Chapter 1348: Stirring Trouble
Chapter 1348: Stirring Trouble
The relationship between the Holy Court and the Steam Evangelical Sect was somewhat akin to that between the Imperial Court and regional warlords. The warlords lacked the strength to overthrow the Imperial Court, while the Court faced excessive costs and risks in eliminating the warlords. Thus, the relationship had settled into its current state.The Steam Evangelical Sect had three Immortals—the Patriarch, a Cardinal Bishop, and the head of a monastery. Under normal circumstances, only two Immortals remain stationed on the Northern Continent, balancing the Western Daoist Order in the Southern Continent. Although the Southern Continent still had ancient gods, the Holy Court had apostles to counter them. When the Holy Court first arrived in the New Continent, the apostles fought a war against the local gods and achieved a decisive victory. The scene of flourishing vitality still lingered in memory. Moreover, the ancient gods resided within divine realms and found it difficult to directly intervene in mortal conflicts, so they were not a major concern.
However, this did not mean that if a full-scale war erupted, the Steam Evangelical Sect would stand alone. The Holy Court would certainly provide support. While there were conflicts between the Holy Court and the Steam Evangelical Sect due to a clash over control of the Northern Continent, the Holy Court was not driven out. The changes were mostly at the leadership level, and ties between the Western Continent and the Northern Continent remained close. The Holy Court still held significant interests in the New Continent.
But if the Western Daoist Order and the Tawantin Empire were to seize the New Continent, all of those interests would be lost. After all, the Steam Evangelical Sect was still part of the Holy Court. No matter who held power, the Northern Continent would still be under the light of the Supreme Will. But if it fell to the Western Daoist Order, it would change hands entirely, becoming the domain of the Primordial Daoist Ancestor. Thus, the Holy Court could not remain indifferent.
Under normal circumstances, the two sides were evenly matched, and the Western Daoist Order would not be able to launch a surprise attack on St. York.
However, circumstances were changing. Even before the war in Fenglin broke out, tensions had already been rising among the Nederland, Ibia, and Lune Kingdoms. After years of delay, war finally erupted. Lune Kingdom, supported by the Arcane Council and the Steam Evangelical Sect, gained the upper hand. Its king had always resisted the Holy Court, so to maintain balance and prevent the Lune Kingdom from becoming dominant, the Holy Court either had to directly support the other two nations or enforce a ceasefire. Due to the presence of the Daoist Order, the Pope was compelled to choose the latter. The Patriarch of the Steam Evangelical Sect, who supported the Lune Kingdom, naturally could not miss this conclave.
This ultimately led to a temporary weakening of defenses on the Northern Continent.
The Western Daoist Order’s original plan was not to attack St. York but San Francisco. However, upon learning that the Patriarch had left, Huangfu Ji temporarily changed the plan. While still following Elder Gong’s advice to strike swiftly and withdraw without lingering, he altered the target and aimed directly at St. York.
In short, due to these changes, many in San Francisco escaped disaster. Some avoided the Evangelical Ministry’s purge, while others avoided the Western Daoist Order’s assault.
The only one to suffer was St. York.
In fact, Qi Xuansu had inadvertently helped Huangfu Ji by luring the Evangelical Ministry away from St. York.
The upper ranks of the Steam Evangelical Sect could ignore the explosion in the Lower District, as it was filled with “rats in the gutters.” As long as the overall situation remained stable and the factories in the Lower District were unaffected, with production continuing uninterrupted, it did not matter. The Steam Evangelical Sect could also ignore the flying craft crash at sea, since that was the responsibility of the City Council. As long as the City Council did not request assistance, it could be treated as if nothing had happened.