Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 602 [The Key to the Stars]

—He looks just like me!
These words came from Pope Laurent—

Luo Xiu realized almost immediately who Pope Lorend was referring to. There was only one possibility: it was Bishop Alfonso Durant!
—The Pope was indeed aware of his connection with Alfonso.

Thinking about these things, Luo Xiu felt his emotions were starting to fluctuate.

But his expression remained restrained and calm, maintaining an outward composure as much as possible.

"Greetings to you, and bestowing my utmost respect upon you, Your Holiness the Pope."

Rosier bowed and greeted the Holy Throne and Pope Laurent, the "Holy Crown."

He raised his right hand slightly and placed it on his left chest, offering the most standard sacrament to Pope Laurent.

As Luo Xiu finished bowing, he caught a glimpse of Pope Lorend gently raising his hand, and a bright radiance rose from below him, lifting him up—

“Very good, child.”

Luo Xiu heard Pope "Holy Crown" Laurent smile and say:

"I've wanted to see you for a long time."

“You are like an old friend of mine. Monigne and Frania have also written to me and told me about you.”

“They all say you are outstanding—and I saw it with my own eyes today, and it is indeed true. I am so glad to see that the next generation of the ‘Holy Court’ will not disappoint us.”

“Child… I can sense that you have been walking on the level of the ‘Sixfold Fate’ for a long time. I have never seen an archbishop as young as you before.”

“But Monigne told me that you seem unwilling to come to the ‘Holy Court’ as the next generation of cardinals and be trained by us.”

"..."

"I……"

As Luo Xiu gazed at the "Holy Crown" Pope on the Holy Throne, he had imagined that the Pope would ask him the same question.

But before he could respond, the Pope laughed, seemingly unconcerned about what his response would be.

Luo Xiu heard Pope Lorend continue—

"'The battlefield of the Holy Judgment is my true home'... Heh. I said something similar when I was young."

“For young saints like you, the world outside the ‘Holy Court’ does indeed hold a unique allure. I understand you, child, but you will eventually find that you will return here.”

Pope Laurent said these things.

It felt like a kind elder, with an open and understanding mindset, gently chatting with a younger person.

He may have wanted to offer advice, but he respected the inner thoughts of the younger generation more. In fact, the Holy See's emphasis on the precepts based on the clergy's own will largely originated from this Pope Laurent.

In Luo Xiu's intuitive perception, even when facing the "Holy Crown" Pope, it felt more like facing a kind and gentle elder; he didn't sense much of a generation gap or distance.

That pope did indeed possess... a certain inexplicable charisma.

But Pope Laurent... he just said these things, could he have been a "Holy Inquisitor" himself?

It seems that Pope Laurent joined the Holy See at a very young age and was trained as a "prospective cardinal"...

However, the Holy Court also has orders like the "Godhunters" Knights Templar, who, even while holding official positions within the Holy Court, often exercise divine judgment against heretics. Perhaps Lorend himself experienced countless such bloody battles with heretics.

As Luo Xiu pondered this, he looked up at Pope Lawrence and saw that his right hand was already gently resting on the armrest of the throne, where a box carved from jade was located.

"You came in such a hurry, I don't have anything to give you."

Pope Laurent smiled and said:
“Monigne mentioned to me that you would need this. Coincidentally, I happen to have some, and I can give you a portion.”

"..."

Is this exactly what I need?
Luo Xiu gazed at Pope Lorend, and at the box he was pressing lightly under his right hand.

He had a vague idea of ​​what was inside.

All that could be seen was that Pope Lawrence had already activated the spirituality of [Radiance]. His hand left the jade box, and the bottom of the jade box emitted a warm light, revealing radiant runes that solidified into tangible forms, supporting the box and slowly rising upwards.

It floated towards Luo Xiu, who reached out and gently caught it.

Luo Xiu felt a heavy, hot sensation in his palm, and the light shining through the gaps in the box was almost blinding.

He looked at the Pope, only to see Pope Laurent smile and nod, saying to him—

"Open it, child."

"That's a 'gift' I'm giving you."

