The stalemate in the Assembly Hall remained unbroken.
The faces of the Elders were very dark.
Seraphina and Sylvanas had joined forces, so they dared not continue pressing.
The air seemed to have solidified, leaving only the sound of each other’s breathing.
Yisela curled up in Seraphina’s arms, and only after she came back to her senses did she feel the fear retroactively.
She had rushed out on impulse to confront the Elders, but now that the confrontation was over, the strength that had supported her dissipated.
It was only now that she clearly felt the gaze of the surrounding Elders.
It was not anger, but something more hurtful than anger—disdain.
Because she remembered that when she had rampaged across the continent in the past, she had never cared about how others saw her.
Now the words of these Elders were like needles piercing her heart.
It turned out that in the past, relying on her strength, she had caused one disaster after another.
In everyone’s eyes, she had never been a playful and cute little princess, but a real jinx.
No matter whether she had actually made a mistake or not, whenever something bad happened, everyone would immediately blame her. No matter how much she tried to explain, no one believed her.
But even so, Seraphina still did her best to protect her.
Even Sylvanas, who always argued with her, had stood in front of her just now.
Guilt and warmth churned in her heart.
A tear rolled silently down her cheek and dripped onto the back of Seraphina’s hand.
Seraphina immediately noticed.
She gently wiped away the tear, lowered her head, and asked softly.
“Why did you suddenly cry?”
“Were you scared?”
“No.”
Yisela shook her head, sobbing.
She just turned to look at Sylvanas.
‘This old woman is somewhat good today, protecting me everywhere!’
‘After I recover my power, I’ll let you off this once.’
‘But the matter of you spanking me last time, I still have to find a chance to pay it back.’
Sylvanas caught sight of Yisela’s reddened eyes, couldn’t help stepping forward, and gently flicked her little dragon horn with her finger.
“Little silly dragon, what are you spacing out about?”
Yisela suddenly snapped back to reality, her eyes wide, her cheeks still wet with tears.
The Jingling Nüwang raised an eyebrow and said.
“What are you looking at?”
“Dazed like this, no wonder you always get framed, can’t even say a word to defend yourself.”
Hearing this, Yisela instantly bristled, and the little bit of emotional gratitude just now vanished.
She bared her little fangs and shouted back angrily.
“You’re the silly one!”
“You old fool!”
“Haven’t you been framed enough just now?”
Sylvanas crossed her arms and looked at her sideways, deliberately teasing her.
Yisela, furious, stood on tiptoe and yelled.
“Really, I can’t let you off with just a little punishment!”
“I’ll wait for you.”
Sylvanas gave a snort and didn’t take her threat seriously at all.
Just when the two were about to clash again, suddenly, an extremely pure and majestic holy light instantly filled the entire hall.
This warm and solemn force swept through every corner, inspiring awe from the bottom of one’s heart.
Startled by the sudden pressure, Yisela instinctively reached out and grabbed Seraphina’s sleeve, shrinking back.
Sylvanas frowned, her hand already resting on her bow.
Seraphina, however, turned back just as all the Temple Knights, believers, and even the aggressive Elders knelt down.
She comforted quietly with a tone of absolute certainty, without a hint of doubt.
“Don’t worry.”
“The Temple Master is my teacher.”
“He will definitely be on our side.”
Everyone in the hall shouted in unison: “May the holy light shine! Welcome the Master of the Hall of Holy Light!”
The holy light around Seraphina gently faded, and her expression turned serious.
Then, she slowly knelt and bowed deeply, saying.
“Your disciple greets the Temple Master.”
In the holy light, a figure in a plain white robe walked out slowly.
His face was warm and kind, his eyes compassionate, without any sharp pressure, yet possessing an aura that commanded submission.
When his gaze swept over the crowd, it was entirely composed.
Da Zhanglao bowed his head respectfully and spoke; Er Zhanglao also quickly chimed in, their words full of accusations against Yisela.
Yisela tightly clutched Seraphina’s sleeve, her head drooping.
Her heart was heavy and bitter, because she remembered that in the past she could do whatever she wanted, but now she had fallen to such a state. Everyone blamed her, and it seemed she deserved it.
Seraphina noticed her tension and gently grasped her hand in return.
