“Prophet Association.”
Amidst the crackling firewood, Xia De’s answer almost slipped out.
The Prophet Association had never experienced particularly great development, and even in some historical periods, it was reduced to a regional organization. However, the Prophet Association also never disappeared; they have almost always existed alongside human civilization, because the desire to know the future is a hope that intelligent beings have never lost since ancient times.
And the Association, which developed rapidly by accident in the sixth epoch thanks to rhode cards, is probably the strongest Association in history.
“Those people who always speak in halves, as expected, have a way to live longer.”
The Moon Witch whispered, it seems the Diviners’ habits are the same in any era.
“No, the Prophet Association probably won’t have information about contacting gods. Cautious Diviners won’t store dangerous Knowledge, and even if they did, they wouldn’t easily tell an outsider like you. Say another one.”
Miss Felianna said again. This time, Xia De thought for a moment:
“Blood Spirit School.”
He pursed his lips and added:
“I have a conflict with them.”
“That’s normal. The Blood Spirit School’s reputation wasn’t good even in our era. I didn’t expect those people could exist for so long. It seems the evil god you mentioned last time is probably related to them. But I don’t think they would have information about contacting gods or the yaobian gate. The Blood Spirit School’s Knowledge leans more towards blood.”
Miss Felianna whispered, but she didn’t let Xia De continue listing. She thought for a moment:
“I thought of an organization that might know the ritual information, and if they can exist in your time, you might also be able to contact them and obtain ritual data from them. Do you know this?”
She didn’t say the name, but extended her hand from her robe and lightly drew a symbol on the ground.
The main body of the symbol was an equilateral triangle, with three small circles connected to each corner of the triangle, and a winged person inside the triangle.
Xia De was startled, and Miss Felianna’s lips curved into a smile:
“You know it?”
“Yes, but only seen it once. I once asked my friends to help me find information about this symbol, but there has been no information. Let’s put it this way, I am very sure that the organization with this symbol still existed at least a hundred years before my time.”
Xia De had only encountered this strange symbol once. In the hidden space behind the wall in the basement of Saint Delan Square, there were some sundries, and all the potion bottles at the bottom had this symbol.
By analyzing the text on the parchment among the sundries, he understood that someone had entered behind the wall a hundred years ago, but failed to contact the Ancient Gods statue like him. That organization knew about the Space Labyrinth and even found clues to the Creation Birthing Chamber, so they must know more secrets about the thirteen Ancient Gods. Xia De tried to use the organization represented by this symbol to learn more about the Ancient Gods and the secrets of the spaces they left behind, but no matter what method he used, he couldn't find out what this symbol meant.
“What organization does this symbol belong to?”
Xia De asked, pointing to the ground.
“Guiding Light Hermitage.”
Miss Felianna said, explaining very patiently. Xia De noticed her nails were very pretty. Besides special powers, unique charm is also a common characteristic of Witches:
“If the Blood Spirit School can be directly categorized as bad people, then the Guiding Light Hermitage is like good people who lean towards being bad. This group are staunch doomsayers, firmly believing that a doomsday that will destroy the entire world will come one day, and therefore actively prepare ways to help themselves and more people survive the doomsday.”
“Doomsday theory? There are actually such people? And such people can be passed down for so many years?”
Xia De was slightly surprised. He originally thought that the organization capable of finding the hidden space behind his house’s basement was an ambitious group focused on acquiring the secrets of the Ancient Gods. But now, it sounded more like a group of people with slightly problematic minds.
“The Guiding Light Hermitage’s lineage is extremely ancient. They believed doomsday would surely come before the fifth epoch, and they believed doomsday would surely come in the fifth epoch. Since you also found their traces, then after the fifth epoch, they must also still believe doomsday will surely come.”
The Moon Witch added from the side:
“Now you might find these people ridiculous, but once you truly come into contact with them, you’ll know that their rhetoric is very appealing.”
Miss Felianna nodded, not minding her student’s interruption:
“Yes, but precisely because of the Guiding Light Hermitage’s views, they possess many hidden Knowledge that others wouldn’t expect. I recommend this organization because as long as your goals don’t conflict with theirs, they are very willing to trade with stranger Witches. I can’t guess whether the Guiding Light Hermitage in your time is flourishing again or completely declined, but as long as they exist, it’s fine.”
“How do I find them?”
Xia De asked again. This method was indeed feasible.
“It’s a bit difficult, but not impossible. Look for academic groups of ordinary people who advocate doomsday theories. If you can find that their views and logic are unusually perfect, then it is highly likely to be related to the Guiding Light Hermitage. The Guiding Light Hermitage constantly sponsors similar organizations; this is one of their core principles.”
However, this method was no different from searching for a needle in a haystack. In the prosperous steam era, there were quite a few people who, having nothing better to do after being well-fed, believed doomsday would come, and doomsday theory itself was not an uncommon view.
“Besides this organization, are there other ways? I only have one last chance to come here. I can’t spend decades looking for this organization and then wait a long time to see you all again.”
Xia De asked again.
“You seem very anxious?”
Miss Felianna smiled, then shook her head:
“Your arrival was unexpected for us in the first place. Even if you didn’t appear, we would have other ways, very costly ways, to forcibly escape from here, but no one wants to see that happen. So, you just need to try your best to find them. If you really can’t find them, it’s okay.”
She then pointed to the documents being transcribed:
“Asking you to find these documents and materials is also to understand that god more, to infer the final conditions of the ritual to contact the god. The god’s story and their inherent power may point to the content of the god-descent ritual.”
For example, the Blood Feast Lord’s descent ritual is related to holding a banquet.
Miss Felianna’s words made Xia De feel a bit embarrassed. His original intention was not to delay too long on one time key, but he also wanted to help Miss Felianna and her group. Miss Felianna being the founder of the academy was secondary; the key was that she had given Xia De great help last time, and Xia De was not the kind of ungrateful person:
“I will do my best. Even if I can’t find the Guiding Light Hermitage in the end, I can probably try other methods.”
For example, spending the last blood money to have Luvia divine the content of the ritual. Xia De found it hard to evaluate which was more difficult, the ritual to become a Chosen One or the ritual to summon a god, but as long as the conditions were met, Luvia could certainly divine.
But this raised another problem: one blood money would probably not be enough.
So, after Xia De returned, he had to do two things simultaneously: find the Guiding Light Hermitage and find more blood money or similar relics.
The following week became increasingly busy.