"..."

So they followed the instructions of Pope Laurent.

Luo Xiu opened the box—

The light then burst forth like a sword shuttle, and Luo Xiu seemed to see stars blooming in the box—the continuous light, like stars, condensed on a rectangular silver-white casting.

A highly pure spiritual crystal, densely inlaid with meteorite iron and engraved with sacred and ancient patterns, rests quietly on a piece of pure white silk cloth as clear as ice crystals.

Luo Xiu's pupils contracted slightly.

When he saw what was sealed inside the box, he knew that his previous guess was correct.

—That really is the Key to the Stars!
The [Key of the Stars], which enabled him to advance from the sixth level of destiny to the "seventh level of destiny," was given to him by Pope Lawrence!

"..."

Previously, he had entrusted the "Sword of the Holy One," Monine, to apply for this key from the Holy Court on his behalf.

Luo Xiu thought to himself that he was ready to accept the test from the cardinals of the Holy Court.

And now, this might be the easiest time I've ever obtained a key to the extraordinary.

Without going through the previous tests and audits, he simply had an audience with the Pope, and the Pope gave him the Key to the Stars!

A somewhat dazed and bewildered expression appeared on Luo Xiu's face.

He raised his head and looked at Pope Laurent, who sat enthroned on the throne, and saw that the Pope still wore that kind, benevolent smile. He said:

“I can sense that you’ve reached a bottleneck, child.”

“This key to the Stars is given to you by me. Your achievements for the Holy Court make you worthy of it.”

"There is no need to put you through any further tests. I approve of and acknowledge you. And you should know my expectations of you."

"..."

"Please give your guidance, Your Majesty the Pope, who is both noble and sacred."

Luo Xiu offered a sacrament to Pope Lawrence on the Holy Throne. He knew that the Pope must have had a purpose in bestowing upon him the Key to the Stars—

Luo Xiu waited for Pope Lorend to tell him what he wanted him to do.

“Our ‘Saintess’, Franya, is still too young.”

On Pope Laurent's face remained that kind and gentle smile.

"You and Franya are the youngest saints in the Holy Court. I entrust her to Monine and hope that you can assist her as much as possible."

“I always have some worries that perhaps the ‘Holy Court’ and perhaps I will both encounter unavoidable changes after this war of ‘judgment’ ends. At that time, new saints will be needed to take over our sacred flame, and you are our torch.”

"This is my expectation."

"..." "..."

— "Passing on the fire".

The "Holy Crown" Pope of Lorend hoped that he could better assist the "Saintess" Franya...

Luo Xiu could understand him.

Pope Laurent... he was like "entrusting his orphan to someone else."

For him, the "War of Judgment" was also a sacred war that could lead to his demise. Before truly committing himself to the battlefield of the demigods, he had to make all the necessary arrangements.

His only successor is the "Saintess" Franja. Therefore, Lorend must first pave the way for her, and the most important part of this is to reserve a trustworthy and reliable saint for her.

Monigne Skadi, the "Holy Sword," is someone Pope Lorend can trust and entrust with his duties.

Even within the Holy Court, there were not many "Sevenfold Fate" saints whom Pope Lorend could completely entrust Franja to with complete peace of mind.

Saints who reach this level all have their own fixed destinies, interests, and pursuits, which are not easy to entrust to others.

Luo Xiu thought to himself.

Pope Laurent chose him—presumably because he is indeed the most outstanding and excellent saint of the younger generation in the "Holy Court".

Whether in terms of the achievements she has made or the depth she has reached in her destiny, no one can compare to her except that "saintess".

This is probably why Pope Laurent chose himself first.

Perhaps there are other reasons, such as what Franja once said: Pope Laurent's attitude towards "Afonso Durant" is one of respect and remembrance, and this attitude might continue to influence him. But Laurent didn't say much about it, and at least in this situation, he wouldn't ask any further questions.

"..."

Luo Xiu was thinking about these things.

He then closed the box containing the Key of the Stars.

