, Saint Sheen's attitude underwent a dramatic change in an instant.

He bowed slightly again, his posture extremely humble and submissive.

He didn't look like a supreme saint serving the god of steam and machinery at all; rather, he looked more like a devout believer about to meet a new deity.

"Since it is the decree of the true God who descended to spread faith and establish order in this world, it should naturally have a sacred name."

In fact, Saint Sheen's behavior at this moment reflects the true attitude of the Seven Gods Church, especially the faction represented by the Steam God Church.

Unlike other religions that may be more conservative and dogmatic, Steamism is the most progressive, pragmatic, and results-oriented.

With the God of Steam asleep and another true god watching over this world, how could the Steam God Cult dare to obstruct a true god from spreading his faith?
(End of this chapter)