Chapter Summaries

Lanchi met Duke Morodian in his office, where the duke explained that Associate Professor Xi Duo had deceived his daughter Chloris and that he had been unable to protect her. While they spoke, Planai and Antanas secretly watched and debated whether the duke was probing Lanchi about his past meeting with Chloris and Xi Duo.

• Lanchi stayed late at the Redmond Building to meet Duke Morodian during a heavy rainstorm.
• Duke Morodian arrived, and he and Lanchi exchanged formal greetings before discussing the recent upheavals in the empire.
• Duke Morodian said he had been searching for Associate Professor Xi Duo, who had deceived Chloris, and insisted that Lanchi was not to blame.
• Planai and Antanas secretly observed the conversation through Antanas's barrier, and Planai suspected Duke Morodian was testing what Lanchi knew about his past meeting with Chloris and Xi Duo.

Duke Morodian visited Lanchi before the Bishop Election and probed his intentions, but their cryptic exchange ended without open conflict. After the duke left, Lanchi explained that he would not turn the academy into a battlefield, leaving the larger confrontation for another day.

• Duke Morodian asked Lanchi who he intended to vote for, and Lanchi named Askesang while Morodian said he would vote for Sigrid if she dared to appear.
• Morodian suggested Sigrid might be waiting until election day to avoid Imperial Army interference, while Lanchi said he simply hoped Askesang would choose the right path.
• Morodian questioned why Lanchi took risks for matters that seemed unrelated to him, and Lanchi replied that those matters were related to him.
• Planai, Antanas, and Sinora monitored Morodian's departure and then confronted Lanchi about why he had not detained the suspicious duke.
• Lanchi said the school was not a place for fighting and that the Final Battle was not that day.

On the eve of the Bishop Election, Lanchi and Sigrid walked by the lake after he finished preparing his cards, and they discussed the uncertain contest and his future. The chapter ended with Lanchi reaffirming that, despite his ties to the Protos Empire, he wanted to retire in his Southern Continent hometown.

• Lanchi quickly selected Protos antiquities and finished making his cards at Gloria's residence before the Bishop Election.
• After a week indoors, Sigrid asked Lanchi to take her for a walk, and they rested by a lake beneath the night sky.
• Sigrid asked how confident Lanchi was about the coming clash, and he admitted he could not predict what would happen.
• Sigrid suggested Lanchi might become a Cardinal Bishop and urged him to settle in the Northern Continent, where she would protect him.
• Lanchi said he loved both the Protos Empire and the Hutton Kingdom but still wanted to retire in his hometown.

Lanchi declined Sigrid’s offer to become a Cardinal Bishop, explaining that he wanted to keep his Southern Continent identity. After learning about the Bishop’s Certificate and the authority it granted, he told Sigrid he would still help her pursue the papacy.

• Lanchi told Sigrid he would pass on becoming a Cardinal Bishop because he did not want to bind himself to the Bishop’s Certificate.
• Sigrid warned Lanchi that the Certificate was an indestructible Epic-tier item and explained its powers, including creating and identifying Rebirth Proofs and locating clergy.
• Sigrid described how Cardinal Bishops could meet in the Bishop Council Hall, hold votes, and challenge one another in the Deathmatch Arena.
• Lanchi learned that electing a new Pope required the Bishop Vote Ceremony and that a new Pope could purge hostile bishops and their branches.
• Lanchi refused to join the Rebirth Church as a Cardinal Bishop, but offered to help Sigrid become Pope.

By the lake, Lanchi promised to help Sigrid become Pope, and she revealed that the Pope's Authority might help her reach Tier 9 and become the world's strongest woman. As dawn approached, they turned their attention to the decisive trial ahead, which would bring Lanchi's journey across the Northern Continent to an end.

• Lanchi told Sigrid he would help her become Pope, and she promised to work toward that goal to protect him.
• Sigrid explained that the Pope's Authority might let her break through to Tier 9 and become the strongest woman in the world.
• Sigrid teased Lanchi by getting him to ask her on a date, then said her high favorability made her accept.
• Lanchi and Sigrid agreed that winning the next day's trial mattered most as they watched the night sky.

