In the grand and magnificent temple at the center of the imperial capital, hundreds of temple knights in heavy armor and nearly the same number of nobles in luxurious robes stood neatly below the high platform.
The combined array of over a thousand people occupied only a small area in this enormous and majestic temple.
The giant stone pillars, over a hundred meters high and several people wide, filled the entire wall. The massive reliefs, which couldn't be fully seen even by straining one's neck, and the huge stone platform in front of them, made of black stone, with dozens of wide steps, made these thousands of people deeply feel their insignificance. In front of Chen Mo, who sat high on the divine throne, they felt as small and humble as ants.
After all, the one sitting on the throne was a true deity, and they were merely mortals.
Chen Mo had summoned his subjects to this temple, which he had never personally visited since its completion, to announce something significant.
Looking at the people standing respectfully below, Chen Mo, seated on the divine throne, spoke solemnly, with a hint of reminiscence.
'It has been eight years since I descended into this world.'
Chen Mo's majestic voice echoed in the temple, and the thousands of people standing below could clearly hear every word he said.
Now that the werewolves are extinct and the continent is unified, my people live in peace.
I, too, should return."
The people below listened to Chen Mo's words with reverence and nostalgia. But when they heard that Chen Mo was leaving, they were shocked.
"Master!"
"Your Majesty!"
Chen Mo was their faith, their master, who had always led them forward and guided them. Now, he suddenly said he was leaving, causing the people below to feel lost, falling into panic and confusion.
Seeing this, Chen Mo frowned slightly and raised his right hand gently. The chaotic crowd instantly quieted down, looking up at Chen Mo on the divine throne with bewildered faces. Their god, their emperor, was leaving them?
However, some people slowly began to understand. Their emperor was not an ordinary person but a true god from the heavens, who could not stay in the mortal world forever.
Now that the entire European continent was unified, the werewolves were exterminated, and war, hunger, and poverty were things of the past, the days of suffering and uncertainty were gone forever.
The god had saved his people from despair and brought them a stable and prosperous life. Naturally, he should return to the heavenly kingdom, for that was the true realm of the god.
Without paying further attention to the people below, Chen Mo raised his head and looked towards the large doors at the opposite end of the hall.
'Selina!'
Chen Mo's voice was majestic and grand.
As Chen Mo's words fell, the hall's doors opened with a roar, and dazzling light shone in from outside, making the entire doorway appear like a golden gate, brilliant and holy.
Under the gaze of thousands in the hall, a small figure slowly walked out from the holy light.
Selina, dressed in an elegant white gown, with soft golden hair draped behind her, walked gracefully towards the crowd.
The two rows of giant stone pillars in the middle of the hall formed a wide passage. Selina's small figure passed through the rows of pillars, walked between the knights and officials, and arrived at the stone platform.
The people on both sides looked at Selina with puzzled expressions, not understanding why Chen Mo had summoned her.
Only Andrew and the other three, standing at the forefront of the crowd below the platform, calmly watched Selina, who was walking towards the platform with a serious expression. Their faces showed no surprise.
Selina lifted her skirt with her small hands and stepped up the platform, coming to stand before Chen Mo.
Looking at the petite and beautiful Selina in front of him, Chen Mo's stern face softened with a kind expression. He slowly stood up from the divine throne and placed his right hand on Selina's small head.
Under the puzzled gazes of the people below, Chen Mo's deep and majestic voice slowly echoed.
'In my name, I now appoint Selina as the Holy Maiden of the Temple, to govern the temple and act as my apostle on earth.'
Hearing Chen Mo's appointment, the people below, who had just recovered from the shock of Chen Mo's impending departure, were not too surprised.
Previously, Chen Mo had not paid much attention to the temple and matters of faith. This temple was built under the supervision of Andrew and others.
Now that Chen Mo was about to leave, choosing a devout believer to appoint as the Holy Maiden to spread his faith was reasonable.
However, what Chen Mo said next shocked them greatly.
