Chapter 603: Chapter 167: Wedding Starts_3
Mang Siu rolled up the scroll and said softly, "Silence." Although his voice was low, the considerable energy filled with spiritual fluctuations shocked everyone present. All the clergy here were high-level members of the Holy Church and instantly stopped their conversation at Mang Siu’s command. The guests, awed by the Church’s majesty, fell silent as well.
After a sweeping glance around, Mang Siu spoke in a loud voice, "I am pleased to announce that the wedding will now officially begin. I invite the Pope to join us."
A trumpet sound resonated in great waves, prompting all the clergy members to bow their heads respectfully, while the guests’ eyes widened in anticipation. Having a chance to see the Pope of the Holy Church was, indeed, a thrilling occasion for the followers of the Sky God.
The doors of the Temple of Light opened wide, and six White Robe Priests walked in a single file. Among them was Xuan Ye. As the elder delivering the bride, Nasha did not appear at this time. The six White Robe Priests were all enveloped by a divine white glow. They walked slowly to the front of the Light Altar and positioned themselves on either side.
A spark gleamed in Xuan Ye’s eyes as he slowly lifted his hands, mirrored by the actions of the White Robe Priests. A hum echoed, the murmuring of an incantation, and white light emitted from the hands of the six priests. This amalgamation of twelve strands of white energy formed an energy staircase between the Light Altar and the ground. It was entirely made up of light elements. The guests, seated beside the altar, had a clear view of this dazzling and sacred spectacle.
"They’re strong," Larthas whispered, "Any of these White Robe Priests is more potent than the ordinary elders of our Mage Guild. They must all be at least of the Light Magus level, especially the one in the front. It seems that his cultivation is no less than that of Mang Siu standing on the stage."
Xi Wen nodded and replied, "The man you’re referring to is the bride’s father, former Red Robe Priest Xuan Ye. It appears he was demoted to a White Robe Priest due to some miscalculations in the Church’s battle against the Dark Forces some time ago. His magic skills are incredibly profound, he even held off my master once. Though he did lose, his robust magical cultivation is not to be underestimated."
While Xi Wen and Larthas were conversing, a sensation unlike any they had experienced before engulfed everyone outside the Temple of Light. It was an unruffled, serene, and monumental energy imbued with a sacred aura. Instantly, the entire square fell silent. The profound and surging sacred aura of the energy was so overpowering that even Larthas, a seasoned Magus himself, had no thoughts of resistance. Was this the power of the emperor of the Holy Church?
All the guests, including Xi Wen, who had successfully broken through to the ninth realm of Living Judgement, involuntarily bowed their heads, surrendering to the behemoth of energy. A golden figure slowly appeared at the entrance of the Temple of Light, gradually becoming clearer from a blur. A colorful halo warpped the figure in a golden sacrificial gown that highlighted his noble status. His face, devoid of any expression, appeared utterly holy. His white hair cascaded onto his back, and the golden crown on his head sparkled under the sunlight. His movements were not visible underneath the golden sacrificial gown, making it seem as though he was slowly floating out from the temple.
The Pope walked up to the six White Robe Priests, lightly lifted the edge of his sacrificial gown, and leisurely ascended the staircase made of light energy. The six White Robe Priests showed no signs of strain as they devoutly watched the Pope’s imposing figure.
As Mang Siu approached the entrance of the sacred energy staircase, the moment the Pope stepped onto the Light Altar, all the clergy cheered in unison. Their passionate cheers, coming straight from their hearts, reverberated powerfully, stunning everyone.
After showing his respect to the Pope, Mang Siu guided him to the front of the altar. The Pope scanned the surrounding crowd and slowly raised his hands. The cheers instantly subsided. The reverence in the clergy’s eyes had turned into fanaticism. In their hearts, the Pope’s position was hardly inferior to the Sky God’s.
The Pope then turned to the guests and gave a slight nod towards Xi Wen. Despite Quan Yi being the most eminent guest, the Pope’s primary concern was Xi Wen, the true disciple of the Sword Saint of the Tian Gang and the Second Sect Leader of the Tian Gang Sword Sect. Quan Yi’s status may have been nominally higher than Xi Wen’s, but in terms of strength, Xi Wen far exceeded him. Not to mention the strained relationship between the Tian Gang Sword Sect and the Empire of Washington, the Tian Gang Sword Sect had an abundance of talent, and Ah Dai the savior, was a true disciple of the sect. If the Holy Church wanted to claim a final victory against the Dark Forces, the relationship with the Tian Gang Sword Sect was of utmost importance. Considering these factors, the Pope decided to favor Xi Wen as soon as he appeared to symbolize the robust alliance between the Church and the Tian Gang Sword Sect.
Xi Wen was taken aback by the gesture from the Pope. After all, the Pope was one of the most elite figures in the world at the moment, possessing almost equal strength as his master, the Sword Saint of the Tian Gang, and was enough to summon storm and thunder in the continent. Furthermore, the Pope hadn’t always been this friendly to Xi Wen, who was always at odds with the Church, showing how seriously the Church viewed the Dark Forces. Xi Wen responded to the Pope with a slight bow and a courteous smile.
