The Thirteen Trials of the Deceptive Monk

"Because this story evolved in later generations to mean keen observation and the ability to see through evil, there is a saying that goes, 'When the rhinoceros horn was burned at Niuzhu, all kinds of monsters appeared.'" Ling Gong explained, "Professor Ji used this example to talk about the evolution of the story's prototype. It can be used as a curse spell or a reconnaissance spell."

“Exactly. My rhinoceros horn can see things that ordinary people cannot see, such as the boundaries of spiritual lands and invisible spirits. As long as the level is too high, it can be effective. In the future, take it out and check if there is anything unclean before you go out.”

Farrisby gave a thumbs up: "You're a careful guy!"

"They've been terribly harmed by the Divine Realm, okay? Who can withstand turning into wood halfway through their journey?"

Jiu Jiu Mu proudly declared, "I'm the extra-large cup!"

"Stop making these weird jokes..." Ling Gong covered her face. "By the way, you learned your new technique so quickly, it's only been a few days."

"I'm the type who accumulates knowledge and experience before unleashing it."

In fact, this is because the resources of God's Tears have become unprecedentedly abundant.

After this match, Lü Wenjun's Divine Tears went from empty to an unprecedented three full bars, and it seems that even the Eye of the Living Sacrifice acknowledged the significance of this match.

The original copy of *Yiyuan*, which records the story of Niuzhu burning the rhinoceros, is available for rent in the library. This set of books consists of ten volumes, each with a different level depending on the supernatural tale it contains. The volume recording Niuzhu burning the rhinoceros is a *Yishuo*-level original text, which can be analyzed using only one Divine Tear, making it a high-value option with no reason not to study it.

After learning the spell, Lü Wenjun tried to pre-set the consumption of Divine Tears and successfully analyzed Mingxiao's Obsidian Codex with only 1 Divine Tear consumed.

Perhaps because he hadn't used up all the Divine Tears this time, the scene he saw in the analysis was the same as before: a desolate, apocalyptic landscape. However, despite this, there were still rewards for the analysis. After turning the living room into a fire scene once again, Lü Wenjun finally drew…

The highest probability magic power increase reward!

That night, the genius magician Mr. Lü was overjoyed. Although it wasn't some high-end thing like divinity or enhancement, it was the very source of magic he lacked and was most deficient in! Now, after transforming, he could jump around for over ten minutes straight, and even without teammates to supply him with magic, he could actually finish a battle, instead of always being exhausted like Ultraman after every fight. After that, he secretly went to the library to try it out and discovered that he could even leave some traces of the branding spell.

Although the mark faded quickly after being left behind, and he was still quite far from being able to independently complete a spell, it was still an important step on his path to becoming a mage. If he continued at this pace, perhaps in a few months he would be able to learn magic entirely on his own…

He decided to save the remaining Divine Tear for later use, as the "Fate Detection" ability also required Divine Tears to activate. In unexpected events, obtaining more crucial information was key to victory. If he hadn't saved enough Divine Tears as a backup, he wouldn't have had the information to formulate a plan, and the cheerful Jiu Jiu Mu would probably be a lifeless block of wood by now.

"I lack nothing now!" Lü Wenjun said confidently.

“It lacks consistent offensive capabilities,” Pershka poured cold water on the idea. “The claws of the Spring Leg are still too weak in direct combat, aren’t they? The charged kick can only be used once or twice.”

"In this regard, I plan to make up for it with the 'Outstanding Contribution Award of the Academy'..."

Everyone became interested upon hearing this, and even Versa asked, "Is the rumor true?"

“It’s true.” Lü Wenjun lowered his voice. “I heard from Professor Ji that this reward is a ‘divine machine’!”

·

The so-called "divine plan" is a testament to an adventure.

"We all know those well-known heroic tales," said Mr. Tuliman in his history class. "The stone monkey of the ancient kingdom wreaked havoc in the Dragon Palace and obtained magical armor and the magic staff that stabilized the sea; the great hero of ancient Greece fought the giant lion of Nemea and made armor from its invulnerable leather; the noble son of the island-creating god used a trick to kill the giant serpent and found the Heavenly Sword in its tail..."

"All civilizations and all nations share similar plots, which can be considered the backbone of legendary tales: heroes vanquish demons, win duels, overcome trials, and thus obtain spoils. Even the bedtime stories told by grandmothers will tell of young heroes who, after defeating dragons, discover golden treasures in their caves. Now, it's time for questions."

In that class, the old professor drew a castle on the blackboard and put a question mark next to it.

