<h4>Chapter 381: The Meeting: Part 1</h4>


    Tenko Kasumi sat on the sofa, looking calm.


    Sitting opposite and staring at her were a gray-haired elderly and two other old men with different temperaments. Their average age was over 90.


    “We are d to have a friendly discussion with the senior Ptinate of the Sanctum. I’m the dean of the Royal Yemei College. You can call me Nikos.” The gray-haired old man sitting in the front let out a gentle smile.


    “I’m sure you are Tenko Kasumi, the person in charge of the Miga Division of the Sanctum.” He surely had heard about her before from other sources.


    Sitting beside Tenko Kasumi was Seagal aka Lin Sheng, who just observed the three old men without saying a word. What surprised him was the natural force field of the Ptinate, the one doing the talking. This Ptinate was weaker than the one Tenko Kasumi defeated that day. It felt weird that his force fieldcked the aggressiveness.


    “Let’s cut the cackle. What do you want?” Tenko Kasumi asked, looking calm.


    Nikos, the dean of the Royal Yemei Academy, let out an avuncr smile. “Wee with the goodwill of the Miga government and the mystetious realm of Carte nche. We would like to invite the Sanctum to join forces with us against the Sevenlocks Tower.


    “The Sevenlocks Tower is a terrorist group. They carry out terrorism and raid the major seal sites, causing arge number of civilian casualties. They are a threat to world peace!” Nikos said, voice matter of fact. “So, when we learned that the Sanctum was rapidly rising, we came over in the first instance. Especially when we knew the holy power of the Sanctum could subdue the ck Tide. The three mysterious realms were pleasantly surprised.”


    Nikos paused with a wondered expression on his face. He then carried on. “Not just surprised, but more like excited. Because, we finally see hope in defeating the ck Tide!” He was pitting the Sanctum against the ck Tide.


    “So? What is your purpose ofing?” Tenko kasumi asked.


    Nikos let out a smile, fingers tapping on the armrest. “It’s simple. We are representing Miga and the mysterious realms toe here for the Sanctum’s holy power. We hope that the Sanctum could share the technique of Holy Power cultivation for the sake of all mankind.” He nced at Lin Sheng, whose face turned grave after hearing what he said, and then Tenko Kasumi.


    “The time hase. You could not long keep the secret technique of Holy Power to yourself. Everyone needs it to fight the Sevenlocks Tower, the ck Tide. But we wouldpensate the Sanctum—even you two.”


    What remains of the strength and background that Nikos and co represented was clear. Their purpose was to get their hands on the cultivation technique of Holy Power right from the beginning. They saw the mutual stimtion of the Holy power and dark energy that enhanced strength as a threat. If this went on, the Sanctum would eventually be a force too strong for them.


    The point was, neither the three mysterious realms nor any other forces would allow this to happen. It would mean the end of the status quo and the redrawing of the bnce of power and interests. This emerging Sanctum was posing a threat to too many people.


    “And, as far as I know, the core technique of Holy Power cultivation is in the hands of the Sanctum master. Only the Sanctum master could pass on the Ashen Seal. If the priests, who has received Holy Power cultivation inititally, go without the Ashen Seal, it will affect the speed of their cultivation. Also, the Sanctum master will punish the betrayers.” Nikos spoke when the atmosphere turned grave.


    With a smile, he said, “So, what we need is the original Ashen Seal of the Holy Power the Sanctum master possesses. If you surrender the original Ashen Seal, the Sanctum master will be a hero who will be cherished by all humanity!”


    That said, Nikos looked at Lin Sheng and Token Kasumi, his face calm. The writing was on the wall. The Sanctum must not allowed to keep its Holy Power cultivation technique because it was threatening the interest of all cultivators of dark energy. The Sanctum had disrupted the bnce of power between the existing forces. Plus, it was not as powerful as it seemed, he thought. He was calm and confident. The Sanctum had no choice; its fate was set right from the beginning.


    Lin Sheng sat on the chair, his eyes grave. He thought these people wereing only for the Holy Power, little did he expect they also wanted the Ashen Seal.


    The Sanctum had only two Ptinates against the three mysteries realms. They would be at a disadvantage if fighting broke out. Baine University might have be a part of the division of the Sanctum, but it was not good enough. The opponent out was outgunning them with their Ptinates.


    “I must figure out a way.” Lin Sheng’s mind was racing.


    .....


    .....


    “It’s right here.”


    Just when Lin Sheng and Token Kasumi met with Nikos and co., some unsolicited guests hade outside the security door of the underground research center.


    Three figures, wearing ck tight-fit suit and mask that covered most of their faces, stood not far from the mansion where the research center located. They looked on as the Sanctum patrols doing their round outside the mansion.


    There were three patrol units taking turn to guard the ce around the clock. The security was so watertight that not a fly would get in. But it was exactly here that the three persons got past the perimeter without getting detected. As if invisible and formless, they touched no things and went through every obstacles and doors unhindered into the mansion.


    “Lingying, it’s in the basement.” One reminded in a whisper.


    “Got it.” The leading figure had a pair of charming pink eyes that look like they were wearing colored contact lenses.


    The three figures checked around. They soon found the not-so-secret entrance to the basement.


    “Let’s go, take everything as quick as possible,” the leading figure said.


    “Aye.”


    The other two followed closely behind as they went through the thick metal security door into the basement. But the leading figure was startled as soon as he went in.


    “Something is not right!” He nced down and around; his gut feeling told him that. “The air, the ground, even the walls seem to reject us!”


    They stood at the door and stared inside. Theboratory was only meters away. They were stuck.


    “What should we do now?” The one on the right asked. “We might as well kill our way in—fuck dangers! There are the three of us. What more we need to worry about? This is just theboratory of some freaking sect.”


    “Let’s try.” Lingying nodded, a light shing in his pink eyes. As he stretched out his right hand, a vague symbol shed on the back of his hand.


    “Violent Crescend, Temblor.” He whispered.


    A circle of red ripples spread out from his arm and rushed into theboratory.