Chapter 409

"Qixia City" is actually a shorter player‑specific translation; if understood directly in the common Yangyue terminology, it should be rendered as "the city that possesses beautiful clouds".

But if left at that, it would be better rendered as "Sunset Light City" or "Colorful Mist City", at least it wouldn't make everyone pause over how to pronounce the first character.

The reason is that this plain city was not founded by the Radiant Light royal clan; looking back five hundred years, it was already a thriving trade hub during the Elf era.

Moreover, when it was once called "Qiluo", it was most famous for its myriad beautiful silk fabrics, and the finest batch even carried the power of the sacred Nine Surnames for merchandising.

—Hey, guess what? The palace's royal Ama uses the same thing; that's truly authentic!

Thus even today, the Radiant Light aristocracy's ceremonial robes remain silk‑based, accented with ornate gold ornaments tinged with a hint of Holy Light style, so it's no wonder they claim to be the true heirs of Elf aesthetics.

Nevertheless, the Northward Squad proceeds under the Church's banner; they must first report to the Holy See, otherwise the protocol is incomplete.

So they didn't head toward Qixia City; they merely brushed its edge and turned in another direction.

Thus the second question arose: since Qixia City was once called Qiluo City, where does the character meaning 'rosy clouds' come from now?

Because just east of the Royal Capital, the endless plain abruptly ends, and several peaks, like sharp teeth, rise dramatically, blocking travelers' entire view.

These mountains, as if petals meticulously carved from earth and stone, embrace the central, most majestic and towering peak in an astonishing harmony.

Due to the extreme altitude, the summit is permanently cloaked in ice and snow, shrouded in mist, resembling a fairyland.

Under the gentle caress of mysterious light, the mist and snow reflect each other, birthing multicolored aurora that at times dazzles like woven brocade, at others drifts softly like a dream.

Although departing from the Royal Capital leaves a slight distance to the summit, a gentle breeze aloft can spread the aurora across the sky, enveloping the city.

Such phenomena are no longer feats of natural craftsmanship; they must be among the few visible manifestations of the Thus we will have Cultivation: Zhen Shen.

Therefore it is the Holy Light Divine Church's sole Holy Mountain, also the current seat of the Holy Light See, the Church's absolute center—Sun‑Chasing Peak.

With Sun‑Chasing Peak as the hub, the towering ranges spanning several hundred li around it are collectively called the Holy Light Mountains, whose folk status rivals a miniature Kunlun of another world.

"Wow!"

As the first "player" to witness the scene, Ji Ming snapped several photos like a tourist, then set a status that would post at dusk, indirectly showing Cang Lang and the others that the diligent Wai Shu remains active on the front lines, striving for more vital intel.

And the knights who finally returned to the Holy Mountain couldn't help but chatter, their helmet‑clad laughter echoing liberally for a while before silence returned.

Everyone was delighted, except the Little Lion in the prison carriage, who felt utterly uncomfortable.

He squinted as if fearing the light, like a groggy man forced to catch the subway for work.

Can't help it, that damn mountain top shines like a disco hall, blasting high‑intensity Holy Light.

Even a mouse, when charging toward a mountain of mouse medicine, must let out three yelps to show respect.

Fortunately, though the Holy Light is intense, it is merely a passive effect of the Church's holy ground, so it has no specific activation target.

For a bizarre creature like him, as long as he harbors no ill thoughts, stays obedient, and keeps himself well covered, he can immunize against most negative effects.

After rummaging in the chest for a while, Little Lion only found a pink parasol with a name engraved on its handle—a gift from a noble lady on the road.

"It's over."

Moreover, despite the visual estimate that Sun‑Chasing Peak wasn't that far from the convoy, they kept marching until night fell without arriving.

"Stop. Let's camp here for the night, replenish our energy; we still have to ascend the mountain tomorrow."

At the Archbishop's command from the front, the guardian knights, who had undergone two months of intensive training, deftly set up camp by the roadside.

Hearing the old lady's second half, Ji Ming, pondering that he wouldn't be able to continue crouching in the carriage loading the young lady tomorrow, fell silent.

