Miss Witch's Forbidden Book Secret

One is to embark on the path of alchemy.

To become an alchemist, as Ulrich said, one must undergo three trials on the tower. Coincidentally, this tower is also the prototype for the sanctuary "Moon-Gazing Tower".

The quest name "The Chosen One," which is "opposite" to the Ouroboros's path of alchemy, also carries some suggestive meaning.

Tia had a vague feeling that she had grasped a clue to inheriting the sanctuary.

So, what's next...?

..................

..................

Tia learned to read in the tower, and after three or five days, she spent most of her time in the tower.

Looking left and right, the prophets did not arrive, and there was no sign of Barragas's double nightmare recurring.

However—the Nightmare Quest did not show as completed.

Tia continued to babble along.

Jeremiah pointed to each word as he taught Tia, then reviewed them with her, exclaiming in surprise:

"Tia is clearly very talented. Such a smart child was still thrown away... cough cough."

Feeling that her words might have been inappropriate and that she might have upset the child, the girl quickly said, "Tia, is there anything else you don't know or want to know? I'll explain it to you verbally, otherwise just learning to read is too boring."

Tia raised her hand. "Does becoming an alchemist guarantee you a full stomach?"

The girl's heart softened immediately.

This is what is known as feigning indifference to lure the prey into a trap.

"Not only can you eat your fill, but you can also become incredibly powerful!"

"Can you make everyone amazing? I still have many good friends who are hungry."

Jeremiah remained silent.

"Yes, it's definitely possible."

"I want to become an alchemist. I want to complete the Trial of Trials. Could you tell me how to do it?"

"...Alright. Although it's not really something I should tell you, I'll still do it anyway."

The girl took a deep breath and said, "The so-called Trial is actually a gate that tests the talents of three supreme arts. It was designed by President Bishop, and those with the corresponding talents will find it easy to pass through. The first gate is the Goat Gate, also known as the Lamb Gate, which is on the second floor."

"The steps in front of the Goat's Gate are the Goat's Path, mainly related to the basics of alchemical transformation and substitution. The third floor is the second level, the Lion's Gate, which is related to ritual studies and the path of ascension of great philosophers. The fourth floor is the Pelican's Gate, which is related to the Philosopher's Stone, but I have never been up there."

"Generally speaking, one can study alchemy by passing through the Goat Gate or the Lion Gate. The Goat Gate is the foundation; even without talent, one can enter if one studies deeply enough."

"If you fall after passing through the Goat Gate and can't climb up, you'll enter a nightmare and undergo an ascension ritual. So, regardless of your talent, it's best to first solidify your foundation and master a few rituals before attempting it."

Tia looked up and asked, "Can I try it now?"

"Huh? This, this isn't the rule!"

The senior student was stunned—this child was only four or five years old! If he went into the deep sea too often, there was a risk that he might become a transformed spirit!

Even if the probability is very low, young children are easily contaminated by the deep sea because their minds are not yet mature.

"I... this won't do. For your safety, I won't watch you go up there!"

Jeremiah insisted for a moment, then softened and said, "But I can help you steal your teacher's secret manual. Your teacher said you have a strong spirituality. If you can understand the manual, you must have the talent to pass the three trials!"

Tia was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Is there really such a good thing...?

Unexpectedly, instead of seeing the sanctuary, the secret manual is about to be obtained first.

Tia asked with concern, "But if Professor Ulrich finds out, you'll definitely be punished, right?"

If the real-life "sage" Jeremiah, or even the "senior" Jeremiah who would clash with Rexsa ten years later, saw this, they would all frown and call her a "little green tea."

However, the girl at this moment was really naive in the face of Tia's disguise.

"Leave it to me, it's okay!"

Chapter 383 Trial

For Jeremiah, who had just entered Sequence Eight, obtaining the Secret Book was definitely not an easy task.

Like most valuable occult texts, the esoteric books that Ulrich brought from Mistmoon City, the Book of Transformation and the Book of Ascension, both have thresholds for "seeing" and "reading".

Take the Book of Ascension as an example. Just to "notice" it, one needs to be at least Sequence 8 level deep, otherwise one will subconsciously ignore the existence of this secret book.

