Chapter 52: The Supplicant and the Benefactor

The same sisters, both carrying the bloodline of angels, but without faith, Renée couldn’t smoothly break through the threshold like her sister Leila did…

Vilyric remembered clearly that a certain Life Goddess once said the source of a mythical bloodline is the deity; only by reaching a level above mere concepts can its power be passed down along the bloodline. So, from whom does the angelic bloodline originate?

As her thoughts wandered, she picked up a twig and started doodling in the dirt.

First, she wrote the word “Angel.”

Then, she drew an upward arrow connecting it to “Earth Mother Goddess,” thought for a moment, and added “God Fox” next to the Earth Mother Goddess, drawing a downward arrow that led to the words “Spirit Hidden,” standing side by side with “Angel.”

Next, she added “Light Goddess” next to “God Fox,” connecting it again with an arrow to “Angel,” and above “Angel,” she drew several lines that had no specific direction.

Such a muddled content naturally drew the confusion of her companions, with Tilysha, the most curious, speaking up first.

“Miss Xī, what does this mean?”

Clicking the twig rhythmically against the ground, Vilyric answered softly without looking up.

“Look, it’s known that angels were created by the Earth Mother Goddess, Xi Fu, and are descendants of the first Archangel, Minerva. However, in current times, angels are regarded as messengers of the gods, such as… the widely known Light Goddess, Aurora.”

“No matter the specifics, one thing can be proven—Xi Fu, as the Earth Mother, is the creator of angels but not necessarily their absolute controller. In other words, the source of the mythical bloodline and power isn’t exclusive to her. Otherwise, angels loyal to other deities couldn’t possibly draw bloodline power from the Earth Mother. Deities aren’t charitable institutions, after all.”

Miss White Fox circled “Earth Mother Goddess,” “God Fox,” and “Light Goddess” with her twig.

“See, these three are all deities, or at least are considered to be. Every deity must have followers. If there’s a difference between angels of the Light Goddess and those of the Earth Mother Goddess, where do you think it lies?”

“And also, why can the Spirit Hidden tribe enjoy immortality under the protection of the God Fox? By what medium are such gifts given?”

“?”

“Uh…?”

Her ambiguous statements sounded like an ancient text to Little Dragon Daughter and the others, leaving them perplexed. However, only Leila, who had once had an epiphany and was far wiser, suddenly exclaimed after much thought.

“Miss Xī, do you mean to say… that the power of the mythical bloodline doesn’t necessarily have to be a true bloodline, but can also…”

Pausing, Vilyric nodded.

“It’s a hypothesis, but I believe it’s quite likely.”

Even after this, Renée and the others still appeared a bit lost.

“Sister, what do you mean by the bloodline not needing to be a true bloodline?”

Taking a deep breath, the current Angel Miss seemed to struggle to suppress her astonishment and disbelief. Noticing Miss White Fox’s slight nod, she said in a serious tone.

“It means that the existence of mythological races, at least for some, doesn’t necessarily require that true deities have appeared in their lineage or that they inherited the bloodline of a deity. Instead, they can establish a connection with deities through another form of power akin to causality and certain mediums, receiving protection that exceeds their inherent limits. The tighter this connection, the more power they can gain…”

“Yes, this causal-like power, I believe, is likely what we call ‘faith’, at least one of the critical components… The eternal life bestowed upon the Spirit Hidden tribe is strong evidence for this inference.”

Affirming the girl’s speculation, Miss White Fox refocused her gaze.

“Well then, the same question applies: Leila, do you have a deity you believe in?”

Seemingly grasping Miss White Fox’s meaning, Angel Miss shook her head, then nodded slightly while showing a lighthearted smile.

“I’ve never believed in deities. The only existence I have faith in is the one who reaches out a hand of salvation to my sister and me amidst despair and suffering.”

“Uh, haha…”

Being directly named made even the usually indifferent Priestess feel a bit embarrassed, and she hurriedly laughed awkwardly to brush it aside.

But now the answer became evident.

Leila and Renée, their bloodlines… or rather, some indescribable essence, indeed changed after encountering each other that day, transforming into angels. Yet one thing Vilyric got wrong.

It wasn’t a regression but a bestowal, becoming a brand-new mythical race through a special connection—an angel that belongs to the existence named “Vilyric.”

The holy pattern Renée received symbolized Vilyric; the figure seen in the inherited memories was undoubtedly the Priestess herself. Although it remains unclear whose memories were inherited and why Vilyric wore the Mask of the God Fox back then, the very power representing the divine spark can transcend time, or perhaps it might very well be a glimpse of the “future”.

After listening to Vilyric’s abstract explanation, the others seemed alright, but Tilysha appeared unable to accept it, as if recalling something.

“This is… too unbelievable! Just relying on the ethereal concept of faith can casually create mythical races?!”

Returning to her spot, Miss White Fox shook her head, pondering.

“Of course, it’s not something that can just be created casually. For now, these are just my speculations; perhaps the truth still has some discrepancies. But it’s undeniable that faith is indeed a magical force. However… the blessings of deities don’t come without a price; that has never been just empty words.”

The skill of 【Time Rewind】, in a sense, can also be understood as reshaping a new life. Perhaps it’s precisely due to this tightly woven connection that Leila and Renée transformed into their current special angels.

But for other races, what cost must they pay to receive a deity’s blessing, elevate their entire clan, and obtain powers they could originally never possess…?

These hidden doubts deep within the Priestess’s heart, she certainly wouldn’t voice them all now. Just for some reason, Vilyric’s mind once again floated up that unknown magic circle drawn with the blood of sinners, discovered beneath the Holy Spirit Path.

On the other side, after clearing up the facts, Miss Renée immediately pulled a long face.

“Ugh… even so, how do we strengthen faith? Do I just have to wake up every morning and chant Miss… Xī’s name a thousand or eight hundred times to break through?”

“Nope! The moment you think about it with selfish intentions, you have already gone against the nature of faith. And… it seems I’ve never said that the reason you cannot break through is due to insufficient faith, right?”

At this point, Miss White Fox let out a somewhat mischievous chuckle from beneath her mask.

“In the end, it all comes down to willpower, little Renée. The reason you failed is that you can’t concentrate at critical moments. Do you know how the faith-based magic of the Holy Kingdom is cultivated? I think it’d be better for you to fix your habit of lazily snacking first, hmm… Let’s leave the specific planning to Leila; she must seriously supervise her sister~”

Without hesitation, Angel Miss nodded earnestly.

“Yes, Miss Xī, that aligns perfectly with my intentions. I’ve been wanting to correct her lazy nature for a long time. Don’t you worry… before we enter Mingguang City, I guarantee Renée will achieve her breakthrough.”

“Eh?! No, don’t!!!”

   

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