Proverbs

[Trial] looked like he had taken a heavy blow from this attack.

Loop didn't relax in the slightest; she pulled the unhindered Chen Miemie behind her.

Everyone paused their attacks, secretly reinforcing the blockade around them.

Seeing this series of small movements, [Trial] turned a blind eye to them, and instead spoke in a gratified tone.

"Don't worry, this isn't some trick to win your sympathy. It's truly wonderful that you have such a courageous, resourceful, and trustworthy group of companions."

Chen Miemie stepped out from behind Loop, took a step forward, and faced [Trial].

"With you looking like a ball of whatever, I feel like I'm talking to thin air. It's weird."

"How about this?" [Trial] transformed into the appearance of Mirror Miemie, though with a much older-sounding voice.

"Yeah, much better. At least it's my own handsome face."

"Hehe. As long as it doesn't offend you."

"[Trial], what's going on with you? Why the sudden change in attitude in the middle of a fight?"

"Let me confirm something first. Chen Miemie, you are the proxy of the Eternal Moon, right?"

Chen Miemie thought for a moment. "Yes."

[Trial] looked at the circle of Anomalies around them, revealing an envious gaze.

"It's so nice. They get to stay by your side and usher in a brand new era."

"What's there to envy? It seems you guessed my identity from the very beginning. If you had just shown this attitude from the start and applied to join, wouldn't you be a part of this too?"

"Me? Hehe, I can't anymore.

My name is [Trial], born in the First Era.

I have conducted countless trials and witnessed seven races being favored by the suns and moons. Do you know how envious I am as an Anomaly?

Through countless trials, I've seen too many partings of life and death. The cruel part is that I should have grown numb to it long ago, but my ability doesn't allow it. To ensure that I can design soul-stirring trials every time, I am forced to maintain a vivid, sensitive state of mind.

Many times, I would think that if possible, I'd rather give up my long lifespan in exchange for a life where I could dare to love and hate freely.

I thought I would be tortured like this forever, until twenty years ago.

That was the trial before the last, the year you were born.

The challenger succeeded in that trial. Just like in previous ones, I followed the procedure, used my ability, and generated the reward.

Perhaps it was a coincidence, but as a shooting star streaked across the sky, the reward appeared right then.

It was a meteorite fragment of the Eternal Moon.

When I got that fragment of the Eternal Moon, I simply couldn't believe it!

I know many secrets. The twin suns and three moons seem to be in the sky, but they are actually in another dimensional space, so there's no such thing as a falling meteorite from the Eternal Moon.

I once had the honor of witnessing the beginning of a new era, and there were similar omens that time.

I knew that a new era might be coming, and the new race could possibly be the Anomaly community.

So, I killed that challenger and intercepted the reward."

Pure Water was also very ancient. Hearing this, he felt something was wrong and interrupted.

"Wait, how did you know the new race could be the Anomaly community? Also, issuing rewards to those who pass the trial is your trial rule. How did you manage to violate your own rule and kill him?"

[Trial] quickly replied, "The new race was my speculation; I used the word 'possibly' to express it. The reason for my speculation was that the challenger at that time was an Anomaly. I felt it wasn't a coincidence.

As for violating my own rules, I've lived for almost twenty thousand years. I've long since excavated my own abilities to an unimaginable degree. Plus, when you live long enough, you always pick up a few little tricks.

You all think my Hazard Level is 7, but twenty years ago, my Hazard Level was 9.

For violating the rules twenty years ago, I paid a heavy price, dropping directly to Hazard Level 8, and it was irreversible."

"Hazard Level 8! Then ten years ago, how could Bishop Yi and the others possibly defeat you?"

[Trial] shook his head.

"Defeat me? That was on purpose.

Ten years ago, Father Jing set a trap for Bishop Yi. They found me, launched an encirclement against me, and wanted to lock me in the [Magic Mirror].

In reality, they couldn't beat me, and the [Magic Mirror] couldn't contain me either.

Father Jing thought he had found me in the wilderness, but actually, I found him, the one who could use [Prophecy]."

Hearing this, the ahoge on Chen Miemie's head could no longer be controlled and stood straight up like an exclamation mark.

