Shell World, Kingdom of Saint Ysha.
A group of girls dressed in Luthean Holy Church uniforms strolled under the sunshine, laughing and discussing the recent news about the Holy Selection Conference.
"By the way, I heard that the Pope values this Holy Selection Conference greatly and will even attend in person."
"That’s not surprising. The Pope has come to past Holy Selection Conferences as well, hasn’t he? After all, it’s an event to choose the Saintess."
"But usually, the Pope only appears at the end. This time he’s showing up at the beginning; it’s unprecedented."
"Indeed, the Pope is always busy. I heard last month that he received divine instructions to go to the Idia Mine to prevent a disaster, and yesterday, I read in the church newspaper that the Pope plans to send a team to the Mechanism Nation of heretics to spread the gospel."
"With such a gentle Pope leading, the Holy Church can only flourish... I’m already starting to look forward to the Holy Selection Conference."
While the ’candidate Saintesses’ were chattering away, a blond woman carrying painting tools suddenly stopped.
"Sister Feng, what’s wrong?" asked a girl who was holding hands with the blond woman, sounding puzzled.
The blond woman, referred to as ’Sister Feng,’ smiled and said, "It’s nothing. I just suddenly remembered that I have some paints especially suitable for Saint Star Blue, but I didn’t bring them with me. I’ll go back to get them now."
The girl glanced at the other ’candidate Saintesses,’ then at Sister Feng, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded, saying, "Alright, we’ll wait for you at St. Astor’s Chapel."
Today, they gathered together so that Sister Feng could paint the most beautiful holy painting to present to the Bishop. Therefore, even the details of the paints were something they hoped could be the best.
Feng, the painter, nodded, "Alright, I’ll be back soon."
With that, Feng, carrying painting tools almost as big as half her body, turned and walked toward her street.
However, what the girls didn’t know was that although she headed toward her residence, she vanished after crossing a street, turning into a gust of wind, and in a flash, appeared at the lakeside in the suburbs.
Noticing a Lake Heart Island on the lake, Feng’s eyes brightened, and she flew over to the island.
Upon reaching Lake Heart Island, Feng shook her head and sighed, "Ever since coming to the Luthean Holy Church, the sense of being watched has only intensified. There’s no moment to breathe... Fortunately, that suspected mysterious object can’t bypass water."
Only in places surrounded by water did she feel a sense of relaxation in mind and body.
After taking a breath on Lake Heart Island, she gently waved her hand, and a hidden painting emerged from the depths of space in front of her.
This painting was a portrait of a woman from the shoulders up.
The woman was extremely beautiful, not just in appearance; even her bones and inner qualities, as perceived on paper, were flawless.
Even though Feng had drawn this painting herself, every time she saw it, she still felt a pounding heart.
After admiring the work for a while, Feng extended her hand and touched the surface of the painting. Strangely, her fingers did not touch just the paper surface but probed into the painting, causing ripples in the space.
After a moment, a lazy, raspy voice sounded from within the painting: "My dear Feng, do you know what you’re doing?"
"You’re destroying art, disturbing my painting! Even if you’re my close friend, you’ll need to pay for your recklessness."
After a silence, Feng somewhat sheepishly said, "I’m very sorry, I just had some news I was eager to share with you and didn’t realize Lady Rowling was painting. I’ll reimburse my mistake with... a box of Star Colors paint?"
"Two boxes."
Feng was silent for a moment, reluctantly nodding, "Fine, two boxes. But after Lady Rowling finishes painting, I’d like to see your work."
"Of course. After all, you are the most famous painter across the Pan-Dimensional Plane, Milael. Feng."
When the voice fell, the lady in the painting seemed to come to life and stepped out from it.
Once she stood in place, she first surveyed her surroundings – the forest, the lake, and the distant and barely visible ancient city walls.
"I remember a year ago, for that mysterious object, you were in the Heart Kingdom of the Shell World. This isn’t the Heart Kingdom..." the elegant Lady Rowling said as she glanced back at her friend Feng.
"Huh?" Lady Rowling was momentarily stunned when she saw Feng, then burst into laughter.
"I never thought the renowned Magic Painter Wizard would have a penchant for crossdressing," Rowling chuckled softly, covering her mouth.
"I had no choice; the Luthean Holy Church of the Kingdom of Saint Ysha allows only women to enter. I came here also for a mysterious object," Feng sighed helplessly. "I had no alternative."
Rowling raised an eyebrow, "I can sense you’re not really against it, inside. It seems you’ve gained a lot from this guise~"
Feng coughed twice, "No, no."
Rowling did not believe him. As the former Queen of the Central Empire, even though she was now just a mere soul, her ability to see through people hadn’t waned. Feng definitely used his crossdressing for some shady dealings.
Feng, feeling a chill from Rowling’s stare, hurriedly changed the topic: "I called you out this time because my spiritual sense tells me that the Inscription Space I left in Star Lake Castle has been activated."
Rowling’s expression paused, and for a long while, she lowered her head and sighed softly, "Star Lake Castle... such a distant and familiar name."
After her reflection, Rowling looked at Feng, "The activation of the Inscription Space means that one of my descendants entered it?"
Feng nodded, "Correct, the trace of spirituality you left was also triggered."
"So, that person should also possess a body close to the spirit," Rowling’s eyes carried a hint of re-evaluation. "That’s my bloodline descendant, merely thinking about it is inexplicably exciting. I hope I can meet him soon."
Feng: "To meet him, he must at least become a Talented One."
Rowling: "Didn’t you leave Witch’s Soup to increase Mental Power Value? If he can’t tread the path of a Transcendent even after drinking the Witch’s Soup, he’s not worthy to see me either."
After speaking, half of Rowling’s figure returned into the painting: "My bloodline descendant is something you don’t need to concern yourself with anymore, unless one day he comes looking for me, then inform me."
With that, Rowling disappeared into the painting.
Feng just shrugged, softly muttering, "Back then you told me to alert you about any Inscription Space news. Now you act nonchalant."
"I haven’t returned to the painting yet..." Rowling’s voice echoed softly from the female figure in the painting.
Feng quickly shut his mouth.