Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao-Chapter 603 - 332: When the Map Ends, The Dagger Appears, Part 2
It wouldn't be long before he became a laughingstock among the gods; at this moment, the god of shadows and conspiracy hated nothing more than to tear the man before him to pieces. However, reason told him that staying here would likely put him in danger. One Arthur was troublesome enough, and adding a desecrator of the gods of unknown strength to the mix was more than he could handle.
"Arthur, just wait, I'll draw your soul and burn it in flames for a thousand years," the god of shadows and conspiracy revealed his true form, stepping into the dense shadows and shouted loudly.
Arthur, however, scoffed with disdain, "I'll be waiting!"
"Hmph!" A cold snort appeared in the sky, and the god of shadows and conspiracy left in sullenness. This battle had truly been a blow to his pride. He urgently needed to return to his divine kingdom to heal the wounds in his heart.
Watching the departing Divine Spirit, Arthur gasped for breath and then sat down on the cold ground, his body soaked with sweat, every muscle trembling uncontrollably—a clear sign of exhaustion, proving the incredible pressure he faced during the fight.
Though the opponent was but an Elementary God, a god was still a god. The moment he stepped over the divide between humans and gods, they became two different species. The immense pressure from the depths of the soul was horrifyingly terrible, to the extent that Arthur had to constantly focus to maintain his fighting spirit.
"He finally left," Arthur whispered, and just a few words caused him to gasp for air and cough up a large amount of blood. Frey hurried to Arthur's side with concern, asking, "Young master, how are you?"
Arthur waved his hand lightly, indicating he was not seriously harmed, but the Old Monk said, "This is a blessing in disguise, my Lord. Upon meeting our Lord, he received the bounty of the Holy Light. The power lay dormant within him, not yet excavated. Over time, these forces would diminish. Now, with external help, this power has been fully stimulated."
"Lord's body will likely undergo a transformation soon, crossing the boundary between humans and gods." The Old Monk's mouth brimmed with expectation, as such a body only existed in legends and he hadn't expected it to manifest today.
The Old Monk's words finally eased Frey's concerns. He looked at Arthur, awaiting the changes the Old Monk spoke of.
Soon after, Arthur's exhausted body started to shine brilliantly, emitting a holy light that radiated in all directions, causing those around to involuntarily cover their eyes to protect them from the dazzling brightness.
The wounds left from the battle healed at a visible rate. Arthur could feel powerful strength erupting within his body, which seemed hollow. In just an instant, he felt revived, his body filled with power.
A reinvigorated Arthur reappeared before everyone, and they were surprised to find that he seemed even more handsome, his face unwittingly bringing the word "perfection" to mind.
Arthur noticed the changes within himself, too. It seemed that he couldn't find any trace of the Holy Light within his body, yet it felt as if the Holy Light's presence was everywhere. He looked at the Old Monk in confusion.
The Old Monk smiled and said softly, "This is a good thing. The Holy Light remaining within you is a gift from my Lord. The power level is beyond imagination. Now, by harnessing external forces to integrate it fully, in a sense, your body has become that of a Divine Spirit. And your change in appearance is a sign of nearing the Divine Spirit, for they are the most perfect creatures."
Arthur squeezed his strong hand, savoring the powerful force it contained, and a pleased smile appeared on his face as he said, "A Divine Spirit, huh."
In stark contrast to Arthur's joy was the face of the god of shadows and conspiracy, which could almost drip with gloom. He was headed straight for his own domain.
This incident was indeed a humiliation; he could even imagine the ridicule he would face among the gods, and he resolved in his heart to reach out to the God of Forest once he returned. He had been a bit careless this time and had underestimated Arthur's strength, leading to his failure. Next time, with the God of Forest by his side, he was sure they could turn the tides and take back the Treasured Sword from Arthur.
As he flew, he thought, and it wasn't long before he saw the giant peak enveloped by shadows. It was only at this moment that the Divine Spirit felt completely at ease; this was his territory, cultivated over untold years. In this place, he dared to challenge any existence.
With a casual wave of his hand, the shadows dissipated, and he slowly stepped onto the familiar stone slabs. At this moment, he felt an unparalleled sense of security; this place was his home.
No sooner had he entered the Temple than he saw the God of the Forest standing quietly in the center of the main hall, wearing a smile as if waiting for his arrival. This left the Lord of Shadows and Conspiracy somewhat taken aback; this was the domain he had painstakingly managed for years. How had the God of the Forest entered so silently, without him sensing anything at all?
"How come you're here?" asked the Lord of Shadows and Conspiracy, his tone laced with a hint of wariness. He found that he didn't know this ally before him at all, and the other's methods were worryingly inscrutable.
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"I was, of course, waiting for your return. So, did you get the Treasured Sword?" The God of the Forest's face carried a strange smile that sent a shiver down the Lord of Shadows and Conspiracy's spine.
"That Arthur is truly difficult to deal with, and with the Desecrator of the God eying us covetously, I had no choice but to retreat." sighed the Lord of Shadows and Conspiracy, feeling somewhat embarrassed to admit this.
"I have personally experienced their troublesomeness. I understand. Next time, if we join forces, we will surely catch them all at once." said the God of Forest in a ghostly voice.
The Lord of Shadows and Conspiracy keenly sensed that there was something off about the God of the Forest today, a significant change in temperament, and his words seemed to carry an indescribable malevolence that made him uncomfortable.
"That's what I was thinking too. Next time, you and I will act together to avenge our previous humiliation."
After speaking, he noticed that the God of the Forest beside him was looking at him with a strange gaze, much like those experienced hunters in the mortal world who, after days of waiting, finally see their prey trapped.
Instinctively, he prepared to leave this place, then suddenly remembered that this was his own territory. If the God of the Forest truly harbored evil intent, wouldn't fighting here be tantamount to suicide? So he hesitated in his steps to leave and, looking at the strange God of the Forest, said, "You're acting rather odd today."
"Odd? No, I'm perfectly normal. Couldn't be more normal." said the God of the Forest, his voice imbued with an eerie power that made the Lord of Shadows and Conspiracy's head start to spin.
He asked in astonishment, "What exactly do you want to do?"
"What do I want to do? Naturally, to fulfill your wish. Don't you want to join forces with me against Arthur? Come, let us become one. I shall strike on your behalf against Arthur and redeem our previous dishonor." The God of the Forest spoke eerily, his expression exceedingly strange.
The Lord of Shadows and Conspiracy could clearly feel a thick darkness lurking within the body of the God of the Forest, like an unfathomably deep Abyss that made one's soul tremble.
"You are not the God of the Forest, who are you?" The emergence of this power made the Lord of Shadows and Conspiracy realize that the person opposite him could not be the God of the Forest but a sinister and evil character in disguise.
"Who says I'm not the God of the Forest? My fate, my everything, is that of the God of the Forest. Who then can say I am not the God of the Forest?" The God of the Forest spoke in riddles, leaving the Lord of Shadows and Conspiracy utterly shocked.