…What a ninety‑nine‑eighty‑one hardship? Even a poor monk has reached the foot of the spirit mountain and still has to train the legs again, huh.

It can only be likened to those delusional cultivation sects: everyone can fly, yet for the sake of a solemn mountain gate they forbid flight, forcing each disciple to climb up themselves.

Although Ji Ming understands, after all the Holy Mountain is a special institution combining power, religion, and military—much like dual‑use airports and key facilities in reality—so you can't just launch drones nearby at will.

I get the logic, but it's just exhausting!

Nonetheless, he has no objection to this rest; in fact, it's a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity.

So Ji Ming stepped out of the carriage and began searching for the Archbishop.

After circling the convoy, he discovered that Te Ni Si had vanished.

"Excuse me, have you seen the Archbishop?"

Ai Li Nuo, with a book spread before her—likely reviewing—shook her head at the question.

"Lao Ge, have you seen the old lady?"

Little Lion, crouched inside working on some unknown craft, also shook his head upon hearing it.

"Ah, this..."

…

Ji Ming thought that the old lady is usually sharp‑witted; at least she wouldn't fall three times on a single staircase, so she probably hasn't gotten lost in a stationary camp.

Having no other choice, he went to ask the commander of the guardian knights for answers.

The muscle‑bound men were currently prepping by the river—essentially cleaning and washing—so the view was utterly deepdarkfandasy.

Ji Ming isn't brave, doesn't want to see thrills more exciting than the game, and certainly doesn't want to climb Du Lang, so he didn't dare come earlier.

The knight captain, sporting a buzz cut, brushed the sweat from his helmet, squatted by the river and thought.

"She... uh... seems to have disappeared after issuing the camp‑setup order?"

Although no one thought the Archbishop could encounter trouble at his doorstep, the knights were eager and helped Ji Ming recall where the Archbishop might have gone.

After a while, a younger knight slapped his thigh.

"Right! I remember!"

He pointed toward a direction within the small woodland on the plain.

"I think I saw the Archbishop walking this way alone earlier!"

"That's because our guardian knights are always reliable!"

Sensing that the Archbishop's solo movement signaled something major, Ji Ming hurried after, using elf‑like footwork to glide close to the ground for a while, and indeed spotted a pale, ghost‑like figure not far away.

He hesitated whether to approach directly to ask the lingering question, or to take a small revenge by spying—wondering if the Archbishop was meeting some special figure in secret—when he saw her sitting on a stone, beginning to take off her shoes.

???

Maybe she went to the bathroom? After all, no matter how you say it, she's also a female leader, so she might be embarrassed to have an accident in front of you?

Yeah, that's pretty likely, so how do you explain her taking off her outer robe again?

Huh?

……

Don't move, she seems to still want to undo her buttons... uh, no, can you leave some room for fanservice? This story is already so bland it's almost turning into plain water, uh!

Damn it! Even if the old lady is my adoptive mother, she still counts as my aunt—I'm a righteous character; how could I do something like that?

So Ji Ming stepped back a few steps, then...

He really ran straight toward the archbishop without any cover, and while running he also made a loud noise.

Okay, okay, okay, you mean the light of the righteous path, right?

At that moment, Tenith had just neatly folded her shirt when she heard someone calling her from behind; she turned around and saw Ji Ming waving.

Even as he approached her, Tenith remained stunned for three seconds, then suddenly blurted out a line.

You... what are you doing?

I...

Ji Ming was momentarily at a loss for words, and instinctively replied following a Taiji line of thought.

What are you doing?

I...

Now everyone fell into an awkward silence.

However, the old lady probably takes better care of herself; at least her skin isn't as thick as Ji Ming's, so he was the one who broke the silence.

Actually I have something I want to ask you for advice; although I didn't find you then, I heard a knight say you seemed to be walking this way, so I came over to see if it was true, and, haha, it really was.

Um, ah! Oh, that's how it is...

So what about you, what are you doing now?

