fantasy novels Chapter 4275 Bone Card
Chapter 4275 Bone Card
Chapter 4275 Bone Card
The Decaying One looked at Angel: "I never intended to interfere in your trial."
“After all, I was once the presiding officer here, and even if I step down, I should still uphold the fairness of the rules.” The withered one paused for a moment: “However, since Weeks has made it clear that the God wants to see you, then my helping out now is not cheating, but assisting the God.”
The significance of the Nine Chapters of the Scholar is to grant the test-takers the qualification to meet the cruel scholar.
In other words, Ingres came to the Chapter of the Heart to participate in the trials in order to meet the cruel scholar.
Now, even the most ruthless scholars have made it clear: let him go as soon as possible.
Angor has achieved his goal in participating in the Chapter of the Heart; the remaining "test" is simply going through the motions.
In this situation, whether it's the three choices presented by the imp or the guidance of the withered one, it's no longer "cheating," but rather... helping others achieve their goals and following divine will.
"Moreover, you have done me a great favor, and this little bit of repayment is the only thing I can do right now." The withered one glanced at Elan beside him, his previously empty eyes now filled with tenderness and sighs.
On the other side, after listening to the explanation from the Decayer, Angor and the Little Demon Host had very subtle expressions.
Regardless of the withered one's later explanation, the mere statement that "Kagu was his follower" was enough to silence them.
What should I do? This makes so much sense.
At this moment, the scales in Angell's heart began to waver.
Although he felt that he could pass the test by relying on his own abilities and choosing based on his "position," since he could go through the back door and even save Normeffens the time of helping to check his identity, why wouldn't he do it?
Thinking of this, Angel nodded slightly to the withered one: "In that case... I shall accept it without hesitation."
The little devil host opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.
But in the end, he sighed and nodded: "Whether Kagu is truly smart or just pretending, its pass rate is indeed quite high, so choosing it is the right decision."
Even the Little Demon Master said so, so Angor no longer hesitated and strode towards the huge seal that belonged to "Kagu".
……
In a burst of backlight, the sealed monument transformed into a passageway of light.
Kagu walked out of the passageway with a calm expression.
It looks like a minotaur, and its appearance is almost exactly the same as that of Buffett from Rasudran, except that it is slightly smaller, standing only about 2.5 meters tall.
Its face was also more...kind? Or perhaps, more honest than Buffett's?
He gives off the vibe of an honest person, no, an honest ox.
Its bright, black-and-white, yet slightly squinting, copper bell-shaped eyes give it an air of great intelligence.
Angor now understood why the Little Devil Master thought Kagu was stupid.
From its appearance alone, it has the visual impact of a "big, clumsy ox".
Kagu seemed to really like his "clumsy" persona. As he stepped out of the sealed monument, he let out a hearty, loud laugh: "It's been a long time since I've encountered a challenger. This time, I'm going to pose an unparalleled problem. For example, should cow dung cakes be topped with scallions or stinky onions? If you enter the maze from the entrance and then take a step back, does that count as clearing the maze?"
This brilliant question made Angell's eyelids twitch.
However, just as Kagu was about to continue talking about these topics of "great foolishness appearing as wisdom," or rather, "great foolishness and idiocy," the Decayer coughed lightly.
Kagu was still rambling on with its "profound insights" when it heard this soft cough, and its massive body suddenly stiffened.
Its two large, bell-like eyes instantly stopped their feigned "squinting" and abruptly turned towards the source of the sound.
When its gaze fell upon the withered yet serene figure of the decaying creature, the entire demeanor of the "ox" suddenly changed.
The loud, slightly exaggerated laughter came to an abrupt halt.
Its mouth, which had been slightly open to appear憨厚 (honest and simple), quickly closed, its lines becoming tight and serious. Even its horns, which were always swaying slightly, seemed to be held down by an invisible hand, frozen at a steady angle.
The deliberately cultivated aura of "great wisdom" emanating from it deflated rapidly like a punctured balloon, replaced by a settled, almost instinctive respect and focus.
"Teacher...?" Kagu's voice was no longer loud and honest, but filled with deep respect and...excitement.
