The seasons changed without waiting for anyone, yet Aldrian remained in the Shrine of the Beginning. Time passed unnoticed by him, and he seemed unaware of how long he had been there. His body still stood, though he no longer floated as he had when he first began cultivating in this place.
Angelica and Pope Claudius had long since stopped prostrating before Aldrian. Now, they simply gazed at him in wonder.
"What could he be seeing within himself? It has already been more than a year, yet he hasn't moved at all," Pope Claudius said to Angelica, who stood beside him.
"I don't know," Angelica replied, her eyes fixed on Aldrian's figure. "But thanks to the young master, our church has experienced an unprecedented rise in both holy energy and purity. Today's church is unlike anything before—I almost feel like it's surreal. He truly is the prophesied one who will change our church forever."
After a brief silence, Angelica asked,
"Father, what about the traitor? Has he been found?"
