Chapter 347 345-Spoils of War
Bogart initially wanted to ask Ethan what he intended to do at the divine crystal mining mountain.
But after a brief contemplation, he decided to keep silent.
As a guardian, he knew he should adhere to the professional ethics of his role, knowing what should and shouldn't be said.
Suddenly, Ethan remembered the ring he had taken from Fernard.
He extended his hand, presenting the glowing ring to Bogart. "Can you help me open this?" he asked.
Bogart caressed the ring, his eyes flickering slightly: "Certainly, this seems to be Fernard's ring?"
"That guy's name is Fernard?" Ethan's lips curved slightly, "Yes, it's his. I took it from him before he left."
A confident smile appeared on Bogart's face as he replied: "Leave it to me."
Ethan placed the ring in Bogart's palm.
Divinity flowed around Bogart's head, and the Power of Soul latched onto the ring.
Ethan heard a distinct 'pop' sound, and the ring transitioned from its glowing state to a dim, lightless one.
Bogart's actions were not yet complete. His soul fire ignited, and the Space Ring tumbled within the milky flames.
The ring emitted a hissing sound as if burning dry twigs, and wisps of blue smoke rose from it.
Ethan knew that clearing the ring's imprints was just a matter of time.
...
In an unknown space.
The sky, once dim and gray, suddenly sparkled with stars. Amidst the swirling starlight, a figure descended from the heavens.
Fernard landed on the ground, gasping for breath.
His red eyes blazing with fury, he bellowed: "I don't care who you are, but next time I encounter you, you'll regret it. I will kill you and torment you with the most severe punishments."
As he spoke, he lifted his head, looking at his empty fingers.
Madness intensified in his eyes, blood vessels creeping up like he was possessed: "Damn it, they even took my Space Ring. There were so many precious things inside..."
A stabbing pain echoed in Fernard's heart, as if someone was slicing his skin with a small knife. "Hmph, so what if they took my Space Ring. They can never open it, even in death. Next time I return, I will personally reclaim everything that's mine."
Once again, defiance and arrogance surfaced in his eyes.
His Space Ring, personally crafted by the God of Space, contained a genuine miniature world.
When Fernard found the Space Ring, it was accompanied by a space teleportation scroll.
His Soul Mark was already etched into every corner of the Space Ring. It was impossible for anyone to completely erase it.
But the next moment, as Fernard stood up and surveyed his surroundings, his expression turned to one of utter astonishment.
In a dreamlike voice, he murmured: "My most revered God of Space, where have you transported me to?"
Zooming out from Fernard, the space around him comes into a panoramic view.
Above, the space is littered with ruins.
Giant columns have collapsed onto the ground, covered in moss and vines.
Once lifelike statues are now shrouded in dust, their former splendor lost.
Even temples that once bore traces of divinity have turned to ruins, their divine materials shattered and scattered.
The air is thick with the scent of decay, as if time has been stagnant here for a thousand years.
The once crystal-clear divine spring has become murky, its surface covered with a thick layer of algae.
The surrounding flora has withered, leaving nothing but a desolate landscape.
Fernard steps into a relatively intact temple.
The shrines that once honored deities are no more, leaving only broken fragments of statues scattered on the ground.
The surrounding divinity is chaotic, like tiny meteors streaking across the sky.
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierces Fernard's mind, forcing him to his knees, clutching his head.
A vision flashes before him: in the temple, amidst a milky-white flame, the Space Ring floats up and down.
Outside the flames are Ethan's detestable eyes and Bogart, radiant with divinity.
Fernard's head crashes against the remnants of the temple walls in agony.
"No... those are all my treasures." He lets out a tremendous wail, feeling the connection between himself and the Space Ring growing weaker and weaker.
Fernard's face was as pale as paper, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat, as if he had just endured intense physical exertion.
His brows were furrowed, lips tightly sealed and turned white from the pressure, evidently struggling to endure something.
His body was tense, shoulders trembling slightly, the muscles in his arms taut like hard cords.
