Chapter 945: Doctrine of Light

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya saw a hand reaching out from the void; she recognized it as Lei En's hand, so she neither resisted nor made a sound, allowing Lei En to grab her shoulder and instantly slip between planes, the surrounding scenery warping and filled with a strange aura.

"This seems like a fairy plane…"

She hadn't even seen clearly when everything before her changed again in a flash; in a brief instant she slipped through several planes, crossed a great distance, looped around a distant plane, and when her vision steadied she was back in the Prime Material Plane.

And it was directly above Nuosiruier.

Lei En hovered beside her, an Invisibility Field concealed their presence, and looking down, the Temple of Justice was not far away.

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya was deeply shocked; the heavily fortified prison of the Temple of Justice, in Lei En's view, seemed like an empty realm, coming and going as…

Even the powerful Arbitrator Mi Mi Dun didn't have time to react.

"Thank you, Lei En."

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya felt no joy at regaining freedom, her mood heavy, but she did not forget to thank Lei En, lest the Church's execution await her.

Recalling the ordeal in the Temple of Justice, the succubus's heart ached like being torn by knives.

"Does justice really exist in this world…"

She murmured softly.

Lei En saw her face full of disappointment, shook his head inwardly, having long foreseen this outcome; with Lu Si Pei Er's temperament, he would never risk for a Demon.

The Church of Justice is the sternest, most rigid, and most merciless of the Empire's three great churches.

But that is not their fault.

Because that is TiRuiEr's doctrine: they must uphold order and law, eradicate any chaos or sin that could threaten the Church, and a succubus holy swordsman, in the eyes of most, is an evil thing, unrelated to justice; she is the chaotic source that defies order.

"Justice certainly exists," Lei En said aloud.

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya suddenly turned, looked at Lei En, and a spark of hope rose in her eyes again.

"When you feel something is 'unjust,' it means there must be a corresponding 'justice,'" Lei En said softly. "Justice applies to everyone, regardless of race, bloodline, wealth, status, or power. Whether on the mortal world, the heavens, or the Abyss, in a farmer's field or a deity's realm, justice is everywhere."

"Sometimes justice arrives late, even absent, making it seem pale and weak, but it certainly does not cease to exist."

"Though we may temporarily lose justice, it forever remains our direction forward."

Lei En looked at the succubus, "You need not join the Church of Justice, nor even worship TiRuiEr; you can still pursue justice."

"Follow your own path, practice the justice you understand!"

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya listened, her eyes brightening, the pain and disappointment on her face fading, replaced by a firmer conviction.

"I understand!"

She shouted, her gaze at Lei En full of reverence.

Lei En nodded appreciatively, his counsel not in vain; his soul's eye saw the flame of TiRuiEr's faith dim and vanish from Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya's soul.

From then on, she was no longer a follower of TiRuiEr.

"Since you understand, that's good," Lei En smiled, "We should leave."

A teleportation portal opened high in the sky.

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya stepped in without hesitation; before entering, a bell rang in the Temple of Justice, and many holy swordsmen surged out, dispersing to search. Clearly, Mi Mi Dun had reported the incident to Lu Si Pei Er, and the Church decided to hunt her.

However, the succubus showed no interest in the Temple of Justice's commotion, not even glancing.

Lei En was pleased with her change.

He did glance back at the Temple of Justice; Lu Si Pei Er and Mi Mi Dun were in that cell, and they had summoned Elder Nai Se to investigate how Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya escaped.

"Hehe..." Lei En chuckled.

Elder Nai Se, an Arcane scholar, had only recently been promoted, and hoping to trace his own teleportation spell was sheer folly. Even if the current strongest Nai Se elder, Ke Luo Nuo Man Se, came to investigate, there would be no result.

Stepping out of the portal, they returned directly to Marlinge Manor.

"We're returning to Getan," Lei En said.

"Mm."

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya nodded lightly; Nuosiruier had once been the city she most longed for, but now she felt no attachment. Moreover, the Church of Justice would surely scour the area for her for a while, so hiding there would be unwise.

Lei En left a message for Viola, then teleported the succubus back to Getan.

"So fast!"

