Everyone hoped that Chen Changsheng could give a perfect solution, including the most stubborn bishops of the conservative faction.
Those elderly bishops looked at Chen Changsheng with rather complicated gazes.
He was Shang Xingzhou's student, a young man raised by Mei Lisha. He was indisputably of Xining's lineage, a legitimate successor of the Orthodoxy. Logically speaking, he should have stood on their side, but he did not.
He had placed great importance on Linghai Zhiwang and Daoist Siyuan, and after executing Daoist Baishi in Wenshui City, he had not thought to appease the conservative faction. Instead, he had Hu Thirty-Two, the bishop of the new faction with the worst of reputations, take Daoist Baishi's place.
It was precisely these matters that caused the conservative faction of the Orthodoxy to feel intense dissatisfaction, resulting in the current situation.
But even now, no one had thought or dared to push him down from the position of Pope.
They still held hope in Chen Changsheng.
But not even they knew what they hoped Chen Changsheng would do.
Mei Chuan's corpse was still in the darkness outside the hall.
This was Xu Yourong's choice.
Chen Changsheng could have gone with the flow, but he would not do this.
Because the Daoist techniques he had cultivated since childhood made it impossible for him to deceive himself or others.
Even though this was a necessary quality for one to accomplish great things.
He suddenly recalled Bie Yanghong's words in White Emperor City.
There was naturally an enormous difference between the two, but an analogy could be made.
He also recalled the words Archbishop Mei Lisha had said to him before his death many years ago.
"When I was walking along the Divine Avenue, I recalled what happened that year before the Grand Examination."
A nostalgic smile appeared on Chen Changsheng's face.
Everyone knew that he was speaking of Archbishop Mei Lisha's announcement to the entire continent that he wanted to take first place of the first banner in the Grand Examination.
The memories could not continue, and the atmosphere that could have been moving toward warmth once more became tense.
Because a cold and harsh voice rose from the crowd.
"In the end, Sir killed his only nephew!"
The hall became abnormally quiet.
Chen Changsheng said nothing.
Yes, someone had sent Mei Chuan to the Orthodox Academy to become an education overseer precisely to make things difficult for him.
Whether to kill or not to kill, it was difficult.
So Tang Thirty-Six immediately turned and went to the house, prepared to take his sword and kill Mei Chuan.
So Xu Yourong killed Mei Chuan.
They were all the people closest to him, and they understood his thoughts and feelings the best. That was why they didn't let him choose and didn't let him bear the burden of infamy.
However, he did not stop Tang Thirty Six at that time, so this was also his choice.
Above the sea of stars was the Divine Kingdom.
Everything under the dirt returns to dust.
"I will bear all the crimes I deserve."
Chen Chang Sheng looked at the crowd and said calmly.
He did not use warm memories to heal the rift between the old and the new factions, nor did he give a convincing reason.
There was no explanation, and naturally, no solution.
He chose to bear it calmly.
The [Light Palace] was in an uproar, exclamations constantly sounding.
The expressions of the priests kept changing. They were extremely complicated.
Some were disappointed, some were gratified, some were confused, and some were confused.
Chen Chang Sheng was willing to bear all the charges.
The problem was, just who under the starry sky could convict the Pope?
This was not the introspection of a saint, but the coldest declaration.
A few disappointed sighs rang out from the crowd, as well as questions.
Chen Chang Sheng held onto the Divine Staff and quietly stood in place, not saying a word.
Linghai Zhiwang walked to the front of the platform, took out the file he had prepared, unfurled it with both hands, and began to read.
As he announced one name after another in an extremely cold voice, the clamor in the main hall gradually died down and became quiet.
The only sounds left were the increasingly heavy breathing and the increasingly dense footsteps.
Those pale-faced and repulsive black deacons of the Hall of Heavenly Judgment brought out ten-some bishops from the crowd.
One of the three cardinals in charge of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education had been removed from his post on the spot.
Linghai Zhiwang's voice was still devoid of emotion, as clear as the sharpest knife.
He read out the crimes of this cardinal.
These crimes had nothing to do with tonight, but they were clear and conclusive.
The cardinal did not resist, calmly following the black deacons out of the hall.
Zhuang Zhihuan and the others subtly paled as they gazed at his somewhat desolate back.
