Elsewhere, at the luxurious Duke Mansion.
Annie could not fall asleep either.
She was a very intelligent girl. Though she was young, she understood that strength commanded respect. In the Yulan Empire, the High Priest and Saint-level experts were the ones who decided power. The emperor's authority was merely authority bestowed by the strong.
Her grandfather was a grand duke, and her father was an earl. Those powers had all been granted by the emperor. Yet with a single word, the emperor could take them back.
Unlike families with Saint-level experts, once the emperor conferred a noble title upon them, he would not revoke it as long as that Saint-level expert remained alive.
Annie's ancestor had also been a Saint-level expert, and an exceptionally powerful one at that, second only to those at the Saint-level limit. But he had fallen. From then on, her family had cautiously struggled to preserve its title and itself at the center of power in the imperial capital.
Annie had been especially clever since childhood. She saw through these principles more clearly than many family heads, and she was well-known throughout the imperial capital. But strength commanded respect; no matter how clever someone was, they could not beat a larger fist.
Annie had long heard of Victoria, the Saintess of Yulan. She envied Victoria's good fortune in receiving the affection of two god-level experts, cherished by countless people.
Annie was a competitive girl, so she especially hoped to be chosen.
Thinking about meeting the High Priest and Olivier, the former prodigious Sword Saint...
Excited, excited.
And nervous, frightened, uneasy.
"Annie, you can do it."
The High Priest's Magic Tower, or rather, Catherine's temple.
It was carved with mysterious patterns and strange beasts—ancient, simple, understated, yet profound.
Outside the Magic Tower stood an enormous square, with one hundred and eight steps leading up to it. Though it was not as glittering and resplendent as the imperial palace, it had everything it should have and was even grander and more imposing.
This was where the High Priest's disciples held celebrations: Life Square.
The final selection for the Saintess Guardian Saints was being held at Life Square.
Life Square had not been this lively in a long time. Usually, celebrations were only held here when one of the High Priest's disciples became a Saint-level expert, or during major holidays like the Yulan Festival.
Quite a few people had arrived. Besides Saint-level experts and those specially permitted to attend, the candidates' family members were also present.
There were several hundred people in attendance.
Victoria wore a magnificent mage robe and stood atop the high platform. She radiated a sacred aura of life, looking solemn and every bit like a goddess.
"The final assessment for the Saintess Guardian Saints now begins. Let us welcome my teacher, the High Priest, and Lord Olivier," one of Catherine's disciples announced loudly.
There was no nonsense; they directly invited the gods.
"Greetings, Lord High Priest and Lord Olivier." Several hundred people bowed respectfully.
Without warning, two figures appeared on the high platform.
One wore a mask and a green robe embroidered with cloud patterns. Her face could not be seen, but she emanated the aura of life. She was the High Priest. The other was a young man in white robes, handsome and somewhat carefree in appearance. He was Olivier.
"Teacher, Teacher, help me pick carefully." The image of Goddess Victoria instantly vanished. With one hand holding Catherine's and the other Olivier's, Victoria began acting spoiled toward them.
Only those familiar with her knew that the sacred image of the Saintess was merely Victoria's disguise before outsiders. Mischievousness and a love of acting spoiled were this girl's true nature.
Victoria's behavior...
...was an eye-opener for the audience. When had they ever seen Her Holiness the Saintess act like this? Still, this was more fitting for a ten-year-old girl.
"Alright, alright. Watch your image," Olivier said.
"Teacher, my image is very good, hehe." Victoria was nothing more than a little girl now, with none of her usual Saintess demeanor.
"Victoria, come here." Catherine pulled Victoria over, then said to Olivier, "Olivier, begin."
Being able to meet the guardian deities of the Yulan Empire and come so close to god-level experts left many people immensely excited. They stared eagerly, filled with reverence, worship, and excitement.
Many knew that this might be the closest they would ever come to gods in their lives.
After receiving Catherine's instruction, one of her disciples gave a speech, announced the start of the assessment, and invited the two distinguished figures to preside.
Olivier looked at the crowd below, as well as the twenty-four candidates waiting to be assessed.
"Before the assessment, I have a question." Olivier looked at the twenty-four candidates: sixteen men and eight women.
"If the Saintess and your mother both fell into a river and neither could swim, while you could only save one of them, whom would you choose to save?" It was a simple question, yet an agonizing choice.
This was the assessment for the Saintess Guardian Saints, recruiting people to protect the Saintess. Everyone knew that what a guard needed was loyalty—the willingness to sacrifice their life for the person they protected.
On the other side was the mother who had raised them. Filial piety was a son's basic virtue. If they abandoned their mothers for the Saintess... nearly all twenty-four candidates' mothers were present.
Olivier's question was rather cruel.
"Ah, this..."
The twenty-four people present found themselves in a difficult position. They knew this was the first test Olivier had set for them.
It was not only them; everyone present was considering the question. How should they answer it? But no matter how they thought about it, there seemed to be no good answer.
Whom should they save?
Who was the correct answer?
"Alright, state your choices," Olivier said.
"Save the Saintess!"
"Yes, save the Saintess!"
Seven people in a row answered that they would save the Saintess, while the rest did not answer.
They thought this was a chance to rise in a single step. In reality, such a situation would never occur anyway. Once they were chosen, surely their mothers would understand.
"Hehe, I am very satisfied with your answers. On Victoria's behalf, I thank you." He was not surprised that some would answer that way, though he had not expected there to be so many.
Upon hearing Olivier's words, those seven people were overjoyed.
"Then what are your answers?" he asked the others.
"Save my mother!" Ten people answered in succession.
"My lord, I also choose to save my mother. Forgive my bluntness, but I have not yet become Her Holiness the Saintess's guard, so I choose to save my mother. If I had already become Her Holiness the Saintess's Saintess Guardian Saint, then I would certainly find a way to save both of them."
Annie calmly expressed her view.
"My lord, I would save my mother, even though she has already passed away," Saga said. He felt that if his father and mother could return, he would be willing to pay any price.
"My lord, I want to save both of them." Nick also gave his choice. The remaining four also wanted to save both people at once.
"Good. I now know all of your choices."
Next came their sparring matches.
Olivier and Catherine wanted to see how well they had cultivated magic and battle qi, and to examine their talent.
From how they used magic and battle qi during the matches, god-level experts could naturally discern their talent. Though these people had only been recruited because Victoria was playing around, Olivier still hoped they would not be complete trash.
In the end, twelve guards were selected: nine men and three women.
They included Saga, Annie, and Nick.
As for those who had answered that they would save the Saintess, none of them were selected. How could an unfilial person speak of loyalty?
And with that.
The Saintess Guardian Saint selection came to an end!
Before you continue