Chapter 479: 442 Prayers Offered to the Deity
In a word, it was a pyramid.
Or rather, it was a structure that took the form of a pyramid, narrow at the top, wide at the bottom, with clearly defined edges.
The building had four sides, the one facing the city entrance being wider, and the one facing away from the city entrance narrower, appearing like an enormous throne. There was even a staircase leading directly to the top of the pyramid, bringing attention to a grand door at its peak that nobody could resist looking up at, much like they were gazing upon a deity.
"I see, no wonder they call it a temple," Reiger muttered, standing in front of the majestic pyramid structure.
The others were all looking up at the door at the apex, conversing among themselves.
"It seems that’s where the entrance to the temple is," Axel commented.
"Why would they place the entrance at the very top?" Diego wondered aloud.
"The rest of the buildings in this city aren’t constructed this way. Placing the entrance at the highest point must not have been the style during the era when people still lived in this city," Kazi mused thoughtfully.
"It’s quite normal," Revin said indifferently. "In the age where divine authority overshadowed royal authority, placing the entrance at the highest point would definitely help to emphasize the rulers’ identity, prestige, and the transcendence of deities."
That said, Revin walked forward, seemingly ready to ascend the staircase to the top.
However, when Revin reached the staircase, he found himself unable to step onto it.
The reason was simple; an invisible barrier prevented Revin from advancing, making him feel as if he had hit a wall—neither foot nor fingertip could pass through.
"Is this the barrier around the temple?"
Revin stepped back and looked towards Diego.
"That’s right," Diego nodded. "The magician’s reconnaissance magic indicated the presence of a barrier around this temple, though we hadn’t seen it with our own eyes until now."
Revin nodded in return, then turned to Reiger and Nipede.
"What are your thoughts on this barrier?" he asked.
The field of magic, naturally, demanded the expertise of those specialized in it.
In the realm of magic, the two individuals Revin inquired were undoubtedly among the elites.
It went without saying for Nipede, a renowned master in the magical community. Although not even a Tactical Level Magician, he had reached the pinnacle in the field of combat magic. With his knowledge and magical prowess, if he couldn’t discern the nuances of the temple’s barrier, it was likely that few in the world could.
As for why Revin also asked Reiger, it was purely because the Thunder Light Sword Saint’s past performances had already conveyed to everyone present that his achievements in magic were far beyond ordinary imagination.
Not to mention his continuous use of several types of magic that seemed Tactical Level while dealing with the giant guardians, consider his personal feats—
He possessed an aptitude for Void Magic, allowing him to infiltrate the heavily guarded Meipros family residence.
He could use high-level spatial transfer magic to open a portal between the underground beast Yarakulon and Bessare’s training arena, granting him free passage.
He could apply dozens of enhancement spells to his unusually powerful attendant, significantly boosting their capabilities.
These performances had left a profoundly strong impression and recognition of him in Revin’s mind, even more so than many of his much older descendants.
At least, the feats mentioned above were ones that Nipede, a well-known grandmaster in the magical community, had personally admitted he couldn’t achieve or even conceive, let alone witness.
Thus, in Revin’s mind, Reiger’s status had shifted significantly since they first met; it could be said that his perception had undergone a complete transformation.
Owing to this, Revin now considered that Reiger, the youngest Sword Saint in history, might also be the youngest great magician in history.
In other words, Revin thought that Reiger’s mastery of magic was not inferior to Nipede’s.
With this subconscious perception, Revin had asked not only Nipede but also Reiger.
Still, the one who answered the question was Nipede, the famed grandmaster of magic.
"The pattern and composition of this magic power fluctuation don’t resemble any form of Tactical Level Barrier Magic I know of," he said while holding a magic crystal as if it were a device, after making a round near the temple and then frowning.
"Although I haven’t tested it yet, just by looking at the way this barrier is constructed, it seems to be not just a barrier that functions to block, but a compound multifunctional barrier with multiple attributes and uses."
Compound multifunctional barrier!
Such a barrier bears a name that might not be the highest in all barrier magic, but it is definitely the most complex, most versatile, and most challenging to break through.
This type of barrier is generally constructed in an exceedingly intricate and demanding manner. To open, eliminate, or destroy it without meeting specific conditions is absolutely impossible.
It also has multiple effects.
For example, the palace in Yeruf, the capital of the Ginus Kingdom, is enveloped by a strategic-level barrier magic called the Light of the Celestial Pillar, which is also a compound multifunctional barrier. It not only has anti-magic effects but also defends against external attacks. Even if strategic-level magic were to strike this barrier, it would still be effective in blocking it.