I Ascend to the Divine Throne through Arcane Means

Ansel looked at the object in Lis's hand, and even in his spirit form, he felt as if he were in an ice cellar.

Even so, Ansel didn't show any signs of concern but instead pretended to be calm and said,

"That, should be a fragment of the Divine Artifact [Storm Trident], capable of unlocking the seal on this small island."

"I had given it to Evar before, I didn't expect him to hand it over to you."

After a moment of silence, Ansel continued to speak,

"This thing is quite important to me, how about we make a trade? I can exchange other treasures for this Divine Artifact Fragment."

"Although there's hardly any strength remaining in this fragment, it shouldn't be of much use to you now."

He probably doesn't know its purpose; after all, he's just an ordinary person.

Ansel was somewhat uneasy, especially when he saw Lis's expression that was both smiling yet not smiling.

"You've said so much; it seems you're quite concerned about this, aren't you?"

"Let me guess?"

Lis played with the [Storm Trident] fragment in his hand, speaking with interest.

"Since this Divine Artifact Fragment is only used to unlock the seal on this small island, it might be possible for you to have let Evar take it out."

"But since Evar could enter the island without this fragment, it implies that it's not necessary."

"At least, you have the choice to decide who can enter this island."

"If it's for other reasons, such as needing to carry this fragment to break the barrier seal of the island, you could have directly communicated with Evar, instead of letting him leave the island aimlessly drifting."

"If you truly considered Evar's well-being, you shouldn't have concealed this from him. Since you can appear before us, why didn't you show up when Evar landed on the island last time?"

Lis narrated his judgment with a smile, while Ansel inside the temple maintained a calm complexion and stayed quiet, but his eyes grew increasingly profound.

"That is to say, you originally had no intention of letting Evar know of your existence."

"To test him?"

"To probe him?"

"I think there's more likely another plan for him, a harmful one!"

"So, if you really had that consideration, why didn't you act last time? Instead, you let Evar leave the island?"

"Even if Evar has gained new powers, there are too many strong beings in this world. At most, he has the strength of a Silver High Rank; it's not strange for anything to happen at sea."

"Therefore, your purpose must be related to him leaving this island, to let Evar reach the outside world."

"Why is that?"

"Aside from the Special Power Evar gained, he only took the Divine Artifact Fragment I hold from here."

"This thing... is it very important to you?"

Lis held the tip of the trident fragment in his right hand, placing it in front of him.

Apart from the blue crystal that seemed special, it looked like an artifact weathered by the ages.

Watching Lis waving the Divine Artifact Fragment in front of him, Ansel fell silent.

Anger was about to consume his reason completely.

Evar, you fool!

Such an important thing, and you handed it over so easily to this young mage before you?

Damn it, you deserve to die!

I'll torment your soul in the fires of Hell for ten thousand years!

Though fury raged within him, Ansel did not show it outwardly, instead he clapped his hands and said,

"Impressive, and indeed just as you've guessed."

"You're even better than I had hoped!"

"In that case, how about making a trade with me?"

Ansel said with a gentle smile,

"Although you've guessed that I have plans for this Divine Artifact Fragment, there's nothing you can do."

"Even shattered, it was once part of a Divine Artifact, it's not something you at the Silver Level can grasp."

"So, why not trade with me, what do you want to obtain?"

"Legendary Equipment, the knowledge of deities..."

"Or perhaps... Divine Power?"

Ansel didn't believe that even an outstanding figure like Lis could resist these temptations.

After all, it was just a fragment of a Divine Artifact.

Hearing the items Ansel offered in exchange, Lis nodded with a smile, but his heart was unswayed.

Joking aside, although this once-deity had fallen to such a state, that did not make him someone Lis could take lightly.

The offerings mentioned were indeed precious, but who could tell if there were any tricks involved?

Like the Divine Power, if given to a Transcendent without much understanding, they might choose it immediately, representing the might of a deity.

But Lis understood the immense danger hidden within; a common person mindlessly tapping into Divine Power only had one outcome: to explode and die.

Moreover, Lis's Spiritual Sense was subtly warning him that this Ansel had no real sincerity.

Ignoring the bait Ansel had thrown out, Lis tossed the Divine Artifact Fragment in his hand.

"I've said so much, and you haven't made a move on such an important object..."

"Sure enough, you don't have much strength yourself; your trump card is this temple, isn't it."

"As long as I stand outside the temple, you can do nothing to me, which is why you chose to deal with me, a mortal."

"Apart from that, I can't think of any other reason for a once-great deity to treat someone who has offended Them so kindly."

"Despicable ant, what exactly do you want to do?"

"Do you really want to face the wrath of the great Ansel?"

Seeing this, Ansel could no longer hold back, and said in extreme anger.