Fortunately, neither of these two secret texts were the originals, or even copies of the originals.

Rather, it is a version in which Ulrich, having fully understood the complete picture of these two esoteric texts and with a completely correct understanding, based on his own understanding and the extraordinary knowledge in his memory system, used the common language of the continent, and with the help of Chairman Bishop, carefully revised the errors and deviations, and also deleted some difficult content, and then reinterpreted it.

Even so, Jeremiah still searched for several days to find the book...

— Mainly because Ulrich was too lazy, or perhaps it was a case of being blind to one's own shortcomings, he didn't prepare covers for these two manuscripts at all, and copied them directly onto the notebooks made of sturdy wood pulp.

Jeremiah had never seen the contents of the Scripture, and she didn't even know what the Scripture represented from hearsay from her senior, Rexar, who loved to boast!

When the journal was brought into the tower, Tia saw her senior student clutching her chest, on the verge of tears. Upon asking, she learned that...

I've been reading too many books, and my breasts hurt.

Mystical texts are like this. Just as the East always associates the heart and thought together, there is psychology but not neuroscience. Mystical traditions in continental countries also often use "heart" to refer to thoughts, soul, and the like.

This actually refers to the characteristics of the "spiritual reality" of flesh and blood.

Mystical knowledge, overflowing with extraordinary knowledge, seeps into the brain. The soul cannot comprehend it, and the brain cannot function, but the extraordinary knowledge still exists and thus affects the flesh and blood.

In mild cases, the heart, the body's central nervous system, will compensate; in severe cases, various abnormalities will occur, such as fox ears growing on the head and a large, furry tail evolving from the tailbone. In the most serious cases, there will be deformities such as missing arms or legs, transformation into spiritual beings, and so on.

In Ansu, such patients would typically be sent to the church for emergency treatment—hence, many noble children were frequent visitors to the church.

Getting back to the main point, the secret manual did indeed end up in Tia's hands.

The girl clutched her chest, relieved, and said, "Teacher hasn't been on the island for the past few days, which is why I was able to find her! Tia, hurry up, I need to put her back quickly..."

Is Ulrich not on the island?

Indeed, Ulrich has not been seen at all these past few days.

Tia then realized—she had been kept at the Tower Kindergarten by Jeremiah for the past few days and hadn't been able to leave at all, so she hadn't noticed this at all.

Ulrich was so relaxed that he left his secret scriptures and a whole bunch of mystical texts on the island?

You should know that this is a field of irises!

At this time, the Iris Flower's Unsheathed Blade method was still a legal method recognized by the Kingdom's government, so much so that pirates, a mix of Iris Flower people and Ansu Navy, frequently appeared at sea, and even the coastal navy was not afraid!

And the only person on the island is Jeremiah, who is Sequence 8!

"That shouldn't be the case."

Tia paused, sipping her warmed milk, muttered a few words, and then held out her hand for Jeremiah to turn the page for her.

After quickly flipping through a dozen pages, Tia bit down on the pacifier and gently ground her baby teeth—this was indeed a secret manual.

But she sees! She doesn't! Understand!

This isn't because her spirituality is suppressed. Her spirituality is merely suppressed, making it difficult for her to activate rituals and fully unleash her extraordinary abilities. It's not like she has a different soul; understanding the secret texts is still not a problem for her.

However, the Holy One is consciously confusing her understanding of these journals! Trying to forcibly simulate the strange rule that "spirituality is only at the level of ordinary people".

How could Ulrich be so wicked?!

Jeremiah asked with great interest, "Did you understand? Did you understand? Could you explain it to me? I've wanted to learn this for a long time. Back in Fogmoon City, I heard Rexar bragging every day about how he learned amazing things from his teacher!"

"Oh right, Rex was the teacher's first student, and also your senior!"

Tia may have been forced to not understand.

But Jeremiah truly couldn't understand it, and the child not only couldn't understand it, but was also very curious about it.

"I do not know."

Tia looked at the girl expectantly and said honestly, "I think I understand some of the knowledge inside, but I can't understand the meaning of these words combined together."

