Chapter 184

“Elise, hold onto me!”

In the instant the floor collapsed, Xia Mingyu tightly embraced the petite body of the silver-haired girl against his own.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Layer upon layer of towering bookshelves toppled, and countless heavy books hurtled toward the falling pair.

Snap!

Xia Mingyu snapped his fingers with all his strength, his arm still wrapped around the girl’s slender waist.

The next moment, on the still-intact floor of the library, a vivid red rose suddenly sprouted.

Just as the bookshelves and books were about to crush them, their figures vanished, replaced by the newly grown red rose.

Boom!

“Phew, thank goodness no one was in the room below.”

Xia Mingyu lay sprawled on the floor, propping himself up with his hand, gazing at the chaotic room beneath the large hole, exhaling deeply.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness, I’ve gotten you into trouble again.”

Elise lay atop his chest, her doll-like delicate face now twisted with guilt, on the verge of tears.

“It’s fine, as long as you’re unharmed,” Xia Mingyu comforted her, secretly astonished by the power of the Collapse Resonance spell.

The ability to unravel matter through touch is already immense—yet it can also propagate further. Theoretically, if one’s magical power were infinite, wouldn’t it be possible to unravel the entire world?

Though this is certainly impossible, it undeniably reveals the spell’s extraordinary potential.

No wonder its magical diagram is just as complex as that of the Extreme Cold Hell.

Crash!

At that moment, the oak doors of the library were violently kicked open, and two towering figures cloaked in magic appeared at the entrance.

“Your Highness, what happened!”

Luo Yi shouted anxiously, but upon seeing the scene inside the library, he froze in place.

There, the noble prince lay on the floor, while a beautiful silver-haired girl sat atop him in an unmistakably intimate posture, her face flushed red.

This—this—this is exactly how my wife likes to spend her nights!

“Let’s go, Your Highness is fine. Let’s leave quickly.”

Believing he shouldn’t disturb the prince’s private moment, Luo Yi grabbed the still-dazed Kallen beside him, turned, and shut the door behind them.

“What? You say she’s your daughter!”

“By the gods, my good brother-in-law, how am I supposed to address you from now on?”

Listening to Luo Yi’s loud voice outside the door, Xia Mingyu grimaced, feeling his lifelong reputation was ruined.

“Elise, come with me for a trip.”

Gently pushing the soft girl off his chest, Xia Mingyu stood up and spoke.

Since the Storm Church could no longer be kept in the dark, he needed to meet someone.

Dusk City, Storm Church branch headquarters.

Bishop Lu En, clad in his nightgown, sank into a plush bed, his rotund body sinking comfortably, causing him to hum softly in delight.

Though most would consider this hour too early for sleep, Bishop Lu En’s life creed was this: sleep is a blessing bestowed by the gods upon all—whether monarchs on thrones or beggars in the streets—everyone deserves to savor this joy.

Thus, sleep when there’s something to do, and sleep when there’s nothing—this became his daily routine.

Knock, knock, knock!

Just as he drifted into slumber, a frantic knocking jolted him awake.

“Your Grace, someone is here to see you,” came the gatekeeper’s urgent voice from outside.

“Peter, didn’t I tell you to turn away all visitors after I’ve fallen asleep? Do you want to lose your salary this month?!”

Furious at having his dream interrupted, Bishop Lu En pounded the mattress with both fists, roaring in anger.

Silence followed outside, then the gatekeeper’s timid voice returned:

“But this visitor is the one you personally went out to meet last time—Prince Mingyu—”

“Quickly, show him to the reception hall! I’ll be right there!”

Before the gatekeeper could finish, Lu En leapt nimbly from the bed, ignoring his nightgown, and yanked a clerical robe from the wardrobe, throwing it on.

Reception hall.

Beneath a ceiling of stained-glass windows, a brass chandelier brimming with candles glowed with soft, bright light.

When Bishop Lu En hurried in and saw the familiar black-haired youth, his round face instantly lit up with an radiant smile, and his posture bowed deeply.

Lu En swore in his heart that even if his own god appeared before him, he could not have shown a more sincere expression.

“Respected Prince Mingyu, your gracious return to this church is an honor I shall never forget in my lifetime!”

“Please, stay a while longer—let me bask in even more of your glory.”

After greeting him warmly, Lu En finally noticed the silver-haired girl beside Xia Mingyu.

