Chapter 556

Chapter 556: Golden Crescent Moon Amidst Water Mist

“—I think I should still keep a low profile. In the eyes of everyone at the Church, I am still considered an outsider from Clancia, which might cause some resentment.”

At this critical moment, Lolan Hill felt a bit hesitant and shy again. She was the kind of girl who could be bold but would become constrained when her reasoning was not sound.

It was then Bines’ turn to persuade this young sage.

“Giggles—” Bines couldn’t help but laugh, then walked over to help her put the hood back on.

“Is this better? It will conceal you a little. Besides, you’re currently an exchange student at Emanas, so you can also be considered part of the Church, not entirely an outsider.”

After saying that, the female priestess took Lolan Hill’s hand and flew up into the night sky. Their arms were slightly spread out, tilting down to look at the crowd illuminated by the firelight below.

As Bines took off, the moon in the sky slowly transformed. The cold silver-white moonlight gradually took on a soft, pale yellow hue. The crescent moon in the night sky seemed shrouded in misty water vapor, emitting a faint golden glow.

On the surrounding peaks, the members of the high echelons of the twelve palaces hiding in the shadows and darkness also saw the figure soaring through the air.

A figure dressed in a high priest’s robe looked up and murmured, “The crescent moon of the golden branch, Bines.”

“Will the great lord also join in?” A woman in a black robe sensed the change in the moonlight from an unknown spot on the mountainside.

“It seems this will get more interesting. Let’s go down too.”

As the words fell, several high-ranking priests of Sequence 7 leaped from the cliff and flew toward the center where the flames converged.

Next to the Hymn Palace, Juia looked in surprise at his busy friend. “Ereis, are you going to take all the high-ranking combatants from the Hymn Palace over there?”

“Of course, Juia. I’m a staunch supporter of Lady Bines. At such a time, we definitely cannot back down. When the moon changed color, I knew Lady Bines had made up her mind.”

“Should we all go together, everyone?”

Ereis looked at her group of friends beside her.

“Of course, why else would we be good friends?”

Afterwards, another group of high-ranking angelic sequences rose from the dark earth. Each pair of opened white wings seemed like angels descending upon the world.

Although Bines was not as famous within the Church as Cibith or Odys, it didn’t mean few people stood by her side.

As a former prodigy and a nun from the Aquarius Palace, she naturally gained the support of everyone there. Over the years, many of the students she taught at Emanas had become high-ranking Extraordinary Beings in the current Church. Although they might not always stay in touch, during such critical moments, they would stand on Bines’ side.

It wasn’t just about teacher-student bonds, but also because they shared similar views and ideas.

—

Before the Ten Swords Palace, the crowd was agitated and quarreling.

After experiencing the recent reversals and doubts, the Holy Lance Knights were getting frustrated. They didn’t back down either, loudly rebuking and tearing off their previously genteel and fair exteriors.

These rebukes further stirred up the crowd, many becoming even more incensed. With nowhere to vent their anger, the Holy Lance Knights became the targets of their frustration.

They began to charge at the knights forming the blockade line, using fists or staffs to strike those maintaining the formation.

But the Holy Lance Knights were not as patient as the Ten Swords Palace. They usually faced fierce demonic beasts, pursued and executed wanted criminals, and suppressed local bandits. Once they acted, it was to inflict damage, making it difficult for them to hold back or carefully retaliate like the Ten Swords Palace.

Over time, one knight could no longer bear the unreasonable beating and drew his longsword from his waist, slashing a maniacal and out-of-control man in front of him. A blood streak appeared on his body, and he cried out pitifully, fearing others wouldn’t hear or see.

The situation and public opinion were increasingly unfavorable to Odys. If tonight’s matter wasn’t handled well, he would never have a chance to become the Pope.

“Stop.”

A clear voice echoed in the night sky, like spring rain entering everyone’s ears. Then, a hazy mist descended from the sky, moistening their skin and calming their originally agitated emotions.

Upon hearing this voice, most people couldn’t help but look up in curiosity. A white-robed priest with golden leaf sleeves appeared from the sky, holding a gold moon scepter entwined with green branches, walking down the transparent stairs gracefully, like a goddess of the moon.

Beside her, she held the hand of another mysterious teenage girl in a silver-edged black robe. Though her face was unseen, her delicate chin and scattered silver hair revealed her stunning beauty. She stepped into the hearts of the crowd like a silver star accompanying the golden moon.

Even if this were the case, some malicious individuals still wouldn’t stop talking and acting. But the appearance of the high-ranking angelic sequences emerging from the night finally quieted the entire venue.

About 400 high-ranking angelic sequences spread their wide, pure white wings in the sky, slowly descending. The soul pressure caused by the Extraordinary Core intimidated everyone present. Those pairs of eyes appearing from the darkness surveyed each person below, preventing any rash actions or random words.

Supporters of Bines included not only the Aquarius Palace but also the priests of the Hymn Palace and Mountain Elephant Palace. Even a few members of the Blue Nautilus Knights were among them.

With these high-ranking Extraordinary Beings landing, the empty space before the Ten Swords Palace gathered the three biggest powerhouses of the current Church, the most likely candidates to become the next Pope.

On Mount Karnriel, far away in a palace.

This palace was quite distant from the others, built on a solitary peak, which avoided many disturbances and facilitated observation of the stars.

The cold palace door was knocked, and a priest in a silver-edged black robe quickly entered. He was a high-ranking priest under the Star Track Palace.

As the Star Track Palace had few members, the guards recognized all the high-ranking priests and did not block him, allowing him to enter directly.

He crossed the empty main hall, passing through towering stone pillars, and finally arrived at a church deep within the inner palace. The arched dome of the church seemed transparent, allowing a clear view of the dazzling Milky Way above.

A ‘young’ man stood with his back to the door in the middle of the church, the floor covered with complex and precise celestial maps. Faint stars shimmered inside the church.

“Lord Xialangde, I have something to report.”

“Speak,” the man remained focused on observing and predicting the stars.

“Tonight, many lower-level priests stormed the Ten Swords Palace, leading to intense conflicts between Odys and Cibith. And now, Princess Bines is also getting involved.”

“I understand. Let them handle it themselves. These are trivial matters, nothing worth mentioning anymore.”

“But” The priest seemed to want to say more, but seeing the lonely figure in the church, he knew it was useless. Bowing his head, he quietly retreated. The ruler of the Star Track Palace seemed uninterested in participating in the next papal election.

In the cold palace, the black-haired man remained standing, gazing at the starry night sky, sighing deeply.

“When will I be able to await the returning star and hope, the apocalyptic angel prophesied to blow the end times horn?”

(End of Chapter)