Ian looked at her calmly for a few seconds, then slowly shifted his gaze to the Archbishop's face in the distance.
"...Indeed," he said, seemingly composed. "After all, personality and appearance are both taken into consideration when selecting an Archbishop."
After saying this, he looked at the two of them again. "But since that's the case, perhaps you don't need anyone to introduce the figures here to you—"
As he spoke, he raised his hand and vaguely pointed at the letters.
Then he turned around and walked away.
Su Cheng watched his straight back disappear at the end of the corridor and couldn't help but sigh. "Not long ago, we were just discussing the issue of going on a date. Things really are unpredictable."
Zane shot her a look of near horror.
But she didn't see it.
"...But that's his problem," Su Cheng said, lowering her hand. "Right?"
The Archbishop looked at her in silence. "I am not aware of what happened between you two, so it is difficult to judge."
Su Cheng didn't want to force him to agree with her. After all, he didn't know anything and was probably still confused right now, so she asked how he and Ian had met.
Zane pondered for a moment. "Initially, my teacher introduced me to him. Later, we 'met' a few times because of work."
Su Cheng still remembered that Zane's teacher was a Cardinal.
This kind of teacher-student relationship was not rare in the Holy Church, because Holy Magic was also a complete and independent power system, just like elemental magic and blood magic.
Becoming a cleric and receiving the blessing of the God of Light was only the necessary introductory step. If one wanted to improve further, having a mentor to teach by precept and example would naturally be much more beneficial.
And so, as they talked, the topic shifted to Holy Magic.
Su Cheng curiously asked a bunch of questions about Holy Magic, none of which were secrets, and Zane answered her with considerable patience.
They chatted as they left the temple, passing through countless arches with intricate reliefs and colonnaded corridors. The holy knights standing guard along the way bowed their heads in respect.
Most of the clerics they encountered also bowed, with only a few simply nodding in greeting.
Zane would occasionally take the initiative to speak, his face showing a grave respect.
He was gentle to everyone, but those who could make him act this way were obviously important figures in the Holy Church.
However, these people all looked very busy and rarely stopped to chat.
They arrived at the outer plaza.
It was noon, and the plaza was bustling with crowds. Dozens of snow-white statues stood in the sunlight.
Surrounding the plaza was a continuous cluster of temples. Towering spires pierced the sky like stalagmites, their tips faintly visible in the clouds and mist, while the crystals on the walls refracted seven-colored rainbows.
Countless believers were worshiping in the plaza, densely packed like a surging tide.
Compared to the temple in Golden Amber City, the imperial capital's temple was grander in scale. The land area alone was at least double, yet it looked even more crowded.
This was the imperial capital, where land was worth its weight in gold. Even cheap apartments in the lower city were extremely expensive.
It could be said that an ordinary person wouldn't be able to afford one even after working for a lifetime.
Su Cheng stood in the elevated corridor, looking out at the millions of believers, marveling for the umpteenth time at the lofty status the Holy Church held in the Northern Continent.
Suddenly, a melodious bell tolled from deep within the temple, echoing above the vast plaza.
Everyone stopped what they were doing in unison and turned to look at the very front of the plaza. There was a wide temple corridor there, and the bronze doors at the entrance slowly opened.
A group of clerics walked out one after another, surrounding the blonde, blue-eyed Archbishop.
Flavia held a dazzling jade scepter and wore a white robe with exquisite embroidery and gold trimming as she walked onto a floating platform that appeared out of thin air.
She scanned the sea of people below. The plaza was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; in a place where at least tens of thousands of people had gathered, there wasn't even a whisper.
Immediately after, a ball of golden light condensed in the Archbishop's hand.
She began to chant an ancient and sacred prayer. It was not the common tongue, but a much older language with peculiar syllables, carrying a certain rhythm and sense of power.
That solemn and sonorous voice resounded throughout the entire plaza.
Su Cheng couldn't understand a single word. "Is that a simple prayer? Or the incantation for some kind of Holy Magic?"
"It's both," Zane replied. "Do you want to know what it means?"
"Hmm?"
"The source of the world's revival, the monarch of all things, the enlightener of all living beings—"
A pillar of pure golden light shot into the sky and suddenly burst at its peak, transforming into thousands of gentle golden raindrops that sprinkled down upon the crowd.
"Please have mercy on the world, listen to our pious thoughts, and dispel the darkness of body and mind—"
Su Cheng leaned against the railing and couldn't help but reach out her hand. The fine specks of light fell onto her palm, bringing a comfortable, warm sensation.