Seeing Kagu's sudden change in expression, the little devil host's expression darkened considerably.
Sure enough, this big, clumsy ox's naivety was just an act.
No wonder the Demon God always had an indifferent expression whenever it secretly tattled to the cruel scholar, saying, "This big ox is too stupid and lowers the standard of the Chapter of Heart."
This guy not only deceived the test takers, but he even deceived the host!
They're definitely up to no good. Next time I see the Demon God, I'll definitely give them a piece of my mind!
Regardless of the changes in the little devil's mind, when Kagub discovered that the Decayer was right next to him, he seemed to be given a new lease on life.
It swayed its tail and scurried over to the withered one, its eyes filled with emotion.
Kagu had countless things he wanted to tell his teacher, but the withered one simply raised his hand to stop him: "You are now the examiner chosen by the test takers. In the Chapter of the Heart, everything should prioritize your duties."
Kagu glanced back at Angel, and although he felt a little reluctant, he nodded: "I understand... But, is the teacher also hosting now? Does that mean Weeks will have to step down?"
The withered man shook his head: "I am still the examiner. He just passed my test and did me a great favor, he has given me a second life..."
The decaying one paused at this point.
Then, he looked at Kagu with a meaningful gaze.
As former followers of their teacher, Kagu and the Decayer had an unspoken understanding; with just a glance, Kagu understood his teacher's meaning.
"So you're the teacher's benefactor. You must have a wealth of knowledge. I'll have to think about the questions."
After giving a slight nod to the withered one, Kagu turned and walked towards Angor.
Although it was the first time it had met Angor, it felt an extraordinary sense of familiarity with him because of its connection with the Decayer.
"Although it was a bit inappropriate to know the examinee's preferences before asking questions, I thought he was really good-looking, and I didn't know what questions to ask him for a moment."
"Therefore, I would like to ask the host if I can inquire about the examinee's question preferences."
Kagu regained his憨厚 (honest and simple) expression and looked at the little devil host.
The little devil host took a deep breath. Although he really wanted to give this "cunning bull" a break, he finally nodded and said, "Ask away. Others are in a hurry. The master is waiting to see him. Hurry up."
Its direct statement that "the master is waiting to see it" stunned Kagu, and a realization flashed in its eyes: No wonder the teacher hinted that it should help cheat; it turned out that this person had already been chosen by the cruel scholar.
Then the questions it sets need to be chosen with even greater care.
The rule of the Chapter of the Heart is that you cannot release people directly; you must provide an answer, and that answer must be meaningful.
Creating a question that conforms to the rules, allows the examiner to have something to say, and doesn't pose any obstacles is actually not easy for the examiner.
With a mix of emotions, Kagu looked at Angel:
“I’m not good with words, and I can’t think of a suitable question right now. I’m afraid I might ask something off-topic and waste your time.” Kagu scratched his head and smiled sincerely. “But according to the rules of the Chapter of the Heart, questions must be asked, and you must be able to answer them. So I want to understand your preferences first, so that I can come up with a more suitable question for you.”
Angell: "...?"
What he actually wanted to say was that any topic would do, since he had the entire Dream Crystal Plains behind him. As long as he pursued "substance" and didn't care about his stance, there wouldn't be any difficulties at all.
But these words involved his own power, so he certainly couldn't say them. He could only nod slightly in agreement with Kagu's words.
"Don't worry, it's just a simple preference. The rules of the Heart Chapter would never allow me to ask anything too formal."
After a pause, Kagu tilted his head, exhaling several breaths of warm, moist air from his nostrils: "Do you prefer to talk about specific examples, or slightly more abstract principles?"
Angell thought for a moment and concluded that specific examples likely refer to methods of analyzing and doing things, while abstract concepts might refer to clarifying ideas.
He can actually do both.
However, if we're being honest, if the questions are too specific or too personal, such as asking about the meaning of a certain world or custom, Ingres would find it difficult to find an answer right away.
Thinking about it this way, the "theory of virtual points" is actually more appropriate.
Moreover, the problems previously raised by both the Mind-Stealing Demon and the Decaying One all leaned towards "the theory of the virtual point".
