<h4>Chapter 2196: Chapter 2196: Old Friends</h4>


    "I say..."


    Shadow Kims touched Julius Reed, his voice trembling slightly: "Old Reed, is this damn thing not even bothering to pretend anymore? Just revealing its true form outright?"


    Normally, there would be three statues here.


    The difference between the three God temples and regr temples is that the buildings arerger.


    They’re suitable for hosting gatherings, allowing devotees toe and worship.


    But the internal structure andyout.


    Are basically the same.


    Three golden statues would stand here.


    For everyone to worship.


    This has been confirmed within the Temple of Nine Spirits.


    Shadow Kims is different from Pranay Martinez.


    Pranay Martinez is an old fox, almost never visiting the temples to prevent himself from being controlled by the gods.


    He always refuses with various excuses.


    Shadow Kims is a very devout devotee, never missing a single gathering.


    However, the only temple he visited was Nine Spirits.


    Because the location of Temple of Nine Spirits is in the Central ins.


    Other temple locations are very remote.


    Like the Temple of Return to Heaven, its location is on Boulevard Mountain.


    Five thousand years ago, Boulevard Mountain was bone-chillingly cold, frozen over, and hardly inhabited.


    He had only heard of the three God temples, but had never been to the others, knowing nothing about their locations.


    But unlike the Temple of Nine Spirits, the temple in front of him was extravagantly designed.


    Carved with terrifying demons!


    Shuras that look like bats, half-human half-beast, and even three-headed six-armed figures are all here.


    Chilling to the bone.


    "The Temple of Return to Heaven is built here, probably because the temple’s design is too terrifying." Julius Reed sped his hands behind him, examining the eerie statues inside the temple, squinting involuntarily. "Choosing a frigid ce like Boulevard Mountain means no chance of disturbances."


    "Then what’s the point of building it here?" Shadow Kims’ heartbeat suddenly elerated.


    He was a devotee, once the most faithful servant of the gods.


    But after the temple’s downfall, he became a theologian, beginning to study the so-called gods.


    This was originally a great disrespect.


    But in Shadow Kims’ heart, can gods who aren’t omnipotent still be called gods?


    Only the invincible, the omnipresent, are worthy of the title of gods.


    "If I’m not mistaken," Julius Reed touched his chin with his finger, chuckling lightly, "the Temple of Nine Spirits is for your worship, so it’s simr to those for ordinary worship. But here, it might be for the Prophet’s own worship, or perhaps for their Underworlders."


    Back when he destroyed the temple, he had no impression of the Temple of Return to Heaven.


    It seems the Temple of Return to Heaven was protected in advance, creating a false destruction.


    Many times, Julius Reed arranged for his subordinates to search and destroy temples worldwide.


    After all, with so many temples globally, he couldn’t handle everything personally.


    "Hidden this deep, and still discovered." After saying this, Julius Reed’s expression suddenly turned grave.


    He discovered this temple thanks to the guidance and pushing of that painting behind it.


    Otherwise, Julius Reed would be too busy dealing with Trent Marsh in Gonzalez City to have time toe out.


    To understand anything about the so-called Gills Alliance?


    Without that painting, this situation wouldn’t exist now.


    Thinking about it, Julius Reed felt a vague unease.


    That painting was truly bizarre.


    "Master, footsteps." Hawthorne whispered.


    "Hide!"


    Julius Reed swiftly ducked behind the Shura statue.


    It was very secluded here, and with the dim lighting, they couldn’t possibly be discovered.


    "Hide all your presence."


    He instructed.


    If a so-called master arrived, their presence might be detected.


    Shadow Kims and Hawthorne gestured ’understood’, hiding themselves likewise.


    The Temple of Return to Heaven being one of the three God temples, capable of housing thousands of years of worshippers, even after experiencing a copse, still had this expansive space.


    The footsteps suddenly halted.


    Probably having seen the body at the doorway, they sensed something was amiss.


    If they were from the Gills Alliance, it couldn’t be this quiet.


    The rm should have sounded long ago.


    The lock was still broken, any ordinary person could enter, yet the neer did note in, stopping at the door.


    It seemed the sight of the unusual door reflected heightened caution.


    For a full five minutes.


    Then the footsteps resumed.


    If the neer was from the Gills Alliance, reinforcements should have arrived by now.


    But all was still silent, suggesting the visitor might be simr to them.


    "Didn’t expect to find a kindred spirit here." A shadow dashed through the door, entering the Temple of Return to Heaven. "Since we’re friends, why not reveal yourselves?"


    No response from within the temple, the visitor chuckled again: "Everyone, we are all Martial Artists, I can sense your presence. Rest assured, I am like you, we share the same aim."


    Seeing no response still, the shadow in his hand ignited a ball of me!


    He raised his hand, illuminating the temple directly!


    "How can this be?"


    Upon seeing the statues in the temple, the visitor eximed, "The Dragon was true to its word!"


    The firelight quickly dimmed.


    The visitor seemed uninterested in investigating whether anyone was inside the temple.


    He felt no presence of others at all.


    The spacious temple seemed to house only him.


    "Haha! I’ve finally found it!"


    The man looked at statue after statue.


    Finally, as he approached a statue of a Shura with an axe, he inclined, kneeling on the ground, bowing three times.


    Julius Reed was right on top of this statue.


    He was amazed to discover the visitor was Ilia Danvers!


    Ilia Danvers, not in Mont, not at Dusty tform, whye here?


    Julius Reed was curious if Trent Marsh had been saved by Ilia Danvers.


    Or had Trent Marsh died, as depicted in the painting?


    Originally expected to be at Dusty tform, how did Ilia Danvers know this statue’s secret?


    Whye to the Gills Alliance?


    But suddenly!


    A miraculous scene unfolded.


    After bowing three times, Ilia Danvers paused briefly, then bowed four more times.


    Instantaneously, the statue’s mouth opened!


    Slowly opened...


    Julius Reed, standing atop the statue’s head, witnessed the entire process clearly.


    "Haha! Just as expected!" Ilia Danvers stomped his foot, his whole body rising, entering the statue’s mouth.


    Bam!


    As soon as he entered, the statue closed.


    "What’s going on?" Shadow Kims saw this scene from a distance.


    How did Ilia Danvers know this secret?


    "The Dragon was originally a fierce beast of the Underworld Hall; it’s worshipped in Mont, Ilia Danvers must have learned the news from the Dragon." Julius Reed leapt to the ground, stomping a few times.


    No response.


    "Hah, I am the Master, how can I kneel? Hawthorne, you do it." After Julius Reed spoke, Hawthorne reluctantly kneeled in front of the statue.


    First bowing three times, then four.


    Crunch!


    The statue’s mouth opened once more.


    "You two stay outside and observe, I’ll go in and see." Julius Reed leapt into the air, entering the statue’s mouth directly.