Chapter 295 293-Celestial Blossom Right Before My Eyes
Ethan observed the winding, secluded path, his heart pounding incessantly.
His subconscious screamed at him, warning him not to enter, not to proceed.
In this world, Ethan had relied on his prudence and caution to get as far as he had. Now, faced with the unknown, he naturally wouldn't blindly walk into it.
His gaze shifted to the towering cliffs, reaching into the clouds.
"Perhaps it's better to climb the mountain and have a look," Ethan muttered to himself.
As he ascended, the cold sensation intensified, as if he were in the midst of a frigid, snowy landscape.
Ethan's brows furrowed in concern; this place was truly bizarre.
Logically, given the extremely low temperature, it wouldn't be surprising to find frozen soil on the mountain.
And yet, the vegetation was unusually lush, with even some flowers in full bloom.
Ethan's mind whispered the Soul Language of Nature, calling upon the Power of Soul. He wanted to determine if this was an illusion.
But, to his dismay—
Everything here was real.
In the midst of snow and ice, the sight of blooming flowers was eerie, prompting Ethan to be extra cautious.
Upon reaching the summit, a captivating flower captured his gaze.
In just a breath's time, Ethan was certain—this had to be the Celestial Blossom.
No one told him, yet in his heart, he was convinced; the Celestial Blossom should indeed look like this.
Its appearance was astonishing, as if it hailed from a fairyland.
The petals of the Celestial Blossom were a radiant display of colors, reminiscent of a rainbow, each flower emanating a dazzling light.
The petals showcased dreamlike hues: some were pure white, others a delicate pink, and still others a mysterious purple.
These petals danced in the air like wings, graceful and full of life.
Although the flower stood still, to Ethan, it seemed to be dancing, exuding an unparalleled charm.
Ethan stepped closer to take in the sight more thoroughly.
The Celestial Blossom was not tall, merely a few inches in height.
It grew on the quiet peak of the cliff, standing as a guardian; its presence bestowed a sense of peace and tranquility.
Perhaps due to the frigid temperatures at the mountain's summit, the body of the Celestial Blossom was adorned with crystal-like substances.
Under the sunlight, the reflections were a kaleidoscope of colors, creating a memorable sight.
The bud of the Celestial Blossom was delicate and exquisite, extending into a slender stem adorned with a vibrant green leaf, the surface of which was covered in intricate patterns.
Each leaf exuded a fresh aura, as if carrying the scent of flowers.
The flower and leaves complemented each other, enhancing each other's beauty.
Ethan swallowed hard, inhaling deeply.
The Golden Divine Dragon Bloodline within his body unexpectedly began to boil, radiating a golden glow from Ethan's form.
The Celestial Blossom had actually awakened Ethan's sacred Golden Dragon Bloodline!
Ethan's eyes widened in disbelief as he impulsively reached out, attempting to grasp the stem of the Celestial Blossom.
"Bang--"
Things were not as simple as they seemed.
Ethan was repelled by an unknown force, sent rebounding back.
This damage posed no threat to Ethan; he landed steadily, turning his Eye of Alchemy toward the Celestial Blossom.
Sure enough, information about the Celestial Blossom appeared before him.
[Celestial Blossom: Also known as the Magic Flower, it is a mysterious and enchanting floral species. Effects unknown, located in the hands of Phito.
Note: It may be a flower of the deity, do not disturb it.]
Effects unknown? This was the first time the Eye of Alchemy could not discern the properties of a miraculous ingredient.
However, Ethan could be sure of one thing: the Celestial Blossom could definitely purify the Bloodline.
With a slight tremor of his hand, the Blasphemous Spear appeared in his grip.
As he approached the Celestial Blossom once more, it began to sway.
It seemed as if the Celestial Blossom could sense Ethan's intentions, its movements resembling an attempt to shoo him away.
Ethan's eyes gleamed with interest; this was the first time he had encountered such a mystical flower.
He lifted the spear, thrusting it directly into the base of the Celestial Blossom.
Though the cliff was made of rocks, they crumbled like tofu under the divine artifact.
Finally, Ethan could see the root of the Celestial Blossom.
It possessed an incredibly large rhizome, clinging tightly to the mountain.
A foreboding feeling crept into Ethan's heart. Once again, he lifted the spear, prying the surrounding rocks to reveal the true extent of the Celestial Blossom's roots.
Indeed, the roots of the Celestial Blossom were unimaginably colossal.
Ethan abruptly leapt up, floating in mid-air.
He looked down upon the vast expanse of the gigantic cliff, endless in sight.
"Could it be that the roots of the Celestial Blossom have grasped the entire mountain?" Ethan mused in a dreamlike whisper as he slowly descended.
A gentle breeze swept by, causing the Celestial Blossom's fantastical petals to sway delicately.
