Chapter 865: Crystallization of Wisdom

"Excuse me, may I ask, what is the 'crystallization of wisdom'?"

Xia De asked softly, resisting the immense pressure, feeling his brain becoming increasingly numb.

The deity of the lake spoke in a gentle tone:

"The fruits of your wisdom. Perhaps a sentence, perhaps an essay, perhaps a book, perhaps an invention. Bring your crystallization of wisdom to prove your wisdom."

"Must it be original?"

Xia De asked again, and the deity shook its head lightly:

"In the Third Era, I once posed this trial to a mortal; an alchemist refined a Philosopher's Stone on the spot. Yes, a Philosopher's Stone."

It looked at Xia De.

"Oh~"

Xia De heard Miss Teresa sigh softly.

"Miss Violet, do you know how to make a Philosopher's Stone?"

Xia De then asked the Great Witch beside him, who rolled her eyes at him without answering. He then asked Miss Teresa, who replied with a trembling voice before he could even finish:

"If I knew how to make a Philosopher's Stone, would I still be worrying about my graduation thesis?"

What she said made perfect sense, but this also meant that besides unique innovations, difficult crafts could also count as "crystallization of wisdom."

Since none of the three had the ability to hand-craft a Philosopher's Stone, this visit could only end temporarily, and they would have to return to camp to think of a way before responding to the deity's trial.

Xia De explained to the deity that the three of them would return soon, and the deity smiled, signaling that they could leave.

Miss Teresa was still supported by Xia De as she stood up, and although Miss Violet's face was pale, she could still walk on her own. The Great Witch, who was already reaching her limit, soon led Xia De out of the tower and across the calm surface of the lake.

Once that door closed automatically, Miss Violet gasped for air and grabbed Xia De's other arm, taking a long time to recover.

When she raised her head again, she felt the stray hair on her forehead stuck to her skin by sweat. She wanted to show concern for her companion, but discovered that apart from the bloodstains on his face that hadn't been wiped clean, Xia De looked perfectly fine:

"Are you really human?"

The Witch Empress prided herself on being well-traveled, but the experience of the past half-hour still left her greatly astonished.

Xia De calculated the time; he was about to leave:

"A moment ago you were only doubting my gender, now you've started doubting my species?"

"The 【Nightwatcher】 at your feet can only confirm you are not an evil existence; it cannot assume your species."

The witch, having recovered slightly, said. Xia De didn't want to talk too much on this topic; he really didn't have time:

"What should we do about the deity's trial?"

"Let's return to camp first and check what we have on hand. It's truly terrible; before coming to the Lost Lake, I didn't expect to encounter this situation. I thought the deity's trial would be a riddle or a duel of some sort..."

Miss Violet said, and Miss Teresa nodded as well, saying to Xia De:

"Sir, I won't say much about thanks. Your... performance just now was truly astonishing. Please share your thoughts."

"If I am to demonstrate personal wisdom, and it must be a crystallization of wisdom, I think writing a thesis or creating an invention that has never existed before would at least be simpler than us hand-crafting a Philosopher's Stone."

Xia De said, and Miss Teresa expressed agreement:

"I think so too, but such inventions and creations must have innovation; even if they overlap with the work of predecessors, they must have their own innovative points."

Miss Violet thought for a moment:

"The luggage we have on us probably doesn't count as the crystallization of our own wisdom, so let's each make some attempts. I plan to improve a potion; the basic potion 'Fire-Resistant Potion' already has at least 7 revised versions, I will try to see if there can be an eighth direction for improvement."

"I happen to be writing my graduation thesis, so I will finish the content of the third chapter here first."

Miss Teresa hesitated before saying.

"Why the third chapter?"

Xia De asked curiously, and Miss Teresa let go of Xia De's arm, explaining to him with some annoyance:

"The first chapter is the introduction, the second chapter is the theoretical research results, and only the third chapter actually involves valuable content."

After what had just happened, her attitude toward Xia De was clearly much better:

"I had originally thought I could leave the academy and go on an adventure outside, with plenty of reasons to delay the writing time. I didn't expect that in the end, I would have to write a thesis in such a terrible environment without a desk. If I had known this would happen, I would have been better off staying at the academy, watching the sea view outside my window while writing my thesis. After this trip, I will definitely be mocked by my mentor."

Miss Violet seemed amused, and she looked at Xia De again:

"You seem to have your own ideas too?"

"Yes, I plan to write a thesis on higher mathematics, but I still need to consider the specific content."

"Higher mathematics? I didn't expect you to be a scholar."

The Great Witch felt even more amazed by Xia De:

"However, I would like to learn about your past stories first. You said earlier that you had visited deities many times; it turns out that wasn't a lie. After leaving the Lost Lake, are you interested in visiting me? I can guarantee you a life of wealth and status."

She was thoroughly interested in Xia De.

