Chapter 1084
The Heavenly Envoys’ Gifts
The Church possessed twenty-two layers, with the twenty-second layer being the prison for the Eternal Pope, alone. The twenty-first layer was the residence of the Saintess and her candidates, and no one would enter it except during the election of a Pope.
The eighteenth Ring was the Church’s prison. While it was unlikely anyone would attempt to break prisoners out or for prisoners to escape from the Church… without special permission, ordinary people could at most enter the seventeenth Ring.
The five layers above were forbidden zones, all referred to as the “Most Sacred Site.” This also explained the meaning of the Pope’s crown, the “Supreme Holy Crown”—from this layer upwards, any entry or exit required the Pope’s permission.
The nineteenth Ring was a layer specifically used by the Church for various grand ceremonies, roughly equivalent to a large hall in human society. The elves also called it the “Altar Near Heaven.”
All wedding guests passed through the elevator and ascended to this layer.
Upon arriving at the nineteenth layer, the guests from human society were astonished—
They saw a radiant city.
It was a city of splendor, built almost entirely of pure white, so much so that it almost hurt to look at. Buildings that pierced the heavens rose from the ground.
Giant bell towers, giant towers, giant pyramids, giant castles… any structure here was far larger than those outside. And the layers outside were adorned with special decorations.
Dark gold decorative patterns appeared on every building. Those with some knowledge would recognize these patterns as Preservation Technique solidified by divine arts. This allowed the nearly uninhabited city to maintain its best condition without cleaning or maintenance and instantly clear away accumulated dirt.
On this layer, the decorative patterns on each building were different—the pyramids were adorned with patterns of the sun, the bell towers with gears and pointers, the castles with dragon scales…
This was because each building corresponded to a star, and to a deity.
Not just the Nine Pillar Gods—even Heavenly Envoys and Apostles had divine temples uniquely and differently designed for Them on this layer. All the divine temples in the entire world were gathered on this layer. Looking down from above, one would see scattered points of light resembling stars in the night sky.
Therefore, regardless of whom one worshipped, they could enter the nineteenth Ring and find the corresponding divine temple. Even the deceased gods had not had their buildings removed.
Even Supreme Heaven, which had once been an enemy of the elves and even allowed giants to eat them, had a divine temple in the central area. And for the gods who had risen from Disciple to Heavenly Envoy or even Pillar God, one could even see evidence of their temples being expanded from small to large.
The arrangement of these buildings also followed a pattern—the relationships between deities, whether they were close or opposed, could be inferred from their placement. If the relationships between gods changed, the very earth of this layer would rumble and turn, altering the positions and relative locations of the divine temples.
If the First Ring had the feeling of being the “center of an otherworldly world,” where all races gathered; the Third Ring was a forest town with a dreamy and natural atmosphere; the Eleventh Ring was the most technologically advanced layer, filled with metallic luster like the interior of a spaceship…
Then the nineteenth Ring gave the feeling of a “Sacred City.”
The previously relaxed atmosphere of the group immediately gave way to a sense of sacred pressure upon entering this layer. It was the pressure known as the “depth of history.” The photographer in the group, after obtaining Eivass’s permission, carefully took photos.
Undoubtedly, this was the first time humans had the chance to enter the nineteenth Ring. It might even be the last.
Almost no one was seen on the streets—or rather, almost no living people.
Spirit beings clad in armor, wielding holy swords and emitting light, patrolled the streets. Spirit beings in long robes stood quietly at every corner. Their commonality was that the interior of their armor and robes were empty… only a dark void could be seen, with no inhabitant within.
“Are they… Disciples of the Candlemaster?” Isabel asked, somewhat puzzled.
“You could say that,” Eivass nodded. “These are light-elemental Phantom Demons.”
Pansi, the unicorn beneath them, provided a more detailed explanation to Isabel: “Those devotees who believe in the Candlemaster… and also those good people who don’t believe in the Candlemaster but dedicate their lives to others, often enter the Eternal Blissful Forest after death. That is what you humans call the Kingdom of Giant Trees.
