A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 152: Joining The Moon Goddess Temple
Chapter 152: Joining The Moon Goddess Temple

Arix stayed calm, but the old priest beside her was so shocked he stood up. He rubbed his eyes and checked the screen several times to make sure he wasn’t mistaken.

”Young lady, would you consider joining us at the Moon Goddess Temple?” The old priest, looking excited, couldn’t hold back his invitation.

Arix’s face darkened as she decisively shook her head. ”Sorry, I’m a soldier of the Alliance.”

”No problem, the Moon Goddess Temple doesn’t mind,” the old priest said with shining eyes. Not only didn’t he mind Alliance soldiers, he wouldn’t even mind a spy.

Arix’s mouth twitched, thinking, ”Just because you don’t mind doesn’t mean I don’t.”

Seeing that the old priest wasn’t going to give up easily, Arix decided to use her trump card.

”I’m already in love,” Arix said, her face showing a shy and hesitant expression.

The old priest choked a little. But considering Arix’s talent, he still probed, ”Can you break up?”

Arix was speechless.

Considering the priest’s earnest attitude, she might have really fallen for it. But sorry, she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life loveless.

Arix cursed inwardly, but had to keep up the appearance of a love-struck fool.

She cried out dramatically, ”No, without him I can’t live. I love him so so much. We have the sweetest love in the world. I want to be with him forever!”

Arix forced herself to say those mushy things, feeling like she was going to throw up.

She wasn’t sure if she had grossed out the priest, but she certainly had herself.

Even though these love-struck words almost made Arix puke, the old priest seemed touched, lost in memories of his youth.

After a long sigh, he said regretfully, ”There was once a love before me that I didn’t cherish. Young lady, maybe you’re right! Brave love, go for it! Good luck!”

Arix awkwardly smiled, ”Thank you so much! I’ll be going now! Goodbye, sir!”

After thanking him, Arix didn’t wait for the old priest’s response and fled the room as if chased by ghosts.

She ran too fast, not paying attention to her surroundings, so she suddenly collided with someone.

A bit stunned, Arix looked up to see Scion’s face, as if carved from ice and snow.

”Scion? What are you doing here?” Arix blinked, curious.

Hearing the voice, Scion looked over, surprised to see the beautiful and otherworldly face of a young woman.

Scion’s eyes showed a hint of surprise, but he quickly composed himself, helping Arix to stand. He cleared his throat and said, ”I was waiting to go back with you.”

”Oh, that’s sweet. Scion, you’re so nice,” Arix said.

Scion’s lips curved into a faint smile as he gently ruffled Arix’s hair, like he always did. ”It’s getting late. Let’s head back.”

”Okay.” Arix nodded. The two of them headed back to the Tiger clan’s platform.

As they appeared before the crowd, a hush fell over the area. The Empire people, who had been chatting and joking, froze at the sight of them. Some dropped what they were holding, some rubbed their eyes in disbelief, and a few even fainted for no apparent reason.

Arix was initially confused, but after glancing at Scion’s strikingly handsome face, she understood.

Arix didn’t realize she was also causing a stir. She had spent a long period looking gaunt and skeletal, so she thought her appearance was ordinary and wouldn’t cause such a reaction.

Scion, looking at the beautiful Arix beside him, assumed it was her causing the commotion. He pulled her closer protectively, not suspecting himself at all. He had always had a strained relationship with strangers—men either envied or resented him, and women tended to avoid him once they knew his identity, as if being near him would bring misfortune.

If anyone knew what the two of them were thinking, they would laugh at this absurdity, since they were clearly blind to the reality of their own attractiveness.

When they reached the Tiger clan’s platform, Arix was surprised to see Cassian there as well. Cassian initially cast a disdainful glance at Scion, then quickly switched to a charming smile, looking at Arix in awe. ”Arix, you look even more beautiful than before.”

Cassian’s attractive smile and gentle expression made him seem like a breath of fresh spring air, warm and vibrant like the sun.

”Thank you, Cassian.” Arix was pleasantly surprised but happy to see him.

Cassian’s smile was kind, but his tone carried a hint of subtle mockery as he asked, ”Scion, what are you doing here? The ceremony isn’t over yet, is it?”

It was as if he was reminding Scion to be mindful of his age and status and not to harbor inappropriate thoughts.

Scion’s eyes turned icy. He knew Cassian was deliberately reminding him of his future role as the Pontifex.

Scion’s mind played with a cold, amused smile, but his face stayed calm and indifferent. ”You Highness, only the current Pontifex can end the ceremony. And unfortunately, I am not the Pontifex yet. You’re still young, Your Highness. You still have a lot to learn.”

Cassian’s smile stiffened. His biggest sore spot was his youth, with his face and body not yet fully developed. That’s why Arix never had that kind of interest in him. Even if he flaunted his looks, Arix only saw him as a handsome little boy.

Cassian suddenly felt a pang of jealousy for his father’s broad shoulders and eight-pack abs. Whenever his father showed off, his mother would gaze at him with starry eyes, unable to look away.

He pinched his still-soft stomach, feeling even more dejected. Looking at the defeated young wolf, Scion’s lips finally curved with a hint of satisfaction.

Arix stood off to the side, sneaking a glance at Cassian and then at Scion. The sudden silence between them felt heavy.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that Cassian and Scion had somehow slipped into some sort of combat mode. The tense air around them was so thick it scared off the nearby Tiger Clan members, who didn’t dare approach Arix to question her test results.

Only Drexel, always the carefree one, walked over and threw an arm around Arix’s shoulder, grinning widely. ”Wow, Arix! You’ve really blossomed!”

”Nothing special, just average. By the way, have you upgraded your psychic or physical power levels?” Arix appreciated beauty in others but was immune to her own.

”Yep, I did. I’m now a Supergiant+.” Drexel’s smug smile made him look like he was asking for a punch.

”Psychic power?” Arix asked, intrigued.

”You think upgrading psychic power is easy? It’s not like picking apples. I only managed to level up my physical power.” Drexel tried to sound humble, but the pride was obvious.

Arix secretly rolled her eyes at Drexel, who looked ready to float away with pride, but she still clapped politely. ”Drexel, that’s amazing. So your physical power is Supergiant+ now. I don’t think anyone in the Alliance has reached that level yet.”

”Keep it low-key, Arix. What about you?” Drexel asked, looking hopeful.

Hearing this, the nearby Tiger Clan members perked up, listening intently.

”I leveled up too. My physical power is now Supergiant-Class. You don’t have to worry about me anymore.” Arix smiled with a sibling’s warmth.

From now on, she wouldn’t be in life-threatening danger because of her physical power.

Drexel was momentarily stunned, then he pulled Arix into a tight hug, murmuring with pride, ”Arix, I’m so proud of you.”

Unbeknownst to Arix, Drexel’s relieved heart caused his once calm psychic world to stir.

Sheer, who was napping in Drexel’s psychic world, felt the shift. He opened his eyes, glanced around, but then he sighed, and went back to sleep. ”This place is expanding.”

After the blessing ceremony, Arix and the others took a beast-drawn carriage back. Unlike the journey there, the atmosphere in the carriage was now awkwardly quiet.

Arix glanced to her left at Cassian, then to her right at Scion.

Inwardly, she cursed Sunak for being so sneaky. No wonder there had been an empty seat earlier, yet he didn’t sit with them.

He must have seen this coming.

And these two, obviously at odds, still chose to sit together. Why?

Fortunately, Drexel, blissfully unaware, broke the silence. He looked at Cassian curiously and asked, ”You’re the crown prince of the Empire, right? Is it really okay for you to just come along with us?”