Chapter 654 - My Doomsday Territory
### Chapter 654: Divine Arts and Magic In the city of Anhu, there stood an expansive building known as the Awakening Martial Hall. While the name was somewhat mundane, the term "Awakening" was one of the most trending concepts of the current times. Ordinary companies couldn't even register it as a trademark due to its popularity. The Awakening Martial Hall was under the jurisdiction of the outer sects of the Immortal Gate, a collaborative initiative between the Immortal Gate and the military forces of Anxia. On one hand, it served to cultivate elite Awakeners for the military; on the other, it provided an opportunity for those who failed the Immortal Gate evaluations. Here, one could access basic cultivation techniques, and in every cohort of the Martial Hall, a few would emerge exceptional enough to become inner disciples of the Immortal Gate. "This is the largest martial hall in Anxia? Disappointing." A blonde-haired, blue-eyed man spoke in broken Anxia as he glanced disdainfully at the Awakening Martial Hall, his eyes revealing contempt. Not far away, two security guards of the hall lay unconscious on the ground. Several students were trembling and writhing on the ground. Every step the blonde man took forward caused the others to step back. "I recognize that guy; he's been training here for about a month. I thought he was quite skilled until he was knocked down with one hit. Seems like the Immortal Gate’s methods aren't that impressive after all." "The blonde guy is a bishop from the Church of Transition. Zhao Qiang is just a martial hall student; you can't really compare them." "I heard that bishops and archbishops in the Church of Transition were promoted within the last month or two. They were just ordinary people before they were granted divine power by the God of Transition." "My cousin is studying in Taryn, and she heard that the God of Transition grants power to anyone who believes, regardless of talent, allowing them to become superhumans." "That's so simple! I heard that sometimes it takes a year or two for Awakeners from the Thirteenth Bureau to see a slight improvement. Even the Immortal Gate's methods, though faster, can't compare to the church. If the bishops are here to spread their faith, that would be great!" "Humph, cultivation requires solid effort. If there’s a shortcut, it surely comes with risks!" Someone who supported the Immortal Gate spoke weakly, but their voice was quickly drowned out. The bishop from the Church of Transition lightly punched, easily defeating several elite students. The impact on the crowd was immense—those who believed in the strength of the Immortal Gate were now left shocked. Rumor had it the bishops hadn't even used their best divine arts yet! Bishop Otto surveyed the area, observing the reactions of the onlookers. Further away, Awakeners from the Anxia Thirteenth Bureau and military troops were rushing in. From the rooftops at the street's end, the glint of sniper rifle scopes could be seen. He wasn’t concerned. To him, mere firearms posed little threat. Being the city center, the area was crowded with civilians, and given Anxia’s nature, they wouldn’t dare initiate conflict. The official stance against missionary activities was laughably absurd. Once they witnessed the power of the divine... A sneer curled at the corner of his mouth as he pointed at an approaching Awakener from the Thirteenth Bureau: "Divine Art, Weakness." An unseen force descended, causing the leading Awakener to shiver, his complexion paling as if starved for three days and nights, nearly collapsing. "Captain Huang!" Cries of anger and fear erupted from the crowd. All they saw was the robed bishop pointing from a distance, but nothing seemed to occur—it was extraordinarily eerie! "They're here! The disciples of the Immortal Gate are here!" A group of over ten Immortal Gate disciples in loose-fitting robes approached swiftly. Their brows furrowed upon seeing those sprawled inside the martial hall. Turning their gaze to the blonde men, they shouted, "Church of Transition's heretics?" "Insolence!" "Blasphemy!" "Death to the heretics!" Bishop Otto angrily retorted, "Divine Art, Life to Zero"! A formidable unseen force surged down, making the air visibly ripple. The speaking Immortal disciple aged visibly, hair turning white, wrinkles forming, and his body becoming hunched, his vitality waning. Such divine arts couldn’t be broken by mere Awakeners. Only another divine art could counter a divine art. Otto sneered, relishing the sight of mortals suffering a slow death. Yet, he was surprised at the rapid consumption of divine power, depleting several times faster than usual. The Immortal Gate disciples indeed had some strength. But they were mere mortals, while they... were the chosen of the divine! At that moment, a cool voice echoed. A girl in a white robe at the back stepped forward, her pale fingers spreading wide, "Purification—" Instantly, The "Life to Zero" cast over the Immortal disciple was completely dispelled. "Healing—" The white hair regained its glossy black color, wrinkles vanished, and his aura returned to its peak. "Impossible!" In shock, Otto exclaimed in Taryn dialect before switching back to his stilted Anxia, "What sorcery did you use?!" He received no reply. The initially afflicted Immortal disciple charged ahead. Otto, a mere mortal prior to his revelation, was ignorant of magic, unaware it existed. He believed divine arts to be supreme. While not entirely incorrect, his assumptions were not wholly accurate. In confrontations where Awakener abilities and physical prowess were key, holders of divine arts had the upper hand unless faced with certain special ability users or those with complete cultivation paths. "Divine Art, Weakness!" "Divine Art, Holy Spear!" The Immortal Gate disciples, now wary, activated a protective aura following a specific source energy path. Buzz— The aura shattered, nullifying the weakening divine art. The Holy Spear pursued them, its aim true, while the Immortal disciple’s blade gleamed white as it cut. Boom! The radiant spear disintegrated, yet the disciple's charge continued unabated directly towards Otto. As the gleaming blade drew nearer, Otto panicked. He lacked combat experience; his rare victories stemmed from divine power overwhelming his foes. When faced with an evenly matched opponent, he floundered, unable to wield his divine arts effectively. Accompanying Otto were four bishops and an archbishop. All acted simultaneously, divine power radiating outward. "Divine Art, Exterminate Evil"! As the archbishop cast his spell, the surrounding air seemed compressed, akin to colossal hands forcefully pressing down. A car in the middle crumpled as if struck by an invisible hammer, its frame denting. The public had only seen Awakeners with superhuman strength and speed on television. Such a bizarre spectacle triggered mass retreat. On the defensive, several Immortal Gate disciples dodged desperately to the sides. "Water Shield!" "Water Dragon Dance!" "Water Prison!" Cao Xinghua’s fingers weaved rapidly, channeling source energy through his fingertips, casting spells one after another seamlessly. The invisible hand clashed with a massive water shield, exploding into a spray of water droplets and mist that obscured sight. The ensuing wind pressure swept outward, causing civilians further off to fall like freshly cut wheat. The surging mist reformed into a dragon, roaring towards the archbishop. The archbishop’s expression shifted, conjuring two shields of divine power for defense, but the water dragon split and multiplied. Four dragons subdued the bishops, while a fifth transformed into a watery prison enveloping the archbishop. Within, sharp water spikes emerged, bypassing the divine shield to press against his throat, heart, arms, and other vital spots. In that instant, the third divine art hadn't yet formed before he was captured.