Golden tassels hung from the dome of the Pope's Palace, and the dappled celestial light filtering through the twelve constellations cast shifting zodiacs on the marble floor.
The Saints seemed to stand above the galaxy.
Li Yu stood with his hands behind his back, his Aquarius Cloth shimmering in the interplay of light and shadow.
His voice, like shattering ice crystals, pierced the silence of the hall.
"Master Shion has abdicated, issuing a decree that the position of Pope shall be assumed by Saga of Gemini."
The moment his words fell, the air in the entire hall seemed to freeze, even breaths were clearly audible.
Saga lowered his head, his body trembling slightly. He had initially thought that Li Yu's persuasion for him to return to Sanctuary and become Pope was a joke.
But everything that was happening now proved that Li Yu indeed had the ability to put him on the Pope's throne!
The Pope's throne, which he had once painstakingly schemed for, even resorting to covert actions to seize, was now within his grasp.
Saga couldn't help but wonder if he was dreaming.
But Li Yu's unquestionable gaze and the sudden changes in the expressions of the surrounding Gold Saints told him that all of this was real!
Saga took a deep breath. He knew that even if he could sit on the throne, it would only be the beginning.
As a former traitor to Sanctuary, many Gold Saints would never easily tolerate his ascension to the Pope's position, nor would they obey his commands.
Mu of Aries stepped forward, his long hair swaying slightly in the celestial light, his light purple eyes filled with confusion.
"Li Yu, is this... truly Master Shion's decree?"
He paused, clenching his fists, a powerful fighting spirit emanating from his eyes.
"Where is Master Shion? Why doesn't he announce it himself?"
The terrible conjecture in Mu's heart grew like a wild vine: could something have happened to Master Shion?
As fellow members of the Jamir Tribe, Mu and Shion's relationship was far more intimate than it appeared on the surface.
Li Yu's gaze swept over Mu's tense, handsome face, his tone calm and unruffled.
"Master Shion has returned to the Jamir Plateau to recuperate. He is advanced in age and has borne the divine power of the Goddess's descent; he cannot endure further mental strain."
He raised his hand as a signal.
"If you don't believe me, send a message to the plateau and you will know."
Mu's shoulders visibly relaxed a few degrees, and his fingertips no longer trembled.
Indeed, with Li Yu's proud nature, if he had truly done anything to Master Shion, there would be no need to concoct such a lie.
It's good that Master is alright, Mu lowered his head and stepped back, saying softly.
"It was my overthinking."
"Overthinking? I think someone is falsely relaying a decree!"
Deathmask of Cancer's voice boomed like thunder.
His short hair bristled like thorns as he rushed to the center of the hall, pointing at Saga with a sneer.
"Let this traitor, who once attempted to assassinate the Pope, take the position? Li Yu, has the cold of Siberia frozen your brain?!"
"What exactly happened just now? Do you dare to have Shion return for a confrontation?"
Before his words finished, a hand encased in a Gold Cloth pressed down on his shoulder.
Aphrodite of Pisces stood behind him, slowly shaking his head, the force of his palm unhesitating.
Deathmask turned and glared at him, but in the other's solemn eyes, he saw a warning.
Boom!
Li Yu's ice-blue Cosmo suddenly erupted, its energy transforming into a tangible torrent that instantly filled the entire Pope's Palace.
Icicles grew wildly along the patterns of the floor tiles, crystalline frost flowers condensed on the frescoes, and at the same time, silver serpentine lightning crackled and pulsed among the icicles.
The air seemed to freeze into lead, and even the Gold Cloths emitted a faint hum under this pressure.
Li Yu stood in the center of the light beam, his Gold Cloth shimmering in the radiance.
His eyes were as cold as the deepest ice lake in Siberia.
Clearly, Li Yu's patience was reaching its limit. How dare this mere 'Seafood Duo' question his decision?
Deathmask's face paled. He suddenly remembered the days when Li Yu had sealed him and countless undead in a small ice coffin.
When did Li Yu acquire the power of lightning?
His mouth twitched.
"Uh, actually, I just wanted to express my feelings. I don't have much of an opinion on the ownership of the Pope's position."
Li Yu snorted coldly. The Bronze Five were about to arrive, and Deathmask wouldn't live much longer.
He couldn't be bothered to argue with this guy, his cold gaze sweeping over everyone.
"Saga's wisdom and strength are sufficient to bear the responsibility of the Pope. Although he once made a mistake, he has been accepted back. Trust those you use, and don't use those you doubt. This is my principle, and it will be the same for all of you in the future."
He paused, his white cape fluttering in his Cosmo without a breeze.
"Moreover, as long as I am in Sanctuary, the sky will not fall!"
These words, like a calming pill, settled in everyone's hearts.
Everyone had witnessed Li Yu's methods and strength over the years. With him, the strongest Saint of this era, holding down Sanctuary, even if Saga had ulterior motives, how much trouble could he stir up?
The surprise and doubt on the Gold Saints' faces gradually faded, replaced by calculation and scrutiny.
Seeing that the situation was stable, Li Yu looked at Saga.
"Saga, as the new Pope, say a few words!"
Saga took a deep breath and slowly stepped out of the boundary of light and shadow.
His sea-blue eyes flickered in the celestial light, and his tightly pressed lips and slightly trembling fingertips betrayed the turmoil in his heart at that moment.
"Everyone!" His voice carried a hint of hoarseness.
"I once made a great mistake, but fortunately I received the forgiveness of Li Yu and Pope Shion. From now on, I will take the protection of humanity as my duty, leading Sanctuary to resist the invasion of Hades..."
"Heh..."
A sudden chuckle echoed among the Saints. It seemed there were still some who were unwilling to accept Saga as Pope.
Li Yu frowned slightly.
"No need for excessive talk. We no longer have time for internal strife."
His dark eyes swept across the entire hall.
"If anyone is unconvinced, they can speak with their strength and challenge Saga. Until Saga is defeated, he will be the new Pope of Sanctuary."
Many Gold Saints frowned slightly. Saga was hailed as the embodiment of a god.
His strength was at least among the top three of the twelve Gold Saints.
Among the ten Gold Saints present, if anyone could definitely defeat Saga, it was probably only Li Yu.
But Li Yu had already made it clear that he did not want to succeed as Pope.
So, who had the strength to challenge Saga...? Everyone's gaze turned to Shaka of Virgo. At some point, Shaka had closed his eyes and sat in meditation, his golden hair cascading like a waterfall, covering half of his face.
Among the twelve Gold Saints, the most mysterious and unfathomable in strength was undoubtedly Shaka!
Shaka was known as the man closest to a god.
He could converse with gods and Buddhas from a young age, and became a Gold Saint at seven. In all these years, he had hardly ever made a move.
Some rumored that Shaka had already awakened the Eighth Sense and was the strongest in Sanctuary.
But one day, the Virgo Palace was suddenly completely frozen, and after Li Yu emerged from the Virgo Palace unscathed, no one dared to question Li Yu's status as the strongest Gold Saint in the current era.
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