Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 659 Revealing Divinity!

Emperor Augustusville held up the tricolored holy crown in his hands, his eyes, as bright as fire in a cave, fixed on Luo Xiu, awaiting Luo Xiu's response.

To be bestowed the title of "Radiant Wise King" upon himself by the empire—this was something Luo Xiu had not anticipated!
Now, he finally understood completely the intentions of Emperor Augustusville and the Supreme Being—

They may want to establish and develop a "Second Holy Court" in the newly formed "Saint Carlos Territory" through their own efforts, thereby creating a division between the original "Holy Court" and weakening each other's influence!
The true significance of the title "Radiant Wise King" lies in Emperor Augustusville's intention to mold himself into a representative of a new [Radiant] saint, similar to or comparable to the "Pope of Lorend"—

In the vision of Emperor Augustusville and the Supreme Being, this new "wise king" would be subordinate to the Supreme Being and under the Supreme Being's control!
What he had previously considered—that the Supreme Being wanted to separate him from the Holy Court so that he wouldn't affect the Supreme Being's control over the Holy Court—wasn't entirely accurate. The Supreme Being also wanted to use him as leverage against the Holy Court, and here in the Imperial Square, Augustusville's "conferment of titles" was something he couldn't even refuse!

However, of course, Luo Xiu didn't intend to refuse—

Meeting Emperor Augustusville's gaze, Luo Xiu lightly raised his left hand, placed it gently on his right chest, and offered a respectful and standard salute to the emperor before him, saying:
"I accept your bestowal of the title of the supreme ruler revered by all people, the supreme emperor."

He bowed to Emperor Augustusville, who then held up the tricolored crown with both hands and, amidst the climax of sacred music and the cheers of the surging crowd, placed the crown on Luo Xiu's head.

Luo Xiu felt a heavy weight coming from above him—

The "Wise King's Crown," bestowed upon him by the Emperor and symbolizing his new identity, was now placed atop his head!

Luo Xiu straightened up, gently raising his hands to support the sides of the holy crown, straightening it slightly. Then, he took out and grasped his scepter, raising it high towards the cheering crowd—

"Homage to the holy Roshu Carlos! Homage to the sublime wise king!"

"Homage to the holy Roshu Carlos! Homage to the sublime wise king!"

"Homage to the holy Roshu Carlos! Homage to the sublime wise king!"

A series of cheers erupted in the Imperial Square—many warriors also shared the faith in the "Holy Court's" radiance. In their eyes, the Empire was increasingly establishing the "Radiance" as a guiding principle of faith. They didn't think much more about it, much less about what the Emperor was plotting.

Luo Xiu was bathed in a wave of cheers and praises, seeing the devout people and the clergy invited by the "Holy Court" to witness the ceremony, their faces showing expressions of piety and fervor.

Of course, there were also a very few—the senior clergy within the Holy Court had already felt the overt and covert probing and suppression of the Holy Court by the Supreme Being. Now that the Supreme Being was praising a "Radiant Wise King" so highly, they vaguely sensed that this was not a good thing. They simply watched the high platform with cold eyes and remained silent.

These clergy members probably only follow the Pope of Lorient as their true guide—whoever succeeds to the position of "Pope" of Lorient afterward, they will not easily recognize him. In their hearts, no one in the current Holy See is qualified to be the successor to the "Pope of Lorient".

Luo Xiu had actually prepared for this long ago—

In fact, from the moment Emperor Augustusville bestowed the title upon him and he received the new holy title of "Radiant Wise King," Luo Xiu knew that this was the best time to proclaim his "divine orthodoxy" to all the holy clergy!
"In the name of Rosh Carlos, I accept the title bestowed by His Majesty Emperor Augustusville Nolan. The Holy Church of Saint Carlos also wishes to forge a new alliance with the Empire. The alliance between [Radiance] and [Supreme] began with His Holiness Pope Lord Meyering, and this oath will continue from me onward!"

Luo Xiu raised his scepter high and proclaimed loudly—

"And I, Rosh Carlos—have also received the legacy from the holy and sublime 'Holy Crown' Pope Laurent Mayering. I am the heir to the Pope's will, and I will inherit and carry forward everything His Holiness the Pope has left me, so that that sacred 'radiance' will guide us from above and protect all the devout people!"

