Chapter 306 304-The Origin
At the summit of Celestial Blossom Mountain.
Phito stood there, high above, observing Ethan's every move.
The Waysonny River had disappeared completely, its waters totally evaporated.
Phito watched as Ethan's flames reduced the corpses to ashes.
He knew clearly in his heart that once those five skeletons were burned away, the toxic miasma of Waysonny River would no longer plague the land.
In the future, there would be no need for Celestial Blossom to make its presence known in Phito Valley.
From then on, Phito Valley would exist in name only.
Yet, this was a welcome development.
A smile played upon Phito's lips, his demi-god energy subtly altering even the surroundings.
The flowers and plants around him bloomed in response to Phito's smile, transforming the entire summit of Celestial Blossom Mountain into a scene brimming with the essence of spring.
A gust of strong wind blew, prompting Phito to slowly turn around.
Ethan, with an expressionless face, squeezed out a sentence through the gaps in his teeth:
"Give me an explanation."
Phito nodded slightly, his smile fading as his demeanor returned to one of unruffled calm.
"You ask, I answer. I can provide additional details if necessary," Phito said straightforwardly, as if he had seen through all of Ethan.
Ethan turned his gaze to Daphne, who lay beside Celestial Blossom, cocooned like a cicada, his eyelids twitching slightly:
"Is that Daphne? What have you done to her?"
A hint of surprise flickered in Phito's eyes. He had not expected Ethan to actually show concern for a female hunter who had once schemed against him.
Nevertheless, Phito answered directly:
"I have infused one-third of Celestial Blossom's power into Daphne's body, transforming her with its aid."
"Celestial Blossom has such marvelous uses?" Ethan was somewhat surprised.
Phito placed his hand on the top of Celestial Blossom, caressing it gently as if it were his own child, and spoke softly, "Of course. Not only is it possible, but it can also transform Daphne's body into the Ethereal Form of a Celestial Deity."
Ethan's eyes shone with interest as he spoke, "That sounds quite formidable."
Phito looked attentively at Daphne, slowly unfolding the story of Celestial Blossom's origin: "Celestial Blossom is the Ethereal Flower of a Celestial Deity, embodying the powers of 'Curse' and 'Seal'. It was originally a Divine Tongue transformed by a deity. Now that Daphne has acquired the energy of Celestial Blossom, she naturally possesses a part of the 'Curse' and 'Seal' powers. In the future, she will become immensely formidable."
Ethan thought of the Aurora Veil that Celestial Blossom had previously bestowed, asking, "Will Daphne be able to wield the deity's gifted Aurora Veil in the future?"
Phito did not conceal anything, instead, he replied candidly: "Once she reaches my realm, she can use it at will."
Ethan nodded slightly, deciding not to dwell further on Daphne's matter.
Instead, a cold smirk appeared on his face as he said, "I understand about Daphne now. Now tell me, what exactly are you plotting against me?"
Phito turned his back completely to Ethan, exposing it to him.
"It's actually quite simple. I wanted you to help me solve the poisonous miasma problem of Waysonny River."
Ethan suppressed his rage, squeezing out the words through clenched teeth: "You didn't give me any time to prepare. You were sending me to my death."
Phito sighed deeply, exhaling slowly. The clouds around him were pushed far away by his breath.
Ethan's forehead twitched wildly; the power of a Demi-god was indeed formidable.
"Actually, I did not leave you unprepared. I noticed the Language of Nature within your body. That's how I knew you could definitely eliminate the Frost Herald and the Flame Kirin."
"And these two Languages of Nature were key to breaking the situation. You've seen for yourself the power of the Flame Language of Nature. You didn't lose out, did you?"
Ethan fell into silence. Judging by the results, he indeed came out ahead.
But being manipulated like this still left a sour taste in his mouth.
Phito seemed to read Ethan's mind, his tone turning contemplative: "Young friend Ethan, please allow me to address you in such a manner. I hope you are no longer angry and do not harbor any resentment towards me."
"After all, I am a man nearing his end."
Ethan's pupils constricted as he scrutinized Phito from head to toe.
Phito, still towering and robust, filled out his divine robe impressively.
His divine aura flickered, rendering him an ethereal and carefree appearance.
At a glance, he hardly seemed like a Demi-god on the brink of death.
Ethan spoke warily, "Don't think of making me let my guard down. I am ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment."
Phito turned around, faced Ethan, and opened his hands as if to say, "Don't worry, I won't make a move."
Ethan took two cautious steps back, his expression unchanged.
Phito shook his head slightly, squatting down next to Celestial Blossom. "Do you know my story?"
