novelraw Chapter 147 Were we intellectually crushed by Xia Fa?
Chapter 147 Were we intellectually crushed by Xia Fa?
Chapter 147 Were we intellectually crushed by Xia Fa?
You have three minutes.
The storyteller's voice was weathered and indifferent, as if he had suddenly lost all emotion. His facial expression was also fixed, like a machine, as he casually waved his hand.
Behind him, in the vast white mist, more than a dozen towering trees were uprooted, and the soil from their roots fell into the air.
These giant trees, almost all over 100 meters tall, form a countdown clock in the air.
One of the giant trees was rotating clockwise, like the hands of a clock, but the hands and clock were so huge that it seemed to foreshadow the punishment that the gods were about to unleash.
Click, click, click...
The countdown sounded, so clear and distinct, like a death knell, gripping everyone's hearts.
Everyone looked at each other, then turned to look at Shafa and Daponz.
Although Daponz looks simple and honest, he actually appears silly and non-threatening because he is too fat.
In fact, he was recognized as one of the most intelligent geniuses in the three academies.
Of course, this kind of genius doesn't refer to the understanding of the Secret Contract's progress or the development of Secret Contract abilities, but simply to intelligence.
As for Xia Fa, everyone was drawn to him because he seemed to know the storyteller, and the storyteller, after asking that crucial question, also had a bit of expectation that Xia Fa could answer it.
Therefore, many noble students and church elites also placed their hopes on him.
Glenn, however, remained completely calm. His bright green eyes, slightly obscured by his golden hair, were filled with anticipation as he looked at Xia Fa's profile.
In his mind, Xia Fafei was not only strong, but also had a first-rate IQ.
My ability to answer the storyteller's question last time is proof of that!
Chestnut smiled and looked at Xia Fa, waiting for him to give an easy answer and conquer everyone present with his intelligence.
During this time, she often heard some church elites privately tell Shafie that he was just lucky, and that if they were in Rum City, they could have achieved the same feat.
Chestnut often refuted this, but she was too beautiful, a noblewoman among the rats, and had a demigod grandfather who was a cardinal in the church. Every time she refuted it, those people dared not say anything, but they would still gossip in private.
Banli knew in his heart that Xia Fa's rank could not be improved quickly, and it would be difficult to shut those people up with strength. But at least for now, Banli felt that Xia Fa could surpass them in terms of intelligence!
At this moment, Daponz, on whom everyone had placed their hopes, was sweating profusely, and colorful secret runes were even faintly emerging on his forehead, as if they were about to break through his skin.
Everyone was secretly alarmed. Those who knew Daponz knew that it was the effect of the "Super Speed Thinking" high-level secret agreement he had signed.
High-speed thinking and magical mechanics are an excellent, high-level combination.
Even though Daponz had thought it through to this extent and was pushing it to its limits, he still looked completely stumped.
Many people's hearts began to sink.
As for Xia Fa, he kept his brows furrowed and his gaze deep.
He couldn't come up with an answer right away, and in fact, he still hasn't figured it out now.
"These entities primarily operate according to their own 'rules,' and in this situation, they won't show any leniency."
"If we can't answer, the storyteller will just erase us all; it'll probably be useless to say anything then—"
Xia Fa understood this principle very well. In that situation, unless the bard suddenly appeared or the nine great gods intervened, no one could save them!
No, even if the bards descended, they probably couldn't save them, because bards are also physical entities, and they too are subject to certain "rules".
Unless there is a conflict between the rules of the two entities, it is estimated that the bards would be more likely to intervene.
"Why exactly—"
The story kept flashing through Xia Fa's mind—the clues from over a hundred years ago in this story—
The War Between the Wave Moon Empire and the Cloth Bag Dynasty; Home Camera; Home Wireless Telegraph; Pen Pal.
These clues from the photos flowed through his dark mind like a green data stream, constantly being retrieved and recombined.
"You have two minutes left, and as always, you can discuss this."
The storyteller, who looked like an old miner, spoke again, his voice utterly indifferent.
His facial expression remained completely unchanged; even as he spoke, the deep wrinkles on his face didn't twitch.
It was as if he had already put on a mask, a mask that even he couldn't control.
