Chapter 1947: Xueli's Hesitation

"Even if it exists, it is not faith in your Lord, but in the current master of the Pope, Ivan."

"The heritage the Pope has worked for centuries to preserve will be severed just like this; not only that, but the innocent people of this world will be plunged into misery because of Old Ivan's actions."

Xueli lowered her head, remaining silent; she knew she had been avoiding it, but she could do nothing.

"Think about it, if this world truly became Purgatory, what kind of scene would that be?" Chen Yu said: "The Dark Abyss that your Pope guards will be broken."

"Countless monsters from the Dark World will flood into this world; they will feed on humans, and humanity will dwindle day by day, perhaps even turning on each other due to food shortages."

"Is this what you are willing to see?"

"No, it isn't, I don't want to see that." Xueli's expression was horrified; the world Chen Yu described was a world like Purgatory.

She jumped up in shock: "Why are you telling me these things?"

"I am telling you these things just to make you understand where this world is headed in the future." Chen Yu said leisurely: "And whether the world actually reaches that point depends entirely on your decision."

"My decision? I am just a Saintess, I am not high-ranking in the Pope's hierarchy; I cannot participate in the struggles between them at all." Xueli became agitated: "All I must maintain is neutrality, to keep the balance between the two."

"Yes, you must maintain the balance between the two, but the current balance is clearly leaning toward Ivan's side." Chen Yu said: "Is this balance the balance you want to see?"

Xueli was silent for a long time; it took a while for her to regain her composure: "Tell me, what exactly do you want me to do?"

"It's very simple: use your blood to unlock the power of the Holy Staff, and let your teacher hold the Holy Staff to set things right." Chen Yu said: "Only in this way will this world have a chance to start over."

"This is impossible, my teacher would never agree to me doing this." Xueli was startled: "This goes against some of the Pope's regulations, and it also violates my duties."

"He wouldn't agree?" Chen Yu stared at her, shaking his head after a long moment: "Don't overthink it; if you really ask him, he will agree."

"Otherwise, why do you think he arranged for us to meet? He let me come to see you precisely to have me persuade you to agree."

"This is impossible, my teacher... could not be such a person." Xueli was shocked.

She was unwilling to believe even the punctuation marks in Chen Yu's words.

Because in her eyes, Dewen was a benevolent person who lived apart from worldly affairs; he had no desires and sought nothing.

How could he possibly instigate Chen Yu to persuade her to violate her duties?

"Yes, in your eyes, he is a perfect person." Chen Yu sighed slightly: "And he is indeed an elder who lives apart from worldly affairs."

"But he has no choice but to do this. Because he is unwilling to see this world fall into Hell, nor is he willing to see the Pope disappear just like that."

"If he obtains the Holy Staff... and unlocks all the power on the Holy Staff, he will be able to contend with Ivan; it can be said that the Pope's crisis could be resolved immediately." Xueli murmured: "But... this requires my authorization."

"That's right, there is only one path before you now; if you choose to sit by and do nothing, then in a few years, the Pope will no longer exist."

Chen Yu said: "And by that time, you will be a sinner within the Pope, do you understand?"

Xueli tightly shut her mouth; she was imagining what it would be like if that day really came.

And her reason told her that if that day truly arrived, then she... would have no way to protect herself at all.

Just as Chen Yu said, the most critical decision-making power now lay in her hands.

For the first time in her life, Xueli felt that the authorization in her hands was so hot to the touch; she was supposed to be a Saintess who lived apart from worldly affairs, after all.

Why was the future direction of the Pope held in her hands?

"This is not just about the direction of the Pope." Chen Yu saw her hesitant expression and continued to lobby: "This concerns the future direction of all humanity."

"The responsibility and burden on you are very heavy; are you really not going to consider it carefully?"

"You..." Xueli raised her head to look at Chen Yu; her gaze was somewhat resentful.

She felt that Chen Yu was doing this on purpose, making her feel that her choice would be even more difficult.

"Tell me once you have considered it clearly, but you must be quick, because the opportunity is fleeting." Chen Yu said.

"You have to seize the Holy Staff first." Xueli looked up at Chen Yu.

"Of course, we have already planned for this issue." Chen Yu nodded and said: "Don't worry about the Holy Staff; you only need to consider your own problem."

Xueli lowered her head again; it seemed Chen Yu and Dewen had already planned everything, and now they were just waiting for her decision, but this decision was truly too difficult for her.

"Why must there be such a choice?" Xueli was somewhat distressed, more distressed than she had been in her twenty years of being single.

"Because of responsibility; you happen to be in this position of responsibility, so everything will develop in directions you cannot imagine."

"I have considered it clearly." Xueli pondered for a moment, then resolutely raised her head.

"So fast? Then tell me the result." Chen Yu smiled slightly: "Looking at your result, it probably isn't what I wanted."

"Yes, I refuse." Xueli's face was serious: "I took an oath when I became a Saintess."

"I will uphold my duties and not participate in the struggles of any faction."

"That is why I have been able to pass these years safely; if I really did as you said, perhaps it would be right, but... it would violate my oath."

Chen Yu was somewhat speechless; he leaned back on the chair helplessly, feeling that all the words he had said to her just now were like playing the lute to a cow.

He waved his hand and said helplessly: "Miss Xueli, I think you still haven't understood where the essence of the matter lies, have you?"

"How about this, you go back first, consider it seriously, and then come back to tell me; we will make another appointment for a time and place to discuss it properly."

"There is no need to discuss it; this is my final answer." Xueli's expression was earnest: "Mr. Chen, I am very sorry, I did not meet your inner expectations."

"But there are some things I truly cannot violate; once I violate them, it is equivalent to violating the expectations God has for me."

"Your God... has already fallen asleep, and if Old Ivan truly succeeds, he will replace your God and become the True Lord." Chen Yu said speechlessly: "If you are truly indifferent to these things, that is the greatest disrespect to your deities; don't you understand?"

"I understand, but I truly cannot violate it." Xueli shook her head and said.