On the peak of God Mountain.
The area had been set up as a grand ceremony venue, with a six-color sunshade canopy perfectly unfurled overhead, covering the sky above God Mountain.
Beneath the canopy, many seats awaited people to take their places.
Those who could sit in these seats were undoubtedly well-known figures.
For example, the leaders and elders of the Nine Hidden Families, and Grand Duchess Irene of the Victoria Family.
Every one of them was a prominent figure in their respective fields.
However, in these VIP seats, more than a dozen unknown individuals were seated.
Even mages active in international society had never seen their faces, and no field had ever heard of their existence.
But they were seated in the VIP section.
Time passed by minute by minute.
The seats gradually filled up.
When the time was right, Xinxia, dressed in a white robe, came to the stage.
Everyone's gaze instantly focused on her.
Every strand of her hair was meticulously braided, with white flowers tied at the ends, and a faint, fresh floral scent wafted from them.
Her pristine white robe trailed a long skirt, gently sweeping across the ground paved with olive blossoms.
Gradually, a gentle breeze began to stir again.
Wind spirits carried flower petals, dancing in the sky.
Beneath this picturesque scene, Xinxia walked towards her designated position.
"Respected Goddess, has the deity in your heart given any instructions to the people?" The Grand Priest Falmer, who had not appeared for a long time, asked according to the procedure.
"No," Xinxia said calmly.
Her answer caused everyone to pause in surprise.
In previous Goddess Blessing ceremonies, long speeches would be given, conveying the words of the deity to the world.
These words were typically about the deity loving people and saving them from suffering.
Xinxia's silence truly astonished them.
Had she not prepared her speech in advance?
They did not know, nor did Falmer. He didn't care whether she had or not and immediately began the next oath-taking procedure.
"Goddess, will you strictly adhere to the will of the Pathenon Temple during your tenure?"
"From today until now, I have not disobeyed," was Xinxia's reply.
Falmer, along with the priests of the Pathenon Temple's Hall of Faith, frowned.
This was not a standard answer.
What was wrong with the Goddess today? Was she completely unprepared?
Despite their myriad of questions, in front of so many world-renowned figures, the ceremony could not be halted.
Falmer bit the bullet and continued:
"Goddess, please, before all believers, face the Athena statue and swear by your soul to treat every person who believes in the Pathenon Temple kindly!"
"Goddess, please swear by your soul that during your reign, you will eliminate all suffering in the world, bring as much peace and tranquility as possible, and shed not a single drop of blood!"
"Goddess, please swear by your soul to be loyal to the Pathenon Temple forever and ever, and to dedicate your faith to the deity Athena!"
Falmer's solemn recitation, every word, seemed to strike people's souls, echoing like a grand bell!
Xinxia took a deep breath.
"I... I swear by my soul, from now on..."
The oath was so difficult to utter. Xinxia might have once believed in the Pathenon Temple and Athena, but she certainly did not now.
After witnessing the dark and sordid side of the Pathenon Temple, her heart was extremely resistant.
If it weren't to fulfill what Jiang Yuan told her and to completely awaken her divine soul, she would have never intended to return here.
Therefore, these oaths were difficult to speak.
Everyone looked at Xinxia, awaiting her oath.
The priests were burning with anxiety, feeling that something big was about to happen.
"Hall Mother, is the Goddess unprepared today?" Falmer retreated backward and asked Pamir, who was observing everything.
"Perhaps, give her some time," Pamir replied, narrowing her eyes.
Ye Xinxia's performance was too different from what she had imagined.
A hint of something unusual inexplicably appeared in the air.
"I... I swear by my soul, I, Ye Xinxia..." A pained expression appeared on Xinxia's face.
"If you don't want to swear, then don't. Don't force yourself."
A calm voice appeared out of nowhere above the grand ceremony.
Everyone looked for the source of the voice in surprise.
"That voice?!" Pamir's eyes suddenly widened. She was all too familiar with this voice, like a devil from hell.
Jiang Yuan!
"Huh? Why is that Old Jiang's voice? Am I hallucinating?" Mo Fan looked around.
"We heard it too," Zhang Xiaohou and the others replied.
Mu Ningjiao and the National Government members nearby also heard it, but they didn't know where Jiang Yuan was.
Meanwhile, Salang, who was in the VIP section, heard Jiang Yuan's voice and left the ceremony venue at the fastest speed.
But when she appeared at the foot of the mountain, she found an invisible barrier covering the entire God Mountain!
She tried many methods but couldn't break through, and her expression immediately became uncertain.
Her gaze returned to the ceremony venue.
Xinxia breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Jiang Yuan's voice and stopped swearing.
Immediately after, the space above the ceremony fluctuated.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Jiang Yuan stepped out of the space.
"Good morning, everyone," Jiang Yuan greeted with a smile.
"Good morning, Brother Yuan," no one responded except Xinxia.
"What, Pamir, do you not welcome my presence?" Jiang Yuan looked at Pamir with a smile.
"Heh, the Pathenon Temple welcomes anyone, except you," Pamir sneered.
She took a few steps forward, looking directly at Jiang Yuan: "The war in the Underworld has just begun, and your Eastern Undead Emperor has to deal with the Pharaoh. At such a time, you dare to appear at the Pathenon Temple. Do you think he can still help you?"
"Perhaps," Jiang Yuan shrugged.
Upon hearing this answer, Pamir was filled with doubt.
Had the war in the Underworld ended?
How could that be?
How could a war between Emperors end so easily?
The world had predicted that the sudden war in the Underworld would take at least half a year to determine a winner, as it was a war of the undead, and a prolonged battle was normal.
However, whether it ended or not, it was all the same. Ye Xinxia had already become the new Pope, and simply exposing this identity in front of everyone would naturally plunge her into an bottomless abyss.
Jiang Yuan couldn't possibly kill everyone, could he?
If that was the case, then she would strike first!
Thinking of this, Pamir, while Jiang Yuan was silent, faced all the world-renowned figures and believers, pointed at Xinxia, and loudly declared: "Everyone, you may not be aware yet, but today I will reveal a secret: she, Ye Xinxia, is the Black Vatican's Pope! I swear this in the name of the Hall Mother!"
As soon as these words were uttered, the quiet ceremony erupted into a loud clamor.
Everyone looked at Pamir and Xinxia in disbelief.
The Parthenon Goddess is the Black Vatican's Pope?
How is this possible!!!
......