The noble students and church elites were so frightened that they all trembled. At this moment, they could no longer care about anything else and loudly expressed their thoughts and began to discuss.
"We need to pay attention not only to the clues within the story itself, but also to the context in which the story takes place!"
"Yes! Background is also very important. Although no one has ever dared to record any of the stories of the storyteller, some have summarized experience that clues are not only hidden in the story itself, but also in the background!"
"Does anyone know what happened in the Wave Moon Empire more than a hundred years ago?"
"How would I know? I'm not from the Wave Moon Empire."
"Did I ask you a question? Are you out of your mind to interrupt at this time?"
"I was wrong, please stop scolding me, let me think—I know! My mother is from the Boyue Empire! She seems to have told me that over a hundred years ago, the Boyue Empire was at war with the Budai Dynasty!"
"Damn it, who's going to kick this guy out? He's just making things worse! This clue was already in the story!"
"Don't panic, that kid Kerrit is no good, let me think—"
"Have you figured it out yet?"
"Hahaha, I didn't expect this, we're all going to be wiped out, waaaaah."
Clearly, under the seemingly mundane yet unparalleled pressure from the storyteller, many people were on the verge of a mental breakdown. After all, in just over a minute, they would die and be erased, which was painful to watch.
Everyone present was a promising young person, and no one could accept this outcome.
Fortunately, amidst the noisy discussions and mutual rebuttals, some people offered some useful insights.
"Could it be that the 'I' in the story actually has dissociative identity disorder? He saw himself in the photos his pen pal sent him, couldn't accept it, and killed his other personality?"
"That's possible, hmm, the more I think about it, the more likely it seems!"
"That's right! That makes sense. Besides, the Wave Moon Empire is so far away from our Augu Kingdom, separated by a large strait. Unless they entrusted extraordinary individuals to deliver the letter, how could it possibly have been sent back in just a few days?"
"So, he actually sent it to a fake address he imagined, and then the letter was returned?"
"That's right! He mistook it for a letter from his pen pal, and when he saw a selfie, it drove him completely insane! That's why he supposedly 'killed' his pen pal!"
"Yes! I think so too! He's not that serial killer from the Bo Yue Empire over a hundred years ago who caused widespread panic among the people and then mysteriously disappeared. How could he kill someone just by seeing a photo? So it must have been his own alter ego that killed him!"
"As expected of the question posed by the storyteller, it's incredibly tricky and profound. We really wouldn't have been able to come up with an answer without everyone brainstorming!"
The discussion among these people was extremely insightful, and they even pointed out a hidden trap in the story regarding the timing of the correspondence.
They became more and more excited as they talked, as if they had found a chance to survive. Moreover, they all suddenly realized that they could also obtain a smart chip as a result!
Xia Fa also noticed the trap. Indeed, given the circumstances at the time, it would have been impossible to send a letter between the Boyue Empire and the Augu Kingdom in just a few days; it would have taken about a month.
But he always felt that there was something subtly wrong with these people's discussions.
The specific problem cannot be identified at the moment.
Daponz, who had been thinking too much and whose gaze was somewhat unfocused, suddenly had a sharp look in his narrow eyes after hearing the discussion.
"Yes, that's it! I've figured it out!"
He raised a finger, as if he had found a lifeline:
"It's definitely a mental or personality disorder! Absolutely!"
Seeing him raise his head and look at the storyteller, I prepared to step forward.
The storyteller's facial expression became increasingly rigid, and his voice was completely devoid of emotion.
"One minute left."
Daponz was overjoyed. A minute was more than enough. He took a big step and was about to rush out of the crowd to give the answer.
Just then, a hand stopped him.
Don't answer without permission; you might be wrong.
Daponz was taken aback, and anger immediately rose on his face. But when he turned his head and saw that it was Xia Fa who was blocking his way, his anger instantly turned into a smile.
"Bro, are you sure it's wrong? If you are, I won't answer, but time is running out. Do you have any ideas?"
Daponz trusted Shafa very much, especially since Shafa had saved his life in the land of the gods in the desert.
Xia Fa slowly shook his head, about to say no.
Suddenly, a flash of light appeared in his mind, like lightning flashing and disappearing in the deep darkness.
