Chapter 233: Grand High Priest
The Pope smiled and waved his hand, indicating that he didn’t need to worry.
“I heard about everything you did for the Holy Church in Xilan City and Diya City of the Turin Empire. On behalf of the Holy Church, I thank you for what you have done. I wonder if you are interested in a position here?” The Pope looked into Chen Ran’s eyes, as if he could see through a person’s soul. His unhurried tone made people feel the weight of his words. “You are a promising young man, and the Holy Church welcomes you to join this family. But I must remind you that a position here cannot bring you so-called material wealth and status.”
“Your Holiness, you are too polite,” Chen Ran felt a little flattered by the Pope’s words. He quickly replied, “If it were purely for wealth and status, I wouldn’t have come to the Holy Church.
I accidentally obtained the inheritance of some light power and possessed magical holy power. After experiencing various things, I had a sense of belonging to the Holy Church, like half a home. Until I traveled over mountains and rivers to come to this place, after witnessing the magic and beauty here, I also fell in love with this special city. I also want to contribute my part to this beautiful city.”
Every word Chen Ran said came from the heart, without a hint of flattery.
“Very good.”
The Pope didn’t say much and extended his left hand.
With a burst of dazzling colorful light, a golden-covered Holy Codex appeared on the Pope’s clean palm. This book was the source of all Holy Codexes, and it was also a rare peerless magic weapon.
“Chen Ran, can you recite the general outline of the Holy Codex?”
Chen Ran nodded. He knew that the next moment was the time to accept the canonization. He knelt on one knee, not worshipping the Pope in front of him, but swearing to his own heart.
He extended his right hand and gently placed it on the Holy Codex, reciting the familiar general outline.
“The Sacred and Demonic Edict: Once an obsession takes root in the heart, one will inevitably spend their entire life in its pursuit. To be born for it, to die for it. If this is destiny, it cannot be defied. Embark on an unseen journey where the end of the road is the end of life. This, precisely, is God’s guidance…”
The clear voice prayed in this holy hall. Chen Ran seemed to feel the response of his own heart, and gradually recalled his past. The scenes of the past experiences were surprisingly throbbing.
This prayer was not for the so-called gods, nor for the so-called world. Perhaps the clever God of Light also understood that only human will was the direction that truly guided them forward. He didn’t need people to worship him himself, but just pointed out a path that at least wouldn’t go wrong. This was the real reason why more people believed in him.
After listening to Chen Ran’s oath, the Pope asked again, “Never betray?”
“Never betray!”
When Chen Ran finished the last part of the oath, he suddenly felt that the entire Pope’s Palace seemed to tremble. The ordinary Pope’s Palace seemed to have countless pairs of eyes looking at him.
But the Pope’s Palace was still the same Pope’s Palace as before, without any change. Chen Ran finally realized that the feeling he had was the supervision given to him by those people he remembered deeply, and himself at any moment in the past…
“Good!”
A dazzling but not glaring light surrounded Chen Ran. After flashing for a while, it finally returned to normal.
Chen Ran suddenly found that he was no longer wearing the casual clothes he had worn in the morning, but a clean white robe that only a true Grand High Priest was qualified to wear. Looking at the white robe emitting true light fluctuations, Chen Ran found that his state of mind had also changed unknowingly, and he felt that his eyes were more focused than ever before.
“Now, I grant you the position of Grand High Priest of the Holy Temple. I hope you will use your power well to walk the path you think is most correct.”
Chen Ran slowly stood up, but his eyes were different from when he came.
The Pope nodded. “Chen Ran, from your state of mind, I feel your will. I believe you can do your job well, and even exceed our expectations.”
“Thank you, Your Holiness,” Chen Ran bowed again.
The ceremony was unexpectedly simple and unexpectedly profound. From now on, he was no longer an impostor priest. He was now a true Grand High Priest of the Holy Church.
The white clothes on his body gave him a magical state of mind like seeing it for the first time.
The Holy Church did not force any rules and regulations on him. He was still the same him, but different. He couldn’t say exactly in what aspect, but he believed that when the time came for him to understand, he would understand sooner or later.
“Alright, it’s fine now. You can go and adapt to your new position. There are still many things you need to understand. You are a Holy Priest. If you have the chance, visit Cardinal Damas of the Holy Department. He will teach you many useful things.”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
After completing all the ceremonies, Chen Ran finally left the Pope’s Palace.
At the moment of leaving, Nicole had been waiting outside the palace for a long time. When she saw Chen Ran come out, she noticed Chen Ran’s snow-white Grand High Priest robe.
