From Goblin to Goblin God - Chapter 311

Chapter 311: Demon Fruit, Tree of Hell

TL: Sungmin

Hearing this, Celeste hesitated slightly but remembered Lin Tian’s words and actions. She decided she shouldn’t hide anything from him.

She spoke directly, “Just now, it was my father who discovered you.”

“Your father? Lucifer?!” Lin Tian frowned slightly, a bit surprised. He couldn’t help but recall the battle on the Lanyang Plains when Veronica had established contact with Lucifer. That was the first time he felt the overwhelming power of absolute strength.

No wonder he had felt so uneasy earlier—it was an instinctual reaction of a living being.

Celeste continued, “Yes, but don’t worry. He has no ulterior motives toward you. He just came to inform me of something… something that has left me very troubled.”

For Lucifer, not even the Demigod Empire was worth paying attention to, let alone the Goblin Empire.

Lin Tian replied, “I see. I figured as much. But why do you look so distressed?”

Celeste’s eyes showed clear reluctance. After some thought, she finally said, “Would you say we’re friends? I’ve been trying to understand the meaning of friendship these past few days. Friends are supposed to confide in and help each other, right? If so, can you help me?”

Her gaze held a trace of vulnerability, making Lin Tian hesitate to refuse. But… were they really friends?

“I just wanted to make you a jogging partner, and now you’re calling me a friend? Did I get tricked into this?” Lin Tian thought wryly.

Celeste’s face turned crimson as she spoke, clearly flustered. “My father suddenly arranged a banquet for me, inviting young high demons. He wants me to choose one of them as my husband… But I’m not ready for such feelings or roles. I don’t know what to do.”

Hearing this, Lin Tian was indignant. “An arranged marriage? Damn, so even demons play this game.”

Though he was annoyed, there wasn’t much he could do. Propose to Lucifer that he marry her? Leaving aside whether Lucifer would agree, he himself couldn’t afford to be tied down. Besides, Lucifer would likely kill him.

Since that was out of the question, the only option was to come up with a bad idea to make Celeste undesirable. Lin Tian suggested, “Here’s what you do: during the banquet, throw a tantrum or say none of them meet your standards. Demand they be skilled in every art imaginable—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. That should buy you some time.”

“Uh… okay, I’ll try. By the way, why did you come looking for me?” Celeste, still confused, changed the topic.

At her question, Lin Tian remembered his purpose. “Oh, right. I wanted to ask if you know any way to become stronger. I feel like I’m still too weak and want to improve.”

Celeste thought for a moment and said, “Actually, you—and even your team—are already very strong. You managed to fight Beelzebub to a standstill. However, there is one method I know of: eating the Demon Fruit of the Tree of Hell.”

At the mention of the Tree of Hell and the Demon Fruit, her expression turned particularly serious, her tone growing heavy.

“The Tree of Hell? Demon Fruit?” Lin Tian immediately asked, “You mean the thing Lucifer and the other Demon Gods ate?”

Legend had it that Lucifer, in his pursuit of power, discovered the Tree of Hell in the depths of Hell and ate its fruit. He became grotesque but gained immense strength. Afterward, six other angels followed his example, eating the fruit as well, and thus the story of the demons of Hell was born.

Celeste nodded firmly. “Exactly. But now, the Tree of Hell is a forbidden area for the demon race. Even the seven Demon Gods cannot enter it freely. All seven must gather to gain access. As for obtaining the fruit—it’s even harder.”

“How much of a power boost does eating the fruit provide?” Lin Tian pressed, weighing the risks and rewards.

Celeste explained, “It’s said that each fruit contains a Mythic-Class skill—a completely new ability that establishes an entirely original mythic-class system.”

“Damn!” Lin Tian’s eyes lit up. A completely new Mythic-Class skill! That was essentially a personal innate skill.

Currently, his skills like Jehovah’s Blessing were derived from the true Main God, Jehovah. Even skills like Gluttony and Eternal Wrath could be traced back to their origins. If he could obtain a completely original skill and name it after himself, it would be an entirely different concept.

Slapping his thigh, Lin Tian declared, “Here’s the deal, Celeste. You’re worried about your marriage situation, so I’ll help you navigate it safely. In return, I need intel on the Tree of Hell or, better yet, a few Demon Fruits.”

Celeste thought for a moment before replying, “I can’t promise anything, but if we’re friends, I’ll try to help you.”

Her understanding of friendship was still vague, leading her to believe it meant helping in any way possible—even if it meant violating the demon race’s strictest taboos.

Lin Tian was stunned. The matter had sounded so serious just moments ago, but Celeste agreed so readily now? Still, considering she was part of Lucifer’s family, it was likely fine.

He responded, “Alright, I’ll accompany you to Hell then. By the way, if I go, is there any chance your father might kill me?”

He couldn’t help but worry about this. Even if he could escape using Eden Space, there was no guarantee he’d have the time to activate it before being instantly obliterated.

Celeste looked brimming with confidence. “Don’t worry. You’re my friend, so you’re also my father’s friend. I promise he won’t harm you.”

Hearing this, Lin Tian felt reassured. As the saying went, fortune favored the bold. For the sake of the Demon Fruit—power so enticing that Lucifer himself had betrayed Heaven to pursue it—traveling to Hell was no big deal.

However, this type of event was one Lin Tian had never attended before. The weakest attendees would be high demons, with combat power starting at least at 20,000 and possibly much higher. This was undoubtedly a gathering of Hell’s upper crust.

Even though Lin Tian was a king in his own right, the scale of this banquet far outclassed anything he had ever experienced.

“Alright, I’ll head back and prepare a bit,” he said. Some grooming was definitely in order. After all, what if some female high demon took a liking to him?

