The Thirteen Trials of the Deceptive Monk

Lu Wenjun took out a rolling pin: "Since it's already like this, let's get it done in one go. I'll make two chive boxes... ah, no, chive, shrimp, and egg pies."

"Oh my goodness." Faris couldn't bear to look.

Versa, carrying a jug of liquor, said, "Go pour some more liquor, they're almost out."

The thunder grew louder in the thick black clouds, and a heavy rain was imminent, but the atmosphere on the ground grew increasingly lively. Led by the general, the distinguished guests chatted about their recent experiences, letting many interesting stories drift out on the wind.

The man in the lion skin rarely spoke, always listening quietly until the captain asked, "Our great hero, where have you been adventuring lately?"

“I still listen to the voices of the people, and if there are wild beasts or madmen, I will raise my club,” said the man in the lion skin. “I thought I would wander aimlessly. But in this vast world, there are always so many troubles. When the helpless reach out for help, someone should reach out and grasp it.”

The strategist said, "The Silent Ones' clever idea. They have very few people at the moment, so they lure us into traveling in their place in the secret realms."

"Isn't this a win-win situation?" the man in the lion skin said. "They fulfilled their duty to protect peace, and we proved that we are still heroes."

These words drew unanimous agreement, and the harpist nodded, saying, "Your joyful heart also brings us joy. The captain and I are both worried that that joy might be hindered by a small accident."

"These young strangers have done their utmost to warmly welcome us. What could be better for a feast than such hospitality?" the man in the lion skin laughed. "I just don't quite understand why this dinner is so unusual. The food is delicious, but the atmosphere is rushed, unlike the quick-wittedness of young people."

The captain and the harpist then whispered to him about the earlier incident: how the cunning messenger had, on a whim, offered the young people's food and drink as a sacrifice, and how the young people had gone to great lengths to provide the warmest hospitality.

They must not give up easily, for that would not only offend their distinguished guests but also bring shame upon themselves and the noble Dionysus and Demeter; nor could they reveal the truth, for that would displease the heroes with the wise Hermes, and unhappiness is the last thing to be present at a banquet.

The man in the lion skin laughed loudly, a truly joyful laugh. He faced the tavern and said, "Young magicians, you should all come over here. For on such a beautiful night, no one should stand alone in the dark."

Just then, Old Fa was stuffing the last large bundle through the window, full of drinks and snacks. He heard the greeting, and the flames on the skull seemed to flare up in surprise.

"The great hero is calling you! Go now! Hurry!"

Lu Wenjun and the others hurriedly ran out, and the man in the lion skin asked, "Have you eaten anything?"

“As is customary, we will wait until the banquet is over before having our meal,” said Lü Wenjun.

"Pull up a chair and sit down. Everyone who has worked hard all day deserves a share of food," the man in the lion skin shouted again. "And you, descendant of light, son of the sun god! So many of our friends are sitting here, why do you stand alone in the shadows?"

Chapter 88 Suppressing the Martial Immortal of the Starry Night (Fourth Update)

Lu Wenjun didn't understand what he was saying at first, but after a few seconds, Old Fa came out from behind the tavern.

He clutched his leather gloves, his head bowed nervously and self-consciously, the fire in his body extinguished, making him look like a pathetic child who had accomplished nothing.

“Children of the Almighty God, heroes who have won every battle,” the old man said softly. “I am not worthy to sit with you. Each of you has extraordinary abilities and achievements, while my life has been nothing but mistakes. I have tarnished my noble bloodline and disgraced my father’s name.”

The man in the lion skin nodded: "You have indeed made a mistake, a foolish act that will go down in history—but look up and see the faces of all of us here."

“Every one of us has made foolish mistakes, and every one of us has felt deep regret. Those foolishnesses and arrogances, misfortunes and sorrows have stained everyone’s life with the color of blood.”

"However, who can be without fault in this life? Do not dwell on the pain of the past for too long, for that will only lead to death!"

The people's expressions turned solemn, as if they were decaying spirits who had passed away from a distant past. At that moment, Lü Wenjun suddenly realized that they should have died long ago.

