# Chapter 3: Certain Death?
The experts at the top level of the temple were all confused. Linley's soul was far from being condensed. Linley was currently only a seventh-rank magician. Not to mention a seventh-rank magician, even a ninth-rank grand magus could not resist the purification of the 'Lord of Light's' faith power.
"How is this possible?" The ascetics, special-grade executors, and vice judges on the field all muttered to themselves, unable to believe what had happened.
"It actually failed. The descent of the divine pet did not successfully create a divine pet bearer. Then, how should we deal with this Linley?" Heitingas looked at Linley floating in midair. "With such talent, a hundred years of time would definitely allow him to become a peak Saint Domain powerhouse. He might even be stronger than me. By then, the glory of my Lord of Light will surely shine upon even broader lands."
Heitingas truly could not bear to kill Linley.
"Your Holiness?" Gilmore called out softly.
Heitingas's somewhat confused and doubtful eyes instantly regained clarity. He had already made his decision.
"Your Holiness, Linley did not become a divine pet bearer, so what should we do?" Gilmore inquired.
Heitingas looked at Linley. Under his control, Linley's body slowly floated down to the ground. At this moment, Linley supported himself with one hand and stood up directly. There was not a single injury on Linley's body now. It had to be said that the descent of the divine pet did have some benefits.
Linley looked at the large group of experts surrounding him.
"These people are at least ninth-rank experts. If I resist, I probably wouldn't have even a sliver of a chance." Linley stared coldly at Heitingas and the others, speaking out, "Your Holiness the Pope, what exactly do you intend to do to me?"
A smile suddenly appeared on Heitingas's face. "Don't ask too many questions. You executors, escort Linley back to the secret chamber."
"Yes, Your Holiness." The six special-grade executors nodded.
Then, without giving Linley any chance to ask questions, the six special-grade executors walked directly toward Linley. One of them even barked, "Move quickly. Do you want us to escort you by force?"
The situation forced his hand. Linley had no choice.
"Fine." Linley directly opened the door and walked downstairs. The six special-grade executors followed directly behind Linley. Linley descended floor by floor. Every guard they passed showed great respect upon seeing the six special-grade executors.
These six special-grade executors were all dressed in blue robes. The icy gazes they cast at Linley made him feel... that if he made any improper move, these six people would directly kill him.
******
After the six special-grade executors had escorted Linley away, another female Red Cardinal, Marina, inquired, "Your Holiness, Linley did not become a divine pet bearer. Although we don't understand the reason, we must now make a decision on how to handle this Linley."
Gilmore and the others all looked at Heitingas.
Linley was a genius, they all knew. But Linley had not become a divine pet bearer, and Linley's mother had been killed by their Radiant Church. The church had to make a decision — whether to take the risk of taking Linley in and hiding the news about Linley's mother, or to directly kill Linley.
Hiding the news about Linley's mother might work temporarily, but once Linley became a high-ranking member of the Radiant Church in the future, it would probably be impossible to keep hidden.
Heitingas's expression was indifferent as he coldly said, "Kill."
Gilmore and the others couldn't help but tremble inwardly.
"In two days, it will be the Yulan Festival, which only occurs once every ten thousand years. The execution of Linley will be set for after the Yulan Festival." Heitingas directly announced.
Gilmore, who had relatively deep contact with Linley, sighed inwardly.
A genius who could have dominated the Yulan Continent, but now his fate had been decided. Gilmore knew very well that Linley was currently imprisoned in the Radiant Temple. Linley had no possibility of escaping, not even a chance to flee from the secret chamber.
"That 'Hisse' has some connection with this Linley, but even Hisse doesn't have the ability to break into the Radiant Temple and rescue Linley." Gilmore sighed.
Linley was undoubtedly doomed.
......
Inside the secret chamber on the ninth floor of the Radiant Temple.
"Get in."
After Linley entered the secret chamber, the six special-grade executors directly closed the chamber again.
Just as the six special-grade executors were about to turn and leave, one of them, a silver-haired middle-aged man, turned to look at Linley. "Kid, a word of advice. Although your strength has been restored, don't try to break through this chamber and escape."
The other five special-grade executors also stopped. A bald old man smiled faintly and said, "Break through this chamber? Kid, if you can break through this chamber, it means your strength has at least reached the level of His Holiness the Pope."
"What do you mean?" Linley spoke up.
Linley himself couldn't see anything special about this chamber. With his strength as a ninth-rank warrior after dragonization, ordinary stone structures would be like paper that he could easily pierce through.
"The Radiant Temple is the greatest building of our Radiant Church. The entire temple itself contains a giant magic array called 'The Glory of the Lord of Light.' Whether from outside the Radiant Temple or from inside, it's impossible to damage the temple in the slightest." The silver-haired middle-aged man said proudly. "Kid, I can tell you that the only way for you to break open this chamber and escape is to destroy the chain locking the door. I can also tell you that this chain is mixed with 'Black Mithril.'"
Having said this, the six special-grade executors laughed loudly at each other and left.
Linley, however, fell silent.
Hearing the name 'Black Mithril,' Linley understood in his heart that he probably couldn't break through it.
"Black Mithril. According to legend, when the earth-type magic 'Great Earth Guardian Holy Armor' reaches the divine level, the guardian holy armor is composed of 'Black Mithril.' Its defensive power is strong enough to withstand several attacks from divine-level experts. As for Saint Domain experts, it's simply impossible to break through."
Linley himself was an earth-type magician, so he naturally knew the ultimate legend of the 'Great Earth Guardian Holy Armor.'