"Ah! That's right. These kinds of mystical texts with 'profound knowledge' are like this. If you are spiritually sharp enough, you can understand some of the essence even if you don't understand the words!"

Jeremiah immediately jumped for joy, lifted the hem of his corset dress, and danced and cheered on tiptoe.

Tia opened her mouth, but hesitated to speak.

She did indeed "understand" it, because she had read the Book of Transformation before. But she also didn't "understand" it at all; the Sanctuary didn't want her to understand, and no amount of help from anyone could change that.

The two women had slightly different understandings of what they meant.

But it's harmless.

After Tia became familiar with the child's voice, she began to babble and tell Jeremiah the basic contents of the Book of Transformation.

After listening, Jeremiah took notes for a while, then wondered, "With this level of spirituality, she's perfectly capable of trying out the Trial of Trials..., isn't she..."

"And the teacher also takes on apprentices."

Thinking of this, Jeremiah pursed her lips. Unless it was Tia, who was very obedient, not annoying at all, and would call her "sister" politely, she didn't want to have another junior or anything like that.

New students mean starting from scratch, requiring hands-on teaching, and also means being attentive and showing special care.

She was only thirteen years old, still pampered in Mistmoon City, and had never experienced setbacks or difficulties. She was far from reaching the level of a future "sage".

Children are especially innocent and pure-hearted, which also means they are easier to guide and manipulate.

So, some little kid who's still drinking milk.

For seven whole days, they continuously gave Jeremiah psychological suggestions and self-promotion.

Just in case, she even used markers, talcum powder, fruit knives, and miscellaneous materials to perform five unconventional rituals on milk bottles, plates, and her newly changed clothes: "loud speech," "charming humans," "kindness to others," "facial cues," and "harmlessness to humans and animals."

That's all for now.

Jeremiah hesitated, thinking, "If Tia can complete her alchemy advancement ahead of schedule, then the apprenticeship can be put on hold for now. My teacher has so much work to do. I can also advance to the rank of prophet, which would allow me to help Tia complete the ritual..."

"How about we let Tia give it a try?"

then.

Tia walked to the dusty steps, looked up at the winding stone steps, the end of which was being swallowed by darkness, like a monster with its gaping maw, waiting for its prey to come to its door.

Is this really a training ground for beginners?

Jeremiah carefully reminded her from behind, "If you can't hold on any longer, shout loudly and I'll come up and carry you down. If you pass through the Goat Gate, pick up the vase on the second floor and smash it, then I'll prepare to dive deep... Anyway, I'll come and help you."

"Don't worry, I'm here!"

The voices behind Tia gradually faded, but she looked up again.

really--

Tia, on the contrary, showed a satisfied smile.

She probably knew why Ulrich hadn't returned for so long; he was probably being harassed by the prophets.

“Byreges Alcmene. I see you.”

The moment she uttered the name with unwavering conviction in a voice that was entirely "Tia Sulph," a familiar feeling washed over her once again.

The winding, spiraling staircase was constantly rotating, going around and around, until finally, like a mandala, a point of light flashed in the very center, and Jeremiah's voice behind him was merging with another familiar voice.

"Keep moving forward, don't be afraid."

Chapter 384 Once Feared

boom!

With no clothes on their arches, their five toes turned bright red from the cold, hard stone slabs.

After standing still, Tia was adjusting to the sudden light when she opened her eyes and found herself standing in a corridor filled with children's voices, with a rabbit doll in her arms.

The sound of children's laughter, and the occasional thin but very energetic child running out of a small room, instantly pulled Tia's thoughts back from the sanctuary to more than ten years ago.

She and her sister Avina Sulph lived in the welfare home in Deepwater, Nuremberg.

Standing here is none other than Tia Surf, who was only seven or eight years old more than a decade ago, but whose thinking was exceptionally precocious.

At this moment, she was wearing a thin white dress, and then she wore a cloak made of several layers of linen sewn together and stuffed with cotton to keep warm. Her long hair was divided into two braids, and she was holding a rabbit doll with some patches in her arms.