Demon Capital.
Lu Jun calmly issued orders to Blue Bat on the other end of the phone.
In an instant, the woman's breathing grew rapid. After a long silence, she spoke. "Understood. I'll pass the information to the Tribunal immediately."
After hanging up, Lu Jun remained composed and proceeded to contact Tang Zhong in Hangzhou, Chief Pang Lai of the Imperial Palace, and Councilor Shao Zheng.
Tang Zhong was the first to answer. His hearty and bold voice rang out. "Lu Jun! What's the matter?"
Lowering his gaze, Lu Jun said in a deep tone, "Uncle Tang, I have important information to tell you. But you must not disclose it. Act in secret."
Inside the Hangzhou Tribunal office, Tang Zhong's expression gradually turned solemn, then shocked.
"The Chief Adjudicator Cheng Ying of the Wuyi Mountain Second-Level Tribunal under your command is a Black Vatican member. Including Su Qingqing and others beneath her, they belong to Red Cardinal Leng Jue. You must investigate carefully."
"Additionally, the most crucial one, Zhu Meng's former secretary. She operates overseas and is also a Black Vatican member. She's special, walking the line between black and white, and belongs to Salan's faction."
"Salan has fallen. Only remnants remain. You might as well eliminate this fence-sitter along with them."
"This…"
Tang Zhong frowned deeply. If that were true, wouldn't the vast Tribunal be utterly compromised?
Just as he was about to speak, Lu Jun interrupted him.
"Don't rush to refute me. I know the function of the Oath Tree. But the Black Vatican excels in manipulating souls and curses. They often conceal the memories of sleeper agents, forming a second personality hidden beneath the subconscious sea, only to awaken at critical moments."
Lu Jun emphasized again, "If you don't believe me, use your own channels to verify. I will also report this to Shao Zheng. We'll act in coordination."
Tang Zhong took a deep breath. "Very well. I will proceed cautiously."
He did not press Lu Jun about his information source. Lu Jun had slain a Red Cardinal, his stance was unquestionable. Anyone who could reach Super Tier at such a young age had secrets.
Moreover, Lu Jun's status had been solidified through consecutive major battles. They were figures of the same level. Probing too deeply would violate a powerhouse's privilege.
Afterward, Tang Zhong summoned Zhu Meng and sighed. "Old Zhu, you nearly stumbled."
Next was Pang Lai.
"What? One of the Four Guardians of the Imperial Palace, Nan Shou Bai Xu is Red Cardinal Nine Infants?!"
Pang Lai was stunned. The seven Red Cardinals of the Black Vatican were deeply hidden. Often even their titles were unknown, let alone their identities.
Was there truly a Red Cardinal named Nine Infants?
Pang Lai dared not dismiss it. Regardless, he would quietly summon Nan Shou Bai Xu and keep him within sight.
Lu Jun instructed Pang Lai similarly to verify through his intelligence channels.
Finally, Lu Jun reported everything to Shao Zheng.
The influential figure paused briefly before responding in a steady voice. "Understood. I will take your information seriously and dispatch investigators."
With that settled, Lu Jun calmly set down his phone.
Unbeknownst to him, covert forces across the Nine Provinces were mobilized. Under Shao Zheng's orders, assisted by Pang Lai and Tang Zhong, all intelligence channels were activated to investigate the accused.
Soon, small fry like Cheng Ying, Vani, and Su Qingqing were exposed first.
No matter how meticulous they had been, traces remained, especially during Leng Jue's active period, when his frequent operations made patterns clear.
Shao Zheng and the others were now seventy to eighty percent convinced. Only Nine Infants, who had lain dormant for years, showed no obvious signs. After all, to rise to the position of Southern Guardian required countless trials.
Thus, Shao Zheng activated a crucial hidden piece.
Red Cardinal Blue Bat.
In Europe, a beautiful mature woman received a secret call. Calmly following Lu Jun's arrangement, she revealed confidential information.
"I became a Red Cardinal and have met the Pope. I consulted the records. The title Nine Infants does indeed exist."
"He is in the Nine Provinces, though his exact identity remains unknown."
Blue Bat's situation had improved significantly. A year ago, Lu Jun's battle at the Parthenon severely damaged the Temple, and the Pope had been too preoccupied to subject her to harsh scrutiny. Her position had stabilized.
After ending the call, she sighed faintly. She did not know Lu Jun's true intentions, nor could she inform Shao Zheng.
In the Demon Capital, Lu Jun smiled faintly. With both his and Blue Bat's confirmation, the upper echelons of the Nine Provinces could no longer doubt.
He then returned to meditation, waiting for events to unfold.
Hangzhou, the Imperial Capital, Europe, and beyond.
Tang Zhong, Pang Lai, and Zhu Meng received directives from above. They prepared solemnly to capture several Black Vatican members alive, following the trail to eradicate the filth within the Nine Provinces.
Zhu Meng was murderous and ashamed, roaring, "Damn it! The Black Vatican is insidious. If not for Lu Jun's warning, I'd have fallen into another massive trap."
Tang Zhong gave a bitter smile. "Who among us hasn't? We owe Lu Jun a great debt."
Across the Nine Provinces, undercurrents surged. One by one, hidden Black Vatican agents were uprooted. It was as if an invisible net tightened, a terrifying dark curtain descending.
From south to north, each time the darkness devoured a person, it spread along their connections, engulfing the entire web. Fierce battles raged in secret while ordinary citizens remained unaware.
Several days and nights passed in a flash.
Lu Jun immersed himself in cultivation and casually advanced his Death Element to Mid Tier Level Two, finally matching his Life Element.
The Mid Tier spell of the Death Element was called Soul Summoning Art—capable of gathering remnant souls of living beings, releasing nether energy, and reassembling them into ghostly demons.
If the Basic Tier spell Death Revival transformed fleshly lifeforms into undead, then the Mid Tier Soul Summoning Art converted souls into undead.
Ghost-type demons such as the Vengeful-Eyed Ghost Fiend were at minimum Commander-level in racial rank. Their methods were bizarre and extremely troublesome.
Thus, the several Super Tier souls Lu Jun had stockpiled finally had their use.
Of course, Shaping Specter was already considered the second-level effect of Soul Summoning Art.
The first-level effect, Soul Return, was not as formidable but possessed another profound mystery. Within seven days and seven nights of a person's death, it could recall the soul and interrogate the memories prior to death.
"Quite interesting."
Lu Jun nodded in satisfaction. In recent days cultivating the Death Element, he had been creating undead daily. Although his four Super Tier Elements were overwhelmingly powerful, with the limitless army of the Death Element, no one could truly gauge the extent of his strength.
When it erupted, the Mid Tier Death Element might not be inferior to his four Super Tier Elements.
During the few days Lu Jun cultivated quietly, Lingling's mood turned from gloom to brightness. Her sister Leng Qing had returned, safe and sound.
Upon hearing the news, Lu Jun left seclusion and went to meet her, wanting to learn about the results of the operation to eradicate the Black Vatican.
Inside the Demon Capital Tower, Leng Qing, with her short hair and tall, graceful figure, smiled the moment she saw Lu Jun. "Thank you for this operation."
She clearly knew the inside story and felt a trace of relief. Fortunately, Lu Jun had sent word to the Tribunal in time. Otherwise, she likely would have fallen while pursuing traces of Leng Jue.
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