Upon reaching the level of a Saint Domain grand magus, the Great Earth Guardian Holy Armor becomes 'Diamond' grade. Breaking through Saint Domain to reach the divine level, it becomes the 'Black Mithril' holy armor.
"Linley, from my estimation, this should be the secret chamber where the Radiant Church imprisons ninth-rank experts, and even Saint Domain experts." Delin Kovat said. "Although that chain only has Black Mithril mixed in, not entirely composed of it, breaking it would still be extremely difficult even for a Saint Domain expert."
Linley nodded.
He already understood what that special-grade executor meant by that sentence: 'If you can break through this chamber, it means your strength has at least reached the level of His Holiness the Pope.'
******
The morning of the next day.
Mendoza Sen, along with Yale, Reynolds, George, and the others, were sitting around the dining table having breakfast together. During this time, Yale, Reynolds, and George had been constantly worried about Linley's situation. But even Mendoza Sen's intervention had been useless. What could they do?
Break into the Radiant Temple to rescue Linley? Even Mendoza Sen wouldn't dare do that.
"Yale, the day after tomorrow is the Yulan Festival. This Yulan Festival is the ten-thousand-year Yulan Festival. We'll probably only encounter this once in our lifetimes. You three little rascals should have a good, lively time playing." Mendoza Sen said cheerfully.
Mendoza Sen liked his son's good brothers.
Because of Yale's three good brothers — Linley, Reynolds, and George — all three were extraordinary. Reynolds's family had astonishing power in the O'Brien Empire's military, and George's family's influence in the Yulan Empire was not much weaker than the Ryan family.
And although Linley's family had declined, it was still a Dragonblood Warrior family. Linley himself had unlimited potential.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded.
"President, someone from the Radiant Church is outside." A servant said respectfully.
Upon hearing the words 'Radiant Church,' Yale, George, and Reynolds all brightened up and looked toward the servant. Mendoza Sen understood what his son and the other two were thinking and smiled as he instructed, "Let him in."
"Yes."
After a short while, a white-robed priest arrived. He said somewhat respectfully, "President Sen, His Holiness the Pope instructed me to deliver a letter to President Sen." Saying this, the white-robed priest took out an exquisitely decorated letter from his bosom.
A servant immediately took the letter and eventually delivered it to Mendoza Sen.
Mendoza Sen directly opened the envelope and then said coldly, "You may leave."
The white-robed priest bowed slightly and left.
"Father, what does the letter say?" Yale immediately asked anxiously. "Is it related to number three?" Reynolds and George also looked expectantly at Mendoza Sen.
Mendoza Sen nodded.
"The Radiant Church told me that they have made an internal decision to secretly execute Linley." Mendoza Sen's words struck like thunder, causing Yale, Reynolds, and George's faces to instantly turn pale.
The three of them were stunned for a long while.
"No. Impossible."
Yale was the first to shout. He snatched the letter from his father's hands, trembling as he held it and read it. Reynolds and George immediately leaned in to look as well. But when they saw the content, they were almost driven mad with anxiety.
"No!!!"
Yale rushed out from his seat, wanting to charge out of the hall.
"Yale." Mendoza Sen frowned and shouted coldly.
"Stop him." Mendoza Sen directly ordered.
Yale turned to look at his father, saying anxiously, "Father, I beg you. Take people to rescue Linley. At worst, we can give up some of the Chamber of Commerce's interests. I don't believe the Radiant Church won't consider our Chamber of Commerce at all. Father, I beg you."
"Hmph, what do you know? If there were really conditions to negotiate, the Pope would have discussed them with me long ago. The grudge between Linley and the Radiant Church must be deeper than what we understand. Otherwise, the Radiant Church wouldn't want to execute a genius. Enough. Someone, escort the young master back to his room and let him calm down for a while."
Immediately, guards escorted Yale back. No matter how angrily and anxiously Yale shouted, it was useless.
Reynolds and George could only remain silent.
After all, they had no relationship with Mendoza Sen and couldn't beg him.
******
Yulan Calendar 9999, December 30, noon. A Red Cardinal came to Linley's secret chamber. It was Gilmore.
"Gilmore." Linley looked at Gilmore with some surprise.
Gilmore had brought extremely sumptuous dishes, passing them through the small opening one by one.
Gilmore looked at Linley and sighed softly. "Linley, I really thought highly of you. But, alas... it seems fate has decreed that you cannot become a member of our Radiant Church. Well then, enjoy your meal. You don't have many days left to eat."
Hearing this, Linley was stunned.
"Lord Gilmore, what do you mean by that?" Linley looked at Gilmore.
Gilmore sighed. "The day after tomorrow, January 2nd, will be your last day." Gilmore still liked this young man Linley quite a bit. Especially after learning why Linley had killed Clyde, he sighed even more at Linley's fate.
He could have had a bright future, but for the sake of avenging his parents, he was still willing to give up everything to take revenge.
Although he, Gilmore, might not do the same, that didn't stop him from admiring Linley somewhat in his heart.
"January 2nd?"
Linley's face changed color several times before he slowly closed his eyes. He had fully understood. Clearly, the day after tomorrow was the day he would be executed.
"Thank you, Lord Gilmore. If not for you, I might still have thought there was hope of survival." Linley smiled faintly.
Gilmore glanced at Linley, sighed softly and shook his head, then turned and left. Only Linley remained alone in this secret chamber.
"January 2nd. They insist on waiting until after the Yulan Festival to execute me. Tomorrow is the Yulan Festival, the day of Kalan and Alice's grand wedding." Knowing he was doomed to die, Linley's state of mind was unprecedentedly calm and indifferent.