The Interrupted Speech
A distant dragon's roar echoed from the clouds, and thousands of eyes looked up simultaneously. A pale blue dragon silhouette gracefully swam across the azure sky a thousand meters above. Its scales reflected the sunlight, their edges shimmering with an ethereal glow.
Suddenly, a slender figure leaped off the edge of the dragon's back. She swooped down towards the ground until she was only a few hundred meters away, at which point the wind whipped open the cloak covering her.
A beautiful young woman's figure appeared, her long light brown hair flying wildly in the wind, the white background and gold trim of her ceremonial robe shining brightly in the sunlight, and the light pink star-shaped flowers embroidered on the collar and cuffs fluttering as she fell.
"The Holy Maiden's Pale New Words!" A thunderous roar erupted from the crowd.
Azure wind wings unfurled behind Zijin, stirring up magical dust like fireflies. Her skirts fluttered, as elegant as a bird Divine Favor, and she finally landed lightly in the center of the high platform, without disturbing a speck of dust.
Zijin turned around, waved to the four directions, and raised the pure white staff in her hand, the top of which was inlaid with a pure, radiant crystal.
"It is the staff of the Radiant Chanter, the hymn of heaven!" From the crowd below, Jialepien, hidden in the shadow of his hood, stared at the staff and uttered a whisper.
He glanced at the empty sky—the dragon shadow that had just appeared had indeed vanished without a trace.
"That's quite an impressive display—" Jialepien's lips curled into a mocking smile, "But it's a fake!"
On the clock tower, Aoleisi's brows finally relaxed; it turned out that Lady Katharine had personally taken charge.
On the high platform, Zijin finished gathering her power, and a holy pillar of light shot out from the tip of her staff, piercing the sky. It exploded in the air, transforming into a dazzling rain of seven colors, which gently and abundantly fell, enveloping the square and the surrounding streets and alleys.
Universal Blessing Spell, "Divine Grace!"
A warm, sacred aura permeated the skin, and countless people exclaimed in relief—some of the soreness was relieved, and even old wounds felt numb and itchy.
This spell is primarily for relief and doesn't actually have much healing power, but its coverage of such a wide area is undoubtedly a manifestation of divine grace!
The clergy were even more astonished, as they possessed divine magical abilities and could clearly feel their bodies and minds being cleansed by a pure power.
This is by no means the "divine grace" monopolized by the Divine Covenant Faction; it is far more vast and profound!
"Everyone!" Zijin's clear voice, amplified by the power of magic, echoed in every corner of the plaza.
She pointed to the countless colorful specks of light falling from the sky and declared, "This is the divine Divine Language! It is the power of the luminous pronouncements that were once stolen and blocked by usurpers!" At that moment, she swung her arm out, and countless colorful specks of light, as if imbued with life, gracefully swirled and danced among the thousands of people. "On behalf of Star Sand, I hereby declare: We will carry out the divine decree of the God of Light, bestowing this divine grace and light upon all living beings!"
**rice*
Countless priests and believers erupted in thunderous cheers. The sacred power flowing genuinely in the colorful rain of light was the most powerful proof that the Star Sand held a truth and origin closer to the light!
And in stark contrast to the monopolistic practices of the Divine Covenant Faction, they are willing to openly share these teachings. Given this style of conduct, the answer to who is truly the thief of God is already crystal clear!
Suddenly, hundreds of figures in the crowd simultaneously ripped off their cloaks, revealing magnificent priestly robes underneath.
They all floated up from the crowded throng, making their figures visible, but not rising too high, cunningly staying close to the surging civilians below.
"Li E," the leader, Jialepien, spoke with a voice imbued with Magic Power, piercing through the clamor of the scene, "I have a question that lingers in my mind; may I ask you?"
"Speak freely." Zijin on the high platform slightly raised her hand, her posture composed.
"The saint established and widely disseminated the New Divine Language; this is a great achievement known throughout the world," Jialepien said in a soothing tone, as if reciting a hymn, "and thus earned the revered title of ' Pale New Words.'"
