Qiansitelin’s body froze in place as if gripped by invisible ice.
In her eyes, reflected at the end of the narrow bridge, was an incredible scene—the light curtain rippled, and two figures stepped out from it one after another.
Walking in front was her young Highness, Muxuan.
The girl’s slender and fragile form was real, her silver hair flowing with a faint glow against the holy light behind her.
Her delicate face still bore a trace of exhaustion-induced pallor, but her eyes were clear.
Around her emanated an unprecedented, restrained yet powerful aura of pure light.
However, what brought Qiansitelin’s thoughts to a sudden halt was the second figure who followed closely behind Muxuan.
Tall and dignified, with a robe woven from pure holy light and flowing with sacred runes, his features were serene and solemn, full of majesty and compassion—it was clearly “Muxuan.”
What had her young Highness… done!?
“Pope!?”
Theodore’s little mind couldn’t process the scene before him for a moment, and he asked in confusion.
As the one who had always guarded the holy relic, the Great Artisan God quickly assessed the situation.
He patted Theodore’s head and spoke calmly, though his tone carried a barely concealed excitement.
“That should be the manifested form of the holy relic.”
When Muxuan approached, Qiansitelin could no longer hold back.
She threw herself forward and tightly embraced her young Highness.
Muxuan instinctively nodded slightly, her golden eyes looking at Qiansitelin with a hint of reassuring smile, mixed with some fatigue and apology.
“Qiansitelin, I made you worry.”
Her voice was clear and melodious, the voice Qiansitelin knew well.
The Great Artisan God looked at Muxuan excitedly, his eyes full of awe.
“Your Highness… you succeeded. You recovered it and gave it form.”
The moment the Great Artisan God’s words faded, “Muxuan” standing beside Muxuan also moved.
“Muxuan” slowly raised a hand made of pure holy light, the movement fluid and natural, showing no sign of being an energy construct.
His lips did not move, but his low, majestic, and compassionate voice echoed clearly through the vast space, as if resonating directly between the metal framework and the light crystals.
“Of course.”
As the voice fell, the holy light construct “Muxuan” transformed back into that condensed, liquid-glowing cloud, silently floating beside Muxuan.
The turbid air in the corridor, mixed with metallic rust, was instantly and silently purified upon contact with this pure light.
“Your Highness!”
Qiansitelin’s voice carried a slight tremor not yet fully calmed.
She tightly hugged the warm small body in her arms, her silver-gray eyes scanning Muxuan’s face, neck, and wrists with the precision of the finest alchemical instrument.
Only after sensing that the lightforce within Muxuan, now at the early Moho Layer and more vigorous than before, was flowing steadily, did her taut nerves truly relax.
But her encircling arms did not loosen.
“I’m fine, Qiansitelin.”
Muxuan allowed herself to be held, rubbing her face against the soft fabric of Qiansitelin’s chest, her voice soft and reassuring, yet also carrying a hint of helplessness at being squeezed too tight.
The Great Artisan God stood aside, his bronze face a mix of excitement and reverence.
He gazed at the light cloud symbolizing the glory of the ancestor Kalibo, his thick fingers trembling slightly.
He took a deep breath of the air purified by the holy light, as if to etch this sacred scent into his lungs.
“What is this…”
Adjusting her emotions, Qiansitelin’s eyes passed over Muxuan’s silver hair to look at the cloud, a flicker of curiosity mixed with caution.
Muxuan gently patted her hand, signaling her to relax.
Then she drew back a little from her warm embrace, turned around, and looked at the light cloud with clear golden eyes, also meeting the excited and awed gaze of the Great Artisan God and Theodore’s intensely curious look.
“Don’t worry, this is the holy relic left by Master Kalibo.”
Muxuan’s voice was gentle and clear, carrying a peaceful strength after being baptized by the holy light.
She raised her hand, her slender fingertips pointing at the condensed light.
With her will, the light cloud flowed and reshaped again.
Sacred runes flickered within the light stream, and then the image of Pope “Muxuan” appeared once more before everyone.
Muxuan explained softly, her fingertip giving a slight tap.
“It is not a living being, but is formed from the purest and most primal lightforce. It is a creation of Master Kalibo, who condensed the residual divine power of the Goddess into this when forging the ‘War Rampart.'”
“I can control ‘him’!”
Muxuan’s clear voice echoed in the empty space, carrying a hint of barely restrained excitement.
With her explanation and demonstration, Qiansitelin’s tense nerves finally completely relaxed, but her eyes still locked onto “Muxuan.”
Her sharp gaze seemed to pierce through that body of pure holy light to analyze its essence.
She could clearly sense the vast and pure lightforce emanating from “Muxuan” and the subtle connection between him and her young Highness.
This power was indeed in the same lineage as her Highness’s, but seeing the image of the “Pope” so directly still stirred an indescribable complex emotion.
“Your Highness…”
Qiansitelin’s voice dropped, carrying an almost imperceptible sigh.
“As long as you’re really okay.”
She finally pulled her full attention back to the small, real body in her arms, tightening her arms even more, as if trying to smooth away all the anxiety of the waiting.
“Your Highness, congratulations.”
The Great Artisan God walked over from the side, his gaze shifting between Muxuan and “Muxuan” a few times before he also understood her intention.
However, even with Qiansitelin and the Great Artisan God fully aware, Theodore’s head was still a bit dizzy, not knowing what was going on.
At that moment, he still stared wide-eyed at “Muxuan,” full of curiosity.
Noticing Theodore reaching out to touch “Muxuan,” the Great Artisan God quickly stopped him, his voice stern.
“Theodore, don’t be rude. Since you’ve sworn loyalty to Her Highness the Saintess, you must know your place.”
Theodore was pulled back by the Great Artisan God, his small hand reluctantly retracting, but his bright eyes still stared unblinkingly at “Muxuan” floating beside Muxuan, emitting a soft holy light.
His small face was full of confusion and regret at not being able to touch.
He tugged at the Great Artisan God’s clothes and whispered.
“That… that glowing ‘Pope,’ did Her Highness really conjure him? Isn’t Her Highness right here?”