'The imperial throne will be held by the Holy Maiden. I now crown Selina as the Empress of the Empire!'
As the majestic voice echoed in the hall, Chen Mo raised his hands and took out a beautiful crown inlaid with diamonds from the void, gently placing it on Selina's head.
The city lords and officials below looked at the crowned Selina, and many of their eyes flashed with complex emotions.
While Chen Mo was in power, they greatly feared this emperor, who was as powerful as a god and had conquered them. They dared not harbor any improper thoughts.
The noble titles Chen Mo later conferred based on their merits were not high, and they had no right to recruit soldiers, so they served Chen Mo obediently.
But now, with Chen Mo claiming he was about to leave and passing the throne to a ten-year-old girl, many who feared only Chen Mo's power began to have different thoughts.
They willingly submitted to Chen Mo. Although many did not believe in Chen Mo's divine identity, it did not affect their fear and obedience to him.
However, a ten-year-old girl wanting to be their empress could not make them willingly submit and offer their loyalty as they did to Chen Mo.
As many people's eyes flickered with thoughts, Andrew, Victor, Amelia, and Marcus, standing at the forefront of the crowd, knelt on one knee as soon as Chen Mo finished speaking, shouting:
'Long live Her Majesty the Empress!'
Behind them, hundreds of temple knights naturally had no doubts about Chen Mo's decision. Now that Selina was appointed as the Holy Maiden of the Temple and the Empress of the Empire, she was the one they needed to protect and obey.
'Clang! Clang!'
Following Andrew and the others, hundreds of temple knights in heavy armor knelt neatly, shouting:
'Long live Her Highness the Holy Maiden!'
'Long live Her Majesty the Empress!'
The deafening sound echoed in the hall, causing the hearts of the nobles and officials standing aside to tremble, making it difficult for them to breathe.
Many nobles who had other thoughts looked at the tall and imposing temple knights opposite them and wisely erased those thoughts from their minds.
With these loyal and invincible temple knights who had conquered the entire European continent for Chen Mo, and the assistance of the four dukes who held most of the empire's power, no one could shake the throne of this little girl who appeared out of nowhere.
Since that was the case, why fight a losing battle and bring about their own destruction? They were already quite satisfied with their current lives. More power was not something they could handle.
So, following the temple knights, the city lords and officials who managed the empire's various administrative affairs also knelt down, shouting:
'Long live Her Majesty the Empress!'
Chen Mo observed the reactions of the people below. He did not care about the city lords and officials, nor was he worried.
No matter how powerful they had been as counts, marquises, or dukes, now they were just capable administrators managing the empire's territories and handling administrative affairs for Chen Mo.
The highest title among them was only a viscount, and many did not even have a title. This was entirely based on their achievements and performance.
Chen Mo did not mind granting higher titles or even turning them into vampires if they were capable and loyal enough. Unfortunately, except for Victor, none of them were outstanding or loyal enough.
For now, Chen Mo needed their help to manage the vast empire, so he did not care about their loyalty.
After all, even if they wanted to rebel, they needed enough strength, which they clearly did not have.
They had no access to military power, and their administrative power was balanced and supervised. It was difficult for them to cause any trouble with their authority.
So their only choice was to do their jobs well, accumulate achievements, and seek higher rewards—money, titles, and fiefs. These were the tangible things they could strive for.
Meanwhile, Chen Mo had other plans. The war was over, and the loyal knights of the Temple Knights no longer needed to fight.
In the past three years, besides training new troops, they had been studying cultural knowledge and administrative skills under Chen Mo's arrangement. Most of them had no experience in managing territories or handling administrative affairs, and many could not even read.
But for vampires, time was not an issue. They had plenty of time to learn and eventually grow to take on the responsibilities of city lords. When the time came, they would replace these officials and manage the entire empire.
These officials would then receive appropriate rewards based on their performance, return to their estates to enjoy their retirement, or become new vampires and truly join the ranks of the empire's rulers.
Whether they would die in a luxurious bed or gain eternal life with a scepter in hand was entirely up to their own choices.