But this time, he keenly grasped the lightning bolt, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
With only fifty-odd seconds left, everyone present became extremely anxious when Shafa stopped Daponz.
But at times like these, no one dares to utter a word of criticism or questioning.
Because everyone understands that the only hope of getting a correct answer lies with Daponz or Shafa; if they interrupt their train of thought with a few curses, then there's no hope at all.
Glenn was a little hesitant at this moment, but immediately, remembering Xia Fa's impressive performance in successfully answering the question in the cave, he regained his confidence in Xia Fa and said:
"Gentlemen, take my advice. Although Daponz is very intelligent, we still need to trust Shafa! Let him answer!"
Chestnut nodded its little head vigorously in support:
"Yes, let Xia Fa go!"
Just then, Xia Fa took the initiative to walk up to the storyteller.
"Thirty seconds left."
The storyteller's gaze became devoid of any emotional fluctuation; he mechanically turned to look at Xia Fa, his hand already gripping the pickaxe tightly.
For some reason, Xia Fa saw pain in his utterly blank face—a very deep, profound pain—
It seems that the person who asked the question didn't want it to be this way either.
Fortunately, Xia Fa had already figured out the answer, a very certain answer, and immediately said it word by word:
"Because at the time, your so-called 'pen pal' was hiding under your bed, so you had no choice but to kill him!"
Everyone was stunned when those words were spoken.
What kind of answer is this?
That's way too far off!
It's not as good as the answer about split personality that Dapont and others derived together!
Only Chestnut and Glenn still held onto their belief in Xiafa.
Auf crossed her arms, her little face pale with fright, but also strangely expectant of the result. The result of Xiafa's correct answer was like the melting of ice in a lake, the sunlight illuminating the dark wasteland. The storyteller's face suddenly regained its kind expression, even with a long sigh of relief.
He smiled at Xia Fa, like an elder admiring a very promising junior, and slowly said:
"Child, you're right."
As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell into complete silence.
Everyone stared incredulously at Xia Fa's retreating figure.
Did you get it right?
You actually got it right?
How did you answer that correctly?
How did Xia Fa come up with this?
In an instant, even the noble students of the Wanglima Sinnarai Mechanical Academy, who considered themselves the smartest among the three academies, suddenly felt that their intelligence had been completely crushed by Xia Fa.
The last time they felt this way was when Avalon, the mechanical genius chosen to be a once-in-a-millennium talent, entered the Earthly Kingdom of the Silver Universe.
The students at the Royal Sinnarre Mechanical Academy felt that their intelligence was completely outmatched by Xia Fa, not to mention the noble students and church elites from other academies.
The moment the storyteller said that Xiafa had answered correctly, many people even felt that they and Xiafa were not the same species.
The Shafa are like intelligent and handsome humans, while they are like stupid and short goblins.
Poincaré slowly shook his head, a smile playing on his lips, as if he were quite moved. Those who knew him well knew that this was the expression he wore when he highly regarded someone.
Auf, with her arms crossed, this usually haughty duke's daughter, a dignified noble lady, showed an appreciative smile for the first time on her face, and snorted:
"I didn't expect Xia Fa to be so smart."
Glenn then burst into laughter:
"How about that? I told you to just trust Xia Fa, now you understand, haha!"
Chestnut, however, glanced over those in the Silver Church and the Natural Church who had previously met with Xia Fa in private.
But all of these people, regardless of gender, clenched their fists, their faces full of excitement, and looked at Xia Fa's back with admiration, as if they had completely forgotten that they had once secretly admired Xia Fa.
Seeing this, Chestnut could only sigh softly and shake his head helplessly.
That's human nature. As Grandpa once said, when a person is strong enough, all doubts will naturally disappear. Until then...
Any argument is pointless; it's difficult to persuade someone who is prejudiced.
The storyteller put down his pickaxe, his eyes regaining their worldly wisdom, and smiled as he said:
"Xia Fa, just like last time, you need to explain your reasoning process. Of course, this time, there will be no punishment for not being able to explain."
I will give you what I'm supposed to, including the small gift I promised.
After a slight pause, what this entity said next made everyone genuinely envious of Xia Fa.
"But if you can tell me, I'll give you two extra smart chips."