"Guess what I'm doing?" Jiang Yuan's voice suddenly rang out.
Mu Ningjiao looked around in a panic, trying to find the source of the sound.
When she looked out the window, the black night seemed to tear open, and Jiang Yuan walked out from within.
"Jiang Yuan?!" Mu Ningjiao exclaimed in surprise.
"Hello there, aren't you going to invite me in for a while?" Jiang Yuan smiled and sat on the windowsill.
"How are you so elusive? But is that space magic? It seems different from spatial teleportation," Mu Ningjiao paused, then said.
It was her first time seeing Jiang Yuan appear in such a way.
It felt exceptionally mysterious.
Especially when bathed in the combined light of stars and moon, it was as if he had walked over from another world.
In fact, she wasn't wrong at all; Jiang Yuan had indeed taken a moment to come over from the Underworld.
Jiang Yuan laughed, "It can be considered space magic, just a slightly different way of using it."
"Mhm," Mu Ningjiao nodded.
"Did someone from Pathenon Temple come to see you today?" Jiang Yuan asked directly.
"Yes, ten people came during the day. One of them said he was the Hall Master of the Judgement Hall of Pathenon Temple. They…"
Mu Ningjiao described everything that had happened today.
Jiang Yuan nodded and said, "Since they invited you to attend the ceremony, then go. As for safety, you don't need to worry. Just call my name, and I will immediately appear before you."
"But the invitation has already been torn," Mu Ningjiao said.
"It's fine."
As Jiang Yuan spoke, he flipped his right hand, and an identical invitation appeared before Mu Ningjiao.
"Here's an invitation then," Jiang Yuan handed over the invitation.
Mu Ningjiao took it and examined it; it was indeed identical to the one the Cloaked Man had.
"Then I'm really going to Pathenon Temple," Mu Ningjiao said.
She knew there might be danger, but since Jiang Yuan said so, he must have his reasons, so there was no harm in going.
"Go, and remember to call my name if you're in danger," Jiang Yuan instructed.
"Okay," Mu Ningjiao nodded heavily, then moved aside and invited, "Why don't you come in and sit for a while?"
"I'll just stay by the window; the evening breeze feels comfortable," Jiang Yuan stretched out his hand, feeling the wind flow between his fingers.
Mu Ningjiao pulled a chair to the window and chatted with Jiang Yuan.
"When do you plan to graduate?"
"Graduate? You mentioning it made me forget I'm still a student. I'll graduate after I finish what I'm working on."
"Oh, then I'm not in a hurry to graduate either."
"..."
As they chatted, Mu Ningjiao felt sleepy, and in the blink of an eye, she fell asleep.
Seeing this, Jiang Yuan carried Mu Ningjiao to her bed, tucked her in, and then returned to the Underworld.
At this time, the Egyptian Underworld had been completely occupied by Austin leading the Undead Army, who were now reorganizing and inventorying their various gains.
Concurrently, Nine Nether Queen led an intelligence team to gather information on small underworlds in various regions around the world.
By then, the Eight Directional Undead Monarchs, Totem Beasts, and Vampires would each lead an Undead Legion to conquer these small underworlds one by one, ensuring that there would be only one Underworld King on the surface!
The final target would be the Ocean Underworld within the sea.
Queen Huangsha is one of the world's ten great Emperor rulers; only after Jiang Yuan integrated all his forces could he confidently attack the Ocean Underworld.
........
........
Some time later.
The closed Pathenon Temple reopened, and a large number of believers flocked in to witness the birth of the new Goddess.
Last night, rain poured over Athens Acropolis, as if spring had arrived, and the city's flowers bloomed in profusion.
Clusters of flowers released their unique fragrance, and the moisture and floral scent intertwined in the air, imperceptibly making the entire city intoxicating.
The day of the Goddess's succession finally arrived.
This succession was completely different from any previous Goddess succession in history, because Ye Xinxia was the sole candidate, with no competitors.
Even if she didn't have much power supporting her, or if some people didn't want to see her succeed, she could still legitimately become the Parthenon Goddess.
At the foot of the divine mountain.
A giant statue of Ye Xinxia holding an olive branch, symbolizing peace, stood tall.
Every believer passing the statue on their way up the mountain would stop and worship, showing their profound respect and faith.
The Goddess's ceremony was held both on the mountain and in the city.
As long as people were in Athens, they could look up and see the succession ceremony.
"...Peace is the fertile ground for life to flourish, the cornerstone of civilization's legacy. Let us cast aside prejudice and hatred, resolve differences through dialogue, build bridges with understanding, and let the sunshine of peace illuminate every corner of the world..."
In the scene, Xinxia was giving a speech, calling for peace.
Seeing this, many who had experienced Jiang Yuan's mountain-breaking incident couldn't help but scoff.
"How kind-hearted she looks, our soon-to-be Goddess," the female sage Suti mocked.
"I can't believe she actually dared to come back and succeed the Goddess position," another female sage, Merola, said viciously.
"Who can blame her? It's the position of the Goddess. Once you sit on it, you become the controller of Pathenon Temple, receiving worship from billions of believers. If it were offered to me, I wouldn't easily give it up," Suti said with a sarcastic look.
"Heh, what kind of Goddess is a Goddess without a divine soul?" Merola sneered.
Except for a very few people, others did not yet know that the divine soul was within Xinxia's body.
However, Merola forgot one thing: the Goddess Yi Zhisha, whom she used to serve, was precisely someone who had not received the divine soul's approval, and the divine soul had always been unwilling to enter her body.
Despite Yi Zhisha's utmost efforts, the divine soul ultimately chose Wen Tai.
No wonder Yi Zhisha wanted Wen Tai dead.
Our gaze now shifts to Ye Xinxia's side.
After finishing her speech, she stood on the altar built for the new Goddess, and more and more believers gathered.
And by her side, apart from the Guardian Knights who initially pledged loyalty to her, there was no one else present.
The high-ranking members of Pathenon Temple were nowhere to be seen.
Xinxia's expression was calm, and the divine soul within her body slowly shimmered.
She had already gained initial recognition from the divine soul; if she were to become the Goddess, all the power of the divine soul would be open to her.
The resurrection divine spell would also be fully under her control.
With the resurrection divine spell, she wouldn't fear the death of those around her.
This was also the reason she returned to Pathenon Temple.
"Your Highness, it's time to hold the blessing ceremony," her Guardian Knight beside her reminded.
"I know," Ye Xinxia nodded slightly.
The full name of the blessing ceremony was the Apollo Gaze Ceremony, performed by the Saintess before the Goddess's succession.
The blessing from this ceremony was permanent, so many people would travel thousands of miles to attend it.
In the past, whenever the Apollo Gaze Ceremony was held, all members of Pathenon Temple would be present, but now there were only believers.
Only having believers didn't matter; not having support didn't matter either.
Being able to become the Goddess was enough.
Ye Xinxia thought.
Light like the sun bloomed in her palm.