She was about to speak to defend Yisela when the Temple Master raised his hand to stop her.
His gaze calmly swept over the Elders, his tone light but indisputable.
“The barrier of this Sacred Mountain was eroded by dark forces using demonic energy. It has nothing to do with Yisela.”
“The border disaster was a long-planned attack by monsters. Where does this talk of ‘dragon clan evil aura’ come from?”
As these words fell, the entire hall erupted in an uproar.
Da Zhanglao lifted his head abruptly, his face full of disbelief.
The Elders who had been whispering just now all fell silent.
The Lord Temple Master’s gaze dimmed, and he said.
“I am the master of holy light; I can detect any anomaly in the world.”
“As Elders of the Temple, you did not investigate the truth and only based your verdict on past prejudices. Is this the way a holy light Elder should act?”
San Zhanglao’s face turned pale, but he couldn’t give up and quietly brought up the matter of Yisela offending the Temple years ago.
The Lord Temple Master looked down at Yisela and said.
“Youthful mischief is not the same as heinous evil.”
“Can you not distinguish whether she has not repented or is about to repent?”
“She is cursed and has lost her power, but she has never truly harmed the common people. Why must you be so relentless?”
Yisela abruptly lifted her head, staring blankly at the Lord Temple Master, her eyes instantly warming.
‘This uncle is really a good person.’
Seraphina bowed slightly and said firmly.
“Lord Temple Master, I will keep an eye on her and also quickly investigate the movements of the dark forces to repair the barrier.”
Sylvanas also crossed her arms and added in her usual tone.
“Leaving this little silver dragon in the Temple under the care of the Sheng Nu is indeed a proper arrangement. I, representing the Elven Clan, approve.”
These words were said flatly, but the faces of the Elven Clan Elders present changed.
With the Jingling Nüwang’s words, Yisela’s stay was already a foregone conclusion.
Sylvanas continued.
“Lord Temple Master, the demonic energy fluctuation I sensed at the border of the Holy Light Kingdom matches what you just said.”
“This matter is indeed suspicious. Our Elven Clan will strengthen vigilance along the forest border.”
“If necessary, my scouts can share intelligence with the Temple.”
Victor met her gaze and nodded slightly, a faint smile appearing on his gentle face.
“The Temple will not disappoint the goodwill of the Elven Clan.”
“If there is any anomaly at the border, I will send word to the Queen immediately.”
Sylvanas nodded, then stepped back half a pace and crossed her arms again.
Her stance happened to block Yisela’s side, flanking the little silver dragon with Seraphina, one on each side.
She turned her head to glance at the still-dazed Yisela behind her, lowered her voice, and said in a tone only the two could hear.
“Little silly dragon, do you see clearly now?”
“Next time, don’t just run into our territory. Our Elven Clan won’t always speak for outsiders.”
“W-who wants you to speak for me!”
Yisela instinctively retorted, but her voice was noticeably weaker, and her tail swayed slightly behind her.
Unconsciously, she edged closer to Sylvanas’s shin.
The Elders looked at each other, just scolded into silence by the Lord Temple Master. They dared not say more and bowed in unison to retreat down the steps.
A soft holy light flickered from the Temple Master’s fingertip and landed on Yisela’s brow.
Without immense power, it only turned into a warmth flowing through Yisela’s entire body.
“Behave yourself. Don’t always trouble those who protect you.”
“I have already received the letter from the Silver Dragon Elder.”
“Yisela may stay in the Temple to accept punishment for the previous disturbance of the Temple, under the supervision and guidance of the Sheng Nu. If she does not obey the instruction, she will be imprisoned in the Holy Light Prison for 50 years.”
Yisela spoke grudgingly.
“Thank you, Uncle. Thank you, everyone. I accept this punishment.”
The Lord Temple Master smiled gently and said.
“Alright, let’s leave it at that.”
His figure gradually faded, surrounded by holy light, leaving only an echo.
“The border issue is left entirely to Seraphina.”
Only after the Lord Temple Master had completely left did everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
Although the Elders’ faces were ugly, they no longer dared to cause trouble. With gloomy expressions, they silently snapped their sleeves and left the hall. The Temple Knights and believers also gradually withdrew.