Thinking of this, Angell said, "Both are fine, but the former might be a less desirable option, while the latter is slightly better."
Kagu nodded thoughtfully: "I think I understand. Now, let me ask a slightly more personal question: are you... a human wizard?"
Angel nodded: "Yes."
Kagu indicated that he understood: "Alright, I already have a question in mind."
Angell extended his hand: May I ask you something?
Kagu knew that Angor was pressed for time, so he didn't keep him in suspense and directly asked the question that had just arisen in his mind.
The Little Devil and the Decayer also pricked up their ears, eager to know what "simple" question Kagu would come up with after holding it in for so long.
"I've dealt with many human wizards, and I've found that almost all of them are pursuing 'truth.' I'm curious about one thing: do you think 'truth' is a treasure that objectively exists in the universe, or a 'map' that needs to be actively pursued and constantly revised by people?"
Kagu: "You can speak freely, because I don't have the answer either."
In fact, even without Kagu saying it outright, Angel understood that this was a "virtual" question without an answer.
Angell hadn't expected that Kagu would ask such a question.
But thinking about it carefully, it makes sense.
This question delves into the very essence of a wizard's pursuit, sounding extremely "heart-searching," and even giving the impression that if you can't answer it, your "spiritual heart" might be shattered.
Indeed, this is true. Many wizards have wasted their entire lives arguing over differing viewpoints, and some have even vanished into nothingness on the spot.
But that happened many years ago.
As the wizarding system has entered the modern era, although there are still disagreements on this issue, those who have "broken their hearts" because of differing stances are almost non-existent.
Does this mean they no longer aim to "defeat" the other side in a debate?
of course not.
This is because this classic question has been debated for countless years, and the ideas of both sides are very mature. As soon as one side raises its butt, the other side knows what kind of fart it will release; as soon as one side starts, the other side can help fill in the gaps in the subsequent reasoning.
In a situation where everyone knows each other inside and out, trying to say something that could shatter the other person's resolve is nothing short of delusional.
In the torrent of the times, such classic questions will certainly not become crowns to be shelved. Today I wear them, tomorrow you will wear them; this is already the norm. But who will ultimately own them remains an open question.
Therefore, such a question, which seems very abstract and profound, and seems to point directly to the truth, actually has countless directions for Ingres to analyze.
It can be said that Kagu truly followed the will of the Decayer, giving him a vast ocean.
As the question about the bone was resolved, Angel heard Nomefens's voice in his ear.
"This time, you shouldn't need my help, right?"
After he finished speaking, Normeffens fell silent.
Clearly, both it and the book fairy knew that this problem was not difficult for Angell.
It wasn't difficult, but Ingres still fell into deep thought and struggle.
His dilemma didn't stem from the difficulty, but rather from the fact that he had too many directions to discuss, and which one to choose.
In the wizarding world, both the "treasure faction" and the "map faction" have many convincing reasons. Now it is up to him to choose whether to lean towards the treasure faction or the map faction.
Ingres himself did not actually have a biased stance.
After all, he is still far from the stage of contacting and seeking the truth.
Moreover, he agrees that both sides have many valid points.
But now, in order to answer this question, he definitely has to make a choice...
After pondering for a long time, he finally chose a "stance" that he had discussed with Jon before.
At that time, Angel had just awakened Jon in the wilderness of dreams.
Upon waking, Jon was very curious about the wizarding world and asked many questions, including, naturally, about "truth."
Then, Angor and Jon discussed the most classic debate in the wizarding world: Is truth an objective existence or a subjective extension? This question is essentially a dispute between the treasure hunters and the map hunters.
After a moment of thought, Jon said something.
The general idea is that if in a wizarding system every wizard is pursuing truth, and knowledge represents power, then truth must objectively exist.
At this moment, Ingres clearly presented Jon's logic and the doctrines of some corresponding schools of thought:
“I choose… the Treasure Faction.” Angor’s voice was calm and firm, without any hesitation. “The reason is simple: this is the core foundation upon which our wizarding system has been able to survive stably.”