Ethan pondered over the fairy tale Hilna had told him and recounted, "You were a magus sent by the empire to deal with the poisonous miasma, and later you stayed in Phito Valley to plant and protect the Celestial Blossom. That's what I know."
Phito nodded slightly, "Yes and no. I was indeed one of the most promising magi in the empire, having reached the position of Chief of the Magic Association. But my realm had stagnated for a long time, so I left to seek opportunities…"
Phito's gaze grew misty, as if he truly was transported back to those arduous years.
"My first destination was Waysonny River. Actually, I didn't intend to solve the issue here. But the anomalies in Waysonny River suggested that something extraordinary existed. So, I came, and I stayed for a very long time."
"That is a scene I dare not forget in my life. A deity with a sword stood above the skies, and with a single slash, a fissure appeared on the ground."
"His enemy couldn't resist this earth-rending strike and was slain under the ground."
"Wait a second." Ethan, originally captivated by the story, suddenly found a paradox. Wasn't this the origin of Waysonny River?
There was a contradiction in Phito's story.
By the time Phito arrived at Waysonny River, the poisonous miasma issue had already arisen.
And the sword-wielding deity who slew five enemies must have existed before Waysonny River came into being.
How could Phito have witnessed it with his own eyes?
Phito lifted his head, not allowing Ethan to continue speaking: "Keep listening."
"I witnessed this scene, and cold sweat covered my body. Finally, I jolted awake, only to find myself imprisoned in a dreamlike space."
"You have seen that space before; it is the Aurora Veil bestowed by the deity."
A cold wind blew across Ethan's back, sending chills down his spine as a guess formed in his mind.
A twisted and fierce expression appeared on Phito's face, erasing his previous grace.
"The space was boundless. I tried to walk through it, but I couldn't reach the border. I could only stare at the Aurora Veil, unchanged for hundreds of years, and quietly cultivate, hoping to break through the Aurora Veil and return to the empire."
"I succeeded. The Aurora Veil bestowed by the deity was extremely conducive to cultivation. My realm advanced rapidly, and I stepped into unknown territories."
"Deity," Ethan murmured.
Phito glanced at Ethan, his fierce expression dissipating, returning to the graceful Demi-god Phito.
"Yes, the deity, or perhaps a Demi-god."
"At that time, the Aurora Veil bestowed by the deity could no longer hold me back. I tore through the Aurora Veil and once again stepped onto familiar land."
Ethan's mouth slightly opened as he helped Phito fill in the blanks:
"After you came out, you found that you had great power, but you couldn't escape the control of the Celestial Blossom. You could only stay by the Celestial Blossom for the rest of your life."
"The Celestial Blossom granted you the power of a Demi-god, but it was not a blessing; it was a curse."
"It cursed you to stay by its side for the rest of your life, even though you possess god-like strength."
Stars danced in Phito's eyes as he let out a long sigh, saying, "You are very astute, just as you've said. I am but a servant to the Celestial Blossom, much like the one by your side."
Ethan's eyelids twitched slightly, aware that Phito was referring to Aneropo.
A bitter smile appeared on Phito's face. "Even more miserable than the deity by your side, I cannot go anywhere. I must spend my entire life by the side of the Celestial Blossom."
The desolation and sorrow on Phito's face were portrayed so vividly that it seemed almost impossible to fake.
If Phito had such acting skills, he should have been performing in the empire's theater, not here deceiving an S-level Dark Lord.
"So, you plotted against me, hoping that I would help you break free from the curse—or should I say, the seal—of the Celestial Blossom."
"Have I succeeded?"
Connecting the dots with Phito's narrative, Ethan had already figured out Phito's motive.
A smile played on Phito's face. "Yes, I have succeeded. I can feel the connection between me and the Celestial Blossom weakening. But I can also feel the power within me gradually diminishing."
Ethan turned his gaze to the Celestial Blossom, which was still radiating its fantastical luster.
It stood like a noble princess, indifferent to the flames burning the city and the blood being spilled.
It elegantly remained atop its castle, overlooking this tragic game of blood and fire.
Phito was nothing but its plaything.
The quest of Phito was complete, and it would take back the authority it had bestowed upon him without a shred of sentimentality.
Ethan's lips twitched slightly, and he impatiently scratched the back of his head.
He was somewhat confused—was everything orchestrated by the Celestial Blossom, or was it the deity that planted the Celestial Blossom who was orchestrating it all?
Yet Phito laughed, appearing utterly relieved:
"Young friend Ethan, I have one last request."
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