by William Bill
"B-but how?" he asked gloomily.
"What do you expect when a mortal possesses a god's origin seed? I am surprised that you are even alive. As I said, even gods can't house another god's origin seed, so how can a mortal be able to? It seems that the Origin seed rejected the energy being directed towards it when your ethereal core points tried to absorb ethereal energy and feed it to your ethereal core, which in turn caused a backlash as it destroyed your ethereal core points.
"You are lucky that the Origin seed is in a dead state. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened." She scoffed.
"So this godly thing is the reason my future is ruined?" Damien said as he smiled in a self-deprecating manner.
However, Damien cleared those unnecessary thoughts from his head as his gaze became determined and calm, "It doesn't matter. I will just find a way to fix my ethereal core points. If there are pills to even heal an almost torn off arm. Why can't there be pills to fix ethereal core points? Or maybe I can study and practice medicine in this world, which can help me come up with some solutions to my problem. I was good at it in my previous life, so there's no way I would be bad at it even if it was a different world."
"Ha-ha-ha!"
The girl's body was shaking as she tried to curtail her laughter with her hand.
"What's so funny? You think I am joking here?" Damien asked as he glared at the girl.
The girl calmed down as a disdainful smile emerged on her face, "Fix your ethereal core points? I have already taken a look at your ethereal core points. It was destroyed after you were born when your core points were in an immature state. It couldn't be more crippled. Even if you forcefully fix it somehow, you can at most activate 3 or 4 core points, including the one which was not destroyed.
"Furthermore, since you are already fifteen years old, you have already missed the thirteen-year-old critical period of the initial ethereal foundation. With this state, even after a decade, you won't still be able to break through the Initial Ethereal Realm! In addition, you will also not be able to break through the Nascent Ethereal Realm for your whole life and still remain, as before, useless trash!"
The girl's harsh words caused Damien's expression to suddenly turn rigid, and both his hands began to clench. The girl's words stabbed at the truth he had always been avoiding in his heart.
Just like she said, his ethereal core points were destroyed when it was in an immature stage. Even if he can fix it, it would only be a small portion of it, so he would still be half-crippled. And because of that, even if he cultivated day and night strenuously, the speed of his ethereal strength cultivation will be extremely slow compared to other people's by a multiplicative degree such that it would be even practically impossible for him to even break through the Spirit Ethereal Realm.
Damien's chest undulated heavily. Gritting his teeth, he said, "I will find a solution for all of that!"
"You wanted to make use of medicines or pills to fix yourself, right? Then how are you going to even procure those high-grade herbs with your laughable ability? You will just die a dog's death while dragging this goddess to death with you!"
The girl crossed her arms and lifted her head as if she finally made a decision. "You can keep your dumb ideas with yourself. Since you have indirectly helped this goddess stay alive, this goddess shall indeed repay you. You only need to promise me three conditions...then this goddess shall immediately fix your ethereal core points and help you form an ethereal core...with the potential strength of a god!"
Chapter 14: New Ethereal Core?
To immediately have his ethereal core fixed?
An ethereal core with the strength of a god?
The girl's words were like a clap of thunder to Damien, who had almost lost all hopes in fixing his ethereal core and caused his heart to be filled with excitement.
He suppressed his excitement and stared at the girl: "You are really...speaking the truth? And not just kidding me?"
"Hmph, what reason would this goddess have to lie to you?" said the girl with gleaming eyes.
"But didn't you just say before that you don't have the power to restore my ethereal core unless you merge with your other soul shard that has the power of restoration?" Damien asked with a puzzled gaze.
With a complete set of clear eyes, she said, "Well, I won't be exactly healing your ethereal core points. But since I have my Shard of Essence, I can manipulate the essence in your body so that I would be able to gift you with new ones after removing your old destroyed ones, that too with all forty-seven of your ethereal core points active!"
Damien, with an astonished gaze, said, "So, is this an ability of your Shard of Essence? In other words, one of your true abilities?"
"Actually, this is just one of the abilities I can do with my Shard of Essence. But of course, I don't have enough power to use the full extent of my abilities truly. Well, what I am exactly going to do is give you a set of ethereal core points that can adapt to your origin seed. Your origin seed rejected your energy before because it couldn't adapt to it. Right now, it is in a dead state because you have no power or understanding of laws at all. But once you start cultivating, the origin seed might help you once your cultivation reaches a certain stage and maybe give you the chance to comprehend a fraction of origin level laws!"
Damien's eyes widened in awe like a child's, "You mean I...could become a god?"
"Ha, don't get carried away. Just because you have the origin seed doesn't mean you will become a god. But you might have a chance to become a powerhouse among mortals or at most attain false divinity. But even then, you will still have to cultivate diligently. It would again depend on your potential and innate talent. Otherwise, with a trashy talent, you wouldn't be able to make use of the Origin seed and comprehend nothing from it. And it would just be the same as not having an Origin seed. So don't blame me if you find out you have a trashy talent."