On the day of the Bishop Election, Hughberlian escorted Sigrid into the Parliament Building, where Sigrid tested her with an offer to become the Overlord Saintess. Hughberlian joined the crowded Franklin Hall and saw Lanchi mingling with powerful Imperial politicians as the historic proceedings approached.

• Hughberlian rode the Mana Elevator with Sigrid and wondered why Lanchi had assigned her to keep the Ba Tian Sect's leader from acting.
• Sigrid asked Hughberlian to become her Saintess and promised to protect and care for her, but Hughberlian refused and asked Sigrid not to trouble her after the day's work.
• Sigrid praised Hughberlian's bravery and hinted that she would understand someday, then led her out of the elevator.
• Hughberlian entered Franklin Hall on the Parliament Building's thirty-third floor, where nobles, ministers, and senators had gathered for the Bishop Election.
• Hughberlian spotted Earl Milford and Lanchi, who was chatting with influential figures in the Imperial political sphere.

The Protos Empire assembled in Franklin Hall to begin the election for the Rebirth Church’s Cardinal Bishop, with Isis overseeing the proceedings. As the candidates prepared to present their records, Sigrid chose Gloria to speak for the Ba Tian Branch because Lanchi had declared he would remain neutral.

• Earl Milford spoke with Luo Qi McCarthy, then gained the attention and respect of nearby northern nobles because of Luo Qi’s connection to his daughter.
• Hughberlian, disguised among the Ba Tian Branch’s high priests, watched Lanchi and Earl Milford talk and felt embarrassed.
• At nine o’clock, the Parliament Building’s clock rang, and the hall fell silent for the start of the election.
• Isis explained that the three Cardinal Bishops would present their philosophies and accomplishments, then yielded the floor to them.
• Sigrid declined to speak and called on her Direct subordinate Gloria to represent the Ba Tian Branch.
• Sigrid recalled that Lanchi had promised to remain neutral and would not favor her during the proceedings.

At Franklin Hall, Sander interrupted Gloria’s speech to accuse Sigrid of harming northern residents and concealing that her injuries had permanently reduced her to the eighth tier. The hall erupted at the claim, leaving Sigrid’s position in the bishop election uncertain.

• As Gloria prepared to present the Ba Tian Branch’s achievements, Sander of the Nirvana Branch asked Isis to let him report an important matter.
• Sander accused Sigrid of harming residents in the north, but Sigrid refused to engage with his provocation.
• Sander claimed Sigrid had suffered incurable injuries and permanently fallen to the eighth tier, making her an unfit ally for the Protos Empire.
• The nobles and ministers erupted into an uproar after hearing Sander’s accusation.

At the Franklin Council Hall, Sander accused Sigrid of concealing a decline in her strength, prompting her to explain that her cultivation was near a breakthrough and that fighting would disrupt it. Askesang challenged her in Sander’s place, and Sigrid deferred their fight for one month, leaving their confrontation looming over the Bishop Election.

• Sander accused Sigrid of hiding a weakness and challenged her to prove she could still kill him instantly.
• Sigrid said her cultivation was nearing a breakthrough, making a full-strength fight unsuitable, and offered to demonstrate her power with a single strike against someone durable enough.
• Askesang stopped Sander and offered to fight Sigrid himself, while Yamiles gave him permission to proceed.
• Sigrid refused to fight immediately and promised to settle her grudge with Askesang in one month, accusing him of having run away before.
• Askesang mocked Sigrid’s restraint and implied that the Bishop Election was a trap prepared for her.

Sigrid faced Askesang’s escalating provocations as he tried to undermine her standing before the Protos Empire. She finally agreed to prove her strength in a fair contest, leaving Great Sage Isis to decide how and where the dangerous fight could take place.

• Askesang accused Sigrid of avoiding a challenge and blamed her for the Saintess’s death, making the nobles and ministers doubt her strength.
• Sigrid’s supporters recognized that Askesang’s pressure threatened her chances in the upcoming Bishop Election.
• Sigrid told Askesang she would show the empire her strength if he insisted, then asked Isis to witness a fair contest between them.
• Askesang’s expression changed as he prepared to fight Sigrid, while Isis weighed the risks of holding the battle in or near Helrom.

Sigrid and Askesang confronted each other in Franklin Hall as Isis considered whether to allow them to settle their dispute through a death duel. Sigrid remained silent while the nobles began to doubt her strength, leaving her facing a final choice between accepting the duel and risking the Bishop Election.

