Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys

"Rein is right, this fur, if I'm not mistaken, should be from a ferocious wild boar's bristles," Rudolph nodded and said.

At the same time, he greatly appreciated Rein's detailed observational skills.

Careful and sensitive observation is also a manifestation of strength.

"Gathering flesh or collecting carcasses, it seems there might be an altar inside, but it's unknown whether the sacrificial ritual has been successfully conducted."

"Moreover, everyone be alert and careful," Rudolph said solemnly, reminding everyone.

The group nodded, gripped their weapons tighter, and continued forward.

After passing through a garden overgrown with weeds and dense vines, what appeared before them was a building similar to the ancient Greek Parthenon Temple from Rein's previous life.

However, this temple seemed to have partially collapsed due to its age, much like the garden walls, and various vine plants had enveloped it, making the entire exterior resemble a lush green hill.

The exterior of the temple had more than a dozen tall Doric-style columns, most of which still stood majestically, seemingly silently narrating past splendor and authority.

"This style of temple... I seem to have seen it somewhere..." Arch Priest Rudolph murmured softly, his face showing a thoughtful expression.

Meanwhile, Rein looked around and noticed that the drag marks on the ground were becoming more concentrated.

It seemed... the drag marks converging from all directions, similar to dragging bodies, all ended at the dilapidated temple hall in front of them.

Especially at the entrance of the temple hall, where the drag marks overlapped many times, they had formed traces that were obviously large and slightly indented, much like creeks joining into a river.

After thinking for a moment, Rein walked over to a temple exterior wall obscured by vines and carefully inspected it.

Generally speaking, if it were a temple, there should be some designs on the exterior wall, Rein thought to himself.

Usually, these designs are used to record the deities worshipped, their great deeds, or grand battle scenes, for deities need faith and worship, and murals are one of the effective ways to propagate this.

Soon, Rein discovered something.

Under the cover of vines, there were quite a few line-shaped patterns on the exterior wall.

"Sssshh!"

After Rein tore off a large handful of vines, a very peculiar pattern was revealed before his eyes.

The pattern, drawn with simple lines, was most notably dominated by an exceptionally tall tree, the figures of little people beneath it, in stark contrast, were dwarfed by its height, differing by tens or even hundreds of times.
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Obviously, this represented a colossal tree, emphasizing its towering and majestic size.

Additionally, there were countless tiny figures depicted as worshipping and praying under the tree, their actions humble.

At this moment, others also heard Rein tearing the vines and immediately walked over.

"Is... is this a tree?" A young Temple Knight said, quite amazed.

"Right!" came the voice of Arch Priest Rudolph from behind.

"I think I might have guessed the origin of this temple, this is the distinctive pattern of the Mother Tree Sect!"

"The Mother Tree Sect was active a long time ago, recorded in ancient texts thousands of years ago, said to have existed since the distant barbaric ages."

"However, about two thousand years ago, at the beginning of the Empire, it was branded as a cult and eradicated. Although it's said some scattered followers continued spreading it, it has essentially been extinct for many years," Rudolph briefly introduced the Mother Tree Sect.

"Moreover, their main doctrine preached that life originated from a strange Mother Tree from the void, which brought vigorous vitality to the world, hence everyone must revere and worship the Mother Tree."

"Listening to this... it seems this Mother Tree Sect doesn't seem that wrong?" Rein asked, stroking his chin.

"The exact reasons for its eradication, I can't remember clearly, but it seems to be due to overly bloody sacrificial rituals and the seeking of complete autonomy. Those were probably the reasons leading to its eradication by the Empire," Rudolph thought for a moment and responded.

"I see," Rein nodded.

In his view, the bloody sacrificial rituals were probably not the focus.

The focus was the latter's 'seeking of autonomy.' If the Empire's strength was substantial, it would absolutely not permit autonomy; this would be no different from seceding and becoming an independent nation.

"So it seems, this must be a site of a temple from the Mother Tree Sect."

"No wonder, the helmets of these Evil Spirit Knights all have a crown-like design on top, it seems, this style of helmet must be a form of homage to the Mother Tree," Rein thought aloud.

"Exactly!" Rudolph nodded.

People are always particularly fearful of the unknown.

Once everyone learned that this was a temple site of the Mother Tree Sect from thousands of years ago, they seemed much more relaxed, no longer as tense as before.

Soon, the group followed the drag marks toward the temple hall.

"Oh! This is my brother Haral's battle axe!" Lagaray quickly walked up to the temple's partially collapsed door and exclaimed softly.

Rein followed Lagaray's gaze, and sure enough, another Moon Blade Battle Axe had been abandoned there.

From the traces on the ground and the location of the axe, it was likely that Haral, when he was dragged here, had not been fully dead and so had still been tightly gripping his battle axe.