Is Aurelia still truly passionate about her position as the Parthenon Goddess?
If it were the original her, she would naturally be enthusiastic.
There is almost no female servant in the world who could resist the Parthenon Goddess.
That is the supreme authority that stands at the pinnacle of holiness, wields the power of life and death, and is revered by all laws.
But ever since she got together with Chen Lang, she has been fighting, striving, and taking every step carefully. More than anything, she wanted to use Parthenon's strength to contribute more to his fight against the Holy City, to stand by his side, instead of just watching from afar forever.
Now that he has swept through the Holy City, Chen Lang has long stood at the pinnacle of the world, so why would he need her to support him with the power of a temple?
"It doesn't matter."
Aurelia's slender arms gently encircled Chen Lang's neck, her nose brushing against his ear, her voice soft and gentle, tinged with a hint of relief, "Right now, I just want to stay with you forever, like this, never to be apart."
"After working so hard for so long, don't you feel it's a pity to give up like this?" Chen Lang teased her with a smile.
"Perhaps a little," Aurelia gently shook her head, her eyes clear. "But for so many years, we've spent far less time together, mostly because I've been trapped in my own misconceptions. I don't want to live like this for the rest of my life."
More than being high above others and in the spotlight, what she desires is freedom.
Once she sits on the supreme throne of Parthenon, she no longer belongs to herself—she is responsible for the temple, for the believers, and for the countless people who follow her. Every word and action is bound by these obligations, and even loving someone requires careful consideration.
Now, the situation is clear.
On one side is Yi Zhisha, secretly supported by Wen Tai, who was never born to be Goddess.
On one side is Ye Xin Xia, who harbors no ill will and is inherently kind.
There's no need for her to continue competing.
She is neither Yi Zhisha nor Wen Tai.
Others might not be able to see Ye Xin Xia's true nature, but she could see it clearly.
Having spent so many years together in Parthenon, she knew him all too well.
To be honest, she never really liked Ye Xin Xia.
It wasn't just because the other person's appearance stole the spotlight that should have belonged to her, but also because she deeply loathed that overly kind, almost weak, saintly heart.
Despite her disgust, she knew that even if Ye Xin Xia was soft-hearted, she would never lead Parthenon to destruction, much less do anything to harm humanity.
If that's the case, then it doesn't matter who sits on the throne of the Goddess.
She was tired and didn't want to fight anymore.
From now on, she only wants to be Aurelia by Chen Lang's side, not one of Parthenon's candidates.
"Since you've come to terms with it, I won't try to persuade you anymore. The important thing now is the business at hand."
"You don't miss me at all..."
"Of course it is!"
"So all you're thinking about is..."
Inside Chen Lang and Aurelia's dreamy little house, a warm and tender atmosphere filled the air as the two nestled together, radiating the sweetness and relief of a long-awaited reunion.
On the other hand, in Ye Xin Xia's residence, the atmosphere was so heavy that it felt as if a huge boulder was pressing down on it, and even the air seemed to freeze.
Norman and Hailong could no longer sit still after confirming that Chen Lang's trip was specifically for Aurelia's sake and that he was clearly going to support her. They rushed over with serious expressions, even putting aside the affairs of the Knight Hall for the time being.
Ye Xin Xia was their staunch supporter of the Saintess and a top candidate for the position of Goddess, but Chen Lang's intervention directly made the entire situation precarious.
Inside, Tata stood beside Ye Xin Xia, her brows furrowed, her face filled with worry, her hands unconsciously twisting together. Her voice was urgent and anxious. "Your Highness, what should we do? Chief Chen Lang... he really wants to support Saintess Aurelia? If that's the case, what will happen to us..."
Tata hadn't finished speaking when her anxiety was already palpable.
She knew Chen Lang's significance all too well: the title of the strongest human, his record of sweeping through the Holy City, and his reputation in the magic world. As long as he clearly stood on Aurelia's side, almost no one would dare to oppose him. Even if Ye Xin Xia possessed the Parthenon Soul, she might not have a chance of winning.
Ye Xin Xia sat by the window, her fingertips gently caressing the sacred crystal in her hand. Her expression was calm, but a hint of helplessness and relief was hidden in her eyes. She spoke slowly, her tone truthful and indifferent. "If Chief Chen Lang really supports Aurelia, even with the Parthenon Soul, I still cannot resist."
Although she hadn't spent much time with Chen Lang and they weren't very familiar with each other, Mo Fan had mentioned Chen Lang's situation to her before.
That man had already reached the pinnacle of the magical world, possessing unfathomable strength and unparalleled prestige.
Competing against those supported by Chen Lang, his current reputation alone is enough to crush everyone; there is simply no chance of victory.
As for armed confrontation?
Ye Xin Xia knew very well that it was even more of a pipe dream.
Even if she had gained the approval of the divine soul, let alone the fact that she herself had not yet received the divine soul's approval, even if she had the power of the divine soul, and even if Norman, Hailong, and all the elite knights of the Knight Hall were added together, they would probably not be a match for Chen Lang.
He could kill a Supreme Level monarch with a mere wave of his hand, and even Emperor-level seemed utterly insignificant before him. Parthenon's power was ultimately far too minuscule in comparison.
Norman stood to the side, his face so grave it was almost dripping with worry. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, we cannot give up like this. You possess the Parthenon Soul, making you the only choice for the Goddess position. No matter how strong Chen Lang is, he cannot openly disregard the rules of Parthenon's inheritance. Perhaps... we still have a chance..."
He was unwilling to accept this outcome.
They have supported Ye Xin Xia for so long and put in so much effort. If all their efforts are in vain because of Chen Lang's intervention, they will not only be letting down Ye Xin Xia, but also the Knight Hall and the legacy of Parthenon.
Most importantly, they all believe that Ye Xin Xia is the best candidate for the Goddess right now!
Hailong nodded in agreement, adding, " Norman is right, Your Highness. Although Chen Lang is powerful, he ultimately does not belong to Parthenon and should not openly violate Parthenon's Goddess selection rules."
We can contact other powerful figures as soon as possible, explain the situation to them, and try to gain their support. With their backing, even if Chen Lang supports Aurelia, we may still have a chance to compete."
Ye Xin Xia gently shook her head, her helplessness deepening. "It's no use. You should know the situation of the Five Continents Magic Association. With Chen Lang's current strength and prestige, other major powers are too busy currying favor with him. How could they possibly offend Chen Lang for my sake?"
Besides, if Chen Lang really wanted to help Aurelia, he wouldn't care about the selection rules at all. No one could stop him from doing what he set his mind to.
She understood the minds of these top powers all too well: they were driven by self-interest and sought to avoid harm. Chen Lang was now the strongest human being, wielding absolute power, and the Five Continents Magic Association would only choose to submit to him, never to oppose him.
Tata looked at Ye Xin Xia's calm demeanor, her heart filled with growing worry. "Your Highness, are we just going to stand by and watch Aurelia steal the position of Goddess? You possess the Parthenon Soul; this position of Goddess should rightfully be yours!"
Ye Xin Xia raised her head and looked out the window toward the Parthenon Temple, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
There was a slight sense of resentment, but mostly a feeling of helplessness; in truth, there was a sense of relief.
She said softly, "Let them take it if they want. More than the position of Goddess, I hope Parthenon can live peacefully and not be dragged into unnecessary conflicts. Chen Lang's strength is too great; if things really escalate, it will only be Parthenon who suffers."