• Askesang urged Sigrid to fight him to the death and accused her of waiting for Isis to rescue her.
• The assembly recognized that a Deathmatch Arena between Cardinal Bishops would continue until one participant died, and Yamiles withheld her objection.
• Sigrid said the decision in the Protos Empire belonged to Isis, while Askesang argued the Empire should not interfere in the Church's internal matter.
• Isis stated that she would not interfere as long as the duel did not endanger the Empire's people.
• Sigrid lowered her head without answering, and southern nobles began to waver as they interpreted her hesitation as a sign of weakness.

In the Helrom Parliament Hall, Sigrid accepted Askesang’s deathmatch challenge, and the two Bishops’ certificates created an isolated Deathmatch Arena. As they were sealed inside, Askesang prepared to use a clone outside the arena to locate and capture the Ba Tian Holy Son.

• Lanchi sat motionless while Cat Boss anxiously hoped he would help Sigrid.
• Sigrid challenged Askesang to a fight to the death, and he accepted.
• Sigrid and Askesang brought out their Bishop’s Certificates, which resonated with each other.
• Askesang planned to use his eighth-tier clone outside the arena to find the Ba Tian Holy Son and take him hostage if needed.
• The certificates opened the Deathmatch Arena and sealed Sigrid and Askesang inside.

Sigrid faced Askesang in a Deathmatch Arena, where he tried to trap and overwhelm her with a contracting barrier. She answered with three eighth-tier epic demons, leaving Askesang stunned and cursing the Ba Tian Holy Son.

• Askesang and Sigrid entered the Deathmatch Arena as the countdown ended and their battle began.
• Askesang cast dark-gray vines that enclosed Sigrid in a shrinking barrier, expecting her to rely on her wolf or lose.
• Sigrid threw three Golden Orange Magic Cards instead of using her usual strength or summoning the wolf.
• Three epic demons emerged from the cards and shattered Askesang's sealing spell.
• Askesang realized he was injured and unprepared to face the demons, then cursed the Ba Tian Holy Son.

Sigrid revealed that she had three powerful demon summons, which Lanchi had created by turning them into her familiars, and sent them to attack Askesang. As the demons advanced, Askesang sensed their connection to Lanchi and planned to use his hidden clone to locate and threaten the Holy Son.

• Askesang questioned how Sigrid had obtained three Tier 8 Epic summons despite his seal locking her attributes.
• The demons Guardian of Antanas, Law-Breaking Sinora, and Truth-Seeking Planai protected Sigrid and declared their support for her.
• The chapter explained how Lanchi and Poet of Great Love created the Didi Hitman spell, allowing Sigrid to form contracts with the disguised demons and seal them into cards.
• Sigrid sent the three demons after Askesang and said she would help Lanchi obtain Askesang's Slab.
• The demons advanced while Askesang prepared to fight, then he sensed traces of the Northern Snowy Plains wolf's Mana in them and resolved to find Lanchi in Franklin Hall and use him to force Sigrid to surrender.

Askesang fought Sigrid’s three demons in the Deathmatch Arena while secretly searching Franklin Hall for the Ba Tian Holy Son. He finally detected the Holy Son observing him, only to discover that the person behind him was Luo Qi McCarthy.

• Sigrid watched from a chair as her three demons relentlessly attacked Askesang, while spectators discussed the battle.
• Askesang used a defensive Sealing Art to hold off the demons and give his clone time to search the nobles’ seats for the Ba Tian Holy Son.
• Askesang’s clone failed to find the Holy Son among the southern and eastern nobles and suspected he might be seated among the northern nobles.
• Askesang detected the Ba Tian Holy Son’s Mana observing him from nearby and turned toward the source.
• Askesang’s clone saw Luo Qi McCarthy watching him with a concerned expression.

Sigrid defeated Askesang in the Deathmatch Arena after Lanchi inadvertently exposed Askesang’s hidden puppet, and she claimed the Primordial Slab-Seal. Her breakthrough made her stronger than the other bishops, and she publicly declared ownership of the legendary relic.

