The descendants of the blasphemers, also often called the people of blasphemy, were exiled to the Black Gravel Plain. Like the wild beasts of the Black Gravel Plain, they are all targets of the Xiren, the divine descendants, for hunting. Although there are merchant caravans that, with the tacit approval of the Xiren, cross the Yanyun Mountains to enter the Black Gravel Plain and trade with the remaining exiles, most caravans take the southern Exile Road. Yet the The Harper Family caravan insists on making a wide detour through this perilous wasteland to enter the Black Gravel Plain, which is truly strange.

Gregory Clark ascended the steps, and through the gaps in the dense branches and leaves of the Yingyan flowers, saw Eric sitting atop the crown of a Kunlun bramble. It seemed as if his gaze was lost in the distance. Gregory Clark gave a gentle cough; Eric quickly climbed down, hiding his body behind the Kunlun bramble to prevent Gregory Clark from seeing the tattered clothes and whip marks on his back.

"Eric, there are guests visiting. The Elder is gathering everyone in the Guanlan Hall. You should withdraw, lest you get reprimanded again."

The seminary is located in a remote part of the empire, with no villages or towns nearby to provide offerings. It has long since fallen into decline and now barely manages to survive. The main hall, Guanlan Hall, has not seen repairs for years and is in a state of disrepair; the murals on the walls praising the miracles of Adonai are peeling and mottled with age. The seminary has only one Elder, four teachers, eight attendants, and eleven or twelve menial workers. Because of its remote location, no noble is willing to send their children here to suffer, so there is not a single apprentice in the seminary. Besides them, there are only two ascetics passing through.

Gregory Clark stepped into Guanlan Hall. Elder Reed and the ascetic Kevin Stone were sitting cross-legged in the hall.

"The empire's Left Minister has been exiled to Yanyun and has chosen our place as the site for his atonement. Does this surprise you, ascetic Gregory?"

Gregory Clark folded his legs beneath him, looked at Elder Reed, and said, "The Harper Family is a vassal of the The Sutton Family. The The Harper Family caravan passed through here the year before last; perhaps they told the Left Minister about this place."

"Brian Sutton is lying low for now. He could go to Jason Ford, or at worst, shut himself away in Xiutu City and refuse visitors, yet he insists on coming here. The four thousand li of the Yanyun Mountains are mostly barren hills and rocky ridges, with nothing but ferocious wild beasts—nothing else of value. He must truly be coming for the Yingyan flowers..." At this, Elder Reed sighed softly, his face full of worry. "Yanyun is a bitterly cold land. For the Yingyan flowers to bloom so profusely is a miracle, but ultimately, it goes against doctrine..."

The ascetic Kevin Stone said, "The seminary cannot do without this flowering tree. If the Left Minister is coming for the Yingyan flowers on a whim, he naturally won't make things difficult for the seminary. Let's wait until the Left Minister arrives to discuss further. The seminary is small; we will give the west wing to the Left Minister and his attendants. But we must strictly restrain the actions of the lower servants, so as not to offend the distinguished guests."

Gregory Clark did not conceal his displeasure in the slightest. He sat up a little straighter, exuding a stern aura, and the Xiyue blade at his waist radiated a chilling murderous intent.

Elder Reed's gaze fell on the Xiyue blade at Gregory Clark's waist.

The Xiyue blade has no sheath, only a few beast tendons tying it to the waist.

The seminary is located in the heart of the Yanyun Wasteland. No one knows how many wild beasts trying to break into the seminary have had their throats cut by this Xiyue blade. The blade, as long as an arm, under the cold moonlight, gleams with a cold and merciless sharpness.

Sometimes Elder Reed wonders whether the overwhelming murderous aura emanates from Gregory Clark himself, or if the Xiyue blade itself possesses a strong will to kill.

He silently recited a mantra, letting coolness pour down from his spiritual platform, extinguishing the murderous intent that had seeped into his body.

Elder Reed was not angered by Gregory Clark's rudeness, but Kevin Stone’s expression changed slightly. "Eric has decent natural talent, but after all, he is a lowly servant, and his temperament is volatile. Ascetic Gregory has spent too much effort on him."

Gregory Clark retorted angrily, "This child is merely maintaining the dignity he ought to have. How can you call his temperament violent?"

Seeing Gregory Clark kneeling long and about to rise, his left hand on the Xiyue blade at his waist, Kevin Stone recalled the rumors about Gregory Clark in Xiazi City in the past. His own momentum diminished somewhat. For a sorcerer and a Miluo warrior to argue face to face was never a rational act. He leaned back slightly, but the corner of his eye glanced at Elder Reed, hoping he would speak up to reprimand Gregory Clark.

"The seminary need not be bound by worldly etiquette, but in front of outsiders, we must exercise restraint, lest we give them cause for gossip, which would not benefit the seminary."

Gregory Clark bowed in assent, but his gaze toward Kevin Stone remained icy.

Chapter Three: Yanyun Wasteland

The caravan entered the canyon, and William Harper was awestruck by the sea of flowers before her, feeling a surge of vibrant life everywhere.

A flower branch bearing a large pale blue blossom stretched out from the mountain rock.

William Harper turned her head and looked at Charles Bennett. "Is this the Yingyan flower?"

"Nowhere else in all of Zhonglu can you find such flourishing Yingyan flowers..." Brian Sutton stepped out of the carriage, "That the last radiance of Adonai should shine on such a remote place."

William Harper and Charles Bennett bowed their heads in salute.

According to legend, after the creation war, the five oldest gods no longer revealed miracles to the world and were regarded as false gods by the Maha Orthodox Church. Adonai was one of these five false gods, and as the Maha Orthodox Church rose to power, the faith in Adonai eventually faded into oblivion.

"William, can you smell the fragrance of the flowers?"

It is said that only those with a pure heart, who have washed away the sins of the mortal world, can smell the lingering fragrance of the Yingyan flower and receive divine blessing.

William Harper was slightly startled, sniffed twice, shook her head, and said, "What about you, sir?"

A smile appeared on Brian Sutton's face. "I am a man bearing guilt—how would I dare hope to receive the grace of Adonai?"