Why are monster corpses always turned into divine weapons? Why are there always gold and treasures in caves and castles? Why are the swords of dueling opponents always preserved?

"This is naturally an inevitable part of the story, because audiences like positive feedback... But let's emphasize again that most of this story is based on real 'history.' Therefore, please answer from the magician's perspective."

Lü Wenjun remembered the correct answer very clearly because he was the one who raised his hand to answer in that class.

“It’s an merging of archetypes, teacher,” he said. “The original ‘protagonist’ becomes a ‘supporting character,’ and the single archetype is merged into the complex original text, and the meaning is transferred in the process.”

“For clear and vivid examples, Lü Wenjun gets 1 point.” Tuliman smiled. “Without the adventures of heroes, only the monsters’ solo performance would remain. Future generations would not praise the epic of heroes, but would only talk about gloomy castles and terrifying monsters.”

"The story that originally belonged to the enemy becomes part of the hero's tale after the adventure ends; this is the 'meaning' behind the story. This transfer of meaning is often used to absorb mythological figures—you all know how many gods have been deified as demons or subjugated as a result—and in a specific personal adventure, it is the inevitable 'spoils of war.' For a more formal expression, please see page 87 of the textbook..."

When an individual sufficient to become the primary archetype of a canon is defeated by another, some of its meaning and power are transferred and expressed through mediums such as weapons, blessings, powers, companions, or spell-like abilities. The medium through which meaning is embodied is called "divine mechanism." —Turijman, *A History of Magic*

At times like these, Tuliman would always recall or ponder for a while before slowly uttering the next sentence.

"While most people won't use this knowledge in real-world situations... I still suggest everyone memorize it. After all, who can predict what will happen in ten or twenty years? Maybe..."

·

“One of you here will one day obtain your own divine secrets!” Earl Welton mimicked the old man’s tone. “Was that what he told you back then?”

"Exactly the same."

“Of course, old Tullien had this tone back when I was still working for Louis XV.” The count handed him a glass of ice wine. “To add a point of knowledge, the significance of gods and monsters is limited.”

"Professor Ji insisted that you come to fight because Jiu Jiu Neng Zhi Shen is too weak. If a mage of the Qi Tan level or above joins the battle, they will completely strip away her remaining meaning, which means true death. The portion you obtained is just right, enough to restore her to consciousness, and also enough to forge a beautiful little piece of equipment for you..."

Earl Welton's office resembled a gigantic laboratory, filled with ores, specimens, and bottles and jars containing strange liquids. Lu Wenjun tiptoed in, afraid of touching anything he shouldn't. A single glance revealed the dragon's secretions, leyline crystal clusters, and a storm-binding bottle—any one of which, theoretically, could send the entire school building flying into the sky.

The count sat calmly amidst a dazzling array of flammable and explosive materials, holding a wine glass. He tapped his cane, and the entire wall behind him flipped inside out, displaying a variety of swords, spears, halberds, wands, and firearms.

"Now, young man, what kind of divine machine do you want?"

The vast majority of these divine machines are crafted by highly skilled artisans, and the academy's Outstanding Contribution Award is awarded to professors who themselves act as these artisans. No cost of materials or spare parts are required; simply state your needs, and they will be custom-made.

This is top-tier treatment even across the entire dungeon, considering the professors are all genuine legendary mages. You'd be hard-pressed to find better artisans, unless you're the illegitimate son of some great god.

Lu Wenjun ignored the firearms and staff; they were too different from his fighting style. He lingered among the heavy melee weapons like greatswords and heavy lances for a while before picking up a scimitar.

“I’m not good with weapons that require a lot of strength, and I’m not good with firearms either,” he said. “I’m better with scimitars or daggers, which are relatively light and suitable for surprise attacks and harassment.”

Earl Welton imagined the strange white-clad figure leaping and bounding around with a small knife, and felt an indescribable sense of unease.

"It lacks a touch of fantasy!" he commented. "The word 'pragmatism' isn't very romantic; perhaps we should rethink it..."

He took another curved sword and tossed it to Lü Wenjun: "Give it a try?"

Lu Wenjun subconsciously rotated his wrist, wielding his pair of swords and performing several beautiful sword flourishes. He slid and spun around, the swords flowing beside him, cutting through the air in fluid circles.

“It looks much better now.” The Earl raised his glass.

Lü Wenjun smiled and said, "I'm better at using dual swords than a single sword. But it's not very practical in actual combat..."

"Sir, you are a magician, not a warrior. What you like always trumps the theoretically optimal solution; otherwise, why not use muskets and cannons to cast spells?" The count said dismissively. "Let's talk about appearances. Do you like mercenary-style scimitars?"

