Chapter 124: I Must Maintain World Peace

“What an extraordinary duel!”
“My lord, you are truly magnificent!”
“You actually defeated the prince!”

After the duel, the dwarf knights surrounded their lord as they returned to the swamp.

The lord had vented his anger; Bell was a renowned champion of the Dwarven Kingdom, and having bested him, all dwarves would now respect him.

However, he was also aware that Bell had held back during the duel, but regardless, the victory was undeniable.

“Demon Lord, I have returned!”

The lord shouted, then froze in astonishment.

“Th-this is...”

Golden light radiated from Lin Lei’s body, causing the lord’s eyes to widen.

This was holy light—he could not have mistaken it.

“Impossible! How could the Demon Lord possess holy light?”

The lord felt certain his eyes were deceiving him.

It was inconceivable; holy light was the power of righteousness—how could it manifest in the Demon Lord?

No one could deceive holy light, no matter how virtuous their words; the power of holy light stemmed from within, from the purity of one’s will.

“...”

Brook’s expression was solemn as he carefully observed the holy light surrounding Lin Lei. It was indeed holy light, yet it did not prove Lin Lei’s innocence.

Within Lin Lei’s holy light, Brook detected no trace of his will—that subtlety was impossible to conceal. The holy light was merely a shell without substance.

Lin Lei himself sensed something amiss. “Why does my holy light feel different from theirs?”

The Song of the Azure Sky had enhanced Lin Lei’s perception of energy, and he realized his holy light was unlike Brook’s.

Though their appearances were similar, the aura differed vastly. Such holy light could not fool a keen observer like Brook.

Why was this so? What was the difference?

He pondered in confusion. His holy light produced the expected effects and looked no different on the surface, yet its aura was unlike theirs.

His holy light lacked something. Unlike Brook, whose holy light reflected his very nature, Lin Lei could not discern his own will within it.

Ah... that was it!

Lin Lei discovered the cause: Brook’s holy light harmonized perfectly with his spirit.

Lady White was the same—she always radiated warmth, and her holy light conveyed her will. Lin Lei’s, however, lacked that harmony.

Though the holy light dwelled within him, it did not carry the essence of his will.

“...It’s the will.”

Suddenly, Lin Lei understood: holy light must fuse with one’s will to command trust.

His holy light was genuine—he had persuaded it with declarations of human rights and equality—but he had not truly merged his deepest will with the light.

The holy lights obeyed him but had not genuinely accepted him.

“Is that so... it must integrate with the spirit.”

Lin Lei began to reflect. No wonder no one could counterfeit holy light—it required fusion with one’s will.

To deceive Brook, he would have to open his soul to the holy light. But if his true will failed to gain its acceptance, the light would dissipate.

Lin Lei hesitated. Could he truly open his soul?

There was nothing to hesitate over...

He chose to act, knowing his words to the holy light were not lies.

“Let me show you.”

Lin Lei unlocked part of the chains in his mind, releasing information from the multiverse through his soul. Instantly, the vast knowledge was perceived by the holy light particles.

He revealed a history of humanity’s journey from savagery to civilization, from bondage to equality.

The history moved the particles profoundly.

“Yes... I have seen it... that world rich in abundance and equality.”

In his mind, Lin Lei opened his arms to the particles.

“I will not claim that our world can become that way immediately... but...”

Golden particles began to swirl around him.

“I firmly believe that every civilization will eventually converge on the same path. Centuries, millennia from now... we too will build a world free and unshackled.”

Lin Lei believed this was the inevitable course of material civilization’s evolution.

In the swamp, the holy light on his body suddenly blossomed, illuminating the night sky.

Golden light enveloped him instantly, its vibrant glow like flames, scattering countless sparks and lighting up the entire marsh.

What a mighty holy light! What a pure holy light!

Even wearing a mask, no one could deny the sanctity Lin Lei now radiated.

The scorching brilliance shook everyone present.

“Holy light!”

“Such powerful holy light!”

The human paladin’s legs trembled and he fell to his knees.

Brook stared at Lin Lei in astonishment. The particles of holy light that drifted onto his face suddenly revealed an immense longing.

It was a longing he had never seen before—unprecedented.

It was not faith but a yearning that transcended time, reaching into the distant future.

“How could this be...”

Brook trembled. Though he had not witnessed the history the particles had seen, he was overwhelmed by that timeless longing.

Lin Lei’s holy light was irresistible—more sacred than anyone had imagined.

“Holy light...”

Rook’s eyes filled with tears as he knelt on one knee, his own holy light erupting fiercely.

“Great Holy Light Prophet, please guide us.”

“Heavens, is this even possible?”

Eve pinched her face in disbelief. What was going on? The little prince’s simulated holy light had fooled even the paladin?

Meanwhile, a group of mages in the swamp searched for their dropped jaws.

After finally retrieving them, they furrowed their brows once more.

“No... that’s not simply holy light...”

A strange stirring rose within their bodies—their true qi seemed to resonate with Lin Lei’s holy light.

“How can this be?”

“This isn’t holy light? It’s a new kind of true qi!”

Several mages shuddered all over as realization dawned. This was not mere holy light, but true qi endowed with the attribute of holy light.

“This is an attribute... the young prince has discovered true qi attributes!”

The royal mages whispered in their hearts.

Many years ago, mages had speculated that if cultivation was a system akin to magic, it should possess different elemental attributes.

This had been hinted at in other professions’ cultivation, yet no one had found a convincing, distinct true qi attribute—until now.

Before their eyes, Lin Lei’s true qi transformed into something unique: holy light-infused true qi.

This was no longer simulated holy light; it was true qi bearing the attribute of holy light.

“The young prince has become...”

“A sacred cultivator!”

The mages could hardly believe it.

A new gateway had opened. They had believed cultivation had already begun, but only now did they realize they were merely standing at its threshold.

Eve stared at Lin Lei in shock.

Wrapped entirely in holy light, Lin Lei finally opened his eyes; golden light flowed within them, his divine aura unmistakable.

“I have made my decision—I will uphold world peace!”

But as soon as he spoke, Eve and the royal mages collapsed to the ground.

What? The little demon wants to uphold world peace?

Good heavens, the moon must have risen in the west!