“Long time no see, little Elise. How is your father—my brother Kallen—?”

He brightened, ready to greet her warmly, but then sensed something different about her.

Magic, aura, dread—this once-fragile girl now radiated an entirely new presence, as if she had undergone a transcendence.

Gazing at her heterochromatic eyes, and recalling the prince’s sudden midnight visit, Lu En’s mind instantly conjured a terrifying possibility.

“L-Little Elise… have you broken through to the Morning Star rank?” Lu En asked, sweat beading on his forehead, voice trembling.

Seeing Elise hesitate, then nod, Lu En’s vision darkened—he nearly fainted.

“Your Grace, I’ve come precisely to resolve this matter,” Xia Mingyu said.

“I can’t help! Your Highness, capturing a Morning Star heretic is a direct order from the Pope—I’m powerless!”

Lu En frantically waved his hands.

He was merely a lowly branch bishop; having concealed Elise’s existence from the Church this long was already his utmost effort.

If he tried to protect Elise now that she’d reached Morning Star, he’d likely be the one dragged to the pyre first!

“Besides, the Divination Compass in Wind City can track heretics—it may already be ringing,” Lu En explained.

“I’ve already learned this from Elise. Since someone from Wind City is bound to come, I hope you can stall them, learn their stance, and inform me afterward,” Xia Mingyu said softly.

If the envoy is a Holy Knight who will execute the Pope’s orders without mercy, he’ll have no choice but to fight to the death.

But if the envoy is flexible, like you, Bishop Lu En, perhaps we can negotiate before battle—perhaps even reveal the 1.4 billion blessings upon me.

Hearing this, Lu En’s frantic hand-waving finally stopped. His expression grew uncertain.

Simply stalling the captors and probing their intentions… wasn’t that manageable?

There was still risk, but not enough to warrant the pyre.

Should he agree to this noble prince’s request?

Lu En’s mind wrestled with doubt.

“Your Grace, if you grant me this favor, I swear before the gods that when I return to my homeland, you shall be the first priest I permit to preach there.”

Watching the bishop’s inner struggle, Xia Mingyu paused, then spoke.

Of course, whether the outpost agrees or not—I’m not sure. He silently added in his mind.

Lu En: “???”

What?! I’ll be the first Western priest to preach in the East!

The thought of his name etched in history—“In the year X, Western priest Lu En became the first to legally preach in the East”—alongside the boundless 1.4 billion souls—

Like a magic trick, Lu En’s hesitation vanished instantly, replaced by unwavering resolve.

“Your Highness, no oath is needed. Your word is as eternal as the stars—I would never doubt it.”

“Besides, I’ve watched little Elise grow up. I know she is a kind, good child. Even if the Pope commands it, I believe the gods would never allow such a child to be bound to the pyre and burned alive.”

“In short—I protect little Elise!” Bishop Lu En declared firmly.

Though his legs trembled slightly.

Meanwhile.

Central Land, Storm Church Holy City, Wind City, Cloudflow Cathedral.

On the cathedral’s spire, the silver compass serving as a wind vane suddenly shook violently, its needle spinning rapidly before locking firmly toward the south.

This anomaly was quickly reported to the Pope by night-wandering believers who witnessed it.

“Send my son Osirion to the southern border. He just broke through to the Crescent Moon rank, hasn’t he?” the Pope said.

Moments later, the man known as “Wind-Splitter” whistled as he mounted his steed, Sis—a hurricane eagle elevated to a Named Beast.

Eeeeee!

The hurricane eagle let out a piercing cry, its massive cerulean wings slamming downward, unleashing a surging gust.

Using the recoil, it soared skyward, carrying its dozing rider like a blue meteor slicing through the dark night.

“A Morning Star opponent? Boring. There’s hardly anyone in the southern region who can challenge me.”

“Sigh… if only I could fight to the death with the Son of the Sun. Even if he kills me, to attain a higher level of swordcraft before dying would be worth my life.”

On the eagle’s back, hair streaming in the wind, the man rested his chin on his hand, murmuring to himself.

He was Osirion, son of the current Pope of the Storm Church. All knew him as a sword madman—his blade could cleave even roaring gales.

Time flowed like water. Xia Mingyu’s daily routine became studying magic with Elise in the library, savoring the delicacies sent by Anliya, and occasionally applauding the monster circus performers in the courtyard.

With Elise by his side, even the most tedious magic tomes now held a touch of charm.

