The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 76 Praising Me (Please read on!)
Tang Qi also quickly looked up at the top of the pillar and found that the glass embedded in the stone pillar was slowly moving with a "click" as he turned it and the gears and bearings rotated.

Its range of movement is limited; it rotates around the stone pillar.

However, the knob on the handle can be used to adjust the length of the support bracket for the glass and the up-and-down rotation of the mirror.

He realized that these glass mirrors were the key to solving the mystery:
"We need to adjust all four glass panels to make it clear what their specific functions are."

With that, they set off for the other four stone pillars.

But the moment he released the handle, the gears started turning on their own again, and the glass that had just been propped up was about to fall back into place.

He quickly gripped the handle to stop the glass from rotating back, and looked at the other four people:
"Go to a pillar and turn the mechanism just like me."

Everyone nodded in agreement, imitating Tang Qi by pushing open the hidden compartment on the stone pillar and turning the handle—

Only the stone shard cursed loudly:
“Cut off his goatee! No wonder someone smashed that statue. If it were me, I would have done the same—this is blatant discrimination against our race!”

"what's the situation?"

Tang Qi looked at the rubble with confusion, only to find the dwarf standing on tiptoe beside the stone pillar, stretching his arms upwards, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't reach the hidden compartment above his head.

"It's all your fault for having such a foul mouth! Ever since I met you, I've suffered more insults than in the previous two hundred years combined!"

"Are you overreacting? This is human territory, how could we possibly find a mechanism that would benefit dwarves?"

That's what he said, but Tang Qi still couldn't help but laugh.

Even Xiao Anbi can get there.

He shouted:
"Kuru, climb on top of him!"

The kobold quickly used the broad back of the gravel to sit steadily on the dwarf's shoulder.

The two short men, stacked on top of each other, were just able to reach the hidden compartment on the stone pillar.

After the clicking sound of gears turning ended, Tang Qi looked up at the ceiling again and finally understood the purpose of the glass:

"Is it light?"

"What do you mean?"

The rubble asked blankly.

He understands architecture, but not mechanisms.

That's something only idle half-humans would be interested in.

Tang Qi pointed to the scattered shards of glass in the ruins and the moonlight shining through the ceiling, explaining:
“Look at these transparent glass pieces on the stone pillars. Their varying heights and staggered arrangement indicate that they were originally meant to be stacked together.”

The temple was located in the only open space that allowed sunlight to penetrate, just as it is now—moonlight still shines through the glass ceiling onto the ruins.

The answer is then obvious…

"Glass, refraction!"

Kuru was the first to react.

"Yes."

The glass lenses controlled by Tang Qi were stacked precisely on top.

So he kept adjusting the angle of the lens and the length of the bracket, and finally found a suitable position on the collapsed ceiling.

Moonlight filtered through the covering vines and fell onto the round piece of glass.

The originally spreading moonlight, whether due to magical effects or something else, was no longer visible.

Incredibly, a beam of light converged at the very center of the lens, transforming into a cool, clear beam that pierced through the darkness of the temple.

"So where should we refract the moonlight?" Catherine suddenly asked.

Tang Qi was taken aback and began to analyze the angle of the lens and its proper landing point.

This time it was the rubble; by judging the structure, they first confirmed the target:
"That statue!"

That was indeed the spot where moonlight was most easily reflected.

Tang Qi nodded and shouted:
"Try it first!"

Working together, they began constantly adjusting the angle of the lenses, focusing so intently that the sound of gears around their ears was completely forgotten.

Fortunately, the moon in the sky shifted slowly, and after more than ten minutes of adjustment, the concentrated moonlight fell precisely on the broken stone statue at the far end of the temple.

To be precise, it is the 'Dawn' inscription at its feet.

With a "click," Tang Qi realized that the mechanism had been locked, so they no longer had to worry about the lens reverting back.

However, the expected secret passages and hidden doors were not opened.

Instead, on the stone pillars beside them, a beautiful inscription appeared one after another, shining with a holy light under the moonlight.

Tang Qi looked at the inscription on the stone pillar in front of him and read it softly:
Actions speak louder than words.

Catherine then told him:
"Fearless of challenges."

"Refine yourself."

"Her soul is resolute."

"what is this?"

Tang Qi blinked, not understanding the meaning behind these words.

"Is it a parable from some deity? Or some doctrine or creed?" "Praise me."

A soft, calm female voice suddenly reached his ears.

"What did you say, Catherine?"

Tang Qi subconsciously looked at the only adult woman present.

Catherine blinked, looking somewhat puzzled, and said:

I didn't say anything.

"Praise me."

The voice echoed in Tang Qi's ears again, and this time he finally heard it clearly:
"Didn't you hear a voice?"

"What did you hear?"

Everyone looked at him, seemingly oblivious, which didn't appear to be an act.

"Praise me."

Tang Qi was surprised and doubtful for a moment. He did not answer them, but quickly looked in the direction of the sound. His gaze finally fell on the broken statue.

"Praise me."

He approached and found the echo growing ever closer—

It is ethereal and timeless.

It's like a call echoing back from the end of a secluded valley, after countless years.

"Praise me."

Tang Qi scratched his head, tentatively opened his arms, and feigned ecstasy as he sang:

"Ah—God of Dawn, you shine so brightly, guiding us in the right direction!"

"Praise me."

It doesn't seem to have any effect.

Tang Qi stroked his chin, looking somewhat puzzled:
"Hmm... Was my praise not heartfelt enough, or did I fail to praise the right direction? Or do I need both?"
But I don't know her, so how can I give her a proper compliment?

etc--"

As he pondered, he suddenly turned around and looked at the inscriptions displayed on the four stone pillars...

"Praise me."

Tang Qi finally realized what was happening, slapped his forehead, and immediately took two steps back.

Immediately, he lightly touched his chest with his right hand, bowed deeply towards the statue and the words 'Dawn', and said:

"Before your lips have even parted, thunder has already roared, and the sword of dawn has already shone with the light of day."

Actions speak louder than words.

"Even if the road ahead is filled with wailing and filth, hatred and evil spirits cannot stop the fearless."

[Fearless of challenges].

"Scars and achievements forge the backbone and spine, and burning passion pours into the heart and lungs of steel."

[Refine oneself].

"The fiery inferno cannot diminish the brilliance of the will; supreme glory accompanies the soul forever."

[A resolute spirit].

As Tang Qi recited the final eulogy, he suddenly realized that everything around him had become incredibly quiet.

Yet it was so dark before my eyes—

He felt as if he had lost his physical body.

Only the soul floats upwards, as if immersed in the vast universe...

"poet."

The ancient and distant call no longer reached his ears.

The goddess's calm call drifted gently from behind him.

He looked back.

But I only saw one...

A phantom of the soul?
"you are?"

Tang Qi asked hesitantly.

　Puzzle solving and atmosphere are also indispensable parts of the adventure!

　　However, it depends on how you guys feel reading it. If you find it boring, then it's a design flaw on my part, and I'll improve it or reduce the proportions later!

　　It's a familiar refrain, but this is a crucial time!!!
　　Please, gentlemen, keep reading!!!

　　(P.S. It's normal if you think the poems are bad, because I put a lot of thought into making them to fit the story. So far, apart from "Goodbye My Friend," not a single line is plagiarized, so please be gentle with your criticism.)
　　
　
(End of this chapter)