In Klein City, within the elegant estate of Doran, a Wind Element Saint Realm Magician, traditional Lin En-style architecture graces the landscape. Exquisite pavilions and water pavilions nestle amongst verdant pines and cypresses, with rock gardens, bonsai, and floral beds elegantly interspersed with creeping vines and bamboo.
Lin En's reputation has soared in recent years, his designs and artistic concepts becoming increasingly sought after and replicated, especially among the nobility, sparking an artistic renaissance across the Violet Continent.
In the mansion's classic hall, Lin En waits patiently, sipping his hot tea. Soon, Doran's footsteps approach, his eyes widening in shock, frozen and unable to move.
With a resigned sigh, Lin En's dark avatar emerges, casting a divine domain to lock down the space. His divine sense locates a black rectangular box hidden in the room.
Doran's face darkens with displeasure, his irritation evident in his sharp reprimand and finger-tapping.
Lin En, foregoing further conversation, releases his divine domain and, under Doran's glaring eyes, opens the box, revealing its intriguing contents.
Lin En smirks knowingly, "This 'miscellaneous' corner seems to hold something valuable, or you wouldn't be so distressed."
There are divine essences and artifacts, though scarce.
Doran watches Lin En's search with growing impatience and concern.
Upon seeing the box, Doran explodes with indignation, attempting to snatch it away, revealing his disbelief in Lin En's words.
Lin En is taken aback by the item, akin to soul beads but with challenging and slow absorption. He suspects Doran cannot harness its power, or only with great difficulty.
The box contains six superior divine artifacts – a sword, spear, hammer, whip, and two pieces of armor, causing Doran considerable worry.
In the subsequent moments, Lin En uncovers a ring among the mid-level artifacts. As he claims it with his blood, a spectral light emanates from the soul realm, a sight that visibly pains Doran.
Exploring the ring's contents, Lin En finds black stones imbued with a faint destructive essence, likely Obsidian, along with deep blue, brick-like Zhan Stones, a superior form of currency.
Holding the soul-shielding artifact, Lin En grins, shaking his head. His next words leave Doran in dismay, "I have achieved godhood, here to fulfill our arrangement."
The collection also includes magical beast remains, minerals, and purple translucent crystals.
A moment of heavy silence ensues between them.
Lin En deliberates before selecting a sword, whip, and armor from the superior artifacts, flaunting his choices before Doran. "Six superior artifacts in total, I shall take three, excluding what you wear. Fair, right?"
"Don't be overzealous, young man. The best items are already in your hands. Let's conclude this," Doran cautions.
Recognizing Doran's status as a deity, Lin En deactivates his divine domain and maintains a calm gaze.
Without hesitation, Lin En claims the artifacts, integrating them into himself.
"Don't jest like this, young man!"
"That's my personal property!"
The crucial item will be exposed!
Breaking the tense atmosphere, Doran, with a raspy voice tinged with disbelief, surrenders the spatial ring to Lin En, cautioning him about the bet's terms – only half the items are his to claim.
Doran's expression turns to shock.
Lin En, noticing his reaction, intensifies his scrutiny, sensing an unexpected windfall amidst the collection.
"That should suffice."
A splendid discovery!
"I can't find it... I can't find it..."
With a snap, a resplendent crystal resembling divine essence radiates a majestic pale white light, suffused with the aura of destiny's rule – mesmerizing, dreamlike, and otherworldly.
"...I concede," Doran finally declares, accepting his defeat.
In the collection, there are only five superior divine essences representing elements like Fire, Water, Wind, Light, and Destruction. Doran's face reflects his growing anxiety.
Doran, still trying to salvage the situation, pleads for reconsideration.
The old man, his white hair contrasting with his rosy, radiant complexion, laughs joyously. "Ha ha, I knew you'd come around!"
A suffocating silence engulfs the room.
Doran becomes silent, realizing his doubts are now mere jokes in the face of reality.
After an unsettling pause, Doran manages a strained smile, hoping against hope. "Lin En, considering the help I've given you in the past, could you return that box to me? It's a personal belonging, not from that fallen god-level being."
Lin En nods in agreement, "Naturally."
As Lin En remains calm, Doran grows increasingly frantic, his expression betraying his inner turmoil.
He hurriedly closes the box, its value surpassing even regular superior artifacts.
Doran, filled with regret and unable to change what's happened, silently prays that Lin En has overlooked something crucial.
Lin En, gauging the assets, estimates their value at around two hundred billion. He picks several artifacts including swords, armors, a whip, and a ring, alongside a hundred billion obsidian stones, five hundred amethysts, and various other items like diaries and beast remains.
"Alright then."
Suddenly, Lin En's gaze fixes on Doran.
His eyes narrow as a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, like tumultuous waves, renders him restless.
Discovering an amethyst among the items, he casually retrieves it.
Despite Doran's deceitful intent, Lin En, remembering past favors, decides to leave some room for mercy.
"Don't worry, I still need to sort through the miscellaneous items. I'll stick to taking only half, not a bit more."
Lin En's straightforwardness is a testament to his approach; why waste words when his divine avatar can simply do the talking.
Lin En's expression suddenly shifts...
Never in his wildest dreams did he expect such a fortuitous windfall from a mere bet.
Hearing Doran's desperate explanation, Lin En can't help but scoff. "Elder Doran, do you take me for a fool?"
Doran, frantic, insists, "It's the truth, I swear! That item from the box fell out of a spatial rift I accidentally opened while practicing the Wind Element Dimensional Blade!"
Upon hearing this, Lin En's astonishment is evident.