Ethan's demeanor shifted, his tone sharpening into something bordering on rude. He was acutely aware that this was his final opportunity to see the mission through. He stood a mere heartbeat away from completion. Back on Earth, he had been the only individual to ever conquer a 'V' Ranked mission, and that experience had etched a permanent lesson into his mind: the higher the risk, the more world-changing the rewards.
He had already secured the Spirit God's inheritance. Now, if he could just lay claim to the Temporal Spirit World, the mission would finally conclude. Driven by the singular desire to succeed at any cost, he cast aside his usual caution. He didn't particularly care how the Spirit God would react to his insolence; he was prepared to adapt to the fallout, no matter how volatile. If the situation demanded he play the villain to claim the inheritance, so be it.
Ethan braced himself, fully expecting a surge of divine wrath. Yet, contrary to his expectations, the Spirit God did not lash out. Instead, a faint, knowing smile played across the deity's features.
Ethan faltered, unable to decipher the entity's thoughts. From his years of reading Chinese cultivation novels, he knew that powerful masters rarely tolerated the "face-breaking" impudence of a junior. So why was the Spirit God smiling?
"What you have said is correct," the Spirit God began, his voice echoing with a calm that unsettled Ethan more than anger would have. "I am merely an astral projection—a lingering shadow of who I once was. In my current state, the Temporal Spirit World holds no personal meaning or utility for me."
"Then may I ask why Senior is refusing to grant it to me?" Ethan asked, his voice steadying as he felt a wave of relief that he wasn't about to be turned to ash.
The Spirit God sighed, a sound like wind moving through ancient leaves. "When I first retreated to this mountain, I established a formidable Spirit Array, woven with both lethal offensive and impenetrable defensive capabilities. The reason you were targeted the moment you approached the village entrance was due to that very array. If you hadn't possessed Nature's Blessing, you would have perished before even stepping foot in this valley."
You don't need to remind me every five minutes, Ethan thought with a silent, weary sigh.
"Because I am long dead," the Spirit God continued, "I cannot personally channel the energy required to maintain the Spirit Array indefinitely. Therefore, I utilized a powerful artifact as a permanent battery—a cornerstone for the formation. That artifact is the Temporal Spirit World."
Ethan fell into a heavy silence. After a long moment of processing the weight of those words, he spoke. "Which means... if I take the Temporal Spirit World with me, the protection surrounding this village will vanish. They will be left defenseless against whatever massacres might follow."
"Precisely," the Spirit God confirmed. "This is why I hesitated. You have successfully navigated every trial I set before you. You have won the right to my inheritance, and logically, this artifact is a part of that prize. However, I now place the burden of choice upon you. Will you prioritize your own power and overlook the safety of the village? Or will you value their lives and leave this heavenly artifact here to serve as their shield? The decision is yours alone."
Ethan felt a throbbing ache begin to pulse behind his eyes. The situation was agonizingly surreal. He had the right, the means, and the opportunity to take the Temporal Spirit World and walk away. Doing so would instantly trigger the completion of the V-Ranked mission, granting him rewards that were likely beyond his current imagination.
He was just one step away. He could simply close his eyes, take the artifact, and never look back.
Yet, his hand stayed. His mind flooded with the faces of Assane and his daughter. He remembered the kindness they had shown him when he was a broken stranger. When he was wounded and starving, they hadn't asked for his credentials or his rank; they had simply fed him and tended to his injuries. He was deeply indebted to them and the village at large. Could he really trade their lives for a boost in stats or a rare item?
A darker, more pragmatic part of his heart whispered that he could take the artifact now and simply stay to protect the village himself. But he quickly dismissed the thought with a bitter reality check. I don't have nearly enough strength to repel the kinds of enemies that the Spirit Array keeps at bay.
For five agonizing minutes, Ethan stood in total silence, mentally cycling through every loophole, every strategy, and every alternative he could conceive. He looked for any way to claim the artifact while ensuring the village remained safe. But no matter how he looked at the board, the pieces didn't fit. Taking the artifact meant leaving them to die.
Finally, he let out a long, ragged breath. The tension left his shoulders. Deep down, he had known the answer from the start.
"I cannot allow harm to come to the people who saved my life," Ethan said, his voice firming with resolve. "There are many paths to power, and many ways to grow strong. I will find my own way, even if it's the hard way. Let the Temporal Spirit World stay here. Let it protect the village. That is my final decision."
"Are you certain?" the Spirit God asked, seeking final confirmation. Despite the question, his eyes betrayed his stoicism—they gleamed with a newfound warmth and a deep sense of approval.
"I am," Ethan replied. "I want that artifact more than anything, but I refuse to let my benefactors pay the price for my ambition. I won't be the reason for their deaths."
The Spirit God's smile widened into a true expression of joy. "Fair enough. You have passed the final test. The Temporal Spirit World is yours."
Before Ethan could protest or ask for clarification, the Spirit God raised his hands. The earth beneath them began to shudder. It wasn't a violent tremor, but a rhythmic, localized vibration. Suddenly, a small, colorless sphere—shimmering with an ethereal, translucent light—emerged from the ground and floated gently into Ethan's open palms.
Ethan stared at it, his face a mask of shock and confusion. "I... I don't understand."
"The truth is," the Spirit God said, his voice light, "I lied to you. My inheritance test was not yet complete."
"Incomplete?" Ethan echoed, feeling a bit lightheaded.
"Indeed. There were two facets to my trial. The first was a test of your martial strength and your ability to navigate danger. But the second, and far more important, was a test of your character. In the world of cultivation, strength without a moral compass is a recipe for disaster. Character is the foundation upon which true greatness is built."
The Spirit God paced slowly around Ethan. "Had you chosen to take the artifact knowing it would doom the village, I would have struck you down where you stand without a second thought. But you stayed true to your conscience. You are a man who values relationships and gratitude over raw power. That is why I told you the lie about it being the core of the array."
The deity stopped and looked Ethan in the eyes. "I have seen your strength against the Spirit monsters, and now I have seen your soul. It brings me peace to know that the Temporal Spirit World is in your hands. My legacy is safe."
Ethan remained silent, still trying to wrap his head around the fact that his "failure" to be greedy was exactly what earned him the prize.
"Take it," the Spirit God urged. "You have earned it. But heed my warning: many powerful entities will sense its presence once you leave this place. You are not yet strong enough to fend them all off. Grow powerful, Ethan. Grow quickly. Do not let this artifact fall into the wrong hands."
Ethan looked down at the colorless sphere in his hand, the weight of the mission finally lifting, only to be replaced by a new, much heavier responsibility.