Dungeon King: A Lady Knight Offered by My Goblins

Ethan's mouth fell open slightly as he murmured, "Demi-god… Phito?"

Phito radiated sanctity, his facial expression tranquil yet exuding a warm gentleness from within: "Yes, if that is how you wish to address me."

Ethan was inwardly shocked; Phito was definitely not a Demi-god.

He had felt the power of deities before, and those ancient deities were far weaker than Phito.

Even Aneropo, who had almost absorbed the Power of Faith from the entire city of Flame City, couldn't withstand a full-force strike from Ethan.

But Phito, with just a fist and without even unleashing the immense and vast power of deity, had stopped the Blasphemous Spear.

If Phito was a Demi-god, what did that make those ancient deities?

Weren't they Demi-gods as well? How ironic.

As Ethan fell into a deep silence, Daphne excitedly called out, "Mr. Phito, you finally came out."

Ethan lifted his head, looking towards Phito and Daphne.

Daphne knows Phito?

Surprise flashed through Ethan's heart as he saw for the first time a doting expression on Phito's usually indifferent face.

"Daphne, you're still as mischievous as ever. You deliberately let the traveler attack the Celestial Blossom just to make me come out, didn't you?"

The corners of Ethan's mouth twitched slightly as he glanced sidelong at Daphne.

He hadn't expected to be played by Daphne.

Ethan also felt a bit of annoyance. He definitely couldn't be so rash in the future. 

Thankfully, this Demi-god Phito didn't have much of an aggressive nature.

If it had been another deity, Ethan would surely have been embroiled in a bloody battle.

What surprised Ethan, however, was that even though Daphne had gone so far, there wasn't a hint of anger in Phito's tone.

Daphne seemed like a daughter to Phito.

Her eyes formed crescent moons as she smiled, pouting slightly, "I called out to Mr. Phito, but you didn't respond. I had no choice but to do something so impolite."

At this moment, Daphne resembled a mischievous, playful child merely seeking her parents' attention.

And what was so wrong with that?

Phito shook his head slightly, turning back to Ethan, "Ethan, I hope you won't direct your anger towards Daphne. She is just a child and means no harm."

"She knows that even if you did manage to awaken me, I would not harm you. Therefore, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive Daphne."

Ethan's mouth twitched slightly as he looked at Phito's divine body, which seemed as pristine as jade, and his aura as heavy and flowing as mercury.

Would he be turned into a pile of mush with just one slap from Phito if he dared to say 'no' now?

"It's okay," Ethan managed a smile, "It's an honor to meet the true face of Demi-god Phito."

Demi-god Phito did not dwell on this issue; instead, he lifted his head to gaze at the sky.

The weather today was exceptionally clear, with stars filling the sky.

The starlight, like wisps of gauze, connected the earth and the heavens.

Almost in a whisper, Phito said, "It's been a long time since I've seen such a beautiful starry sky."

Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly. Although it was just a sentence, the message Phito conveyed sent chills down his spine.

Was Phito imprisoned?

With Phito's formidable strength, who could imprison him? 

Could it be a deity?

However, looking at Phito's inscrutable face, Ethan did not dare to voice the doubts in his mind.

After a moment of contemplation, Phito took the initiative to ask, "Have you come for the Celestial Blossom?"

"Yes," Ethan responded, not concealing his intention, his honesty apparent.

Phito gave a slight nod, "The Celestial Blossom isn't something that can be taken lightly. Have you thought of a way to obtain it?"

"The Celestial Blossom exists to counteract the poisonous miasma of the Waysonny River. If I were to resolve the issue with the miasma, would I then be able to take the Celestial Blossom?" Ethan voiced his speculation.

A glimmer sparked in Phito's eyes, his lips curving into a slight smile for the first time. "Ethan, you are very clever."

"There are two ways to obtain the Celestial Blossom: the first is to defeat me, and the second is to resolve the issue with the poisonous miasma of the Waysonny River."

Ethan's heart stirred, his guess proving accurate, but a question arose: How could the issue with the poisonous miasma of the Waysonny River be resolved?

Ethan furrowed his brows, seeking clarification, "Demi-god Phito, with your immense strength, can't you resolve the issue with the miasma?"

A fleeting expression of desolation crossed Phito's face, so brief that Ethan almost missed it.

"I cannot," Phito spoke, his hand raising as if trying to grasp the winds atop the cliffs. "If I could, I would not be here guarding the Celestial Blossom."

Ethan found himself in a predicament, clueless about how to tackle the poisonous miasma of the Waysonny River.