The girl's word made sense to Damien since he knew that the Origin seed is the embodiment of a god's understanding of origin laws.
If he wants to comprehend the laws in it, he would have to be a prodigy who can easily comprehend laws; in other words, his talent should be at least sky high. Especially to at least comprehend a one-millionth fraction of a god's Origin seed. Only then will he have a small chance of attaining godhood.
"And also, since this is the first time I am seeing a mortal with an origin seed, I don't exactly know what will happen when you form an ethereal core around it. Either nothing bad will happen, or you might explode into nothingness. So, it's up to you whether you want to do it or not."
"What the hell??" It was like cold water was poured on him.
First, he was told that he wouldn't achieve godhood but only be able to achieve false divinity at most. But still, he was satisfied.
However, his excitement already lessened when he learned that he could only use the Origin seed if he had excellent talent and potential. But still, it was understandable since it was only natural and things couldn't be so convenient.
But when she told him that he might even die...then isn't this like a salesman enticing their customers to buy their products? Only to have their excitement die down when they find problems with it.
'The Origin seed inside him seems too strange...something I have never seen before. Will it even help him or bring doom upon him? I can't even exactly make out the laws contained in it...maybe once I recover, I would be able to find out.' The girl pondered.
The girl warned him because if something happens to him and he dies, she would lose a host, and she would have to find another person with a soul at least as special as Damien's to link her soul before her consciousness dissipates. Still, there is no telling whether she would be able to link with that person. Also, she would lose some of her soul essence in trying to fix him.
But if he remains as a useless cripple, she would have to sleep for centuries to restore even a little of her soul essence on her own without any hopes of merging with her other soul shards.
&n
bsp; And Damien would be long dead from old age, considering if he even lives up to that point.
So, it wouldn't be much of a difference if he dies now or after.
But if he succeeds...it can be a totally different story, and she will at least have a hope of recovering herself!
"So, are you up to it? Or are you going to chicken out?" The girl snickered.
Damien didn't even bother about her taunts as he was busy thinking about his life and death matter.
He got off his bed and stared into the girl's eyes. Clenching his fists, he said, "I will do it!"
He turned his head towards the window as he looked at the bright moon with a solemn gaze, "It doesn't make a difference if I die now or live the rest of my life as a useless trash only to die a dog's death as you said. In my previous life, I had been manipulated by a god, betrayed, hunted down by the world, lost my loved ones until I had nothing. The worst feeling I ever felt was helplessness and despair. My weakness caused the deaths of everyone I ever loved. Even now, my life and death depend on someone else."
He turned towards the girl, "But now, I have decided that I don't want my fate to be decided by anyone else. I want to create and control my own destiny...so that not even gods can control me! At least now I have a chance to fulfill my wishes." His tone was intense as his words were filled with zeal.
The girl could feel his firm determination and conviction through his words and gaze.
'Wow...I can't believe I didn't even find it absurd. Is it because of his determination or because I believe that he can actually do so because of the Origin seed?'
She understood that he must have had a hard life in his previous life. And strangely, she didn't even find it funny when he said that he would even go against gods if he had to.
Damien knows that right now, he is nothing but an insignificant being who cannot even face off against the mortal cultivators in this world.
But that doesn't mean he would ever forget about the god who manipulated him to death!
The girl didn't comment anything about his pledge.
"Fine, but aren't you forgetting something?" The girl said with a smile.
Damien was startled for a moment before he said, "Ah, you mean the conditions. Even though I might even die, you are still so demanding heh."
He gave a wry smile as he said, "Okay...tell me what are your conditions then?"
She knew that he had already set his mind on this and wouldn't reject her offer.
So she directly cut to the chase and answered: "The first condition, you must promise to help this goddess find her second soul shard in this world. I can fairly sense it but can't pinpoint it exactly from here. Not for any reason are you allowed to back out from this condition. This is one of the main reasons this goddess is even willing to help you by sacrificing some of her soul essence...what's left of it anyway. Before you think this is too easy, let me tell you that even if this shard is located in hell, you should bring it to me!"
Damien listened very carefully, and as she said, he didn't think it was very difficult. But when she said that he had to find it even if it meant risking his life, he realized that a soul shard of a goddess couldn't possibly be in a safe place...could it?
"Okay...but what is your second soul shard capable of?"
The girl's first soul shard, which has her consciousness, has the power to manipulate the essence of virtually anything. One of her soul shards has the power of restoration. Could the second soul shard be the same or a different one with different powers?
'Either way, It must have some great abilities considering how her current soul shard has the power to fix me.' Damien thought.
"You don't need to know now. First, you should focus on finding it." The girl said dismissively.
"Fine, what's the second condition then?"
Chapter 15: Conditions
"The second condition; you must reach the Prime Ethereal Realm within 20 years! Including your soul cultivation, which should reach the Prime Soul Stage." The girl said slowly while looking at Damien's expression.
