novelraw Chapter 141-2: The Star Falls, Summoned by the Temple of Knowledge (2)
Chapter 141-2: The Star Falls, Summoned by the Temple of Knowledge (2)
He turned to the game text, ready to inspect his spoils…
[Beside you towers a massive obelisk that pierces the clouds, etched with countless cryptic characters. The stone appears to have weathered countless ages, yet remains eternally unchanged.]
[Beyond the obelisk stands a grand temple of pure white. Upon closer inspection, the white hue comes from countless glowing white characters forming its structure.]
[At the steps before the temple’s entrance, a beast of incomprehensible size is staring directly at you: its massive form nearly as tall as the temple itself.]
[It is composed entirely of chaotic characters, which constantly tremble and shift shape. Just looking at it fills you with disorder and confusion.]
Damn! It’s a Beast of Chaotic Knowledge!
This one was far larger than any Lin Xun had seen before, undoubtedly, its strength matched its size.
No time to examine the loot. He quickly opened the shell interface.
[You possess the Corrupted Earth Giant shell!]
[You grip the Ancient Dragonfang Greatclub tightly in your hands, assuming a battle stance…][A flash of disdain flickers in the Beast of Chaotic Knowledge’s eyes. It snorts, then shifts its massive body aside, clearing a path into the temple…]
[Do you wish to enter the Temple of Knowledge?]
He instantly understood.
The Beast of Chaotic Knowledge must be the temple’s guard dog. As a guardian of the Temple of Knowledge, it wouldn’t attack someone summoned by the Omniscient True Knowledge.
Moreover, this creature was likely well-known in the mythos of this world.
That explained why NPCs often mistook him for an envoy of Omniscient True Knowledge when he encountered these beasts.
He tapped ‘Yes.’
[Under the gaze of the Beast of Chaotic Knowledge, you ascend the stone steps and enter the temple…]
[Inside the magnificent hall, two rows of statues stand on either side, not humanoid, but each one a unique configuration of characters.]
[Following the statues with your eyes, you see at the far end a divine throne of pure white. No one sits upon it, but at its base kneels a single figure.]
[Your arrival draws the figure’s attention…]
[It rises. On the chest of its white robe gleams a single flickering character. With white hair and a long staff in hand, it smiles gently at you.]
[The Servant of Knowledge gestures for you not to be afraid. You are one chosen by the True God. In this world, none dare defy the will of the True God, and no one can harm you within the Temple of Knowledge.]
[You step forward and approach the divine throne…]
[The Servant of Knowledge senses your confusion and begins to speak slowly…]
[The great Omniscient True Knowledge is all-powerful, the one true god in this world.]
[In a long-distant era, the Omniscient True Knowledge wielded all authority, guiding the people to live in peace and joy…]
[But bliss is fleeting, and suffering is the norm, for the Stars descended.]
[The Stars, jealous that their radiance was overshadowed by the great Omniscient True Knowledge, sought to overthrow Him and claim the world as their own.]
[To protect His people, the Omniscient True Knowledge had no choice but to launch a divine war. He led His loyal followers into battle to suppress the Stars…]
[The war was brutal. The Stars were no match for Him, but they still brought unrelenting fire and destruction to the world.]
[In the end, the great Omniscient True Knowledge emerged victorious, but at a grave cost. Holy knowledge became tainted, turning chaotic and disordered…]
[His divine authority was also corrupted. The power drawn from knowledge by His people became filthy and unstable.]
[To allow His people to survive, He used His last strength to imprison the Stars and then entered slumber, holding back the spread of corrupted knowledge.]
[The Servant of Knowledge finishes this forgotten myth, tears streaking his aged face.]
[Wiping his cloudy eyes, he tells you that although the Omniscient True Knowledge sleeps, He still sees all and occasionally issues divine decrees.]
[But due to the corruption of knowledge, these decrees are chaotic and require the Servant of Knowledge to interpret them using the fragments of divine authority left behind.]
[It has been ages since a divine decree was issued. Until recently. A new decree was delivered, and it was… about you!]
[You ask the Servant of Knowledge in disbelief what the decree said.]
[He only smiles slightly and replies. “You are still too weak. When you grow strong enough to walk beside gods, then you will understand everything…”]
Lin Xun twitched the corner of his mouth.
Halfway into the cutscene and boom, it’s riddle time again.
[The Servant of Knowledge tells you that while the Child of the Stars was merely a lowly subordinate deity, weakened over ages of captivity, even so, it was still far beyond your current ability to defeat…]
[When you pledged yourself to the Stars within the prison, He understood that you were coerced. The Omniscient True Knowledge does not blame you…]
Lin Xun’s eyes lit up with realization.
So the Child of the Stars was among the weakest of the Radiant Stars faction.
And the Omniscient True Knowledge had long fallen asleep, which is why He hadn’t bothered with those sneaky revival attempts within the prison.
That must mean, just now, the one who destroyed the Child of the Stars and saved him was none other than this unassuming old man before him, the Servant of Knowledge.
Wait… a mere servant of God is this powerful?!
[Now, he asks. Will you renounce the Stars and swear an oath to the Omniscient True Knowledge?]
[Loyal Apostle, do you wish to abandon the Radiant Stars and swear allegiance to the Omniscient True Knowledge?]
[Warning! You have already signed the Radiant Stars oath. Renouncing it will permanently prevent you from joining again, and you will be forever hated by its faction!]
Lin Xun sneered.
After everything that Child of the Stars had done to him, he couldn’t wait to jump ship. He was dying to ditch that oath and embrace the Omniscient True Knowledge.
Without hesitation, he clicked ‘Yes’!
[In the presence of the Servant of Knowledge, you renounce the Radiant Stars and loudly praise the Omniscient True Knowledge, swearing your new oath.]
[Loyal Apostle, you have joined the Omniscient True Knowledge oath.]
[In this volume (Ch. 82740870-82740879), only one oath may be signed. If you break it, you cannot rejoin, and the faction will bear eternal hatred for you.]
[Current hostile oath: Radiant Stars. Current allied oaths: None.]
[Warning! You have broken your oath with the Radiant Stars! You are now permanently hated by that faction!]
Lin Xun ignored the warning.
He had already torn off the mask with the Stars by helping kill the Child of the Stars using the Omniscient True Knowledge. What did he care about some eternal hostility?
What did matter… was the reward this Servant of Knowledge was about to give.
Surely a servant of the Omniscient True Knowledge wouldn’t be as stingy as the Child of the Stars, right?
[The Servant of Knowledge offers a kind smile and pulls out an item to present to you…]