His breathing was rapid and heavy, each breath seeming like a battle against the reaper himself.
His face was etched with pain, his features twisted together in a grotesque expression.
"No... it can't end like this!" Fernard's low cries of protest seemed futile.
The connection between him and the Space Ring grew weaker and weaker until it vanished.
It took a long time for Fernard to recover, standing amidst the ruins of the shattered temple, as if reborn: "Whoever you are, I will kill you!"
As his words fell, thunder roared in the sky, divinity rolling like a mighty dragon traversing the heavens.
It was as if a deity had taken note of Fernard's vow, warning him to keep his promise.
...
"Phew," Bogart wiped the sweat from his forehead, "My lord, I have completed the task."
Ethan, seeing the tiredness in Bogart's eyes, spoke with gratitude: "Thank you. Why don't you take a rest? I'll just recuperate here by myself."
Bogart shook his head slightly, a wry smile on his face: "Fernard really is a piece of work, imprinting his Soul Mark in every corner of his little world. It seems there must be something extraordinary inside, or he wouldn't have valued it so much."
Ethan infused his Power of Soul into the Space Ring, then was struck with astonishment that radiated from the depths of his soul.
This Space Ring was a treasure – a complete miniature world.
Ethan swallowed with surprise and excitement, his mind barely moving before he vanished from the spot, reappearing inside the Space Ring.
In the Space Ring, sunlight filtered through the blue sky, casting mottled shadows upon the earth.
The green grass was dotted with vibrant, multicolored flowers, their intoxicating fragrance filling the air.
In this miniature world stood a majestic and imposing castle by the shore of a lake.
The castle's outer walls were built with exquisite marble, embedded with various gemstones that shimmered enchantingly.
Inside, the castle was a vision of luxury: the resplendent King's Hall, a spacious and bright library, and exquisite works of art... all showcased the owner's prestige and taste.
Wandering through the castle, Ethan, looking at the lavish interiors, couldn't help but remark: "Fernard really knew how to enjoy life."
Standing on the castle's balcony, he gazed outward.
The whole miniature world stretched endlessly, with the horizon meeting the ground in the distance, creating a breathtaking view.
"Is this really a Space Ring?" Ethan shook his head in disbelief.
Bogart, watching Ethan suddenly disappear, leaving only the ring behind, had a flicker of light in his eyes: "Could this be one of the God of Space's three great rings, the World Ring? If it is indeed the World Ring, then Fernard's luck is extraordinarily good, having both the divine artifact Dragonblade and the World Ring, and even finding the Grip of the Underworld."
"But such good fortune, without strong power, ultimately benefits my lord."
Ethan toured the castle, uncovering the treasures Fernard had hidden.
Fernard had found many opportunities over the years, and his luck was incredibly good.
This resulted in a collection of remarkable items.
Ethan categorized the finds into three types.
The first type was consumables.
This included various potions, materials, and other one-time-use items.
Ethan estimated that the combined value of these materials exceeded tens of thousands of bottles of Blood Source.
He might not need to search for other special materials before becoming a deity.
The second type was reusable items.
These were fewer in number and included some secret tomes and ancient books, along with weapons and equipment.
Of these, only the Dragonblade caught Ethan's eye, which mysteriously resonated with the golden holy Dragon Blood in his body.
He planned to train extensively with the Dragonblade, making it his second weapon after the Blasphemous Spear.
The most important was the third category: unfamiliar ancient artifacts.
The first was a palm-sized bone shard, exhibiting a faint golden color, its surface covered in ancient runes and mysterious patterns.
These runes and patterns seemed to tell an ancient legend, irresistibly intriguing to uncover.
The moment Ethan held this bone shard, he knew it was something exceptional. As for how to use it, Ethan planned to discuss it with Bogart.
The second item was a Jade Scroll emitting a warm green light.
The Jade Scroll had no visible seams or lines, appearing as a seamless whole.
Ethan couldn't find a way to open it.
However, he had a feeling that this artifact was also something extraordinary.
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