The Thirteen Trials of the Deceptive Monk

Lu Wenjun scratched his head frantically. After a whole day of being locked up, he unfurled a huge design drawing.

"How about this!"

Mingxiao took a closer look.

"That's interesting," she laughed. "But tomorrow's the deadline, will it even work?"

Who do you think I am?!

And so, one by one, the cards in my hand were collected.

On the 12th day after the appearance of the otherworldly god, the 99th torii gate was completed.

On the 13th day, the 99th torii gate was completed. That same afternoon, all first-year students were reassigned to vanguard, ranged, and control groups based on their spell abilities.

At 3:45 a.m. on the 14th day, Lü Wenjun completed the decisive maneuver. Six hours later, emergency testing commenced.

Until 9:19 a.m. on the 14th day.

The operation has officially begun.

From the entrance to the forest to the center of the sacred grounds, 99 torii gates form a distinctive approach.

Led by Lü Wenjun, the vanguard members stood before the last torii gate.

He wasn't standing at the very front. In fact, he was the second member of the group.

The man standing imposingly at the very front is the true "key" figure in this operation.

Mr. Good Faris.

Torii (torii gates) have a dual meaning in Shintoism.

The starting point of the approach road is marked, and...

A "gate" placed at the entrance of a shrine, representing the entrance to the divine realm.

Amidst the incessant chirping of cicadas, Lü Wenjun spoke loudly.

"The god who has taken over the jungle, the ancient one who has lost his power, reveal your true form here."

"You are a sacred tree from a remote island, a nurturer bearing an ancient name. Your name is Kuku no Chi, the offspring of Izanagi and Izanami, the tree god who gives birth to life!"

His name, Kuku no Chi, is written as "ククノチ," where クク means wood, ノ means it, and チ means god, thus meaning "god of wood." His long-standing declaration is both a testament to his unwavering devotion and a divine name. The 99 torii gates he painstakingly built are precisely to echo his long-standing name.

The divine authority has been correctly determined, and the divine name has been proclaimed. At this moment, the true form of the God beyond human control is revealed.

Faris points to the final torii gate, the vermilion gate that separates the human world from the divine realm.

"Use your divine name as the key to open the gate to the divine realm!"

The demonic spell has been activated. It's the universal key that can open all doors—

And so, the gates to the divine realm opened.

Then God revealed his form.

The faint sound of ancient doors opening and closing drifted through the air, revealing a brand new path behind the ninety-ninth torii gate. Ancient trees shifted, forming a verdant shrine. At the center of the shrine stood a towering tree reaching to the heavens.

Its branches are thick and ancient, and its leaves are as clear as jade. More than ten thousand characters shimmer with light, weaving through the jade-like branches to form leaves of language.

The god beyond the realm reveals his true form.

Chapter 63 The Divine Tree Opens Its Eyes, the Madman Advances (Third Update Today)

At that moment, a deep green divine light illuminated the secret realm. Wherever they were, people put down what they were doing and looked toward the towering, ethereal silhouette of the jade tree deep in the forest.

“How beautiful,” the count exclaimed. “The leaves of words and the shell of jade, the sacred tree that carries the prayers of all living beings… those wishes accumulated over thousands of years bring beauty that transcends time.”

“After all, he was a witness to the Age of Gods and Demons,” Merdin said in a low voice. The usually acerbic old druid appeared solemn at this moment, and there was even respect in his eyes.

"The first descendants of the Creator God are far older than most of us. It is because they witnessed the laying of that glorious era that they have the obsession to continue to this day."

Tuliman nodded in agreement, his gaze falling towards the window.

"The moral education of some trainees needs to be strengthened..." the old man muttered.

The light is flowing into the forest of all four seasons.

The holy light that displays majesty, the divine light that manifests power, the fire that scorches the earth, the cold light that chills to the bone... and many more indistinct figures, colorless and formless spells.

Dozens of extraordinary spells were activated one after another, with senior students vying to use their magic.

Originally, the most difficult part of defeating the otherworldly god was breaking through the divine realm and destroying the temple. After the god revealed his true form, it was simply a matter of fighting and countering each move. Now that the new students have solved the most difficult part, the mages who possess power are naturally eager to do the same.

Seize the spoils of war. Be the one who reaps the benefits. Claim the glory of slaying a god!

Those despicable people who think in this way hear the sound of anger.

It shook the soul, like the angry roar of a demon.

A brilliant golden flame erupted, burning away all light and curse. The chestnut-haired mage stood before the King of Light, his cold, stern expression more terrifying than the King himself.

"I remember our school trains magicians, not hyenas. Don't you feel ashamed to steal the achievements of the newcomers?"

Mingxiao smiled, but there was no smile in her eyes.

"You scum without any self-respect. Get out of here if you don't want to die!"

The raging flames of the Bright King blocked all interference from outside the forest. Unable to reap the benefits without contributing, and unable to offer any support, what begins now is a battle belonging only to the newcomers.

