The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　Under Dark's command, the "Viligion" he summoned rushed into the fog that had not yet been cleared ahead like the wind!

　At this time, his magical spirit can make the most of its intelligence.

　Unlike other magical spirits that become ineffective after being cut off from contact, Dark's magical spirit is a completely independent individual with its own thinking ability.

　As a nine-star high-defense magic spirit, "Viligeon" will not be easily killed by the monsters hidden in the mist. Its speed is also extremely fast, making it a natural scout.

　Unbeknownst to her, another unicorn had appeared beside Bishop Sabrina Melville—but this unicorn was not a mount, but a magical spirit she had summoned—it possessed a golden horn, and its body was engraved with golden geometric stripes, and it was named (Golden Unicorn).

　The "Golden Unicorn" is also a nine-star magical spirit, possessing abilities comparable to the Unicorn King. It is a magical spirit that focuses on defense and healing, but it also has the ability to unleash bursts of power instantly.

　This shows that Bishop Sabrina Melville has also become more vigilant.

　With investigative methods ineffective, it's not surprising that any crisis could arise at any time.

　The marching speed of the group inevitably slowed down.

　However, this was only the beginning of the inner circle, and the team had not yet encountered any insurmountable crises.

　Although the monsters encountered along the way became increasingly powerful, none of them were yet strong enough to break through to the level of a nine-star magical spirit.

　The "Constellation Chimera" displayed immense power when crushing lower-level magical beasts. Even when attacked in groups, it was ruthlessly suppressed by summoning its constellations.

　Unbeknownst to them, the team had already shifted from primarily hunting down Paladins and Northern Warriors to primarily attacking with the Academy's Nine-Star Magical Spirits.

　But this was only a temporary change, and neither the paladins nor the northern warriors went all out.

　Everyone still has reserves of strength to face an even greater crisis.

　At 11:30 a.m., the team composed of the three forces arrived at a hill and temporarily set up camp to rest.

　By this time, the entire team had been advancing through the fog for several hours, relying solely on the aura leaked from the "Heavenly Court" to confirm their direction and to calculate their progress into the Mountain of the Gods based on their marching speed.

　However, their progress did not meet the best expectations.

　Although the team as a whole suffered no losses, they were exhausted both mentally and physically, with the "Weather Master" from the North being the most fatigued.

　As the team ventured deeper into the area, it became impossible for the "Weather Master" to maintain its previous level of dispelling effects; it could only be reserved for positional warfare in critical moments.

　After this rest period, they will be completely in the dark.

　Due to the fog, the visible field of vision under normal circumstances will not exceed ten meters, and various senses will also be greatly reduced.

　Professor Mitia stepped out of the carriage, summoned and activated the item card, and used this item as a basis to temporarily set up a high-strength barrier at the encampment.

　The barrier masters from the other two factions also stepped in to reinforce their defenses. Afterwards, the three factions split into three groups and took to the ground to replenish their supplies. The atmosphere was extremely tense, and everyone remained vigilant.

　After exchanging a few words with their respective groups, Sabrina Melville and Gavin North rose almost simultaneously and went to the pumpkin carriage to join the rest of the academy members.

　By this time, everyone except Aurora, Nix, and Ergane had stepped out of the carriage.

　While they were spreading out the "food cards," they were all quickly discussing the current situation.

　“Further ahead lies an area I haven’t explored,” Chris said. “It’s unlikely we’ll reach the summit of Mount Gods before tonight.”

　Professor Mitya said, "My 'Constellation Chimera' is already finding it increasingly difficult to deal with magical beasts. I didn't expect to encounter a nine-star level magical beast so soon after arriving here."

　Professor Sylph stated, "Attacks from underground are becoming increasingly frequent, making it difficult for the 'Mud Dragon' to withstand them alone."

　Gavin North said, "My 'Weathercrafter' is overwhelmed. The knights' 'Ice Fish Dragons' are panicking; they are mounts with dragon blood."

　Bishop Sabrina Melville said, "Our unicorns are holding up, but they're also getting a bit restless."

　After careful consideration, Dak finally suggested, "I think the North should reconsider. Our numbers don't give us an advantage."

　“No need for such euphemisms,” Gavin North said. “I have already given orders for my men to select the elite to stay behind, and the rest will return directly after resting.”

　Dark nodded slightly and said, "Unnecessary sacrifices should be avoided; this is a wise choice."

　Then, looking at the magic card in his hand, he immediately summoned "Magical Beast: Goddess of the Mind's Eye" and whispered, "Just now, my magical spirit alerted me; it sensed an additional divine aura."

　Everyone was instantly moved

Chapter 940 The Key to Open the Door (4k)

　【Magical Beast: Goddess of the Mind's Eye】is manifested in the summoning circle.

　As it landed, it immediately looked up into the depths of the thick fog, and a third eye suddenly opened, flashing with purple light.

　Ultimate move – "God's Eye"!

　"Fantasy Beast: Goddess of the Mind's Eye" has two special moves related to the "Third Eye," and both of these special moves are divine skills blessed by rank.

　Its first ultimate skill, "Mind's Eye," allows it to see through everything and discern illusions.