On the balcony of the highland fortress, Li Fu Lin had not yet left; seeing the two emerge from the portal, she was instantly astonished.

In less than half an hour, Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya seemed as if from another world.

"Sister Li Fu Lin."

She declined to speak further of the Church of Justice, and earnestly said, "I have decided to follow the Lord of Radiance with you."

Li Fu Lin was a bit taken aback; glancing at Lei En who gave a slight nod, she guessed the reason, then smiled and said, "A warm welcome! Ai Luo Ya, following my lord will be the wisest decision of your life."

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya, curious, said, "I still don't know the Lord of Radiance's true name."

"My lord's name is Sheng Jilesi," Li Fu Lin answered solemnly.

The succubus had never heard that deity's name, but from the title "Lord of Radiance" she inferred He must be a tremendously powerful god.

Li Fu Lin continued, "The great Lord of Radiance is a benevolent god; His sole divine office is 'Light.'"

"Light is the source of the world; it dispels darkness and evil, bringing illumination and hope. Sunlight, moonlight, starlight, the light of flame, of spirit, of magic—every light in the world is Sheng Jilesi's blood. He nourishes all with holy blood and illuminates the world with radiance; He is the supreme Creator!"

The Holy Blood Angel loudly proclaimed the deity's doctrine.

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya was profoundly shaken, even a little stunned.

She had once been a Blazing Heaven Divine Envoy in the heavens; although her soul had been tormented by the succubus queen and most of her memories were lost, she still retained many memories of the deities, yet had never heard of a god whose divinity was so transcendent.

Could it be that after years in the Abyss, cut off from news, a new god was born in Ai Lun E Si's world?

"May the radiance shine upon you!"

Li Fu Lin recited the Radiant Church's prayer, a strand of crimson‑gold light blossoming from her fingertips—Holy Blood Light, a fusion of holy light and blood crystal, capable of bestowing blessings upon believers.

In recent years, as the de facto Pope of the Radiant Church, she had become well acquainted with the process of cultivating believers.

When preaching doctrine, one must accompany it with a display of miracles.

But she hesitated a moment; the Holy Blood Power can suppress Demons, would bestowing it on Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya cause her harm? Lei En said he wants to make Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya the second Holy Blood Angel; if she cannot endure the Holy Blood Power, how could it succeed?

Li Fu Lin looked at Lei En, saw him nod slightly, indicating that she should continue.

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya had no fear of the light at all.

The light fell.

The Morning Light Technique merged into Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya's body; she furrowed her brows, seeming uncomfortable, but soon relaxed, a dazzling radiance spreading from her body, sacred light flowing over her skin, her whole form bathed in brilliance, as if an angel had descended.

"This…"

Li Fu Lin was startled.

She had never seen the Morning Light Technique produce such a strong effect; this radiance was purer and more holy than that of a Holy Lance Knight who had cultivated Holy Blood Power.

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya's body was like a Holy Light Amplifier!

Is this really a Demon?

Li Fu Lin couldn't help but doubt, and even Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya herself was surprised, experiencing the feeling of the Morning Light Technique's blessing on her body—both strange and familiar, as if it recalled the power she had honed in Heaven for millennia of battle, awakening within her soul.

Only Lei En was not surprised at all.

The Soul Eye, upon first seeing Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya, saw through the details of her soul; the instinct that had once been a Blazing Heaven Divine Envoy was hidden deep in her soul, and once awakened, it could quickly manifest an astonishingly remarkable innate power.

Not every Blazing Heaven Divine Envoy masters Sacred Light, and their personalities and fighting styles differ as well.

However, the Holy Light that Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya mastered in Heaven was what she possessed.

Thus Lei En thought to prepare her to become a Holy Blood Angel; nothing was more suitable.

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya bathed in the radiance, her internal breath churning constantly, evidently a power had awakened. The Morning Light Technique lasted a full twenty minutes before fading, four times the normal effective duration, and it completely transformed her.

"I've reached the Legendary Peak!"

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya's face showed disbelief, while she also sensed a lingering divine energy within her, growing constantly without any effort on her part.

Lei En smiled, "You were born to wield Holy Blood Power."

Li Fu Lin couldn't help but feel a bit envious.