She faced the forest and shouted, "Go for it! Now that we've come this far, let's go all out and defeat that god!"

·

Deep within the Four Seasons Forest lies a shrine.

The crowd stood silently, momentarily speechless at the divine power so close before them.

The crystal-clear, jade-like branches bear the marks of time. Leaves, each bearing countless whispered words, droop from the branches, bathed in light amidst the chanting. It is majesty, it is reverence; it is time, it is the soul.

Among those present were many demons with external minds. In this era, neither humans nor demons have long since lost their faith. There is no need to rely on gods or Buddhas; everything must be solved by oneself. This is the foundation upon which this era is built.

But when they actually witnessed the true form of the gods, they could understand why their ancient ancestors had worshipped them. It had nothing to do with being advanced or backward; it was simply because of their beauty and grandeur, a wonder of creation, that just seeing them made one want to offer reverence.

"This has broadened my horizons..." Faris murmured, "It was truly a worthwhile trip!"

"Operation was a success!" "Shall we...communicate with it?" "Can we celebrate now...?"

A dazed sound. Overwhelmed by success and divine power. A smile involuntarily appeared on their faces. An atmosphere of joy spread among them, while the commander of the operation stood silently.

His heart was filled with coldness.

Because he saw it: under that blinding divine light, the patterns on the jade tree were changing. The wood grain flowed like insects toward a central line, converging in elliptical circles to form a vertical, closed pupil. Suddenly, the central vertical line dispersed, the patterns recombine and converge, forming a cold, withered circle.

The sacred tree opened its eyes.

An alarm bell rang. As if in a frigid, extreme hell, hungry ghosts wailed hoarsely. Instinct replaced thought in making judgments, and will-o'-the-wisps appeared in the farthest distance, swelling crimson with the infused divinity.

The next instant, a deep rumble echoed from the ground. Thick tentacles burst forth from the earth, encircling and strangling the will-o'-the-wisps!

"The vanguard team, follow me! The rest of you, retreat with Faris!" Lü Wenjun shouted. "The battle has begun!!!"

The earth undulated like waves. It was as if a hundred earth dragons were churning beneath their feet, turning the flat ground into an uneven, curved surface. These earth dragons tore through the ground and danced wildly; their true forms were the root systems of ancient trees in the forest.

The foundations that had been solidified by divine power grew wildly, forming a sea of ​​brown tentacles. As the people lost their balance due to the changing terrain, the tendrils swarmed in, blocking their escape route and launching a devastating strangulation!

"Don't be intimidated by their imposing presence!"

Then, a perfectly circular cavity appeared in the tangled sea of ​​roots.

Velsa swung his steel fist. A steady and powerful blow pierced through the obstruction in an instant.

"It's just a piece of moving wood, far inferior to the phantom spirit on the train! Would a dignified mage be afraid of wood?"

They quickly regrouped and regrouped through the gaps created by Versa's attacks. During their 11 days of preparation, they had already witnessed the tentacles' obstruction multiple times. This level of resistance wouldn't intimidate the mages!

Lu Wenjun advanced with the vanguard, shouting, "The target is the true form of the god. Vanguard, cover Versa's attack!"

Versa crossed his fists to block the attack and charged towards the divine tree itself. The god's gaze followed, and four specially enhanced tentacles rose from the ground, forming a gigantic whip the size of a small building. Its purpose was to interrupt Versa's charge, and once he stopped, drag him into a protracted tug-of-war, thus blunting his momentum.

Ignoring everything else, Vilsa charged forward headlong. Two figures, one in blue and one in red, leaped into the air, shattering the wooden whip in mid-air.

"Strange Theory, Subtle Transformation, Vajra Mantra of Impure Traces!"

"We're logging experts now!"

The red and blue demon brothers each formed a vajra-shaped hand seal, their muscles bulging like steel. They were "guardian deities" from an ancient Indian esoteric realm, already possessing an affinity for Buddhist magic. Using the Vajra Guardian incantation was like adding wings to a tiger.

"Hey, you idiot brother beat me to it!" "Keep it up, everyone! Don't let the gods look down on us!"

Sharp blades, steel claws, iron fists, and fangs. Mages, proud of their physical prowess, unleashed their magical incantations, tearing apart the encircling tentacles. The vanguard charged forward, preventing any obstacle from hindering Vilsa's advance.

The tug-of-war strategy failed, so the sacred tree shook its branches and leaves. More divine power was transmitted through the branches and leaves, triggering a new round of attacks.

The cicadas' chirping exploded. Unlike the initial mournful sound, it carried an angry rage of offense. The swarm of cicadas arrived as if guided by the will of the gods, a dark mass like thick clouds covering the sky. Their bodies grew further due to their unrestrained vitality, mating with their kind and transforming once more, taking on a terrifying, demonic form.

