Her voluptuous body, merged with the tree, trembled violently under the brilliance of the Saint Light.
Charred, black patterns resembling burns surfaced on her skin, only to be instantly repaired by the surging Life Energy in a repeating cycle.
She had executed Fan Zhuo’s instructions perfectly.
That appearance—suffering immensely yet with a hint of enjoyment amidst the pain, all while stubbornly resisting—caused Lucien’s brow to furrow tightly.
The situation was different from what he had expected.
If it were a Heretic, they should have let out a blood-curdling scream under such pure Saint Light, and their energy would have become violent and chaotic, revealing their true nature.
But the Mother Tree before him, though showing signs of pain, possessed a Life Energy that remained stable and pure at its core; she was simply stubbornly rejecting the intrusion of the Saint Light.
It felt… like trying to purify a stone soaked in sewage.
There were impurities, but not many.
“Still refusing to confess!”
Lucien felt his authority was being challenged. He increased the output of Holy Power, and the pillar of light grew even more dazzling!
“Mm… ahhh!”
The Mother Tree’s groans intensified, even carrying a hint of a sob, making Fan Zhuo’s heart skip a beat.
Big sister, isn’t your acting a bit much?
If you keep crying out like that, I’m going to start thinking you’re actually enjoying this!
However, the others did not see it that way.
Professor Elsa watched the Mother Tree struggling in the Saint Light, her eyes filled with anxiety and pity.
Kyle, on the other hand, had a look of schadenfreude, wishing for nothing more than to see this Demonic Entity—which had nearly blinded him with Saint Light earlier—purified into ash on the spot.
Lily, the alchemy girl wearing goggles, was excitedly recording data:
“Wow! Incredible! Lady Gaia’s Life Energy is undergoing high-frequency self-repair and structural reorganization!”
“While the Saint Light is damaging her, it also seems to be… stimulating some kind of… evolution?”
The ritual lasted for a full five minutes.
Fine beads of sweat had formed on Lucien’s forehead; he hadn’t expected this tree to be so “stubborn.”
But Fan Zhuo wasn’t worried at all.
He even felt that, under his guidance, the Mother Tree was somewhat enjoying herself.
This didn’t seem like the “evolution” the young girl spoke of, but more like she was “unlocking” something.
Just as Lucien was prepared to risk everything and employ a more powerful Judgment Secret Art, a sudden change occurred.
The entire forest, and even the entire world, seemed to go still in that instant.
The wind stopped, the light and shadows froze, and everyone’s thoughts fell into a total blank.
An indescribable, supreme, merciful, yet majestic will descended without warning.
It wasn’t a deliberate display of pressure; merely its “gaze” was enough to cause time and space to stagnate.
In Fan Zhuo’s mental world, the recently expanded Holy Power Lake was instantly smoothed over like a mirror.
The Sakura Tree by the lake and the vines at the bottom respectfully lowered their branches, not daring to make the slightest move.
He felt as though he had returned to that night—the night he attempted a “Prayer Initiation” and glimpsed something he shouldn’t have.
The Seraph of Mercy!
Everyone present had their eyes glazed over, as if frozen in time.
But Fan Zhuo, who lacked the shielding of the Saint Light, could sense it.
It was Her!
The Seraph of Mercy was watching this place.
***
In the unimaginably distant, supreme Divine Realm, the Seraph of Mercy, seated upon a radiant throne, slowly opened Her eyes.
Her beautiful brow furrowed slightly.
Just now, She perceived a wisp of Holy Power belonging to a Judicator in a remote mortal plane, “purifying” Gaia in an… extremely crude and inefficient manner.
It was like a child holding a burning stick, trying to chop down a thousand-year-old tree.
Foolish, and cruel.
Her gaze easily fell upon Asphodel.
She saw Lucien struggling to maintain his power, saw the peculiar ancient tree containing a trace of “Mother Earth” aura, and saw the surrounding group of mages watching as if it were a play.
Then, the Seraph of Mercy’s gaze paused slightly.
She saw… Fan Zhuo.
That little bug who, not long ago, had been bold enough to use a mortal body to peer at Her divine essence.
At this moment, the little bug was standing there with a face full of terror, the mixed aura on his body even denser than last time.
You again?
She raised a finger as slender as jade and pointed lightly in the direction where Lucien stood.
In the physical world.
Lucien felt an irresistible force—infinitely gentle yet incredibly overbearing—manifest out of thin air.
Like a spring breeze brushing past, it effortlessly… extinguished the “Judgment Purification Ritual” he had been driving with all his might.
“Pfft—”
The ritual was forcibly interrupted. The massive energy backlash caused a sweetness to rise in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, his face instantly turning deathly pale.
He stumbled back several steps, his face filled with horror and disbelief.
What happened? What was that power?!
It wasn’t an attack; it was more like… a “restraint” coming from a higher-dimensional being.
At the same time, Fan Zhuo felt that gaze locked onto him—the one that made his skin crawl—finally move away slowly.
At the very last moment before it withdrew, he seemed to hear a light snort.
That snort seemed to carry a hint of a warning, a hint of disdain, and perhaps a little bit of… “I’ll get you next time.”
A shiver ran through Fan Zhuo’s entire body, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.
He had no doubt that if he dared to perform a “Prayer Initiation” toward the Seraph of Mercy one more time, his reception would definitely be more than just being stepped on until he fainted.
Should I… try someone else next time?
With the departure of that supreme will, the world that had seemingly stopped resumed its flow.
The people from the Magic Academy snapped out of their daze, looking at everything before them in confusion. They didn’t know what had just happened; they only felt as if they had… blacked out for a split second.
Only powerhouses of Elsa and Lucien’s caliber vaguely sensed that fleeting, terrifying aura that had made their very souls tremble.
“How is it, Lord Judicator?”
Elsa immediately stepped forward. Seeing Lucien spitting blood, her tone carried a hint of questioning and a touch of schadenfreude. “Did you find the ‘Heretic’ you were looking for?”
Lucien’s face was so dark it looked like it could drip ink.
The ritual had failed, and he had been slapped in the face publicly by an unknown power. It was a humiliating disgrace!
Furthermore, that power…
“Humph, it seems the Heretic is more cunning than I imagined,” Lucien didn’t dare say more and could only force a tough front as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
“I will continue to follow up on this matter!”
Having said that, he turned to leave, as if staying for even one more second was agony.
And at that moment, from the highest branch of the seemingly severely weakened Mother Tree’s crown, a single twig suddenly swayed gently.
A fist-sized, entirely emerald fruit, radiating a shimmering glow, detached from the branch. It traced a graceful arc through the air, bypassing everyone, and landed unerringly… right toward Fan Zhuo.
The eyes of everyone present focused instantly.
Is this… the Goddess’s “favor”?
Fan Zhuo’s mind went blank.
He subconsciously reached out his hand and caught the fruit steadily.
The fruit felt warm and smooth in his hand, carrying a refreshing fragrance. The massive Life Energy contained within made the Holy Power inside his body begin to cheer and jump for joy.
“You… all of you…”
The Mother Tree’s weakened voice rang out. Her gaze swept over the crowd and finally rested on Fan Zhuo, filled with “gratitude” and “recognition.”
“…are good people. This is for you…”
As she finished, the face on the tree trunk slowly faded away as if she had exhausted her last bit of strength, and she fell back into a deep slumber.