Chapter 314 - The Tree of Hell, Harvesting Demon Fruits!

In an instant, the five Demon Gods, both male and female, transformed into their ferocious and terrifying demon forms. Their human skins and clothing tore apart as their true forms emerged. A horrifying and overwhelming aura filled the entire hall, leaving even high demons struggling to breathe as they crouched on the ground, crawling toward the exit.

Beelzebub's face twisted into a savage grin. "Yes, that's it. Killing him is the safest way!" he said, exuding the demeanor of a lofty victor as he gazed mockingly at Lin Tian. He, too, morphed into his demon form, his muscles bulging with suffocating power.

Now, six Demon Gods stood before Lin Tian, their murderous intent chilling to the bone. An ordinary person might have been so frightened they'd lose control of their bowels.

"What are you trying to do?" A sharp, stern voice interrupted the tension—it was Celeste, her expression dark and thunderous.

"Hiss!"

Her own muscles began to swell, tearing through her clothing. She transformed into a ferocious and fearsome demon. Twin horns extended elegantly from her forehead, faintly wreathed in flames. Her muscular form was more defined than the other Demon Gods, her elongated arms ideal for combat. A thick, powerful tail dangled behind her, capable of shattering a person with a single lash. As a high demon, her form stood nearly five meters tall, on par with the Demon Gods, and the demonic energy she radiated was no less formidable than theirs.

Lin Tian was slightly surprised—this was the first time he had seen Celeste's demon form.

At that moment, one of the Demon Gods, Samael, spoke slowly, "Don't you understand? If he can open the Eden Space at will, we could all die here at any moment!"

Samael's power even surpassed Beelzebub's. Beneath his flesh, one could see writhing Hell Serpents—highly venomous creatures—moving under his skin.

"Stand aside, Princess Celeste. We've already shown you enough respect," Beelzebub said coldly. His respect was not only due to Celeste being Lucifer's daughter but also because she possessed significant strength. However, the matter at hand was critical—no one could intervene. Lin Tian, as a potential threat, had to be eliminated.

The other Demon Gods chimed in, their voices resolute: "This matter concerns the fate of the demon race. We cannot delay any longer. He must die!"

Lin Tian hadn't anticipated being accused of such a crime, but there was no point in arguing now. He couldn't explain how he had gained Jehovah's protection.

"Forget it, Princess Celeste. I'll take my leave now," Lin Tian said at last. "The banquet is nearly over anyway. You can rest assured."

His tone was calm. The issue concerning Celeste had been resolved, and at worst, he wouldn't get the information about the Tree of Hell. With that, he prepared to retreat into the Eden Space.

However, just as Lin Tian was about to leave, a commanding and solemn voice echoed from behind, "Stop!"

Instinctively, Lin Tian froze, but refrained from activating the Eden Space. The Demon Gods, who had looked tense moments before, visibly relaxed. "Since Lucifer has intervened, the matter is settled," one of them remarked.

"What's going on?!" Lin Tian snapped back to his senses, unable to believe what had just happened. It felt as though Lucifer had forced him to stop moving.

Lucifer now stood at the rear, exuding an air of calm indifference, completely unperturbed by what the other Demon Gods considered a dire situation. His composure was unsettling.

Lin Tian immediately opened his attribute panel to investigate how he had been controlled.

[Lucifer: Lv100

Race: Demon

Profession: Fallen Holy Spirit Mage

Titles: Fallen Angel, Left-Wing Archangel, God, Dark Saint…

Health: 6999

Strength: 2991

Defense: 2488

Skills: Dark Holy Word, Descent of Darkness, Fallen Judgment, Storm of Hell and Heaven…

Equipment: Sword of Endless Corruption

Overall Combat Power: 45999]

From the very beginning, Lin Tian had noted Lucifer's overwhelming combat strength, which was undoubtedly unbeatable at this stage. Before falling and becoming a demon, Lucifer had already been a god. Now stronger than ever, his power was likely on par with a chief god—comparable to Jehovah himself.

Due to the earlier rush, Lin Tian hadn't had time to examine Lucifer's skill descriptions.

[Descent of Darkness] didn't require much scrutiny; it was a common domain skill for high demons.

[Dark Holy Word—Exclusive Mythic-Class Magic]: This skill allows the user to directly command beings without divine cores. It can also consume immense magical energy to issue commands to beings with divine cores, though the target can resist by expending an equivalent amount of energy.

Realizing this, Lin Tian was stunned. The implications of a skill like Dark Holy Word were staggering. Direct command? The sheer dominance of this ability was absurd!

