Chapter 544

Chapter 544: The Golden Branch under the Moonlight

It was already July, and even Mount Karnreil Sacred Mountain, which stood at a high altitude, now felt an unbearable heat, with only the nights providing a slight respite.

After leaving the Judgment Bureau, Lolan Hill headed toward the Water Bottle Palace.

Walking on the small path between the peaks, she could see the sparse lights on the opposite or lower cliffs, scattered against the dark night sky and mountain peaks.

Though she could make out some people moving about, their voices were too distant to reach her. Only the torches lining the road occasionally crackled.

The ashes from the burnt offerings had a faint smell of scorched wood, drifting up into the deep ravines and vanishing into the open night sky.

Perhaps having resolved many of her previous doubts, Lolan Hill felt lighter in heart and quickened her pace.

Spreading her arms wide, she took a few swift steps along the narrow path near the cliff before jumping down.

The cool air of the night washed over her, causing her clothes to flutter and rustle. She soared through the air like a bird.

It was still quite a distance to the Water Bottle Palace, and without the giant eagle’s assistance, walking back would take far too long.

Though being seen might cause surprise, there was no other choice. Lolan Hill thought as she sped up once more.

Her robe was slightly damp from the dew in the mountains. About twenty minutes later, a slender figure gracefully landed halfway up the mountain, at a secluded corner of the Water Bottle Palace.

Lolan Hill straightened her disheveled hair and attire before heading towards her living quarters.

Even at night, many buildings were still lit up, with nuns coming and going. Some were laughing about today’s amusing events, while others were discussing which cosmetics and perfumes were better, and some were quietly complaining about having too few holidays.

A young nun, seemingly without realizing it, joined the group and followed the crowd toward a bright building where dinner was served.

Inside the hall, there were bright bronze candlesticks, and rectangular tables were lined with nuns dressed similarly, mostly in black, but with distinct differences. For instance, in the cuffs, collars, and chest badges.

Intern nuns had black cuffs, while official nuns had a white cuff to distinguish them.

Higher up, nuns managing the palace had silver cuffs and collars, while senior nuns wore golden leaf patterns.

The badges also varied slightly. Some had graceful water bottle designs with curved lines, representing those involved in healing and care. Others had straight-lined diamond-shaped bottles, responsible for logistics like medicine production and supply management. Some bottles had a small silver star, indicating these nuns were combat personnel, wielding silver cross swords, steadfast in maintaining the peace of the Water Bottle Palace.

“Little one, what would you like to eat?”

As Lolan Hill approached the serving window, the kind old lady said this.

Am I the one? Lolan Hill glanced around, seeing no one else, but surely she wasn’t that young, looking about seventeen.

“How about trying this today? It’s lotus root steamed cake, a dish from the East, quite tasty, though not many choose it.”

She brought over a plate with steaming white cake.

“Sure, thank you,” Lolan Hill extended her arm, her pale hand emerging from the wide sleeve.

“Hold it steady, don’t spill it.” The old lady placed the plate in her hands and added a small wooden spoon beside it.

“Mm-hm.” Lolan Hill nodded and took the fragrant cake, carrying it to a corner of the hall.

Although it was mealtime, the hall wasn’t crowded, as nuns ate in shifts.

After sitting down, Lolan Hill scooped a small piece of the cake with her spoon, feeling its warmth and soft texture, slightly sweet.

She savored it slowly, glancing around the hall.

Most nuns came here in small groups to eat. They didn’t discuss matters of faith, studies, or work; instead, they talked about everyday life and hobbies.

During their regular duties, to maintain the Church and Water Bottle Palace’s image, everyone acted formally, but over time, they felt somewhat stifled. Meals became rare moments of leisure and relaxation.

Many nuns were quite young, just adults, curious about life and the world, naturally eager to share and discuss more.

Regarding the origins of Church members, most weren’t from the Holy Land itself but from various branches across the continent.

The Angel Church established schools in major cities to educate gifted children, helping them become Extraordinary Beings.

In return, graduates became local Church reinforcements, with the best sent to the Holy Land for further education, then dispatched to branches elsewhere, taking on responsibilities.

Of course, the most talented geniuses were recommended to Emanas for better education, returning to the Holy Land afterward.

Ingrid was such a case, adopted by the Church from a young age, becoming an excellent knight and entering Emanas for studies.

Ordinary Extraordinary Beings trained locally usually reached Sequences 2-3, while the best, sent to the Holy Land for further education, might advance to Sequences 4-5 within a few years. The most outstanding, returning from Emanas, could reach Sequences 6-7.

Sequence 8 depended on individual opportunity and effort, while Sequence 9 was divine favor, found in one in millions, requiring talent, will, effort, and luck to break through and achieve perfection.

As the largest organization outside the nation in the West Continent, the Church had countless Extraordinary Beings. Three were openly recognized as Sequence 9, while many believed there were one or two more secretly holding equivalent power.

Most Sequence 8 Extraordinary Beings held important Church positions, numbering around thirty to forty, spread across the continent, some in Verdant, some in Snowy Seven Kingdoms, and others in the Southern Islands.

Though she belonged to the Snowy Seven Kingdoms, the Church had many factions, sometimes not fully aligned.

One could foresee that if Verdant unified the West Continent, the Church would persist, so they weren’t particularly concerned about resisting Verdant’s invasion.

They joined the Snowy Seven Kingdoms due to circumstances, as surrounding nations had joined, isolating them otherwise. Seventy percent of Church members were from the Snowy Seven Kingdoms, influencing decisions, leading to the formation of the alliance.

While Lolan Hill nibbled on the steamed cake, a beautiful woman entered the hall. She wore a close-fitting, pure white robe, adorned with intricate gold leaf patterns on the sleeves, waist, and neckline.

In her hand, she carried a scepter resembling a golden crescent moon, its patterns and aura unmistakably marking her as the Scepter Priest of the Water Bottle Palace, the Church’s Angel Sequence 9, Dew of the Golden Branch under the Moonlight, Bynis.

(End of Chapter)