He knew the fate of every one of these distinguished guests: some were separated from their wives and children, some were exiled to foreign lands, some were torn apart by madmen, and some were tormented by deadly poison. They had overcome so many adventures, yet the vast majority of them did not meet a good end. Fate and the will of God tormented each of their lives like poison, ultimately leading them to that end known as "tragedy."

He could almost see the scars on people's bodies, the wounds of fate that shattered those handsome faces. But in an instant, with the flicker of the campfire in the night, the decay and scars vanished, covered by something nobler and greater. It was the will to struggle tenaciously against fate, the spirit that persisted onward after so much misfortune, that still sang and drank with joy.

That spirit made them immortal. That immortal achievement turned ordinary people into legends.

Old Fa finally raised his head, flames flickering in his blackened eye sockets, revealing a grateful light. He hesitated before stepping forward, and the guests brought him a new chair, allowing him to naturally blend into the ancient gathering.

Lu Wenjun stared at the familiar driver and suddenly understood everything. He recalled a famous myth: the handsome son of the sun god once tried to drive the sun's chariot, but could not control the divine horse. So, under the intervention of divine thunder, he was burned to ashes and vanished into thin air.

"You are Phaethon."

Phaethon sighed, “Yes, I am the son of the sun god, I am an arrogant chosen one of the gods. I overestimated myself and rode on my father’s divine chariot, only to burn to ashes on the scorched earth.”

"The first traffic accident in ancient Greece," the captain said playfully.

"Watch your mouth!" the old man said, displeased.

"That's not necessarily true. I also crashed into a mountain peak when I first rode Pegasus..." the rider said.

"Seriously, what's the point of arguing about this? Do we have to compete to see who can be more embarrassing in front of the kids?"

The heroes laughed heartily, and they suddenly seemed devoid of their divine aura, appearing instead like ordinary people you could find anywhere. The man in the lion skin also laughed, "Being foolish isn't entirely a bad thing; it makes people remember your story."

“And what about us?” asked the King of Athens beside him. “Young men, do you also know my name?”

Lu Wenjun nodded hurriedly: "You are the most active adventurer, the king who defeated the Minotaur in the labyrinth. You are Theseus of Athens."

"You're quite famous too," the captain said, toying with his wine glass. "Then you should know me as well?"

Faris, mustering his courage, said, "Of course you are the captain of the Argo, Jason in search of the Golden Fleece!"

The captain winked smugly, and the strategist asked curiously, "What about me?"

Versa asserted, “Your wisdom and magnanimity are unmatched. You are the epitome of adventure, you are Odysseus who conquered Troy.”

Now the heroes were all intrigued, and they all came before the young men, asking if they knew their names. The magicians trembled with excitement, recounting their names and great deeds one by one:

The proud warrior was Achilles, swift as the wind, much younger than most of those present; the rider of the heavenly horse was Perseus, who vanquished the serpent demon, one of the most senior figures at the banquet; the musician who always played the lyre gently was Orpheus, who moved Death; and there was Atalanta, who hunted the wild boar; Asclepius, who brought the dead back to life; and Hector, with his gleaming helmet…

They recognized everyone's names, those twinkling stars in the sky, symbols of pioneers of adventure in their childhood stories. In the end, only one person remained listening quietly, never inquiring about his own renown.

Lu Wenjun looked up at the man wearing the lion skin and took a deep breath.

“You are the hero who has accomplished the most great feats,” he said. “You are the brave one who has overcome the most trials. You are the fierce general who single-handedly breached the city walls. You are the hero who dared to fight against the gods. You are the warrior who guarded Mount Olympus in the hands of the giants. You are the strongest and most resilient person present.”

"You are the great Hercules."

Hercules chuckled softly and placed his enormous hand on the young man's head.

“I am truly happy that you still remember my story today. And since you call me a hero, I must have corresponding achievements.”

He asked the heroes, "I want to do a good deed for this secret realm. Does any of you have a clever idea?"

“Let’s get the moonlight back for them,” Jason said. “Let the night be bright again.”

