Chapter 345 The Villain Lady Arrives 174

Chapter 345 The Villain Lady Arrives 174

As the news that Tariq and Alice decided to uncover the secret of the gem spread quietly across the continent, the major forces surged like a tide, and the dissatisfaction and jealousy in their hearts spread rapidly like wildfire. Those forces that once coveted the power of the gem were now furious. They could not accept that this power that could subvert the situation fell into the hands of the Church of Light, and they could not tolerate that Tariq and others were given shelter because of an accidental rescue.

In the dark underground castle, the leader of the Shadow Council, an old man in a black robe with a sinister face, was summoning representatives from various forces to hold a secret meeting. The air was filled with depression and tension, and the flickering candlelight reflected faces that were either greedy or angry.

"Everyone, the Church of Light dared to openly protect Tariq and his group, and even intended to monopolize the power of the gem!" The low voice of the old man in black robes echoed in the conference room with unquestionable majesty. "We must unite and teach the Church of Light a lesson, let them know that they are not the only one in power on this continent!"

"That's right. The Church of Light has always claimed to be righteous, but now it is doing this kind of sheltering. It is simply tarnishing the word 'light'!" A dwarf chieftain from the Frozen Mountains said with his eyes wide open and his voice like thunder.

"Humph, they just want to monopolize the power." A dean from the Southern Magic Academy, who was dressed in gorgeous robes, sneered, "But power should not belong to any one person or organization. It should be shared by all living beings who pursue truth and peace."

"Sharing? That sounds good, but hasn't your magic academy been secretly researching all kinds of forbidden techniques?" A ninja assassin from the East said with a sharp and cold voice. Her words were like a sharp dagger, piercing people's hearts.

The meeting room was in chaos, with the conflicts and suspicions between the various forces exposed. However, in this chaos, a more sinister plan quietly took shape.

The next morning, when the first ray of sunlight penetrated the clouds and shone on the temple of the Church of Light, harsh and threatening documents fell like snowflakes to every corner of the temple. These documents came not only from the Shadow Council, but also from the dwarves of the Frozen Mountains, the Southern Magic Academy, and many small and medium-sized forces. Together, they wove a huge net with the intention of tightly binding the Church of Light.

Gabriel stood on the high platform of the temple, holding the holy sword, his eyes were like torches. He slowly unfolded the documents, and his brows furrowed with every sentence he read. Finally, he threw the documents heavily on the ground and said angrily: "These greedy parasites dare to be so arrogant! But they forgot that the Church of Light has never been afraid of threats!"

Alice stood aside, her eyes also flashing with determination and unyielding. She whispered to Gabriel, "Sir, we must take action, not only to prove our innocence, but also to show the strength and determination of the Church of Light."

"Yes, Alice." Gabriel nodded, with a flash of determination in his eyes. "Pass the order and summon all loyal believers and knights to prepare for the upcoming challenge. At the same time, strengthen the defense of the temple to ensure the safety of the gem."

A few days later, an unprecedented rally was held in the central square of the continent. Representatives of all the major forces gathered together, some wearing armor, some wearing long robes, each with a strength and momentum that should not be underestimated. The team of the Church of Light, led by Gabriel and Alice, slowly entered the venue, their steps firm and powerful, as if no threat could shake their faith.

"Church of Light, why do you shelter those greedy thieves? Have you forgotten your mission to protect justice and peace?" The black-robed old man from the Shadow Council took the lead in attacking. His voice echoed in the square, attracting a chorus of echoes.

Gabriel stepped forward, his eyes blazing with fire. “We in the Church of Light have never forgotten our mission. Although Tariq and others have fallen into trouble, they have not given up their pursuit of justice. As for the gem, we will not let it fall into the hands of evil. We shelter them because we believe that real power should be used to protect rather than plunder.”

"That sounds good!" The dwarf chief snorted coldly, "But how can you prove your innocence? Unless you hand over the gemstone, we can study it together to ensure that it is not abused."

As soon as these words came out, the venue was in an uproar. All the major forces echoed and demanded that the Church of Light hand over the gem. Facing this sudden pressure, Alice stood up, her voice gentle but firm: "Everyone, the power of the gem is far beyond our control. The reason why we decided to keep it is because we believe that only at the right time and place can it play its true value. We, the Church of Light, are willing to take on this responsibility, but we also ask you to give us your trust and support."

However, greed and jealousy had blinded everyone's eyes. They were unwilling to listen to Alice's explanation and just kept asking for the gem to be handed over. At this moment, a clear bell suddenly rang, interrupting the noise in the venue.

The ringing sound came from an ancient pendant in Alice's hand, which was a family heirloom that she had worn since she was a child. As the ringing sounded, a strange light flashed in her eyes, as if she had received some kind of revelation.

"Everyone, please listen to me." Alice took a deep breath, and her voice echoed in the square with an indescribable majesty. "I just received a revelation from the ancient times. It told me that the true purpose of gems is not as simple as we think. It is not only a source of power, but also a bridge connecting the past and the future. It is the key to awakening the wisdom of ancient civilizations."

“If we can unlock the secret of the gem and find the remains of that lost civilization, perhaps we can find a real solution to the current crisis. By then, the power of the gem will no longer be the focus of our competition, but a powerful force in promoting peace and prosperity on the continent.”

Alice's words were like a stream of fresh air, dispelling the haze in the conference hall. Representatives of various major forces looked at each other in bewilderment, and they began to realize that perhaps their previous actions were too short-sighted and selfish.

"Is what you said... true?" There was a hint of uncertainty in the black-robed old man's voice.

Alice nodded, her eyes sparkling with sincerity and hope: "Yes, I am willing to lead a team to search for the remains of that civilization. If we succeed, it will not only bring peace and prosperity to the continent, but also prove the innocence and selflessness of the Church of Light."

After intense discussions and negotiations, the major forces finally agreed to Alice's proposal. They decided to temporarily put aside their prejudices and grudges and jointly form an expedition team to search for the lost remains of civilization.

Taric, Estrella, Fiona, Rek'Sai and Leah naturally became the core members of the expedition team, and the major forces also sent their elites to join them, including brave knights, wise magicians, agile ninjas and tenacious dwarf warriors.