"Yueluoji, the Chief Divine teaches us to have a heart of benevolence, to kindly treat the believers and citizens. You have done well here! The farrs also have a scale in their hearts. As a priest of the Chief Divine, only by caring for them and holding them in your heart will they be so piously faithful to the Chief Divine!..."
Xiulote spoke softly and with emotion, recalling many fragntary mories.
In order to contest the Cross, the Alliance’s belief in one god relies on "Divine Creation" rely as an assist; fundantally, it depends on the actions of the priests. In this era, the upper ranks of the Cross Religion were already deeply corrupt. Pope Alexander VI, the next in line, would completely strip away the Holy See’s façade, igniting the flas of religious reform. However, at the grassroots level of the Cross Religion, there were many humble pastors who believed devoutly in the doctrine, willingly dedicating themselves to spreading the Chief Divine’s glory.
These pastors, unafraid of the perilous sea waves, sailed ship after ship to the Arican Continent, not out of greed for wealth but out of true pious faith. They ventured deep into the jungles and highlands to spread the faith of the Cross, revealing enchanting kindness to the natives, which was key to the distant colonies’ maintenance. They were the Church’s greatest enemy!
Yueluoji looked up, listening to the Supre High Priest’s narrative, and gazed at Xiulote’s gentle and kind face. He felt as if a stream of fresh water flowed through his heart, utterly different from the sensations other High Priests gave him. After waiting for the Supre High Priest to finish, he once again knelt on the ground, kissing the hem of the Supre High Priest’s robe.
"Respected Supre High Priest... I, I co from a common family in the Capital City, and I often empathize with the hardships of the farrs... You, you are unlike the other Supre High Priests; you are a saint personally enlightened by the Chief Divine!"
"Yueluoji, empathizing with the believers is the most precious quality of a priest,"
Xiulote said, smiling as he nodded and tousled Yueluoji’s hair. That night, so long-term reform plans related to the priestly promotion system began to take root in his heart, but it was not yet ti to act on them.
"Hold on to your true heart. The Chief Divine will reward you!"
Xiulote finally said to Yueluoji in front of the flickering campfire. His smile was gentle, but his words held a hidden promise.
The next day at noon, everyone had an early lunch and continued to board the fleet. On the lakeshore, thousands of War Boats lined up in formation, Divine banners fluttering in the wind. The Alliance’s Naval Forces had already received news of the fleet and hurried over during the night.
Annatri arrived by small boat, nimbly leaped, and with the push of her Long Spears, jumped onto Xiulote’s Galleys. She wore a tight Leather Armor on her upper body and shorts that revealed her legs, with bare feet. Even on the swaying ship, she moved with ease, like a nimble tigress, and within two steps, was kneeling before Xiulote on one knee to pay her respects.
"Honored Prince, I, Annatri the Naval Commander of the Alliance, extend my greetings to you!"
"Commander Annatri, there’s no need for such formalities! It’s been a long ti since we’ve seen each other, and you are still so spirited and valiant."
Xiulote said with a smile. He extended his hand in a gesture for Annatri to rise.
"Has the Alliance’s Naval Forces co bearing an order?"
"Haha, thank you for your praise, Prince. Two envoys have co with the ship!"
Annatri laughed heartily, gesturing toward the small boat behind her.
Xiulote focused his gaze, watching the small boat rock its way towards them. On the boat, two figures stood, one a white-haired old man and the other a long-haired young man.
The long-haired young man had a charming smile and wore lavish clothing; he was the Kingdom’s envoy sent to the Alliance, Ugus, the fourth level High Priest. The white-haired old man looked kind, his smile friendly and approachable, dressed modestly yet opulently, with a jade Necklace signaling his Royal Family status around his neck.
The two n boarded the massive Galleys at a asured pace. Ugus bowed respectfully, assisting the old man. The elder took a few looks at the new type of War Boat, which he had never seen before, marveling in amazent, then slowly walked towards Xiulote.