“As long as their souls are pure enough to be salvaged from the Origin River by the Candlemaster, the Xi Tian Si, or the Heavenly Candlemaster Envoy, they will enter this carefree world. Everyone in there is a good person who can dedicate themselves to others, so all will receive eternal peace and happiness…”
“I know,” Isabel nodded. “Some people want to enter the Kingdom of Giant Trees after death, so they try their best to do good deeds.”
“…But that may not be effective, child.” Pansi sighed. “It’s possible to ascend Energy Levels through false piety. As long as there are corresponding actions, the Origin River will recognize it.
“But to be salvaged from the Origin River and have one’s power shared to grant eternal life, that depends on the subjective will of the Heavenly Envoys and Pillar Gods. Unless one does something they find immensely admirable, it holds no meaning for gods who can directly see souls.”
“That’s right,” Eivass nodded as well. “After all, sharing power is also the freedom of gods. A person who acts like a good person their entire life, or doesn’t have the chance to do bad deeds, is a genuine good person in the Material Realm; but if someone who pretends to be good their whole life, only thinking of enjoying themselves in the eternal world after death… that would instead ruin the afterlife experience of other good souls, causing them to be bullied by villains after death.
“So, although the Pillar Gods have enough Power to share with all beings—they consider whether other Apostles are willing, or their own mood and will. For example, it’s said that the Candlemaster has nearly three hundred and thirty thousand Apostles under him, six million six hundred and sixty thousand demons transformed from Fallen Heavenly Envoys, and over six hundred Upper Demons directly serving him… but the number of Hengwo’s co-dancers has never exceeded ten.”
Essentially, the divine kingdoms of this world are like a private group chat for gods. As the sole and eternal group owner, the gods can naturally decide who to let in and who to kick out.
If the Pillar Gods don’t want them, Heavenly Envoys will pick them up downstream; if even Heavenly Envoys don’t want them, it means they can be refined back into the Origin River without issue.
—However, even with all that said, it’s still important to encourage people to do good deeds in the Material Realm. Although good deeds don’t actually lead to heaven…
“And it’s a good thing that those devotees can enjoy themselves in the Eternal Blissful Forest… but the majority of them have souls that burn fiercely.”
The unicorn Pansi’s voice resembled that of an intelligent and composed elder woman, explaining to Isabel: “For them, to gain eternal life and just enjoy themselves would be too lonely.
“So some people enter the Candlemaster’s vanguard legions to conquest impure dead souls; while others respond to summons and return to the Material Realm to serve others.”
“This is a Fourth Tier ritual divine art, ‘Sacred Guard’,” Eivass said from the side. “I can do this too, but I haven’t had the chance to use it—it requires a month of fasting and abstention, followed by three days of chanting, and then a spirit can be permanently summoned onto armor or robes. They will carry out a command that does not anger them, and the extent of their effort and willingness to stay in the Material Realm often depends on the righteousness or sacredness of the matter… Usually, this ritual is more commonly seen guarding large bank vaults. One to three Sacred Guards are found in the vaults of those large banks.
“And there are as many as eighty thousand of these Sacred Guards guarding the nineteenth Ring. To protect the sacred city, each of them can exert the peak power of a Fourth Tier Extraordinary. They also happen to guard the prison below, which is why the prison has so few guards.
“Besides protecting the sacred city, they also help provide some services within their capabilities… For example, if you ask them for directions, they will directly guide you to your destination. Aside from not being able to speak, they are like gentle and reliable seniors. This is a voluntary sacred mission—if they get tired or bored with their work, they will simply return to the Dream Realm.”
As Eivass was speaking, he saw a Sacred Guard next to him loosen its grip, letting the holy sword in its hand dissolve into light spots, and quickly caught a photographer who nearly fell while descending the steps. It then stayed by the photographer’s side, helping her carry her heavy equipment.
“…And in truth, they are indeed our seniors,” Eivass said softly.
With the help and guidance of the Sacred Guards, the group’s progress speed increased significantly—the robed Sacred Guards also cast divine arts to dispel fatigue, replenish energy, and increase movement speed.
