Chapter 66

Qi Xing!

At this moment, he had already retracted the silver coin and returned to human form.

Taking advantage of the flaming sword missing its mark and its burning edge still lingering in mid-air, Qi Xing's fist broke through the water. In an instant, a wild thunderclap exploded!

Lightning wrapped around his entire body, and thunder surged like an angry dragon, converging and condensing at his fist to form a dazzling white light that tore through the heavens and earth. The air was scorched into twisted ripples by the intense heat, the ground shook under the force of his punch, and the entire world trembled because of it!

"Thunder Fist: Full Power!"

Carrying the weight of ten thousand jun, he threw his punch, without reservation, without hesitation! With a thunderous explosion, the lightning light pierced through the heavens and earth!

The black flame battle form of the Six-Winged Tengu was immediately pierced through by the full-power Thunder Fist!

The thunder, like an angry tide, tore through the barrier of black flames; the torrent of lightning cut across the Tengu's battle form, blasting the shrine maiden wrapped within it right out!

The small world created by the [Ring of Angus] could finally no longer hold up and trembled violently. As the Six-Winged Tengu fell, the black flames rolled backward like a tide. Fine cracks began to appear on the barrier of the boundary!

Crack!!

Lightning soared to the sky, flames scattered everywhere, and the small world was completely shattered under this punch!!

The air seemed to be blasted apart, the oscillating shockwave swept in all directions, the sky-filled black flame residue was torn apart by the wind and thunder, and even the distant trees were snapped by the tremors!

Only electric sparks still wandered in the air, reflecting Qi Xing's invincible figure.

The barrier technique shattered, and Old Wolf, having taken the backlash of two god-level powers colliding, felt dizzy and was almost about to collapse to the ground.

Elaine, on the other hand, couldn't help but think… she was afraid she really had to contact the Papal Privy Council.

Getting back to the shrine maiden who had been blasted away by Qi Xing. Once Qi Xing had finished his fun and regained his senses, he hurried over to check on his opponent's condition. After all, it was just a sparring session to show off a little; it wouldn't be good if he actually broke his opponent.

As a result, he saw Jingo Rin, who had taken a Thunder Fist, standing back up. The scene that immediately entered his vision left Qi Xing speechless.

Because the scene was incredibly sacred.

The girl's original clothing was already tattered and ruined from the battle. The fabric was charred black, with residual electric arcs still lingering on the edges. The torn lapels fluttered in the residual wind, revealing shocking wounds on her skin—burn marks left by the thunder, bruises left by the violent bombardment, the marks bestowed upon her by the fierce battle.

But the wounds did not remain for long.

Dazzling white flames ignited from within her body, enveloping her figure. The charred skin peeled away, and skin as white as fresh snow regenerated amidst the white flames, emitting a pure, transcendent radiance.

Everything around seemed to have stopped.

Steaming dust floated in the light, embers danced like butterflies, and the white flames rose up, no longer carrying death and destruction, but rather the warm fire of life.

The shrine maiden stood amidst the flames, her semi-nude body exuding an aura of divinity, as if all the pain, violence, and calamity in the world could not leave a trace upon her existence.

She destroyed with black flames and was reborn from white flames.

Firebird, phoenix, undying bird… these words flashed through Qi Xing's mind inadvertently.

Noticing Qi Xing's gaze, the shrine maiden turned around and looked Qi Xing up and down with those sky-blue eyes. This look even made Qi Xing feel a bit guilty for a moment—if the shrine maiden complained about why she had been beaten up for no reason, Qi Xing would probably be very embarrassed.

Fortunately, Jingo Rin did not do so.

"Why was [Demon God Exorcism] able to block your stronger dragon claws, but couldn't defend against your weaker fist? What's going on?"

The first thing she asked was actually this, and she looked completely puzzled.

After being beaten half to death and standing back up, the thing Jingo Rin cared about most was actually summarizing the battle experience!

Even Qi Xing was stunned for a moment when he saw her reaction, and then couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Your flames likely possess powerful suppression capabilities only against evil spirits."

Then he said,

"Against my well-honed martial arts and fists, they don't have an advantage."

The shrine maiden nodded and raised an eyebrow: "Shall we continue?"

Wow, she actually hadn't had enough fighting!

