"Cooperation."
Glie corrected, "Every selection for the Angelic Holy Assembly and the Dark Church always brings forth interesting events. The Monster Beast Legion has suffered losses every year, and now with Wenlan City joining the six major powers, I doubt they can escape it."
"Do we have to come?" Chen Fan retorted.
Before he arrived, the Monster Beast Legion could have simply refused to endure this humiliation.
Glie gave a wry smile, "We have no choice but to come. If we don't, we lose out."
"Hmm?"
Chen Fan didn't understand.
Lan Kuang, who was behind him, understood even less.
This was his first time attending such a grand event.
"It's like this,"
Glie explained, "Every selection for a Cardinal or an Archbishop takes place within a secret realm. A group of candidates enter, and we can choose one to support..."
Glie explained for a long time before Chen Fan finally understood.
It turned out that this Bishop Selection Assembly had specific rules. All attending powers had to choose a side to support.
Each side would place a heavy bet. For instance, if the candidate Chen Fan supported became a Cardinal, he would claim all the bets from the other powers. Simultaneously, the Angelic Holy Assembly would compensate him with a bet of equivalent value for his own wager.
The stakes were always immense. The Monster Beast Legion had won once in the past.
It was that single victory that propelled the Monster Beast Legion, then merely a second-rate power, to the first-rate tier.
Therefore, whenever such a grand event occurred, all powers would send representatives.
Even if it was just betting on a one-in-ten-thousand chance, it was worth it.
Chen Fan, with an ambiguous smile, looked at Glie, "Is there no corruption?"
He now had reason to suspect that the Monster Beast Legion might be an affiliate of either the Angelic Holy Assembly or the Dark Church.
"Don't worry."
Glie saw the thought in his mind, "The Monster Beast Legion is absolutely not a pawn of any faction."
I don't believe a single word of your assurance.
Of course, he couldn't say that, but Chen Fan had already developed a hint of interest in the Cardinal Selection Assembly.
If I were to wager the Dragon-Patterned Compass and win, would the Holy Emperor be compelled to reveal the Scepter?
Even thinking about it seemed impossible.
"Is it purely a gamble on luck?"
Glie answered without hesitation, "We can attach a wisp of our spirit to aid the person we choose to win. Of course, how much we attach depends entirely on our confidence, because if the chosen person dies within the secret realm, their spirit will be devoured by it."
Chen Fan frowned, "It's not just about luck, but also courage."
"That's right."
If someone dared to sever half of their spiritual power, that is, their nascent soul power, to enter the secret realm, that would also be fine.
As long as you're not afraid of death, you can send all of it in.
Chen Fan thought for a moment, "So... the Skeleton Society and the Dark Church will definitely cooperate, and the Angelic Holy Assembly and the Radiant Society will also cooperate. The Monster Beast Legion, however, is always alone, and that's why they suffer such heavy losses."
"Indeed, that is the case."
Glie had no choice, "The Monster Beast Legion used to have four legion commanders. Because they suffered greatly in a Dark Bishop selection assembly, they lost half of their spiritual power, and their strength declined significantly."
It was both an opportunity and a crisis.
"Good."
Chen Fan could find no reason to refuse, "When we enter, we two can cooperate."
Glie's face lit up with joy, "Pleasure cooperating."
"Pleasure cooperating. By the way... there's another issue. What if multiple powers choose the same person..."
"This situation does occur."
Glie provided a reasonable explanation, "However, very few spiritual powers can last until the end inside. If someone genuinely persists, after they emerge, the owners of the spiritual powers can engage in combat to gain the qualification to claim the bets."
"Mm."
Now he understood it all.
The two chatted for a while longer, and Chen Fan remembered another matter, "How did the Monster Beast Legion win last time?"
"Luck."
Glie smiled, "That time, a supreme treasure was discovered within the secret realm, and the Dark Church and the Angelic Holy Assembly fought each other fiercely. In the end, it benefited our legion commander."
"There are treasures inside?"
"Naturally. Obtaining a supreme treasure within the secret realm can enhance the strength of the selected candidate, allowing them to survive until the end. Ultimately, only one person can walk out of the secret realm alive," Glie said.
"It truly is..."
Chen Fan didn't know what to say.
This kind of selection method was like raising Gu worms.
The Gu worm that survived until the end was the strongest.
Major powers were so ruthless to their own people, let alone outsiders.
...
As they were chatting.
Old Demon returned.
The moment Old Demon's figure appeared, someone from the Dark Church faction stepped forward.
"Clang!"
At this moment, a bell chime descended from the Holy Mountain.
"Time is up."
Glie stood up, "See you on the Holy Mountain. I'm leaving now."
"Okay."
At this moment, no one had the time to bother finding trouble with Old Demon.
Ascending the mountain was the most important thing.
"Up."
A group of figures shot into the sky, flying towards the peak of the Holy Mountain.
Watching everyone's movements, Chen Fan and Lan Kuang also flew upwards.
Chen Fan didn't bring others, and neither did other factions. Most of the people were cultivating at the foot of the mountain. Those who could ascend were either of high status or possessed potential.
In short, not many people ascended.
...
The higher they flew, the greater the pressure.
However, for Chen Fan, this pressure was insignificant.
The first thing that came into view was a vast plaza. At this moment, dense figures stood on the plaza, each wearing a white robe that obscured their faces.