This feeling was very familiar.
She remembered when Ian had purified her earlier; Holy Magic from the same source all possessed this reassuring warmth.
If she hadn't already recovered to her peak state, her fatigue would probably have been relieved right now.
Looking out, the entire plaza was enveloped in a glorious golden curtain of light.
The believers bathed in the golden rain and dew, many of them immersed in the enjoyment.
Some people who originally looked exhausted now relaxed their brows, their complexions visibly improving, even becoming radiant.
Almost instinctively, they dropped to their knees, their faces full of worship as they called out to the Lord of Light, expressing their reverence.
The believers' prayers were not synchronized, and some even burst into tears.
But everyone's voices converged into a torrential chorus, sweeping across the entire plaza like a wild tide, drowning out the second toll of the bell.
The scene was so magnificent that even Su Cheng couldn't help but hold her breath.
After a few seconds, she turned her head.
Zane still maintained his posture with his head bowed and a hand over his chest, seemingly praying as well, but the expression on his face remained somewhat subtle.
Su Cheng: "...I hope I didn't ruin your friendship with Mr. Ian."
"No, actually," the Archbishop's expression grew even stranger, "to be honest, we can't really be considered friends."
"Oh, he's a friend of your teacher, so perhaps he's a senior?"
Su Cheng thought of what had happened earlier, and her tone changed as she said this.
She knew Zane must be much older than her, because there were no teenage or twenty-something high-ranking clerics in the Holy Church; they wouldn't have been able to accumulate the necessary qualifications.
However, in a high-magic world where one could maintain their youthful beauty even at several hundred or thousand years old, age didn't really matter.
It was just that if Ian and Zane had a senior-junior relationship, his age must be even greater.
Actually, even if he were hundreds of years old, as long as he looked pretty, she wouldn't mind; she was simply curious about it.
Zane sighed softly. "...Do you need a carriage or a mount?"
"No, I want to walk around myself," Su Cheng immediately said. "And take a look at this city while I'm at it. Sigh, I really didn't expect that I'd be brought in here unconscious."
The Archbishop was silent for a moment. "Actually, it was your friend who carried you in his arms and brought you here."
"Hmm, the black-haired one?"
"Yes," Zane said calmly. "He also asked if a dinner could be provided here."
Su Cheng rubbed her forehead. "Could it be because I told him, 'Hey, the food at the Golden Amber City Temple is really good,' that you guys gave it to him?"
"That was arranged by Lord Johnson," Zane nodded, "but the answer is yes. I heard he ate about ten people's worth of food."
Su Cheng: "..."
They walked into a tall tower where corridors connected with one another. On one side were floor-to-ceiling windows, and on the other were various rooms.
One of the doors suddenly flew open, and a red-haired youth darted out, immediately spotting the people walking toward them.
"!"
The person immediately lunged over. "Su Cheng!"
She forcefully hugged the black-haired girl in front of her, tightly holding the latter's head. "You saved my life! Thank you, and I'm so sorry you were unconscious for so long—"
Su Cheng almost suffocated. "It's not a big deal. It wasn't because of an injury, and I'm completely fine now!"
Rowan let go of her, looked her up and down, and couldn't help but reach out to rub her shoulders.
"Are you really completely fine? I heard them talking; that was a heretical Divine Graced!"
Hearing her neighbor's worried words, Su Cheng roughly understood what she was concerned about.
The so-called Divine Graced was a general term referring to those who could temporarily use the power of a deity through certain methods.
Divine Favored were superior to them because they were chosen by the gods. As long as they met the conditions, they could use the power of authority countless times.
The concept of the Divine Graced was broader. Those who obtained power through bizarre means—such as various sacrificial rituals and so on—could all be considered Divine Graced.
Like the guy who blew himself up earlier; because his physical strength was limited, he couldn't stably use that kind of power for long, so he exploded.
If it had been a Divine Favored, such an out-of-control situation would almost never happen.
However—
Methods like various sacrificial rituals would rarely receive a response from the deities of the God of Light's faction.
Therefore, nine out of ten Divine Graced mentioned by people were heretics.
"I'm really fine," Su Cheng shook her head. "But what about you? I heard you woke up a long time ago. How is your recovery? Why are you still here?"
"Oh, the people from the Holy Church just had some things to ask me," Rowan waved her hand. "I always hated that guy anyway. Now that I finally have the chance, I'm going to tell them every terrible thing I know about his family."
Su Cheng understood. "Then take your time telling them. I have something to do, so I'll get going. See you when school starts?"
