Hearing Shui Ling'er’s reply, the Pope of Light visibly trembled, clearly agitated by extreme emotion. After a long pause, the Pope let out a heavy sigh and spoke, “It seems no matter what I say, I cannot change the Saintess’s decision?” Shui Ling’er responded coolly, “I hope Your Holiness can forgive me.”

Though her tone was light, it carried an unmistakable and unyielding firmness, clearly conveying her intent.

An absolute silence fell over the entire Papal Hall; one could even hear the Pope’s labored breathing, a result of his inner turmoil. He stared coldly at Shui Ling’er, radiating an intense pressure that made the Light magic elements within the hall churn violently, causing the entire space to feel oppressively heavy.

Despite the overwhelming aura emanating from the Pope of Light, Shui Ling’er stood her ground. Her forehead beaded with fine sweat, and her body trembled slightly, yet her expression remained defiant, showing not an ounce of retreat.

Soon after.

The magical fluctuations in the hall abruptly died down, and the crushing pressure vanished without a trace. Shui Ling’er instantly felt a lightness wash over her and breathed a private sigh of relief. Just then, she heard the Pope speak with a note of resignation, “Since you were little, you have always been this stubborn. From the day I brought you in and appointed you Saintess. You have always been this way; your nature truly hasn’t changed a bit.”

Hearing this, Shui Ling’er bowed gratefully to the Pope. “Ling’er knows she has disappointed Your Holiness and failed your expectations. Ling’er is truly deeply sorry. Therefore, no matter how Your Holiness chooses to deal with me, Ling’er will have not a single complaint.”

The Pope sighed once more. “Enough. Consider this a hardship fate intended for you. Very well, I can agree to save Chen Mo Han’s life.”

Upon hearing this, Shui Ling’er spoke with sudden, excited fervor, “Is Your Holiness serious? That is wonderful news! Ling’er thanks Your Holiness on behalf of Brother Mo Han first.”

Before Shui Ling’er could finish, the Pope waved his hand, cutting her off. He spoke calmly, “Don’t celebrate too soon. I have conditions attached to this. If you agree to my terms, I will personally persuade the great Elders of the Church to use the Seven-Colored Feather to save Chen Mo Han’s life. This is my absolute limit of compromise. Otherwise, we are done talking.”

Hearing the Pope’s words, Shui Ling’er seemed to grasp a subtle implication, and her face paled slightly as she replied, “I will abide by whatever Your Holiness commands. As long as it is within Ling’er’s capacity, I will certainly not refuse.”

The Pope of Light nodded at this.

He spoke gently, “Rest assured, you can certainly do it; it only depends on whether you are willing. My requirement is simple—just one. Leave that Chen Mo Han. Focus on being the Saintess you are meant to be, and you must never again harbor any feelings for him. Furthermore, you are forbidden from meeting him in the future. If you agree to this condition, I will agree to use the ‘Seven-Colored Feather’ to save Chen Mo Han’s life. This is the only way to save him, so you must consider this carefully.”

Hearing the Pope’s declaration, Shui Ling’er’s face instantly turned ashen, and her entire body shook violently. Her voice trembling, she asked, “Is there truly no other way besides this?” The Pope affirmed with a nod, “I have already told you, this is my greatest concession. The choice is yours, Saintess. However, I must remind you that the efficacy of the ‘Seven-Colored Feather’ is merely legend; no one has ever truly used it. Therefore, I cannot guarantee whether it can truly bring someone back from the brink of death. If we delay any longer, and Chen Mo Han’s condition shifts, you cannot blame me. You must make your decision quickly.”

As the Pope spoke, Shui Ling’er’s heart was gripped by a fierce internal battle. To ask her to leave Mo Han—how cruel! Yet, without this method, there was truly no other way to save Mo Han’s life. But if Brother Mo Han were to leave this world, then her own life would be meaningless. If she agreed to this condition, at least Brother Mo Han could live on safely. Seeing the one she loved safe and sound—wasn't that her greatest desire? That, too, could be a form of happiness. She would bear the burden of everything.