"So you're saying you were actually manipulating Father Jing?!"

"You could say that. Father Jing was firm in his faith, capable of execution, and ambitious. I pretended the Eternal Moon fragment was the prize of the last trial and handed it to Bishop Yi right in front of Father Jing. I knew it would eventually fall into his hands."

"Then how could you guarantee that Father Jing could usher in the new era?"

"He was only at [Mystery] Rank 6 at the time, so of course he couldn't.

If he relied solely on his own [Prophecy] ability, he wouldn't get a revelation in his entire lifetime. That was something from the Eternal Moon; how could a mere [Mystery] Rank 6 prophesy it?

I knew that time was precious, and if the opportunity was missed, it might be irretrievable.

So, I attached my former Rank 9 origin source to the Eternal Moon fragment.

It was basically me providing the energy and bearing the cost. Even so, it still took Father Jing several years to complete the prophecy."

Hearing this, Red and Pure Water finally nodded.

Now that made sense.

Prophesying the Eternal Moon, prophesying a new era—and the cost was only Father Jing dropping from [Mystery] Rank 6 to [Mystery] Rank 5? How could that be possible!

It turned out the real price was borne by [Trial].

"What about you then?"

"On the surface, I dropped to Hazard Level 7. In reality, my origin source has been completely exhausted. I won't last until the next trial."

"What exactly is this origin source?" Qinghua asked.

"That's still a bit early for you to know. I'll just say one thing: Anomalies drop materials after they die, but I, having lost my origin source, won't drop anything when I die."

Chen Miemie helped [Trial] up.

"Why go through all this trouble? Since you've done so much, wouldn't it have been better to just come to me directly so we could figure out a solution together?"

[Trial] chuckled. "I know better than anyone the cost of the prophecy's backlash. My bit of origin source wasn't even enough to cover it after being fully consumed. Besides, the lifespan of an Anomaly isn't infinite. After I dropped in rank, my lifespan should have gone into the negatives. Being able to last until now is simply because I stubbornly held on, wanting to catch a glimpse of the new era.

It's an era for the Anomaly race. It's truly wonderful."

Bobo jumped up and forcefully stuffed a drumstick into Mirror Miemie's mouth. "Here's a chicken leg as a reward. By the way, if you have no strength left, why did you still fight us?"

Speaking of this, [Trial] turned serious.

"Lord Chen Miemie, I don't have much time. My next words might be a bit offensive, so please forgive me."

"Please speak."

"In this battle, I saw the many Anomalies around you united as one, trusting each other. While envious, I was also very gratified. You truly treat us as companions.

However, as the number of members increases in the future, your small family will become a large one, and a family will eventually turn into a race.

I have witnessed the rise and fall of countless families, cities, and racial civilizations. I deeply understand that once the scale reaches a certain point, it can no longer be maintained purely by emotions.

Forgive my bluntness, but I do not see the attitude of a racial leader in you."

"You wander around Sixiang City every day, helping them repair the seals, seemingly standing on the side of humanity's light;

at the same time, you do not hesitate to befriend villains like Joker;

The development of a new race rests solely on your shoulders, yet you seem to have absolutely no plan for where the future is heading.

I can tell that the anomalies around you also treat you as family and never force you to make a stand.

Since those close to you will not say it, I, a dying man, will.

As a leader, you need to have your own stance.

Whether or not to attack cities, which race's cities to attack, how to interact with humans, what path to take for your rise, whether you are righteous or evil, what rules govern your actions, and where your bottom line lies—all of these require a clear declaration from the leader.

The anomalies are waiting for your declaration, and so are the cities and races across the entire continent. This will set the tone for the entire era."

Chen Miemie opened his mouth, but could not manage to say a word.

"You do not need to answer me. Perhaps I was a bit too impatient before, but seeing your performance today, I believe there will be an answer in the very near future.

Cough, cough, those few strikes of yours were truly ruthless. My time is almost up. Please let me complete this final Trial."

Chen Miemie sat up straight: "Bring it on, I am ready."

"Question one of the Trial: In the 4 rounds of selection this time, among the 8 people chosen, how many betrayers are there in total?"