• Askesang lost his composure after discovering Luo Qi McCarthy’s true standing, while Lanchi asked Great Sage Isis to check on a restless Nirvana High Priest.
• Isis discovered Askesang’s eighth-tier puppet among the audience and sealed it, cutting off Askesang’s chance to use it.
• Askesang charged at Sigrid, who summoned the Poet of Great Love with Lanchi’s final Magic Card and left Askesang vulnerable to the three Great Demon Race members.
• The three Great Demon Race members killed Askesang, and Sigrid broke through her bottleneck, taking another step toward the ninth tier.
• Sigrid picked up the Primordial Slab-Seal from Askesang’s corpse and announced her claim to it before the audience and Helrom’s broadcast cameras.

Sigrid defeated Askesang in the Bishop Election’s life-or-death battle, and the parliament resumed its proceedings. She then confronted Duke Morodian Berenhard over the Northern Border massacre and his alleged crimes with Askesang.

• Sigrid killed Askesang with overwhelming force, stunning the nobles and ministers in Franklin Hall.
• Gloria and the Ba Tian high priests removed Askesang’s body and cleaned the hall while the Nirvana high priests watched in fear.
• Great Sage Isis resumed the Bishop Election proceedings, and the nobles prepared for the anonymous vote.
• Sigrid interrupted Gloria and turned her attention to Duke Morodian Berenhard, recognizing the aura of the enemy she had fought at the Northern Border.
• Sigrid accused Morodian of the Northern Border massacre and crimes committed with Askesang, while promising Isis she would obey the empire’s rules.

The Ice Witch watched the Protos Empire’s Bishop Election and worried over Hughberlian’s apparent involvement, then saw Sigrid accuse Duke Berenhard of a grave crime. Sigrid presented crystal footage linking the accusation to the massacre at Banderra City, leaving the Parliament confronting evidence that the Empire was already in crisis.

• The Ice Witch watched the election broadcast and wondered whether Hughberlian was among the Ba Tian Sect’s priests, while speculating about Earl Milford’s relationship with Luo Qi McCarthy.
• The Ice Witch questioned whether her intelligence network had failed after learning that the Ba Tian Sect had declared war on Duke Morodian Berenhard.
• Sigrid accused Duke Berenhard before the Parliament, and nobles condemned her as the Great Sage Isis demanded evidence.
• Sigrid presented an Imaging Crystal, and Isis displayed footage showing a massacre at Banderra City and a battle against the conspiracy of Nirvana Bishop Askesang.
• Lanchi sat across the hall from Morodian as the footage revealed the gravity of the accusation.

Sigrid accused Duke Morodian of being the Black Robed Man, but Great Sage Isis refused to act without stronger evidence. Luo Qi McCarthy then released footage in which Chloris claimed Morodian had been replaced by a drug-made human, and Morodian countered by accusing Luo Qi of being the Ba Tian Holy Son; the chapter ended with Luo Qi openly admitting it and drawing a flustered reaction from Sigrid.

• Sigrid accused Duke Morodian of being the Black Robed Man, but Great Sage Isis declined to act without sufficient evidence.
• Morodian warned Sigrid about the price of slandering him, while she maintained that her accusation was true.
• Luo Qi McCarthy presented footage of his conversation with Chloris, in which she claimed that her father had disappeared and that the public Duke Morodian was a drug-made human under her control.
• Morodian dismissed Chloris's claim and accused Luo Qi of conspiring with Sigrid to seize control of the empire, identifying him as the Ba Tian Holy Son.
• Luo Qi admitted he was the Ba Tian Holy Son and said he would not deny it if doing so would disappoint Sigrid, who blushed and turned away.

Lanchi cornered Duke Morodian in Congress Hall by challenging him to prove his innocence, but Morodian tried to leave before Major General Carol arrived with evidence and orders to arrest him. As Isis prepared to restrain Morodian, he unleashed a terrifying power that turned the hall dark purple.

• Lanchi challenged Morodian to let Isis search him, then questioned his trust in her when he refused.
• Morodian rejected the request, declared he had no obligation to endure Lanchi’s insults, and headed for the exit.
• Major General Carol blocked Morodian and announced that Xiduo’s testimony and documents implicated him in treason and other crimes, including the northern border tragedy.
• Carol asked Isis to help restrain Morodian, and Isis prepared the Congress Hall’s defenses while demanding his response.
• Morodian questioned whether they could really stop him, then released magical pressure that transformed the hall’s light and colors into an eerie deep purple.