The Ancient Guardian's face was equally grim.

The passing years had long dulled his sharp edges and courage, and in the face of the unsealing Chaos Monarch, all that remained in his heart was fear—no longer the resolve he had when participating in the sealing battle all those years ago.

"From now on, the Ancient God Cult will be closed to any entry or exit,"

The Guardian announced with a dry voice.

"I need to enter deep meditation to seek a divine revelation."

With that, without waiting for a response from the Pope, he quickly turned and disappeared into the dust-covered secret chamber behind him, activating the strongest protective barrier.

Pope Anchee stood frozen in place, his expression shifting from hopeful anticipation to shock, and finally to a dead gray.

Is this... it? Are we really just abandoning everything?!

He quickly walked out of the hall and gazed in the direction of the Godbinding Forbidden Zone.

Even though it was separated by countless starfields, that suffocating presence could still be clearly felt, causing his body to tremble uncontrollably.

Without hesitation, a flash of determination passed through Pope Anchee's eyes.

He returned to the main hall and, using his authority as Pope, issued the highest order to the entire cult.

The Ancient God Cult is hereby disbanded!

When faced with disaster, honor, status, and legacy were all meaningless in the face of survival!

This was something he understood all too well.

However, not everyone was as clear-headed as he was.

"Your Holiness! I oppose this!"

A high-ranking Archbishop immediately stood up, his face flushed with agitation.

"Even if the Chaos Monarch has broken the seal, how can we just..."

Before he could finish, he saw that Pope Anchee had already stepped into the spatial passage.

"You misunderstand,"

Pope Anchee's voice was unusually calm, even with a trace of relief.

"I am not asking for your opinion, I am announcing my decision. As for the rest of you... do as you will!"

With that, his figure instantly blurred and vanished.

The hall fell into stunned silence, leaving the senior members of the cult frozen in shock.

They had never seen this usually indecisive Pope with such a determined look in his eyes!

"This..."

"Archbishop... are we really going to disband?"

The others turned their gaze toward the Archbishop who had been the first to oppose.

Feeling the mixture of hopeful and confused gazes directed at him, the Archbishop felt a surge of warmth rise in his chest, driven by power.

He cleared his throat, then slowly spoke with a tone deliberately crafted to seem calm.

"Everyone, do you think the Ancient God Cult should be disbanded?"

He threw the question back at them.

There was silence.

At that moment, a bishop who was good at reading the room immediately laughed.

"Archbishop, we all defer to you!"

"Whatever decision you make next, we will follow you to the death!"

The others, feeling they had found a strong leader, nodded in agreement.

Hearing their responses, the Archbishop smiled widely.

He had never imagined that the pinnacle of power he had longed for would arrive in such a way.

"Since that's the case!"

The Archbishop straightened his back, his voice becoming impassioned.

"From now on, all affairs of the cult will continue as usual!"

"Pope Anchee was weak and afraid of battle, fleeing in the face of danger. He is unworthy to be a part of our cult!"

"Our Ancient God Cult has endured for countless years, and we have no cowards, only fallen heroes!"

His words ignited the blood of most of the others in the hall.

"The Archbishop is right!"

"No! Now we should address you as His Holiness, the Pope!"

"Exactly! Long live the Pope!"

A chorus of support echoed throughout the hall.

It seemed like everything was heading in the right direction, at least in the eyes of the new Pope.

His confidence came from knowing that the cult's ancient Guardian was still around.

He firmly believed that with so many years of experience, the Guardian's strength must have grown even stronger.

Handling a Chaos Monarch sealed for countless ages would surely be easy for him.

What he didn't know was that the Guardian, whom he had relied on, had already quietly left the Muline World.

Shadows quietly descended.

Meanwhile,

Other top forces in the Muline World that had once participated in the sealing also felt a ripple of unease.

However, apart from the dramatic changes within the Ancient God Cult, most other factions maintained a façade of calm and did not take overly drastic measures.

Clearly, though the terrifying legend of the Chaos Monarch had not been erased by time, the deep fear that once permeated every soul had gradually faded with the passing centuries.

Godbinding Forbidden Zone.

This once-forbidden land had now been reduced to rubble.

Only Luna stood alone amidst the ruins, her expression filled with confusion and disbelief.

"Where am I? What just happened?"

She murmured to herself.

The powerful seals that had imprisoned her for countless years were shattered by that man with a single punch?

She looked toward Leo, who stood calmly.

Unconsciously, she swallowed hard.

With lingering doubt, she softly asked,

"Is it true that my mentor... was really your wife?"

Seeing that Luna was still troubled by this question, Leo frowned slightly, showing a hint of impatience.

"Can you stop asking such... foolish questions?"

Leo's patience for anyone other than his family had always been limited.

Ignoring Luna, he took out a crystal stone that emitted a chaotic aura, containing an indescribable power within.

"This is the Chaos Core."

Leo spoke indifferently, as if he were describing an ordinary item.

"It is one of the crystallized sources of Chaos Power. Wearing it will not only calm the turmoil inside you but also help you truly understand and control it."

With that, he casually placed the crystal in Luna's hand.

The moment Luna touched the Chaos Core, she immediately felt the vast Chaos Power within, akin to a Starsea.

A flood of thoughts rushed into her mind.

As she recalled her earlier foolish doubts, she felt a deep sense of shame.

For someone capable of casually producing such a supreme divine artifact, what need would they have to deceive her?

By this time, Leo had already turned and started to leave.

Luna's heart tightened, and she quickly flew forward.

"Sir! Please wait!"

She called out urgently.

"Hmm?"

"Sir, I... I still have many questions. Please, enlighten me."

Luna's eyes were filled with sincerity and longing.

Her mentor had vanished before her eyes. If what this man said was true, could it mean...

Leo gazed at the burning hope in her eyes and did not conceal the truth.

"Your mentor, Hathaway, is still alive."

Those words struck Luna like a thunderclap, exploding in her mind.

She stood frozen in place, and the next moment, hot tears began to flow uncontrollably from her eyes.

How many years had it been?

In the endless years of imprisonment, she had been consumed by pain and guilt.

She hated her own weakness, hating that she couldn't alleviate her mentor's burdens, even having to watch everything unfold helplessly in the end.

Since the moment she became a disciple, she knew that Hathaway carried unimaginable old wounds.

She had searched all across the Muline World for any holy relics or methods that could heal her mentor, but had found nothing.

Until that day of destruction came...

Now, hearing that her mentor was still alive, her heart surged with warmth, and she trembled with excitement.

Leo looked at Luna's emotional reaction, and in his heart, the cord of family was gently tugged.

Hathaway had truly made the right choice!

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