Choice

Donald looked at the women who had emerged from Linley's castle. After sweeping his gaze over them, he said regretfully, "That Diana has been chosen."

Dennis and the others laughed.

Thomas threw his head back and laughed. "Haha, that woman really is top-notch, but the others aren't bad either."

They began dividing the spoils on the spot. The Mid-level Gods chose first, followed by the Low-level Gods. The remaining women were sent back.

Corey, Leikart, Woz, and the other God-level powerhouses who had only recently joined them were not mentioned. This was the default distribution of spoils, and naturally, only God-level powerhouses who had contributed were qualified to participate.

Thomas first settled the women he had chosen, then went to the western side of the tribe. Outside a two-story building, his Spiritual Sense spread out and found a young man and a boy cultivating inside.

"Durandal, Arthur, come with me."

His divine might surged, and Thomas's voice brooked no argument.

The father and son, who had been cultivating hard inside the house, were jolted awake. With complicated emotions, they walked out and saw Thomas staring at them with an ambiguous smile.

"My lord."

Durandal respectfully knelt on the ground. In his heart, he felt both fury and pain at having lost his wife. Never before had he been so desperate to become a god.

Thomas smiled playfully. "Congratulations. Miss Diana has been chosen by the chief."

Durandal and Arthur were filled with humiliation and despair. They were not even Low-level Gods, let alone Mid-level Gods—and this was the very powerhouse who had killed the previous chief.

"Come on. The chief wants to see you."

Thomas brought the two of them into the castle. He did not hurry away, curious about how Linley intended to deal with them. If it were me, I would have killed this father and son long ago and be done with it.

"Greetings, Chief."

Durandal and Arthur noticed Diana beside Linley at first glance, and their emotions became agitated.

Linley asked with great interest, "Durandal, I heard that you're skilled in Alchemy."

Durandal replied respectfully, "Yes, my lord. I do understand a little about Alchemy."

Linley said, "Tell me about it."

"Yes."

Durandal was somewhat surprised. A Mid-level God powerhouse like Linley was actually interested in Alchemy. After all, everyone knew that cultivating laws and profound mysteries was the absolute mainstream.

"Alchemy can use all kinds of materials..."

Linley listened with great interest and even obtained one of Durandal's Alchemy Notes. After casually flipping through it, he put it into his Space Ring, planning to study its contents in detail when he had time.

Linley changed the subject and asked, "How many years have you been stuck at the Saint Domain Limit?"

"Almost nine hundred years."

Durandal's voice was tinged with bitterness and sorrow.

As they spoke, Durandal boldly glanced at Diana. She was so elegant and alluring, like a red rose that outshone all other flowers. Back in the Material Plane, he had fought many powerhouses to win her.

Unfortunately, she was now standing beside another man. At the thought of this, Durandal's heart filled with regret. If only he had known, he should never have come to Hell to roam about. It would have been better to remain in the Material Plane. He had never imagined that the lofty Saint Domain powerhouses would be as lowly as dogs here.

He had overestimated his own talent and underestimated the difficulty of becoming a god. After nine hundred years, he still had not taken that crucial step.

Otherwise, the treatment of a God-level powerhouse was worlds apart from that of a Saint Domain expert. He was confident that he could still have protected his wife.

Linley shook his head and assessed him. "In an environment like Hell, failing to become a god after being stuck at the Saint Domain Limit for nine hundred years means, to be honest, that your talent is very ordinary."

Durandal lowered his head in shame.

Linley continued, "Originally, if I wanted to take Diana for myself, I should have killed you and Diana's son to eliminate future trouble."

Durandal and Arthur remained silent.

Linley smiled. "However, since you understand Alchemy, I can give you a chance. If you break through and become a god within the next hundred years, I'll permit Diana to return to your side. Of course, that depends on whether she is willing."

Durandal's eyes lit up. He was both surprised and delighted, but then he hesitated, wanting to speak yet stopping himself.

The boy Arthur guessed his father's concern and summoned his courage to say, "May I ask, Chief, whether you can refrain from touching my mother during these hundred years?"

He really did not want to have several more younger brothers and sisters...

This was also what concerned Durandal most. A hundred years was too long. He did not know how he would face Diana by then.

Linley shook his head and answered with a snort, "No. Unless you're willing to leave the tribe, become gods within a hundred years, and return."

Durandal and Arthur's expressions became extremely ugly. In a place like Hell, a Saint Domain expert who wandered around recklessly was no different from courting death. Although living in the tribe meant being exploited for labor and having their blood used to nourish the ore vein, at least they had the protection of God-level powerhouses and could cling to life. If they were lucky enough to endure until they reached the God level, their status and treatment would improve considerably.

"What a useless man..."

Seeing this, Diana felt somewhat disappointed. She recalled how Durandal had once been a brave and fearless holy knight in the Material Plane, yet now he was like a dog with a broken spine, having lost the vigor to charge boldly forward.

"Of course, I'm a very kind person, after all. Even if you can't become a god after a hundred years, I can still give you a godhead. Consider it compensation for Diana and me!"

Linley's words shocked everyone. A godhead suddenly appeared in his hand. It was the spoils he had obtained earlier—the water-element Low-level God godhead.

Durandal's gaze burned with desire, and he felt utterly incredulous. This was a godhead! Something countless Saint Domain experts dreamed of! The chief was actually willing to take it out!

Durandal instinctively looked at his wife. A strange thought inexplicably surfaced in his heart: Is she worth a godhead...?

He instinctively began comparing and pondering.

Young Arthur also stood frozen in place. Born in Hell, he knew exactly what a godhead meant.

Thomas shouted, "Linley, you're suffering way too great a loss!"

He had never imagined that Linley would be so generous. That was a godhead!

"Hehe."

Linley smiled faintly, looking completely unconcerned. "Thomas, you don't understand. This is called 'A thousand gold pieces can't buy what I like!'"

Diana's beautiful eyes shimmered with lively radiance. Her heart pounded, and she felt an indescribably complicated emotion. She had actually been valued so highly. As a woman, she was still somewhat touched.

"If you don't want me to touch her but aren't willing to leave, you can shorten the bet to ten years. But if you fail, the godhead will be gone."

Linley spoke methodically. "Of course, there's one final choice. You and Diana can leave the Tianlan Tribe right now. Since you won't receive its protection, naturally you won't be bound by it either."

Durandal was somewhat surprised. This new chief was fairly just. For a moment, he hesitated as he looked toward Diana.

Diana did not hesitate at all. She shook her head and refused. "I don't want to leave."

In her eyes, Chief Linley was an extremely good choice! Only by following him in Hell would she have a future!

Compared with being the wife of the failure Durandal and worrying fearfully about the future every day, this was far better! She had grown tired of those vexing days!

Durandal's face twisted with frustration. His wife's answer was like adding insult to injury. His heart turned cold, and he said, "Fine. Then I agree to make the Centennial Pact with you, Chief."