Monsters, created from cicadas, descended from the sky, each exceeding 2 meters in height. They were covered in chitinous exoskeletons, their hissing heads resembling malevolent demons. These insects, blessed by the sacred tree, were willing to sacrifice themselves to protect their deity. Their numbers exceeded one hundred, while the vanguard consisted of only about 40 members; even with their combined efforts, they could not defend both fronts.

This is completely beyond the capabilities of a heretical magician.

Therefore, they started cheating.

Now it's time for the real heavy firepower to shine.

"Please, Pershka!"

"You rude fellow, you should call me Miss Pershka!"

Behind the battlefield, Pershka opened the black-covered original text. It was the ultimate weapon given to her before the battle began, a trophy someone had painstakingly won.

Amazing Stories! Modern Urban Legends

"Come, demons of the new generation! Step into the realm of the ancient gods and reveal the face of the modern world!"

The pages turned, the words twisted, and indescribable forms took shape as magic was poured into them. Then crimson blood and pitch-black curses appeared, staining the jade tree's luster. The invisible climbed the trees, the winged soared into the sky, strange beasts roared, monsters ran rampant, and a grotesque figure in a white suit leaped up, spewing flames and shattering the cicada demon's head!

Spring-Heeled Jack laughed loudly in mid-air: "Hee-hee-hee! The long-awaited air of freedom has arrived!"

Phantom Summoning. The ultimate technique of the original wielder; by infusing magic power, one can summon phantoms to command.

For most heretical mages, this is a castle in the air, something they can only dream of. Heretical mages possess too little magical power; supporting even one or two phantom spirits is their limit. However, there exists a true witch of extraordinary stature, whose magical power far surpasses that of her peers, capable of summoning an army of phantom spirits single-handedly!

"Fight bravely and bring me victory!"

Pershka waved her hand, summoning three beast witches who led the phantom army to charge towards the cicada demons' forces. The latter were immediately at a disadvantage in the conflict; cicadas were not inherently skilled in combat, and even with divine support, they lacked the necessary fighting techniques. The phantoms, on the other hand, were mostly ferocious and unpredictable, and being products of the modern era, they were unaffected by ancient gods. The strongest among them far surpassed the cicada demons in power.

The eight-foot-tall giant raised his massive palm, sweeping away numerous cicada demons with a single blow. The three beast witches each unleashed their supernatural powers, first defeating the strongest among the cicada demons. Spring-Legged Leap leaped and weaved through the army, brandishing his steel claws, his figure flashing as he severed the claws of many insect demons.

It leaped across the battlefield and into the vanguard, sneering at Lü Wenjun, who was positioned in the center.

"Ha! You little bastard who stole my power! The original text was also won by the witch, wasn't it? In the end, you've become just another ordinary person after entering the academy!"

Lü Wenjun laughed: "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but she's still doing quite well. I lent her the book."

"Tch!" Spring-Heeled Jack spat sullenly. "You little bastard, you deserve to go to hell. Get turned into a log!"

As Spring Legs had said, new obstacles appeared at this moment. The skin of the vanguard members began to turn to wood, and the hands of the foremost member, Velsa, even turned into branches.

Lignification.

The divine domain effect, born from an ancient obsession, is a divine power that has been difficult to break through since its appearance. The savage's imitative behavior can temporarily evade the god's detection, but with the divine tree now open, friend and foe are clearly distinguished. Disguise of behavior patterns is meaningless; wherever its gaze falls, it will bring the curse of petrification.

Then let's continue cheating.

Since the opponent is a god, then we should deal with it using the methods of a god!

"Divine Enhancement, Spring-Heeled Jack!"

One minute and thirty seconds into the battle, Lü Wenjun activated his transformation spell for the first time. He donned a magnificent white outfit and an eerie mask, and this time, a completely new change appeared on the chest of his spring-legged outfit. It was a blood-red sunset painted in crimson!

The ancient, sun-like patterns radiated rays of light, the sunlight protruding like mutated veins, extending to every part of the spring-legged outfit. Lü Wenjun's body hunched slightly, the crimson sunlight spreading from his sides… causing the petrification of everyone around him to vanish simultaneously!

No, it wasn't gone, it was stripped away! The divine power of the God of Long-lasting Wisdom was plundered by the radiance of the setting sun, becoming part of the divinity of the setting sun, causing the veins on the spring-legged outfit to surge violently!

Spring Legs was stunned: "What evil... What have you done to my power?"

Lu Wenjun ignored him, staring at the sacred tree not far away, and shouted, "Do you want to continue? It doesn't matter to me if I just plunder all your divinity like this!"

This was the discovery after the first contact with the otherworldly god. In desperation to counteract the petrification, he activated his divinity, only to find that the other's power seemed to have been plundered.

Lu Wenjun's divinity was thus enhanced; the amount that would have been completely consumed in one enhancement spell was increased to two after that encounter. He therefore decided to gamble by using the divinity enhancement spell in battle, and as it turned out, he was right.

The crimson divinity feasted on the divine power that had caused the petrification, using it as fuel to grow rapidly.

[The Sun God...]