　The second ultimate skill, "Eye of God," greatly enhances its perception of divinity and allows it to see through the flow of divine energy.

　Dark had tried to use the "Eye of God" to find a new temple in the secret chamber, but he was unable to do so.

　Unexpectedly, in this mountain of gods, the "Eye of God" discovered an unexpected function.

　Moreover, as soon as "Magic Beast: Goddess of the Mind's Eye" opened its eyes, it discovered that its vision could penetrate the mist and see to the farthest distance!

　"It seems that the 'mind's eye' technique is working properly."

　Dark felt confident and, together with the others, waited for the results of "Magical Beast: Goddess of the Mind's Eye" perception.

　About a minute and a half later, it withdrew its gaze and said, "Directly ahead of this route, there is divinity hidden in the mist, emanating from somewhere."

　The so-called "divinity" refers to the characteristics that "soul," "body," and "consciousness" exhibit to the outside world.

　The presence of a divine aura signifies the existence of a divine being.

　However, normal humans are not actually very perceptive of divinity. Moreover, most intelligent beings are careful to conceal their divinity, only releasing a small amount when activating divine power.

　Even more remarkably, some can completely control their divine power without emitting any divine aura when wielding it.

　But that requires absolute control over divine power, something even ordinary gods find difficult to achieve.

　In short, neither Dark's "soul of the moon goddess" nor the newly-ascended "serpent goddess" Nix could do it; only the "goddess of wisdom," Ergan, could perfectly conceal her divinity.

　Now that "Fantasy Beast: Goddess of the Mind's Eye" has sensed the aura of divinity above these gods, there are only three possibilities.

　One possibility is that in the Mountain of the Gods, there exist divine beings who came from the "Heavenly Court".

　One possibility is that in the Mountain of the Gods, some creatures are infected and deified (or demonized) by the divine aura leaked from the "Heavenly Court".

　The last possibility is that a divine artifact was unearthed!

　What is a (magical artifact)?

　The Holy Grail of St. Marian College is a "divine artifact"!

　"Following the guidance of our inner eye, we can easily find the source of divine energy."

　After stating the facts in a calm tone, Dak carefully observed the reactions of the crowd.

　No one doubted the accuracy of his intelligence. Bishop Sabrina Melville reacted the fastest, immediately asking, "Does this also mean we can easily avoid it?"

　Dark looked at "Magical Beast: Goddess of the Mind's Eye," which said directly, "The range of that divine aura is extremely wide. It will take some time to completely bypass it."

　Bishop Sabrina Melville pressed, "How long?" "Magic Beast: Goddess of the Mind's Eye" estimated for a moment and said, "It's a little shorter than the way we came, but the area here is deeper, so we'll be moving at a slower pace."

　Bishop Sabrina Melville said, "Then it will take at least a whole afternoon. What do you think?"

　Professor Cazell said cautiously, "We need to weigh the risks before we can reach a conclusion. Choosing to take a detour means we will have to explore a longer distance in the mountains and spend more time. Which is more dangerous, the danger we will encounter as a result, or the danger of facing the unknown?"

　Professor Mitya glanced at him and said, "Then this falls under the category of divination."

　"Why not weigh the gains?" said Count Gavin North. "It's not impossible that divine artifacts have been unearthed."

　Bishop Sabrina Melville said, “Red bean pie doesn’t fall from the sky. Watch out for greed, Earl Gavin North.”

　Count Gavin North said, “I was just saying. Excessive greed only brings misfortune. I have learned this the hard way more than once in war. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, I suggest taking a detour.”

　Bishop Sabrina Melville said, "According to this magical elf lady, the creature that can spread its divine aura over such a vast area on this Mountain of the Gods must be far more dangerous than any magical beast we've encountered before. Moreover, since it involves divinity, it might trigger rule-based traps. Those aren't things you can overcome by simply brute force. So, my advice is to take a detour."

　“So, it’s a two-out-of-three choice, and we already have two votes.” Gavin North turned to look at the academy’s representative—Professor Mitia.

　Professor Mitis couldn't help but sigh.

　According to the three-vote system, since there are two votes in favor, it makes no difference whether she casts her vote or not.

　Although she had considered the time required for the detour, she knew that haste makes waste, and she couldn't risk her life for a faster route.

　Moreover, the time required to take a detour or to go straight is not necessarily shorter.

　This issue was beyond discussion; let's just take a detour! But just as she was about to cast her vote, Count Stanley Longfellow suddenly approached. "I think I've heard something interesting," Count Stanley Longfellow said with a smile.

　Gavin North shifted slightly to make room and said, "Longfellow, what brings you here?"

　Lord Stanley Longfellow said, "As your deputy, it is certainly necessary for me to know more."

　As he spoke, he looked at "Magical Beast: Goddess of the Mind's Eye" and said with a surprised expression, "This magical spirit can sense the flow of divine aura. It looks like it's only a one-star magical spirit."

　Bishop Sabrina Melville's face showed a hint of disgust: "Count Longfellow, you may not be able to sense it, but this magical spirit itself exudes a divine aura; it is extraordinary."