—Buzz!!!!

The moment Luo Xiu finished speaking, he activated the authority that Pope Lorend had left him—

That divinely endowed authority, the Seven Luminaries of Revelation, caused a divine vision, its incomparably dazzling and brilliant light illuminating the heavens!
……

Above the azure sky, light shone down through the gaps.

The clouds were illuminated like red-hot glass, and a huge hole slowly opened up among the clouds. All that everyone could see were the seven "suns," some large and some small, but all equally hot and shining!
The true, radiant authority of God—the seven luminaries of revelation—was indeed the most representative authority of Pope Lawrence, and truly the symbol of him!

After receiving the title from Emperor Augustusville, Luo Xiu, who was still standing on the imperial platform and the focus of everyone's attention, "displayed" this authority to everyone.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Neither Emperor Augustusville nor any of the other "Supreme" beings present had anticipated this scene.

Especially Emperor Augustusville—the moment he saw Luo Xiu display the authority of the Seven Luminaries of Revelation, a momentary expression of emotion appeared on his face, and his gaze quickly became profound as he stared intently at Luo Xiu for a long time.

This was an unexpected situation—for Augustusville and his [Supreme], Luo Xiu was the most suitable person to become the "Radiant Wise King." He possessed sufficiently intimidating achievements, but he was also too young, and the [Supreme] could easily control him.

But now, Luo Xiu has displayed a completely new ability that belongs to "divinely endowed authority"!

That was beyond Emperor Augustusville's expectations. He thought that what he saw on the battlefield of the decisive battle was all that Luo Xiu knew, but he did not expect that Luo Xiu knew even more!

But more importantly, Luo Xiu revealed what this authority meant—

That means that Luo Xiu was actually the true successor chosen by Pope Lorend from the very beginning. Unlike the "Saintess" Franya, who was in the public eye, Luo Xiu was the successor personally appointed by Pope Lorend in a private setting!
It's not uncommon for a pope to have two successors—but the key point is that what Emperor Augustus and the [Supreme] originally valued most was the not-so-close relationship between "Roshu Carlos" and the Holy Court. This relationship was immediately shattered after Roshu demonstrated this authority!
……

"Homage to the holy Roshu Carlos! Homage to the sublime wise king!"

"Homage to the holy Roshu Carlos! Homage to the sublime wise king!"

"Homage to the holy Roshu Carlos! Homage to the sublime wise king!"

"..."

When Luo Xiu revealed a glimpse of the power of the Seven Luminaries of Revelation to everyone gathered in the Imperial Square, the cheers and praises instantly rose, converging into a surging sea! Even the most conservative and senior clergy were horrified when they saw that Luo Xiu was able to display the Seven Luminaries of Revelation—a divine authority possessed only by the "Holy Crown" Pope of Lorend.

They began to believe that Luo Xiu's acceptance of Emperor Augustusville's decree to become the Empire's "Radiant Wise King" might also be the will entrusted to Luo Xiu by Pope Lorend on his deathbed!

As Luo Xiu was about to develop a new "Holy Court" diocese in the newly established "Saint Carlos Territory," these veteran clergymen gradually began to accept it from the bottom of their hearts.

Perhaps, compared to the "Holy Court," which has lost the guidance of Pope Laurent and is now controlled by the Holy Cardinals, going to the territory of "Radiant King" Rosius Carlos to build a new Holy Court Church and spread the gospel of "Radiance" in that uncivilized land... might be a better choice.

Many clergy members in the Imperial Square were already thinking about these things.

……

Luo Xiu could sense the intense vigilance emanating from Emperor Augustusville in front of him and the thirteen "Sky Pillar Knights" beside him in an instant.

Luo Xiu had already sensed Emperor Augustusville's anger—he had displayed a glimpse of the power of the Seven Luminaries of Revelation during his investiture ceremony, using such a solemn occasion to proclaim his divinity, which was undoubtedly a presumption in the eyes of the Supreme Being!
But that's exactly what Luo Xiu wanted!

