Chapter 464: It Wasn't Priest Feilina Who Did It, Could It Have Been Big Tree Bio?

"My judgment was wrong just now, haha, sorry about that, you two." Xueya Site scratched his head apologetically first, laughing heartily.

"If it wasn't the Mao Maos, and it wasn't the children who snuck into the tent, then how did the Sacred Artifact on Jier's person go missing at that time?" Bata'er Jiaoshi's state was actually better now than it had been a moment ago.

Jier waved his hand: "I don't think there's any point in agonizing here over who used what method to sneak into my tent. Because for the better part of the night, if someone had the mind to, anyone could have snuck into my tent while the guards were changing shifts. After that, they just had to wait for the next shift change to come out, didn't they?"

"But a shift change takes at least over an hour; you don't think someone would hide in a tent where you were sleeping, waiting for a long time just to steal a Sacred Artifact, do you? Wouldn't they be afraid of you getting up in the middle of the night to pee?"

"Unless they knew I wouldn't get up at that time," Jier said vaguely, implying something.

"In short, the method isn't important; what's important is the motive," Jier said firmly.

Regarding Jier's judgment, both Xueya Site and Bata'er Jiaoshi were noncommittal; Xueya Site was feeling disappointed that his previously confident conclusion had been overturned, while Bata'er Jiaoshi, although Jier and Xueya Site had already proven it wasn't the children's doing, and now, following Jier's judgment, realized that as long as one had patience, anyone could have snuck into his tent last night while the guards were off-guard and come back out during the next shift change.

"So, does that mean everyone in the entire Church who was here last night is a suspect in stealing the Sacred Artifact?" Bata'er Jiaoshi felt a bit desperate; this was simply impossible to figure out.

So he pleaded with Jier: "So, Warrior Jier, could you please think carefully again about that Prophecy Poem you received last night? If, I mean, could we get some help from that Prophecy Poem?"

Jier gave a light snort: "Prophecy Poem? Bata'er Jiaoshi, you are a Priest who believes in the Agricultural God; do you really believe in things like Prophecy Poems?"

Having said that, Jier turned to look at the courtyard in the middle of the Church, and at the Big Tree Bio, known for its 'wisdom', standing in the yard.

"As a large tree that cannot move, by what right can it predict what has happened in advance? Is it by virtue of having ears longer and more sensitive than a rabbit's? Is it by virtue of having a nose larger and keener than a hound's? Is it by virtue of having eyes brighter and seeing further than an eagle's? Or is it that it has grown a glib mouth, capable of prying out deep, private secrets from the mouths of everyone who passes by?"

Jier patted Bata'er Jiaoshi on the shoulder to cheer him up: "The one who gave me the Prophecy Poem is a large tree; it has no ears, no mouth, no nose, and no eyes. Yet you hope to rely on a poem of a prophetic nature given by such an existence, rather than on ourselves? Cheer up, Bata'er Jiaoshi."

Xueya Site had, after all, experienced quite a bit of society; he hadn't realized it before, but now, after Jier's subtle hint, he had figured some things out: "So, if that so-called Prophecy Poem is fake, then how did that large tree know that the Sacred Artifact on Jier would be stolen? Unless..."

He didn't spell out the rest, but the three people present all understood what he was going to say.

Bata'er Jiaoshi looked incredulous, because he had long known of the miraculous nature of Big Tree Bio; meditating and praying beside this tree sometimes yielded knowledge and experience, which had led people to believe all along that this tree was miraculous and possessed extraordinary wisdom.

That was why the Nature Sect considered the place where this tree stood a holy site, and people often came to worship and pray for wisdom.

Moreover, this practice was also very effective; people often received enlightenment regarding wisdom. Not to mention others, Bata'er Jiaoshi hadn't believed it at first either, but later he tried it himself and also gained some experience and enlightenment regarding wheat planting, so it was considered very effective.

Presumably, Priest Feilina, who was stationed at Big Tree Village, had also benefited from this and often received enlightenment in wisdom, which was why she had become so capable.

But at this moment, Jier's line of reasoning suddenly overturned Bata'er Jiaoshi's long-held view of Big Tree Bio.

"So, is the Prophecy Poem fake? And if it gave a prophecy, and the facts really unfolded according to the prophecy, is the only explanation...?" Bata'er Jiaoshi couldn't believe it.

Jier nodded: "That's right, that's exactly it." After saying this, Jier led the two of them into the middle courtyard. At this moment, the branches of the large tree swayed slightly, and the emerald green leaves, illuminated by the sunlight, turned into emerald gems hanging overhead. Scattered patches of sunlight filtered down onto the three of them, slightly dispelling the slight chill of the early morning.

A rustling sound kept rising all around; even though no wind was blowing, the branches and leaves of the large tree were swaying.

