Chapter 16: The Vatican’s Response, and the First Strike of Heaven’s Wrath
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Chapter 16: The Vatican's Response, and the First Strike of Heaven's Wrath
—The Wrath of Purity, the Temptation of Chaos—
The Vatican had long watched Earth's cultivation networks, especially the rise of new forces. But now, as rumors of Tian Mo's growing influence spread across the continents, the Holy Order of Celestial Exorcists prepared for what they believed would be a cleansing—a purging of demonic filth from their sacred world.
But they did not understand.
They could not yet see the web of chaos that Tian Mo wove so carefully through his followers, his harem, and his empire.
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The Vatican's Grand Master Plan
Archbishop Elena Vasquez—high priestess of the Vatican—was a woman of immense power. Standing at the peak of Void Shattering Realm, her Celestial Light cultivation allowed her to manipulate divine energies, purify souls, and sever demonic influence.
She knew the source of the threat.
She knew Tian Mo had become Earth's new dark emperor.
A group of elite Celestial Exorcists—all hand-picked and fully prepared to purify the land—set their plan into motion. The first strike would be to expose and burn down Tian Mo's hidden temples and corrupted women who had already pledged their loyalty.
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The First Strike – Infiltration and Corruption
The Exorcists infiltrated the House of Night Serpents' luxurious headquarters. Their divine blades shone with light, cutting through illusions, revealing hidden runes. They knew this wouldn't be an easy battle. But they believed their purity would see them through.
Elena led the charge herself, arriving at the House's Sanguine Blossom Temple as night fell. The blood-red moon cast long shadows over the temple's pillars, as if the very heavens themselves acknowledged the impending war.
Inside, the air was thick with sensual energy, far removed from anything the Exorcists had ever felt.
And that was their first mistake.
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Tian Mo's Counterstrike
As the Exorcists entered the temple, prepared to sever the source of corruption, they were met with an overwhelming wave of chaos Qi. The walls seemed to pulse with life, responding to Tian Mo's will. The air itself was alive with dark energy, thickening around the invaders like smoke.
In the center of the temple, Tian Mo sat in meditation, surrounded by his most loyal women. Anna, Mei Lan, Yanyue, and even Seraphina, who was still locked in an internal battle with herself, knelt by his side.
He rose slowly, his eyes gleaming with unholy energy.
The Exorcists hesitated. They had expected a simple mission—root out and purify. But this was something else entirely.
One of the Exorcists stepped forward, holding up his divine sword, bathed in light. He attempted to strike at Tian Mo's heart.
But before he could even complete his swing, Tian Mo snapped his fingers.
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The Trap is Set
The Celestial Light began to twist, distorting, turning into shadowed illusions. The sword lost its edge, its light flickering out, replaced by a crushing force that brought the Exorcist to his knees.
Tian Mo smiled, his voice dark and mocking.
"You think you can purify what's already been corrupted? You're late, priest."
As he spoke, the women surrounding him stood, their bodies glowing with a dangerous aura. They had been trained—not just in the art of cultivation, but in submission, in pleasure, and in war.
Luo Yanyue, now a loyal servant of Tian Mo, stepped forward, her body draped in flowing red silk. Her once-pure aura was now tainted, powerful, and seductive. She moved like a serpent, her every motion mesmerizing, and her Qi laced with lures of desire.
With a single glance, she commanded two Exorcists to fall into her trap. Their will broke under the pressure of her gaze, their bodies bound by her Moonlight Veins.
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The Collapse of Purity
Elena and her remaining Exorcists attempted to fight back, but the chaos Qi was too much. Their divine powers were being corrupted, turning their righteous flames into twisted flames of lust and fury.
Anna, Mei Lan, and the other women circled them, weaving seduction and coercion into every breath.
Each Exorcist who fell to the temptations of the temple's chaos energy was drained of their purity, their Qi corrupted by Tian Mo's yin energy.
It was slow at first—small moments of hesitation, a lingering gaze—but soon, they found themselves overwhelmed by the pull. Desire rose within them, mixing with the hunger for power. They were trapped, like moths drawn to a flame.
Tian Mo watched them struggle, his eyes glowing with amusement. This was not a fight of strength, but of wills. They had believed their light would outshine his darkness.
They were wrong.
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Elena's Decision
Elena, knowing the battle was lost, made a final move. She activated a self-purification array, one that would burn her life force and cleanse the entire temple in a burst of holy light.
But Tian Mo was prepared.
With a single word, he ordered Luo Yanyue to sever the array with her Moonlight Veins.
It was done in an instant. The holy light never had a chance to ignite.
Elena fell to her knees. Her strength, her purity, her entire being shattered before Tian Mo's dominance.
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Victory and the First Mark of the Serpent Empire
The Exorcists were broken, their souls twisted. Tian Mo's empire had now marked its first divine victory. The Vatican's attempt at cleansing was a failure. Their purity was lost. And the House of Night Serpents was only beginning to rise.
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Status Update:
Tian Mo: Nascent Soul (Late Stage) | Chaos-Yin Hybrid Qi | Full Control of House of Night Serpents
Anna: Core Formation (Peak) | Cultivator Enchantress
Yin Hua: Core Formation (Peak) | Assassin Commander
Luo Yanyue: Nascent Soul (Early) | Temple Mistress | Deepened Loyalty
Seraphina: Celestial Constitution | Slowly Giving In
Vatican Exorcists: Purity Lost | Chaos-Bound | Targets for Recruitment
Empirical Expansion: Vatican Influence Crumbled | Several Elite Sect Cultivators Converted
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