Pursing his lips, he inquired, "Demi-god Phito, in all your years in Phito Valley, have you thought of a way to resolve this?"

Phito's gaze fixed upon Ethan, his voice slow and resonant, "Perhaps the solution to the problem lies right beneath our feet."

"Ethan, press on. I see in you the hope to resolve the poisonous miasma of the Waysonny River."

As Phito's resonant voice echoed, a wild gust of wind surged around Ethan. 

He felt the world spin, the entire universe seemed to be shifting, and the scenery around him slowly transformed.

Although Ethan was not yet an expert in the Power of Space, he was quite familiar with it. 

This particular power, it was stronger than any he had ever encountered before.

As the surrounding space became unstable, Ethan found himself standing on damp soil. 

His heart gave a small leap as he took in the scenery in front of him.

He was at the foot of the mountain where the Celestial Blossom resided. A deep and winding path appeared before Ethan.

"The solution to the problem lies right beneath our feet."

This phrase resonated in his mind, and Ethan suddenly looked towards the small path nestled between the valleys.

The path was shrouded in mist, winding and mysterious, and deeper within, stones resembling ore emitted a strange blue light.

Ethan's throat moved as he spoke, "Phito means that the way to solve the poisonous miasma of the Waysonny River is within this valley. But if Phito knows this, why hasn't he entered the valley himself?"

Doubt crept into Ethan's mind.

Daphne had already tricked Ethan once, and Phito treated her almost like a daughter. 

It was hard not to speculate if Daphne's cunning nature was a result of Phito's influence.

Was Phito trying to harm him?

The chilling mist that emerged from the path, like little snakes, infiltrated Ethan's body. 

He had no choice but to circulate the Golden Divine Dragon Bloodline to warm himself.

"It's improbable," Ethan shook his head, casting away the messy thoughts in his mind. "If Phito wanted to harm me, he could just kill me or gravely injure me directly, there's no need for such a convoluted scheme."

Ethan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and walked into the abyss.

...

At the mountain's peak.

Seeing Ethan's disappearance, Daphne swiftly threw herself into Phito's embrace:

"Mr. Phito, I've missed you so much!"

Demi-god Phito gently held Daphne, his eyes filled with affection: "Daphne, you should learn to grow up on your own. You can't stay by my side forever…"

Daphne shook her head frantically in Phito's embrace: "No, I want to stay by Mr. Phito's side."

Demi-god Phito's eyes were tender as jade, his hand, adorned with divine patterns, gently stroked Daphne's back:

"Daphne, after Ethan comes back, you should leave with him."

Daphne suddenly lifted her head, her voice raising an octave: "Mr. Phito, what do you mean by this?"

Phito did not answer Daphne, instead, he gently stroked her nose, chuckling:

"What fun is there for you alone in the jungle? You should go out and see the world."

Daphne's eyes welled up with tears, as if even the runes on her face were crying: "No, I don't want to leave you."

Phito pressed his hand on top of Daphne's head, murmuring to himself: "There is no other way…"

Daphne, with tears in her eyes, was about to ask "Why is there no other way," but in the next second, she fainted in Phito's arms.

Phito laid Daphne gently in front of the Celestial Blossom, speaking slowly:

"You go with Ethan, and all I can give you is the Celestial Blossom."

"The Celestial Blossom is not just a Magic Flower, it is also an Ethereal Flower of the Celestial Deity. It is both a Seal Flower and a Devastation Flower. I will draw three parts of the Celestial Blossom's essence to nurture you into an Ethereal Form of the Celestial Deity. Staying by Ethan's side, you will have some reliance."

As his words fell, Phito's hand slowly lifted, and the petals of the Celestial Blossom, shining like crystal and emitting dreamlike colors, gently fell off.

The petals landed on Daphne's body, instantly turning into specks of light, and merged into her being.

Soon after, Daphne was enveloped by a cocoon of vibrant colors.

Only Phito knew that Daphne was undergoing the transformation of the Celestial Blossom.

As for what Daphne would become after emerging, that would depend on her fate...

...

A trail of flame navigated through the deep, secluded valley, casting a gargantuan shadow that inched its way across the stone walls.

This silhouette was immensely large, almost like a giant.

Any onlooker would surely be scared out of their wits.

For never before had anyone dared to enter the narrow paths beneath the Phito Valley, yet today, an uninvited guest had arrived.

It was Ethan.

At this moment, Ethan was in a peculiar state; the faint glow of the flame could not dispel the chill deep within his heart.