There was no more opportune moment to publicly demonstrate to everyone the power of the divinely granted authority of the Seven Luminaries of Revelation—that he was the "successor" of the Pope of Lorend—so that this fact could be confirmed in the public eye, while the "Supreme" could only watch and could do nothing to him!
Because Emperor Augustusville's investiture of himself had already been completed amidst great public attention. Even if Emperor Augustusville and the Supreme Being only now realize their own "threat," it is too late. Under the constraints of such a grand ceremony and the Supreme Being's oath, Emperor Augustusville cannot back down!

Perhaps the Supreme Being will use this incident to target them in ways even more severe than the Holy Court did – but for now, they can only accept the current outcome.

Luo Xiu knew—he had succeeded, transformed Emperor Augustusville's celebration into his own in a mere moment.

Bathed in the waves of praise and cheers from the people in the Imperial Square, Luo Xiu slowly lowered the scepter in his hand.

He then looked at Emperor Augustusville, who was also looking at him.

"..."

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Supreme Emperor."

Luo Xiu smiled and greeted Augustusville, then bowed slightly and offered a sacramental salute to Augustusville once more.

Emperor Augustus, however, remained focused on him, his deep eyes revealing a state of deep contemplation.

After a long pause, Emperor Augustusville's expression gradually relaxed. He looked at Luo Xiu, nodded slightly, and said:
"As expected, Your Majesty Rosh Carlos."

Now, Emperor Augustusville has begun to refer to himself as "Your Majesty"—

This meant that he had accepted his overstepping of authority and truly embraced his new identity. And Augustus the Great continued:

"The alliance between the Empire and the Holy Court will be strengthened because of us. I look forward to seeing what the territory of Saint Carlos will become under your rule."

"..."

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty."

Luo Xiu smiled and responded to Emperor Augustusville, saying:
“I will make the territory of Saint Carlos a blessed land protected by the [Radiance]. It will be a true earthly paradise, a true refuge for all the devout who have strayed from the path.”

……

Afterwards, Luo Xiu, who had been bestowed the title of "Radiant Wise King" by the emperor, descended from the high platform under the guidance of the emperor's attendants.

Before the investiture ceremony began, [Supreme] had already prepared a special viewing platform for Luo Xiu, who was about to become the "Radiant Wise King" and the "Red Crown Prince".

Now, having received the imperial title, the attendant led Luo Xiu to the ten-meter-high, sacredly and luxuriously decorated viewing platform, where Luo Xiu watched the entire conferment ceremony.

Another saint of the seven paths of the Holy Court, the "Sage of Compassion" Hades, was granted the title of "Chosen Saint" by Emperor Augustusville—meaning that Hades was chosen by both the "Sun-Forging Moment" and the "High Heaven," becoming the sacred representative connecting the Empire and the Holy Court.

In reality, the holy office of "Holy Deacon" primarily serves as a link between the Holy Court, the Empire, and the Tower of Sages. The original intention behind the establishment of the three holy offices was that the "Bishops" would govern the Holy Court, the "Templar Knights" would protect the Holy Court, and the "Holy Deacons" would strive to gain more external support for the Holy Court.

In fact, the head of the Holy Deacons of the Holy Court, the "Black Deacon," is someone else. However, Hardy was conferred the title of "Chosen Saint" by Augustusville not to replace the current Black Deacon, but to serve the Saint Carlos Territory that Roshu was about to build.

Hades, the “Chosen Saint,” will serve as a black-clad deacon in the “New Holy Court” established by Luo Xiu. Hades himself announced this at the investiture ceremony—it seems that was the reason Hades accepted the Emperor’s investiture. He had received news in advance that Luo Xiu would be investiture, so he followed suit and accepted the investiture as well!
"..."

As Hardy received the title of "chosen saint," Luo Xiu, who was watching the ceremony from the viewing platform, noticed Hardy's gaze directed at him.

It was a gaze filled with a kind of piety, enthusiasm... even fanaticism.

For some reason, Luo Xiu had the strange feeling that... Hardy was coming for him...

……

(End of this chapter)