Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic
Chapter 879 - 879: The Sage's 3 Tests

Even Miss Violet was unwilling to linger too long in the Lost Lake area, for she too was affected by its influence. Therefore, having confirmed that Shard wanted to follow along, she beckoned to Miss Teresa, who wore glasses and had a calm demeanor, and they prepared to set off.

The measured distance from the campfire on Heart Lake Island to the tower was no more than 100 meters in a straight line, but due to the twisted space and the mist causing peculiar phenomena, the actual distance was around 500 meters.

According to their preliminary explorations, the greatest danger along this path was losing their sense of direction; there should be no enemies within the mist. For safety's sake, Miss Violet reminded her two companions to prepare for combat and even temporarily handed the Night Watchman to Shard.

After all, he couldn't possibly run off with the sword, and from Miss Violet's attitude, this weapon didn't seem very significant to her.

In any case, having hung the Object-Seeking Compass and Lucky Iron Cross at her waist, Miss Violet held a bundle of fire in her hands and led Shard and Miss Teresa into the mist.

Once they left the range of the campfire, the surrounding temperature dropped rapidly. The area was not quiet; eerie sharp sounds resonated intermittently from all directions, unsettling the heart. A suppressed atmosphere seemed to conceal malicious peeping everywhere, but even Shard, who had "another self," couldn't discern what exactly was watching the three of them.

During their journey through the mist, no one spoke, and the entire process was immensely oppressive. The power of the Witch Empress Thirteen Ranks shielded them with an invisible barrier, yet, even so, although the three of them arrived safely under the black metal tower without incident, they were all breathing heavily, as if after an arduous battle.

There were no physical boundaries such as fences around the tower where the deity resided. When they crossed an unseen "boundary," the surrounding mist dispersed instantly, and their vision returned to normal.

But this also meant that the witches and Shard had finally reached the area surrounding the god. The presence of the god itself revealed its mighty power. Besides the dispersed Mist of the Lost, evidence of the god's power was evident in that just by standing on the outskirts of the tower, even with eyes closed and ears covered, one could feel the greatness within the tower.

The outlander, who had already met deities several times in this world, couldn't help but lament each time about how fragile and insignificant mortals were compared to these higher-dimensional beings.

"Finally, we've arrived..."

Wearing a pointed hat, Miss Violet was the first to recover, now staring solemnly at the tower. The ten-ring witch, Miss Teresa, silently lowered her head, resisting the powerful spiritual pressure that the presence of the god exerted on mortals.

They all noticed the air around them was unusually moist, although there was no discernible mist. This was the most basic environmental influence of the God of the Lake. Fortunately, this god was a Benevolent God, and the invisible mist in the air seemed to have a healing effect on their spirits. Walking in it felt more like enjoying a spring breeze.

Shard knew he lacked divinity, so he stood behind Miss Violet, examining the currently black tower. The tower was divided into three levels, and undoubtedly, the Saint was on the first level at the moment.

"Be careful, stand behind me."

She softly instructed, carefully adjusting her attire. Although the deity wouldn't care about such things, the mortals had to show their respect.

"Get ready, follow me to meet the deity. Be extremely cautious; if you find yourself unable to withstand it, do not hesitate, turn around and leave immediately."

Shard had no preparations to make, while Miss Teresa took out a black rune stone necklace and hung it around her neck. On the rune stone was a white indentation, forming the ancient rune meaning "Believer":

"Demon-level Relic, Proof of Faith. Wearing the relic and continually praising the deity in your heart can slightly resist the spiritual influence of the deity's presence. It has almost no effect when facing an Evil God, but it can be somewhat useful against a Benevolent God."

She explained softly.

After confirming that her companions were ready, Miss Violet adjusted her mood with deep breaths and then, as if heading towards certain death, reached out to push open the black iron door in front of her, leading the way inside.

Inside the tower and outside seemed like two completely separated, non-continuous spaces. After pushing the door open, the interior was indeed the size and height of the tower's first level, but the internal space was a tranquil lake shrouded in white mist. The water surface was perfectly still, like a mirror.

At the center of the small lake, which was also the center of the tower's first level, a desk was placed, and behind it sat a woman.

A golden candlestick stood on the desk, with three golden candles of varying heights. The strange candlelight illuminated the surface of the heavy and luxurious brown wooden desk. The woman, appearing to be in her forties and also wearing a pointed hat like Miss Violet, was the deity awaiting them.

On the desk in front of the deity, besides the candlestick, were several stacked books and some small bottles. But upon closer inspection, it seemed more like an illusion within the mist, completely unreal.

Shard slightly relaxed, realizing this wasn't the deity's true form but a Saint manifested through a vessel.

