Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1000: God’s Final Trial

Although almost on the verge of falling into a coma at the moment the Deity appeared, Miss Teresa still moved her lips to greet the God.

Shard and Miss Violet certainly did not forget this, and after paying their respects, Shard took out the water pouch he carried with him. Due to the special nature of the Lake Cherub’s water, this water couldn’t be turned into toys using Sorcery. After his duel with the Cherub, Shard filled the pouch with water, and to prevent it from being insufficient, he brought all the lake water at this time:

"O God, this is the offering from the mortal Shard Hamilton, Violet Marshall, and Schultz Teresa to you. May wisdom flow like water, endlessly."

Opening the cork of the water pouch, Sorcery "Water Flow Manipulation" guided the water out of the pouch. Miss Violet and Miss Teresa, standing behind Shard, immediately turned their gaze, for although Shard explained the origin of the water while climbing the tower, they were still seeing this offering for the first time.

Though at Lake Cherub, this lake water was indistinguishable from ordinary water flow. But now, guided by Sorcery to flow out as a serpentine stream, it shone brightly on the gloomy Heart Lake Island, gradually assimilated by the Deity’s glimmer, displaying a sanctified gloss.

Shard merely guided out the first stream of water, and thereafter it was no longer under his control. The Deity let all the lake water of Lake Cherub flow out, swirling around him like a holy ribbon.

Soon, the flowing water contracted inward, imprinting silver marks on the Deity’s robe.

The robe was originally a bluish-white color, now with silver imprints that did not appear incongruous:

"Remarkable, I indeed knew you could complete the second trial, yet I didn’t expect you to be even more excellent than I thought. The water there is not easily accessible."

The Deity softly spoke in front of the cabin, and Shard nodded slightly in humility:

"It’s nothing. Deity, there’s still a second offering here."

The God took all the lake water from Lake Cherub, and although Shard had anticipated this, he still felt a pang of loss. Without the lake water of Lake Cherub, he’d have to find a special bow or crossbow to be eligible to shoot the Aikenora-Arrow of Knowledge. Besides relics, powerful alchemical items were also permissible, but in doing so, the alchemical bow or crossbow would become unusable immediately after one shot.

"No, it cannot be like that unshot arrow again; otherwise, it would feel like Mia crawling on me."

[How many this time?]

"She" asked with a smile.

Next, Shard offered the water soaked with the Water Cube obtained by the witches. The water flowed out like a long snake, but this time the Deity did not imprint this water on his robe, instead transforming the flowing water into a sphere that ultimately solidified into a pearl, adorning the hem of the robe:

"The spring water infused by the Water Cube, although that relic appeared on the island, being able to extract water from it is proof enough that you qualify to pass my trial."

The God paused, looking at the mortals before him:

"Since there are two offerings, you deserve more grace. Last time I bestowed a blessing upon you; this time..."

He glanced at Miss Teresa, the witch with glasses half-closed her eyes, yet she could still feel that the Deity’s gaze was more scorching than the summer midday sun. Her soul trembled under this brief gaze but fortunately, the gaze almost instantly moved away.

Meanwhile, [Night Watchman] flew out of the witch’s hand into the Deity’s grip. As that gentle white light-emitting hand stroked the hovering sword, the sword itself did not glow, only the inscription [My heart is clear, sword slays demons] shimmered with quiet light.

"I will endow your weapon with greater power."

Shard and Miss Violet said nothing; the blessing bestowed by the Deity obviously offered them no choice.

"This blessing is effective solely for you three. Let your blood drip onto the sword, fully immersing the runes inscribed on it; this sword will specifically target you, enhancing the trait ’prior to sword combat if clean water is drunk, stamina will persist ceaselessly for a period of time’."

"Thank you for your generosity."

The three of them spoke together, with Miss Teresa trailing behind due to her very poor mental state.

The sword, having been touched by the Deity, flew towards the three and then pierced into the soil before Shard. Shard temporarily did not have the time to contemplate the continuity of space-time—his time was running out:

"O God, the preordained trials have reached their final stage; we crave your wisdom. Please reveal the final trial’s content."

He bowed slightly once more.

"What trial do you desire?"

He did not directly present the trial’s content but instead smiled, asking warmly.

Shard pressed his lips:

"We came seeking wisdom, thus the test from the Sage should naturally conclude with wisdom."

He tried his best to avoid a physical confrontation, while Witch Empress Violet did not want the man negotiating with the God to depart, her desire ever intensifying.

The God lightly chuckled, nodding, from behind the peculiar-shaped glasses, fully understanding what Shard was thinking:

"Very well, the final trial requires answering a question unsolvable by mortals."

This phrasing seemed familiar to Shard:

"Please go ahead and ask."

