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[Detected Host has been influenced by the poisonous aether mist of the Floating Cave of Mytora.]
[Initiating Process to Negate the Influence.]
A few moments passed as Hao Yun began to feel better and opened his eyes again.
"Why am I lying on the ground?"
"What happened to me?"
He was confused. Gradually, Hao Yun began remembering everything. It was a very close case; if the system hadn't intervened, he poisonous mist of the cave would have killed him.
But at the same time, it created a conflict inside his heart; the thing that killed his family... is the reason he is living right now.
However, since it saved him, it should be prepared, because what it saved just now was its own death... The death of the system... and its creator.
Hao Yun wasn't grateful at all; in fact, he was secretly hating himself for getting saved by his family's killer.
Suddenly, he took a glance at his panel and noticed something strange. He had only 24 hours left to complete his task. He couldn't understand if this were some kind of joke. It's clear he rushed to complete the task as soon as he received the alert, and even after adding all the time it took him to travel to the portal to this cave, it wouldn't exceed 7 hours.
Then, what's the reason?
He asked his system, "Did you mess with the time limit when I was unconscious?"
[Replying to Host, Please don't jump to wild conclusions.]
[The Time flow is different in the second dimension than in the First. The Host was just unconscious for barely 10 minutes.]
"Shut up! You broken screen!"
With that, Hao Yun realized he was definitely cheated by the system. It didn't explain anything to him. Still, since time wasn't enough, he began walking to the deepest part of the cave.
There...
In front of him, three circular balls were lying, emitting a yellow light.
"This must be the Ethereal Cores." Hao Yun thought and ran towards it.
BzzzzzzzRRRR!
Suddenly, Hao Yun felt a pressure beyond human comprehension; it was as if he moved even an inch further, he would be crushed like a mosquito.
"Looks like this time an Intelligent One came..."
A voice boomed in the cave, sending chills down Hao Yun's bones.
A Huge Ethereal Being showed itself, just floating in front of the three balls. Hao Yun was unable to imagine what would have happened had he not stopped.
From the looks of it, it didn't seem to be any different from the other Ethereal creatures Hao Yun saw at the surface. It had a semi-transparent Ethereal body just like those weaker beings on the ground, but the pressure and aura it emitted alone were enough to tell how monstrously powerful it was.
"It's been centuries since someone came."
"Tell me what's your name, Little One."
"H-Hao Yun."
"Hao Yun! What a weird name."
"Even You..."
"What?"
"Nothing! Nothing..."
"Hmm... Let me get straight to the point: if you want to get the Ethereal Cores, you have to defeat me first."
"What?! Who are you kidding? If you wanna eat me, say so, don't play with my feelings."
█▓▒░ TASK UPDATED ░▒▓█
[Get past the guardian spirit and obtain three Ethereal Cores.]
"Why is everybody so eager to see me dead?"
"Can I assume you accept the conditions?"
"No!! Wait! Don't you, Ethereal beings, have something called pity or unfairness?"
"Take a look at you, do you think a puny person like me can fight properly, let alone defeat you?"
"Don't you think it's too unfair?"
"If you don't want to fight, then why would you come here?"
"I don't have time for a coward like you. Leave at once."
Hao Yun wasn't scared, but he also wasn't an idiot. He could easily tell that the power gap between them was too big. So, it was just giving an invitation to his death by fighting him head-on.
But, that said, he couldn't afford to leave, even if it's to gather more information or come back with proper preparation. It was too late.
He didn't have any more time to waste; it was like no matter where he went, only death awaited him.
He took a brief moment to think and said:
"Say, Mr. Guardian Spirit, are those balls extremely precious? "
"I don't know, their use or purpose is unknown."
"Myriad years ago, I was assigned to watch over these Ethereal Cores."
"Only the worthy person has the right to own them."
"Use or purpose is unknown; he was assigned to watch over these Cores, not protect them, and only a worthy person can own them."
"Suddenly, Hao Yun thought of a brilliant idea that might get him out of this trouble."
"M-Mr. Guardian Spirit! I was wondering... Would you... Be willing to do a deal with me?"
"A deal, you say?"
"Ah, I-I apologize, I know I am being presumptuous, but..."
"Very well."
"What? Really, are you willing?"
"Just got interested in what a puny creature like you could offer me."
"Ha-ha... Right! That's what I was thinking..."
"What!?"
"Nothing-nothing..."
"What possibly could I offer him? I have no other option than coming out straight."
"Let's just face him head-on."
"Mr. Guardian Spirit, I don't have any fancy thing to offer, even if I had one, I wouldn't offer it since a being of your caliber must not lack such things."
"That's true..."
"So, I thought a lot... and decided, how about I share my knowledge with you?"
"You ignorant bug! Do you think I lack knowledge and need your help to gain some?"
"No-no-no! You misunderstood me!"
"What I possess isn't something average, I am talking about the knowledge and wisdom of a different plane... The first dimension."
"Surely, even an existence like you won't possess the knowledge of this caliber, and since you watched over these balls for myriad years, you possibly didn't have time to go out and live your life."
"Hmm... You have a point."
"Right? And by this deal, your benefit will double; you will get to gain the knowledge of another dimension, and also don't have to watch over these balls."
"So, do you like it?"
"Are you willing to do this deal in exchange for those balls?"
"To tell you the truth, I am also feeling conflicted. It's been so many years since I took over this role, but no one came, and I can't even leave this place."
"That's why, listen to my advice, Mr. Guardian Spirit, and accept this deal."
"Okay-okay, but first, tell me what knowledge would you share with me?"
"I have a lot of knowledge; whatever you like, I would share it with you."
"Is that so, then tell me everything you know!"
"Everything, you say..."
"Ahh... How can someone so greedy be the Guardian Spirit of such items?"
[Detected that the Guardian Spirit wants to gain the Host's knowledge, the system has decided to intervene.]
[Surely, Host wouldn't be so much of a fool to share everything he knows.]
"Yeah-Yeah! I know that, but I don't have the power to do anything against him.
[Rest assured, Host, the system will help.]
"How so..."
[The system has chosen some of the memories of the Host; other than these, the Guardian Spirit won't see anything.]
"Little one, what are you waiting for? Come here..."
"S-Sure..."
Hao Yun walked over the Guardian Spirit. The spirit closed its eyes and mumbled something. After he finished, a blue light emitted from its giant hand.
It placed its hand on Hao Yun's head, pulling every single memory.
The memory of his loneliness, what he learned in his academic years, the memories of his lazing, his old daily routine, the reality of a harsh society, and how many troubles an adult has to go through to keep living on earth.
Experiencing all these memories, the Guardian Spirit felt deep pity for Hao Yun.
"Sob-Sob... Little One, I didn't know you faced so many difficulties in your short life."
"Today, I learned that I am quite blessed. I was born into a rich, powerful family and didn't face many troubles in my life."
"Are you bragging... So annoying..."
"Very well."
"I'm impressed, I deem you worthy of these Ethereal Cores."
"Little Ones, go ahead and take them."
Hao Yun didn't think twice and rushed to take the 3 Ethereal Cores.
"Once again, thanks, Little one. Because of you, I know the harsh reality of life, and I won't forget it."
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