　"Alright, alright, I know now," Stanley Longfellow said. "Let's just assume it's true. Aren't you curious about what kind of divine object it is? That's against the very essence of adventure."

　Gavin North bluntly stated, "Earl Longfellow, you've probably read too many adventure novels. Curiosity is the biggest factor leading to the death of adventurers."

　Stanley Longfellow said, "What if I said that the existence of that divine object would affect our objectives?"

　Gavin North frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

　Seeing everyone looking at him, Earl Stanley Longfellow said with a hint of smugness, "Earl Gavin North, I've just realized something. The royal prophet said that 'divine blood' is the key to open a door. We must possess 'divine blood' to pass through a certain door and achieve our desires."

　Gavin North didn't understand why Stanley Longfellow would reveal the prophecy in front of so many people. He said somewhat displeased, "So what? Didn't we prepare the 'Blood of God'?"

　“No, no, no,” said Earl Stanley Longfellow. “I’ve just thought of another story.”

　Gavin North said impatiently, "Just get to the point, stop beating around the bush." ​​Stanley Longfellow smiled and said, "I've heard that the Mountain of the Gods wasn't originally the Mountain of the Gods. It only became the Mountain of the Gods after the twelve gods settled there. And to make the Mountain of the Gods able to withstand divine power and become a paradise for the gods, the twelve gods dripped their divine blood, which gave rise to all things. That's how the legendary Mountain of the Gods, like the Garden of Eden, came to be. All the plants and animals that grow here are imbued with divine power, and the intelligent beings that live here are the people of the gods… Of course, that was a very, very long time ago. Now… will the lost divine blood ever condense again? And why do divine objects appear in the long-withered Mountain of the Gods?"

　Gavin North frowned and said, "You mean to say that the divine aura sensed by that magical elf originated from a divine being possessing 'divine blood'?"

　This conclusion alone is enough to prompt everyone present to reconsider their views.

　Stanley Longfellow went further, saying, "That's not all. I believe the 'blood of the gods' interpreted from the prophecies by the royal prophets doesn't refer to the 'blood of the gods' itself, but specifically to a special divine object born from it. Perhaps the divine object you're trying to bypass is the key to opening the door. Of course, I'm just suggesting a possibility, a very small possibility. Don't worry about what I say, let's continue the discussion."

　Although Stanley Longfellow's performance resembled that of a comical clown, his words were undeniably significant.

　The royal prophets' predictions, made without regard to cost, are trustworthy. If there are any errors, they lie in the interpretation of the prophecies.

　The Academy knew that Stanley Longfellow's revelation was true, and the Church seemed to know something about it as well.

　Bishop Sabrina Melville's shift from initial aversion to deep reflection must have involved intense internal thought.

　All three factions present carried "divine blood".

　The fact that the Northern Lands and the royal family possessed "divine blood" was, as prophesied, to open a certain door.

　The Holy Church carries "divine blood" to draw upon corresponding divine power. The Academy carries "divine blood" because it possesses it.

　In addition to the "Blood of Hermes", the Academy also has other "blood of gods".

　Leaving aside the academy's motives, it seems that the Holy Church was initially unaware of the prophecy that "the blood of God" could open a certain door.

　The Northern Lands and the Royal Family, it seems, are currently unaware that the "blood of the gods" is required to draw upon divine power.

　So the "divine blood" they carry, which could be pointed to by the first generation, is completely unrelated to a certain god.

　After all, finding the "blood of the gods" of the twelve Poirot gods is not easy.

　Leaving those aside for now.

　The current situation is that if Stanley Longfellow's reinterpretation of the prophecy is correct, then both the academics and the Church may be unable to achieve their goals because they lack the "key".

　So even if one goes to great lengths to enter the "Heavenly Court," it will all be in vain. All the sacrifices made along the way will be wasted. And this isn't irrelevant to the academy either. The key lies in what kind of "gate" it refers to—in the narrow sense or the broad sense?

　Was Principal Art also trapped inside a door?

　The college is unlikely to consider it, and the matter cannot be discussed in person.

　However, the Holy Church and the Northern Region must give this serious consideration.

　Bishop Sabrina Melville and Gavin North both returned to the group to discuss the matter.

　But Count Stanley Longfellow did not leave.

　He sat there, smiled at Dark, and suddenly said, "I've heard that [Saints] cannot freely absorb the divine power of other lineages of gods because of the awakening of their divine bloodline. Otherwise, it will lead to chaos in the pantheon and collapse of the bloodline."

　Dark glanced at him indifferently and said, "So what?" "Nothing. I was just mentioning it casually, just mentioning it casually." Earl Stanley Longfellow chuckled, then looked at Professor Sylph and said, "Elves have a special bloodline, so be careful."

　Professor Sylph remained expressionless, not even deigning to glance at him. Earl Stanley Longfellow then turned to Professor Mydia, saying, "This must be the Silver Moon Witch, the Star-Eyed Diviner—Ms. Mydia Bartholomew, I've never had a chance to greet you. I wonder if you have any predictions about this operation, whether we will succeed?"

　Professor Mitia looked at him and suddenly laughed, "If you give me the complete copy of the royal prophecy, I might be able to help you decipher it."