Before the sun reached its zenith, the wedding procession entered a sacred temple.
It was not far from the elevator—because it was in the very center of the nineteenth Ring.
In the very center, there were only three sacred temples: those of the Candlemaster, the Lord of Scales and Feathers, and Amber.
However, unexpectedly, the Candlemaster’s sacred temple was the smallest among the Pillar Gods—reportedly, this was a request explicitly made by the Candlemaster, who did not wish for the temple dedicated to him to be too extravagant, preferring it to be the most simple one among the Nine Pillar Gods.
Even so, it was a more sacred and brilliant temple than the Great Cathedral of the Candle Holder in Avalon.
As they entered the sacred temple, they could hear melodious holy songs.
—Those were the songs sung by the Saintess candidates.
Just listening to the songs, one could feel their soul being purified.
In the very center of the temple, there were three extremely long dining tables—these were the guests’ tables.
Mist Demons, radiating pure white moonlight, appeared from the hazy mist, guiding guests to their seats. They then quietly served behind the guests.
This was one of the gifts bestowed by the Envoy of Mist.
As most people were seated, brilliant golden light suddenly erupted from the tables—
Plates of huge, magnificent gourmet foods beyond imagination, which were incredibly ornate even in appearance, manifested on the guests’ tables with bursts of radiance. Immediately after, bottles of divine realm fine wines appeared as if they were free, each one far superior even to the Sacred Tree No. 1 divine brew.
This was precisely the gift presented by the Banquet Heavenly Envoy!
For this deity who wielded authority over gourmet food and fine wine, the most fitting gift was the wedding banquet itself.
These foods were personally prepared by him—the Banquet Master had always enjoyed cooking for his guests, and this was his first banquet since his promotion to Heavenly Envoy. For guests who could not drink alcohol, there was the moonlight spring water gifted by the Envoy of Mist, shimmering with white mist.
Every candle on the table was provided by the Heavenly Candlemaster Envoy. Each candle emitted a sacred radiance that was not blinding, no matter how bright—being illuminated by its light had the same effect as being illuminated by the Illuminate Spell.
However, most guests were unaware of the value of these items.
As all the guests were seated, the wedding Host finally appeared.
The people were immediately astonished—although they didn’t understand the Heavenly Envoys’ gifts, they could recognize the identity of the illusory woman whose form was sketched from the void.
—It was the current Pope!
“…His Majesty the Pope is coming to officiate my wedding?” Eivass couldn’t help but exclaim. “This is too high a caliber!”
He had originally asked Cardinal Galatea. As a mechanical girl who had adventured with Eivass, she was currently the closest to him.
“You’ve invited so many Heavenly Envoy gifts, and you’re still missing a mortal like me?” Grey, whose eyes had become bright, smiled. “Besides… I still owe you a great, great favor.”
Her Disaster of Tree and Amber was cured thanks to Eivass’s self-sacrifice.
“Without you, I wouldn’t know what my current situation would be. The Church might still be in chaos… Don’t be too quick to refuse. I know the Cardinals too well. They each have their own opinions, and without a unified opinion, each will try to save the Church in their own way.”
The Pure White Pope said so.
…It was indeed true, Eivass thought.
Without Eivass, the Church would still be in the midst of the Disaster of Tree and Amber.
“Earlier, Isabel said to me… that being crowned at the Church’s wedding ceremony with the acting Pope would be more meaningful than being crowned in Avalon.
“Although you are no longer the acting Pope, you resigned in advance, and how could I let the expectations of the little queen be in vain?
“According to the Church’s rules, a former Pope becomes a Saint… and the status of Saints is no different from that of a Pope.”
“…Am I now considered a Saint, having only been Pope for two months?” Eivass murmured softly.
“Although it was only for two short months, your contributions to the Church and the world are no less than any Pope’s,” Grey said with a smile. “Let this wedding convey a concept to people.
“—Avalon and the Church are, and have always been, a close-knit family. There is no room for doubt in this matter.
“This is the declaration I am making.”
