As Dean Bruce turned and began to ascend the staircase with the stunned young man, Madrid Haru's expression darkened, becoming ominous and terrifying.
Fear gripped his heart.
The unknown is often the most terrifying thing for people.
At that moment, every footstep of Dean Bruce echoed in his ears like the whispers of demons from hell.
Of course, Dean Bruce was oblivious to all this; his focus was solely on the golden staircase.
He didn't even hear Lucy Michelle and Prolo Hawthorne calling out to him.
Meanwhile, at the base of the staircase, Hannah Fields and Carol Lane wore expressions of frustration.
Dean Bruce hadn't pulled them up!
Hannah Fields was somewhat comforted; after all, she was Dean Bruce's disciple, and if he gained any benefits, she would have her chance too.
Carol Lane's earlier efforts seemed wasted; she could only look on resentfully as Dean Bruce and the others gradually disappeared into the golden light.
"This..."
"Are we saying that none of us could enter the ninth level?"
"Even if that elder was the one who broke the final sculpture, we deserve at least some credit for our efforts, right?"
"Damn it..."
Many eyes turned towards Madrid Haru.
In their view, if Madrid Haru hadn't suddenly attacked, they wouldn't have angered Dean Bruce and could have entered along with him.
Unfortunately, Madrid Haru was far too powerful, and the crowd only dared to silently curse him, not showing it openly.
There was no choice; the last person who merely suggested caution had been pierced through the throat by Madrid Haru, which left them all terrified.
While envy and jealousy filled the air, Dean Bruce reached the top of the staircase.
As he stepped through the light gate, the surroundings changed instantly.
There were no grand halls or buildings—only endless yellow sand.
Rustling...
The sand flowed, sometimes revealing animals or plants, which made Prolo Hawthorne gasp in awe.
"That's quicksand vine! It's said to be incredibly tough and can absorb more than ten times the magic power; it's an excellent material for crafting epic-level magical equipment!"
"That's a regeneration lizard; eating it can significantly enhance one's healing abilities!"
"So many treasures!"
Hearing these words, Dean Bruce couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
If someone from this world heard they could become a deity, they would undoubtedly be overwhelmed with excitement. However, Dean Bruce was not from this world!
He had acquired too much knowledge and understood that opportunities that seemed too good to be true usually came with strings attached.
Fedler Tiramifdin looked at Dean Bruce, who appeared so healthy and was a deity, and wondered why he was so eager to pass on his divine position.
With this thought in mind, Dean Bruce immediately made up his mind: he would refuse!
Dean Bruce said seriously, "I still want to remain in the mortal realm. I wonder if there are any other benefits besides inheriting your divine position?"
"..." Fedler Tiramifdin's lips twitched, and he replied coldly, "You've already rejected me, yet you still wish to ask for more benefits?"
Dean Bruce smiled and said, "Since you are a deity, you surely wouldn't deliberately make things difficult for me, would you? Besides, I've heard of past legends where two powerful individuals came here, and they did not become gods but instead became top-tier champions in the mortal world."
"If you didn't give them any benefits, how could they have become top-tier champions and be recorded in history?"
Upon hearing this, Fedler Tiramifdin let out a soft snort and returned to his previous position, saying, "You are mistaken. I did not give them any benefits; they became top-tier champions purely because of their own exceptional talent."
"Just like you, you are quite special, even making it difficult for me to see clearly. Even if I don't offer you any benefits, if you can grow, you will undoubtedly become a formidable force in the mortal realm!"
At this point, Fedler Tiramifdin curiously asked, "I'm quite intrigued as to why you all refuse me. The reasons are often bizarre and varied."
Dean Bruce raised an eyebrow. From Fedler Tiramifdin's words, he could tell that many had already rejected him, not just the two legendary figures.
Fedler Tiramifdin sighed, "You worry it might be a trap. I can't comprehend; I am a deity! If I truly wanted to act against you, you would find it impossible to resist!"
Dean Bruce did not respond. His concern was not about Fedler Tiramifdin attacking him, but rather the special restrictions that might come with inheriting a divine position!
If a deity was so eager to relinquish their seat and chose to flee, wouldn't he be in an even worse situation if he got trapped?
Fedler Tiramifdin sensed Dean Bruce's thoughts, and his expression became strange. He glanced back at Dean Bruce.
Dean Bruce calmly asked, "Are you saying that I've passed all the trials and come here, only to find that there are no benefits at all?"
"It's not that there are no benefits," Fedler Tiramifdin pondered for a moment before speaking. "If you can help me with something, then I can offer you a reward!"
"Help?" Dean Bruce replied, raising an eyebrow. "You're a deity; if there are things you cannot do, how can I possibly help?"
Fedler Tiramifdin shook his head. "Although I am a deity, I cannot freely descend to the mortal realm. There are some things that are very difficult for me to accomplish."
After considering this, Dean Bruce did not outright refuse but asked, "What is it that you need me to do?"
Fedler Tiramifdin spoke softly, "A thousand years ago, I sent forth an avatar to the mortal realm and made some friends, forming a mercenary group."
"Unfortunately, during an expedition to explore ancient relics, I was attacked in the divine realm. To save my life, I had to recall my avatar!"
"When I finally resolved my affairs and descended back to the mortal realm, I suddenly discovered that although only ten years had passed, I had lost all contact with them!"
"All the things we did before were forgotten, and the areas where we operated have vanished without a trace."
"At that time, I couldn't exert much power in the mortal realm, and with turmoil occurring in the divine realm, I was unable to investigate further."
"If you can uncover the reason behind this, I will grant you an artifact!"