Ge'enda'er's pupils contracted. This old fox was wearing a mask of praise; in reality, a sinister smile appeared on Jialepien's face. "Then, Li E!" His voice suddenly rose, and he changed the subject, questioning, "At this moment of the birth of the Holy Maiden and the widespread dissemination of the New Divine Language, may I ask, where were you?"
The air in the square seemed to freeze instantly.
In recent times, the thrilling and Legendary experiences of Zijin and Su Ming have swept across the entire continent like a storm. In the taverns of the city, their names are the talk of the town; under the strings of the bards' zithers, their story has been transformed into a dramatic ballad; in the bookstores, biographies about them fill the shelves.
Especially the picture book that supposedly depicts the "private secrets" of the two, is already extremely rare and valuable.
However, as the details of the story are repeatedly pondered by the world, an unavoidable crack is also exposed. When "Pale New Words" spreads the light of Divine Language, Zijin is clearly active in another distant place as the necromancer "White Bone"!
"You are not ' Pale New Words ' at all!" Jialepien laughed, "not even—" He pointed directly at the platform, "And you are not Li E either!" He then dropped an even more astonishing statement, "What do you say?"
Katharine, posing as a saint!
Upon hearing this, Zijin on the high platform changed her expression slightly.
As if pushed aside by an invisible wave, the priests who had come full of hope gasped in shock, staggered backward, and stared blankly at the figure on the stage.
They longed for the "saint" to refute them, but found that the woman on the platform only let out a faint sigh—and the white staff that shone with light in her hand was quietly put away at some point.
She took out a magic book, turned to the pages, and assumed a fighting stance.
"Then, Your Excellency, former Patriarch," Zijin seemed oblivious to her surroundings, her gaze fixed on Jialepien, a playful smile curving her lips, "What brings you here?"
"Naturally, it's to tear off your hypocritical mask, Katharine, and reveal the truth to all!" Jialepien shouted, raising his arms. "The true saint, ' Pale New Words,' has descended to earth, bestowing divine Divine Language and magic representing the sacred source. This is the supreme glory of us believers, and the mighty Gospel of the Church of the God of Light!"
He looked around, his voice filled with compassion, "Therefore, we must know the true face of the saint! We must not tolerate such a treacherous person as Katharine, who steals the fruits of her labor and tarnishes the saint's name!"
"Oh?" Zijin narrowed her eyes slightly, her light brown hair fluttering in the wind. "Since I, Katharine, and Scholar Li E are not ' Pale New Words,' then who is?"
The crowd erupted into an even greater commotion— Katharine's words revealed an admission of guilt, causing countless hearts to crumble instantly.
Seeing that he had achieved his goal so easily, Jialepien let out a triumphant laugh.
He whirled around, raising his arm high. "After a thorough investigation, we have found that the true Holy Maiden is right here!" Following his pointing finger, everyone held their breath and stared intently. On the towering viewing platform of the bell tower opposite the high platform, a figure dressed in the silver-threaded robes of High Rank deacon stood alone, exuding an air of authority.
Aoleisi!
Facing thousands of gazes below, she slowly raised a luminous white staff that also radiated holy light. At the tip of the staff, pure radiance suddenly burst forth!
"The grace of God descends once more, and colorful lights once again fill the space above the square!"
****
Although the people in the square felt that the "divine grace" had become much weaker this time, they simply attributed it to the diminishing effect of the second spell and the fact that the efficacy of a blessing spell decreases with repeated application, a fact known even to ordinary people.
Aoleisi's staff drooped slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. The light from the large, meticulously laid amplification array beneath her feet receded like a tide, and the tense shoulders of the aides who had been supporting her finally relaxed, their fingers, hidden in their sleeves, still trembling slightly.
She started setting up on this rooftop a few days ago, and now her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. At least on this part, she hadn't made a mistake.
Aoleisi couldn't help but feel resentful; Katharine's power was indeed formidable!
Even if we manage to defeat Katharine, the battle against her and her die-hard followers will not be easy.
Fortunately, dismantling Star Sand itself was already a major success.
Moreover, the Divine Covenant Faction has deployed its elite forces in the Northern Lands. Even with the addition of their trusted confidants, they are virtually invincible, even if they cannot kill or capture Katharine!
