Chapter 103: Divine Descent

The temple's great doors slowly closed; before they shut, Lei En heard someone outside shouting, "Be careful, pull the sword blade out first, then treat him."

He looked at the Viola beside him and gave a slightly proud smile.

Viola, however, was still immersed in that poem; her lake‑blue eyes gazed at Lei En, and she said softly, "I never knew before that you could write poetry."

"Uh…" Lei En awkwardly rubbed his chin, "Inspiration struck suddenly, so I wrote it."

"Is that so?"

Viola was skeptical, recalling that Lei En had just insisted on writing a poem with Yetezi, clearly confident—hardly the look of sudden inspiration.

And that poem "Viola by the Lake" was also claimed to be a burst of inspiration.

This inspiration is way too frequent!

Lei En's myriad marvelous displays are worlds apart from his three years at the academy, as if he were a completely different person.

Could the perfect Soul Transformation have opened Lei En's mind?

Viola shook her head slightly, not wishing to probe further, and suddenly said, "I like this poem, but something feels off."

"Where's the problem?" Lei En asked.

"I'm a Half-elf; like pure elves, I never age even in the late stages of life, remaining youthful until just before death, when I suddenly age within a few hours—no time to sit by the hearth and reminisce about our love," Viola said sadly, yet her face was happy.

Lei En was stunned; he truly didn't know that about himself.

He was just copying a poem—how could he think of so much?

Viola smiled brightly, like a hundred blossoms blooming, and said, "Regardless, I love your poem; it's truly good. Since you're so talented, you should keep writing poems for me."

Lei En's aged face flushed slightly, but recalling the complete poetry anthology on his phone gave him confidence; he pounded his chest and promised, "No problem, as long as you like it."

He quickly changed the subject and asked, "What is Yetezi's background, which family does she belong to?"

"He's just a son of the Sang Dimeng family; his father is a viscount, a famous painter of the Empire, who runs several galleries in Longshande and other major cities, deals in art auctions, and has considerable wealth and connections. But you needn't worry—I will give Viscount Sang Dimeng a lesson and keep Yetezi away from you."

A flash of cold light passed through Viola's eyes; she would not let Yetezi's deeds today go unpunished so easily.

After the ceremony ends, she will come in person to settle the score.

"Should I worry about that arrogant fool?" Lei En laughed indifferently, hoping Yetezi would trouble him later so he could eliminate her and harvest souls.

He suddenly thought of something.

Yetezi has clearly been courting Viola for years. Setting aside her hostility toward me, Yetezi's qualifications are all excellent—handsome appearance, outstanding strength, an artist, and also a priest of the Longhaired Lady, perfectly matching Viola's ritual candidate. So why wasn't she chosen before?

"I know what you're thinking."

Viola, a bit displeased, tapped Lei En and said, "Even without you, I wouldn't choose her."

"Why?" Lei En asked curiously.

"This person's possessiveness is too strong; her admiration for me is fanatical, wanting to use me as a proof of her own charm rather than as a true lover," Viola explained calmly. "If I were with her, it would never end well."

"Your judgment of people is sharp," Lei En praised Viola's wisdom.

Actually he also saw it, but only with the aid of the Soul Eye could he pierce Yetezi's pathological mind, whereas Viola discerned it on her own.

"If I were poor at judging people, how could I have chosen you?"

Viola gave a coquettish smile, her cheeks slightly flushed, and said softly, "Let's not talk about her any more; let's prepare the ceremony."

"Fine."

Lei En looked at the scene inside the temple; before him stretched an open space like a spacious hall, with two rows of round stone pillars on each side supporting the dome, from which dozens of bright crystal lamps hung, casting soft light that felt very romantic.

The floor was dotted with flowers, grasses, and stone paths, resembling a small garden, with hundreds of blossoms in full bloom, exuding a captivating fragrance.

At the far end of the temple stood a towering statue of the Longhaired Lady.

Its visage was exceedingly beautiful, posture dignified, draped in a sheer robe, hands clasped at its chest, and most striking was a cascade of long hair falling to the knees, shimmering with a faint white glow.

The statue was clearly crafted by a Master sculptor, lifelike and perfect in form and spirit.

At the statue's feet lay an altar.

What surprised Lei En was that the altar was built like a pool, modest in size, its water crystal clear enough to see the bottom, only half a human's depth.

The pool's rim was covered with runes, magical energy coursing through them; steam rose, and the bottom emitted a faint glow, giving a pleasant feeling.

A disrespectful thought flashed through Lei En's mind: why does this altar resemble a hot‑spring bath?

