After recognizing Lin Feng's assessment of the situation, the Lord Bishop offered two choices.

Lin Feng immediately fell into a brainstorming session, quickly analyzing the different implications behind these two choices.

The first was to become an Oasis Upper Class member and take over Nongzhuang Village after the Li Family's disappearance, continuing to provide a stable supply of Rock-Horned Horse meat for Oasis Town.

This was no small project.

Lin Feng estimated that he had to kill at least two Early Tier One Rock-Horned Horses daily to meet the demands of the two thousand Upper Class members and twenty thousand permanent residents of Oasis Town.

Two per day, and even if Rock-Horned Horses were fed extensively, they would need six months to mature for market. Calculating this, the breeding scale needed to be maintained at over one hundred and eighty horses.

More was better; they couldn't have less.

In addition to various income-generating projects in Nongzhuang Village, Lin Feng estimated that the village's Yan Jiao Horse Industry had at least three hundred Rock-Horned Horses at different growth stages.

Taking over such a large industry, even if Lin Feng could stabilize the transfer, leapfrogging into one of the most powerful positions in Oasis Town outside the high-level Upper Class leadership…

The future would still be challenging.

Because his strength was limited, whether becoming a puppet manipulated by the higher-ups or finding an opportunity to be promoted to Tier Two, he would eventually be restricted to Oasis Town.

Lin Feng certainly didn't want to be a puppet, and evolving to the second stage was like the current situation with the Li Family.

So, the first choice, though seemingly generous in terms of conditions, was full of traps, basking in current glory but ultimately just making wedding dresses for others.

Moreover, Lin Feng never intended to stay in Oasis Town from the beginning.

As for the second option, it was a buyout system.

A piece of Leader-level Rock-Horned Horse Evolutionary Meat was enough to advance Lin Feng to Late Tier One, and the cost was the complete transfer of horse taming skills.

From then on, the changes in Nongzhuang Village would have nothing to do with Lin Feng, making him an outsider in this whirlpool of strife.

Actually, Lin Feng had thought about the generous trading conditions the Holy Spring Church might offer.

Including the quota for Oasis Upper Class members, shopping Points, and Evolution Potions.

But what Lin Feng needed most at the moment was undoubtedly the Evolutionary Meat provided by the Lord Bishop.

He needed to quickly enhance his strength to handle the upcoming relic exploration tasks and the brewing conflict in Oasis Town.

After thinking for a few seconds, Lin Feng no longer hesitated and decisively chose the second option:

"I am willing to receive Leader-level Rock-Horned Horse Evolutionary Meat. In return, I will develop a toxin capable of paralyzing Late-stage Leader-level Rock-Horned Horses!"

"If a large enough dose is injected, I think it might even have a certain effect on Tier Two Clan Leader-level Rock-Horned Horses."

Lin Feng's choice surprised both Father Su An, who was present, and the Lord Bishop.

Although Su An had probed earlier and understood that Lin Feng did not want to become an Oasis Upper Class member, the terms offered by the Lord Bishop at the moment included more than just Upper Class status.

It also involved gaining the entire Nongzhuang Village left after the Li Family!

This meant that in due time, Lin Feng, too, could establish a Wasteland aristocratic family like the Li Family!

At least, a legacy that could last five hundred years.

If fortunate enough to evolve to Tier Two, extending his power and influence for another thousand years wasn't impossible!

Given such lavish terms, anyone would accept this opportunity to inherit a large family with thousands of members and hundreds of years of accumulation in an instant…

But the young man before them chose the option with the lowest immediate returns instead.

After a brief moment of surprise, the Lord Bishop took a deep look at Lin Feng and nodded:

"Alright, after the Gospel Ceremony concludes, I'll send someone to deliver the Leader-level Rock-Horned Horse Evolutionary Meat to Holy Spring Village."

"Since you're new here, spend more time in the Oasis during Holy Spring Day, tour around, and maybe after understanding more about life in the Oasis, you'll change your current perspective."

Having said that, the Lord Bishop lowered his head and continued to study the tattered ancient book on the desk.

Father Su An immediately signaled for Lin Feng to leave.

Before closing the door, he advised:

"Outside, I've arranged for an Assistant Priest to guide you around the Oasis. There's also the Holy Spring Ceremony coming up; you should observe it as well."

Lin Feng nodded and left promptly.

After the door closed, Father Su An returned to the Lord Bishop and spoke:

"It seems he has little sense of belonging to Oasis Town."

The Lord Bishop adjusted the thick lenses before him:

"For firearm-type Superpower Evolvers, even in the Holy City, they are exceptional beings, so there really is no need for him to remain in Oasis Town living a mediocre life."

"Young people with some grand ambitions aren't always a bad thing. We'll find someone else to take over Nongzhuang Village in due time."

"And one more thing..."

With that, the Lord Bishop slowly closed the book:

"The Pilgrimage Convoy did not return on time last time; they were ambushed by Wanderers."

Father Su An's brow furrowed slightly:

"Recently, around Oasis Town, the only group capable of threatening the Pilgrimage Convoy is a branch of the Salvation Army."

"Their purpose in coming over is to explore the deeper restricted areas of Taishan Ruins."

The Lord Bishop nodded:

"A Combat Priest broke through first and has already returned to the Holy Spring Pool to recuperate."