"I said it before: anyone who is Celeste's friend is also my friend. Have you forgotten so quickly?" Lucifer's expression darkened instantly, and a terrifying aura erupted like a flood, overwhelming even the six Demon Gods.

Beelzebub's face twisted as he snapped, "What's the meaning of this, Lucifer? Are you seriously playing the lone wolf at a time like this? This concerns the survival of the entire demon race! Are you insane?"

"An incorrigible lunatic!" he ranted. "No wonder that old bastard banished you. I must've been blind for thousands of years not to see through you! All for an outsider, you'd even turn against us?"

"Don't think we're afraid of you!" snarled the other Demon Gods, their expressions ferocious and brimming with killing intent.

Witnessing the escalating tension, the high demons outside, who had dared to spectate, fled in panic. They scrambled to pack their belongings and evacuate the city, knowing that a clash between Demon Gods would reduce the entire place to ash.

Lucifer, unfazed by their threats, calmly set his wine glass on the table. Then, veins bulging on his forehead, he commanded, "Kneel!"

His voice reverberated like the holy decree of a god, shaking the very souls of all who heard it.

Thud!

In an instant, the six Demon Gods fell to their knees in unison, the force of their submission cracking the floor beneath them.

Beelzebub's lips twitched as he tried to summon his strength to resist, but it was futile.

They were not True Gods with genuine divine cores; their godlike powers were merely imitations, counterfeit versions at best. Lucifer, on the other hand, possessed a bona fide divine core, equal to the likes of Jehovah, Zeus, and Odin. Against his Dark Holy Word, they were powerless.

Samael tried to speak but was abruptly silenced. "Shut up!" Lucifer snapped. "Revert your demon forms!"

The six Demon Gods obediently shed their monstrous forms, returning to their humanoid appearances.

"Leave this place and reflect in isolation for three months!" Lucifer ordered. The six stood mechanically and began walking out of the hall. Beelzebub's face contorted with hatred and frustration. He couldn't comprehend why it was impossible to kill a mere goblin. Why even Lucifer was siding with him was beyond his understanding.

The once-majestic hall was now in ruins, with only Lucifer, Celeste, and Lin Tian remaining.

"Thank you, Father, for intervening. Beelzebub's hostility toward Lin Tian stems from a personal grudge," Celeste said with a sigh of relief.

However, Lucifer pointed a finger at her and said coldly, "Silence. Go to your room."

Celeste froze, as if enchanted, before turning and heading upstairs without another word. In the vast hall, only Lin Tian and Lucifer were left. A strong sense of unease crept through Lin Tian's body, making him instinctively cautious.

"Lord Lucifer, what is this about?" Lin Tian asked warily.

"Speak. What are your intentions toward my daughter? And why have you come to Hell?" Lucifer's tone was calm but laced with a menacing undertone that set Lin Tian on edge. As he spoke, he poured Lin Tian a glass of red wine.

Knowing that Dark Holy Word could compel absolute truth, Lin Tian understood that lying was futile. "Everyone seeks to form alliances with the strong. The next time the Gate of Heaven opens, the angels will launch a siege against me. Naturally, I sought allies. As for coming to Hell, I need Demon Fruits," he explained honestly.

"Angels are hunting you?" Lucifer's surprise was fleeting, and he quickly regained his composure. "You're an honest person. Do you know why I helped you? Surely you don't believe it's because I see you as a friend?"

Lin Tian shook his head. Friendship was a laughable notion. Except for someone as naive as Celeste, "friends" to most were merely matters of mutual benefit.

Lucifer raised his glass in a gesture to toast as he spoke, "Can you demonstrate your ability to open the Eden Space?"

Lin Tian frowned. If he demonstrated it, he would lose his means of escape. However, if Lucifer wanted to kill him, he would have done so already. After some hesitation, Lin Tian activated Jehovah's Blessing, summoning the Gate of Eden.

Behind him, a crack appeared, radiating a blindingly holy light. For the first time, Lucifer's expression betrayed a trace of wariness as he stepped back half a pace. "It's real? Tell me—how did you gain this ability?"

Lucifer's Dark Holy Word activated again.

"Through a system exchange," Lin Tian blurted without hesitation.

Lucifer was briefly taken aback. "A system? I don't understand what that is, but as long as it's not from the Church or the angels, it's fine." His wariness subsided entirely.

"Very well, I'll explain why I saved you. It's simple—I want to cooperate. If you need Demon Fruits, I can provide them. All I ask is that, when the time comes, you open the Gate of Eden for me so I can enter Heaven and kill that old bastard myself."