Then he heard the kind and gentle words of Pope Laurent—

“My child, I am entrusting you with this Key of the Stars. If you can advance to the Sevenfold Destiny through it, I will reserve a Cardinal’s seat for you.”

"And do not forget what I said, child. I hope to see you grow, and the 'Holy Court' needs your growth as well."

"..."

“I understand.” Luo Xiu nodded solemnly.

He put away the Key to the Stars. Then, with the utmost respect and piety, he offered sacraments to Pope Laurent, who sat upon the Holy Throne—

"I will make good use of it."

"We will also meet your expectations, and we hope you can witness it."

"I will carry out your instructions, Your Holiness the Pope."

……

Leaving the "temple" of Pope Laurent.

The sky outside was already getting dark, and it was almost dusk.

When Luo Xiu returned to the radiant portico in front of the Tower of Saint Lorend under the guidance of the "angel," he saw a cardinal, the "Radiant Cardinal" Efra, who seemed to have been waiting there all along.

When Luo Xiu returned, Evra immediately turned his gaze towards him.

The cardinal, with his fiery, tousled hair and beard and seemingly prejudiced against the Church of Sina, snorted and walked toward Luo Xiu.

Luo Xiu felt as if a furnace was approaching him. And when Evra stood before him, he saw Evra look up and say:

What did His Holiness the Pope say to you?

"..."

"His Holiness the Pope has given me instruction and encouragement."

Luo Xiu responded to Evra in a respectful and humble tone.

But Evra seemed dissatisfied with the answer. He narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at Luo Xiu meaningfully for a long time.

"The bishop from Sina."

After a long pause, Evra spoke in a low, cold voice:

"Whatever His Holiness the Pope has said to you, do not try to do anything unnecessary. This is both advice and a warning."

"The glory of your Church in Sina is long gone. I have seen foolish saints trying to prove your long-decayed glory by foolish means, and I advise you not to do so."

“If you are a wise saint, then keep the precepts of the Holy Court well, and no one will bother you. Otherwise, no one will be able to save you.”

"..."

After saying this, Evra turned around, put his hands behind his back, and left under Luo Xiu's gaze.

His figure quickly disappeared from Luo Xiu's sight, leaving only his words and echoes in his ears.

Luo Xiu knew that the "Third Cardinal" Evra Flores was worried about the negative impact of "Alfonso Durant" and its resurgence within the Holy See.

...Perhaps because of what happened before, Evera had left some psychological scars after cleaning up the mess left by the saint who tried to sabotage the courthouse. Luo Xiu remembered his words and headed towards the church compound of the Songyuan Expeditionary Force.

……

When it was completely dark, Luo Xiu returned to his bishop's tent at the church's residence.

After handling the new tasks and recording the new information for half a day, Luo Xiu took out the [Key of Stars] from his bracelet during his break.

With this key, advancing to the "Seventh Destiny Path" is a certainty.

However, the experience points accumulated through the "Fountain of Spirit" are not yet enough to raise the level of "Holy Winged Envoy" to lv.80.

But it won't be long—Luo Xiu invested all his stored experience points into upgrading, raising the level of "Holy Winged Envoy" to lv.78. To reach the current maximum level of lv.80, he only needs to fill the experience pool of "Spiritual Fountain" four more times.

At the normal rate of accumulation, it would take about a week—if I'm lucky, I might even be able to advance before the final battle of the Judgment War.

At that time, a new "Sevenfold Destiny" saint who has never appeared on the battlefield before will inevitably have a disruptive impact on the course of the war.

Luo Xiu was thinking about these things.

But his thoughts soon came to an abrupt end.

He sensed an unusual surge of spiritual energy—right outside the bishop's tent, a clergyman who had just passed by the tent emanated a radiance mixed with other spiritual energy.

That sense of loss, though it had been subtly concealed, was still detected by Luo Xiu's "perception".

"..."

Hide the Key to the Stars.

Luo Xiu stood up from his seat, picked up the [Holy Grip], and walked out of the tent.

That was definitely not one of his own priests—

Luo Xiu had already locked onto him.

……

(End of this chapter)