Phantom Angels! First Meeting with the Light Pope!

"So that's what happened..."

Bai Xuan finally understood the gist of it.

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

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

As they talked, they reached their destination: the entrance to the Sacred Pool of Light.

The doors of a long-sealed temple stood silently before them, as though awaiting someone fated to arrive.

"Is this the place?"

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

"This is the Sacred Pool," Xilin explained. "For generations, the Saintesses of the Church of Light have bathed here to purify themselves. Legend says it's also a sacred place where they can commune with the Goddess of Light."

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

"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 Pope."

"So the Pope can only be a woman?" Bai Xuan was a little surprised.

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

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

"Getting into the Sacred Pool..." Xilin considered it. "That may be difficult. No one is allowed inside without the Pope's permission. Anyone who trespasses... will face an angel's Divine Punishment."

"We still have to try."

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

Xilin drew the Lightless Sword from her waist.

"I understand," she said.

Then she stepped up to the temple doors, sword in hand. The instant she pressed her palm against them, a faint golden light flared.

But the gold swiftly turned crimson, and an ethereal warning rang out around them:

"Intruders detected! Eliminate immediately! Eliminate immediately!"

As the warning faded, the two angels that had stood motionless above the doors stepped out.

White masks covered their faces. Golden radiance flowed over their bodies, and every feather of the wings at their backs was distinct and lifelike.

The instant they appeared, lines of information surfaced before Bai Xuan's eyes:

[Phantom Angel]

[Level: D+]

[Identity: Divine Creation]

[Race: Angel]

[Affinity: 0]

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

"Two D+ angels?"

Bai Xuan frowned when he saw how strong they were.

At that very moment, the two Phantom Angels attacked Xilin.

Golden swords took shape in their hands. Moving in perfect unison, they closed in on Xilin from both sides.

Xilin raised her sword to meet them, but their combined assault kept her on the defensive. She could barely find a chance to strike back.

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

But the moment he took a step, a golden sword beam hurtled toward him.

He dodged at once. When he looked back, the spot where it struck bore a gash half a meter deep.

"They can sense where I am?"

Bai Xuan frowned. The Phantom Angels weren't tracking enemies by sight. They were using something else to follow his movements!

As he evaded the attack, one Phantom Angel switched targets and charged straight at him.

She was terrifyingly fast, far faster than any opponent Bai Xuan had faced before!

Before he could react, her golden sword was already at his throat.

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

[Equipment—Venom Scorpion damaged!]

This is bad!

Bai Xuan's heart sank. The Phantom Angel was clearly more than he could handle.

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

"Huh?"

Bai Xuan was puzzled at first, then realized the Phantom Angels seemed unable to leave the area of 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, fall back for now."

"Mm."

Xilin nodded and swiftly retreated.

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

"Are they just carrying out their duty as guardians?"

Bai Xuan watched the motionless Phantom Angels. They were like machines following a set program, adhering strictly to their mission.

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

"Mm."

Xilin nodded.

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

Bai Xuan summoned the 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 certain direction.

Bai Xuan hurried after her.

Before long, she led him to a palace.

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

Along the way, Bai Xuan had seen countless people frozen in place—Bishops, Priests, Holy Knights, Nuns... Every one of them was trapped by the magic that had stopped the world, as still as a statue.

Yet there was no fear on their faces. Only patience and faith.

Soon, the two reached the center of the main hall.

The moment they entered, a figure caught Bai Xuan's eye.

A woman with snow-white hair sat quietly on the Sun Throne, her chin slightly raised. Her red-gold eyes gazed at the ceiling, where a golden sphere hung 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 immediately understood who she was—the Light Pope who had raised Xilin!

But seeing her in person took him by surprise.

The Pope looked far too young, hardly any older than Xilin.

Meanwhile, Xilin had walked quickly toward the Light Pope. She stopped about five meters away and stood there in silence.

Her blue eyes remained fixed on the white-haired woman, filled with emotions too tangled to name.

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

Even frozen, 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 into his soul.

A blink!

Hm?

Suddenly, Bai Xuan noticed something: the Light Pope's eyelids seemed to have moved!

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