After several rounds of communication and the psychological preparation provided by the past two experiments, the members of the College of Cardinals were not particularly surprised by the overturning of the Doctrine of Human Vitality. What truly enraged them was that the Magic Parliament showed no signs of stopping and was pressing forward without hesitation into the forbidden territory of the Divine Grant of Life.
The natural formation of life source essence had sown seeds of doubt in the hearts of these powerful Holy Spirit Priests and epic knights regarding the correctness of the Doctrine of Divine Grant of Life. The Magic Parliament had used their experiments to irrefutably prove that life could arise under natural circumstances—this was no longer the exclusive domain of the gods! And this erosion of faith manifested on the surface as boundless fury, because only fury and purification could wash away the guilt of having doubted the Sacred Scriptures bestowed by the Lord.
Over the past several centuries, successive popes had continuously incorporated arcane principles to reform the Divine Arts. Those who had risen to the rank of Cardinal possessed extensive knowledge and keen insight in this regard—even if sent to the Magic Parliament, they could attain mid-rank Archanist status within a year or two. So, between their outrage, countless ideas surged through their minds as they marshaled every ounce of their intellect to search for flaws in the Magic Parliament's experiment. If they could find even one, they could declare it erroneous and shore up the crumbling Doctrine of Divine Grant of Life.
Thus, before the Pope spoke, the Great Illumination Hall resembled the Market District of the Sacred City of Lans—roaring with clamor and noise:
"This experiment merely simulates a legendary natural environment; it cannot be equated with the environment when the God of Truth created the world."
"But the Sacred Scriptures describe it in exactly those terms—lightning and thunder, flooding rivers, volcanic eruptions…"
"The Sacred Scriptures only describe the environment. The atmospheric composition at the time was very likely different from what the experiment designed. Didn't you notice? There was no oxygen—the substance the Magic Parliament claims is most beneficial to the human body!"
"But that doesn't prove the atmospheric composition then was different from the experiment's design…"
"Why should we be the ones to prove it? We only need to emphasize their error. If they cannot produce another experiment demonstrating the same result, the faith of the shaken priests and bishops can be stabilized."
……
These discussions subsided when the Pope himself put forward a new viewpoint that was entirely consistent with both the Sacred Scriptures and common understanding. The Cardinals suppressed their anger and listened quietly as the Pope delivered his sermon.
The Pope's voice grew ever more severe:
"Whether the natural environment and atmospheric composition of this experiment truly represent the primordial state, it undeniably proves that life source essence can arise in nature according to certain laws—because this is an environment where it genuinely manifested."
"And yet you waver? You believe life was not granted by the Lord?"
"A body without a soul is a corpse. A soul without a body can become a Holy Spirit, a petitioner, a form of life existing in other ways. Wherein lies the mystery and essence of life—is it not yet clear?"
"It is the soul that ascends to Heavenly Mountain, never the body. I believe the first pope who authored the Sacred Scriptures failed to express the Lord's will with sufficient clarity, and that is what has led you to doubt the Lord's power."
"Is not nature itself the Lord's creation? Are not the laws of nature the Lord's ordination? Is not life source essence generated in accordance with these laws a testament to the Lord's glory?"
This barrage of questioning and explanation constructed a new "Doctrine of Divine Grant of Life" with crystalline clarity, calming the restless and unsettled hearts of the Cardinals.
Cardinal Saer de, who had been teleported directly from the City of Sacred Hymns for this momentous affair, traced a cross over his chest. His originally clouded, yellowish eyes were strikingly clear. "All glory belongs to the Lord. Your Holiness, please issue your command to transmit the Lord's true will to the priests and bishops, so that they may feel the Lord's greatness and understand the Lord's radiance."
Compared to when Lucian had seen him at the Sacred Hymn Hall, Saer de appeared even more ordinary and aged, yet somehow more profound—as though he could absorb the light around him.
"This is our most pressing matter. The Cardinals or Archbishops in each diocese are to arrange immediately for the priests and bishops to receive the Lord's will," the Pope instructed unhurriedly. "At the same time, dispatch personnel to the dioceses of Holme, Colette, and two others to assist Felipe, Baha'u'llah, and the others in stabilizing the faithful."
Though they understood that stabilizing the Church's foundation of faith was paramount and that this was not the opportune moment for an all-out war against the Magic Parliament, the knight representatives led by Stone were still somewhat unwilling. "Your Holiness, are we to simply let those mages go? They have been utterly despicable this time—not only did they insult the Church, but they blasphemed against the gods. Only blood can wash away such a shame. If we do nothing, others will see us as weak and easily bullied, and they will attack us without any restraint."
"The Magic Parliament wants precisely this—to provoke us into an all-out war before we are fully prepared, so that the heretics of the north, the false-god worshippers of the Dark Mountains, the dark creatures, and the rest can inflict serious damage on us. In that way, although they themselves would pay an enormous price, without our suppression, their strength will grow very rapidly in the time ahead."
The Pope spoke with composure. "As the Magic Parliament's power expands, they understand that an ultimate, destiny-determining war with us is inevitable. That is why they want us to begin at the wrong time and in the wrong place—defense is far easier than offense. We serve the Lord, and we must act in the direction of the Lord's glory, not for personal honor. We still have numerous assets in place within the Magic Parliament, and in the near future they will prove immensely useful. So there is no need to be hasty. Of course, preparations must begin now—the focus of our attention must shift."
"Stone, take your Holy Grail Knights and depart from the Holy City for the diocese of Holme. Coordinate with Felipe and the others to bring the situation under control. Augusta, you will travel secretly to the north and use this blasphemy incident by the Magic Parliament as leverage in negotiations with the northern heretics—to make them demonstrate their resolve to defend the Lord's glory as well. This mission is arduous and exceedingly difficult. I trust you will not fail the Lord's grace."