Ethan observed the Celestial Blossom, his mouth twitching slightly.
He was actually witnessing a sense of pride emanating from a flower.
The Celestial Blossom seemed to know that to take it away, one would have to hollow out the entire cliff.
And with the Celestial Blossom's confident demeanor, it was possible that even after hollowing out the entire cliff, its roots would have already penetrated deep into the ground.
To completely uproot the Celestial Blossom would mean going against the entire continent!
Ethan's mouth fell open, and after a long while, he finally asked, "I can't take you with me, can I?"
Remarkably, the Celestial Blossom seemed to nod its petals in response.
A sense of helplessness swept over Ethan's heart.
The Celestial Blossom was right before his eyes, and yet he was powerless to take it away, which was incredibly frustrating.
Ethan stood next to the Celestial Blossom, overlooking the Waysonny River in front of the Phito Valley.
Though he intended to look down upon the Waysonny River, all he could see was the green toxic miasma.
The surface of the Waysonny River was completely obscured by the green toxic fog, resembling a wriggling, green, furry caterpillar hovering above the ground.
It looked both terrifying and sinister.
The toxic fog swirled back and forth before the Phito Valley.
But as soon as it reached the side of the Phito Valley, it instantly disappeared without a trace.
Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly, thinking to himself, "The fairy tale Hilna spoke of is true. The Celestial Blossom truly stands guard above the Waysonny River, but where is Phito?"
"Haha, I knew I'd find you here." The familiar voice rang out once again.
It was the female hunter!
Ethan turned his head, watching as the female hunter held a rabbit in her hands, and curiously asked, "How did you manage to follow me here?"
With a giggle, the female hunter responded, "I just love watching you bad guys, seeing a treasure right in front of you yet being utterly helpless to do anything about it. It's so satisfying."n-/O/.v-(e--L(.b)-1(-n
"Tell me, are you feeling incredibly miserable right now? So much so that you just want to throw yourself off this cliff?"
The mockery in the female hunter's tone was unmistakable.
Ethan, unfazed by her taunts, simply chuckled and replied, "Not at all. I'm just pondering how I might take the Celestial Blossom with me."
A flicker of light danced in the female hunter's eyes as she realized Ethan was not your average treasure hunter.
Her name was Daphne, and her origins were shrouded in mystery.
All that was known was that she made her living hunting in the Phito Valley.
Daphne had always felt that Ethan was different from the other treasure hunters.
Many had come before, treating Daphne with brute force, trying to capture her, either to make her lead the way or to coerce her into revealing the secrets of the Celestial Blossom.
But Ethan was different. He did not force Daphne to do anything, and he even easily trusted her directions.
This had sparked a sense of intrigue in Daphne's heart, prompting her to follow and learn more about Ethan.
Finding himself at an impasse with the Celestial Blossom, Ethan simply sat down, softly asking, "Has the Celestial Blossom's rhizome enveloped the entire mountain? It seems utterly impossible to take the Celestial Blossom with me."
A cold sneer formed in Daphne's heart.
Ethan was still not giving up.
How was he any different from those other treasure hunters?
With a chilling tone, Daphne spoke, "It's even more impossible than you think. Even if you were determined enough to shatter the entire mountain, you still wouldn't be able to take the Celestial Blossom."
"Why is that?" Ethan asked, intrigued.
"Because the Celestial Blossom is an extremely sensitive divine flower. The moment you destabilize its foundation, it will rapidly extend its rhizomes until it envelops the entire continent."
Daphne's words sent a chill down Ethan's spine.
"So, you mean to say, as soon as the Celestial Blossom feels threatened, it will expand uncontrollably?"
"That's right."
"Doesn't that make the Celestial Blossom a flower of destruction?"
Ethan stood up, staring intently at Daphne.
Reflecting on the massive rhizomes of the Celestial Blossom, waves of realization washed over him.
Just how many people had tried to excavate the Celestial Blossom before?
Ethan felt a surge of relief in his heart.
He was thankful he hadn't acted recklessly.
Daphne simply shrugged, her tone indifferent as she stated, "If you don't provoke the Celestial Blossom, doesn't it pose no threat at all?"
A wave of helplessness surged within Ethan.
The Authorization Proof Quest of the Deityforsaken Land was excessively challenging.
No wonder only the beings at the pinnacle of strength, possessing extraordinary wisdom or astoundingly good fortune could enter the Deityforsaken Land.
This quest was proving to be more difficult than all of Ethan's previous quests combined.
But then again, the Deityforsaken Land was the place closest to divinity.
Considering the difficulty of becoming a deity, it was no surprise that obtaining a ticket to divinity was equally challenging.
Ethan took a deep breath, whispering to himself, "Since that's the case, let's take a little more time to unravel this story."