From the perspective of a Demon Undead, the Demon element indeed has its merits.
Its powerful physique, comparable to a demon, combined with its ability to perfectly utilize all its strength, makes it even more formidable than demons of the same rank.
Therefore, a Demon element without side effects is very necessary.
The matter of side effects can be discussed later; it's time for Parthenon to close its net.
"Go, with Austin."
Jiang Yuan gave the Demon Undead the command, then listened to the discussions at the Pathenon Temple.
His gaze pierced through space and time, crossing the barriers between planes and the chaotic spatial turbulence, arriving at the Pathenon Temple.
Pamir revealed Ye Xinxia's full background.
As well as her astonishing plan to make Ye Xinxia both a Goddess and the Pope.
However, Ye Xinxia's expression was calm, as if she had long known about these things.
"This is the Pope's Ring. Accept it, and you will be the Pope of the Black Vatican." Pamir took off the Pope's Ring and handed it to Ye Xinxia.
"…"
Xinxia was silent for a moment, then spoke: "If I become the Pope, can I control everything?"
"Of course, of course you can!" Pamir said with a smile.
She hadn't expected Xinxia to ask such a question.
As expected, Wen Tai's child couldn't be without her own ambitions.
Control everything, who could refuse that?
Xinxia took the ring; its crystal was dull, like an unremarkable piece of glass.
"Put it on. From now on, you will never be able to wash away the Pope's brand."
"You will become the new Pope, commanding the Black Vatican, which makes the world tremble in fear. Coupled with your identity as the Parthenon Goddess, the control over everything you desire will be within your grasp!" Pamir enticed.
Xinxia slowly put on the Pope's Ring. Inside it was a sharp, tiny tooth that, upon wearing, embedded itself under her skin, and blood flowed into the Pope's Ring.
In an instant, the Pope's Ring glowed with a bloody light.
The dull Pope's Ring now revealed its true form, with a bizarre bloody sheen flowing endlessly over it.
At the same time, a blood-colored forehead tattoo appeared and then disappeared on Xinxia's forehead, deeply engraved into her soul.
"This Pope's forehead tattoo will accompany you for life, never to be erased! Ye Xinxia, from now on you are the supreme Pope, leading the Black Vatican's seven Red Cardinals, seven Ferrymen, and all the cultists under them! They will obey your every command unconditionally!" Pamir exclaimed excitedly, she had finally seen this day.
If she could also see the supreme Pope and the pure Goddess simultaneously pulled from their divine seats, she would surely be even more thrilled!
"Can Salang also obey my commands?" Xinxia suddenly asked.
Pamir's excitement came to an abrupt halt.
Within the Black Vatican, the higher-ups already knew that Salang had become someone who would listen to orders but not necessarily obey them.
If it weren't for the fact that the Pope's identity hadn't been found, she would have already rebelled.
"She's already insane," Pamir said.
Xinxia didn't answer, but instead rubbed the ring on her hand. She said, "Since I am already the Pope and the Goddess, there should be a grand coronation ceremony."
"Of course, it should be so!" Pamir nodded emphatically.
She had originally intended for all high-ranking Black Vatican members to come to the Pathenon Temple for an unprecedented coronation ceremony, involving both the light and dark sides.
At that ceremony, Ye Xinxia would face her darkest day!
Receiving the reply, Xinxia slowly turned and walked outside, the morning light falling upon her.
After moving far from the Hall Mother Pavilion, Xinxia spoke into the air: "Brother Yuan, how did I do?"
"You did very well!"
Jiang Yuan's voice came from the void, and Xinxia smiled sweetly.
Then she touched the now-hidden forehead tattoo on her forehead and asked, "The Hall Mother said my Pope's forehead tattoo can never be erased. Is that true?"
"Of course not, I'll erase it for you right now," Jiang Yuan said.
The Pope's forehead tattoo is closely linked to the soul, so Pamir saying it could never be erased had some truth to it.
But in front of the current Jiang Yuan, it was meaningless; if he wanted to erase it, it would be effortless.
It was a simple matter.
A hand extended from the space in front of Xinxia and lightly touched her forehead, and she suddenly felt her soul being tugged.
The discomfort lasted less than a second before ending.
"Alright, the Pope's forehead tattoo has been erased. You can also take off this ring and give it to me," Jiang Yuan said.
"Mm." Xinxia nodded, took the Pope's Ring off her hand, and handed it to Jiang Yuan.
After taking the Pope's Ring, Jiang Yuan left.
Xinxia, meanwhile, continued walking towards her Goddess Hall.
… … … … … … … … … … …
… … … … … … … … … … …
It was another day that excited the believers.
Xinxia, who had just become the Goddess, would hold a praise ceremony today to proclaim her identity as the Goddess.
Participating in the praise ceremony would yield great benefits, even greater than the benefits from the Apollo's Gaze ceremony back then.
On this day of blooming flowers, the divine mountain seemed to be painted with the most vibrant colors, outlining a layered and enchanting picture.
People ascended the mountain amidst the fragrance of flowers and a gentle breeze.
The Star River Mountain Path would be fully open today, allowing free passage even without a blessing.
It didn't matter if it wasn't open anyway; all the guardian statues inside had already been dealt with.
Believers streamed endlessly.
No one dared to speak loudly, not even to chat.
They devoutly clasped their hands together, following the mountain path upwards, all the way to the very summit of the mountain.
"This scene is truly awesome!" Among the crowd, Mo Fan exclaimed, attracting the gazes of many believers.
"The Parthenon Goddess holds a pivotal position in the Western world. Even some heads of state don't command as much prestige as the Goddess. Moreover, this praise ceremony will bring divine blessings to the people, so such appeal is quite normal," said a man with an Asian face beside him.
"Oh? You know a lot?" Mo Fan looked over, and the face of a middle-aged man appeared before his eyes.
"I have a slight understanding," the middle-aged man said.
Mo Fan said "Oh" and then continued to follow Zhang Xiaohou and the others upward with the crowd.
The middle-aged man looked at the morning light cast down from the sky; the scene, full of light and hope, made him very uncomfortable.
He was the Red Cardinal from China, Jiuying.
Jiuying had come here after receiving the Pope's summons, to celebrate the new Pope's ascension.
As a Red Cardinal, he hadn't even known about the change in Popes and still didn't know who the new Pope was.
Of course, Jiuying wasn't angry about this.
Something else made him angry.
He was the Red Cardinal for the Chinese region, and originally his reputation was the highest. However, Salang had run over there and, after causing a few disasters, made the world forget Jiuying's name.
This was what angered him.
Coincidentally, taking advantage of this Pope's ascension, he wanted to meet Salang.