Lu Wenjun twirled the thin, sharp blade. He knew very well that the iterative design was the optimal solution on the battlefield, but it didn't quite suit his aesthetic sense.

“I prefer it to be longer. The blade is thicker, with a distinct edge, hilt, and guard…” he said honestly, “the kind that looks really cool!”

"You're starting to get the hang of it," the count said with satisfaction. "Let me see..."

With a flick of his finger, the scimitar mold grew to nearly 80 centimeters. The noticeably thickened blade and extended handle added a sense of power, making it both sharp and substantial.

The count first brought out a piece of scarlet metal, the patterns on which changed with the refraction of light, like leaping fire.

“Using local materials to create the sword is always the best choice,” he explained. “Japanese craftsmen love the color of scarlet gold. The variability of this metal is perfect for making the handle, so you won’t freeze to death in the polar regions or get burned by the sword in lava.”

"The decorations on the handguards are an essential part of the aesthetics, and I recommend the Tengu's feathers. They significantly improve the feel of slashing and eliminate worries about strong winds interfering with the attack."

He placed fine black and white down on the handguard and the lower half of the blade, and said with satisfaction, "I collected some when Ms. Lingge was molting, and it's really quite good!"

Lu Wenjun couldn't help but ask, "Does Professor Ling Ge know about this...?"

"Don't betray me." The count picked up two pieces of wood. "As for the main material of the blade, it will naturally be wood that can be used for a long time to make it wise."

One piece, as black as ink, was the charred outer layer of the tree. The other, as lustrous as jade, was the core of the ancient tree. These remnants of the old tree were now useless to Jiujiumu. She collected what was usable and recycled it into magic power, leaving the rest for Lü Wenjun to forge divine machines.

"Now it's time to determine the ability." The Count held up two fingers. "The ability of the Divine Machine is composed of two factors. The first is the nature of the spoils themselves. The Wood God's ability is most prominent in terms of vitality, powerful recovery, enhancement, or defense..."

Lu Wenjun rubbed his hands together: "Earl, to be honest, I've been really envious of Jiujiumu's 'Dead Flower Transformation'."

“Ah, harming others for personal gain.” The count nodded. “The second factor is the type of spell you use.”

"This thing needs to be bound with a spell?"

"Otherwise, how can you make it your weapon?" the count countered. "To be more precise, the Divine Mechanism is connected to your 'Spell Slot'. The spells you fill into that slot will add corresponding abilities to the Divine Mechanism. If the compatibility is good, there will naturally be a benefit. If the spells and the Divine Mechanism are incompatible or even conflict, it will harm both of them."

Upon hearing this, Lü Wenjun pondered. The Will-o'-the-Wisp technique and dual swords were clearly incompatible, and pairing Giant Slayer and Divine Machine together would be pointless, as they would be competing for each other's livelihood. The Transformation-type Spring Leg was the best match; it was natural for a monster to carry an exaggerated weapon. However…

"If I use spring-loaded legs, what will happen if I don't use this procedure anymore?"

“Obviously you won’t be using Spring-Heeled Jack forever,” the Earl said. “But will you continue to use the ‘Transformation’ spell in the future?”

Lü Wenjun understood: "I don't think I can give this up. I like transforming."

“Then your magic weapon will remain unaffected.” The count peeled bark from a tree with a knife. “Don’t worry, even the best magic weapon is just a weapon, while spells are the core of a magician. If one day you no longer need to transform, just bring your sword to me, or another good craftsman. Weapons can always be adjusted—but by then, you’ll probably have to pay some processing fees.”

He cleared a space on his cluttered desk and arranged the materials.

"The forging process shall now begin!" the Earl announced. "Would you like to stay and observe?"

Lü Wenjun responded enthusiastically, and for the next two hours, his eyes were wide open.

He had to admit that he wasn't cut out for art, because he didn't understand anything and just cheered at the end when he saw the finished product.

"So cool!"

These twin swords are enough to fulfill every boy's dream of being a wandering knight. They have a white blade that is as smooth as jade, and the curved blade has a crescent-shaped arc. The black fur of the tengu on the hilt adds to the visual contrast. When you hold the slightly warm hilt and swing it, the sound of the slashing is like a summer breeze.

Earl Welton himself was quite satisfied: "A rare flash of inspiration, not a product of routine processing."

He picked up one of the blades and pointed it at Lü Wenjun, who immediately felt a heaviness in his head, as if the transformation had lasted too long. A glimmer of light flowed across the white blade.