"That's an excellent suggestion."

Hercules gazed at the cloud-covered sky, his eyes, sharper than those of an eagle, piercing through the clouds and looking towards the distant horizon.

He cried out, “You should understand now, you beast of the sky! Your greedy devouring has robbed the night-walker of its precious light. And I now sincerely advise you to abandon this savage violence. For this land cannot tolerate you, and we do not wish to witness your folly any longer!”

The mages stared blankly, wondering what the heroes were talking about. But before they could finish speaking, they heard a deafening roar of thunder, so loud it shook the heavens and the earth.

Although there was thunder in my ears, there was no lightning in my eyes, only an increasingly gloomy sky and an increasingly fierce wind.

Then, the clouds moved.

The sky moved.

The clouds drifted with the gale, and the shape of the sky shifted with the roar of thunder. Then they saw fins outlined by the thick clouds, claws woven by the sea breeze; wind and water swirled in the darkness, forming a long, enormous, and ferocious body. Suddenly, two cold lights flashed in the darkness, and an incredible behemoth leaped from the infinite heights.

It was an incredibly long snake!

Its coiled body is the night, its breath is the wind and thunder, it has long fins like a fish, sharp claws like a bird or beast, and a dozen pairs of ears formed by flowing water beside its shark-like head. Inside the serpent's belly that blots out the sky, patches of golden light shimmer.

Each point of golden light was a perfect jade plate, each ray of radiance once illuminating the night. It was the familiar glow of the moon, now all curled up inside the giant serpent's belly. Seven slivers of moonlight merged into one inside the serpent's body, the brightest spot located at its throat.

The giant serpent has already swallowed the seventh moon and is now preparing to devour its newest prey. The darkness that has plagued the Greater Rift to this day is a result of its consuming of moonlight!

“Jesus Christ,” Faris murmured to himself, “what the hell is this…”

"The Moon-Eating Beast!" Velsa exclaimed.

Lü Wenjun immediately guessed: "It's Bakunawa, the giant beast that devours the moon!"

It is the very source of the darkness that plagues the Great Mythic+ realms, the evil spirit that now seeks to devour its bounty. Its true form is the infamous beast of Philippine mythology, the source of earthquakes, rain, and wind, the calamity that once devoured six moons, bringing eternal darkness.

Its legend continues to this day, and it has become a symbol of cultural heritage. If categorized within the system of magic, it is undoubtedly a legend!

“Indeed, this is a calamity bred by the evil god, the seventh legendary configuration currently recorded, the ‘Moon-Eating Beast,’” Odysseus said. “The Jade Gods painstakingly concealed the existence of the moon for the greater good, which ironically gave this fool an opportunity. Otherwise, it should not have succeeded so easily.”

“Even the wisest can make a mistake,” Achilles sneered. “That thing is certainly arrogant, clearly intending to make us its prey!”

Even without understanding the language of this strange creature, one could discern the serpent's brutality. Bakunawa's eyes held naked greed and malice; it was no longer content with merely devouring moonlight, but desired to seize new flesh and blood, to gain new fear, and to obtain the power that would allow it to exist for an even longer time.

It lurks in the night sky, listening to the sounds of the earth, gathering its strength and remaining hidden until now, all to capture these heroes who have traveled thousands of miles to obtain the "immortality" it has long desired. It shows no reverence for heroes, nor fears weapons, for at this moment it has even surpassed its self from the divine era. It has devoured the full moon of the Great Mystic Realm, one of the most powerful symbols in the world!

Bakuna swooped down, its breath transforming into thunderous roars, its form evolving into boundless, dense clouds. The God of Greed unfolded with its frenzied thoughts, forming a dark circle expanding from the Great Mythic+ Trista as its center.

That divine realm transcended the boundaries of the Great Secret Realm, extending into the boundless ocean beyond the Divine Sleeping Volcano. In the blink of an eye, nearly a third of the Giant God Sea was shrouded in darkness, affecting over a thousand secret realms in total. That was divine might, the true majesty of an evil god. It was as if the world had suddenly changed, as if the end of the world had arrived, and countless living beings trembled at the sight!