Of course she hadn't had enough. Qi Xing actually hadn't had enough either.

It was rare to meet someone who could make him go all out, who wasn't an enemy, and where he didn't need to worry about the outcome.

"Unfortunately, that's not possible. If we keep fighting, your house will blow up first."

Qi Xing glanced at Old Wolf and Elaine in the distance: "Besides, I think their goal has already been achieved."

"That's true."

The shrine maiden's tone, however, was somewhat complex, seemingly carrying a hint of disappointment.

Perhaps, compared to it just being [rare] for Qi Xing, this was likely the first time she had encountered a combat opponent who could make her use her full strength, wouldn't die even if she hit them hard, and made her feel [pleasure] from the bottom of her heart.

Her father, meanwhile, was sitting by the courtyard, clapping and laughing incessantly: "Look, Ayame, I told you Jingo Rin would be fine!"

"Master, that's enough!"

Their maid could no longer take it.

Elaine and Old Wolf exchanged a glance, and then she, as the representative of the Papal Privy Council, first asked her fellow believer: "What is your verdict?"

"It is quite obvious that she indeed bears divine favor."

The Wolf Lord replied.

This conclusion was truly fatal.

——

After the martial arts competition ended, Elaine found an excuse and quickly took Qi Xing and Old Wolf away.

Qi Xing was a bit reluctant at first: "Isn't it a bit weird to run away right after fighting?"

As a result, Elaine retorted directly: "Then what do you think we should do? After beating someone else's daughter and burning her clothes, do you intend to stay for a meal before leaving?"

Uh, that seems right too.

Shingo Village originally had hot spring inns, and they just happened to be run by the Jingo Family. But Elaine didn't dare to stay in their building at all, so she dragged Qi Xing and Old Wolf into the car and hurried back to the hotel in Aomori City.

Back in the hotel room, back in the fortified position that had been confirmed as sanctified and impenetrable, she announced that she was going to conduct a post-battle summary.

"I've already said it."

Old Wolf, who had been forcibly dragged back, was somewhat helpless,

"I believe she is indeed a descendant of the Supreme King of Heaven. Why did you drag me back?"

If Elaine hadn't dragged him back on the spot, this Old Wolf would probably have sworn allegiance to the shrine maiden right then and there.

Unfortunately, Elaine could not afford not to be cautious.

Last month, there was the [Association] internal traitor issue, and then the leak of sacred object intelligence. As the new president of the [Association], she naturally had to be more cautious; otherwise, wouldn't all the hardships she had suffered before be in vain?

During a fight, Qi Xing was quite smart, and his awareness was good. But when not fighting, he didn't like to use his brain much. If she, Elaine, didn't help act as the strategist, everyone would fall into a ditch one day.

"Alright."

Qi Xing smacked his lips and spoke,

"I don't really understand the internal affairs of Christianity, so you guys should state your respective judgments first. Elaine, why were you in such a rush to drag us back? I originally wanted to soak in the hot springs there and chat a bit more with that young girl."

"Because we still can't determine exactly what she is."

Elaine said sternly,

"Although… I also agree that she indeed bears divine favor."

This answer finally made Qi Xing a bit surprised: "How so?"

He had originally thought that Elaine was different from the Wolf Lord and wouldn't make such a serious judgment so quickly.

"Through your previous report, Qi Xing, and the observation of this battle, I discovered that this shrine maiden's flames have at least three variations."

Elaine sighed and began to explain,

"The first is the red flame; I didn't see any special effects. But you mentioned before, Qi Xing, that it had an effect in terms of exorcism."

"The second is the black flame, which carries obvious destructive and death attributes."

"The third is the white flame, which has obvious healing effects… although it's called healing, I secretly checked it a little; it's actually more like [reconstitution], using divine power to overwrite, to rewrite phenomena."

"Although not yet complete, this reminds me of the four stages of Alchemy."

The four stages of Alchemy.

This was basic occult knowledge that even Qi Xing understood a little bit.

The first stage—Nigredo—is the beginning of the Alchemy process, symbolizing chaos, ignorance, and death.

The second stage—Albedo—refers to the purification stage of the Alchemy process. After initial purification and decomposition, the alchemist can begin to recombine and purify elements to achieve higher purity.

