Tree in the Sea

Many of the researchers nearby wore conflicted expressions too. They crowded around Director Chang, shouting over one another.

"Director Chang, make a decision—quick!"

"There's no time! We can't get the complete list of existing supernatural items approved now!"

"What else can we do—?"

At this point, no one could sit still. Everyone hoped someone with the authority to decide would hurry up and do something.

Many of them already looked utterly heartsick.

No one knew why that "star" was falling toward the vast, illusory sea. Yet many understood that, under normal circumstances, they had no means of interfering with something that likely existed on a mental plane, if not in an even higher dimension.

Even so, watching that Divinity fall beyond their reach was heartbreaking in the most literal sense.

What a waste!

"How you have fallen from heaven, bright morning star, son of the dawn!"

The moment Red-Robed Bishop Di Wanxin saw that golden light streak across the sky, fall from the hazy heights, and plunge toward the boundless deep sea, the familiar verse sprang to mind.

How closely this scene resembled the legendary Son of the Morning Star: the archangel who had angered the Lord of Hosts and fallen from heaven into hell, bearing the original sin of pride.

He did not know the cause, but once that brief, mysterious "connection" ended, every anomaly began to fade. Their view into the mental realm gradually vanished with it.

Before anyone could even see the "golden star" strike the water, everything visible to ordinary eyes had returned to normal.

Their hearts, however, could no longer be calm.

"Go request an audience with His Holiness. Tell him I have some new thoughts on scripture and doctrine that I need to discuss with him."

Standing on the terrace, the "young bishop"