339: The second pope

The Pope—this was a result nobody had expected, but the next second, cheers like a mountain collapse and a sea surge swept over them!

Everyone in Soto City knelt down, and the overwhelming cheers reverberated. Even Tang Ping himself hadn't expected the Pope to come in person.

As the Scepter tapped against the void, the coercion belonging to a Legendary Magician swept out, and everyone instantly stopped, feeling their souls tremble.

Under the gaze of everyone present, the Pope stepped down from the Holy Dragon Eagle.

"I have received the Lord's Revelation, to welcome Tangsend Sheng, the second messenger chosen by the holy lord to walk in the human world, and to inherit the position of Pope. I will hold the Coronation Ceremony for you in the middle of next month. Now, please return to the Holy City with me."

The Pope's voice was not loud, yet it seemed to echo in everyone's ears. Everyone looked up in disbelief. What had they just heard? The second messenger of the holy lord, the next Pope?

Unfortunately, before they could react, the Holy Dragon Eagle had already cut through the sky and vanished like a shooting star.

Disappearing at the same time were Tang Ping and his two followers, Kaya and An Qi.

The Grand Bishop of Sotou fiercely tugged at his beard: "What did I just hear? The next Pope? That Descendant of God whom I personally brought back? I suspect I'm dreaming, but I have no proof."

As he spoke, he struck the Head of the Magic Academy's head with the Staff in his hand!

"Ouch! Old man Stuof! Don't think I won't hit you just because you're a Bishop!"

"That looks painful. I must not be dreaming. However, I think I still need to go pray before the holy lord to soothe my fragile soul."

No one can disobey the Lord's will, and no one can refute the Pope's choice.

In the middle of the following month, Tang Ping naturally inherited the position of Pope, becoming the second Pope of the Holy See. Although there were private dissatisfactions, openly, no one dared to say anything.

The Pope holds absolute authority.

After the Coronation Ceremony ended, Kaya and An Qi, who were following Tang Ping, were still somewhat dazed. So, they weren't following just any Descendant of God; they were following the second Pope!

Followers of the Pope, Holy Apostles of the Pope!

Having already undergone Holy Baptism, the two of them still carried a strong holy aura, and the soft Holy Light had not completely dissipated.

The Pope left behind many foundations, such as the Ten Great Holy Bloodline Families, the Holy Knight Legion, the Holy Magician Legion, the Supreme Elder Council, and the Descendant of God Families.

Originally, these were absolutely loyal to the Pope, but now, things were different.

Especially the Descendant of God Families.

Inside the massive Council Hall stood the most elite group of people in the Dark Forest. Compared to them, the residents of Soto City were like ants on the roadside.

Not a single person's strength was lower than that of a High-level Magician or a Glory Knight. At this moment, their gazes carried scrutiny.

Even with more than half a month of buffer time, most people still couldn't accept this suddenly arrived... Pope.

A young man from a Descendant of God family burst forth with divine light, and the pressure of a High-level Magician ruthlessly bore down. Yet, none of the people around him spoke up to stop him.

"You, what qualifications do you have to become the Pope!"

Tang Ping looked at the Descendant of God before him. Calling him a Descendant of God was, in his view, no different from a joke, because he had no relation whatsoever to the black-haired people of this world.

"What are you doing! How dare you disrespect the Pope!" Kaya, wearing the Holy Armor, stepped forward and sternly rebuked him. Even though the High-level Magician's coercion caused him tearing pain, but his back remained straight.

An Qi also stepped forward, showing her stance.

An indifferent voice rang out.

"In the name of God, I strip you and your direct Descendant of God bloodline within three generations. Disrespecting me is disrespecting God. Henceforth, you shall be the Fallen Clan."

The soft, floating voice seemed to carry an unbelievable power. Under the astonished, shocked, and even terrified gazes of everyone, the Descendant of God who had once received Holy Baptism lost all holy aura. His High-level Magician realm continuously dropped: Intermediate Magician peak, Intermediate Magician late stage, Intermediate Magician early stage, Elementary Magician peak... until he reached Elementary Magician early stage!

At the same time, an aura completely opposite to the holy aura, filled with evil and filth, began to spread through the Council Hall, reflected in the panicked eyes of the young Descendant of God.

It wasn't just him; there were ten Descendants of God present, and three others among them experienced the same change. Clearly, those were the young man's three generations of direct relatives. This 'three generations of direct relatives' referred to the three generations above and the three generations below, including the mother's clan and the grandmother's clan—anyone within three generations counted!

The conference room fell silent. Everyone's gaze was no longer scrutiny, but... fear!

This ability—to cause a High-level Magician to instantly drop to an Elementary Magician, plunging three generations of relatives into the endless abyss and turning them into the Fallen Clan—was something they had never heard of or seen. Not even the previous Pope had displayed such a power! This was nearly the authority of a god!

"No, impossible, why, why is this happening! I am a High-level Magician! How could this be! It's impossible!" The young Descendant of God instantly collapsed, looking like a madman. His three relatives were also filled with horror, but this time, before Tang Ping could speak, a majestic elderly Descendant of God interjected: "Take them away!"

The four people were escorted out, struggling, wailing, and pleading constantly as they left, but clearly, nothing could be undone.

The elderly Descendant of God stood up, his eyes filled with ineradicable fear. He bowed low: "The Descendant of God Families swear eternal loyalty to His Holiness the Pope!"

Tang Ping did not speak, but the representatives of the surrounding forces hurriedly lowered their heads, and voices of allegiance rang out one after another.

"All of you, sit down."

Everyone suddenly felt relieved, but just as they thought the matter was over, Tang Ping spoke again: "The Holy bloodline Families—the Mountain Moving Ape Family, the Purple Rose Family, the Heavenly Cold Silkworm Family, and the Golden Holy Tree Family—since your Patriarchs did not come, there is no need for you to come in the future."

An inexplicable panic suddenly spread throughout the Council Hall.

Everyone's eyes widened. It seemed they already knew what was coming!

"In the name of God, I strip the four great families of their holy bloodline and condemn them to be Mortals!"

Among the four great families, the few elders who had come and held no real weight felt their proud bloodlines vanish before the terror in their eyes could dissipate!

The disappearance was complete, even more thorough than the Descendant of God Fallen Clan. At least the latter were still Magicians, but these elders, with their weak bodies... no longer possessed a shred of strength.

Absurdity and despair. The members of the four great families slumped weakly onto the ground.

"It's over, completely over."

"No, this is impossible."

"Your Holiness the Pope, we were wrong!"