The mood in the hall grew more and more oppressive. Finally, a gap was torn open.
A bishop who had already been dragged to the door struggled to turn around and harshly yelled at the platform, "Does His Holiness intend to be a cruel sovereign!"
The crowd could tell that this bishop was the one who had questioned Chen Chang Sheng at the very beginning.
Chen Chang Sheng did not answer. Gripping the Divine Staff, he quietly stood on the platform.
Zhuang Zhihuan finally stood out. After calmly bowing, he asked, "Should we wait for Archbishop to break out of seclusion before making a final decision?"
Countless gazes fell on him.
Everyone understood what he meant.
The Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education was now under the direct jurisdiction of Mao Qiuyu.
Mao Qiuyu was about to become the Orthodoxy's sole expert of the Divine Domain.
Zhuang Zhihuan's words were a warning, and could even be understood as a threat.
Linghai Zhiwang expressionlessly glanced at him. He said nothing, but an undisguised killing intent appeared in his cold eyes.
Zhuang Zhihuan's expression did not change as he continued to stare at Chen Chang Sheng.
At this moment, an unexpected person stood out.
Archbishop An Lin solemnly said, "The sea of stars of the Saint is like facing the abyss …"
"From the final section of the Essay on the Origin of the Dao."
Chen Chang Sheng didn't let her finish her sentence.
He turned to her and said, "This section of the Daoist canon speaks of reverence."
Archbishop An Lin bowed and replied, "Yes."
Chen Chang Sheng said to her, "In this aspect, I am better than you."
An Lin's expression froze, and then she saw several figures in the darkness outside the hall.
Tonight, Mei Chuan's body had been transported into the Li Palace precisely because he had received the assistance of these people.
Just what was reverence? The sea of stars? The Great Dao? Or the lives of one's relatives or subordinates?
She fell silent for a very long time, then sighed, "How did My Holiness know?"
Chen Chang Sheng did not answer this question.
Earlier, behind the stone wall, when An Hua was helping him tidy up his clothes, she had said a few words in a trembling voice.
Archbishop An Lin gave up on her questioning. Her voice somewhat hoarse, she asked, "How has My Holiness decided to deal with me?"
Chen Chang Sheng replied, "I said before, I am willing to bear all the crimes."
Archbishop An Lin sighed, "I understand. I will abdicate the position of Sacred Hall Archbishop."
She had no intention of betraying the Pope.
Today was the first time she had accepted the advice of the conservative faction and helped them with a few things.
Because she wanted to see just how the Pope was prepared to deal with this matter.
Now that she saw the result, she felt somewhat sorrowful and somewhat disappointed.
It was not because she had been exposed and lost her position as a Prefect of the Orthodoxy, but because Chen Chang Sheng had handled this matter too forcefully, too callously.
She softly asked, "Is this the heartlessness of the Saint?"
"No, some people want me to become ambitious and ruthless, some want me to become a hero, some want me to become a sage, and some want me to become a Saint."
Chen Chang Sheng fell quiet for a while, then continued, "But in truth, I am still that young Daoist that entered the capital to participate in the Grand Examination."
Archbishop An Lin seriously asked, "This being the case, why go through all this trouble?"
Chen Chang Sheng slightly creased his brow, his breathing ragged.
Only those closest to him could tell that he was in an extremely bad mood.
"Have none of you ever thought of a problem? It was never me who wanted to be Pope. "
"I don't know whose damned idea it was. Perhaps it was Martial Uncle's, perhaps it was Archbishop Mei's, perhaps it was Master's? "
"It was them who wanted me to be Pope. Before this, they never asked if I was willing."
"So the things I did were all things they hoped I would do."
He fell quiet for a while, then continued, "But these things were not what I wanted to do."
"If the Pope must be this sort of person, then perhaps I am not suited to be Pope."
He looked at the bishops of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education and said, "If any of you still have any objections, then let's end it here."
The Great Hall of Light was completely silent.
Some of the priests did not understand Chen Chang Sheng's words.
Some of the priests thought they understood, but did not dare to believe it.
Linghai Zhiwang froze, Daoist Siyuan's eyes went round, and Hu Thirty-Two seemed pensive.
Archbishop An Lin was somewhat confused, thinking, did I do something wrong? (To be continued.)
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