The Next Trial? Don't Rush, I Haven't Made It Up Yet

"..."

What a bald man!

Cheng Shi pinched his waist tightly with his hands behind his back to stop himself from laughing out loud, but less than two seconds later, another hand appeared on his waist, and this hand pinched much harder than he had!

"Hiss--

This test... um, I haven't yet...

I haven't made it clear to you yet, but He can only complete one test each day, and today's test is over.

You will receive the divine oracle tomorrow.

For five consecutive days, when all the tests have been passed, I will relay His divine message to you.

Don't be too hasty.

Upon hearing this, the old clan chief immediately bowed in fear and said, "So that's how it is. No rush, no rush. Our tribe has waited for hundreds of years. We will not be in a hurry. As long as He has not looked away and as long as He is willing to forgive us, even if we drink the entire river of River of Time, the Fungus-Footed People will wait forever!"

"Very good, I have witnessed your piety. Now that today's test is over, Elder Chieftain, please speak about yourselves. I need to know your truest feelings, both historically and in the present."

When I understand the suffering you have endured, I will speak well of you before Him again.

Upon hearing this, the Fungus-Footed People inside and outside the house prostrated themselves once again.

"Praise be to [prosperity]! Praise be to the bald lord!"

Hearing the overwhelming praise, Cheng Shi was almost moved to tears.

But actually it is:

I dare not move! Sis, stop pinching me, my back is going to break.

"..."

Cheng Shi didn't care about the feelings of the Fungus-Footed People. He only cared about two things: what was this Eupusca that the old patriarch mentioned, and why the Mist Gate could be opened on the Fungus-Footed People's altar.

He felt that these things might be related to the current Trials, so he posed a seemingly plausible but ultimately unrelated question.

After listening to the story, the old chieftain, in order to prove the piety of the Fungus-Footed People tribe, began to slowly recount the tribe's the First history.

Historically, when this Fungus-Footed People tribe was exiled here, they did not initially have this sunny region where they could live peacefully. When their ancestors the First arrived at the Sighing Forest, they had no one to rely on and could only struggle to survive in the mist.

To say they were fighting for survival was an exaggeration, because the Sighing Forest was fraught with danger, especially after nightfall when countless monsters roamed there. The Fungus-Footed People had no choice but to become food or targets for the monsters. So they were not fighting for survival, but helplessly waiting to die.

But this situation suddenly changed one day. The first chieftain, who was elected, was unwilling to become a plaything of "Decay". So, in order to prove his piety to his people and to make "Prosperity" have mercy on the Fungus-Footed People again, he chose to leave the tribe alone and go to the place where the power of "Decay" was most concentrated to spread the name of "Prosperity".

It was his bold and devout act that moved Prosperity, which then showed it mercy and granted the Fungus-Footed People a small piece of land, which is where they now live.

Here, there is no mist, nor is it affected by the Sighing Tide. Even at nightfall, no Decay monsters can break through the barrier and rush in. The Fungus-Footed People have a safe place to live, and thus they have settled down and ushered in an era of tribal prosperity.

But they still faced a thorny problem: the land, which had been excessively eroded by Decay, lacked sufficient nutrients, Fungus-Footed People could no longer rely on mycorrhizae to obtain nutrition. Therefore, the first chieftain once again prayed to their Lord of Grace for mercy with a "devout sermon".

Prosperity responded once again, bestowing upon him an item that was both mercy and a test!

Yes, He had already tested the Fungus-Footed People, so when Cheng Shi said that he had brought five tests, the Fungus-Footed People believed him without hesitation.

This prop is the "Everlasting Desolate Lamp" that Zuo Qiu is holding.

"Never disappear?" Zuo Qiu muttered to himself, his brows furrowed slightly. He then took out the lamp again and placed it in front of everyone.

The old clan chief sighed and continued:

"This is the lamp of desolation. As you all should know, it is a sacred object bestowed by His own hand. It is a begging lamp that belongs only to us, the Fungus-Footed People."

When the Fungus-Footed People in the tribe activate it with the power of their bloodline, it will create a Mist Gate in the tribe, the very gate you came through, Baldy.

On the other side of the Mist Gate is a random location. The tribesmen only need to carry lanterns to safely pass through the Mist Gate and reach the other end of the Sighing Forest. Then they can search and collect food in the endless forest and bring it back to share with the tribesmen.

This is how we survive. Nowadays, apart from taking root in the earth when we sleep at night, we Fungus-Footed People have long lost the right to kiss Mother Earth and receive nourishment...

Cheng Shi hearing this, Cheng Shi's doubts deepened, but as the current envoy of the [Prosperity] Divine Envoy, he couldn't ask many questions. So he could only smile and gesture for the old patriarch to continue.

"As for the test I mentioned, we are terrified. It is merely our foolish speculation about our Lord of Grace's intentions and does not count. We beg you, bald lord, to enlighten us."

"..."

Cheng Shi froze, never expecting the old clan chief to pass the buck back to him.

Hong Lin chuckled softly behind him after hearing this, her eyes full of amusement.

What's the point of laughing? If I can't explain why, everyone will suffer. What's the use of watching my antics?

The others also watched Cheng Shi with great interest, wanting to see how this fate Fate Weaver, who didn't tell the truth, could "repair" his lies.

Alright, alright, you're all counting on me, right? Well then, I'll start a class right here today and teach you what Tai Chi is all about.

Cheng Shi pondered for a moment and seemed to have come up with a solution, so he calmly said:

"It's alright. Your understanding and insights into this test are also part of what we've come here to learn."

Faith is not merely about simple piety; it also requires resonant understanding, and this is also His test for you.

The old patriarch lowered his head and repeatedly muttered the Divine Envoy's words to himself, then nodded in understanding and said:

"Alright, then I will report the tribe's insights truthfully."

This Everlasting Desolate Lamp has another function: it transforms the power of prosperity within us into the power of Decay. And this power of Decay is the key to protecting us as we search for food.

Although this may seem like a great disrespect to Him, it is precisely because He personally bestowed this item that we feel it is a test of our loyalty, a test of Fungus-Footed People will betray Him because of the usefulness of "Decay".

Furthermore, the Decay power emanating from this lamp will attract a monster called Eupusca from the Sighing Forest. It feeds on Decay and constantly hunts our people. This is probably a test from our Lord, perhaps He is testing our... courage?

Fortunately, even if some of our tribesmen die while foraging outside, and even if the wild lamp is damaged and broken, His blessings will still return to the tribe's altar every night and become whole again. So, through years of tests of loyalty and courage, we have persevered to this day!

Finally, we received His forgiveness and the Divine Envoy messenger!

"Bald man, am I right?"