The third stage—Citrinitas—is the stage close to completion, close to [Rubedo], related to the symbols of gold and the sun. Gold is the material goal of Alchemy, while the sun is the symbol of Alchemy's spiritual goal, representing light, truth, and infinite possibilities.

The final stage—Rubedo—refers to the final achievement of Alchemy, the final completion of the Great Work, the ineffable highest realm.

But do these actually have a connection to Christianity as well?

"I also listened carefully to the shrine maiden's invocation just now."

Elaine continued,

"The pronunciation of [Uriel God] is the same as Uriel; this might just be a coincidence."

"But the Archangel Uriel is also the angel of Alchemy. The flame used by alchemists is called the Fire of Uriel, and the knowledge of Alchemy is said to have been taught to humans by Uriel in the beginning."

Qi Xing really didn't know about this: "Huh?"

"According to legend, the angel who first taught the Kabbalah secret arts to the human world was also Uriel."

Elaine sighed and began to explain those secret histories of Christianity,

"This knowledge includes the theurgy, Alchemy, and astrology of the Christian system. It is said that they were originally all under Uriel's jurisdiction. But precisely because of this, in the anti-magic era of the eighth century, Uriel was removed from the ranks of venerated angels by the Vatican. That is why the current Roman Church only recognizes Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael as the only three Archangels, which is why they have such a poor attitude toward Uriel."

So that's it.

"In any case, this Jingo Rin should indeed possess true angelic power. Paganism and Eastern religions may also contain true revelations; this is not a problem theologically."

"But even if this shrine maiden bears divine favor—I don't believe she must be a descendant of Christ!"

After saying such a long passage, Elaine finally returned to the main topic, stating the source of her objection,

"Receiving an angel's divine favor isn't something completely unheard of! Saint Joan of Arc also once received Michael's protection; you can't possibly say that Joan of Arc was also a descendant of Christ! One cannot judge this point based solely on miracles!"

Well, that is true.

Qi Xing also understood what she meant.

"Indeed. I looked around their house just now, and except for Jingo Rin and the maid named Ayame, there shouldn't be any other supernatural power in the entire house."

He rubbed his chin and laughed again,

"Even if the Son of God really crossed Siberia to Japan in the 1st century and left descendants—God can do anything anyway, so there's nothing to complain about—but it's impossible that after two thousand years, the other descendants have all faded into obscurity, yet this generation suddenly produces a super atavism, right?"

"So I also feel that although she is indeed blessed by an angel, she cannot be a divine descendant."

"Wolf Lord, you said you already believe she is a descendant of the Son of God, what is your basis?"

Qi Xing asked again.

Old Wolf raised his hand, scratched his chin, and answered seriously: "A warrior's intuition."

Elaine was speechless.

Qi Xing, on the other hand, really wanted to laugh.

With the conversation at this point, Elaine had nothing left to argue with Old Wolf about. People and animals can't communicate.

"I will write a report directly to the Privy Council, and my report will speak my mind," the Wolf Lord continued. "If the Church does not acknowledge it, I will bypass the Church and swear allegiance to the divine descendant."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Elaine retorted weakly. "So I will also write a report directly to the Privy Council."

Let them do as they please. As long as it didn't hinder him, Qi Xing didn't care about these church politics. He had actually had quite a bit of fun today.

However. After Old Wolf returned to his own room to write his report, and Elaine started writing hers at the desk next to Qi Xing, Qi Xing thought for a moment, then walked into the bedroom and called Sasa out: "What exactly was going on this time, Miss Sasa?"

"I did indeed feel the power of the silver coin being restrained by her flames. I don't think that was a coincidence, nor do I think that was something from this world."

Sasa had said there were no silver coins here, and Qi Xing hadn't felt anything like a silver coin either.

So regarding this, his biggest guess was actually: "Could it be the fourth [Descender]?"

The first [Descender] was Sasa, the second [Descender] was Yego, the third [Descender] was Qi Xing, so if another power that didn't belong to this world appeared, it would probably be the fourth [Descender], right?

But the devil immediately shook her head, denying it categorically: "No. I won't fall into the same pit twice. This time I checked her soul immediately—she is indeed a native soul of this world; from her body cells to her soul, everything is locally produced."