Tenith holding her shirt with both hands. jpg

Honestly, the current archbishop looks just strange; she indeed lacks the fanservice elements typical of classic scenes.

Because beneath her signature outer robe and decorative inner lining, as a combat unit she actually has a form-fitting soft armor underneath.

So she hesitated for a moment, then finally let out a soft sigh.

Alright, alright, alright, I'll give you credit for running fast; it's actually not a big deal, I'll reveal my hand, okay?

Having said that, a new energy utterly different from holy light suddenly surged within Tenith's body, gradually enveloping her entire form.

Just how different is this energy?

For Ji Ming, it's probably even more disgusting than the evil god aura of the old goat-headed Wendigo.

Hiss...

Could it be...?

As expected, after the black mist from the energy dissipated, Tenith before them had transformed from a holy archbishop into a black-horned, red-eyed succubus with wings on her back and a tail swaying behind.

Well, of course, aesthetically it leans more toward the reformist faction—at least she doesn't have purple skin.

And looking at the old lady's true form, her earlier strange actions all make sense now.

In short, it's just the old lady's characteristic thriftiness.

Because after transformation the structure below the knees changes from human to goat, so she first removes her shoes and socks to avoid tearing them.

Because large wings and a flexible tail will emerge from her back, she removes her outer coat to avoid it being ripped.

As for why the soft armor remains...

Anyway, they just pre-made holes in the safe spots at the back; otherwise, how could they let her fly wrapped in holy light?

That would be too terrifying—at least the holy knights within a few hundred meters would have to be beaten to death by an angry mob.

But!

So then? I still don't understand—why would you secretly turn into a succubus form out in the wilderness?

Ah this.

Tenith's expression looks somewhat hard to bring up, but to avoid misunderstanding in another direction, she pondered for a long time and had to compromise again.

Because... aren't we supposed to go up the mountain tomorrow? I've been out for so long, I need to go ahead and check the situation, scout the route for everyone.

Go ahead and go up?

Could it be that the succubus archbishop is actually a journalism major who can run incredibly fast, able to charge up at unimaginable speed...

Damn!

Ji Ming suddenly realized, gritting his teeth.

Auntie, didn't we agree you couldn't fly? You actually want to sneak off and fly up? Isn't this an abuse of authority? You clearly told Eleno not to do this! Where's your leadership? Where's your example? This is shameful—I must condemn this double-standard behavior.

What... what... what's there to condemn? I'm doing this all for your benefit!

Perhaps because the succubus form inherently comes with a passive that boosts charm and lowers moral inhibitions, the somewhat rejuvenated Tenith blushed excitedly.

Besides, I'm the archbishop! The archbishop's duties... can't be compared to yours, even though I'm an elder who's worked over five hundred years.

Good heavens, can you even say that?

Ji Ming now understands why Tenith wants to be an abstinent succubus; wanting to accomplish big things, can this chaotic mess of outrageous arguments possibly work?

In just a few words, they've almost ruined his serious character setup OOC.

He had no choice but to quickly try to calm the archbishop down...

No, that's ambiguous; it should be said that as a junior, he sincerely advises the archbishop lady to calm her anger.

Moreover, Tenith is indeed a warrior with an iron will; she takes a deep breath and suppresses the impulse from her bloodline.

Alright, alright, alright, this matter is past; speak up, what do you want from me?

Ji Ming remained silent, instead finding a rock to sit on and gesturing to Tenisi that explaining this matter in detail would take some time.

But what else could it be? It's nothing more than that little matter concerning Ailinuo's May examination.

"You know already…… After all, you're so smart, how could you possibly not know?"

In order to facilitate quiet contemplation, Tenisi had already reverted to their disguised form.

"This royal examination, actually, if I were to speak frankly, I myself originally pushed for its implementation."

"Doing this is just to prevent the future appearance of another elf king like those of past generations—devoid of scheming and ability, only capable of letting the kingdom gradually decay into an incompetent ruler."

"But……"

Speaking to this point, she gave a complex smile.

"It seems the effect isn't as good as I imagined……"

(End of chapter)