Chapter 129: Sanctuary?

Rosetta’s reaction at that moment was almost identical to Sylvia’s.

She watched as Milis unleashed her ‘Sanctuary’, frowning as she activated her Sacred Seal, wanting to rescue Luo Xiya immediately and halt the duel.

Just as she pressed her sword, ready to descend, Roman suddenly grabbed her with both hands.

“Hmm?”

She looked at Roman in confusion.

“Big sister Luo Xiya hasn’t given up.”

Roman stared seriously at the figure within the golden flames and spoke earnestly.

What he didn’t realize was that whenever he got serious, he always appeared adorably stubborn to others—especially now, holding tightly onto Rosetta’s wrist.

This made Rosetta hesitate, and by the time she regained her composure, she could only let it go.

When Roman stopped her, Sylvia also ceased her actions.

Unlike Rosetta, she immediately saw that Luo Xiya wasn’t just unscathed—there was a sense of a counterattack brewing.

Interesting.

Only now did Sylvia truly focus.

Earlier, she’d been distracted watching Roman while Luo Xiya and Milis sparred.

Within the golden flames, Luo Xiya parted Milis’s ‘Sanctuary’ like Moses splitting the sea, carving a direct path toward Milis.

“What…”

For the first time since the battle began, Milis showed surprise.

It was also the first time she felt the situation slipping out of her control.

“I let my guard down and broke my sword. Now, shouldn’t you compensate me properly…?”

Luo Xiya whispered.

In the next instant, she surged straight at Milis, using her physical prowess.

‘Saint Sword’

Milis composed herself and continued her silent incantation.

Behind her, sword blades wreathed in flame materialized one after another, all pointing toward Luo Xiya, who was charging straight at her.

If they were still on the wide plaza from before, Luo Xiya could have easily dodged the attack.

But now, having turned the terrain into a straight path herself, she seemed to have trapped herself.

Once again, Luo Xiya’s choices defied Milis’s expectations.

Milis watched Luo Xiya flash a strange smile at her—then, she plunged directly into the lingering sea of fire at the side.

This put Milis on alert.

The fiery sea became a shroud, making Luo Xiya’s silhouette flicker in and out of view.

Milis could only catch glimpses of her shadow.

Suddenly, an instinctive chill ran through Milis, raising the hairs on her skin.

She spun instantly, lashing out behind her.

This was knowledge taught to her by Lady Catherine—when facing assassins, always protect the blind spots in your vision.

Just as she attempted to use her flame-wreathed hand to pin Luo Xiya, Luo Xiya’s steps shifted, and she flashed past with a swift movement.

As they brushed past, Luo Xiya elbowed her.

“Not bad reflexes.”

Luo Xiya praised.

It was a sincere compliment.

Milis was the only peer she’d met so far who could keep up with her pace.

That was why she’d been so shocked at first.

She’d intended to use her proud speed to put her opponent in their place—only to be taught a lesson herself.

Back then, wanting to hide her strength and lure her in, she’d ended up genuinely angered by Milis’s provocations and landed a solid punch without thinking.

Satisfying, but ultimately meaningless.

From that moment, Luo Xiya knew she couldn’t hold back any longer.

Milis was stronger than she’d expected.

***

Above the Papal Palace.

Sylvia had been observing Luo Xiya for some time, her eyes filled with wonder.

“The Commander really has never misjudged anyone…”

She couldn’t help but sigh.

A Bishop standing beside her and watching the match spoke up upon hearing Sylvia’s words.

“Does the Holy Throne also find this girl remarkable?”

“Of course. To be honest, she’s in no way inferior to Milis.”

The Bishop had meant it casually, but he hadn’t expected the Holy Throne to outright compare her to the Saintess Highness.

“She’s already reached the Sanctuary.”

Sylvia said calmly.

With her words, the surrounding nuns, Bishops, and Cardinals all fell into a strange silence, exchanging looks.

Yet, no one dared to refute the Holy Throne.

No one replied.

Sylvia pursed her lips, unwilling to bother with them.

She wasn’t speaking nonsense—it was the truth.

Luo Xiya had indeed reached the Sanctuary.

But it wasn’t the Sanctuary of magic power—it was that of the spirit.

Unbelievable…

Sylvia shook her head.

To most Extraordinary, they only recognized differences in magic power levels and knew nothing of disparities in spiritual strength.

After all, spiritual-type Extraordinary were extremely rare.

Even she hadn’t expected this girl to sanctify her spirit at such a young age…

Sylvia’s strength stemmed not only from possessing the Supreme Saint Sigil but also from having both her magic power and spiritual strength at the Sanctuary level.

With the realm of the Law World added, it made her truly invincible.

Thus, she understood that for a true powerhouse, when magic power levels were close, the level of spiritual strength became a decisive factor.

Under her guidance, Milis had always trained in both.

Her magic power level had surpassed nine hundred thousand long ago, but her spiritual strength still lagged behind.

That was why she was so shocked by Luo Xiya’s achievement.

Compared to magic power, her spiritual strength had reached the Sanctuary first?

She and the Blue Knight shared the same Sacred Seal—both infinitely dependent on the Extraordinary’s own spirit.

Rosetta wasn’t wrong.

Her future potential was limitless.

Yet below, Milis’s face grew increasingly grim.

She couldn’t understand how Luo Xiya, whose weapon she’d melted at the start, had suddenly become so powerful—why her ‘Sanctuary’ no longer affected her opponent.

Forcing herself to observe Luo Xiya, Milis finally discovered a shocking answer.

Just like how she could dissolve others’ spells, Luo Xiya was using her spirit to resist the invasion of the ‘Sanctuary’.

But…

“Mm, you’re not wrong.”

Luo Xiya said frankly as she landed.

“Your ‘Judgement’ is indeed strong. Even my spirit doesn’t dare clash directly with your golden flames, and you made me suffer at first.”

“But using such a wide domain against me is a bit disrespectful, don’t you think~”

As she spoke, Luo Xiya manipulated magic power in her palm, forming an Illusory Weapon—a beautifully crafted one-handed sword.

“I also realized your spirit is surprisingly weak.”

Luo Xiya shrugged, and the faintly flickering Illusory Weapon spun in her hand.

“Which means I can be sure you can no longer melt my weapon the way you did at the start.”

An Illusory Weapon is a weapon created by an Extraordinary whose spirit has reached sanctity, shaped by their innermost desires.

This weapon, formed from the purest power, was the perfect counter to Milis.

Though not as tangible as a material Saint Domain Relic, against Milis, it held a certain special advantage.