Phantom Angels! First Encounter with the Light Pope!

"So that's what happened..."

Bai Xuan finally understood the broad outline of events.

He turned to Xilin. "Don't worry. We'll find a way to save everyone and restore the world to the way it was."

"Mm." Xilin nodded softly, her beautiful eyes shining with hope and trust in him.

As they spoke, they reached the site of their task—the entrance to the Sacred Pool of Light.

The doors of a long-sealed Holy Temple stood silently before them, as if awaiting those destined to arrive.

"Is this the place?"

Bai Xuan studied the sacred doors. Two lifelike angels were carved into them, as though standing guard.

"This is the Sacred Pool," Xilin explained. "It's where generations of the Church of Light's Saintesses bathed and purified themselves. Legend says it's also a sacred place where they could commune with the Goddess of Light."

"Saintesses?" Bai Xuan turned to her curiously. "When you were with the Church, did you ever have a chance to become one?"

"No." Xilin shook her head. "The four Saintesses are chosen from the finest women in the Ailandia Kingdom. Only the most outstanding among them qualifies to become a candidate for the next Light Pope."

"So the Light Pope can only be a woman?" Bai Xuan asked, surprised.

"Yes. Only women can commune with the Goddess of Light," Xilin confirmed.

"I see." Bai Xuan nodded. "Then our task now is to find a way into the Sacred Pool so you can complete the baptism."

"Entering the Sacred Pool..." Xilin considered it. "That may be difficult. No one may enter without the Light Pope's permission. Anyone who trespasses... will face an Angel's Divine Punishment."

"But we have to try."

Before Bai Xuan had finished speaking, the Venom Scorpion rose slowly behind him, and the Black Dragon Blade appeared in his palm.

Xilin drew the Lightless Sword from her waist.

"I understand," she said.

She stepped up to the temple doors with sword in hand and raised her palm. The moment she touched them, a faint golden light appeared.

But the light quickly turned crimson, and an ethereal warning rang out around them:

"Intruders detected! Eliminate immediately! Eliminate immediately!"

As the warning sounded, the two angels that had stood motionless above the doors stepped forward.

White masks covered their faces. Golden radiance flowed over their bodies, and every feather of their wings stood out with lifelike clarity.

The moment they appeared, lines of information materialized before Bai Xuan:

[Phantom Angel]

[Level: D+]

[Identity: Creation of the Gods]

[Race: Angel]

[Affinity: 0]

[Attributes: Strength B, Agility B, Constitution B, Spirit B]

"Two D+ Angels?"

Bai Xuan frowned when he saw their strength.

In that instant, the two Phantom Angels attacked Xilin.

Golden swords took shape in their hands, and they closed in on her from both sides with identical movements.

Xilin immediately met them with her sword, but their combined assault kept her on the defensive. She could find no opening to strike back.

Bai Xuan activated Invisibility, intending to ambush one of them.

But the moment he took a step, a golden sword beam came straight at him.

He dodged at once. When he looked back, he saw that the beam had left a sword mark half a meter deep where it struck.

They can sense where I am?

Bai Xuan's brow furrowed. These Phantom Angels weren't relying on sight to track him. They were following his movements some other way!

The instant he evaded the attack, one Phantom Angel switched targets and charged at him.

She was astonishingly fast—faster than any opponent Bai Xuan had faced before!

Before he could react, her golden sword was already closing in on his throat.

The Venom Scorpion blocked it in time, giving him a chance to retreat, but the Phantom Angel's strike shattered it into several pieces!

[Equipment—Venom Scorpion damaged!]

This is bad!

Bai Xuan's heart sank. The Phantom Angels were clearly beyond his ability to handle.

But then he noticed something strange. After he retreated several steps, the Phantom Angel stopped pursuing him and flew back toward Xilin.

"Huh?"

Bai Xuan was puzzled at first. Then he realized the Phantom Angels seemed unable to leave the area bathed in golden light before the temple doors.

They only attack people trying to enter the Sacred Pool...

After a moment's thought, Bai Xuan called out, "Xilin, pull back for now."

"Mm."

Xilin nodded and quickly retreated.

The moment she left the illuminated area, the Phantom Angels stopped attacking and stood silently outside the temple doors.

Are they only carrying out their duty as guardians?

Bai Xuan watched the motionless Phantom Angels. Like machines following a set program, they adhered strictly to their mission.

He turned to Xilin. "Let's come back when we're stronger."

"Mm."

Xilin nodded.

At her current strength, even one Phantom Angel would be difficult to face, let alone two at once.

Bai Xuan summoned a Teleportation Array, preparing to leave.

Just then, Xilin spoke. "Master, before we go, could you come somewhere with me?"

"Of course."

Bai Xuan nodded.

"Thank you."

Xilin turned and headed in a different direction.

Bai Xuan hurried after her.

Before long, she brought him to a palace.

It appeared to be the Church of Light's main hall, grander and more imposing than the other buildings, with gold gleaming throughout.

But along the way, Bai Xuan had seen countless people frozen in place—Bishops, Priests, Holy Knights, Nuns... Every one of them was held fast by the magic that had stopped the world, like a row of statues.

Yet their faces showed no fear, only patience and faith.

Soon, the two of them entered the center of the main hall.

The moment Bai Xuan stepped inside, a figure caught his eye.

A woman with snow-white hair sat quietly upon the Sun Throne, her head slightly raised. Her red-gold eyes gazed at a golden sphere suspended from the palace ceiling, like a miniature sun.

It was thanks to that sphere that the Church of Light had not fallen into endless darkness.

"Is that her?"

Bai Xuan understood at once who she was—the Light Pope who had raised Xilin!

But seeing her in person surprised him.

The Light Pope looked so young, hardly any older than Xilin.

Xilin had already walked toward the Light Pope. She stopped about five meters away and stood still.

Her blue eyes remained fixed on the white-haired woman, filled with emotions Bai Xuan could not begin to untangle.

As he waited, Bai Xuan studied the Light Pope too.

Even frozen in place, she radiated immense power. A faint golden light seemed to flow through her red-gold eyes.

It felt as though a single glance from her could see straight through his soul.

Blink!

Huh?

Suddenly!

Bai Xuan noticed the Light Pope's eyelid give a tiny twitch!

He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, then turned to Xilin. "Xilin, did she... just move?"