Chapter 2147: Wandering Canyon

Destroy all "Drifting Ice Mud Monsters", Joan and Clark return to the folding fortress.
Clark lay down in the lobby on the first floor, snoring loudly.
Qiao An sat down in front of the desk on the second floor of the fortress, lit the magic candlestick, and spent half an hour studying the body fluid extract of the "Drifting Ice Mud Monster" and recording the test results in the book.
Putting away the books, Qiao An took a "meditation capsule" to perform routine meditation homework, then extinguished the candlestick and went to bed to rest.
Early the next morning, Joan and Clark woke up one after another, put away the folding fortress after breakfast, summoned two "phantom horses" to serve as mounts, and rode along the river bank toward the depths of the canyon.
The cursed grand canyon that lies in front of the two of them is the only way to go from Jotunheim to Niforge.
According to Clark, due to the fog in the valley, it is difficult to see the sun all day long, and the negative energy concentration is extremely high. There are many undead creatures hungry for blood lurking in the dark corners. Travelers who travel to and from the valley will be attacked by the undead without exception, and will retreat. There are very few.
Clark himself, many years ago, passed through the canyon safely and set foot on the land of the "Nation of Fog", but this does not mean that he is strong enough to forcibly break through the barrier. More importantly, he is inspired by the "Goddess of Hades" and has a divine body.
The undead wandering in the canyon at that time did not make Clark too embarrassed, otherwise he would not be able to pass the level smoothly.
"Brother Clark, when we cross the Grand Canyon this time, will we also be sheltered by Ms. Hull, so the undead in the canyon dare not approach us?"
Qiao An followed Clark into the Wandering Canyon on horseback. One morning had passed. During this time, he had not encountered any undead creatures. From a probability point of view, luck was too good to be true, so he suspected that there was something else.
Clark hesitated for a while, and smiled bitterly: "Brother Qiao'an, to tell you the truth, we are probably in a worse situation than you think."
"So far, I have not sensed the revelation of the goddess. The'eternal stillness' that was given to me before was taken back the day we left Stone Pillar Town. I even have a hunch that Master Hull will not help us. This trip provides convenience, and there may be many additional difficult and dangerous obstacles."
"What's the reason for this?" Qiao An asked in surprise, "Don't Ms. Hull hope that we can complete the task smoothly and deliver the'Essence Collar' to her kingdom of God as soon as possible?"
"This is a test, Joe Ann, it's mainly a test for me, and you are probably hurt by me." Clark said solemnly.
"Test? For what purpose does Ms. Hull want to test you?" Qiaoan asked inexplicably.
"Oh, this question is actually very simple, but my answer may not be satisfactory to you." The frost giant sighed, "Master Hull is a god, and I am her believer, brother, how can I prove to the idol as a believer? Are you pious enough to uphold the right path of faith rather than pure fanaticism? The answer usually points to a harsh test involving the physical and spiritual will, or it is more appropriate to call it a'trial'."
"I don't know much about theology, but from a common sense, the harsher the test, the more benefits you will get after passing the test, right?" Qiao Ann asked Clark.
The Frost Giant kept silent, and seemed unwilling to use specific "benefits" to measure the return of faith.
Qiao An doesn't understand what's so taboo about this. If there are no real benefits, people are really willing to take the initiative to find sins in order to prove their piety? Wouldn't it become a "masochistic"?
He has read a few books on the history of religion. There are indeed some fanatics in history who practice their faith through abstinence and even self-flagellation. Frankly speaking, he can't understand the logic behind this self-abuse, only the human world. The joys and sorrows are not connected.
Clark was silent for a long time, perhaps because he felt it was necessary to explain, he said to Qiao An, "As far as I am concerned, proving faith is the biggest gain, nothing else matters, but you are not a believer in Ms. Hull, Lord Goddess. It's fair. I guess He won't let you work for nothing. The more dangerous the challenges we face on the road, the more rewards you can get from Ms. Hull after completing the task."
Qiao An nodded, the logic is smooth!
"Brother Clark, in fact, on our trip to the North Pole, you are the protagonist. I am only an attendant and a bodyguard. The more I work, and finally from your boss-Ms. Hull- The higher the remuneration you get, is this correct understanding?"
"It's kind of vulgar, but it's roughly correct."
Clark shrugged and spread his hands, feeling helpless for this little brother who has no religious sentiment and is too realism.
The two talked as they walked, Qiao An accidentally raised his head and saw a figure standing in the fog on the opposite side. He was slightly startled, and quickly reined in.
Under the saddle, the Phantom Horse stood up, hoofing his hoof.
"What's the matter, brother Joan?" Clark asked back.
"There seems to be someone in front!"
Qiao An answered while switching the observation angle to the "peeping magic eye" that was released in advance, manipulating a glass magic eye to approach the figure in the dense fog.
Clark looked in the direction of his finger and laughed.
"Don't be afraid, brother, it's just a stone pillar."
Qiao An looked through the glass magic eyes, and the figure standing quietly in the thick fog, as Clark said, was just a five-foot-tall stone pillar, the thickness of which was similar to that of a human torso, plus the magic mist that filled the valley. , So that he was mistakenly regarded as a figure, inevitably ashamed of his fuss.
Continue to rush the horse forward, and gradually advance into the depths of the canyon along the winding river, and the number of human-shaped stone pillars seen on the way gradually increases.
Some of the stone pillars can even vaguely see the folds of the dress and the outlines of the facial features and limbs. They are not like the products of natural weathering and erosion, but more like artificial sculptures.
"Brother Clark, stop for a moment!"
Qiao An really couldn't restrain his curiosity. He restrained the reins and got off his horse. He photographed several protective spells on himself. Then he walked to an area full of stone sculptures and observed all six or seven humanoid stone sculptures nearby. One conclusion.
"These stone pillars are by no means naturally formed, nor are they like ordinary sculptures, but rather like living humans with petrified magic!"
In order to verify his guess, Qiao An tried to cast a spell to dispel petrification.
The 5-level spell "Break the Enchantment" was blessed on a stone pillar with distinctive feminine characteristics, but there was no response.
Qiao An didn't give up, and switched to the 6-ring "Ruby Reversal Ray" to try to lift the petrification, but the result was still invalid.