The Saint appeared as a golden-haired, black-eyed woman. Besides the pointed hat, her glasses were also unique. The left lens was star-shaped, while the right lens was equilateral triangle-shaped.

None of the three dared to look directly at the deity. The Grand Witch silently took off her hat and handed it behind her, and Miss Teresa efficiently received it and tossed it outside the door. Shard planted the now silent Night Watchman in the soil by the door, not daring to bring a weapon to meet the deity.

The god was right in front of them. Though the divine presence occupied a "human" form, it felt unimaginably vast and terrible compared to the enigmatic entirety of the Lost Lake. Miss Violet couldn't even begin to contemplate the true form of the being before her, emptying her mind to maintain clarity.

She took formal steps into the tower, standing on the surface of the water. Ripples spread out around her as she respectfully bowed. Compared to the other witches Shard had met, besides Miss Feliana, Miss Violet was undoubtedly the most composed in the face of a deity.

Contrary to the Thirteenth Rank Grand Witch, Miss Teresa's response aligned more with Shard's expectations. Entering the tower side by side with Shard, she also stood on the water's surface.

But even with the special relic's protection, Miss Teresa nearly stumbled the next moment, almost falling onto the water's surface, had Shard not promptly supported her.

She wanted to thank him, but noticed the man's hand holding her was covered in dense red cracks spreading across his entire body. Looking up, she saw the embers already enveloped his entire form, with red sparks drifting from his clothing and dispersing into the air, vanishing as they touched Miss Violet's hair.

The Grand Witch standing in front of the two also seemed to sense something and turned around, looking at Shard's current appearance with surprise. After a moment of hesitation, she didn't recognize what it was.

"I'm fine."

Shard softly said, steadying Miss Teresa. Compared to the two witches, his current condition was quite good. Although the mental pressure had increased after entering the tower, in the absence of malice from the deity, he could barely maintain:

"Miss Violet, let's begin."

"You seem to be in better shape than I am."

The Grand Witch muttered, suppressing her doubts about Shard, and turned again to respectfully salute the Saint illuminated by the golden candlestick in the center of the water, who always watched them with a smile.

"Good day, Guardian of the Formless and Shapeless Water, Water of the Lake and Wisdom."

She said respectfully, then softly inquired:

"Please give us the trial, bestow upon us the wisdom that mortals cannot touch."

"If you seek to touch wisdom, come closer."

With the Saint's gentle words, the golden candlestick on the table shone brighter. The thick mist dissipated a bit, and the light from the candlestick illuminated the three chairs beside the table.

Shard noticed that Miss Teresa, whom he was supporting, instantly turned pale, but she did not give up:

"It's all for the thesis!"

She whispered, her tone so firm that Shard almost laughed in that serious situation.

Miss Violet did not hesitate, walking towards the desk in the center of the water and choosing the chair on the left. She thought Shard and Miss Teresa would be slower, but was surprised that Shard was almost right behind her.

After pulling out the remaining two chairs, Miss Teresa naturally did not choose the one in the center, so Shard sat in the very middle.

"Wisdom, is the wisdom of the sages. Show me the wisdom you possess, and only then will you obtain my wisdom."

After the three of them took their seats, the Saint, still smiling, said softly. The voice was so gentle, like a stream flowing steadily. Shard distinctly felt that, although there were three people present, the deity was definitely speaking to him.

Miss Teresa dared not speak at all at this moment. If she weren't holding onto Shard's arm, she might not even be able to sit steadily. She was trembling so intensely that even Shard was shaking.

The Witch Empress of the Thirteenth Rank bit her lip, trying to organize her words. But Shard, almost out of time, with extensive experience in interacting with deities, spoke up:

"Greetings, deity of the lake."

"Greetings, follower of the Recorder."

This was a new title for Shard. Miss Violet, with her head lowered, looked at Shard in amazement, only to find him looking up at the deity behind the desk. Blood was pouring from his seven orifices as he asked with considerable familiarity:

"Deity, may I ask, how shall we showcase our wisdom?"

"You need to complete three trials to obtain my wisdom."

The Saint said softly. Dealing with such a benevolent god was far better than battling that blood-sucking deity.

"May I ask, what kind of trials?"

Shard asked again. If it weren't for the blood he was shedding already staining his chest and knees, Miss Violet might have thought he was chatting with an old friend:

"So, he actually helped me?"

The mist above the small water surface was swirling, and the desk on the water uniquely matched this atmosphere.

The deity behind the desk wore a gentle expression. Although the bodies of the three people in front of the desk were gradually disintegrating, their minds were extraordinarily calm under the influence of the deity's power, their souls tranquil enough to melt into the amorphous water at their feet.

Miss Violet temporarily set aside her doubts about Shard and listened to the answer with him:

"The first trial, bring me, your crystallized wisdom."

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