During this time, the magician troupe leader froze in place upon first encountering Elise, his expression filled with confusion—until Helen tugged his sleeve, snapping him back to reality.

Afterwards, Lu En asked Elise if she’d like to join the circus—but before he could finish, Helen, unable to bear it, dragged him away with six arms.

Staring at a little girl for so long and asking if she’d come with you? You’re acting like a pervert!

Her circus has been blessed by the Prince’s favor to live here so happily—how shameful it would be if they were driven out because of the leader’s conduct!

More than a week later.

The Northern Frontier.

In a certain village.

A young man with silver-white short hair leaned against the corner, glancing at Dolove, who stood nearby distributing porridge and was now surrounded by grateful children. He angrily slammed his fist against the wall behind him.

Bang!

Wood chips flew everywhere.

Though he hadn’t used much force, the wooden wall instantly cracked open a large hole.

“Young Master Kain, please be gentler when pounding the wall—this house is occupied.”

Aelir, standing beside him, spoke up in warning, then pressed his palm to his forehead and stared at the hole for a long while, as if pondering how to repair it.

“Come on, are we really just going to watch that woman keep doing this? At this rate, when will we ever get back to Polar City?”

Kain demanded, his face full of displeasure.

On their return journey, whenever they encountered a village suffering from famine, Dolove would stop and distribute food to the villagers—this greatly slowed their progress.

“I do not dislike this approach,” Aelir replied calmly, patching the hole with a wooden plank he had just carved with his sword.

“If Young Master Kain finds it troublesome, you may return ahead—I will bring her back to Polar City.”

Abandon the mission objective and slink back alone?!

Kain could already picture his father’s mocking gaze.

Even more irritated, he chose to distance himself from Aelir and Dolove, walking off alone to sit beneath a tree at the village entrance, lost in thought.

Tap tap tap.

A light footstep approached. Kain had sensed it long ago, but the faintest flicker of life energy—so weak it seemed ready to vanish at any moment—made him lower his guard.

“Big brother, I brought you a flower!”

It was a gaunt little girl, so thin she looked like a breeze could carry her away.

Yet her pale yellow face now beamed with a radiant smile as she held out a white wreath woven from unknown wildflowers before Kain.

“Why are you giving me this?” Kain said, expressionless.

He’d seen too many of these scheming brats trying to flatter him.

“I actually wanted to give it to that pretty big sister, but there were too many people around her and I couldn’t squeeze through, so I gave it to you instead,” the girl said shyly, scratching the back of her head.

Kain: “.”

So all this time, it’s just something someone else didn’t want?

The silver-haired youth’s icy expression nearly cracked.

He reluctantly took the wreath, planning to toss it away as soon as he was out of the girl’s sight.

“Why don’t you go eat the porridge that woman gave out? It’s free.”

He remembered clearly: the girl had not shown up at all during the porridge distribution, and the faint, barely-there life energy radiating from her confirmed it.

“I’m going to die soon, so I won’t compete with others for food—maybe someone else will live instead,” the girl smiled brightly.

This kid… actually knows she’s going to die!

Tch. Too stupid to even eat a full meal before dying. Serves her right.

Kain silently despised the girl’s foolishness in his mind.

“My parents both starved to death before that sister came. They said they’d wait for me in the Underworld—I really want to see them again.”

The girl spoke to herself, then after a long hesitation, added slowly:

“Big brother, there’s another reason I gave you the wreath.”

“I saw—you’re upset about the sister giving out food. I’m sorry we’ve used your precious supplies. I truly apologize!”

The girl bowed deeply to Kain, her frail body nearly toppling over.

She didn’t even eat, yet still apologizes for the villagers… Is this thing even human?

Kain froze.

“Goodbye, big brother. I’m going to find my parents. You should go home too!”

As if resolving a burden, the girl waved happily at him, then turned and skipped cheerfully toward the wooden house.

And her life energy began to fade.

The silver-haired youth fell silent. He looked at the wreath in his hand—crushed without him even realizing—and felt an unexpected pang in his chest.

The next instant, his figure appeared before the girl, and with a grip like iron, he seized her throat and lifted her off the ground.

“Hey, you pathetic weakling, don’t you dare go back to your mother so easily.”

“This world is cruel—fight to survive!” Kain snarled.

Gulp gulp gulp.

A liquid fragrant with moongrass was forcibly poured down her throat.

(End of Chapter)