He stepped back, rejoining the witches. The three heard the God’s voice as the Ancient One recounted an even older story:

"In the beginning of all beginnings, during the Genesis of the world, there existed thirteen Primordial Deities, known to mortals as Ancient Gods. The ancient God presiding over wisdom and knowledge was the mentor of all wise beings, the Keeper of Secrets holding those unmentionable secrets."

Shard listened carefully, Miss Violet lowered her head, biting her lower lip. Miss Teresa had her eyes closed, her breath weak, her mind probing the secrets of ancient mythology within the deity’s narration. If not for Miss Violet protecting her now, she might lose control at any moment due to unstable spirits.

"Even a deity of wisdom needs favorable helpers. Thus, the Ancient God plucked the pure white clouds from the high heavens, gathered the immortal roses from the abyss, and extracted the pure saline water from the seabed to create his first angels."

The Undefined Sage sighed softly, then asked:

"The question is, how many Cherubs did that ancient deity create? Where are these angels now?"

Shard was taken aback, then felt someone tugging at him from behind. He sensed warm breath, someone speaking into his ear. This made Shard a little uneasy because generally, when someone was talking beside his ear, he wouldn’t feel the scent of perfume and the warmth of breath:

"Aren’t there five Cherubs? Rituals like ’Wisdom of Dusk’ and ’Spring of Inspiration’ all require the runes corresponding to the five Cherubs to be inscribed in the ritual circle. But could the answer to this question be so simple?"

Miss Violet’s voice was very soft, and the breath she exhaled when she spoke made Shard’s ear itch:

"Furthermore, where the Cherubs are, can we really answer such a question?"

"Hmm..."

Shard pursed his lips, ignoring Miss Violet’s voice, because the image of Priest Augustus suddenly popped up:

"The Ancient God ’Secret-Keeping Mentor’ created a total of nine Cherubs in the First Era."

"Hmm?"

The Witch Empress’s hand gripping Shard’s clothing tightened suddenly, nearly tearing it. But before Shard’s clothes could be ruined, the weak hand of Miss Teresa rested on hers:

"Trust him."

The young witch mumbled in a daze.

Shard continued to answer:

"As for where they are... When the ’Secret-Keeping Mentor’ departed, four Cherubs left with the Ancient God, while five angels remained in the mortal world, thereby causing the bloodline power of Cherubs to persist among mortals. I can’t specify their exact locations, but I know the First Seraph - the Cherub is currently in central Midland, near a human settlement rumored to have the ’Lake Goddess’. He hides within a peculiar space, but many mortals have visited him before."

The rumor of the ’Lake Goddess’ has been around since the Fifth Era, something Shard discovered during his investigation. He immediately mentioned the requirements to meet the ’Lake Goddess’, which were summarized by Professor Drake.

The deity nodded slightly:

"That’s enough, quite unexpected. Initially, I only needed you to state the number of angels staying or departing, but you actually know the location of one of them. This is not knowledge any mortal can possess, neither the number of nine nor the whereabouts of the Cherubs."

He did not inquire where Shard’s information came from, nor would Shard say, "No one understands angels better than Priest Augustus."

Seeing the deity nod in acknowledgment of his answer, Shard truly breathed a sigh of relief. This was the third time activating this key, and if he didn’t provide an answer this trial, he might have faced the failure of the first Time Key.

"Thank Priest Augustus."

He said softly in his heart, Priest Augustus just mentioned it casually without knowing it would have such an effect.

"Then, does this mean we have completed your trial?"

He attempted to ask.

"Yes, as initially agreed, you can make a wish, seeking wisdom that doesn’t belong to mortals from me."

The deity smiled gently, and Shard’s face also lit up with a smile:

"It’s like this, before we make a wish, could you tell us the reason why the five Cherubs remain in the mortal world?"

He hadn’t forgotten the ultimate trial question of the ’Lake Goddess’, since the clues from the ’Lake Goddess’s trial’ led Shard to the answer for the ’Deity’s trial’, perhaps the latter might help the former in return.

"I know, but this answer, I cannot tell you."

The deity in robes remained gentle, Shard pursed his lips, somewhat disappointed but able to accept this outcome.

The deity continued:

"However, I can tell you another answer. Your sealed power only needs to touch a high enough level of the moon to break the seal."

Shard looked up in surprise at Him but then immediately looked down:

"I understand, thank you for your help."

Then he turned to look at Miss Violet tugging at his clothing:

"Madam, it’s your turn, the three trials have ended, please make your wish."

The Witch Empress didn’t look very pleased, and when Shard turned to her, her golden eyes met his. Shard could clearly see genuine disappointment in her eyes, resembling the expression of Mia when she couldn’t have her midnight snack.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by free(w)ebnovel(.)com