Clang.

The last Death Knight fell.

This Death Knight unit had a formidable presence when launching a legion charge, giving the impression of invincibility among thousands of troops. Especially the Death Knight Commander at the forefront, whose lance charge could even pierce a Dark Gold Tower Shield.

Although part of this is due to the not-so-advanced material of the Dark Gold Tower Shield, the fact that a single hit could drastically reduce its durability by 40 points already demonstrates the fierce power of the legion charge.

If Bai Pu didn’t have both Power and Endurance Specialization, with values exceeding 150 points, along with a series of strong passive bonuses, it would certainly be impossible to forcibly stop them.

Moreover, another reason was that this was only a spacious hall-shaped room, not a flat battlefield suitable for cavalry charges. The charge of the Death Knight Commander was not at its maximum speed, thus not providing a high power bonus.

Even so, this Death Knight unit, along with other undead creatures, still cost Bai Pu and the Bishop’s servants considerable time to slay them all.

If Rosen’s Spiritual Power wasn’t sealed, the troublesome Withered Wilt Domain and the terrifying Death Ode Mystical Arts skill system would undoubtedly cause great trouble for Bai Pu, making it possible they couldn’t win.

"My foundation is still somewhat shallow. I hope completing this Golden Side Task will provide more formidable trump cards."

Bai Pu led the Bishop’s servants and stepped into the Light Gate from which Rosen escaped.

Inside the room, the stone tablet stood firmly in the center, but Rosen was nowhere to be seen, having certainly escaped from the Original Sin World using the Divine Power of a Divine Envoy.

The proof was the dozen or so Rune Characters floating in place. Forcibly leaving the Lost City causes the collected Rune Characters to automatically exit the Storage Space.

Bai Pu put away these Rune Characters, and Gaia’s Will transmitted a series of prompts.

The initial prompts were like "You obtained Divine Rune No. xx," which Bai Pu didn’t bother to remember, as he couldn’t remember the Divine Runes.

He focused on the subsequent prompts.

"The Divine Rune collection progress has reached 89%?" Bai Pu felt joy in his heart; it seemed the overlap between Rosen’s collected Divine Runes and his own was not high.

Bai Pu raised his hand to activate the stone tablet. Energy converged, and four Enhanced Warrior Level giant bears appeared.

With the Suffering Infection state provided by the Parrot Corps Commander, Bai Pu didn’t exert much effort to slay the four giant bears, although they didn’t drop any Divine Runes this time.

"Now I must find the location of the Bound. With the Divine Runes he collected, the progress should reach 100%!"

Bai Pu sat cross-legged once again, ordered the Bishop’s servants to gather Spiritual Power toward him, and traced backward along the direction of the Mind-Attracting Vine.

...

Bai Pu went from room to room, clearing them, directly targeting the direction of the Bound’s team.

However, for some reason, the Bound’s team also accelerated the speed of their room clearance, fleeing far from Bai Pu!

The evidence was that every time Bai Pu cleared a new room and sensed for the Bound, the distance never seemed to close.

Bai Pu no longer rested, fighting under high demands, and so did the Bound’s team.

"How does the Bound know I’m tracking him?"

Bai Pu frowned.

Logically, Rosen’s Mind-Attracting Vine had already been sealed, leaving no chance to warn the Bound.

Unless a Divine Envoy Level entity was passing information between Rosen and the Bound!

Sealing one Thorn Divine Envoy, a new Divine Envoy passing messages so quickly revealed how important the Divines of the Master of Suffering’s camp consider the matrix of the Original Sin World.

However, even if a new Divine Envoy appeared, it could never be like Our Lady of Thorns, who had deeply eroded the Original Sin World, even possessing a vessel to roam within it.

Bai Pu now had the active gaze of Gaia’s Will, making it impossible for a Divine Envoy Level entity to dare show before him, which was his source of confidence.

"Divine Rune collection progress reached 98%."

Bai Pu cleared yet another room and, as usual, sat cross-legged, tracing the Bound’s team’s traces backward.

"Hmm? The traces vanished?"

Bai Pu opened his eyes in astonishment, then closed them again, disbelievingly attempting once more.

Once again, there was nothing.

"Gaia! I need to consult a question: Does the Lord of the Original Sin World have the ability to erase Divine Envoy’s residual Divine Power means themselves?"

Bai Pu speculated if the Bound, unable to bear the pressure, had voluntarily erased the Mind-Attracting Vine. If so, Gaia’s Will wouldn’t have an excuse to seal the Bound later.

Thankfully, Gaia’s Will responded: [Cannot.]

"That’s good... well, not so good. This means the Bound’s team may no longer be in this area full of grid rooms. They are too far, exceeding the limits of the reverse trace. Considering they couldn’t suddenly widen the distance, they must have gathered 100% of the Divine Runes, created a powerful Rune Language, and triggered the teleport rules, proceeding to the Holy Artifact Platform or similar regions!"

Bai Pu didn’t rest, striding into the next room.

"I must also quickly get my Divine Rune progress to 100%!"

...

Holy Artifact Platform.

The Bound looked at the only two remaining Holy War Legion Commanders under his command, along with the scant four or five Thorn Saint Warriors.

There was no emotion in his expression, only fanaticism and devotion.

"According to the oracle, when the Lost City isn’t nurturing a Holy Artifact, gathering the Rune Language will trigger the ’Primordial Passage’ at the Holy Artifact Platform—a passage leading to the Creation Obelisk!"

"Next, I will activate that path, find the Creation Obelisk, and engrave this Rune Language on it. My God’s grand blueprint will manifest in reality through my sacrifice!"

"Praise suffering! Praise My God!"

The Thorn Cultists shouted one after another, their ranks greatly diminished, but the morale of the few remaining was undiminished.

"You, remain here." The Bound’s expression was cold, "Gangxin will eventually arrive here. You must forsake everything to stop him! Engraving the Rune Language will not take long, one hour is enough."

The few individuals acknowledged their orders.

As the Bound spoke, he also infused Holy Wave Power into the Rune Language.

Mystical resonance transformed into wave-like ripples of transparent air.

The air ripples gradually landed.

On the Holy Artifact Platform, the transparent glass-like floor rotated open, revealing a spiral descendent passageway! Lines representing time and space criss-crossed the side walls of the passage, seemingly with slight distortion.

The Bound took a large step into it.

Seconds later, the Primordial Passage closed.

A few Holy Warriors, two Holy War Legion Commanders, stood back-to-back, all maintaining their Twisted True Form, vigilantly watching the surroundings.

Time ticked by, each passing minute heightened the hopes of the Thorn Believers.

Suddenly, white light flashed on the Holy Artifact Platform, and a figure unexpectedly transported there!