Wizard: I Have a Cultivation System

Murphy remained noncommittal, instead changing the subject. "I had you gather the master artisans from across the Continent, as well as collect the various ores and sands I specified. How is that progressing?"

Elizabeth immediately composed herself and answered formally, "The artisans have begun arriving in the Holy City. Per your instructions, they are being housed in the Church Court’s workshop district with excellent pay and the highest level of secrecy. The first batch of ore samples from the western mining districts of Phlanis and the Jade Coast has arrived. Subsequent bulk shipments are being secretly transported through the Church Court’s channels, escorted by reliable personnel. As for the special Crystal Sand from deep within the desert, an expedition team has been dispatched. They’ve reported finding a small amount of a similar substance in desert ruins in the southeastern Imperial territory, and it is currently being verified."

"Very good." Murphy nodded slightly. "What about the sites and tools for smelting and purification?"

Elizabeth said, "Based on the diagrams and requirements you provided, the workshop district has been fully retrofitted. Ventilation, fire prevention, and all necessary safety measures are in place..."

The details were discussed at length.

Before they knew it, the last few golden rays of twilight filtering through the grand hall’s stained-glass dome had quietly faded, leaving only the dim, colorful glow of the glass itself, reflected by the wall sconces.

Their exchange came to a temporary close, and silence once again enveloped the vast hall.

Suddenly, Elizabeth bit her lower lip, as if she had steeled her resolve.

She raised her eyes to look directly at Murphy’s silhouette, which seemed all the more profound in the dim light. Her voice was much lower now, laced with an imperceptible tremor, yet it was exceptionally clear:

"My Lord... you know, this grand hall was once the most private place of prayer for generations of Popes. Many words spoken here... exist only between the speaker and the listener. Sometimes... not even Oriane hears everything."

Murphy remained silent, offering no response, simply watching her.

Elizabeth took a deep breath, as if to suppress the tumultuous emotions surging within her chest.

"My aspirations will not change simply because I have assumed this position. I want to let the light shine on more places, even if I must become the fuel myself. The new policies must be implemented. Those archaic rules that exploit the common people must be changed, even if it means infringing upon the interests of countless individuals, and even if... it ultimately costs me my life."

Her voice, resolute and lonely, echoed in the vast hall.

Murphy remained silent, his face obscured by the deepening shadows, his expression unreadable.

Elizabeth took a small step forward. They were only a few paces apart to begin with, and this brought her closer still to Murphy.

She tilted her head back to look at Murphy, the last trace of hesitation in her eyes consumed by a burning flame—a flame mingled with adoration, dependence, and reverence.

"My Lord... I beg of you."

Her voice was as soft as a sigh, yet it seemed to carry the weight of all her strength:

"As I walk this Path... when I am in danger of falling... please... watch over me. Don’t leave me to face it alone."

Murphy still did not speak.

Elizabeth’s body began to tremble. With a sudden, resolute movement, she raised her hand and reached for the sleeve of Murphy’s black robe.

The very instant her fingertips were about to brush against the fabric—

Murphy heaved an almost inaudible sigh, and this single breath caused the flames in the wall sconces to flicker... and then die.

Yet even in this absolute darkness, Murphy’s vision was completely unaffected.

He could still see Elizabeth perfectly.

In the dark, her upturned face seemed even paler, like the finest porcelain from the East. Her dark eyes, which had once reflected iridescent light, were now squeezed shut, her long lashes trembling.

A few strands of silky black hair had escaped from beneath her papal tiara, clinging to the smooth skin of her neck.

The dignified, opulent papal robes only served to accentuate her slender figure.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Then, from the depths of the all-consuming darkness, there came a sigh. It was incredibly faint and gentle, yet it seemed to hold an eternity of relief and satisfaction.

It drifted ethereally through the vast, pitch-black hall.

[Wandering Seeker of the mortal realm, fate has manifested two distinct, transcendent Paths before you.]

[Option One: Before Zhenwu Hall, shatter the Sect Leader’s Daoist Skill with a single sword strike, defeat the Divine Golden Body, and vanquish every hero in the land. Ascend to the apex of the mortal world. With your sword’s song unending and your worldly ties severed, journey east into the twilight and step alone into the perilous, Spiritual Qi-suffused Canglan Realm.]

[Reward: Celestial Craftsmanship "Slightly Accomplished"]

[Option Two: Before Zhenwu Hall, shatter the Sect Leader’s Daoist Skill with a single sword strike, defeat the Divine Golden Body, and vanquish every hero in the land. Ascend to the apex of the mortal world. Though your karmic link to immortality is profound, your heart remains as still as water. Disperse the Martial Canons, establish a school to teach the sword, and protect the common people for thirty years. Henceforth, a righteous spirit will forever endure in the world of mortals.]

[Reward: Inner Alchemy Golden Core "Initial Glimpse"]

...

「Vesta, Year 10. March 20th.」

「The Holy City.」

「Night.」

Eight-year-old Bobby was pressed against the window of the public carriage, his nose flattened against the glass, his hazel eyes wide and unblinking.

"Mother, Father! Quick, look! The glass fruit is so bright! Are there glowing sprites living inside?" Bobby turned and tugged on his mother’s sleeve, his voice shrill with excitement.

His father, Claude, tried to sit up straight and appear less stunned, but his slightly parted lips and captivated gaze betrayed his utter shock.

The stone-paved roads were far smoother and wider than any in the cities of their homeland, the Phlanis Kingdom.

On either side stood pillars of white stone, ramrod-straight.

At the top of the pillars were crystalline glass "fruits." There was no fire within them, yet they emitted a milky-white light, steadier and brighter than their own hearth on its best day. In clusters and strings, they stretched endlessly down the streets, illuminating everything with perfect clarity.