Jier pointed at Big Tree Bio and said to his two companions: "I'll just say it straight: ever since I woke up this morning and discovered the Sacred Artifact was missing, I have had a suspect in mind."

"But Jier, you suspected those alien Mao Maos before, didn't you?" Bata'er Jiaoshi asked.

"And those children from Changmai Village; when you suggested that the children had taken the Sacred Artifact, you didn't object either," Xueya Site also asked.

Jier nodded: "That's right, I also focused on the Mao Maos and the children at first, but my thoughts were different from yours. I only thought they had taken action at the time, but what good would stealing the Sacred Artifact do for them? Therefore, if they were the ones who did it, they were just being driven as tools by someone else. So there must be some existence behind the scenes driving them."

Jier looked at Bata'er Jiaoshi: "Priest, I think you had similar thoughts to mine at the time, right? But the difference is, your suspect was Priest Feilina, wasn't it?"

"You, how did you know?" Bata'er Jiaoshi asked in surprise. He had thought he hadn't shown any flaws, and all along he had only suspected Priest Feilina without revealing it.

Jier shrugged: "It was too obvious. Priest Feilina spoke to you several times, and you didn't answer her directly, and even deliberately avoided facing her. It looked as if you had done something to wrong Priest Feilina. Actually, I guess you didn't want to face the fact that Priest Feilina might really be the one behind the scenes directing the Mao Maos or the children to steal the Sacred Artifact, right?"

"Ah, um. Yes... yes. Jier, you're right. I've known Feilina for almost ten years. I really didn't want to believe that she directed others to steal the Sacred Artifact, just because I received the Agricultural God's affirmation before she, who is more excellent than me, did. That is also the reason why I didn't tell her about receiving the Sacred Artifact as a reward the first moment I arrived at Big Tree Village yesterday." Bata'er Jiaoshi lowered his head, his tone heavy.

"She is far more excellent than me, whether it's in developing believers, managing the village, or increasing crop yields; she is far better than me. And I, just because I followed behind you, Jier, and treated the wounds of the refugees, received the affirmation and reward of my God. This is, sigh, this is too unfair to her."

Jier and Xueya Site exchanged a glance; there was some surprise and amusement in both their eyes.

"You're overthinking it, Priest," Xueya Site said.

Jier also added: "Yes, you're overthinking it. You are a Priest of the Agricultural God; do you think the great Agricultural God would mistakenly reward you with a Sacred Artifact and mistakenly confirm your merit?"

"No, no! How could the Agricultural God make such a small mistake! His greatness needs no many words to praise," Bata'er Jiaoshi said hurriedly.

"So, the Agricultural God gave you the Sacred Artifact, which means you have indeed established merit. Your actions along the way were meritorious to those refugees, meritorious to the Agricultural God Church, and meritorious to the Agricultural God. The Sacred Artifact is an encouragement and a spur to you, not something to make you self-doubting, fearing the shadow of surpassing your companion."

Xueya Site said loudly: "If she is your true companion, she would only be proud of your merit! Honestly, did Priest Feilina show any signs of jealousy toward you just now?"

Bata'er Jiaoshi thought for a moment, and then his whole body relaxed: "No, no! She was just complaining that I didn't tell her the news."

Jier and Xueya Site both shrugged together: "Isn't that it, then?"

After the lighthearted topic was finished, Jier turned serious and pointed directly at the large tree in the center of the courtyard.

"The suspect I really have in mind, I think you both have guessed, is this large tree that calls itself 'wise', Bio."

Neither Xueya Site nor Bata'er Jiaoshi showed any surprise on their faces, because when Jier mentioned the Prophecy Poem earlier, he had already clearly hinted at this large tree.

"This is my first time coming to Big Tree Village. I had never even heard the name of Big Tree Bio before, and I don't know it at all. Yet it unusually entered my dreams, first using a poem showcasing itself to elevate its own status and abilities, and then it showed me two Prophecy Poems."

"Setting aside whether the Prophecy Poem about rescuing the villagers of Changmai Village was accurate, just speaking of the latter, it was already the second half of the night. Roughly speaking, the Prophecy Poem it gave me and the theft of the Sacred Artifact on my person happened at the same time."

Jier smiled slightly: "If it predicted everything in advance, did it also predict the scene where its facade of wisdom would be torn down?"

"If the Prophecy Poem is fake, and the theft of the Sacred Artifact has nothing to do with it, then why didn't it point out the clues to the thief directly in the dream? It had to painstakingly compile a Prophecy Poem. Oh, perhaps it was using this method to keep me on a string, waiting for me to come to it after I couldn't find the Sacred Artifact."

"And then it would point out the real thief to solidify its image of wisdom?" Xueya Site asked.

It sounded like a question, but in reality, it was already a self-answered question.

"And at the same time, make Warrior Jier, me, and even the Agricultural God Church owe it a favor," Bata'er Jiaoshi said, feeling a bit angry.