"That story is very long; I think we can tell it next time. Besides, I also want to learn from you about the current situation in the material world."

Xia De said, looking at the thick fog outside the tower:

"I probably... I don't know when I'll be able to return, but when I return next time, I will bring my thesis."

He waved his hand, Miss Teresa looked at him in confusion, while Miss Violet frowned and said:

"What are you doing?"

"I think I have to leave."

Xia De turned to look at the tower again:

"I cannot stay in this place for too long. Now, I am going back."

As he spoke, both ladies saw the surrounding white fog sweeping toward this young, handsome man, wrapping him up as if becoming a giant cocoon.

"Leaving?"

Miss Teresa was startled and reached out to grab his arm, only to find her hand passing through his body as if passing through a phantom.

"Sure enough, you are not the same as us."

Miss Violet hummed. Although the Witch Empress didn't know what Xia De really was, she at least understood his stance:

"Next time you come, remember to bring red wine; we have consumed too much of our liquor."

"No problem. I hope we can finally complete the deity's three trials. By the way, Miss Violet, don't forget to pick up your hat."

He waved goodbye to the witches, and the white fog completely enveloped him, while an unknown wind caused the fog to swirl around Xia De.

Miss Teresa wanted to say something more, but when the swirling fog stopped and dispersed evenly in all directions, Xia De, who had been standing in front of the tower, was already gone.

The young witch blinked:

"Your Majesty, that wasn't an illusion, was it?"

Miss Violet hesitated for a moment before nodding:

"I believe it was not."

As she spoke, she didn't go to pick up her hat first, but pulled the 【Nightwatcher】 out of the ground. She suddenly froze while holding the hilt, taking a full three seconds to recover.

"What's wrong?"

Miss Teresa was startled, only to see the Witch Empress looking at the longsword in her hand with hesitation:

"I once told you that this sword can inherit the combat memories of past heroes."

"Yes."

"I have used this sword many times, but just now, when I touched it, I actually gained a memory of fighting against the undead. Yes, overwhelming undead, coming from all directions. I saw someone use this ritual sword to sweep through the undead legion with 【Sunlight Ray】. Although the power wasn't strong, the technique was indeed commendable."

"Aren't there a bit too many strange things happening today?"

Miss Teresa sighed softly. Miss Violet thought for a moment and suddenly asked:

"Do you remember those stories passed down through generations among the students of the three great arcane academies?"

"You mean, those absurd academy legends?"

Miss Teresa nodded; she hadn't graduated yet and knew a lot about these stories:

"There are many stories, for example, some ancient witches didn't die but are sleeping somewhere."

"Pure lies; witches are also mortals, and mortals eventually die."

"Violating curfew at night will get you caught by the academy's discipline department and taken to the basement... for punishment."

"Young girls always like to let their imaginations run wild; in fact, they are just taken to the observatory to blow in the cold wind for a night."

"The three great arcane academies all hide the secrets of the gods."

"Partially true, but that's just some forbidden knowledge."

"Cheating on exams is always discovered; no one has ever been able to escape."

"Of course someone has succeeded before, I... continue."

The Witch Empress blushed and skipped this topic.

"When a young witch encounters danger, a deity will send a kind, brave, upright, and beautiful lady with a great figure to save those kind-hearted girls."

Miss Teresa said, and Miss Violet sighed:

"Yes, that's the one."

The former hesitated, her eyes filled with confusion:

"Isn't this just the wild imagination of young girls during puberty? I admit, when I first entered the academy, I also thought of similar things."

"This is of course wild imagination, similar to those dirty storybooks circulating in the academy, but there is also a part of the truth, only the initial rumors were truly shocking. I only heard this story when visiting Saint Byrons. The initial version wasn't about a lady with a great figure, but that when a witch encounters a deity and faces difficulties, a strange man will appear from the fog and offer a helping hand."

Miss Violet paused and looked at the longsword in her hand:

"Men are about the same as excrement in our eyes, so the original legend was quickly distorted; no one ever thought it was true..."

"Are we experiencing a real legend?"

The tenth-grade witch asked in disbelief:

"If I wrote this experience into a thesis, perhaps..."

"After leaving the Lost Lake, you won't be able to retain too many memories, and most of the records in your hands will also be lost. But even if you still remember him, do not leave any records, yes, any records."

Miss Violet said with a serious expression. Miss Teresa was stunned, then nodded with some reluctance:

"Yes, Aunt."

They were distant relatives.

"Let's go back; the road back to camp is not easy. However, I am truly curious about what kind of surprise that gentleman will bring when he returns."

As she spoke, she waved at the hat on the ground, and the hat flew into her hand automatically. Suddenly, she frowned again and asked Miss Teresa in confusion:

"Speaking of which, why didn't we ask for his name?"

7017k ===== CHAPTER 866 =====