Lin Huai understood.
The one calling herself Kaelan-Flower the Pilgrim, along with that mysterious Saint—the so-called second generous gift they sent was a lethal trial concerning whether he could promote to Faceless.
In this hunt, he was both the Hunter and the most conspicuous prey. The other main ingredient, the Mutated Pituitary Gland of a Thousand-Faced Hunter, was likely hidden at the source of this plague.
Loki returned at this moment, his face wearing a look of relief.
"Mother is fine, and that guy Thor is as strong as a troll; he wasn't infected either." He looked around at the scene of wailing and added, "But Mother's divine power is completely useless against this disease. Those whose life force is draining away are like leaking cups; no matter how you try to fill them, they will leak dry."
After saying that, he turned his attention back to Lin Huai: "I still believe this definitely has something to do with you!!!"
Lin Huai ignored him. The most urgent matter now was to find the mastermind hiding behind the scenes.
He quickly returned to the quiet room arranged for him, closed the door, and used his spirituality to seal the entire room. He needed a divination, a divination free from any interference.
Sitting cross-legged, Lin Huai soon entered a dream. In the gray, distorted dream World, he whispered the divination statement in Ancient Hermes Language:
"The source of the plague in Asgard."
This time, however, the dream gave him no response. Before his eyes was only chaos, a void shrouded in thick fog. No matter how much he concentrated, he could see nothing within that void.
The divination was being artificially shielded!!
"Damn it!!! Is their Sequence higher than mine? Or is it some special Beyonder item?"
Lin Huai snapped out of the dream, his expression as grim as could be.
He forced himself to calm down and began to analyze the current predicament using his memories of the original work.
Such a large-scale plague... "Demoness... Apothecary... Prisoner..."
Three names immediately jumped into his mind.
The Apothecary Pathway itself is skilled at using potions to spread viruses, becoming stronger as the Sequence increases; the Demoness Pathway is proficient in various curses and disasters; and the Authority of Depravity of the Prisoner Pathway can also distort life through decay.
Lin Huai felt his teeth ache. Because these three Pathways could all, to some extent, be linked to one of the most terrifying Outer Deities, the Mother Tree of Desire.
If an Angel related to the Mother Tree is standing behind this trial... then how the hell am I supposed to fight!
Conventional divination was useless; he had to rely on a higher level of power!!!
Sefirah Castle!!!
A look of ruthlessness appeared in Lin Huai's eyes. Only by borrowing the power of that ancient palace could he possibly find the key to breaking this deadlock!
Lin Huai steadied his mind and stood up, his face regaining the piety and humility belonging to a believer of The Fool.
He straightened his back and began to whisper the honorary name etched into his soul in Ancient Hermes Language.
"The Fool that doesn't belong to this era;"
"The mysterious ruler Above the Gray Fog;"
"The king of yellow and black who wields good luck."
He intended to use the most sincere prayer to request entry into that great being's kingdom, using this method to find the... answer to saving the World before him.
He was full of hope, waiting for that familiar pulling sensation to drag his spirit body Above the Gray Fog.
One second, two seconds, three seconds... silence all around.
Nothing happened.
The piety on Lin Huai's face froze. He tried reciting it again, but there was still no reaction. That boundless gray-white fog and that towering ancient palace had completely lost contact with him. He couldn't enter Sefirah Castle at all.
At this moment, an unprecedented panic gripped his heart.
He only then realized that without the ability to divine and without the response from Sefirah Castle, he was practically useless!!
Just as Lin Huai's mood hit rock bottom, Thor's anxious shout came from outside the quiet room.
"Wise One! Have you found a way?! More and more people are falling!!!"
Thor's voice was like a heavy hammer, slamming hard against Lin Huai's heart and jolting him out of the quagmire of self-doubt.
There was no time to panic!!
A bold and dangerous idea took shape in his mind.
Imitate what The Fool once did and perform that blessing ritual that can directly connect to Sefirah Castle!!!
Lin Huai stood up, took a deep breath in the small quiet room, and began the craziest attempt since his transmigration. He knew the ritual had four steps, each accompanied by a corresponding incantation: "Immortal Lord of Heaven and Earth for Blessings, Sky Lord of Heaven and Earth for Blessings, God Almighty of Heaven and Earth for Blessings, Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth for Blessings."
But the moment he was about to take the four steps counterclockwise, his spirituality felt an immense, indescribable pressure. It was as if he were standing on the edge of an endless void, with a Darkness below that could swallow everything.
Lin Huai opened his eyes, cold sweat pouring down his face; this was a spiritual warning.
He immediately abandoned this insane idea.
"Damn it, I really am useless. Without divination, I actually can't think for myself at all. This broken brain should be sent to feed the zombies." Lin Huai said as he gave himself two slaps.
"And what is the meaning of this trial? Who makes someone take an exam and then makes them find the exam paper themselves?"
Thinking of this, Lin Huai recalled the contents of that letter once more.
"Your choice represents the direction of the World."
Choice... the direction of the World... "Choice, what choice exactly? I hate these riddlers the most." Lin Huai slammed his hand on the table.
Lin Huai forced himself to calm down and began to recall various details.
"First, this is a trial; they will determine my inclination based on my choices. Second, they have now deployed a plague, so the plague is the exam duration; they are trying to shorten my decision time as much as possible." Lin Huai muttered to himself as he analyzed, his eyes growing brighter.
"Odin gave me two pieces of information: that lady told him that if I was untrustworthy, he should seal me directly, and only if I was trustworthy should he give me the box. So, this so-called Pilgrim, in order to know if I was sealed or if I started this trial—since opening the box is the signal for the trial to begin—then as the Examiner, she is likely still in Asgard." Thinking of this, Lin Huai immediately shouted, "Thor, go to Heimdall immediately and lock down the entire Golden Palace."
Lin Huai's mind was racing at this moment.
This kind of large-scale plague is good at spreading disaster and panic. He analyzed frantically, going over the Sequence Pathways he knew in his heart again and again. Finally, combined with the form of this hunt, a name clearly jumped out!
Demoness!!!
Yes, this method best fits the characteristics of the Demoness Pathway's abilities! Only they are most skilled at using such large-scale disasters and curses to complete their own hunting and Acting!
Once Lin Huai was essentially certain that the one spreading the plague was a Demoness, all his confusion and panic vanished.
He stood up, his gaze becoming exceptionally firm.
"A Demoness, the complementary opposite of a Hunter? Then I'll play the Hunter for a bit and find you."