Chapter 524 – Raise Your Hand to Ask for Leave (2/2)

Suddenly, Mo Yu rushed in, her expression incredibly grave. She reported that matter which had just occurred to the Divine Empress.

Quietly gazing at the Li Palace, the Divine Empress smirked, but her eyes were still indifferent. ”It's getting more and more interesting.”

……

……

The battle on the Bridge of Helplessness had already concluded, but the discussion brought about by its aftermath could not be so easily quieted in such a short amount of time. The conversations held between the important figures in the Great Hall of Light were still mostly concerned with this matter. With the insight and cultivation of these important figures, after they had calmed down, they were able to recall the scene and understand that Xu Yourong had refrained from using her Heavenly Phoenix true blood to intentionally suppress herself to the level of a normal person. This was because she wanted to engage in a straightforward confrontation, relying on her strength, not innate talent, to obtain victory over Chen Changsheng. However, in no way did this mean that they believed Chen Changsheng had an unfair advantage, because they were also keenly aware that Chen Changsheng had also not used his most powerful techniques—for instance, that method he had used to receive Zhu Luo's strike in that battle amidst the rain in Xunyang City and not die.

Suddenly, solemn and compassionate music began to play throughout the Great Hall of Light. The stone wall in the depths of the hall began to slowly open and emit rays of light, and stone sculptures on both sides of the great hall began to glow with light. The people in the hall hurriedly tidied their clothes and arranged themselves in order, humbly bowing towards the Pope as he emerged from the stone wall and walked into the light.

Under the escort of the head knights and several archbishops, the Pope slowly ascended the dais. Daoist Siyuan and Linghai Zhiwang were naturally amongst them, and Mao Qiuyu, Archbishop of the Hall of Illustrious Persons, was in the very back. What surprised everyone the most was that the Divine Staff, the symbol of the Orthodoxy's authority, was clasped between his hands.

Without any long or complicated procedures, Mao Qiuyu calmly began to read aloud the merit Chen Changsheng had performed for the Orthodox Academy. From the Grand Examination to the Mausoleum of Books, from the Garden of Zhou to this morning on the Bridge of Helplessness, and even the rebirth of the Orthodox Academy—this originally taboo matter of the Orthodoxy—had been listed as his achievements.

This had always been a celebratory feast for the Orthodoxy, and of course, what they celebrated were Chen Changsheng's achievements. Mao Qiuyu announcing these achievements was something that everyone had expected, but what happened afterwards was something no one, with the exception of Mao Qiuyu and the Pope, had anticipated.

After Mao Qiuyu finished reading off Chen Changsheng's merits, he did not act as people thought he would and directly announce the reward the Orthodoxy would bestow upon him. Instead, he calmly walked to the Pope's side and then, under the shocked gazes of all, the Pope extended his hand and took up the Divine Staff, declaring, ”Thereby, we grant this blessing unto him.”

The Great Hall of Light was completely silent. No one spoke because they were all stupefied.

At present, Chen Changsheng was the Principal of the Orthodox Academy. From quite a long time ago, he had been the Pope's martial nephew, it was just that nobody knew of this fact. After the events of the Mausoleum of Books, the entire continent knew of the Pope's plans, knew that Chen Changsheng would become the next Pope. However, this had all been conjecture or inference.

Today, conjectures had been confirmed, inferences had become reality.

The Pope had turned over the Divine Staff that symbolized the authority of the Orthodoxy to Chen Changsheng. This was also a declaration to the entire world that Chen Changsheng was his successor.

The silence in the Great Hall of Light continued. It wasn't because of some strangeness nor was it indicative that some momentous event would occur—no one would dare defy the will of the Pope in this place—it was just that nobody knew how to respond. This was something proper and expected, it had just occurred far earlier than imagined and they couldn't help but be shocked.

Chen Changsheng was only sixteen.

Daoist Siyuan and Linghai Zhiwang, those two who were once regarded as having the highest hopes of taking up the Divine Staff and succeeding the Pope, had incredibly unsightly complexions. They had originally believed that they still had ten-some years to change the Pope's will, but they had not expected that the Pope would not give them any time whatsoever.

They were keenly aware of just why the Pope had chosen this time to confirm Chen Changsheng's status as successor.

If this were before, the new faction of the Orthodoxy, such as the two archbishops and their supporters, might be able to use the reason of Chen Changsheng being too young and requiring further observation as an excuse for a few years, thus delaying the Pope's decision. But now, the continent already had a sixteen-year-old Holy Maiden; what did it matter if there was a sixteen-year-old candidate for Pope?

Let alone the fact that this candidate for Pope had just defeated that Holy Maiden today.

The silence in the great hall continued, but people gradually began to feel that something was wrong. Even if they didn't know how to react, what of Chen Changsheng?

Even if he was also very shocked, at this point, he should still stand up and thank the Pope for this blessing, then accept the well-wishes of everyone within the hall.

Mao Qiuyu's gaze looked over the hall. His brow deeply furrowed, he asked somewhat incredulously, ”Where is Chen Changsheng?”

In a certain corner of the great hall, a hand shot up from the crowd, accompanied by a rather uneasy voice.

”He…he…he…at lunch, he was too happy and ate too much. He had some indigestion, so he entrusted me with the task…of asking for leave.”

Tonight, the Orthodoxy was celebrating achievements, the Pope had come to personally bestow the Divine Staff and confirm the position of successor to the Orthodoxy…but the person in question was not even here?

The Great Hall of Light exploded with discussion and the crowd parted like water, revealing the person that had just been speaking.

Tang Thirty-Six, his head lowered, his hand raised.