Damien suddenly had the urge to twist her ears. He started to suspect whether this girl was even serious.
His previous self had read almost all the history books in the Ward family's library. So, he knows the cultivation realms in this continent and even some legends stories who achieved the highest cultivation realm possible: Heaven Ethereal Realm.
So, where did this Prime Ethereal Realm come from? Was it a realm even higher than Heaven Ethereal Realm?
The girl seemed to discern what he was thinking about, "Hmph, no need to fry your brain too much thinking about it. Prime Ethereal Realm is the apex in the mortal world."
"But even in the history of this continent, I have only heard of legendary characters having the cultivation of Heaven Ethereal Realm. And no one has ever managed to attain a realm beyond that, let alone the Prime Ethereal Realm." Damien said as his lips twitched faintly, revealing the resentment in his heart.
"Then, do you agree or not?" The girl tilted her eyebrows.
'So, it is a realm beyond Heaven Ethereal Realm...and who knows how many realms are there between both of them. Twenty years to reach the apex...can I even do it?' Damien knitted his brows.
Damien withdrew his previous expression, narrowed his eyes, his voice as calm as water: "Why not? I agree, of course. With this godly origin seed, if I can't reach the apex of this mortal world...then I am truly trash."
Damien believed that his talent and potential weren't trash since he is already an expert in combat and swordsmanship. Also, he already once had superpowers in his previous life. Can a person with truly no talent be able to achieve what he has?
He didn't think so. He had confidence in himself that he would be able to comprehend these strange laws that he had never heard before. Even though he knows that it is easier said than done...that doesn't mean he would give up without even trying!
"But why do you want me to reach Prime Ethereal Realm in 20 years?"
"A person's vitality is related to their own ethereal strength, and a person's soul essence depends on one's soul cultivation. This goddess's fleshy shell has already been destroyed and now can only exist in a spirit body. My soul essence recovery rate depends on your soul cultivation. And if I have to rebuild a new body, you have to at least reach the Prime Ethereal Realm since the new body's vitality would depend on yours. Only after rebuilding my body can I unbind my soul from yours and start recovering my true strength independently."
'So she wants to recover her power as fast as possible. Well, I guess a god wouldn't enjoy being helpless for long. But how strong will she be once she recovers? Haa...I can't still believe I am dealing with a goddess.' Damien sighed inwardly.
"The third condition," she continued, "You will have to let me absorb fifty percent of the soul essence you would take from other people."
Damien tilted his head, "What do you mean by absorb?"
The girl heaved an exasperated sigh, "What I meant is, I would teach you a technique which will let you absorb the soul essences of people you kill. By doing that, you can rejuvenate your own soul essence and even use it to breakthrough to higher stages in soul cultivation. While I would use it to recover my soul essence no matter how little."
Damien lifted one of his brows, "So, you want me to go on a killing spree?"
The present Damien wouldn't mind killing someone, especially his enemies. If someone stands in his way or obstructs him from getting what he wants on purpose, he would get rid of them, innocent or not, because it's either him or them.
For instance, if he was given a choice to save Sofie or the entire world. He would choose Sofie without any hesitation.
But if it were before the calamity in his previous life, his way of thinking would have been completely different. He would have thought something along the lines of saving both so that nobody is unhappy.
He would have played the role of a 'hero,' someone who wouldn't mind sacrificing themselves to protec
t and make everyone in the world happy.
But those days are long gone. Now he is a totally different person.
Now, he is someone who only cares about things that are related to him, especially the people he loves.
He won't go about saving every dog and cat lying on the road. Unless he doesn't mind doing it or if it wouldn't affect him in any way or if he could benefit something out of it.
But at the same time, he wouldn't mind returning the favor if someone sincerely helps him as long as he doesn't have to risk his life.
He doesn't like to owe people as it would sort of just stay in his mind. One can say that it was his nature from his previous life that was hard to change completely.
But now, when she demanded that he should absorb souls by killing people, he thought he would have to do something equivalent to genocide.
Though he wouldn't mind gaining power by killing, he didn't want to go on a mindless killing spree, which would only make him a bloodthirsty fiend and attract trouble towards him.
He also didn't want to lose his mind by simply killing people left and right. He might even lose himself in the process if he kills without any reason.
The girl calmly said, "Of course not. That wouldn't actually benefit you in any way, and you would only be bringing yourself trouble. But whenever you kill someone, you should save at least 50% of their soul essence so that this goddess can absorb it."
"Okay. I don't have any problem with that." Damien replied plainly.
"Good, to fix you, first I would have to remove all your damaged ethereal core points, even including the undamaged one. Then taking the aura of your origin seed as a reference, I will create a new set of core points that will accept the Origin seed and wouldn't face any rejection. And those new ethereal core points would obviously be stronger than common people since this goddess created it and it was made to accommodate the Origin seed."
"Thinking about it now, you can even create new ethereal core points?" Damien asked with a fixed gaze.