The Reason

Unrest is brewing in the prison of Monsa City.

Upon seeing this, the guards took out their long whips and lashed the people inside several times through the iron bars.

"Quiet! You bastards, your death is just around the corner. Say what you have to say after you're dead!"

As he spoke, he continued to beat the outsiders several times, leaving them with raw, bleeding skin.

Ailante was pale, and although he didn't make a sound, the guards, upholding the principle of fairness, still lashed him a few times.

These Spirit Realm Traveler were completely exhausted because the guards were not giving them food, only occasionally a little water.

He would also come here every now and then to whip them a few times, just to torment them for his own amusement.

The Spirit Realm Traveler were used to the guard's whipping and knew that as long as they didn't react, the guard would leave quickly.

As expected, the guards quickly lost interest when they saw that the children were simply being whipped calmly.

"If you keep making noise, I'm going to drag you out and enjoy you slowly..."

He left a warning and then left.

Some time after he left, the Spirit Realm Traveler gathered together and discussed in hushed tones.

"What were those sounds outside? It was all screams and shouts!"

"I don't know, what does this have to do with us? Anyway, we've already failed this Trial, so why don't we hurry up and find a way to commit suicide and prepare for the next Trial?"

As he spoke, the Spirit Realm Traveler opened his palm and condensed a few ice crystals.

He frowned. The effectiveness of spells bestowed by the Spirit Realm depended on the user's condition. They were practically half-dead, so of course they couldn't cast any spells.

If I had known, I would have committed suicide as soon as I arrived here; now I don't even have the chance.

"Do we really have to do this? I think it's not a bad idea to wait a few days."

Not everyone can accept this behavior. Every death in the Spirit Realm causes them deep pain, and none of them want to experience that pain a second time.

Even though they knew these people would be executing them in a few days, they still couldn't bring themselves to do it.

"What else can you do? Are you going to stay here and keep this young master Long company?"

As he spoke, he deliberately mocked Ailante, noting that he wasn't a member of Ailante's previous team, but rather one of the other Spirit Realm Traveler.

From the very beginning, he looked down on Ailante, this "second-generation spirit," thinking he was just a fool who relied on his parents' power.

After learning that Ailante had led the team to their deaths, he laughed loudly a few times, for which he was whipped more than a dozen times by the guards.

"Don't say that, he did manage to get us something..."

"Heh! Aren't we all still here waiting to die?"

He deliberately made a louder noise to attract the guards' attention. This time, the guards stormed in, grabbed their whips, and began to lash out...

Ailante listened to the debate among the Spirit Realm Traveler without uttering a word. He was utterly despondent, feeling that this was the end of his life.

He went to great lengths to obtain the Trial Key that met his requirements, all for the sake of acquiring the Talent he desired in this Trial.

And now, it's all over.

Now, forget about getting good Talent, he can't even pass this Trial.

His father had high hopes for his Trial, hoping Trial he could acquire a different kind of the Dragon Clan bloodline to strengthen the family.

He desperately wanted this opportunity to change his father's impression of him, replace his brother in his father's position, and receive more financial support from his father.

But now everything is over, regardless of whether those priests were truly the real culprits who destroyed Monsa.

They didn't even know what a disaster was, let alone try to 'save' Monsa City; they didn't even have the chance to try.

But why is that? Why did the Trial lead them to encounter a First Order enemy?

Normally, unless the Spirit Realm Traveler do something outrageous, the Spirit Realm would never allow a First Order being to stand in their way.

If every Trial has a First Order obstacle blocking the path of the Spirit Realm Traveler, then they might as well give up.

But why were they forced by circumstances to confront that First Order Profession in this Trial?

Ailante bit her lip, unable to understand it at all.

Inside the Great Divine Temple in the heart of Monsa City.

On a vacant lot to the side, a person is suspended in mid-air by several iron chains, with both hands and feet bound.

Fran walked in through the door and went straight to the two ' Half-Dragon ' guarding them.

"You can all go out now, I have something to ask him."

Upon hearing the order, the two left without hesitation, leaving Fran standing there.

"What do you want to tell me?" Fran asked.

"Cough..." Angmar tasted the metallic sweetness in his mouth, quickly coughed twice, and said:

"Could you please put me down...? My god is no longer here... I might not even be able to beat your subordinates now."

Fran carefully examined Angmar and found that his physical condition was indeed much worse than before. But to be on the safe side, she went up to him and used what she had learned in Transmutation Studies to tamper with his body, which allowed her to unleash two Wind Blade that pierced through the two iron chains.

Angmar fell from mid-air and struggled on the ground for a while before getting up, panting heavily. The chains were still bound to his hands, and he had to exert effort to lift them when he got up.

"Thank you..." Angmar said thank you first, then sat up from the ground.

"You should want to know the truth about our Monsa City, including the origin of the Divine Water and the Deity we worship. I'll tell you now... And I also have something else to tell you: Monsa City is facing annihilation..."

"Let's put that aside for now. First, let me ask you, why did you order the arrest of us outsiders?" Fran interrupted him, posing the question.

"It was the Deity who ordered me to capture all outsiders and then execute them," Angmar answered truthfully.

Fran didn't ask any further questions, but seemed lost in thought.

In fact, she had already guessed the truth when the other party's Divine Statue shattered, but by then it was too late.

Besides, even if she guessed it, it wouldn't matter. Ever since she entered this Trial, she has been at odds with the Deity worshipped in Monsa City.

She looked down at the book in her hand, now completely renewed, its pages no longer tattered.

The book has a comfortable leather texture to the touch, and the gold patterns around it make it look extremely beautiful.

Facing this drastically altered book, she felt no joy, her eyes filled with a complex expression.

Now there's a line of text on the book's cover. "[Affix the book to the Divine Statue]". This line of golden text keeps flashing, frantically reminding her.

However, she did not intend to do so immediately, but rather to listen to Angmar before making a decision.

Because this book—no, it should be said that the Deity represented by this book—is the root of her conflict with Angmar.

The other Spirit Realm Traveler were merely caught in the crossfire of their conflict.