This scene stunned everyone present.

In the corridor, the papal officials who were reporting on security issues to Archbishop Andrew were all standing there with their mouths agape, dumbfounded.

They glanced at "Andrew," who was charred black and foaming at the mouth, on the ground, then stiffly turned to look at "Andrew" opposite them, who was unharmed and holding a cross.

The air was filled with a pungent, burnt smell.

The aftershocks of the Thunder Law still lingered on the carpet, crackling and popping.

The commotion also alerted the royal guards not far from the end of the corridor.

"What's going on?!"

"Assassins! Protect the Archbishop!"

Accompanied by the clanging of armor, a squad of fully armed level 60 holy knights drew their longswords and charged forward.

Zhou Huai watched the guards rushing towards him and secretly broke out in a cold sweat.

I thought to myself, thank goodness I was quick-witted and nimble-fingered.

Otherwise, if two identical archbishops stared at each other, the infiltration plan would be exposed on the spot.

He recalled the words of a wise man.

Anyone who tries to ruin his public image, he'll ruin theirs.

Of course, that wise man was himself.

Seeing the guards rushing towards him, Zhou Huai instantly channeled his inner actor.

His face darkened, and he slammed the pure silver cross in his hand heavily onto the ground with a dull thud.

Zhou Huai looked at the arriving guards, pointed at the unconscious Archbishop Andrew on the ground, and shouted sternly:

"This person actually dared to use evil magic to impersonate me in the Holy Palace! He's incredibly audacious!"

"It must be a spy sent by some evil organization, attempting to subvert the security of my holy city!"

"Arrest him and throw him into the Inquisition's prison immediately. Interrogate him severely and subject him to torture!"

Zhou Huai scanned the guards: "I need to know who is behind this!"

Several holy knights looked at the charred figure on the ground, then at Zhou Huai opposite them.

Although they were puzzled as to why the assassin on the ground had the same clothes and cross as the archbishop, they dared not hesitate.

The imposing aura emanating from the person opposite him is definitely that of a genuine archbishop!

"Yes, Lord Andrew!"

The knight commander accepted the order and waved his hand. Two knights stepped forward, carried the unconscious Zhen Andrew, and hurried to the prison.

The Vatican officials watching nearby were sweating profusely and their legs were weak.

They were just talking to this "Lord Andrew" when, in the next second, he turned them into charred remains by electrocution.

As for Lord Andrew on the other side... whether he's real or not, the power he unleashed with golden divine lightning in an instant just now was truly terrifying!

Who else but the Archbishop could possess such terrifying power?

The officials looked at each other, wiping away cold sweat, and quickly bowed in greeting.

"Lord Andrew is incredibly powerful!"

"We will not disturb you any longer while you are carrying out your official duties, and we will take our leave now!"

Zhou Huai waved his hand: "You guys go first, I'll wander around a bit more. There might be some scoundrels impersonating others in this Holy Palace."

He looked down the corridor: "I'm going to arrest them one by one."

Zhou Huai finally breathed a sigh of relief after the officials had gone far away.

He thought to himself that it was all good, that he had successfully infiltrated the enemy.

As long as you act confidently enough, it's others who will feel guilty.

With no one to bother him, Zhou Huai followed the coordinates provided by the parasite, passed through the corridor, and arrived at the Holy Palace's back garden.

Although it was called the back garden, Zhou Huai's gaze sharpened as he stood at the entrance.

After all, this place used to be the exclusive territory of the old Holy Lord.

Ordinary people wouldn't dare to come in; the outer perimeter alone is covered with layers of golden restrictions.

The restrictions intertwine to form a high-dimensional defense network, and any unauthorized life form that gets close will suffer a devastating blow.

Zhou Huai did not force his way in, but took out a leaf that emitted a soft light from his pocket.

These are leaves from the sacred tree of origin, containing the primordial will of the woman who split off from the sacred tree.

He closed his eyes and carefully checked it again using the laws governing the leaves.

Soon, he sensed a faint but identical aura within the barrier.

That's right, Mother should be in this back garden.

Moreover, the parasite signals from those ancient races were also densely concentrated within it.

With a flick of his wrist, Zhou Huai produced a heavy chain that emitted a dark golden light.

It is the ultimate artifact of the Seventh World: the Netherworld Chain!

This artifact can ignore and suppress all high-dimensional formations and energy seals.

Zhou Huai gripped the Nether Chain and casually swung it forward.

"Snap!"

With a cracking sound, the outer golden barrier, which was strong enough to withstand the full force of an SSS-level expert, was easily breached with a large hole in front of the Absolute Sea Nether Chain.

Zhou Huai put away the Nether Chain and stepped inside.

As soon as I stepped inside, the view opened up before me.

Although it's called a backyard, its vastness is comparable to a huge forest park.

Towering ancient trees reach into the clouds, their intertwined canopies obscuring the sky, and every leaf is imbued with sacred runes.

The ground was covered with exotic flowers and plants that emitted magical energy fluctuations.

A clear stream meanders through the forest, its bottom covered with high-level luminous magic cores, radiating a soft glow.

The air was filled with an extremely dense amount of light element; an ordinary person could instantly extend their lifespan by ten years by taking a single breath.

However, this forest was filled with an eerie, deathly silence.

Zhou Huai activated his Void Omniscient Vision, scanning his surroundings.

He saw many gardeners dressed in coarse linen clothes, pruning flowers and plants.

These gardeners appeared unremarkable on the surface, but Zhou Huai sensed that they all harbored their own parasites.

They are basically all ancient remnants in disguise.

This is the core stronghold of the Dawn Guild in the Holy City.

The moment Zhou Huai stepped into the forest, the busy gardeners all paused at the same time.

They turned around and saw that it was "Andrew" holding a cross who walked in, and they all looked surprised.

Although Andrew was an archbishop of the Papacy, holding a prestigious position.

But this was a forbidden area of the Lord, and Andrew had never been to the back garden.

Why did you suddenly come here today?

Furthermore, why didn't the outer absolute barrier trigger an alarm? Did he force his way in by breaking through the barrier?

The gardeners who were closest to each other exchanged glances, a murderous glint in their eyes.

On the surface, they immediately put down their scissors and bowed to Zhou Huai.

"Lord Andrew, what brings you here?"

The head gardener, an old man with a hunched back, asked, "What are your orders, Lord Andrew?"

Zhou Huai looked at these poorly acting guys and sneered.

Stop pretending.

He casually tossed the pure silver cross aside.

"You really think I don't know who you are?"

The atmosphere around them froze instantly upon hearing this.

Those ancient clansmen who had been bowing their heads all changed color.

Their hunched bodies suddenly straightened, and a murderous intent rose within them.

Dozens of powerful auras instantly locked onto Zhou Huai.

The old gardener's eyes turned as black as ink as he stared intently at Zhou Huai, and the others exchanged glances.

They were all hesitant, wondering whether to break off relations and fight the archbishop.

After all, this is their base of operations, and the consequences of exposing it would be unimaginable.

"Since Your Excellency the Archbishop insists on courting death..." The old gardener's voice turned sinister, and his hands transformed into black claws.

The next second, Zhou Huai suddenly shouted.

"stand at attention!"

Um?

As everyone wondered, they saw the leader of the ancient clan stand up straight first.

The others also moved involuntarily and stood in a row.