"I am the true ' Pale New Words '!" Aoleisi took a deep breath, her voice amplified by the sound-amplifying array, "For over a decade, I have traversed the darkness, conveying the words of the true god to those who thirst for truth!" Her gaze swept over the astonished faces below, "That book, ' Colorful Wording,' was also written by me word by word, printed and distributed in countless copies!"
Aoleisi's prestige, accumulated over many years in Dawn Territory, came into play at this moment. Upon hearing this, most of the people instinctively showed trust on their faces, and even the neutral priests who had previously wavered in their stance had their eyes shaken, with whispers sweeping through the crowd like a gentle breeze.
Even some members of the Star Sand Society were beginning to harbor doubts. The fact that "Pale New Words" was not the person on the high platform was actually an unspoken secret among them.
Moreover--
Countless gazes unconsciously swept between the two high platforms: whether it was the silhouette of the "Pale New Words" saintess in memory, or Aoleisi who stepped forward on the opposite clock tower at this moment, both were slender and frail.
The woman on the high platform, "Zijin," was noticeably more graceful. Her face was so beautiful it seemed otherworldly, her elegance extraordinary, and her whole being exuded an indescribable ethereal quality.
This was absolutely unprecedented in the past "Pale New Words".
"Could it be..." a member of Star Sand murmured absently, his gaze fixed on Aoleisi's much more "approachable" face, "That the one who disguised herself as ' Pale New Words ' to impart the Divine Language light to us was actually Aoleisi?"
In terms of what is true and what is false, it is all too obvious.
Seeing that public opinion had reversed as expected, Jialepien finally felt a sense of certainty in his victory.
The power he brought this time was not to be underestimated. If he could successfully win over the neutral faction and dismantle the internal distrust within Star Sand, today's matter would be easily accomplished!
"Gentlemen!" Seizing the opportune moment, Aoleisi pressed on, "At first I thought Katharine, like us, was determined to fight against those usurpers who have seized divine power!" Her accusation trembled with grief and indignation, "But unexpectedly, in her pursuit of power, she has attempted to completely conceal the truth!"
"Katharine, despite being the Empress of the Stars, is no different in Divine Covenant Faction nobles of the Divine Covenant!" Jialepien raised his voice at the opportune moment, his words like oil poured onto a raging fire, "Star Sand needs a leader who truly belongs to the common people!"
"Lady Katharine, please resign from your position as leader of Star Sand immediately!" Several shouts suddenly erupted from the crowd, and several Star Sand members jumped forward and declared, "Let all members elect a leader who truly represents our will!"
A barely audible snort escaped from Ge'enda'er's nostrils.
"There are more hidden rats than I expected," he muttered.
As the Star Sand organization continues to recruit members and grow stronger, the emergence of spies and traitors is inevitable.
However, today, the big fish, Aoleisi, has surfaced on its own initiative, and a large number of her followers, in their arrogance, have offered their necks to the blade, which can be considered an unexpected bonus.
"False Saintess! Abdicate!" Jialepien's roar ignited the final spark. He raised his arm and shouted, his voice sweeping across the entire arena, "Return the Star Sand to the commoner priest!"
m*m*
In a small farm not far from Dawn Town, two elderly people were cleaning hay in the cowshed.
Time has slowed their pace, and the town center's grand gatherings, attracting thousands of viewers, seem too distant. They can only hope that returning young people will bring back fresh stories to add some topics of conversation to their ordinary and hard-working lives.
A tremendous wind pressure suddenly descended, sweeping through the cowshed with bits of grass and dust! This was followed by a heavy thud that shook the earth—a wooden beam supporting the roof creaked, and dust fell in clumps.
The old man staggered out of the dilapidated shed, and his cloudy eyes suddenly widened: a blue dragon shadow the size of a small mountain had suddenly appeared on the green farmland!
The two men collapsed to the ground, their legs giving way, and scrambled backward on their hands and feet, their withered fingers digging deep into the soil.
Qingfeng caught sight of the two trembling figures, and with a casual flick of its Dragon Claw, several heavy gold coins clattered down in front of the old man, scattering tiny clods of dirt and bits of grass.