Lucifer's face twisted into a sinister grin as he spoke.

Hearing this, Lin Tian finally understood. It was clear that Lucifer intended to use him to storm Heaven and exact revenge on Jehovah.

"Agreed," Lin Tian replied, "but I have one condition."

"Are you sure you still want to negotiate with me?"

Lucifer's eyes, sharp like those of a venomous snake, fixed intently on Lin Tian.

Faced with the threat, Lin Tian still replied, "Yes, this condition is something I think you won't refuse. If the angels come after me in a year, you'll need to step in and help."

This way, it would also weaken Heaven's forces.

He was confident Lucifer would agree.

After a brief consideration, Lucifer spoke, "Are you really just a low-level Goblin? You've actually managed to calculate your way to me, and I have no reason to refuse…"

"Fine, I agree, but don't even think about targeting Celeste. She's my only daughter—do you understand?"

His expression remained as solemn as ever as he spoke.

It was clear how much Celeste meant to him.

Lin Tian shrugged. "I'm just saying, what if she's willing? Even though I'm a Goblin, I'm not fond of forcing someone into marriage."

That kind of experience would be terrible.

Now, it was all about pursuing quality.

Lucifer scoffed, "If you were as handsome as me, maybe my daughter might actually fall for you. But as a Goblin, what could you possibly use to win her over?"

"Well, in that case, I can rest easy."

A hint of cunning flashed in Lin Tian's eyes.

Big fish swallow little fish; that's how the world works.

Who cares if a man's ugly?

Besides, as a Goblin, Lin Tian only needed to wait until Celeste became so engrossed in her paintings that she 'accidentally' stumbled into his space.

Raw rice could easily be cooked into a meal at any time.

For someone who had never experienced love, once she truly practiced it, she'd undoubtedly fall head over heels for him.

Lucifer then added, "Let's go. I'll take you to get the Demon Fruit."

"Hmm, but didn't Celeste say that seven Demon Gods were needed to retrieve it?" Lin Tian asked, puzzled.

At these words, Lucifer sighed. "Why does she tell everything to outsiders? If others were involved, yes, it would take seven Demon Gods to unlock the barrier. But I was the one who created it—I can enter whenever I want."

As he spoke, he began leading the way.

Instead of heading outside, they moved deeper into the palace.

They arrived at an ancient, shadowy underground entrance.

The stairs descended endlessly, as though leading into an abyss.

Lucifer spread his wings and flew downward, calling out, "Keep up!"

Lin Tian, with his incredibly robust physique, simply hurled himself downward.

He had no idea how long he ran before he finally saw an exit.

What lay before him was a vast, barren plain, devoid of even a single blade of grass or tree. Only the searing, scorching ground remained.

At the center of the plain, a massive black-and-red light barrier stood.

Lucifer waited by the barrier, which must have been the one he mentioned.

Within the barrier stood a towering, leafless tree over ten meters tall, appearing desiccated and dead.

Its entire surface was black, with cracks in the trunk that emitted molten lava-like light.

The branches twisted in chaotic directions, resembling tortured, writhing arms.

At the treetop, clusters of around ten black-and-red fruits hung, somewhat resembling custard apples, their surfaces uneven and ridged.

Within the sunken pits, lava-like liquid flowed visibly.

The protruding parts gleamed with a glossy black sheen, looking extremely appetizing.

At this moment, Lucifer formed a small magic array in his hand. When it came into contact with the barrier, that section melted away, creating an entrance just large enough to pass through.

"Go on. Choose whichever one you want; each fruit has a different power. It's up to your luck," Lucifer said.

Lin Tian hurried forward. As he gazed at the Tree of Hell up close, he couldn't help but marvel.

It was like a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship!

Utterly awe-inspiring.

He leapt effortlessly among the branches, climbing straight to the top. Staring at the dozen or so fruits within his reach, his heart pounded with excitement.

Each one held a Mythic-Class exclusive skill!

How could he not be thrilled?

He reached out and plucked one.

Each fruit was about the size of a large pear but intensely hot, like a fireball in his hand.

He quickly stored it in his spatial ring.

Just as he reached for a second, Lucifer's voice rang out, "Stop! One is enough. Do you intend to take them all?"

These fruits were as precious as Sun-Class magical artifacts.

Perhaps even more so.

Moreover, they were irreplaceable. The tree had originally borne eighteen fruits, but after they'd harvested seven, only eleven remained.