"See you then, darling!" Rowan couldn't resist hugging her again. "Come to me if you need anything. Seriously, do you have enough money? How about I give you a magic crystal card!"
Su Cheng shook her head. "No, no, no, I'm really not short on money right now. We'll talk about it if I ever go broke!"
After saying goodbye to her neighbor, Zane escorted her out of the temple again.
Outside on Faith Avenue, the stone slabs were smooth and bright, with almost no dust or fallen leaves in sight. The broad, long street looked like a sparkling silver river.
Lush street trees stood on both sides, their verdant green leaves casting patches of shade.
This direction connected to the Upper District. Comparatively, it wasn't very crowded, but there were many carriages coming and going, and noble family crests could be seen from time to time.
Su Cheng stopped at the intersection and turned her head to look at the man beside her.
"You're not going to escort me the whole way, are you?"
"If you wish," Zane smiled. "Of course I can."
"...Never mind then, I shouldn't delay your business. But, will you be in the imperial capital often lately? Considering the current situation?"
"Compared to before," the archbishop nodded slightly, "I will indeed be coming over more frequently. So if you need anything, you can come to me as well."
He paused for a moment. "By the way, Ling Yang also asked me to pass a message to you."
Su Cheng was taken aback. "Huh?"
"He said he was looking forward to reuniting with you," Zane said with a smile, "but due to some transfers, he won't be in the capital recently, and he asked me to convey his apologies."
Su Cheng: "...I understand."
They said their goodbyes quite politely.
Su Cheng strolled casually down the street by herself, heading east along the tree-lined road.
The architectural style of the imperial capital was somewhat different from the south. Golden Amber City had many bright and vibrant colors, whereas the streets here were mostly in gray and white tones, appearing solemn and majestic.
At the end of the road, behind the lush groves, stood two towering buildings facing each other across a broad square.
They both belonged to the imperial government, and one of them was the Empire's Supreme Court. At the main entrance was a giant bronze gavel sculpture.
Su Cheng raised her hand and gestured.
The shape of that gavel was almost exactly the same as her own Divine Favored mark.
It seemed to be the symbol of the God of Law.
She leisurely strolled over.
That quaint building had a history of over a thousand years, its cold and stern lines exuding an unquestionable sense of majesty and order.
She paused at the courthouse entrance for a moment before leaving. After walking a short distance, she heard a commotion behind her. Turning around, she saw a group of people walking out of a side door.
Two middle-aged men with ashen faces were surrounding another slightly younger-looking man, talking to him.
The latter only spoke occasionally, then just kept shaking his head, his expression very cold.
The two middle-aged men were initially in despair, but after the other man said something unknown, they suddenly became furious and directly started attacking him.
Noticing that they all possessed battle aura, Su Cheng was wondering if she should stand a bit further away.
Everything happened in an instant.
A cold, harsh silver light slashed across the air.
The two middle-aged men both collapsed to the ground. Their arms had been severed from their bodies, leaving only bloody stumps.
Several guards dressed in silver armor had appeared out of nowhere.
The one who looked like the captain was slowly sheathing the long blade in his hand, nodding to the remaining man.
The latter waved his hand, showing a look of disgust.
"...Hah, what a scandal."
Su Cheng turned her head.
Not far away stood a young couple, arm in arm.
Both had blonde hair and striking appearances, looking quite like a matching pair.
Their expressions held the exact same sarcastic sneer.
Perched on the girl's shoulder was a petite wyvern, looking not much bigger than a fledgling eagle, its wings folded as it looked around.
Its skeletal frame was delicate, and its scales were silver-blue. A metallic, cold gleam covered it from its spine to its wings, and it had a pair of bright azure eyes.
Su Cheng blinked. "What happened?"
"Hmm," the girl glanced at her and slightly raised her chin. "In case you didn't know, my lord of the Holy Church—I assume you are also here in the imperial capital for the meeting? That couple is Viscount Lux and the Viscountess. They just tried to attack Marquis Murong—"
Su Cheng raised an eyebrow. "Viscount Lux?"
"Yes, it's no wonder you don't know. After all, they are just insignificant nobodies."
The boy beside her said, "The daughter of Viscount Lux was a classmate of Murong Yue. It's said she offended a Lord Divine Favored, so she died in Golden Amber City. Now, the Lux family is clearly about to become history as well, because Marquis Murong will inevitably recoup his losses from them. I heard he paid that Lord Divine Favored quite a sum in compensation."