She saw that the Demon was a bit confused, and explained, "Followers of Saint Giles cultivate Holy Blood Power, which differs from ordinary Holy Light Power. Holy Blood Power is stronger yet gentler; its source is the blood of Saint Giles."

"Give her a blood crystal tree seed," Lei En said. "Li Fu Lin, you help Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya master the Blood Crystal Power meditation method; I will then bless her and promote her to Holy Blood Angel."

"Alright," Li Fu Lin agreed.

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya was a bit worried, "I am a Holy Swordmaster, and have always wielded Psychic Power; could this conflict with Holy Blood Power?"

"No."

Lei En had long considered this, replying, "Your body is that of a Demon, possessing a psychic aptitude, which is why you could become a Holy Swordmaster. Yet the path of a Holy Swordmaster merely cultivates and amplifies your Psychic Power, expressing only half of your talent; the soul becomes unbalanced, and if this continues, eventually the Demon instinct will dominate, taking control of your soul."

"When you first became a Holy Swordmaster, did you improve rapidly, but after reaching the Legendary Peak it suddenly became especially arduous?"

"And it's hard to suppress the Demon instinct; the uncontrolled 'charm' occurrences increase in number and frequency?"

Each time he asked, Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya nodded.

"Lei En, how did you know?"

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya couldn't help but ask.

Although she had witnessed Lei En's profound knowledge while aboard the Star Destroyer, his understanding of her situation—surpassing even her own—still left her speechless.

"I am a Holy Soul Wizard," Lei En laughed, somewhat proudly saying, "the most learned mortal in the world."

"Your wisdom rivals that of a deity!" the Demon praised sincerely.

Li Fu Lin also nodded in agreement.

"Hahaha... not at all," Lei En modestly waved his hand, continuing, "Your mastery of Holy Blood Power perfectly uncovers all your talents; cultivating both powers together rebalances your soul, not only avoiding conflict but also granting you strength far beyond others of the same rank."

"Really?"

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya was overjoyed; this meant she could continue as a Holy Swordmaster.

Lei En smiled confidently, "Once you try it, you'll know."

"Alright!"

The Demon could hardly wait, and Li Fu Lin immediately led her into a meditation chamber in the highland fortress to teach the method of mastering Blood Crystal Power.

Two hours later, they emerged.

When Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya entered the study, Lei En immediately noticed the change: her soul now harbored potent Blood Crystal Power, her enchanting face gaining a hint of coldness; the two powers combined perfectly, naturally achieving balance, causing her strength to surge, with faint signs of breaking through to Saint Rank.

"How do you feel?" Lei En asked.

"Fantastic!"

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya's eyebrows danced, "I've never felt so good; this is the real me. Give me a few years and I am confident I can ascend to Saint Rank!"

"Not even a few years—today itself."

Lei En stood up, opened a portal, and led the Demon and Li Fu Lin to the Santara residence beneath Aibolaken.

It had been converted into the headquarters of Saint Giles' Church, open only at specific times each day, allowing a portion of Holy Lance Knight followers to come in to pray.

It was now empty.

Entering the solemn, magnificent chapel, there were no statues nor altar, yet a solemn aura enveloped the space; Li Fu Lin stepped aside.

Lei En stood firm, turned, and said authoritatively, "Kneel."

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya knelt before him.

Lei En activated the Holy Blood amber in his soul space; a mysterious golden rune coalesced at his fingertips, as if forged from light. Mortal eyes could not discern the rune's true form, but could feel the massive energy it contained.

"In the name of Saint Giles, I bless you."

The golden rune merged into Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya's forehead, penetrating her soul; instantly, the Blood Crystal Power she had just mastered boiled over.

The Angel Soul hidden deep in her soul was fully awakened.

Ai Luo Ti Xi Ya revealed her true form: a pair of broad red bat wings unfurled behind her, a pair of Demon horns sprouted on her head, her legs from the joints down bore purple scales, her feet turned into hooves, yet she remained kneeling before Lei En.

Lei En placed his hand on the Demon's forehead; light flickered on his hand, and a massive Holy Light Power surged from the divine artifact, pouring into her body.

"Mmm..."

Ailuotixiya let out a painful muffled groan.

(End of chapter)