Jier added at this moment: "If the Prophecy Poem was indeed compiled by it, but the theft of the Sacred Artifact also has something to do with it, then things are even more complicated."

The three of them all looked at the rustling Big Tree Bio. Jier didn't know if it was an illusion, but he felt that this large tree was very agitated at this moment.

"This is a monster tree that looks wise but is actually very sinister," Xueya Site sighed.

Then he looked at his other two companions and asked tentatively: "So, if everything was done by it, or if it wasn't done by it but it knows who did it, how do we get it to open up and respond to us?"

"We can't just stare at it like this and expect a large tree to start talking, can we?"

Jier was still quite calm: "Why not? After all, for a large tree known for its wisdom, it shouldn't be a difficult thing for it to actually speak, right? After all, it easily entered my dream last night."

Thus, the three of them stared at the large tree together, waiting for it to respond to their accusations.

In the meantime, the warriors of the caravan came over to explain that the team was ready to depart. But Jier waved his hand to let them wait a while longer in the backyard, indicating that the three of them were in front of this 'wise' Big Tree Bio, praying for some blessings of wisdom.

This reason was very useful; even many warriors and drivers in the caravan wanted to come over to pray for wisdom together, although they didn't know what use a warrior or a carriage driver would have for wisdom.

But Jier drove them away in time, explaining that praying for wisdom was a serious matter and that too many people should not be present at one time.

Thus, the drivers and Warriors retreated with regret, sincerely believing they might lose this opportunity to obtain wisdom. After all, no matter how one looked at it, once Jier and the others finished, regardless of whether they obtained wisdom or not, they would likely urge the caravan to depart, leaving them with no chance.

"Are we just going to keep staring at it like this?" Xueya Site scratched his cheek: "I feel like we're being a bit silly."

The leaves rustled and collided with a swishing sound, seemingly in agreement with this point of view.

"How about we try another method? How about sincere Prayer, or sitting cross-legged on the ground and closing our eyes for Meditation?" Priest Bata'er proposed other methods.

Jier, however, was somewhat stubborn; he felt that a magical tree possessing the ability to enter dreams must have other ways to communicate conveniently with people. It was just that this tree's methods had been exposed by Jier just now, and it was pretending to be a tree incapable of communication.

It was playing dumb.

At this moment, Priest Feilina walked back. She had just taken the children to eat breakfast, and at this moment, only a few girls who didn't like to play followed behind her; the other boys had long since vanished after eating, running off somewhere in the Cunzi to play.

"Oh, are you three seeking wisdom from Dashu Bi'ao? Or have you still not found the Sacred Artifact?"

Priest Feilina teased: "Luosa, who guaranteed to me just now that they could handle this matter? It was you, right? Is this how you three are handling it? Standing around like fools, or have you sincerely realized your own lack of wisdom and are now seeking wisdom from the tree?"

Priest Bata'er was terribly embarrassed and hurriedly explained: "It's not like that. Warrior Jier suspects that the loss of the Sacred Artifact was actually done by this Dashu Bi'ao."

"Oh? That's impossible, right?" While saying it was impossible, Priest Feilina used her hands to drive the children following her back into the room, and whispered to them not to come out for the time being.

"Can you tell me, you all, especially you, young Warrior Jier, why do you suspect Dashu Bi'ao?" After finishing, Priest Feilina even looked up to check the tree's condition.

She frowned: "It looks very agitated right now, and seems a bit angry."

"Ha, if it's angry, then wouldn't Priest Bata'er and Jier, who accidentally lost the Sacred Artifact, be even angrier to death?" Xueya Site made a witty remark.

Priest Feilina carefully observed the condition of Dashu Bi'ao: "It looks even angrier."

Jier then asked Priest Feilina: "Priest Feilina, do you know if this tree has the ability to communicate directly with people? Rather than your strange method of discerning its emotions."

"To tell you the truth, no. Only by sleeping near it, or entering deep Meditation or focused Prayer, can one occasionally have some mental communication with it. This skill of mine was learned from a Sage of the Nature Sect who came here on a pilgrimage."

Frowning, Priest Feilina gave a suggestion: "You must have said a lot of bad things about it, which made it very angry. Perhaps you could try sleeping here, or Meditation, or Prayer; I think it will be easier to communicate with it than usual?"

The three looked at each other, feeling that just waiting like this wouldn't lead to a result; after all, the caravan was still waiting for them. They had to interrogate this highly suspicious Dashu Bi'ao as soon as possible, find the Sacred Artifact, and continue their journey south.

"Then let's try it?" Jier tentatively suggested.

"I think I should have a chance if I take a nap!" Xueya Site said first.

Priest Bata'er nodded and said directly: "I will naturally use Prayer; I've heard that focused Prayer can also work."

Jier shrugged: "Then to increase the success rate, I'll try Meditation. By the way, how does one do Meditation?"

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