Chapter 1257: Chapter 1257: The Final 4,791-Year Adventure
The disappearance of that figure also restored the surroundings to normal, meaning Shard once again perceived that he was submerged in black mire and was continuously sinking.
Although contact with the black mire would not cause his own petrification, it wasn’t without any impact on him. Initially, there was only a stinging sensation, but after delving deeper for a few more seconds, Shard clearly felt he couldn’t hold on. However, he was also certain at this moment that at least a drop of divinity was waiting for him at the source of these black mires.
[You must leave, your soul can withstand it, but your body cannot endure such pollution. Even if you use an Arcane Technique to transform into a stone statue, you cannot continue downward. You need a stronger Power of the Earth to descend into deeper areas.]
“Do I need a second power of the Earth? Like Luviya’s Power of the Earth: Abundant Field?”
[Accumulation of quantity is meaningless. You need to strengthen the “Power of the Earth: Healing Aura.” Each time you purify the Earth, you can enhance the effect of this sorcery. If you make incorrect guesses, you only need to purify 158 more sources like the “Saint Perry Cemetery,” or 201 such sources of pollution, to have a slight chance of reaching the source of the black mire.]
“Where am I going to find 158 or 201…”
If there really were 158 places like the “Saint Perry Cemetery,” it would mean that the problems in Randall Valley City have spiraled completely out of control. Shard might consider asking another Luviya if the Sixth Era could be restarted. The only possible place he could think of was the Age of Apocalypse in the previous Sixth Era where “another Luviya” resided, where the land was probably covered with Crazy Earth. But the problem was, he hadn’t found the Time Key, and even if he did, he didn’t have enough spirit to purify so much pollution.
“It seems I need to think of a way to enhance the sorcery through other means. Divinity, it must be obtained!”
The chain of the door pendant was tied around his arm to prevent it from being lost, and at this moment, holding the Time Key in one hand, he prepared to open the door with the pendant in the other.
Even in the black mire, the cracked wooden Time Key had not petrified and even faintly emitted an emerald glow. Meanwhile, the once-metallic small door pendant had turned into stone. Luckily, the Time Key had no material requirements for the door; as long as it could open and close, and was door-shaped, any peculiar material could be used:
“May the World Tree protect me in infinite time.”
Click~
The heavy yet still small stone door opened, and the Mist Gate, swirling with white fog, “sucked” Shard in.
[Outlander, you have stepped into the “Time Corridor.”]
[A message from the Ancient God “Father of the Infinite Tree”:]
[Fifth Era, year 4791, autumn, Southern Continent, Worm Cave.]
[Event: Butterfly Festival.]
[Duration: sixty minutes (3/3).]
[You’ve gained additional information.]
[The silhouette of the Father of the Infinite Tree continues to watch you.]
[The test given to you by the Ancient God of Time will continue.]
[Help mortals complete the festival of the Old God – ‘Thousand-Eye Illusion Butterfly’, allowing one to gain the favor of a Familiar.]
[The Father of the Infinite Tree will grant you a reward: Arcane Technique – Fiona’s Housekeeper, and a piece of true information – Mermaid.]
“Hmm? Sixty minutes?”
Stepping out from the white fog, Shard was deeply impressed by the corridor of the “Worm Cave,” even though it still had a choking stench, it had become so endearing at this time because there was no terrifying black mire here.
The black mire, originating from the essence of the Mad Land, naturally couldn’t follow Shard into this era. And while his skin and clothes were still saturated with a heavy curse aura, fortunately in a place like the “Worm Cave,” where even the concepts of time and space didn’t exist, the power of Whisper and curse was even stronger.
By comparison, the aura on Shard was negligible.
“Oh!”
Earlier, after exchanging blows with that Gray Stone Giant, the injury on his right arm could once again be felt, and the presence of a living person also agitated the countless tiny holes teeming with insects. Clutching his arm, Shard sprinted forward, transforming into a crimson butterfly swarm during the Bug Rain.
As the butterfly swarm flew out from the vine-and-flower adorned cave entrance like a stream of light from one side of the rock wall, eventually landing at the very bottom of the cave, the participants of the banquet understood that the unusual man had returned.
Shard emerged from the swarm of butterflies, with the fluttering red butterflies stopping on his shoulder, transforming into fragments of light particles and disappearing. And the real butterflies that appeared because of the Butterfly God, ‘Thousand-Eye Illusion Butterfly,’ danced near Shard, circling him when he settled back into his seat.
