Eposka could take a beating—far more than Cheng Shi or Hong Lin had imagined. After absorbing Hong Lin's devastating blow, it scrambled back to its feet in no ti.
But the giant bear no longer dared to strike.
Because both players had realized the sa thing. If the being protecting the Mushroom-Footed People truly was Eposka, then regardless of whether the bear could actually destroy this Envoy's husk, simply imagining what would happen if Hong Lin killed it was enough—the Mushroom-Footed People would instantly lose their shelter and be exposed to the endless Sighing Sorrow Tide. They'd share the fate of their ancestors, with no path left but becoming creatures of [Decay].
The trial would undoubtedly end in failure.
But if they didn't eliminate the Barren Walker, the Mushroom-Footed People's Tribe would continue to exist in this "blasphemous" state, eking out survival. The embers would remain re embers forever, and their faith would never be set right.
Cheng Shi finally understood. Correcting this corrupted faith was probably the answer to this trial. But the problem was, it seed like an unsolvable puzzle.
How could dying embers, barely clinging to life, ever be fanned into a raging wildfire?
Setting aside the embers themselves—even the people He'd sent to kindle them were nearly all gone.
The players had their own agendas. Almost none of them cared about these pitiful Mushroom-Footed People. In the end, only a single fraud stood in Eposka's garden, brow furrowed, racking his brains for a solution.
And just as he'd exhausted every idea without finding an answer, the giant bear spoke:
"There's still plenty of ti, no rush. Let's find our way back first, then figure things out.
It's just one trial's gains or losses. Relax. Don't take it so hard."
'Relax? Don't take it so hard?'
Cheng Shi smiled. He knew Hong Lin was trying to comfort him. In the past, he wouldn't have cared whether he got bonus points or not—as long as he got sothing out of the trial, that would've been enough. But today, his competitive edge had kicked in.
He wanted to win. He wanted bonus points. Big bonus points!
Still, Hong Lin had a point about one thing—there were two days left in the trial. No need to rush. He still had ti to think it through slowly.
So Cheng Shi nodded, preparing to grab Hong Lin and Amir and retreat while Eposka hadn't launched its next attack.
But right then—sothing changed!
The giant bear planted all four limbs on the ground and growled, beginning to back away slowly. But as she retreated, she noticed that Eposka's wounds had begun to heal!
Of course, followers of [Decay] weren't completely defined by decay. They could always find a balance between rot and self-regeneration—enough to preserve their lives while devoting themselves as fully as possible to Him.
However, what was nding Eposka's wounds wasn't [Decay] at all. It was a faint [Prosperity] force helping it recover.
Hong Lin caught only a glimpse of that faint, pale green glow—and the entire bear froze on the spot, as if struck by lightning.
Cheng Shi noticed her reaction. His heart lurched and he asked gravely: "What's wrong?"
The giant bear turned her massive head stiffly, disbelief rumbling in her deep voice:
"[Prosperity]'s power. There's [Prosperity] power flowing through its body!"
'What?'
Cheng Shi was dumbfounded. How could there still be [Prosperity] power on a husk that had fully embraced [Decay]?
But before he could even process that question, the next revelation hit him even harder.
"And this force is identical to the one in the Mushroom-Footed People!
Faint, and fresh!
The [Prosperity] power in the Mushroom-Footed People was too ager for
to sense any difference. But Eposka is different—though the [Prosperity] in its body shares the sa origin as the Mushroom-Footed People's, compared to mine...
It's completely different!"
!!!
???
Cheng Shi's mind went blank with another detonation.
'What?'
'The [Prosperity] power in the Mushroom-Footed People isn't the sa [Prosperity] as the real one?!'
'Could it an...'
Cheng Shi swallowed hard, absolutely horrified. A bold, absurd, insane notion rose in his mind:
'The Faith Grafting... succeeded!'
'This was the benefit Eposka wanted!'
It had intercepted the Mushroom-Footed People's Power of Faith ant for [Prosperity], and through that contract, crystallized that stolen faith into a brand-new [Prosperity] force within its own body!
No wonder Abusfer had called it "a new [Prosperity]." Cheng Shi had assud it was rely a figure of speech, but it turned out the chieftain had ant it literally!