“Wow, congratulations. You were promoted directly to Grand High Priest,” Nicole pouted, looking a little depressed. “I was just guessing before, but you really bluffed your way into becoming a Grand High Priest. You were promoted so fast. Think about how many missions I completed before I got the position of Grand High Priest. You stayed in the Holy Palace for less than a day, and you’re already on par with me.”
“My eldest miss…” Chen Ran spread his hands and replied, “You fought for it bit by bit. In terms of prestige and power, I, a newcomer, definitely can’t compare with you. Now we are colleagues. Remember to take care of your little brother.”
“Hmph, you’re sensible. Since you were promoted today, why don’t you treat me to a meal?”
“That’s easy. You pick the place, and I’ll make sure you’re full,” Chen Ran greeted generously.
Besides Chen Ran’s eye-catching white clothes, Nicole couldn’t help but look at Chen Ran’s eyes again. When she saw those sparkling small eyes, she was stunned on the spot.
“What’s wrong?” Chen Ran waved in front of her eyes. “Huh, did I become handsome again?”
Chen Ran naturally couldn’t realize that unknowingly, he had condensed the gazes of his past self and everyone he cherished into his eyes.
Perhaps he wasn’t handsome, but that gaze was enough to make a deep impression on many people.
“Narcissist,” Nicole made a gesture of pulling her eyelids in a deserted corner and quibbled, “I just think your eyes have changed a little. From the previous jealous wretchedness to the current mild wretchedness. At least they’re a little less pleasing to the eye than before. Speaking of which…” Nicole even specially compared the gap between two fingers.
In addition, Nicole once again discovered the change in Chen Ran’s height and said a little depressedly, “I feel that in the year you were away, you seem to have grown a few centimeters taller than before…”
“Hehe,” Chen Ran smiled. “As the saying goes, a man can be not handsome, but he can’t be short. Thanks to Lord Nicole’s words, I find that every time I grow a little taller, my confidence grows a little more. But then again, I feel that you seem to be thinner than when I knew you?”
Chen Ran rested his chin on his hand and affirmed again, “I’m certain, sure, and positive that you are much thinner than before.”
“Really?” Nicole pressed her hands on her cheeks, looking nervous. “Even you say I’m thinner. It seems I have to eat more snacks when I go back.”
“Mmm, you do have to eat more,” Chen Ran echoed. “Drink more papaya milk. I believe you should be able to make up for it a little.”
“Papaya milk?” Nicole was stunned for a few seconds. When she thought of the true use of papaya milk, she finally understood Chen Ran’s sinister power.
Looking at the Templar Knights passing by on the road, Nicole gritted her teeth and said hatefully, “You’re dead when we get out.”
Chen Ran pretended not to hear, but his steps quickened silently.
As a Grand High Priest, Chen Ran had no tasks for the first few days. His name would be recorded in the Holy Palace’s register in the following days. His current task in the Holy Palace was more or less to adapt to the environment in the Holy Palace.
Besides the Hall of Saints, which must be visited during the Holy Palace gathering, the main area of the Holy Temple was divided into five parts, led by several leaders respectively.
One part was the territory of the Holy Priests, the place where Chen Ran would hang out, led by Cardinal Damas of the Holy Department, mainly responsible for etiquette and rituals. According to Nicole’s description, Lord Damas’s prestige was second only to the Pope.
One part was the territory of the Discipline Priests, which was also where Nicole was, led by Cardinal Juventus of the Discipline Department, mainly responsible for tracking missions. According to Nicole’s description, Lord Juventus was a very serious guy, and he himself was a peak tenth-tier expert. It should be mentioned here that it was said that the current Pope also came from the Discipline Department. Few people had seen him truly make a move, but no one doubted that he had the strength to fight the Austro-Hungarian War Emperor.
One part was the territory of the Shadow Priests, led by Cardinal Roderick of the Shadow Department, mainly responsible for punishment.
The Shadow Department was a force with a very special status in the Holy Church. The shadow mages derived from the art of light and the negative side had good weakening and damage abilities, somewhat similar to dark magic, but achieved by pure light power, which further proved the relative attributes of light and darkness. There were no ordinary criminals in the Holy City. Expulsion was the greatest punishment, and such things were very rare. The main task of the Shadow Priests was to imprison some highly destructive foreign races or troublemakers to prevent them from going out to do evil again.
One part was the location of the Templar Knights, the backbone of the Holy Church, the symbol of its standing. The Templar Knights could be described as the most elite force in the world. With a similar number, no cavalry could compete with them. Their faith and pride were also unmatched. Most of the knights’ main training grounds were at the foot of the mountain. Those on the mountain were mainly the knight forces guarding the Holy Palace.
As for the last part, it was behind the Holy Palace, the independently existing Holy Maiden’s Palace, known as the Land of Virgins.