If Shard hadn’t explicitly stated that he didn’t want the favor of the Butterfly God’s familiars, Witch Blanchett, Sister Perry, and Mr. Lyman would seriously doubt whether the banquet could continue.
The dancing butterflies scattered colorful spots of light around Shard, and his arm wound healed quickly. The healing allowed him to maintain a proper sitting posture. Although it had been a week, the three fellow banquet attendees seemed to be in good spirits.
The middle-aged witch Blanchett curiously examined Shard, nodding to him after he sat down; Sister Ollie Perry, who came for supernatural power, slightly bowed in greeting, which reminded Shard again of her elderly appearance. Although the banquet hadn’t ended, he already saw this devout soul’s end point.
As for Mr. Lyman, he still scribbled and doodled on the paper in front of him, adjusting the phrasing of his poem. According to Sister Perry, this gentleman also successfully left here and propagated his family in Randall Valley City, even having descendants by the Sixth Era.
Shard had already investigated. In 1854 of the Sixth Era, no ancient family with the surname ‘Lyman’ existed in Randall Valley, so his descendants likely had a different surname.
However, if it can be confirmed that Mr. Fred Lehman gained the favor of the Butterfly God’s familiars after the banquet, then perhaps there is an exotic bloodline among his descendants, and the nurse statues at Helen and Grace’s place would point out the presence of a special bloodline to Shard.
“Butterfly God, it is an honor to attend your banquet for the third time.”
Shard respectfully said to the deity across the giant round table, who asked with illusory, transparent butterfly wings behind him:
“Have you already received my gift?”
“Yes, I temporarily left it with a pair of butterfly maidens. If you’re interested, I can tell you that story. But before that, allow us to offer you poetry.”
Upon gaining the deity’s permission, the four people still showcased their works in the previous order.
Mr. Lyman went first, unsurprisingly praising the beauty of the “butterfly maidens” according to his imagination. Some sentences were even a little… awkward, but this fully illustrated Mr. Lyman’s sincere heart. He was quite accomplished in poetry, and his poetry was well-written.
Sister Perry came second, her creation took a religious hymnal style. Compared to Mr. Lyman, Sister Perry’s poetry was somewhat ordinary. She knew she probably wasn’t the best this round, but she maintained her usual composure.
The third was the middle-aged witch Mrs. Blanchett. Shard thought the only transcendent among the three would show the same advantage in the second round as the first. But Witch Blanchett’s poetry was even weaker than Sister Perry’s.
Since the witch was seated next to Shard, she noticed his expression and asked:
“Why do you think I’m good at writing poetry?”
“Because… you’re a witch.”
“Do witches necessarily excel at writing poetry? That’s a clear bias held by people who know nothing about witches, sir.”
Shard was the last. This week, he entrusted Miss Benanis, Lecia, and Dorothy to help him find excellent Sixth Era poetry. Miss Benanis chose a poem from around 1024 of the Sixth Era, created by a Draleon Poet titled ‘Poem Collection: Butterfly Dance.’ Dorothy and Lecia even wrote an original poem for Shard, thinking an original offering was better for a deity.
Shard agreed with this idea and finally brought Dorothy and Lecia’s long poem ‘Crimson Butterfly.’ They made Grace and Helen the prototypes for this epic narrative poem. After understanding the story of the Red Butterfly Twins, the princess and Miss Writer were even more touched than Shard, who witnessed the story firsthand. Moreover, after writing this poem, both gained new enlightenment power.
Because it’s a long poem, Shard held the book that shimmered with starlight and read aloud for a full five minutes. The three companions listened attentively, and once he sat down, Mr. Lyman clapped softly with closed eyes:
“Although I don’t want to admit, it seems I still have a long way to go.”
Sister Perry sighed, lamenting the fate of the twins who tormented each other in the story. Mrs. Blanchett was curious about the ending of the story, as the long narrative poem ended with a new cycle beginning again, with the twin sisters sitting hand in hand on the mountain top, watching the sun rise from the east, and jointly looking forward to the next reunion.
The deity made a very similar evaluation to last time:
“Very good poem, though not the pinnacle, its story and the emotion the creators infused have already surpassed most of the poems I’ve witnessed. But this isn’t your poem, and your recitation technique is terrible. If there was only skill without emotion last time, then this time it’s only emotion without skill.”
Shard noticed the middle-aged witch bowing her head revealed a smile, and he awkwardly coughed:
“I admit, I have no achievement in the arts and literature. But since it’s a tribute prepared for your banquet, it mustn’t be a random song or poem tossed together, so please excuse me for bringing others’ works.”