Path To Godhood Begins With Marrying Wife And Gaining SSS Rank Skill

"Father," Ray's voice grew sharp, "you aren't kidding me, right?"

Ethan let out a heavy sigh. "I am not lying. In fact, before I came here, I tested my potential. It was F rank." His lips curved into a small smile. "But look at me now. I reached the Advanced Stage. I proved everyone wrong, didn't I?"

Ray swallowed hard, his throat became dry. He stared at his father, and for some reason, in his eyes, Ethan's figure seemed to glow faintly with light, as if a halo surrounded him. Ray's body trembled.

"Then… can I too?" Ray whispered.

Ethan fell into silence. His eyes lowered as if he was lost in thought.

Finally, he spoke."Yes. You can too."

Ray's chest tightened.

"What matters in the end is perseverance. Both times I broke through were moments when my life was in danger. That crisis gave me the push I needed." Ethan's eyes grew distant, his voice heavier.

"What you need to do is give everything. Everyone fails, but sincere efforts will always be seen and rewarded by heaven."

The gloom in Ray's heart began to lift. The fog that had clouded his young mind slowly started to clear away. His chest felt lighter, as if he could breathe again.

Ethan smiled faintly and tapped his son's head. "Now go and play. You're still a kid. Don't walk around all day with that gloomy face."

He narrowed his eyes with mock seriousness. "If I hear anyone say that the eldest son walks around like a dead fish, I'll spank you myself."

Ray shivered at his father's gaze. Then he quickly jumped down with a small laugh.

"Don't worry, Father. I'll enjoy myself," Ray said with a soft and innocent smile before running off into the crowd.

Ethan watched his son disappear. Slowly, his own smile faded. His face grew quiet and serious. He knew well how much weight his words could carry. For many, words like his could become false hope, a poison that ate away at one's sanity. But he still chose to say them.

"No," he whispered to himself. "I'm sure there will be a way. As long as I keep walking this path, I will find the solution."

His eyes sharpened.

"System," Ethan called in his mind.

[Yes…] a cold voice replied.

[There will be rewards that can even change the fate of a dying person. You only need to activate the right conditions.]

Ethan closed his eyes for a moment, taking in a deep breath. Then he opened them again and placed a faint smile back on his face.

"Fair enough," he murmured. "Now it's time to enjoy the party. I can't let all this spending go to waste, can I?"

He straightened his back and stepped forward, but deep inside, his heart remained heavy, carrying the weight of truths only he knew

...…

Far away from Blanks…

A group of maids stood before the huge wooden door. Their voices were low, filled with worry.

"What's going on?" one asked.

"Why is Madam so sad today?" another whispered.

"Did something bad happen?"

Their quiet questions spread unease among the group. The maids frowned, each trying to recall anything unusual in the past few days. But no matter how much they thought, nothing came to mind.

"I don't remember anything happening," one muttered.

"This is the first time I've seen her sad since the Lord passed away," another replied, her voice filled with concern.

At that moment, another maid walked down the corridor. Her steps were firm, and her voice cut through the air.

"You all. Do you want to get fired? "

"Talking behind Madam's back like this. Do you have a death wish?"

Her stern tone silenced the others. The gossip stopped at once. The maids lowered their heads and quickly dispersed in fear.

The stern maid stayed behind. For a moment, she stood quietly in front of the door. Her eyes softened, and she sighed deeply.

'It must be him…' she thought to herself.

Inside the bedroom, a woman lay stretched across a wide bed. She wore a soft, silky gown that clung to her curves.

The fabric shimmered faintly in the dim light, outlining her narrow waist and the swell of her ample breasts. Her crimson hair flowed across the pillows like liquid fire, its glow making her pale skin appear even softer.

She held a glass of wine in her hand. Her long fingers traced the rim before she lifted it to her lips. She took a slow, gentle sip, letting the taste linger. Yet her fiery eyes were not calm. They burned with thoughts that gave her no rest.

After a while, she reached out with trembling hands and picked up a portrait that lay beside her. Her gaze fixed on the painted figure, and her chest rose and fell heavily.

The portrait was of a young man, striking in every sense. His silvery white hair framed a face that was beyond handsome, almost godlike.

Every line seemed perfectly carved. His sharp jaw, his calm but deep eyes, and the faint curve of his lips,it was the kind of face that once seen could never be forgotten.

Her lips parted as she whispered to the empty room. "I thought you were only a one-woman man."

Her hand pressed the portrait closer to her heart. The glass of wine tilted dangerously in her other hand. She closed her eyes, her voice trembling. "To stop myself from doing something shameful, I forced myself to stay away from you. I shut my heart, and I even avoided the chance to see you again."

Her lashes fluttered. Her body shifted, and her hand pressed tightly over her chest, brushing over the softness of her breasts as if trying to calm the ache inside.

"But it was useless. My heart only grew more restless. The loneliness in me… it cannot be filled by anyone else. Not by anyone except you."

A bitter smile touched her lips.

"If I had known you would take more wives, I would have moved sooner. I would not have wasted so much time watching from afar."

Her voice grew low, almost breaking. "Right now, I want to rush to you. I want to throw everything away and hold you in my arms. But I must restrain myself. I don't know why you agreed to marry more, but if you are willing to accept them… then why should I hold back anymore?"

Her fiery eyes opened again, blazing with a mixture of longing and determination. She set the portrait down on her chest, holding it tightly as though it was alive.

"Life comes only once. Better to live with everything you desire than die with regret."