【Hmm, I will make my own judgment on this matter. Holy knight Bowen, since you have passed away, go in peace.】

 

Upon hearing this, the golden shadow emanated a faint sadness and a pure, devout sentiment.

 

“Yes… Although I am somewhat worried about my family, to have received your summons in my final moments, Bowen’s life was not in vain. Goddess, may I ask where do we mortal souls go after death?”

 

【…Follow the guidance and go.】

 

The formless soul hesitated slightly, then as if coming to an understanding, it displayed a relieved smile.

 

“I see… So this is the true essence and destination of faith. Praise you, great Goddess of Light, embodiment of all hope and dawn in the world, the Most Holy Primal Light, please guide me…”

 

Bowen’s devout praises gradually faded away, and the golden shadow slowly dissipated into the depths of the alley.

 

Until this moment, the black-haired girl, who had been diligently maintaining a serious expression to uphold the so-called “divine demeanor,” finally relaxed in resignation.

 

【Even if you ask, how would I know where people go after death? I’m not truly the Goddess of Light…】

 

Indeed, it was much like she had anticipated. Due to the high affinity of her own light attributes, which even manifested in her demeanor, in this nation that revered light, displaying some remarkable abilities easily led to her being mistaken for the Goddess of Light herself.

 

Although divine status and realms do exist, well, Violet never intended to become any deity of a holy kingdom.

 

Hopefully, the true Goddess… won’t mind her impersonation. But then again, Violet never claimed to be the Goddess of Light or Aurora.

 

【Sigh, maintaining a divine facade is indeed exhausting…】

 

Quietly grumbling, the white-robed girl’s figure also slowly faded away, leaving only the charred remnants in the dark alley.

 

………………………………..

 

The next day, the girls set off on their new journey according to the planned itinerary.

 

Violet did not expose Clatius’s actions or make any further contact with him. Even regarding Minglan from the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild, although the priestess intended to have another exchange with him, it was said that he had hastily left Sacred Star City and his whereabouts were unknown.

 

Despite the seemingly complex situation in Sacred Star City, Violet could see that it was merely the tip of the iceberg in a much larger scheme. The Goddess Church, heretics, demons, the Spirit Veil people, and perhaps certain individuals who had yet to reveal themselves…

 

The Holy Empire, with its inclusive nature and under the banner of 【Freedom】, had a distribution of forces that was extremely intricate and complex, far surpassing the basic composition of the Human United Kingdom or the Azure Sky Kingdom.

 

Therefore, the situation here would be far more unpredictable and changeable than any kingdom Violet had previously visited. Entering too soon would bring more harm than good, so it was better to remain a bystander for now.

 

Violet had a premonition that at their next stop, Bright Light City in the West, they would encounter something more interesting and closely related to Sacred Star City.

 

Following the routine, the girls spent a small amount of money to board a caravan heading to Bright Light City. According to the plan, taking the official road, it would take about half a month to reach their destination.

 

One of the significances of the journey lay in the unpredictable scenery along the way. Therefore, even though Violet and her companions had faster means of reaching Bright Light City, they chose not to use them.

 

As for what to do when feeling bored along the way…

 

Of course, that means continuing certain traditional practices.

 

“Umm…”

 

After pondering deeply for a long time while holding a smooth, black, half-circular stone in her hand, the blue-haired girl finally made her move.

 

The little dragon girl sitting opposite her, upon seeing this, only snorted disdainfully. She quickly placed the white piece she had been holding on the designated spot with a “clack,” as if she had already anticipated the opponent’s move.

 

“Ugh…”

 

Miss Theresa let out a helpless wail as if she had been pushed to a dead end.

 

Well, the chess strategy was as ruthless as ever…

 

The girl wearing a white fox mask and red-and-white miko attire, who had slightly closed the book she had been partially reading, glanced at the two girls who were engaged in the game. With her experience, she could instantly understand the situation just by glancing at the board.

 

Indeed, Theresa and Xiao Guang were playing Go.

 

Since encountering the mysterious boy in white who called himself Wenqu in the Valley of Magic in the Illusionary Realm, Violet had picked up the game again.

 

This was a game she had once been obsessed with in Earth, but had gradually forgotten as she adapted to the vibrant new life in this world. Occasionally, she would also teach her companions the game in her spare time.

 

Go is a profound and complex game, full of hidden intricacies. Initially, Violet thought that even the little dragon girl and others, who had trouble with playing card games, would find it difficult to master.

 

However, to her surprise, after teaching them, she found that their learning speed was quite impressive. Within just a few days, they had managed to grasp the basics and quickly developed their own strategies, beginning to explore and experiment.

 

Now, they were already able to play a fairly decent game without relying on Violet as their instructor.

 

The reason for switching from playing cards to Go is twofold. On one hand, the priestess didn’t want them to become too engrossed in gambling-type games. On the other hand…

 

The girl with fox ears turned her head to look at the two white-feathered girls whose appearances were strikingly similar.

 

With their large wings folded neatly behind them, the elder sister, whose hair was shorter and face slightly more mature, sat cross-legged with her eyes closed in the carriage.

 

A faint white aura continuously emanated from her body, flowing in strange patterns and making her appear ethereal, almost saintly.

 

Yes, Leila was attempting to break through to the transcendent level.

 

Given the significance of this moment, even the usually laid-back Rene had become much more serious, sitting by her side to carefully observe and assist with this advancement process. After all, as fellow mythological white-feathered beings, although reaching the transcendent level was merely a matter of time, this critical breakthrough in their biological evolution was still extremely important.

 

Leila had reached this threshold earlier due to her long-term efforts and perseverance, but that did not mean success was guaranteed. As the name suggests, the barrier to the transcendent level was like an insurmountable chasm for most creatures in this world, and even for mythological beings, failure was a possibility.

 

Therefore, Rene had to carefully guard and learn from the experience, preparing for the moment when she, too, would face this challenge.

 

After exchanging a glance with the long-haired white-feathered girl, Violet pondered for a moment, then put the book into her backpack and began to focus on observing the process.

 

Leila had been meditating for several hours, and her aura was visibly expanding at a rapid rate. Considering the time, it was nearly the moment.

 

The scene of attempting to break through to the transcendent level was also a rare experience for the priestess, so she needed to observe carefully and be on guard for any unexpected developments.

 

Setting up a barrier in the carriage to prevent any leaks of aura or interruptions from sudden intrusions, Violet tapped the soft seat beside her, making a gentle sound.

 

The little dragon girl and Theresa, who had been continuously placing Go pieces with a “clack-clack” sound, quickly understood and nodded, stopping their game temporarily to maintain silence.

 

Xiao Guang cast a questioning look at her master, and after receiving a tacit nod from Violet, she vanished abruptly from the carriage.

 

Now, the crucial part began.

 

“Voom~”

 

With a soft sound, the once faint golden patterns began to solidify, gradually becoming fixed on the exposed skin of the white-feathered girl’s clothing.

 

A more intense white aura began to surge outward, and the second pair of small white feathers, usually hidden, automatically appeared, showcasing the true appearance of an angelic lineage.

 

The final advancement had begun.