“The Order’s Demon-Expelling Nun possesses unique abilities. She is humanity’s secret weapon against the Mountain Clan. Her Earthly Flame can purify Blood Demons, and her healing arts can even cure those infected with Corpse Poison. Even if we’re bitten by corpses, we won’t mutate into zombies.”
“In the end, all of us fell under the illusion of the Female Vampire Queen. I myself suffered a terrifying spiritual attack. It was she who, alone, wielded the power of the sun to seal the Blood Demoness once again, saving everyone in the church.”
“To be honest, I’ve always had quite a grudge against this woman, but I can’t deny her contributions to humanity.”
“She’s a true hero.”
Closs finally finished her lines, turning her head to look at Samimi, her eyes signaling that her mission was complete.
“From now on, we don’t owe each other anything.”
Even at the very end, her tone remained so calm, as if she were reading from a script, but that was enough.
In fact, this final speech had an impact even greater than Samimi’s impassioned plea. It was precisely this composed, unwavering tone that truly struck a chord.
Closs displayed no fear or emotion, delivering the truth like she was merely reporting the facts of a mission—nothing but sincerity.
Of course, some parts had been trimmed for clarity and impact, and a few segments had been adjusted, but overall, there were no lies.
How effective was this speech?
Just look at the expressions of those on the other side.
Tai Lus Grand Archbishop clutched the Magic Loudspeaker, his hands shaking, cold sweat streaming down his face like rain at dusk. He couldn’t utter a single word of rebuttal.
Even someone as skilled in twisting words and fabricating nonsense as this Saint found himself completely unable to refute the words spoken through the Phantom Dream Bow. He couldn’t even force out a warped argument or a single excuse.
Because he knew that if he dared to forcefully twist the facts now, he would truly become a traitor to all humanity.
When that formless pressure descended upon him, even the most wicked, heartless political Saints were rendered silent.
“What on earth are you doing?”
“She’s a hero who fought the Blood Demon! And you want to execute her?”
“Grand Archbishop, step down! Step down!”
“You have no right to preside over us!”
The citizens of Royal City could hold back no longer. Their pent-up rage exploded, the shouts of the crowd rising to the heavens, threatening to blast away even the dark clouds above.
Even the thousand or so Holy Knights stationed above began to stir.
They didn’t try to silence the people. They simply stood still, turning into wooden statues, having no intention of intervening.
They might not be virtuous people, but everyone has their limits. In a moment like this, going against the will of the people would be akin to courting death.
“Why aren’t you saying anything now?”
But Tai Lus Grand Archbishop’s silence only made Samimi more displeased—her carefully prepared scheme had ground to a halt.
She’d originally planned that after Closs finished her speech, Modern Ji would pass the Magic Loudspeaker to Tai Lus Grand Archbishop, letting him replenish his mana and shout out his own defense, creating a fair debate.
It can’t just be us talking, right? Aren’t we supposed to be reasonable?
But now Tai Lus Grand Archbishop had been struck dumb by Closs’s icy speech, left a fool with no strength to resist.
The most important thing: her whole plan had come to a standstill.
The next step had been for Tai Lus Grand Archbishop to try to defend himself, for her to ignite the Demon-Hunting Nun on the spot, and push the Judgment Assembly directly into a tragic climax.
Now that he wouldn’t defend himself, what was she supposed to do?
Samimi fell silent, lost in thought for a moment.
“Not guilty! Not guilty! Not guilty! Not guilty! Not guilty!”
The cries of the crowd rose, wave after wave. Countless Royal City citizens and Saints who had quietly come forward, all shouted for innocence.
Ah! Never mind! Let’s just go for it!
Debates and reason are only useful in lectures; reality doesn’t care about reason.
“Huff! Huff! Huff!”
In the next instant, the Demon-Hunting Nun on the cross suddenly burst into flames, her entire body engulfed in blazing red fire.
The crowd was caught completely off guard. The chorus of “not guilty” came to a sudden halt.
“Gasp!”
Even Closs, who stood nearby, felt dizzy, her mind reeling from the shock.
Because she had received the same plan as Samimi, she knew every stage—except she didn’t know whether the final burning was fake or real, so she’d always assumed it was true.
But now, having already rendered that red-clad Grand Archbishop speechless, and with the crowd overwhelmingly supporting her, why would they still burn her?
Closs couldn’t understand what was happening. Watching the motionless figure amid the flames turn to charcoal and ash, she felt her soul falling into a bottomless abyss.
“How could this be?”
“How could this happen?”
“Why is she burning?!”
“Unforgivable! Unthinkable! Unjust!”
It wasn’t just her. The unaware Holy Knights leaped onto the Sacred Execution Platform like a rainbow arching into the fire, but they were too late—each one furious beyond belief, their rage boiling over.
Those Saints who had followed along with the Sage Knight Order Second Company, too, ran about like headless flies, losing their faith and collapsing on the spot.
