Starting with the awakened Poison God: I choose the Master Thief.

"Mentor, who is this?"

"You don't recognize this guy? Well, you're new to Divine Realm, so let me introduce him. This old fellow is the current Bishop of the Dawn City Papacy—Krend. Although I hate to admit it, his strength is indeed above mine."

Bors explained to Chu Ci.

Krend's figure slowly flew to the Blood Shadow, and the two stood facing each other in the sky.

"Seat of Pride, I never thought that you, who ran away with your tail between your legs back then, would be back to cause trouble so soon."

As soon as he finished speaking, crimson beams of light rained down on Krend, but were easily blocked by a layer of golden shield on its surface.

"Such a weak attack, that's not like you at all," Krend said with a relaxed expression.

Although Xueying's face was expressionless, Chu Ci felt that the other party must not be in a good mood.

"You destroyed my barrier while the Blood Moon was gathering power, causing almost all of my projection's power to be exhausted. Your Holy See is still as despicable as ever."

"Heh, compared to how your depraved followers have deceived my Vatican's higher-ups with false information, it's nothing at all."

The two remained locked in a stalemate, and just when Chu Ci thought they were about to fight...

"We will meet again."

With that one sentence, the bloody shadow vanished with the wind.

"Huh? He just ran away like that?"

"Nonsense, how much energy do you think an eighth-tier peak sacrifice can provide? This guy is just a gaze of the main body, at most only at the ninth-tier peak strength. The true Throne of Pride is much more terrifying than this. Even the old guy is nothing but an ant in front of him." Bors glanced at Chu Ci speechlessly.

"Boles, I just came downstairs and I heard you talking bad about me."

At that moment, Krend also flew down with a smile.

"I'm just telling the truth, old man."

"Sigh, I know, but you can't just say that to a junior like that. At least give me some face. Back in the day, we were..."

"grandfather!"

Just as the two were about to argue, the golden-haired saintess rushed over and hugged Krend tightly.

"It's you, my little Mina."

Krend's expression softened instantly, and he raised his aged hands to gently stroke the girl's hair.

But from those weathered eyes, Chu Ci seemed to read a sense of indebtedness.

"Young man, don't think this old man is a good person. In fact, he has always known that the Holy See's main force is trapped here. With his strength, he could easily rescue them, but he stubbornly did not take action and instead came to trouble his old friend."

Bors reminded Chu Ci.

"Huh? Why? I thought they, father and daughter, got along quite well."

"Of course, it's because..."

"Enough! Bors, let me explain."

Krend interrupted the conversation, looking apologetically at Mina beside him.

"As a bishop of the Holy See, I am absolutely not allowed to leave Dawn City unless a major incident occurs. The Holy See must have me guarding it; this is the rule, and also a shackle."

"In the eyes of the world, the bishops of the Papacy are absolutely high and mighty figures, but in my eyes, I am a useless grandfather who can't even protect his granddaughter."

"Thank you, young friend, for protecting her for me, and thank you, old friend as well."

Krend bowed deeply to the two men.

"grandfather……"

"Hmph, I can't be bothered to accept your thanks. Just don't die before me someday." Bors turned his head away.

"Sigh, you're still the same as ever. Now that things are over here, let's leave as soon as possible." Krend shook his head helplessly.

"Wait a minute, Grandpa, give me some time so I can extradite them."

"Well... okay."

Upon hearing this, Mina quickly walked to the edge of the battlefield, clasped her hands together in front of her chest, and a soft golden light emanated from her body, giving people a feeling of warmth. Her flying golden hair was particularly dazzling in the sunlight.

Chu Ci watched in a daze.

In the distance, golden figures could be seen appearing intermittently on the battlefield.

"Is this extradition? Is this what they call transcending the dead?"

"Haha, little guy, you're right. Nowadays, the Holy See's extradition is indeed no different from the transcendence of the dead."

"Oh? Mentor, does what you're saying mean that there was some other meaning behind extradition in the past?"

At this point, Krend, who had been silent all along, took over the conversation.

"That's right. Long ago, it was said that if people were led by a saintess of the Holy See, they would have the opportunity to go to the heavenly kingdom where the gods reside and obtain eternal life. This is why saintesses are an important symbol of the Holy See."

"But now, the gods have long since disappeared, and the souls of those who guide others will only feel a touch of warmth, nothing more."

As they were talking, Krend suddenly frowned, and a golden light flashed in his eyes.

He hadn't noticed before Mina used her power that his granddaughter seemed to be missing something.

What is that? ...Wait, no way!

The old man's eyes widened as if he had just realized something. At that moment, the extradition ended, and all the golden figures on the battlefield vanished.

"Grandpa, let's go back, okay? Grandpa, what's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

The girl tilted her head, looking confused.

!!!

In the blink of an eye, Krend suddenly appeared beside her, gripping her shoulders tightly with both hands.

"My dear granddaughter, tell Grandpa, where's your blessing?!"

"Oh! So that's what Grandpa was asking. Of course, he wants me to give it away."

???

Krend's aged face was filled with bewilderment.

"Give her away?! You gave her away like that?! Waaaaah, my precious granddaughter has been defiled! How am I, her grandfather, supposed to live?!"

He cried like a child, his previous masterful demeanor completely gone.

"Ugh..." Mina looked over for help as she was being hugged.

Before Chu Ci could speak, Bors had already stepped forward.

"Alright, old man, your granddaughter did the right thing. It was all because you didn't help that the young girl thought she was going to die. That's why she gave her blessing to my stupid apprentice. Oh, I forgot to mention, he's a chosen one, so even if he dies, he can be resurrected."

Apprentice? What apprentice? When did I become your apprentice?

Chu Ci looked at Bolles with disbelief, but the man completely ignored him.

"Apprentice? He's your apprentice?! You mean my granddaughter will be with your apprentice in the future?!"

Releasing Mina, Krend turned and focused all his attention on Chu Ci. Feeling the gaze of such a powerful figure, Chu Ci thought that if eyes could kill, he would have been a laughingstock long ago.

"Hahaha! You didn't expect that, did you! Chu Ci, my apprentice!"

"So this guy's name is Chu Ci." Mina, who was hiding behind Krend, tilted her head and peeked out.

Bors laughed heartily and even patted Chu Ci on the shoulder with satisfaction.

Is there anything more satisfying than watching an old friend get humiliated? The answer is he hasn't come up with a solution yet.

"Um, mentor, I don't quite understand what this bishop is saying?"

Upon hearing Chu Ci's words, Bors' expression immediately turned serious as he looked at him.

"Why call me Bishop? Call me Grandpa!"

"what!"

No, is that right?!

Unwittingly, Chu Ci's eyes met Krend's again, and the feeling was as if she were being torn to pieces.

This is outrageous! What did I ever do to deserve this?!

"Oh! Grandpa~ don't be so serious, okay? If it weren't for Chu Ci, I might really be dead."

Mina gently tugged at Krend's sleeve and said coquettishly.