Your Holiness, the Pope!

Bai Xuan nodded firmly.

He was willing to pay any price to help Xilin complete her advancement!

"Then—"

Isia hesitated for a moment. At last, she let out a long breath and relented.

Her gaze turned cool, taking on a hint of superiority.

"Your name is Bai Xuan, right?" she asked coldly.

"Yes—" Bai Xuan nodded, though he sensed that something about Isia had changed in an instant.

"Then, Bai Xuan," Isia said, turning her gaze toward the temple doors.

Though the doors stood open only a crack, her voice carried clearly outside. "To help Xilin complete the final stage of her advancement, I need to do certain things to you. Are you willing?"

"I am," Bai Xuan answered without hesitation.

Compared with his worries about the unknown and the responsibility ahead, he was probably more excited right now!

Every word of their conversation reached Xilin, who was pressed against the door, eavesdropping.

Bent forward, she peered nervously through the crack at what was happening inside.

The gap was narrow, but she could still make out blurred figures.

"What exactly is Your Holiness going to do to Master?"

Xilin murmured to herself. Her heart beat a little faster, and her breathing grew heavier, as though she were eagerly awaiting what came next.

Then—

"Ah—!"

A scream rang out from the temple.

"Stop running! I'm showing you some love!"

Isia held a slender golden whip woven from light and called out to Bai Xuan.

"This isn't what we agreed on!" Bai Xuan protested as he dodged frantically.

"Didn't you ask me to 'show you some love'?" Isia countered with a smile. "This is the Light of Discipline. It purifies the impurities in your body. Don't worry, it won't hurt a bit."

"I don't believe you! It's cracking like a real whip!"