Chapter 1251 - 563: The Vanished Archbishop

Chapter 1251: Chapter 563: The Vanished Archbishop

"The Archbishop is missing?"

Upon receiving Ophidia’s call and rushing over, Herbert was hit with this unexpected news, leaving him momentarily bewildered.

Hmm?

How did he suddenly disappear?

After holding out for so long, did Deng finally burst out the door?

"No, he’s still here, but not completely here."

Ophidia sat cross-legged on her snake tail, speaking with a helpless and speechless tone, "Didn’t I say? The old man left his physical body in the Sanctuary, while only his soul sneaked away."

Regarding this matter, she felt both angry and amused.

Angry because the guy slipped away without a word.

No organization, no discipline, not even a semblance of a Monastery leader!

Amused because the guy slipped away without a word.

Do you really need to be so sneaky?

Honestly, if you wanted to go out, who could stop you!

The Monastery’s most powerful figure, the top combatant, sneaking out alone because of fear of reproach...

Listen to this, does it sound reasonable?

More like an immature old child.

Childish!

"Hmph."

Nevertheless, despite ranting about the Archbishop’s unreliability in her mind, Ophidia wasn’t truly angry inside.

As the second oldest presence in the Monastery, Ophidia understood the Archbishop’s nature better than others.

The seemingly profound old man was, in fact, inherently adventurous, only having hidden it well in the past, unbeknownst to others.

The pitiful and inscrutable persona was primarily to handle the Gods’ inquiries, appease the Cultivators’ expectations, and... conveniently slack off.

After all, a silent, seemingly always pondering the universe’s truths leader can dodge a lot of unnecessary socializing and explaining.

The Archbishop was always this way; his trips to capture Demons mostly served as a pretense to roam outdoors, seemingly removing threats for the people but really just wandering around.

However, it seems he’s been increasingly unrestrained lately.

When exactly did this change start?

"..."

Ophidia’s gaze naturally rested on Herbert, her brow slightly raised.

Right.

It seems to have started since Herbert arrived at the Monastery?

The changes in the Archbishop began from that time.

Was there something special about Herbert that led the Archbishop to shift his perspective?

With Herbert’s current accomplishments, just his title of "Godslayer" has already made him openly recognized as the third rank in the Monastery, surpassing the Chief Judge and Knight Commander.

In the hearts of some, Herbert even surpassed her, the infrequently appearing Cardinal, becoming the second rank in the Monastery.

This isn’t a baseless speculation.

The Chief Judge’s ironclad laws may be intimidating, the Knight Commander’s charges may be unstoppable, and she, Ophidia’s mysterious methods may be unpredictable, but Herbert truly defied gods with a mortal body.

Even though it was aided by the Sun’s mighty power, the symbolic significance and impact of Godslaying are enough to overturn many established beliefs.

Yet this special treatment was earned by Herbert through his own efforts, built upon undeniable success.

His recognition came from repeatedly proven battle achievements.

The cleansing of the Frost Crystal blood night, the journey to the Dark Territory, the battle of Sun Holy City, the disaster in the Northern Territory...

Herbert didn’t rely on his family background but forged his path upward with enemy blood and bones.

Yet initially, he wasn’t so brilliant.

Besides a handsome appearance, he was a timid noble young man with nothing noteworthy.

Ophidia recalled Herbert’s initial arrival vividly.

He kept his head down, lips tightly shut, not meeting anyone’s gaze, akin to an abandoned young beast.

Even she initially overlooked him, not exploring his Destiny nor considering him as someone worth anticipating.

Back then, she just thought he was quite pretty, like a delicate artwork perhaps fit to be placed in a safe corner as decoration.

However, the Archbishop seemed different.

He noticed the emotions hidden beneath the youth’s downcast eyes, those... silent fury.

From the start, he rarely gave Herbert preferential treatment.

At that time, she assumed it was because Herbert’s family had some relation with the Archbishop, prompting him to extend assistance out of past favors.

But now, she realized she guessed wrong.

The Archbishop valued none other than Herbert himself.

So, from the beginning, he noticed some trait in Herbert?

That resolve buried deep within his soul, which Herbert himself hadn’t realized?

That when facing adversity, a nearly insane calmness and decisiveness would be unleashed?

Or perhaps that unique destiny path capable of attracting "miracles," or even self-creating them?

Thus, he allowed subordinates to assign Herbert to the Third Commandment Hall, even personally taking him on a tour?

He harbored expectations for Herbert right from the start, envisioned a radiant future for him.

In other words...

"The old man had been plotting since that time to palm off Monastery responsibilities onto Herbert and sneak away?"