Courage Aclaire tested the courage to face danger.
Strength Aclaire tested one's own physical power.
Wisdom Aclaire’s trial should be the wisdom required to face danger.
“Now, I have passed Courage Aclaire’s trial, but the power required for Strength Aclaire’s trial far exceeds my limits. It’s simply impossible to pass.”
If the trial were about absolute strength alone, there would be no point; he could never pass.
A flash of inspiration struck Purple Hammer’s mind. He felt like he had grasped something.
Although he had already received Courage Aclaire’s blessing, the Trial of Courage was not yet over.
That was what Wisdom Aclaire had just said.
The three Aclaires were one entity—one body with three faces and three heads.
If the Trial of Courage wasn't over, did that mean the Trial of Wisdom had already begun?
Or rather, the moment Courage Aclaire announced the start of the trial, the trial of Aclaire as a whole had begun.
The trials of courage, strength, and wisdom had no inherent order; they weren't three consecutive stages.
Purple Hammer stood up again and looked at Aclaire.
Courage Aclaire and Wisdom Aclaire watched him rise, stopping their bickering.
“What? Still going? If you don't lift it soon, Strength really will wake up.”
“When he wakes, he will surely eat you!”
Purple Hammer ignored the mounting pressure from Courage and Wisdom Aclaire.
If the Trial of Wisdom had already begun, then in the face of absolute, overwhelming power, one had to use wisdom to seek a solution.
This was the trial Wisdom Aclaire had already set in motion.
This was all his conjecture, and it might be wrong.
However, even if it was a guess, he had to be certain that his hypothesis was correct. He needed the courage to be sure!
Use wisdom to solve the current predicament?
A multitude of ideas suddenly flooded Purple Hammer’s mind.
He could try to exploit a linguistic loophole—lifting just the very tip of a claw might count as lifting it.
Or perhaps he could do a handstand on the dragon claw; arguably, that could be considered lifting it as well.
But such trickery would likely result in Strength Aclaire swatting him to death with a single claw.
Then how should he solve this...
“Lord Courage Aclaire, I have passed your trial. If it were you, could you perhaps lightly lift the dragon claw?”
That was it—he had to have the courage to try!
This was a three-headed dragon; logically, all the dragon heads should be able to control the body.
Now that Strength Aclaire had fallen asleep out of arrogance, he could try to ask the other heads for help!
He asked Courage Aclaire because he had already passed his trial; Courage was more likely to help him.
Furthermore, Courage Aclaire represented Aclaire’s courage.
Asking Aclaire himself for help in this situation was, in itself, a display of courage.
Such an action was more likely to win Courage Aclaire’s favor.
Upon hearing Purple Hammer’s words, Courage Aclaire’s massive head suddenly leaned in close to him.
“Good! You are very good, and very courageous! I am becoming more and more satisfied with you!”
“I am willing to help those with courage. Therefore, I agree to help you!”
Hearing Courage Aclaire’s words, Purple Hammer let out a long sigh of relief. It seemed he had guessed correctly; his logic was sound.
The Aclaires were one entity. Their trials were absolutely not sequential hurdles but were interwoven into a single trial.
“Thank you for your kindness, Lord Courage Aclaire.”
Courage Aclaire shook his head.
“Though I am willing to help you, Strength Aclaire’s power is too great.”
“By myself, I cannot lift the dragon claw.”
Aclaire’s three heads corresponded to Aclaire’s three powers.
Fire, flesh, and the life of plants.
Courage Aclaire possessed immense fire power, capable of breathing and manipulating flames.
Wisdom Aclaire possessed the power of plant life, capable of healing magic, manipulating the strength of plants, summoning magical vines and plants, and possessing a life breath.
As for Strength Aclaire, he presided over flesh. He possessed unparalleled physical strength and was also the head responsible for controlling the body’s physical form.
Thus, even with Strength Aclaire asleep, Courage Aclaire alone could not manipulate the pressed-down dragon claw.
Purple Hammer was forced to turn his head and look toward Wisdom Aclaire.
If Wisdom Aclaire and Courage Aclaire worked together, they should be able to lift the claw.
Before Purple Hammer could speak, Wisdom Aclaire spoke first.
“If you want my help, you must pass my trial.”
Wisdom Aclaire’s head rose high as he looked down at Purple Hammer. After speaking, he watched him silently, waiting for a response.
Purple Hammer forced himself to focus, thinking with all his might.
Wisdom Aclaire tested wisdom, so Purple Hammer could not afford to be anything less than serious; he had to be extremely cautious with every word and action.
The Trial of Wisdom had already begun.
The Trial of Courage had not ended either.
Then what about Strength Aclaire...
Strength Aclaire’s trial was the predicament itself. The ability to solve that predicament was strength!
Therefore, from the moment the trial began, when he faced the difficulty, the trial of strength had also begun.
The courage to face the predicament directly, and the wisdom to think of a way to break through it—in that process, one naturally obtained strength.
This was the answer to Aclaire’s trial.
Wisdom Aclaire’s trial was the method to solve the predicament.
Now that he had found the way to lift the dragon claw...
All that remained was the courage to state his answer firmly.
“Lord Wisdom Aclaire, I believe I have already passed your trial.”
Wisdom Aclaire’s head lowered steadily until it was right in front of Purple Hammer.
“Very good. You have passed my trial.”
“As expected of a fire-seeking blacksmith, you are worthy of traveling to the Exiled Land to have an audience with Lord Tongmu.”
Seeing that Purple Hammer never wavered in his answer, Wisdom Aclaire raised his head again in satisfaction, the previous pressure vanishing.
“When facing an absolute predicament that your own strength is far from being able to solve, yet must be faced...”
“One must not flee due to cowardice; one must have the courage to face it head-on.”
“And facing it head-on does not mean being stubbornly inflexible; that would only lead to a bloody end.”
“You must have the courageous spirit to face it without fleeing, and then use your wisdom to think and actively seek a way to solve the predicament.”
“Whether it be seeking help or finding a weakness, by doing so, strength will naturally come to your side.”
After Wisdom Aclaire finished speaking, he opened his maw and spat out a cluster of emerald-green light, which floated toward Purple Hammer.
“This is my blessing, the Brain of Wisdom.”
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