"Your Holiness, a total of 298 candidates registered, and 296 have arrived."

In front of the Divine Hall of Light, Cardinal Holland of the Light Church stood respectfully before Pope Frederick and inquired:

"The other two probably won't come."

"Should the Divine Festival start now?"

However, at that moment, Frederick glanced at the Archbishop beside him, who possessed Tier Nine strength.

This single glance caused Holland, possessing Tier Nine strength, to undergo a drastic change in complexion.

An overwhelming power suddenly choked Holland's throat, giving him the sensation of imminent death.

Fortunately,

this power came as swiftly as it vanished.

Holland greedily inhaled fresh air.

He stood beside Frederick, not daring to lift his head, his eyes filled with the terror of narrowly escaping death, even trembling slightly.

Just when Holland was baffled about what had offended the terrifying Pope, Frederick suddenly uttered a single word:

"Wait!"

And it was this word that suddenly enlightened Holland's mind.

Instantly, he seemed to understand something and responded:

"Yes!"

Then respectfully withdrew to the side.

At this moment, in the grand square within the Light Church.

All candidates stood in rows according to status and position.

In the first position of three rows were the representatives of the Three Great Empires.

A group of people stood respectfully under the scorching sun, not daring to utter a word.

In the vast square, tens of thousands of Light Priests and Bright Knights stood.

The spectacle was strikingly grand, filled with visual impact.

Yet despite the large crowd, the place remained eerily silent.

Only Frederick, the Light Church's Pope, sat in the shade of the great hall, seemingly waiting for something.

"Will we really make it like this?"

Ling Yuwei, anxious, looked at Lin Yi beside her and said:

"It's been quiet for so long; could it have started already?"

Lin Yi glanced at his task panel:

[Main Quest] Participate in Divine Son Election.

Task Requirement: Secure the position of Divine Son. 0/1.

Task Countdown: 00:41:15.

Task Reward: ???

Then reassured Ling Yuwei:

"Don't worry, we'll make it."

However, compared to Lin Yi's calm demeanor, Jarvis, the coachman, was impatiently urging the magical beast pulling the carriage:

"Hurry up, go!"

"Giddy up!"

He also shouted at the crowd on the street:

"Make way!"

"Careful."

"Get out of the way."

At this moment, Ling Yuwei's heart was also extremely anxious.

But seeing Lin Yi's composed manner and understanding him well, Ling Yuwei knew that her impatience wouldn't help.

They could have set off much earlier today.

It was because Lin Yi was leisurely having breakfast that they delayed and departed so late.

Once 'all' candidates had entered the Qiling Square within the church, the world seemed to hit a pause button.

No one knew when the Divine Son Election would start;

No one knew what they were waiting for;

Why the entire inside of the church fell into silence.

No one dared to ask or speak.

Outside the square of the Light Church, everyone gathered in groups, whispering about something.

Suddenly, a loud voice rang from outside the square:

"Make way, please, make way, thank you."

"Move aside, thank you."

"Be careful, be careful."

The crowd looked around in surprise.

And saw Jarvis driving the beast vehicle toward them.

But just as the beast vehicle was about to approach the square, it was stopped by a group of guards from the church:

"Halt."

"No vehicles allowed inside the church."

Jarvis was anxious upon hearing this:

"But."

Before he could finish, a hand patted his shoulder:

"No problem."

"We can walk just the same."

Jarvis watched as Lin Yi emerged from the beast vehicle and hurried to support him:

"Master Yi, be careful."

Everyone looked curiously in their direction.

Just as everyone was speculating about who this person might be, the veiled Ling Yuwei appeared from the carriage.

No matter which world you're in, a beautiful woman always becomes the center of attention.

Especially someone like Ling Yuwei, who is a stunning beauty in both figure and temperament.

The square was immediately filled with the sound of gasps.

Someone instantly recognized Ling Yuwei and exclaimed in surprise:

"Isn't that Miss Ling from Linlang Pavilion?"

"Why is she here too?"

At this moment, everyone was still unaware that Ling Yuwei had also signed up for this Divine Son election.

Ling Yuwei stepped down from the beast vehicle before Lin Yi, then extended her small, fair hand to support Lin Yi, saying:

"Come on, be careful."

Lin Yi didn't hesitate, grasping Ling Yuwei's wrist as he slowly descended from the beast vehicle.

This truly wasn't Lin Yi taking advantage of Ling Yuwei!

His body was simply too weak now.

The election hadn't even begun, and Lin Yi had no desire to show off in such a place and waste energy.

Currently, for Lin Yi, saving any energy was essential.

But others were unaware of this.

Among the tens of thousands of eyes around, all were filled with shock as they watched this scene, their eyeballs seemingly popping out:

"Oh my God, what am I seeing?"

"Who is that man?"

"Sobs… did you hear the sound of a heart breaking?"

Some were even displeased, saying:

"What qualifies that man to be served by our Miss Ling? I can't accept that."

"Exactly."

"A sickly person, leaning on my goddess, ahhh~"

But soon someone recognized Lin Yi and shouted:

"Him, him, him… That man seems to be King Jialan!!!"

Some who were seeing Lin Yi for the first time couldn't help but gape in shock:

"No way?"

"Haven't we heard King Jialan is very strong?"

"Why does he look like this?"

As Lin Yi's 'identity' was exposed, it immediately stirred an uproar.

While everyone was busily discussing Lin Yi, pointing fingers.

Lin Yi seemed unperturbed, calmly walking towards the sacred and solemn church gates with the support of Jarvis and Ling Yuwei.

The Light Priest guarding the entrance flashed a hint of surprise upon seeing Lin Yi.

However, he did not stop Lin Yi and Ling Yuwei, only blocking Jarvis, who looked worried outside:

"Young Master Yi, cheer up, you can do it."

Inside the church, a voice suddenly echoed that shook everyone's body:

"Divine Son candidate: Jialan Empire representative, King Jialan Lin Yi."

"Saintess candidate: Linlang Pavilion representative, Ling Yuwei."

As this voice spread across Jialan Imperial Capital, the entire ancient city plunged into endless excitement.

Yet in a pavilion not far from the church gates.

Ling Yudao watched the figures of Ling Yuwei and Lin Yi slowly disappear from sight.

Ling Yudao sighed softly in his heart:

"Is it worth it?"

…

…

When Lin Yi appeared at Qiling Square of the Light Church, Holland was permitted to shout:

"The Light Festival begins now!"

…

…

Meanwhile, in the central square of every city in Nine Nether Continent, an array established by the Light Church was officially activated.

As the array activated, a huge image appeared in the sky above the square.

The scenes in the image were precisely of Qiling Square at the Divine Hall of Light.

As everyone was awestruck by this scene, a voice suddenly spread throughout every corner of Nine Nether Continent from the image:

"May I ask His Holiness the Pope."

"What qualifies a person who can't even take care of themselves to participate in the Divine Son election?"

Soon after, a stranger emerged from among the candidates.

This person looked at Lin Yi with a teasing expression:

"Am I right, King Jialan?"

Ling Yuwei suddenly glared at this person:

"You!"

However, Lin Yi intercepted Ling Yuwei's anger, and under countless gazes, walked towards the person alone.

"Cough, cough~"

Halfway, Lin Yi couldn't help but cough twice, his body shaking slightly.

Ling Yuwei was about to step forward to support him, but before she took a step, she suddenly saw.

Lin Yi stabilized after swaying twice.

Then Lin Yi gripped the Dragon Scale Sword in his hand, pointing at the opponent, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth:

"Ever heard of shooting the bird that sticks out?"