That moment was etched deeply into the eyes of the young people; endless darkness crashed down, and fear and horror crawled all over their skin. It felt as if the night sky itself had sprouted fangs, ready to swallow living beings into the abyss's maw, plunging them into an endless nightmare.

They all thought they were doomed. But at that moment, the great hero calmly untied his longbow.

"Do you know how to hunt snakes?" he asked.

Lu Wenjun was stunned, not even knowing what he was saying: "The giant snake will first shoot its eyes and mouth... then its seven-inch spot..."

Hercules smiled, showing great appreciation for what the other had just said.

"These are sincere words of advice, from an outstanding mind."

If we do not take away their eyes and silence them, their dying struggle will affect the innocent.

Only a single strike piercing its sole Achilles' heel can end that colossal monstrous beast.

So Hercules grabbed his quiver and took out his captivating arrows.

Its arrowheads, dripping with tears, will deliver a death that silences even the giants.

The young mages hurriedly inquired whether any of the heroes had brought more arrows.

The hero had only one arrow left, yet he had to shoot the giant serpent three times.

Hercules declined the young people's offer.

"This one arrow is enough."

Then, the long snake swooped down from the sky.

Its magnificent and extraordinary form conceals thousands of hidden realms.

The resulting dark clouds and storms robbed millions of lives of their light.

A gigantic maw that devours stars plunges the world into despair.

In the deathly silence, only the sound of strings echoed.

—The hero draws his bow and nocks an arrow, aiming straight for the sky.

A long arrow pierced the night sky.

Tearing apart thick clouds and long winds, crushing darkness and malice.

A dazzling light pierces the deep, ancient sky!

The long arrow transformed into light, like a star rising from the endless abyss. It easily pierced the divine realm above the ocean, penetrating the flesh and bones of the Moon-Eating Beast, reaching the deepest part of its colossal form.

Then people saw it, witnessed that unforgettable scene.

They saw the arrow pierce through the thundercloud-like eyes, saw the arrow strike the serpent's vital point, saw the arrowhead shatter the fangs, and saw the arrow shaft pierce through the tongue and jaw.

An incredible shot pierced through all weaknesses and broke through all fatal flaws at the same time, leading to an end called death!

It created the raging beast of a thousand nights, and thus died with a single blow.

It burst into a sky full of brilliance, and the moonlight swallowed by it surged across the sky, making the night sky as bright as day!

This is the greatest hero of ancient Greece.

A unique skill belonging only to heroes, known as the pinnacle of martial arts. Those who achieve heroism through their own immense power become an indelible mark on the world, a shining example of immortality. Generation after generation sings of their achievements, and the gods glorify their valor in the name of the stars.

Its name is—

Suppress the Martial Immortal of the Starry Night!

The catastrophic evil god died, its corpse shattering amidst the flashing arrows, its blood turning into torrential rain, and its wails becoming a raging storm. This storm will continue for tens of thousands of days and nights, until the giant serpent's last vestige of resentment is carried away by time.

Hercules plucked the bowstring, and the poisonous rain vanished, and the chilling wind ceased.

The starlight quickly faded, but the night sky remained bright. A beautiful light shone through the darkness once more – the full, white moon.

Perseus mounted his winged horse and flew swiftly through the night sky. When he landed, he brought back a large amount of black flesh and blood, which still beat like a heart—the remains of a giant serpent.

Hercules said, “Why don’t we have another dish?”

"Ah, okay!" Lü Wenjun seemed to snap out of a daze. "Please leave it to me!"

He hurriedly moved the giant snake's flesh and blood, feeling his brain split into two completely unrelated parts: one part was nervously thinking about how to cook this unheard-of food, while the other part was still immersed in the previous moment.

That brief moment felt like an entire year, enough to sustain a mortal's recollection countless times throughout their life.

The banquet that night lasted until very late, until all the wine was drunk and all the stories were told, before the distinguished guests finally left, thoroughly satisfied. But even as he closed the tavern door himself, a part of his mind remained lingering on that earlier moment.