"When the attack hits, it can steal the opponent's magic and convert it into one's own, suitable for magicians who are not good at magic." The count returned the knife to him, "A blunt knife, unsharpened, suitable for low-intensity combat situations such as fighting on campus."

"This is so useful to me," Lü Wenjun said with delight. "What's the second ability?"

"Set a mental cue word, such as 'change the knife'."

replace.

The twin swords turned from white to black, the blunt blades instantly transforming into deadly weapons, their pitch-black edges radiating a chilling intent to kill.

"When an attack hits, it can steal the opponent's life force, which can be used to heal wounds or enhance physical strength."

The count pointed at Lü Wenjun, who then had a small wound on his arm. He then ran his fingertip along the blade of Shenji's sword, and a line of blood appeared on his fingertip, as Lü Wenjun's wound healed.

"This is a dangerous knife. Remember not to play with it with your classmates."

“I will remember this,” Lu Wenjun said solemnly. “Thank you, Earl Welton!”

"Work hard, young man." The count chuckled. "Who knows, you might come looking for me again in a while—that's how things are with divine tools; those who don't have them are worth a fortune, and those with the ability can never have too many. Finally, let's give it a name."

As Lü Wenjun watched the twin swords turn from black to white, it was as if he were seeing the past and present aspects of a god.

“Let’s call it Twins,” he said. “Divine Machine [Twins]!”

Chapter 69 The world of mortals is so difficult!

The day after receiving the divine instrument, we made our routine contact.

(...Recent divinations have not revealed anything unusual. Report complete.) Prophet Sheen changed his tone. (Thanks for your hard work, Agent! You really managed to succeed, and you really only used an alternate-level force.)

(I've been working diligently.) Lu Wenjun's words came from the bottom of his heart. (So, how's the investigation progressing?)

(Completely bewildered... All foreseeable points of intervention have been sealed off in advance; the enemy's intelligence processing is ridiculously advanced.)

The unorthodox god has been successfully defeated, and the agent's identity has not been exposed. A major event has come to an end; congratulations!

Of course, things are not that simple.

First, the underworld contains numerous divination and precognitive techniques. From the simple calculations of old Mordin before class to predict who will be unlucky that day, to ancient prophets foretelling Ragnarok, the future is never a vague fog in the eyes of magicians, but a path that can be deduced and calculated.

Each renowned Mythic+ dungeon boasts highly skilled diviners and powerful amplification spells, enabling them to anticipate threats and take appropriate countermeasures. The Mythic+ dungeon Trista, however, not only has experienced diviners like Old Mordin, but also specially constructed barriers, theoretically allowing the teachers to address threats long before the Outer Gods awaken.

However, this time the situation was quite the opposite. Not only did the academy's divination fail, but the organization's warning also arrived late, leading to the dangerous situation of freshmen like Lü Wenjun accidentally entering the divine realm. This was by no means a coincidence; it could only be understood as a conspiracy orchestrated behind the scenes.

(In my opinion, the enemy's intention is to use the Outer God to gather intelligence.) Lü Wenjun stated his deduction, (Both your divination and the academy's notice mentioned a 14-day deadline, which is probably because after the 14th day, the Outer God will come into contact with something hidden in the academy... and that is very likely the inner library where the "Jade Record" is kept.)

(It's like using a hungry wolf to search for food.) Sheen agreed. (If we investigate in this direction...)

(I would immediately arouse suspicion and be invited for tea.)

(Yeah, that's true...) Sheen looked listless. (If I were in that situation, I would also be waiting in this direction.)

Even a fake agent could think of this, so the academy couldn't possibly be unprepared. They've probably already laid down heavy security inside the forest, just waiting for the suspects to come and investigate so they can be rounded up.

Therefore, the investigation into the *Jade Record* had to be temporarily suspended, which was good news for Lü Wenjun. Ideally, this messy task would just drag on until the end of the semester and be left unresolved, and then he could figure out a way to get it over with...

(Anyway, this temporary mission was a success. In the words of the ancient kingdom, you've done a good deed!) Sheen remained optimistic. (From now on, I'll maintain regular surveillance of that god. How's she doing lately?)

(She's recently become a hot girl.)

(…………What did you say?)

(She's become a hot girl.) Lü Wenjun said expressionlessly.

·

Good morning, Xiaowen and Xiaoling! Let's shine brightly together today!

The thin jacket was clearly a size too big, with sleeves so long that you could tuck your hands in.

The short skirt has a distinctly Japanese high school style, along with loose, baggy bubble socks.