Viola took Lei En's hand and stepped onto the altar.

Her face already flushed, she whispered, "For the Longhaired Lady's prayer ceremony, it's best to stand in the pool or bath, as it signifies purity."

Lei En tested the water temperature; it was just right, and he thought, this really is a bath…

He looked at Viola and asked with a smile, "What should I do?"

"You just step into the pool and watch me pray," Viola instructed Lei En to enter the pool. He removed his shirt, revealing solid musculature, and as he soaked in the water felt a wave of comfort, his mood involuntarily relaxed, recalling a past‑life hot‑spring experience.

Viola took out the Phonograph, placed it on a stone platform beside the altar, and turned the crank to set the needle.

Immediately, a melodious tune rang through the temple.

Viola turned away from Lei En, changed into a sheer dress identical to the statue's, exquisitely designed; as she moved, the fabric fluttered, half‑visible, possessing an alluring, misty beauty.

Lei En stared with his eyes wide open.

Then Viola danced before the altar, which was also part of the prayer ceremony.

The dance was highly aesthetic, radiating captivating magical ripples; with the music accompaniment it was even more pleasing, giving Lei En a visual feast.

Lei En observed that the moment Viola began to dance, her flame of faith surged, like oil on fire, growing ever more intense; the illusory lines of the faith flame vanished into the void, resonating with the statue, which emitted a heart‑stirring aura, as if a great presence were about to descend.

When the dance ended, Viola's flame of faith continued to pulse.

She stepped into the pool, stood in the water, hands clasped at her chest, gently bowed her head, silently uttering the Longhaired Lady's revered name, and began the formal prayer.

Viola whispered the incantation, blending with the Phonograph's music, without any discord.

Lei En heard clearly; she not only recited the prayer but also reported information about the Phonograph, appending it to the prayer.

After three consecutive recitations, the Phonograph's record completed one full rotation.

Viola replayed the music, turned, and stood in the water, gazing deeply into Lei En's eyes; her exquisite face showed only a hint of shyness, her pointed ears trembling lightly, without any trace of timidity.

The prayer ritual has reached its most important step.

Lei En's heart pounded, knowing that as a tool person it was his turn to go on stage.

Warm ripples spread across the pool's surface, gentle waves spreading outward, a few strands of rosy red diffusing underwater, instantly fading.

At this moment, their souls were so close, with no gap between them.

The phonograph's record currently holds only one piece, "Viola in the Lake"; playing it once takes just over three minutes, and the record spins once to play it three times, totaling about ten minutes.

He shook the handle twice, and the needle swung back twice.

Lei En gradually improved; when he shook the handle for the third time, halfway through, he suddenly sensed a terrifying aura appearing on the statue beside the altar, whose eyes shot out light, looking down at the two in the pool.

The deity has descended!

Lei En was overjoyed; the deity's descent meant the ritual was half successful, and as long as they continued to please Him, Viola would receive the blessed Divine Technique.

But the terrifying pressure made Lei En's heart tremble.

He dared not look at the statue with his soul's eye, feeling a prickling on his back, as if lacking strength.

"Don't stop." Viola warned with difficulty, her voice trembling, as if also awed by the deity's might.

Lei En could only grit his teeth and continue.

After a few seconds, the gaze upon him shifted, as if drawn to the phonograph, a white phantom enveloping it, which let him breathe a sigh of relief.

In the hall, only the phonograph's music echoed.

The wonderful melody replayed over and over.

After another shake of the handle, Lei En had grown used to this gaze, could only pretend not to notice His presence, and focused on close contact with Viola.

He was not a follower of the Longhaired Lady, so he could not communicate directly with the deity's spirit, and did not know how things stood.

However, judging from Viola's reaction, there should be no mistake.

Obtaining the Divine Technique was no problem.

As they were immersed, Lei En suddenly noticed that Viola in his arms was strange—her hair grew longer and longer, falling past her waist, its color shifting gradually from gold to fiery red, her exquisite beauty unchanged, her gaze dreamy; just her lake-blue eyes, in a blink, turned dark gold.

When those dark-gold eyes looked at him, Lei En felt very eerie, yet also somewhat familiar.

At the same time, the terrifying aura on the statue vanished.

Lei En instantly realized what had happened, shouting in his heart: "Holy shit! Holy shit..."

His Iron Body instinctively activated, making his whole body hard as iron, which prevented him from being embarrassed on the spot. His body was fine, but mentally he couldn't get past it; he paused there, unsure whether to continue or withdraw.

Then Viola issued a strange voice: "Don't stop."

(End of chapter)