The name "Mana Feilianna" was not unfamiliar to Xia De. In fact, it was not unfamiliar to any student of Saint Byron's. This was because she was the Founder of Saint Byron's Comprehensive College, one of the Three Great Arcane Academies, and rumored to be the most powerful Great Witch living in the middle of the fifth epoch.
The relic, 【Saint Byron's Dream】, that Xia De used upon enrollment, originated from this Witch. And this Witch, if not for living in an era too early, would absolutely have been qualified to become one of the Thirteen Witch Emperors at the end of the fifth epoch.
Perhaps it was a case of identical names, but when Xia De visited the librarian Miss Daniste, he had seen a portrait of Miss Felianna on a book cover. Although five thousand years had passed, that portrait bore a striking resemblance to the Witch before him, which was why Xia De felt she looked familiar when he saw the Witch by the bonfire earlier.
Miss Mana Feilianna's reputation was excellent, and it wasn't just the college's history intentionally praising its Founder. Even in the Church's history, there were many praises for this Witch, which was why Iluna showed such admiration for this lady during their rain-soaked conversation that morning (Chapter 245).
Perhaps the Father of Infinite Trees had truly departed, but It allowed Xia De to access time keys from different eras and face different events, and there must be a reason for this. At the critical juncture of the Evil God's descent upon Tobesk, Xia De, in the past, coincidentally met the college's Founder. He knew what he should do.
Standing up from by the bonfire, Xia De patted the dirt off his body. Under the curious gaze of the three Witches, Xia De, holding his cat, respectfully bowed to Miss Felianna:
"Teacher, save me."
Although they didn't know what he meant, the Witches couldn't help but laugh. In the flickering light of the bonfire, Miss Felianna seemed to be in a good mood. She nodded with a smile:
"Since you are willing to sincerely call me Teacher, then I will certainly help you. But you must tell me all your circumstances so that I can devise a plan for you."
Xia De only hesitated slightly before nodding:
"Alright."
The bell echoed in the clearing beneath the giant tree, and the long whistle of a steam engine pierced the night sky, making the forest outside the bonfire's light restless. A brass-colored Destiny Ring appeared behind Xia De, and the six runes on the rotating Destiny Ring made the three Witches glance sideways.
"I've seen the prototype of the Ring術士 system before, but I never expected it to truly become the mainstream system of the next era… You two, go find some firewood for now."
Miss Felianna thought for a moment and said to her students. The young Witches were a bit reluctant; they also wanted to stay and hear something new. But they still grudgingly stood up, looking at their Teacher with pitiful expressions, hoping she would change her mind.
So Miss Felianna added:
"Hurry up."
They could only straighten their robes, quietly complaining about their Teacher's strictness, and then used the strange flames from the bonfire to light their torches before walking together into the bushes outside the clearing.
The relationship between the three Witches seemed quite good. Perhaps the other two Ancient Magic Witches, whose names Xia De didn't know, also held significant positions in the Founding of Saint Byron's.
"No need to stand, I don't have such rules here. Sit down and talk."
She said to Xia De, so Xia De sat back down by the bonfire, placing the cat on his lap.
The bonfire crackled, and the golden-haired Witch held her hands towards the bonfire as if warming them, her eyes fixed on Xia De:
"In the name of Mana Feilianna, I swear to God, I will not tell anyone about tonight's conversation. So, man from the future, you have crossed time to get here, how exactly do you want me to help you?"
Her voice was gentle but also very reliable.
Xia De looked at her. Even if the one before him was not a god, but merely a mortal, he still rekindled hope at this moment:
"I want to know how to expel a Saint-form God from the material world against Its will."
This was the biggest problem at the moment. Although Xia De had divinity, the opponent also had it. He might not be able to gain an advantage against a Saint in a direct fight, but he only needed to expel the opponent.
After all, the opponent could not stay in the material world for long, while Xia De could.
"Who is the opponent? Has the God fully descended?"
The Witch asked with concern, her question going straight to the core.
"The Blood Feast Lord. I don't know if It has fully descended, but I saw blood mist engulfing the City and a blood-colored pillar of light shooting into the night sky."
"Then It hasn't descended yet, but you don't have much time left either."
This answer truly made Xia De breathe a sigh of relief.
"Don't be too quick to relax. I can't make you fight a God; only a God can fight a God. Just a moment…"
She took out a book from her robe. This time it was a dirty black small book, clearly an illicit publication. This book was carried close to her, on one hand, it was probably very dangerous, on the other hand, it was probably needed for immediate use, after all, the Witches were not here for a picnic.
The title of the book was "Dangerous Rituals: Contacting Deities."
