After a brief exchange with Leonard, Leyton directly left Backlund.
In the living room, only Leonard and Jodeson were left, looking at each other.
Leonard sized up this descendant of the Jacob Family from head to toe, then showed a polite smile and extended his hand, saying, "Hello, Leonard Mitchell, a Nighthawk of the Church of the Evernight Goddess."
"Jodeson Jacob, currently a treasure hunter who works part time as a missionary."
After a simple self-introduction, Jodeson directly asked, "When can Pallez wake up? Is he or it from the Zoroast Family?"
A missionary and a treasure hunter, what a strange combination of professions. As Leonard's thoughts briefly wandered and he was about to answer Jodeson's question, Pallez's voice suddenly echoed in his ears:
"Tell him to wait a month. During this time, you take him to handle various Beyonder events and train him. This little guy's potion digestion is a mess; ascending to a Demigod in this state will only result in losing control."
"Also, next time, remember to tell that impolite fellow not to always disturb an old man's slumber."
As the words faded, Pallez fell silent again.
Leonard opened his mouth, but the question remained unspoken, eventually turning into a sigh.
Then he looked at the somewhat disheveled Jodeson and calmly said, "It wants you to wait a month. During this time, you need to properly digest your potion."
"It? An angel parasitizing you? It seems you two get along quite well, giving me a sense of deja vu from popular novels and stories."
Jodeson curiously sized up Leonard again, as if looking at a strange object.
Southern Continent, south bank of Paz River Valley, Mesagnes's mansion.
Lucca Brewster, Miss Glenn, Sasrir, Mr. Pulak Eggers, and others gathered here, representing the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, Moses Ascetic Order, New Church, and the independent Numinous Episcopate, to discuss how to respond to the declaration of war by the Intis Military and the churches of the Eternal Blazing Sun and God of Steam and Machinery against the Paz River Valley.
Glenn's gaze swept over the people on both sides of the conference room, and she said calmly, "Intis's declaration of war was expected. The two major churches plus the Beyonders and military forces of the Intis Military have an absolute advantage, but they won't be able to spare too many people. More forces need to remain in the Northern Continent."
"The royal families and churches of the other Northern Continent nations restrain each other. As long as they don't truly unite, we can mediate among them."
"What we truly need to pay attention to are the native forces of the Southern Continent: the Numinous Episcopate, the East Balam Restoration Society, the Rose School of Thought, the Devil families, and the Followers of the Primordial Moon. If we can't suppress or even expel them, it will be very difficult to completely unify the Southern Continent."
Mr. Pulak Eggers slowly shook his head, saying, "Except for the Devils, the other forces have long been deeply rooted in the Southern Continent. It's not something that can be done in a short time to completely resolve them."
Mesagnes tried to say, "Expel them south of the Star Plateau and completely seal them off there?"
Lucca Brewster slowly shook his head, his voice solemn, "No, that would only completely pollute that land, turning it into a breeding ground for those evil gods to nurture their minions, and it might even allow some evil gods to descend upon this world."
Gradually, the conference room fell silent again. Everyone turned their gaze to Sasrir, who had remained silent. He represented the former Aurora Order, now the New Church, and the will of the only true god currently in the Southern Continent.
Sasrir's eyes, as if covered by shadows, reflected the different expressions of the people. He chuckled lightly and said calmly, "When my Lord awakens from slumber, he will be able to exert influence from the Spirit World and completely cleanse the beliefs of those Fallen ones."
Midway through the meeting, "light" suddenly poured in from the surroundings. A torrent of information, vast and terrifying like a flood, floated in the conference room for a second, then collapsed inward, coalescing and reforming Leyton's body.
He swept his gaze across everyone in the conference room, paused for a moment on Sasrir, then withdrew his gaze before the other party looked over, and nodded gently to everyone, saying, "Sorry, I went to Backlund and am a bit late."
Glenn frowned as she examined Leyton, her tone somewhat worried, "The things that guy left behind are indeed problematic. You look like you're even having difficulty maintaining a human body now. Don't you need to stabilize your own state first?"
"It's not serious. Just some corruption. I'll be able to clear them out and fully accommodate the characteristics in a while."
Leyton explained with a smile, then turned his head to look at Mr. Pulak Eggers and said calmly, "Mr. Pulak, do you have any thoughts about advancing further? Becoming a Death Consul, or even a Pale Emperor?"
Everyone in the conference room looked at Leyton with surprise, but no one spoke or raised any questions.