With a single fire, it was as if everyone had fallen from heaven into hell. The mortal world was plunged into utter darkness.
Tens of thousands had gathered at the Royal City’s public square to witness this infamous scene. As they watched the last Demon-Hunting Nun burn to ash, chaos erupted, the crowd engulfed by endless grief.
One had to admit, the impact was devastating.
If this wasn’t fiction—if it were real—the author’s home would soon be flooded with knives from outraged fans.
Even Closs, who had always disliked Samimi, couldn’t accept this outcome…
She quietly slipped something from her sleeve, revealing a hidden Arrow of Dream.
But with only an arrow and no bow, what could she possibly do? To blend in with the Saints, she hadn’t dared bring her longbow.
Gritting her teeth, Closs came up with a solution. She spun around, gripped the Arrow of Dream in her hand, and hurled it like a dagger.
The arrowhead cut through the air, heading straight for Tai Lus Grand Archbishop—she was going to avenge Mi Chong, who’d been reduced to bones and smoke!
With a sharp whistle, the arrow pierced the thin Bing Shuang Stance barrier, shot straight, and struck Tai Lus Grand Archbishop.
“Aagh!”
With a shrill scream, the portly Archbishop collapsed onto the ground.
Closs instantly realized her aim had failed.
Because she’d been aiming at his heart—if she’d hit, he wouldn’t have been able to scream.
Upon closer inspection, her arrow had only pierced the Archbishop’s kidney. Apparently, her aim had gone off while passing through the Bing Shuang Stance.
Closs looked murderous, her hands empty, but she was already preparing to finish off the red-robed Grand Archbishop.
But just as her mind brimmed with vengeful thoughts…
“Put down your weapon. Don’t act rashly.”
A familiar, long-missing voice drifted up from beneath the execution platform, suddenly reining in Closs’s rage.
She looked down at the execution platform floor, suddenly noticing many things amiss.
If Samimi were truly dead, would she really be the first to lose her mind and seek revenge? Surely there would be others even more crazed than herself.
The first clue was that the Sage Knight Order Second Company Commander Ophika was still restraining the Azure Moon Rampaging Dragon.
At that moment, the Mad Dragon of Moon Recommendation, upon seeing the Demon-Hunting Nun burnt to white ash, had lost his senses and entered berserk mode.
Yet, even so, Samimi’s deputy Ophika still blocked his path—wasn’t she afraid of being ripped to shreds? Was it necessary to go this far?
And the person who should have been the most unhinged at this time…
Was actually napping.
That person was Niubao!
She was sitting on the iron pillar behind the platform, pretending to be shackled by iron chains, but in fact was just lounging and dozing off.
She was even drooling in her sleep, completely unmoved by anything that had happened, her relaxed look unaffected by the chaos.
After spending many days together, Niubao had long since mastered a mysterious skill called [Mi Chong Life Deep Scan Devour].
She could sense with great accuracy whether the Nun was truly in danger—a skill nearly equivalent to predicting the future. If Miss Nun was in no danger, then she’d just relax and stand by.
Closs was floored—she’d been needlessly upset, played for a fool, raging for Samimi’s sake?
Even Closs, whose face was usually as thick as an armored vehicle, felt her cheeks redden a bit at that moment.
“Chi Huo Rebirth!”
Where the Demon-Hunting Nun had turned to ash, a pure white flame suddenly erupted.
In the blink of an eye, Samimi’s true form reappeared where the ashes had been, light shining upon the world once more.
She wore her familiar, low-key black habit, black dress, military boots, a new demon-hunting scythe strapped to her back, a flute-shaped cane in her hand, and a worn canvas satchel slung at her side—inside was the Sun Gold Sutra.
No longer needing to pretend to be anyone else, she resumed her comfortable, unrestrained manner to greet the new era ahead.
“A resurrection miracle!”
“As expected of a heaven-sent maiden!”
“A miracle! A miracle! A miracle! A miracle!”
Seeing the Demon-Hunting Nun alive again, no one understood what had happened, but—
Their emotions, having crashed from heaven to hell, soared back to the sky again. The crowd’s fervor reached a new peak.
Of course, it was just a simple trick—a magic show.
Samimi’s true body had been hidden in the carriage in the woods all along. The one burned on stage was actually a Magic Doppelganger.
No one was better at faking death with Magic Doppelgangers than Samimi herself.
Samimi waved at the crowd, showing that she was safe and well, assuring everyone’s peace of mind.
Anyone who didn’t know might think she’d just ascended as Pope, so brazen was she.
“You really went all out, faking your death? Was that necessary?” Closs glared at Samimi’s self-satisfied grin, itching to jab her with an arrow.
“It was in the plan, so I followed the script. Besides, I didn’t write the plan—Commander Ophika did. If you have a problem, go take her place. Don’t blame me, it’s not my fault,” Samimi shrugged all responsibility onto her deputy.