At this point, Shui Ling’er made up her mind and declared firmly to the Pope of Light, “Very well. Ling’er swears before the God of Light: if Your Holiness agrees to save Brother Mo Han’s life, Ling’er promises from this day forward never to see Brother Mo Han again, nor harbor any further thoughts of him. I will dedicate myself to being the Saintess of the Church of Light. If I break this oath, I shall face divine retribution.”

As she spoke the final words, Shui Ling’er felt as if her very heart was being torn apart, bringing on a wave of dizziness. Yet, she held firm and finished her vow, making her commitment clear.

Hearing Shui Ling’er’s words, the Pope of Light sighed, saying, “Do not resent me for forcing this upon you; I do this for your own good. You will understand my intentions in the future. Alright, since you have agreed to my request, I will naturally fulfill my promise. I will immediately summon people to bring Chen Mo Han to the Church and personally tend to his injuries. But I expect you to honor your vow.”

After saying this, the Pope of Light turned and departed the Papal Hall, leaving Shui Ling’er behind, her face etched with profound sorrow.

Her eyes stared vacantly across the empty hall. No one could know or understand the depth of her misery—watching the man she loved stood right there, yet knowing she could never spend another moment with him. For her, this was a fate harder to accept than death itself, but for Mo Han’s life, she had no choice.

And the Pope of Light truly kept his word.

Disregarding the objections of a few church Elders and the Archbishops, he ordered his men to notify Rou Xue and the others to carry the injured Mo Han into the Holy Temple of Light. When Rou Xue and her group entered, the high echelons of the Church of Light—including Elders and Archbishops—were already assembled, eager to witness how this young man, already famous across the continent, would fare under the Pope’s healing touch.

Significantly, the presence of the Saintess, Shui Ling’er, was conspicuously absent.

Rou Xue noticed Shui Ling’er’s absence, feeling a slight curiosity, but she understood that Shui Ling’er must have convinced the Pope of Light, otherwise the Church would never have agreed to use their treasure for Mo Han’s healing. Still, why Shui Ling’er chose not to appear at this crucial moment puzzled Rou Xue. Did she no longer care about Mo Han’s injuries?

Just then, the Pope of Light smiled towards Rou Xue and her companions, saying, “I must proceed to the inner chamber to heal him. I request that you send two representatives to accompany me inside.”

With a gentle wave of his hand, several Light Priests immediately approached Mo Han, lifting him from the stretcher and moving toward the inner sanctuary. The Pope smiled and nodded toward Rou Xue, signaling them to follow, then turned and entered the inner hall. Rou Xue and Elder Kalimo had no choice but to follow the Pope’s lead into the deeper chambers.

Upon entering the inner sanctum, the Pope waved away the attendants and nodded slightly to Rou Xue and Kalimo. “I know both of you are from the Dragon Clan. And I know the Dragon Clan always keeps its word. Therefore, before I begin healing young Brother Mo Han, I have an impertinent request that I hope you will grant.”

Hearing this, Rou Xue and Kalimo exchanged a subtle glance, both realizing the Pope would surely attach a condition to healing Mo Han. However, having already agreed with the Saintess, they readily consented.

Seeing their immediate agreement, the Pope nodded. “It is this: after I have healed young Brother Mo Han’s injuries, I hope you two will immediately take him out of the Holy Capital and return to your own territories. Furthermore, please relay this message to him: the Church of Light will absolutely never welcome his return, nor do we wish to see him within the borders of the Holy Capital again. As for the Light Jade Pendant on him, I also request that he return it to any of our main churches; someone will ensure it reaches headquarters. I realize this request is abrupt, but I hope you can agree.”

Understanding the Pope’s meaning, Rou Xue and Kalimo were secretly astonished. They could not fathom why the Pope would make such a bizarre demand. Logically, after saving Mo Han, the Pope should be asking for Mo Han’s allegiance or requesting a favor from their Holy Dragon Clan. Instead, the Pope made no mention of such things, but rather seemed desperate to expel Mo Han—it defied all reason, leaving Rou Xue and Kalimo momentarily stunned, unable to grasp the Pope’s true motive.

Rou Xue stood composedly before the Pope. “Though I do not know why Your Holiness suddenly makes this request, I can only agree to the first part: taking Brother Mo Han away from the Holy Capital. I will certainly relay your message to him. As for whether Brother Mo Han will return to the Holy Capital in the future, please forgive me, but Rou Xue cannot promise that. These matters are not within my control. The Dragon Clan never promises what it cannot guarantee, so I ask for Your Holiness’s understanding.”

