The hustle and bustle of Holy Light Square was quietly shut out by the heavy doors of the cathedral.

Inside the door, a completely different scene unfolded.

Inside the main hall of the Great Cathedral of Radiance, a solemn beam of light shines from the towering dome, and the lingering scent of incense in the air cannot dispel a silent, gradually gathering tension.

The nobles and wealthy merchants who had just received the public blessing had departed, satisfied, leaving behind the true core and framework of the Holy Spirit Church—

Cardinals, archbishops, bishops, abbots of important monasteries, senior generals of the Legion of Judgment, and high-ranking inquisitors of the Inquisition were urgently recalled from various dioceses.

They sat silently on rows of carved ebony benches, arranged according to rank and authority, so densely packed that they almost filled every seat in the magnificent main hall.

These powerful figures, who usually wield immense influence in their respective jurisdictions, now looked like prisoners awaiting their final judgment, their gazes fixed on the temporary seats erected before the altar.

Linde had already shed his magnificent and dazzling "Oracle" robes and put on a relatively simple white robe, which was still embroidered with sacred patterns.

He sat in the central seat, relaxed, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the armrest, as if the awe-inspiring "miracle" and "judgment" outside was nothing more than a trivial warm-up for him.

Judge Priest stood slightly behind him, his single arm supporting his scepter, like a silent and loyal guardian statue. His remaining eyes sharply scanned the entire room, warning against any possible disturbance.

Cardinals Helios and Augustus sat on either side of Linde, their faces solemn, their eyes revealing a mixture of unease, anticipation, and an indescribable sense of submission.

They were church representatives pushed to the forefront, but at this moment, the dominant power was already obvious.

The entire hall was completely silent, save for heavy breathing and the soft rustling of fabric.

Everyone sensed that this sudden gathering of all high-ranking officials was not merely to celebrate the birth of an oracle.

Linde's gaze slowly swept across the entire room, his calm gaze carrying immense pressure, causing many to subconsciously lower their eyes and dare not look directly at him.

He finally spoke, his voice steady yet clear, breaking the suffocating silence.

"The celebration is over, everyone."

“We won the battle in the square and cleared out a few hyenas that had infiltrated the flock. But that’s far from enough.”

He leaned forward slightly, and an invisible pressure spread out from him.

"The crisis in the Holy City did not stem from the destruction of a few heretics, nor can it be eradicated by a few 'miraculous' treatments. The suffering of this land beneath our feet is far deeper and more deadly than most of you can imagine."

He paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to settle.

"What have you felt in the past year? The response to prayers has become vague, the casting of divine spells sometimes feels sluggish, the power of the light veins no longer seems to surge as it used to... Also, His Holiness the Pope's year-long 'seclusion,' and the disappearance and serious injury of Chief Inquisitor Priest..."

With each word he spoke, the faces of the audience grew paler. These were the hidden anxieties they deeply understood but dared not dwell on, much less discuss openly.

“Many of you attribute it to a lack of faith, or some inexplicable ‘low point.’ You even try to cover it up and whitewash the situation.”

Lind's tone carried a hint of cold sarcasm, "But the truth is often more cruel than the worst imagination."

He raised his hand and pointed to the smooth, mirror-like floor beneath his feet, which was inscribed with countless sacred words.

"The threat is not far away, nor is it from any specific enemy. It is right here, beneath the very foundation of our Holy See, eroding and writhing day and night, trying to overturn everything of this thousand years."

"And the root of all these changes..."

Linde's voice suddenly became extremely low, yet it resounded like thunder in everyone's hearts:

"...all of these are closely related to the source of our faith, the supreme Holy Spirit himself."

"Buzz—"

A chorus of suppressed gasps and gasps filled the hall! Despite the premonition, the shock of the "oracle" pointing the finger directly at the Holy Spirit himself was still devastating!

Several elderly bishops nearly fainted and were hurriedly supported by those around them.

The generals of the Holy Punishment Army clenched their fists, their faces turning ashen.

The judges' eyes flickered, and they instinctively gripped the weapons at their waists.

Doubt, fear, and disbelief spread rapidly and silently.

"quiet!"

Judge Priest's deep and authoritative voice rang out, his scepter slammed down heavily, and his icy gaze was so intense that it instantly suppressed all the commotion.

Linde seemed oblivious to the reaction below, continuing in that calm, almost cruel tone:

"I have summoned you here not to listen to your fears or questions."

Rather, it informs you of a given fact and determines the future path of the Holy Church, and indeed, of countless believers.

"Holy Spirit, the beacon of our faith, the source of our light..."

He paused for a full three seconds, each syllable crystal clear, crashing into the deathly silent hall:

"...has fallen silent."

"It is not abandonment, nor slumber. Rather...fall."

"What?!"

"That's impossible!"

