[Chapter 310: Beyond the Higher Ascendant Order]
Although the commotion was mostly shielded by the Dark Barrier, the final smack was too loud to go unnoticed. The neighbors had surely heard it.
Ed nodded quickly. "Leave it to us. We have connections in the church. We'll categorize this as... a collapse accident caused by an aging building structure. We can arrange for the church to grant Peggy's family some subsidy so they can rebuild."
Daniel nodded.
He walked to the edge of the deep pit and looked down.
At the bottom, a faint trace of aura lingered -- the last remnant left behind after Valak's projection dissolved.
Daniel beckoned with his hand.
A wisp of black energy drifted into his palm and was sealed within a prayer seal.
This might come in handy later.
"Let's go." Daniel turned and descended the stairs. "This matter's settled. It's time for me to head back."
Ed and Lorraine followed quickly, like devoted believers trailing their god.
At the end of the street, sirens wailed faintly.
Ed and Lorraine stood by the ruins, their expressions heavy.
"Mr. Cross, here is the remaining $400,000," Ed said, pulling a pre-prepared check from his coat and handing it over respectfully, as if it were a sacred relic.
Daniel took the check, glanced at it casually, and slipped it into his System space.
"This house collapsed thoroughly," Daniel said, gesturing to the wreckage behind him. "Explaining this might be tricky."
"Leave it to us."
Ed reassured him immediately. "We'll tell the public that a gas leak caused a localized explosion, leading to the structure's collapse. The church will liaise with the police and the insurance company, ensuring Peggy's family receives proper relocation and compensation."
In situations like this, the Warren couple had far more experience handling the aftermath than Daniel.
"That sounds good." Daniel nodded. "Don't involve me; I don't like giving statements to the police."
"Understood. You were never here," Ed said knowingly.
Lorraine looked at Daniel, hesitated, then bowed deeply. "God bless you."
Daniel smiled faintly but said nothing.
He turned and walked toward the Cadillac parked at the corner, opened the door, and started the engine.
The black SUV glided into the night and soon disappeared around the corner.
Only after the taillights vanished did Ed exhale deeply, suddenly aware that his shirt was soaked through.
"Let's go, Lorraine."
Ed took his wife's hand and glanced toward the police lights flickering in the distance. "We're still facing a tough battle, but compared to what just happened, dealing with the police will be a cakewalk."
...
By the time Daniel returned to the Beverly Hills villa, it was already four in the morning.
He disturbed no one and went straight down to the underground Exorcism Room.
Not only did he activate the villa's protective ward, but he also added two more Restrictions outside the chamber.
The gains from this encounter were immense; he needed an absolutely secure environment in which to process them.
Sitting cross-legged on a meditation mat, Daniel took a deep breath and focused his mind.
"System."
A pale blue light screen expanded across his retina.
[Host: Daniel Cross]
[Body Constitution: Celestial Thunder Body Enhancement (Fourth Tier)]
[Exorcism Level: Supreme Anointed (Higher Ascendant Order)]
[Merit Points: 100,342,200 points]
His lips curled into an unstoppable grin as he gazed at the long string of zeros.
Over one hundred million points.
It was the greatest fortune he'd ever accumulated since arriving in this world.
Previously, killing minor ghosts and demons only earned him hundreds or thousands; even defeating the Red-Faced Demon yielded just thirty million.
But now, a single Demon Projection had made him instantly wealthy.
"High risk, high reward."
Daniel steadied his emotions and turned his eyes to the skill bar.
His exorcism was already at the Supreme Anointed of Higher Ascendant Order level. Though more merit points were required for the next breakthrough, this hundred million was plenty.
Yet his gaze shifted down to the upgrade option.
To move from Supreme Anointed to Perfection required 51.2 million merit points.
Though significant, crossing this hurdle would make those beyond the Higher Ascendant Order much easier.
That would be a whole new Order.
Daniel was eager for it.
His expression hardened, and without hesitation, he commanded, "Exorcism, upgrade!"
Boom!
It felt like an invisible giant hand gripped his soul violently.
Immediately, an unprecedented surge of raw energy erupted inside his body.
A long time passed...
[Exorcism: Higher Ascendant Order Perfection]
[Merit Points: 49,142,200 points]
Daniel slowly exhaled a breath of murky energy.
Within the Exorcism Room, the air pulsed in time with his breathing.
He no longer felt like a separate individual but intertwined with the world itself.
His Spiritual Sense instantly expanded to cover a ten-mile radius -- and was still stretching.
That was the power of the Higher Ascendant Order Perfection.
Yet the sharpness in his eyes did not dull; instead, it grew even more piercing.
As his gaze swept over a solid wood shelf in the corner, it cracked under the pressure of his glare and split open.
"Still not enough."
Daniel withdrew his gaze and looked again at the System panel.
The upgrade button was still lit.
"Upgrade!"
Boom!
This time, there was no tearing pain.
A buzzing sensation hummed in his brain, and his consciousness was suddenly pulled away.
When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the basement.
He was in a boundless sky.
Countless points of light floated around like stars -- some bright, some dim.
Some flickered like candle flames; others glowed like the full moon.
"Universe of Laws."
A sudden understanding blossomed in his heart.
Daniel looked up toward the brightest stars -- those dazzling stars pulsing with mesmerizing energy.
"If I'm going to take something, I'll take the best."
He condensed his Mental Energy, forming a giant hand, and reached out toward the brightest star.
The star vibrated slightly, and a slippery, powerful resistance pushed back.
The giant hand slipped off. He couldn't grasp it.
"Hmph."
Daniel's spiritual body formed hand seals -- the Seal of the Unbroken Covenant from the Nine Sacred Invocations.
"Guard!"
A thunderous shout exploded through the sky.
The flickering star froze in place.
Daniel's giant hand reached out again and firmly gripped the brightest star.
"Still got some strength left?"
He felt his Mental Energy was not fully spent.
His gaze shifted to two equally brilliant stars nearby.
"Since I'm here, don't think of running away."
With a wave of his giant hand, he scooped up those two stars as well.
The moment the three stars were caught in his palm, an overwhelming exhaustion swept over him like a tidal wave.
It was the drain of having his Mental Energy instantly sucked dry.
The sky before him began to crumble.
Whoosh!
Daniel snapped his eyes open, gasping for breath, sweat soaking the back of his shirt.
He was still in the Exorcism Room.
But in his mind, three indelible imprints remained: Silver Space, Colorless Time, and Gray Causality.
The three Supreme Laws.
Daniel looked at the System panel.
[Exorcism Level: Heavenborn (Celestial Order)]
[Merit Points: 48,142,200 points]
"Celestial Order..." Daniel whispered to himself.
*****
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