Seeing the familiar face of the elder, Xiulote paused for a mont, sowhat incredulous. It wasn’t until he saw the uniquely shaped jade necklace around the old man’s neck that he finally confird his identity.
Xiulote imdiately took several steps forward and personally supported the elder. Then, he knelt down respectfully and called out loudly.
"Chief Divine bless! Respected Uncle Cacamatzin of the Holy City lineage, your nephew Xiulote greets you! May you bathe in the Chief Divine’s light, illuminating the entire Capital City... Why have you co?"
"Chief Divine bless!"
Cacamatzin reached out his hand and affectionately patted Xiulote’s shoulder. He then steadied Xiulote with a firm grip and helped him to his feet, laughing as he spoke.
"You are about to marry Alisa. This is a rare and splendid event for the Alliance, and also a crucial wish of the elders... The person responsible for your wedding is none other than !... Ha-ha, this role was not easy to secure, I had to finally convince the other old fellows to stand down..."
Cacamatzin, the eldest son of the Venerable Trakel Er, was already over sixty years old, one of the eldermost mbers of the Royal Family. He was King Aweit’s uncle, Alisa’s great-uncle, and also Xiulote’s great-uncle.
Alisa had once ntioned to Xiulote that within the Royal Family, the easiest elder to get along with was Great-Uncle Cacamatzin, the eldest son of the Venerable Elder.
In everyone’s heart, the Venerable Elder was like a brilliant and scorching sun, lofty and unfeeling. However, Cacamatzin’s manner was entirely different. He was strict with himself, disliked extravagance, yet had a cheerful disposition and was kind to others. He rarely involved himself in the politics of the Alliance or interfered with the Royal Family’s affairs, typically spending his days in leisure. His greatest pleasure was to gather with several old friends, sip on non-intoxicating light wine, and appreciate the flowers in the Royal Family’s garden. If nobility within the Royal Family encountered any troubles, he would offer his help and even present their cases to the Venerable Elder.
Such a highly respected yet approachable figure naturally had great popularity within the Royal Family. Xiulote never imagined that it would be the greatly aged Great-Uncle Cacamatzin who would preside over his wedding.
"Great-Uncle Cacamatzin, thank you for taking the trouble to preside over the wedding..."
Looking at Cacamatzin’s white hair, Xiulote’s eyes flickered with movent. He felt touched and also had so speculations.
The person presiding over the wedding was neither from the Holy City lineage nor a close confidant of the King; it was, in the end, the Venerable Elder’s eldest son. He firmly believed that there was so arrangent in this, and if it was said that the Venerable Elder had not been consulted, he would not believe it.
"No trouble, no trouble at all! My health is still robust, and I certainly couldn’t miss such a grand occasion! The Royal Family’s most outstanding young Hummingbird and the most beautiful Lotus, embracing in this warm sumr season, joining together, committing to a lifeti... What a moving scene, it’s truly a blessing from the Chief Divine!"
Cacamatzin’s face was full of smiles, revealing genuine emotions.
"I’ve watched Alisa grow up since she was little, a true and good child, a spirit of beauty like a cloud. Xiulote, I’ve also watched you grow up step by step, you are the Royal Family’s greatest hope, the best successor to Aweit! Your wedding is not just a grand occasion for the Royal Family, not just for the Alliance, but it is the future of both the Royal Family and the Alliance!"
Having said this, Cacamatzin paused for a mont, his smile fading to beco serious and solemn.
"Chief Divine witness, your wedding is now in my hands! The Venerable Elder’s guard will also be at my command; there will be no accidents, no mistakes!"
Upon hearing this, Xiulote’s expression also grew solemn. From Great-Uncle Cacamatzin’s words, he sensed an undertone of blood and fire. He was clearly aware that as the Prince with the greatest power in the Alliance, his wedding to Alisa was more than just a Royal Family affair; it was also a covenant securing the continuous lineage of the Alliance.
Many people, many nobles, did not wish to see the wedding proceed smoothly. And Great-Uncle Cacamatzin standing here, overseeing everything, was the greatest assurance!
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