"Blasphemy! This is blasphemy!"

Finally, someone couldn't control themselves and screamed, completely losing their composure.

If it weren't for Priscilla's murderous gaze and the restraints from his colleagues, someone would probably have rushed forward on the spot.

Linde simply watched all of this coldly until the clamor was once again suppressed by his invisible pressure and the cruelty of the facts.

"The Holy Spirit has fallen!"

He repeated it, this time infusing his voice with the power of a [bright halo], like icy holy water, extinguishing everyone's last shred of hope.

"This is the root of all disasters. The light veins weakened due to the fall of the gods, and the ancient seals loosened due to the loss of their highest support, allowing the power of 'Shadow Abyss' to take advantage of the situation."

His Holiness the Pope's seclusion and ascetic practices were actually intended to delay the backlash from the fall of the gods, but he failed and is now in dire need of protection himself.

Judge Price's sacrifice was to verify this horrific truth.

His few words connected all the clues, creating a picture of despair.

The foundation of faith has collapsed.

Everyone's face turned deathly pale, their eyes vacant, as if their souls had been ripped out. Many began to sob softly, the pain of shattered faith.

Bishop Helios, his voice trembling, asked the desperate question on behalf of everyone:

"...Why...why? How could this be...? If even the Holy Spirit has fallen, what...what do we have left? What...what meaning does the Holy Church hold?"

Linde slowly stood up.

He looked down at the distraught church elites as if they were a flock of lost lambs.

"God has fallen, but the light endures forever."

His voice was no longer cold, but had taken on a strange, powerful magnetism. The power of the [Activation Aura] and the [Bright Aura] operated slightly at the same time, dispelling the despair in everyone's hearts and injecting a tenacious vitality.

"The Holy Spirit left behind His final grace—not the dying divine body, but the pure source of light, and... the 'revelation' and 'power' to deal with this final crisis."

He pointed to himself.

"And I am the revealer of this grace, the chosen one of the Holy Spirit to guide you on your way after your fall... a new beacon."

"The old gods are gone, a new order must be established."

"This is not the end, but a... trial. An ultimate trial that will determine whether the Holy Church will perish or rise from the ashes once more!"

His words seemed to possess a magical power, forcibly reshaping a new goal—more radical, more challenging, yet also carrying a strange glimmer of hope—on the ruins of despair.

Linde's gaze swept across the room again, looking at the executives whose eyes had regained a faint light (whether it was hope, ambition, or forced obedience), and he knew that the most crucial first step had been taken.

"From this moment forward, I declare that the Holy Church has entered the period of 'judgment'."

"All routine matters will be decided jointly by Cardinals Helios and Augustus, and Judge Presley. Each diocese should maintain stability and take strict precautions against leaks that could cause unrest."

"The level of internal investigation within the court has been raised to the highest level. Anyone who attempts to spread panic or shake the foundations of faith will be prosecuted for apostasy. Judge Presley has the authority to make such a decision."

"The Holy Punishment Legion has entered a state of high alert, cooperating with the Inquisition to ensure the absolute stability of the Holy City and all major dioceses."

Each order was issued clearly and without question.

Finally, Lind's tone softened, but became more profound:

"As for the truth behind the fall of the Holy Spirit, and how to rebuild the Light Vein and strengthen the seal... I need to enter the 'Holy Treasury' to consult all the oldest forbidden texts sealed by the Church, including... records about the Shadow Abyss."

He dropped his final bombshell, which was also one of his real objectives.

The Sacred Treasury is a legendary place that holds the oldest, most core, and even world-origin secrets of the Holy Church. Its authority has always been shared by the Pope and a very small number of core cardinals.

Making this demand is tantamount to taking over the Church's ultimate intellectual heritage.

Helios and Augustus shuddered, exchanged a glance, and both saw the shock and struggle in each other's eyes.

But at this moment, with the “miracle” Lind demonstrated, the “truth” he revealed, and Price’s undisguised support, they had neither the courage nor the reason to refuse.

"...As you wish, Oracle."

Helios lowered his head with difficulty, his voice hoarse.

Linde nodded slightly in satisfaction.

"very good."

He turned away, no longer looking at the church leaders who were still in a state of shock and confusion.

"The meeting is now adjourned. Remember your new mission."

"Everything is for the sake of the Pulse of Light."

He took the lead and walked towards the passageway behind the altar that led to the deeper parts, with Pris immediately following behind.

The Holy Church's high-ranking members, left in a hall utterly distraught, their faith shattered and forced to accept new "guidance," remained motionless for a long time.

Inside the sanctuary, all was silent, yet one could almost hear the deafening crash of the old faith collapsing, and the quiet turning of gears as a cold new order was established on the ruins of fallen gods.

Linde's target has already set its sights on the Holy Treasury, which holds the ultimate secret.