The girl gave a soft scoff. "But they brought it upon themselves. If they were upright and had nothing to hide, and hadn't committed any crimes, Marquis Murong wouldn't have found it so easy to cause trouble for them."
Su Cheng: "..."
So that was how the one million gold coins were squeezed out of them.
Su Cheng also smiled. "Why do you think I'm from the Church?"
The girl glanced at her. "Well, although your clothes don't have any crests or medals, the two places that produce this material are both in the Holy Alliance. Only high-ranking clerics of the Church would use Snowstar fleece for casual wear, because they aren't short of it. Anyone else who managed to get their hands on a little bit would mostly use it to make formal gowns."
Su Cheng really didn't know much about these things. If the other party hadn't pointed it out, she wouldn't have known that the coat she was wearing was quite valuable.
Su Cheng: "Thank you for the explanation."
The couple looked at her with strange expressions. The girl frowned. "You're welcome, Your Excellency—?"
Su Cheng gave a slight nod. "You may call me that."
Their expressions shifted slightly, but they didn't look too surprised. It was as if they had already guessed she had some status, otherwise she wouldn't be wearing such clothes.
The little wyvern on the girl's shoulder suddenly sneezed. A thin ring of ice mist appeared in the air, quickly dissipating.
Su Cheng couldn't help but stare at the dragon.
"My partner laid three eggs a while ago."
The girl tilted her head. "This is her youngest son. I brought him out for a stroll to save him from constantly bothering his mother—"
Su Cheng immediately realized that this person was a dragon knight. "He is really beautiful. I can only imagine that his mother must be even more gorgeous."
The little wyvern spread its wings slightly, as if knowing it was being praised.
"...Hmm?" The girl took two steps closer. "It looks like he likes you quite a bit too. Do you want to pet him? Just stroke his back, don't touch his head. He really likes to bite right now."
Su Cheng couldn't resist reaching out her hand.
The little wyvern showed no resistance. Its round eyes stared at her, its slender vertical pupils dilating slightly.
She carefully leaned in and gently stroked the baby dragon's spine. The scales felt cool and smooth, leaving a trace of chill on her fingertips.
The little wyvern tilted its head, sniffed her hand, and let out a happy, adorable chirp.
"Wow," the girl said, quite surprised. "It's rare for him to be this happy. You know, right now he's roughly equivalent to a one- or two-year-old human baby, right at the age where they love causing trouble. Wait, I'm actually not too sure what babies are like. I hate kids."
"Really? I do a bit too," Su Cheng replied instinctively. "Well, except maybe the pretty and well-behaved ones—"
"Ugh, I still wouldn't like them. They're still a hassle." The girl wrinkled her nose. "Anyway, we're heading off. Goodbye."
The boy beside her also gave a wave, and the two parties bid each other farewell.
Since it was just a chance encounter, Su Cheng didn't exchange names with them and simply continued heading east.
After entering the mid-city district, the streets grew livelier. The commercial area was packed with pedestrians, and there was a constant stream of carriages and horses. Various bizarre magical beasts could be seen.
Knights of the city defense force patrolled the main avenues.
They rode majestic horned dragons. These sub-dragons walked on all fours, each over two meters tall, with bulging muscles and scales as smooth as metal.
Ordinary animals and magical beasts trembled and lowered their heads when near these sub-dragons, and some timid ones were even scared to the point of incontinence.
When a squad of dragon knights approached from the opposite direction, Su Cheng couldn't help but look at them curiously.
Golden Amber City also had dragon knights, but they didn't patrol the city. Instead, they were stationed in camps and were rarely seen on the streets.
The leading horned dragon was the largest, standing over three meters tall, with thick scales as black as ink.
Sharp horns stood erect on its massive head, and the back of its skull extended backwards to form a broad bony neck frill, which looked somewhat like a crown.
As they passed each other, the leading horned dragon suddenly stopped, tilted its head, and sniffed.
Su Cheng: "?"
She watched as that massive head lowered, sweeping back and forth over her shoulder. That sharp horn, thicker than a human's arm, swayed right above her head.
"Oh?"
The knight on the horned dragon's back seemed to chuckle, his voice a bit muffled through his visor.
"Are you also a dragon knight, Miss? He only acts like this when he smells an unfamiliar kin."
"I'm not, but I did interact with a dragon just a little while ago."
The horned dragon's head gently nudged above her shoulder, seemingly very fond of her scent, yet it kept a slight distance as if afraid of bumping into her.
"Hmm," the dragon knight captain said with interest. "It seems... that dragon was in a very cheerful mood when interacting with you, which is why it left behind such a lingering scent."