After a brief silence, Pulak slowly nodded, saying, "If it were before, I would hesitate. I cared more about my humanity than power. But now, we indeed need more power."
Leyton nodded faintly, saying, "When you're ready, you can find me."
"Of course, this isn't free. The corresponding price will be paid and repaid by you after a successful advancement."
"No problem." Pulak slowly nodded, responding.
With that topic concluded, Leyton again turned his gaze to Sasrir and said calmly, "How many High-Sequence characteristics are scattered in the Forsaken Land of the Gods? Given the limited resources, that's a good option. We can collect characteristics from the Forsaken Land of the Gods and cultivate more High-Sequence Beyonders."
"There are some from various Pathways, but most of them exist in the form of Monsters. To obtain them, we would also need to send out quite a few High-Sequence Beyonders."
"It's not suitable for survival there. Prayers are difficult to receive effective responses, and it's hard to get extra help. Moreover, both entering and leaving are very difficult for ordinary Beyonders."
Glenn summarized Sasrir's words, "It's like the Sea of Ruins at the easternmost part of the Sonia Sea. There are many good things, but the difficulty of obtaining them is too great, making it not worth the effort."
Inside the conference room, everyone's recently boiling hearts seemed to be doused with cold water, and the expectation that had risen in their eyes instantly vanished.
After pondering for a moment, Leyton asked again, "You should know the potion formulas for the 'Giant' Pathway Sequence 3 and Sequence 2. Could you tell me? I can hire some locals to help collect the characteristics."
"Yes." Sasrir nodded lightly, a smile suddenly appearing on his face, seemingly pleased to see such a development.
One topic after another was brought up and discussed to a resolution. It wasn't until the sky outside the stained-glass window had completely darkened that everyone concluded today's meeting. They either merged into shadows, wandered in the Spirit World, entered the Spirit World, or transformed into information beings, leaving the conference room from various directions, leaving only Mesagnes, who sighed softly and exited through the main door.
Leyton and Glenn, transformed into information beings, entered a brightly lit suburban manor one after another. Strange lighting tools made of glass were scattered throughout the manor, illuminating it with a brilliant white light, as if it were daytime.
Leyton's figure appeared in a Steel jungle behind the manor. This was literally a Steel jungle, with various metal machines, tall and short, placed on the ground, and the sounds of electricity and sparks occasionally crackling around.
In the center of this Steel jungle, Roselle, dressed in a simple, thin linen robe, held sheets of blueprints, directing Brie and Ritz, two Artisan cats covered in various tools, as they busied themselves around him.
Bugs Bunny was also there, lying on a strange tree laden with various fruits, occasionally tossing some fruits down to the busy Roselle, Brie, and Ritz.
Leyton's figure quietly appeared beside Roselle and asked with some curiosity, "As a mechanical puppet, do you have a sense of taste?"
"No, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the fun of it."
Roselle replied without looking up, then continued to direct Brie and Ritz, modifying the surrounding machinery.
Waves of complex information surged through, and Glenn also appeared here. She walked to Leyton's side and briefly explained, "The technology to supply the 'Lightseeker' characteristics as energy to all aspects has been basically completed. This involves a relatively high level of Beyonder power, which ordinary people cannot participate in and can only rely on 'Artisans', and most Artisans refuse to be in the 'God of Steam and Machinery' Church."
"Another limitation to the technology's advancement is the material issue. The most suitable material for transporting energy is gold. Not to mention the limited quantity of gold, using this material to pave an entire city would turn it into a thief's paradise."
Leyton looked at Roselle beside him and casually asked, "Can relevant laws be enacted?"
Roselle shook the blueprints in his hand and said helplessly, "Enacting laws is the Justiciar's job. I'm better at creating loopholes in existing order and rules."
"Of course, if you're willing to help me gain more authority, this matter would be very simple."
Leyton thought for a moment, then nodded, saying, "It's not impossible. I know the whereabouts of the Trunsoest Brass Book. You can try to get it after your resurrection."
Roselle took a step back, put down the blueprints in his hand, and looked at Leyton seriously, enunciating each word, "What are you plotting? What else do you want to fleece from me?"
"You need to forge the 'pale death'. Rather than letting it exist as a Sealed Artifact, why not cultivate a true 'Pale Emperor'? Don't you agree?"
Leyton twitched his lips, revealing a smile. Beneath his translucent skin, his eyes, distorted by starlight, constantly floated, making his smile appear somewhat unsettling.