Chapter 37: A Glimpse of Destiny and a Troublesome Saintess

“Yes, there is, but… no, why has your vitality diminished so drastically? What exactly transpired?”

Ye Ying sensed something amiss with Zhang Luan. Lifespan and vitality were intrinsically linked, and his current life force was considerably depleted compared to before. Had some event within the mage tower drastically drained his essence?

Beside them, Nan Fenghua’s face instantly tightened with worry upon hearing the exchange.

“Brother Zhang Luan, are you alright? What divine art replenishes vitality? I’ll learn it right away! Godmother, please teach me!”

While Nan Fenghua’s eagerness to learn divine arts pleased Ye Ying, the fact that she was doing so *for* Zhang Luan stirred an inexplicable feeling within her.

“It’s nothing, really. I just burn a little of my lifespan. I won’t die. Once we’re back, just make sure my lifespan stays above fifty. It won’t take too much from you.”

Ye Ying pondered for a moment, then understood Zhang Luan’s meaning. His lost vitality was likely around fifty years. For him to restore it above fifty implied he possessed an item or ability that consumed a significant amount of life force.

“Once we return to the temple, I will perform the divine art for you.”

“That’s good. I’m tired. Let’s head back.”

Without further conversation, Zhang Luan walked directly towards the temple, genuinely feeling weary. Nan Fenghua immediately linked her arm through his, clearly intending to accompany him.

Ye Ying did not stop them. She watched Zhang Luan’s retreating figure for a long time before finally turning to Yanate, who had just approached.

“Send word to spread the news that His Highness, the Saint Son, destroyed this mage tower. I imagine the neighboring towns will be quite eager to send envoys to invite him to their own settlements, hoping to win him over.”

Yanate hesitated, then asked quietly, “Is this truly wise? This unexpectedly appearing Saint Son… can he be trusted? What if he is an infiltrator sent by the Demon-Bombardment Church?”

Ye Ying cast a glance at him, her tone somewhat cold. “Mind your attitude, Guardian Instructor Yanate. A Saint Son is a Saint Son. Even if he were from the Demon-Bombardment Church, he would still be *the* Saint Son. Moreover, a genius capable of completing their first advancement at level 15? If the Demon-Bombardment Church possessed such a person, why would they send him here? They would have long since sent him to the Central World.”

Yanate lowered his head, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. Indeed, his question was contrary to doctrine. Within their teachings, the Saint Son’s position was beyond reproach, as doubting it was tantamount to doubting the Saintess who confirmed their status.

This was an act of great disrespect.

However, what shocked Yanate even more was Ye Ying’s assertion that Zhang Luan had completed his first advancement. How could that be possible?

He had not completed that advancement during their battle. How much time had passed since then? Yet, Ye Ying would not deceive him, nor did she need to, meaning this was the truth.

He looked in the direction Zhang Luan had departed, a bitter taste in his mouth.

He had been stuck at Zero-tier for four or five years now, with every attempt at advancement ending in failure. His level had long surpassed the requirement, but he simply could not succeed. In recent years, he had even lost the will to advance, believing he had only one more chance left. If he failed again, he would give up, which was why he diligently trained those guardians, hoping to see a glimmer of opportunity in them.

But Zhang Luan? A level 15 advancement was unheard of in a small place like Akamana City. Such feats only occurred among the super-factions of the central worlds, perhaps one or two instances.

Could it be…?

Yanate considered a possibility: what if Zhang Luan was from a prominent family in the Central World, forced to flee here due to pursuit? Hiding here to accumulate strength before returning to the Central World?

The more he pondered, the more plausible it seemed, and his eyes gradually brightened. If this were true, and he were to completely submit to Zhang Luan, wouldn’t it be a case of ‘one man’s ascension lifts all his dependents’ when Zhang Luan returned to his faction?

His own path to advancement might finally have hope!

Ye Ying watched Yanate’s constantly shifting expression and shook her head. Regardless of Zhang Luan’s true identity, this era no longer permitted a peaceful existence. If he truly hailed from a major power, it might even be a good thing for Akamana.

Although Akamana was a goddess, the gods of the Central World were far more powerful than she, a goddess primarily of blessings—gods of war, death, yin and yang. The Goddess of Blessings barely ranked among them.

However, Goddess Akamana had one distinct difference from other deities: for some unknown reason, she possessed a silver thread of destiny that was not her own. The power of this silver thread granted Goddess Akamana the ability to glimpse a sliver of fate.

Ye Ying, having learned all her divine arts, naturally acquired this ability. She had used this divine art during the three days Zhang Luan was missing, but the results had astonished her. The tranquil river of destiny she usually observed through the silver thread had, at some point, become exceptionally turbulent.

All destinies were now unreadable, even her own predetermined fate—to die by others’ schemes under the constraints of doctrine—had vanished. This was illogical. If not for the silver thread protecting her, Ye Ying’s very existence would have been devoured without a trace by the raging river of destiny.

‘This world is about to descend into chaos.’

Her voice was so soft that only she could hear it, for these words were spoken to herself. Perhaps… she needed to change.

Walking down the wide street, the surrounding people had, over the past three days, learned the appearance of their trusted Saint Son. Even those who hadn’t would recognize Zhang Luan upon seeing Nan Fenghua. They all offered kind glances to the pair.

Under Akamana’s righteous guidance and governance, the vast majority of the city’s residents were benevolent.

“You go back first. I need to go somewhere.”

He stopped at an intersection, gently peeling Nan Fenghua, who had clung to him, away before tapping her head.

“Ah! I want to go too!”

“I’ll be back soon. Taking you along is troublesome.”

Zhang Luan looked at Nan Fenghua with a hint of helplessness. He wanted to check on the custom arrows at the blacksmith’s. If he brought the Saintess, Nan Fenghua, it wouldn’t be as easy to trick people.

“No! I want to go with you! What if you disappear again?”

Nan Fenghua’s attitude was resolute, with no intention of letting go. Her ample bosom pressed tightly against Zhang Luan, soft and yielding as if massaging him.

“Let go!”

“I won’t!”

Zhang Luan looked at Nan Fenghua, a headache brewing, as the surrounding citizens gathered, smiling cheerfully at their Saint Son and Saintess’s playful bickering, thoroughly enjoying the scene.

“Fine! Alright, alright, let’s go together, then! Are you happy now? I give up.”

He simply couldn’t win against her, so he had no choice but to take her to the blacksmith’s. He had originally intended to try and swindle the blacksmith a little, to prevent him from overthinking during these three days and wavering in his ‘faith’ in the gods, but with this little burden along, he decided against it for now.