These little people are always frightened by them, and throwing coins is the best way to appease them. If even a dragon gives me money, then it must mean me no harm!
This simple logic immediately took effect. The old man stared blankly at the gold coins so close to his eyes, a glimmer of relief rising in his cloudy eyes.
They tentatively reached out their trembling hands to pick up the still-warm gold coin, then quickly stole glances at the dragon—its enormous, emerald-green dragon head still gentle.
Overwhelmed with joy, they slammed their foreheads heavily onto the earth, crying out, "Great-Great Dragon Lord! What are your orders?"
Qingfeng tried to keep his voice down, but it still made the two elderly people's eardrums vibrate. "Is this enough to buy one of your cows?"
"Enough, enough, enough!" The old man nodded hurriedly. He pointed to the pasture, where several brown yaks were huddled in fear in the corner of the fence, their heavy breaths puffing out puffs of white mist—clearly terrified by the enormous creature.
"They're all home-raised! I'll bring you the fattest one right now!"
"No need, I'll take it myself." Qingfeng raised his dragon foot and strode away.
The yaks were already stiff with fear. Qingfeng selected the fattest and strongest one among them and casually slapped it down with his Dragon Claw, the dull thud of bones breaking echoing through the air.
He tore off a hind leg and stuffed it into his mouth, the chewing sound like the turning of a heavy millstone. He had flown here at high speed from the ship, and even though he was a skilled Azure Dragon, he was exhausted and his stomach was empty.
Yak meat is firm and chewy, with a rich meaty aroma mixed with the subtle sweetness of grass that fills the mouth. The muscle fibers are tightly packed, making it very chewy, yet it has a very mild gamey smell.
"Hmm." A small puff of steam, carrying a hint of meat crumbs, escaped Qingfeng's lips with satisfaction. "Northern Lands yak, truly living up to its reputation."
The old man mustered his courage and took a few steps closer, saying, "As long as the adults find it palatable!"
"Do you have enough gold coins for another cow?" Qingfeng flicked his tail and tore off the last cow leg. "Don't worry, I'm not short of money. Just tell me the truth."
Compared to the level of spending at the Chicken Dinner Internet Cafe in Su Ming, he felt that eating beef every meal was thrifty!
"Just enough for two, Your Majesty the Dragon!" the old man said with a beaming smile, proud that his cattle had been favored by the dragon.
This honor is enough for him to boast about for the rest of his life!
Dawn Town Square, high on the platform.
Zijin looked down at the increasingly boisterous crowd below, and at the undercover agents who were gradually tearing off their disguises and jumping out, a ripple of pleasure spread across her eyes.
"Everyone, I am indeed not the ' Pale New Words ' who has been teaching you all the Divine Language all this time!" Zijin casually tossed the magic book behind her and clenched her fist in mid-air.
As the light converged, a golden scepter, its entire body wreathed in divine radiance, materialized out of thin air, unleashing a torrent of immense pressure! Some people instinctively turned their heads away and closed their eyes, avoiding direct gaze.
The smugness on Jialepien and Aoleisi's faces froze instantly, and all color drained from their faces.
Could it be that the figure of the Zijin before us is slowly floating into the air, her long hair moving without wind, and the Magic Power aura emanating from her body is more than ten times brighter than before?
"You've got your money back!" A smirk played on her lips, revealing her playful canine teeth, but her gaze swept over the hundred or so challengers in the room like a cold star. "The identity of Scholar Li E is definitely real!"
Buzz!
An invisible ripple suddenly spread out from her, instantly covering the entire plaza. "Natural Rhythm" unfolded, suppressing all spells that defied the rules!
Zijin pointed her Divine Favor Scepter far forward, her voice booming like thunder, "Those who Desecration the true God and distort the truth shall be punished!"
Six streams of Magic Power power, each a different color and imbued with an aura of destruction, roared forth from the top of the scepter!
They did not attack in a scattered manner, but rather spiraled and intertwined in the air, twisting into a dazzling torrent of light carrying specks of Stars, like a spear of divine punishment, crashing down upon Jialepien and the innocent crowd beneath their feet who had not had time to escape!
Superior attack spell, "Hexagram: Meteor Cataclysm!"