Hearing Rou Xue’s response, the Pope nodded. “Very well, in that case, let us proceed. Please wait outside for a moment; I must begin healing young Brother Mo Han now.”

As the Pope spoke, Rou Xue felt a lingering sense of unease, but recalling that Mo Han was at death’s door, she reasoned that the Pope, given his stature, would surely not make any decision detrimental to Mo Han. She nodded, and along with Elder Kalimo, left the room to wait patiently outside.

Once Rou Xue and Kalimo were gone, the Pope withdrew a delicate, small box from his robes. He whispered a few incantations over it, and a flash of light later, the box returned to its original appearance. The Pope slowly opened it, and a stream of exquisitely comfortable, soft, seven-colored light poured out, instantly bathing the entire room.

As the box opened fully, one could clearly see a single, seven-colored feather floating suspended in the center, emitting waves of prismatic light. This must be the ‘Seven-Colored Feather,’ the great treasure of the Church of Light. The Pope glanced at Mo Han lying on the ground, sighed, and murmured, “It is your fortune. I hope you will cherish it moving forward.”

Whether this sentiment stemmed from regret over the feather or some other unspoken reason, only he knew.

Then, the Pope began to chant softly. The seven-colored feather suddenly lifted, gliding slowly toward Mo Han lying on the floor. Upon reaching him, the feather began to circle above his body, accelerating its rotation. As the speed increased, the feather’s prismatic glow intensified, gradually enveloping Mo Han’s entire form until he was completely obscured by the colored light.

Then, the feather flared with brilliant light, followed by a sharp, seven-colored flash. The feather abruptly submerged entirely into Mo Han’s body, vanishing without a trace. Simultaneously, the room’s vibrant illumination instantly disappeared, as if it had never been there.

Seeing this, the Pope let out a slight breath, a light sheen of sweat appearing on his brow, as if completing the task had left him utterly drained. He looked at Mo Han, whose previously pale complexion was now gradually regaining a healthy flush under the feather’s influence. Moreover, Mo Han’s skin seemed to be undergoing a subtle transformation, with faint, seven-colored light subtly emanating from beneath the surface—an astonishing sight.

The Pope recited a few more incantations, and a soft white light flowed into Mo Han’s body. Having finished, the Pope slowly walked out and addressed Rou Xue and the others waiting outside. “It is done. You may bring him out now. I have cast a Sleeping Charm on him to facilitate his rapid recovery. Also, he has not fully absorbed the energy of the Seven-Colored Feather, so the prismatic light may still be visible on his body for a time; this is normal and nothing to worry about. These lights will fade once he has fully assimilated the feather’s energy.”

Grateful for the explanation, Rou Xue and Kalimo rushed in to check on Mo Han. Indeed, the situation matched the Pope’s description, and Mo Han’s complexion was visibly improving. Only the faint, glimmering seven-colored lights on his face were slightly unsettling to Rou Xue.

Relieved that Mo Han was stable, Rou Xue was overjoyed. Just then, a Light Priest entered and addressed them. “Your Excellencies, His Holiness asks me to inform you that your friend is out of danger and hopes you will remember your earlier promise and leave the Holy Capital swiftly.”

Rou Xue and Kalimo felt even more perplexed. Why was the Pope so eager to see them gone? There must be a reason they didn't know. However, since they had given their word, there was nothing more to say. Rou Xue quickly thanked the Priest, asking him to pass on her gratitude to the Pope, then lifted Mo Han with Kalimo and headed back the way they came.

Not long after they left the city gates of the Holy Capital, they heard the hurried sound of approaching hoofbeats from behind. A Knight of Judgment, clad in full golden armor and a dark helmet, was rapidly approaching—it was Lyle, the commander of the Knights of Judgment. Lyle executed a perfect, respectful knightly salute to Rou Xue and the others and politely inquired, “I am Lyle, Commander of the Knights of Judgment of the Church of Light. I was commanded by the Saintess to check on young Brother Mo Han’s condition. May I ask how he fares?”