So not just Authority—even faith itself could be stolen?
Then how had Abusfer, a re Mushroom-Footed chieftain, learned of this thod of theft?
Was the current situation the result of so accidental twist of fate centuries ago, or had Eposka and Abusfer planned it from the start?
Had the Mushroom-Footed People, seeking revenge against [Prosperity], also embraced [Decay]?
That didn't seem right—the common tribespeople had no idea Eposka was the god sheltering them...
'Wait—right, the box! The Tower of Logic's box!'
Cheng Shi whipped his head around, instantly realizing there was another possibility for how Abusfer had learned about this thod of stealing faith:
A Tower of Logic experint!
Perhaps these Mushroom-Footed People hadn't been exiled here by [Prosperity] at all. A God had no reason to banish His followers to a land governed by an opposing faith. Perhaps these Mushroom-Footed People had simply been captured by Tower of Logic scholars and used as subjects in an experint... an experint to steal [Prosperity]'s faith!
Yes—that would also explain [Prosperity]'s "forgiveness" toward the Mushroom-Footed People. He wasn't forgiving sinners. He was taking pity on His own people.
So these Mushroom-Footed People were very likely the scholars' test subjects. Sothing must have happened that allowed them to escape.
Or perhaps the Sighing Forest itself was the experint ground those scholars had chosen?
Perhaps at this very mont, those scholars were hidden sowhere nearby, watching everything unfold without moving a muscle!
Cheng Shi was terrified by his own train of thought.
'This is madness!'
'These deranged scholars—they actually want to steal the Gods' faith!'
'Do they truly dare?!'
Cheng Shi's gaze hardened. He recalled the lofty Erudition Presidium. For those who pursued [Truth] with such fanatical devotion, the answer to that question was simple:
'They dare!'
'They absolutely dare!'
'What wouldn't they dare?!'
After all, the Stars Dagger was still simulating the rising sun and setting moon in the depths of the Void. After all, the Conjugate Whisper still flourished in the skies above Gasmira. And the Divinity Germination Experint was already attempting to manufacture new Divinity. In this entire world, was there anything the Erudition Presidium wouldn't do?!
Under [Truth]'s protection, these fervent seekers of truth were tirelessly plundering everything the Gods possessed!
Divinity, faith, and Authority!
So why was [Truth] sheltering His followers as they did all of this?
What was He scheming—openly seizing the Authority of other gods?
Or was He attempting to beco, through these ans, what [Deceit] called a true God?!
Cheng Shi felt a massive current raging through his entire body, raising goosebumps across every inch of his skin.
Then another question struck him. If a player intercepted this faith—what then?
Would a person imbued with the Power of Faith... ascend to godhood?!
If so...
Would it be a replacent, or an addition?
Hong Lin had probably arrived at the sa question. She suddenly realized this might not be a simple confrontation between [Prosperity] and [Decay]. Sowhere beyond their sight, sothing else seed to be watching.
She beca cautious all at once, carefully backing up until she stood in front of Cheng Shi, then asked in a low rumble:
"The [Prosperity] power in its body is faint, but it's pulling at my own [Prosperity]—even trying to resonate with the [Prosperity] Divinity sealed inside ...
I'm wondering, did that Puppet Master know about this all along? Is that why she left behind all that Divinity?"
Very possible. The historian's mories might well have contained information about what appeared to be a Tower of Logic experint. The Puppet Master simply hadn't shared that knowledge with them, for whatever reason.
Cheng Shi didn't know what the Puppet Master was thinking, but he could guess what a warrior would think—sothing that fell into his hands was never going to be handed over to soone else, especially not an enemy!
A smile tugged at his lips: "Whatever it is, we're definitely not tossing away what's already in our hands. Can you hold on? I might need more ti to look for additional clues."
The giant bear nodded: "The [Decay] here is constantly eroding , but I'll manage. I can hold for half a day. But your Desolate Lamp is running low on [Prosperity]—bring it here and I'll top it off."
Cheng Shi obediently lifted the Desolate Lamp. Then he heard the bear add:
"Cast Concentration on
while you're at it. It'll help
react faster."
His expression froze. He stood rooted to the spot.
"..."
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