"According to him, the ones ambushed this time were only the Li Family of Nongzhuang Village. Besides their routine purchase of livestock farming tools and animal growth hormones, they also spent a large sum ordering a piece of Clan Leader-level Rock-Horned Horse Life Source Material from the Holy City's Life Farm..."

"Presumably, it was intended to enhance and extend the life of Nongzhuang Village's Leader-level Rock-Horned Horse."

"If the leader-level Rock-Horned Horse is not captured anew, all of the Li Family's current plans will turn to dust."

Father Su An raised an eyebrow:

"So, this Salvation Army has actually helped us. If the Li Family cannot provide Mid-Term Evolutionary Meat, they'll first lose their support from Dawn and Mechanical Village."

"Next, they'll be condemned verbally and attacked en masse..."

Lord Bishop removed his glasses, his gaze fiery, his aura rising, transforming from a frail old man into a formidable Tier Two Evolver:

"No. We should be more concerned that the Li Family will act rashly, seizing control of the Oasis Battleship ahead of time."

Father Su An's expression was grave:

"Understood."

"The analysis of Desert Wolf's evolutionary cells has shown initial success. As long as Lin Feng's team can retrieve the Essence of Origin that the Wolf King spilled during the great battle at the Taishan Ruins, they can create the Mad Wolf Potion."

"According to the experimental records left by predecessors, the injection can increase Physique Power by 40%, and still bring a 20% boost even to Tier Two Evolvers, growing fangs capable of tearing Ceramic Steel Armor."

"It has a special attack effect on the Li Family Rock Horse Warriors."

"Once completed, even the Li Family's Patriarch won't be our match."

Lord Bishop made a sound of acknowledgment, looking towards the world map hanging on the wall next to the door.

Under dim lighting, the map's northern hemisphere marked the dozen or so global routes currently explored and drilled by human forces.

"On the next Holy Spring Day, the Oasis will pass by the Taishan Ruins after advancing three hundred kilometers, followed by the six-year cycle of the Holy Land pilgrimage. By then, at the Zhuma Divine Hall, Temple Knights will assist, and the Li Family certainly won't wait until then..."

The Bishop spoke slowly, analyzing the situation:

"And after passing the Taishan Ruins, the Oasis will encounter a fork in the road."

"Their timing of action can only be latest by the next Holy Spring Day. If successful, they would control the Oasis Battleship and steer from the predetermined route, heading north into the northern territory."

Father Su An nodded, feeling the urgency of time and the severity of the situation, promising:

"I will ensure Lin Feng and the others set out promptly, ensuring the Taishan Ruins task is completed within five days after the Holy Spring Day."

The Bishop nodded slightly.

At this, Su An recalled the wanderers near Oasis Town and added:

"That Salvation Army only hijacked the Li Family's cargo, which indicates premeditation. Could they also have intentions towards Nongzhuang Village's Rock-Horned Horse breeding industry?"

The Bishop already stood at the doorway, opening it.

"Our mission is the Oasis; we need not concern ourselves with the rest."

......

Once Lin Feng exited the Bishop's secret chamber, he briskly left the narrow corridor, only taking a deep breath once he was in the church's spacious passageway.

The heart that had been pounding in his throat could finally ease slightly.

Facing those two immensely powerful Evolvers was truly daunting for Lin Feng.

As for Father Su An, his Evolution Level was estimated by Lin Feng to be at the Middle and Early Tier Two, several times stronger than Lin Feng himself.

As for Lord Bishop...

Lin Feng couldn't even sense his aura.

The last time this happened was before Lin Feng achieved Tier Jump Evolution, facing Father Su An.

Lin Feng estimated he could only perceive entities one tier above himself.

For example, during Level 9 Enhancement, he could clearly sense a Tier One Evolver's aura, and upon advancing to Mid-Tier One, he could roughly gauge Father Su An's strength.

Now unable to detect Lord Bishop's aura, there was only one possibility: the other party's power had reached Tier Two Late Stage or even stronger.

Just standing before him, Lin Feng felt penetrated.

Much like an ordinary human facing an Evolver.

The disparity between the two might very well be tenfold or more.

Lord Bishop, with just a finger movement, could effortlessly crush Lin Feng like an ant.

Adding to that was the lack of a weapon at hand, leaving Lin Feng uneasy and nervous to the extreme.

Especially being in a cramped secret room, the claustrophobic pressure invisibly magnified the anxiety.

If this were his first audience in the cathedral's prayer hall, coupled with bright light, Lin Feng figured he wouldn't have felt this pressured nor reacted so fearfully.

Luckily, it was all over now.

Lin Feng followed his instincts, choosing the best course of action.

"Hello, is this Mr. Lin?"

At that moment, a female voice sounded behind him.

Lin Feng turned abruptly to see a young female Assistant Priest in a white robe, smiling at him from behind.

Her steps were silent, appearing out of nowhere.

At that moment, Lin Feng, with tension suppressed, nodded and said:

"Are you the Assistant Priest guiding me on a tour of the Oasis?"

A young woman, appearing around twenty, nodded:

"My name is Shen Yue, please follow me, Mr. Lin."

"There are still several hours until the Holy Spring Prayer Ceremony, and you haven't eaten yet, have you? Let's head to the Oasis Cafeteria for a meal first!"

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