"Even if you suddenly had the immense power I possess, you still wouldn't be able to fight a God, because only a God can fight a God. So you can try to summon a God."
The Witch suggested very seriously.
"There's no time. The Saint has already appeared. I don't even have a second."
Xia De shook his head, and Miss Felianna put the book away, asking cautiously:
"Then do you have any 0-level relics? I'm not clear on how relics are classified in your era, but you should understand 0-level. If you have more than twenty 0-level relics, with a very small probability, as a mortal, you might, perhaps, be able to expel a God by sacrificing your life and the lives of millions."
The Witch suggested again, and she didn't look like she was joking.
"Why would you think I have so many 0-level relics?"
Xia De retorted.
"Since you can cross time and haven't been punished, I think anything is possible with you."
She said very seriously, and Xia De actually couldn't refute her. He thought for a moment:
"I do have a few good relics, but their ratings aren't high. Oh, I also have two all things are impermanent cards, do you know about these?"
"Oh, you actually have these? And two of them?"
Miss Felianna looked at him in surprise, but still shook her head:
"The all things are impermanent cards indeed contain the power of an Old God. An Old God is enough to suppress all other Gods, just as a God can suppress all mortals. But no one has ever known how to use the power of the all things are impermanent cards; this is a truly ancient Miracle."
The all things are impermanent cards were not ordinary items; Xia De had known this from the female Diviner long ago. But he didn't know that the cards truly contained power beyond bringing good luck.
He hesitated for a moment, then made up his mind:
"Alright, Miss Felianna, besides these, I have something else…"
"What?"
"A drop of divinity. By absorbing divinity, I can transform into a God."
Miss Felianna fell silent. She performed a gesture that Xia De found incredibly familiar: she reached out and grabbed Xia De's wrist, then released it and looked at her own palm, muttering to herself:
"Can men of the future epoch do such a thing? Or are you some ancient demigod hero? An angel descending to the mortal world? Or, are you some God who likes to joke?"
"No, everything I said is true, and I really am a man."
Xia De quickly shook his head, then added:
"A God has proven this point."
"You trust me that much? You dare to tell me such a thing? Even though we are in different positions in the river of time, but…"
"I'm sorry, I don't have much time. Let's discuss these matters next time. Miss Felianna, I trust you very much, and besides, I have no other choice."
Xia De said awkwardly. The Witch nodded, her expression much more relaxed, and she no longer looked at Xia De, but at the bonfire in front of her.
The flames flickered, and their shadows swayed as well:
"No matter what you… do I need to use honorifics for you?"
She joked, and after Xia De hastily shook his head, she continued:
"No matter what you are, but since you are confident enough to absorb divinity and transform into a God, then the matter is easily resolved. Use the power of a God to touch the all things are impermanent cards; you will surely gain something. Besides that, although I am only a mortal, I have witnessed the battles of Deities in the material world. Tell me the power you can use in your mortal state, and I will make a plan for you. After all, even after transforming into a God, the power is still controlled by you, but the manifestation of that power depends on what you have encountered in your mortal state."
She took out a notebook and a fountain pen from among the miscellaneous items beside her. These items looked very similar to those of the sixth epoch:
"You came to me; you really came to the right person. I dare say that in the entire fifth epoch, few people could give you advice about Gods."
Such a slightly boastful sentence, when spoken by the Witch Miss Mana Feilianna, did not seem out of place at all.
She paused, then looked at Xia De again:
"But man from the future, you need to pay attention to one thing."
"Please speak."
Xia De also looked at her.
"In my opinion, your body is indeed that of a mortal. No matter how you use divinity, it cannot be without cost. What the cost truly is, neither you nor I can predict, but the cost absolutely exists."
Xia De understood the Witch's meaning and knew she was worried about him, but he just shook his head:
"It's alright, I've already decided to do this."
"So resolute?"
"I couldn't escape anyway, and besides, there are many people I care about around the Evil God… I just don't want to regret it."
They looked at each other, and a smile appeared in Miss Mana Feilianna's golden eyes:
"It seems that men of the future era are much stronger than those of our era. This time, we won't discuss the ritual I want to complete. Next time you come, help me then… I hope you can come back alive to see me."
The night wind rustled the giant tree's canopy. By the bonfire beneath the canopy, a young man sat cross-legged, respectfully leaning forward to consult a woman in a robe who sat with her legs drawn up. Their shadows swayed slightly behind them due to the flickering flames. Their whispers could not be carried away by the wind, and this scene would not be recorded by anyone.
Perhaps the scenes of ancient sages imparting Knowledge to their students were no more than this. But then again, no one would be so bold as to casually discuss the secrets of Gods.