Watching the figure in the sky that had shed its disguise, appearing like a divine descent, all the calm, scrutiny, and even the faint trace of regret on the Great Artisan God’s bronze face were instantly overwhelmed by shock and excitement.
His pupils contracted, reflecting the pure white angelic phantom with six wings spread wide, flowing with liquid gold, and at its core the petite figure radiating supreme majesty and pure light.
It was no longer the deep and dignified outline of the “Pope,” but a girl with delicate features and brilliant golden eyes.
Time seemed to stop at that moment.
Countless fragments flashed through the Great Artisan God’s mind—Lutherch’s vague hints… the sudden appearance of Lightforce within Theodore… the Pope’s seemingly enormous consumption yet continuous bursts of unexpectedly pure power… and Qiansitelin.
All clues connected in an instant as the truth was revealed, but it brought an even stronger shock.
The Saintess he had been searching for all along… was right before his eyes!
On his bronze face, the crisscrossing wrinkles seemed to twitch slightly—a mix of extreme shock, disbelief, and a certain… settled ecstasy.
“Saintess…”
His deep voice sounded as if ground by rocks, carrying an unprecedented hoarseness and reverence.
Muxuan hovered within the angelic phantom constructed by holy light, her six pairs of light wings flowing with liquid gold.
The Lightforce, pure to the extreme, cleansed the corruption of the space like a tide, purifying the sticky purple-black malice.
However, beneath this sacred radiance was Muxuan’s pale, paper-like face and slightly trembling fingertips.
The forcibly unleashed [Holy Brilliance: Coronation] had nearly drained her last bit of strength, her inner Lightforce flickering violently like a candle flame.
And her originally smooth and slender neck and wrists were now covered with abnormal red marks.
Her golden eyes lowered, looking at the Great Artisan God kneeling on the ground, her expression complex.
It seemed he didn’t mean her harm… rather, he was respectful?
As soon as the thought arose, the sweetness at her throat could no longer be suppressed.
Muxuan abruptly turned her head, and a small mouthful of dark red blood sprayed onto the pure white holy light without warning.
As Muxuan’s form fell like a kite with a broken string, the Great Artisan God’s heart stirred.
He quickly stood up, about to catch her.
But in the next moment, Qiansitelin’s figure suddenly shot out, steadily catching Muxuan while pointing the sharp blade of [Lyrasel] at the Great Artisan God, her eyes carrying a piercing chill.
“Is there anything else you want to say?”
Quickly pouring a bottle of green transparent liquid into Muxuan’s mouth, Qiansitelin’s tone carried a hint of hostility.
“I did not force her.”
The Great Artisan God’s expression was somewhat helpless.
He spread his thick hands and then said:
“In the name of Capoli… This should be enough to show my stance, right?”
Qiansitelin’s strength was not to be underestimated.
Although he didn’t know the reason for her significant decline in power, her physical strength was not much worse than Lutherch’s.
Even if not at her peak, with [Lyrasel] in hand, he might not necessarily gain any advantage.
Moreover, he understood that all she wanted was his attitude.
After receiving the Great Artisan God’s reply, Qiansitelin slowly withdrew [Lyrasel], gave a cold snort, and then carefully carried Muxuan away without looking back.
“Grandfather!”
Shortly after Qiansitelin left, Theodore ran down, his voice filled with urgency.
“Ouch!”
However, whether because he was too anxious or for some other reason, the moment he saw the Great Artisan God, Theodore tripped on flat ground, his head making intimate contact with the floor, letting out a scream.
He quickly got up, rubbed his head in embarrassment, then looked at the Great Artisan God again, his neck shrinking involuntarily.
Seeing Theodore like this, the Great Artisan God opened his mouth, seemed about to speak, then ultimately shook his head helplessly.
He walked over to Theodore, without reprimanding him, just patted his shoulder and signaled him to follow.
He was in a fairly good mood now, instead finding that this grandson who always made him angry… seemed a bit cute right now.
But the moment he thought of that old fox Lutherch, the Great Artisan God immediately felt a surge of anger.
Pulling such a stunt, not giving him a definite answer, just letting him guess! If he had known that this so-called Pope was the Saintess, he would have gone to the Church long ago.
Contemplating how to give Lutherch a good beating, the Great Artisan God also led Theodore, who was keeping his head down and not daring to speak, out of the Core.
By now Muxuan had recovered a bit.
Supported by Qiansitelin, she stood somewhat unsteadily in front of the huge Furnace Cluster.
The Great Artisan God looked at Qiansitelin, who was staring at him coldly, then heavily knelt in Muxuan’s direction, at the same time pressing down Theodore’s head as well.
“Wah!”
Theodore, pressed down, let out a short whimper, but it was quickly covered by the Great Artisan God’s deep voice:
“In the name of Capoli… I, as the Great Artisan God, representing the Watkan Tribe, swear allegiance to the Saintess.”
Not directed at the Pope, nor at the Church, but very clearly directed at Muxuan herself.
“?”
With the Great Artisan God’s words, Theodore’s mind instantly went blank, unable to process such a huge amount of information.
‘Saintess!? Allegiance!?’
Theodore’s small eyes were filled with great confusion.
Muxuan also looked at the Great Artisan God in some confusion, then turned to Qiansitelin.
She had originally thought that the Great Artisan God seeking the Saintess was to take her heart’s blood or use her for gain, but she really hadn’t expected… the Great Artisan God to directly swear allegiance to her.
‘This isn’t right!’
‘And what is Capoli?’
In the fragmented memories of the successive Popes, there was no mention of this name.
Sensing her Little Highness’s confusion, Qiansitelin leaned close to Muxuan’s ear and whispered:
“Capoli is the name of the Dwarf Tribe’s master artisan who once followed the Goddess… All of the Church’s Divine Artifacts were made by him.”
Hearing Qiansitelin’s words, Muxuan’s heart stirred, and she asked instinctively:
“How many Divine Artifacts does the Church have?”
A flicker of doubt passed through Qiansitelin’s eyes, but she still answered:
“Two. What’s wrong, Your Highness?”
Qiansitelin’s concerned tone did not seem fake, nor was there any hint of joking… which made Muxuan fall silent.
‘The crosier… is it really a Divine Artifact?’
‘Why did the Goddess say there were three, but Qiansitelin only says two?’
Suppressing the doubts in her heart, she looked again at the Great Artisan God’s devout and earnest expression, and Muxuan couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.
“I, as the Saintess, accept your oath.”
Muxuan understood… what the Great Artisan God hoped for was only the Saintess.
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