The Great Artisan God froze, then massaged his forehead in exasperation, also at a loss for words with Theodore.
He didn’t know how to explain it so that Theodore could understand.
Seeing that Muxuan seemed to have something to say, the Great Artisan God immediately gestured for Theodore to be quiet, then turned respectfully to Muxuan, awaiting her instructions.
Muxuan frowned slightly, doubt rising in her heart.
She shifted her focus back to her original purpose.
“How did the goblins’ attack on you roughly go?”
The Great Artisan God paused, then quickly lowered his head.
His deep voice echoed through the empty corridor with a rough texture as he began to speak.
“The goblins… they took advantage of our scheduled maintenance of the Molten Core. The attack didn’t come from outside with a siege—they infiltrated through the internal furnace pipeline system.”
The muscles on his face tightened, clearly still shaken by the memory.
“Though we were on guard, they carried some kind of… specially crafted source of corruption, targeting the core node of the Molten Core with clear aim. Their movements were unusually efficient, as if they knew our defensive layout perfectly.”
The Great Artisan God paused, his voice dropping a few notes.
“Worse, they seemed… to have an inside man. While we urgently mobilized forces to defend the core area, several key support nodes were sabotaged at the same time.”
“This is no longer something the Inteke Tribe and goblins could achieve together. Clearly, there’s trouble from within.”
A deep light flickered in his eyes as he continued.
“Inside the tribe, the corruption has likely spread. And a good number of our people have been tainted.”
“That’s why I sent away all the surviving tribesmen and came to the Molten Core alone.”
Muxuan listened quietly, her golden eyes glowing with a focused light.
She understood the Great Artisan God’s worry.
A fortress hollowed out from within by darkness was far more dangerous than any external enemy.
Muxuan took a deep breath, her voice clear and resolute.
“I understand. Since I have accepted the Watkan Tribe’s allegiance, I must do something in return.”
“If there are hidden dangers inside, we need to root them out as soon as possible. I can try using Lightforce to sense and investigate. Maybe I can track down the corrupted ones.”
“No, Your Highness!”
Qiansitelin immediately objected, tightening her arms around Muxuan, her eyes filled with worry.
“You’ve just recovered from an overexertion of power. Your body and spirit need time to stabilize. A large-scale sensing probe is extremely costly… and very dangerous.”
“No one can predict whether the goblins still have an ace up their sleeve.”
She didn’t finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Even though their young Highness had already reached the early Moho Layer, Qiansitelin still couldn’t let Muxuan risk herself.
It was too dangerous.
The Great Artisan God immediately bowed, his rough voice carrying apology and concern.
“The internal affairs of the Watkan Tribe do not need to trouble you, Your Highness the Saintess. Investigating the corruption and identifying the traitors is our own responsibility.”
Muxuan could feel the slight trembling of Qiansitelin’s arms and the weight of her concern.
She also understood the Great Artisan God’s reservations.
But she gently patted Qiansitelin’s hand to signal her to relax, then turned her gaze to both of them, her golden eyes full of determination.
“Qiansitelin, I understand your worry. But I have obtained the blessing of the Great Artisan Kalibo and broken through to the Moho Layer. I know better than anyone what I can do now.”
Her voice was gentle, yet unwavering.
She paused, her eyes sweeping over Muxuan, who floated nearby, radiating a soft holy light.
“Besides, I don’t need to touch the source of corruption directly. Let the Holy Relic accompany the Great Artisan God.”
She extended her hand—the one not holding the crosier—and lifted her slender fingers slightly.
With her will, Muxuan’s form moved slightly, then came to the Great Artisan God’s side.
Qiansitelin and the Great Artisan God immediately understood her intention.
Sensing the pure Lightforce emanating from Muxuan and the Holy Relic, they had to admit that sending the relic was far safer than going in person, and the investigation would still be fully feasible.
“Thank you, Your Highness the Saintess!”
After seeing Muxuan’s firm gaze, the Great Artisan God said at once.
Though Qiansitelin still gripped Muxuan’s hand tightly, her worry not fully dispelled, she looked at her young Highness’s resolute expression and the avatar of the “Pope” beside her, which brimmed with immense Lightforce.
Finally, she slowly nodded.
“Your Highness… please be careful.”
Her gaze swept over Muxuan and the Great Artisan God, then settled on Muxuan’s slightly pale yet determined face.
“The Holy Relic doesn’t guarantee absolute safety. Some strange entities can even affect the original body through some kind of connection.”
“Mm, I’ll be careful.”
Muxuan gently squeezed Qiansitelin’s hand back, giving her a reassuring smile.
Then she focused most of her attention on controlling Muxuan.
A strange connection extended through the golden patterns hidden on her skin, linking clearly to that pure mass of Light Origin.
Muxuan felt her consciousness split into two strands: one maintained her own perception and actions, while the other, like an invisible thread, wrapped around Muxuan’s body of light.
Muxuan gave a slight nod, and a deep, dignified voice sounded.
“Great Artisan God, please lead the way. Let us begin.”
“As you command, Your Highness.”
The Great Artisan God hesitated briefly, then still bowed to Muxuan before turning.
His heavy footsteps clanged against the metal floor as he led the way back toward the three-way intersection.
Muxuan followed closely, walking with steady dignity.
His holy light robe billowed without wind, radiating a soft yet resolute purifying aura.
“I’m going too! I want to see!”
Theodore cried out eagerly, trotting on short legs to follow.
“Theodore!”
Qiansitelin and the Great Artisan God shouted in unison.
At the same time, Qiansitelin raised her arm lightly, and a soft silver light blocked Theodore’s path.
“You stay here. This is dangerous!”
The Great Artisan God’s voice rang out right after.
“Uu…”
Theodore pouted in grievance, tears welling up in her big eyes as she looked pitifully at Muxuan.
“Your Highness…”
Muxuan looked at her pitiful expression, then at Qiansitelin and the Great Artisan God’s unyielding expressions.
She sighed softly and said to her,“You’d better stay here… It’s safer here than over there.”
Though she wasn’t sure what the goblins’ true goal was, at least with Qiansitelin and herself present, even if the goblins targeted this spot, they wouldn’t succeed easily.
Moreover, with the Lightforce protection left by the Great Artisan Kalibo, it was nearly impossible for any trap to be planted here.
Over there, on the other hand, they needed to be more wary of goblin ambushes.