The banquet wasn’t a singles-only event. It was likely to be a grand gathering involving people of all genders and ages. Knowing how goblins were perceived, Lin Tian understood that his current appearance wouldn’t make the cut—not even for an elderly demon.

He decided to find a more attractive humanoid form to blend in. Using Abnormal Fusion, he planned to craft the most handsome appearance possible. After hours of wandering through the city, hunting and assimilating dozens of humanoid monsters, he finally sculpted himself into a breathtakingly handsome figure.

“Wow! No way! When did such a handsome humanoid show up in the city?!”

“My god, that nose, those eyes, that mouth—every strand of hair is perfection!”

“This… this must be a sculpture! There’s no way he’s real!”

“Handsome guy! Want me to make you fly~? Let’s go out sometime!”

“Pick me, pick me! I have money!”

“Out of my way! I’m the prettiest humanoid here…”

Wherever Lin Tian went, chaos erupted. Female humanoid monsters swarmed the streets, their sheer numbers nearly grinding the city to a halt.

Indeed, being handsome had its perks. This scene rivaled the frenzy he caused during his previous shopping spree.

However, Abnormal Fusion had its drawbacks. Some of the more powerful humanoid monsters began to tremble. “Wait a second… Something’s not right. This handsome guy’s aura feels kind of like… Goblin Majesty?”

“Oh crap, it must be him! Let’s get out of here!”

“Isn’t that even better? Your Majesty, please, just once!”

Unable to endure the commotion, Lin Tian retreated to the royal palace. He still needed to inform the others, considering he didn’t know how long the trip would take.

At the palace, he gathered his companions. The first to arrive was the One-Eyed Owl, who, upon seeing the impossibly handsome figure seated on the throne, smirked. “Oh? Which family’s pretty boy wandered in here by mistake? I’ll give you three seconds to crawl down on your knees, or I’ll smash that handsome face of yours!”

She was as blunt and straightforward as ever—never mincing words.

Lin Tian chuckled lightly. “How’s it look? Handsome enough to dazzle you?”

“Huh? You… You’re Lin Tian?!” The One-Eyed Owl scrutinized him closely, recognizing his aura and facial expressions almost immediately. Without warning, she pounced. “Well then, don’t blame me for being rough. Time to ruin this beauty!”

Lin Tian was utterly dumbfounded, struggling to fend her off. “Hey, hey, hold on! Do you even know where you are? Plus, everyone else is about to arrive!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Alice stepped halfway into the hall. Her sapphire eyes locked onto the scene of Lin Tian and the One-Eyed Owl. Instantly, the entire hall fell silent, as if time itself had frozen.

They stared at each other—Lin Tian and Alice—neither knowing what to say.

“My apologies,” Alice finally remarked. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I didn’t realize Lady Elizabeth had such peculiar tastes, but I must admit her eye for beauty is impeccable.” With that, she turned to leave.

Neither Lin Tian nor the One-Eyed Owl had time to react.

But then, Alice paused, doubled back, and shut the door firmly behind her. Outside, the others were just arriving. Seeing the closed door, they looked puzzled.

“What’s going on? Is Boss not inside?” Gobu Yue asked, confused.

Alice nodded. “Lady Elizabeth seems to have brought back a pretty boy. They’re currently… well, having a moment. That guy is quite the looker, I must say.”

Hearing this, everyone’s curiosity was piqued. They couldn’t resist the temptation to peek through the door, eager to witness the spectacle for themselves.

Inside the grand hall, Lin Tian had finally managed to calm the One-Eyed Owl down. He spoke with a mix of exasperation and amusement, “Why are you all crouching by the door crack? Just come in already—I have an announcement to make.”

“Huh?”

“Who is this ridiculously handsome guy? Why does he look so much like the boss?”

“Did you all forget? His Majesty can shapeshift. This is him!” someone realized, and the rest quickly pieced it together.

Everyone burst into the hall. Seeing Lin Tian in his current form, no one held back their admiration. Even Alice, who had initially kept her composure, turned beet red upon realizing the truth. And as for Sara, Gobu Yue, and the others—they looked ready to pounce and devour him on the spot.

Seeing their reactions, Lin Tian couldn’t help but feel a little smug. “Alright, calm down! The hall’s air is going to stink from all this drooling. I’m here to announce something important: I’ve decided to make a trip to Hell to find ways to increase both your strength and my own.”

“Uh-huh, uh-huh!” The One-Eyed Owl and the others were too mesmerized by his beauty to process his words, nodding absentmindedly.

But Gobu Kuang’s face was filled with shock. “What?! Boss, you’re going to Hell? What about us?”

“Idiot,” Gobu Tian interjected, trying to clarify. “The boss means he’s going for a visit, not to stay forever…” Yet even he seemed unsure. “Wait, Boss, isn’t that way too risky?”

Gobu Shan, too, looked panicked.

Hearing this, the others finally caught on. “Hell?! Your Majesty, that’s the dwelling of demons and undead! There’s a huge chance of never coming back!” Alice pleaded with concern.

Everyone’s fear and anxiety were evident.

Lin Tian sighed. “Relax. Celeste will be with me, so it shouldn’t be a big problem. My main goal is to acquire a Demon Fruit, which will strengthen me enough to fight the angels and crush the Demigod Empire.”

Demon Fruit?

Most of the group didn’t know much about it, but Alice and Katheryn, both former members of the Church, understood its significance. They knew the stories of Lucifer and the other fallen angels who had consumed it, becoming grotesque, malevolent, and irrevocably corrupted, leading to their banishment from Heaven.

“Your Majesty, you mustn’t touch that fruit. It’s a forbidden object that will rob you of your sanity and turn you into a true demon,” Alice warned urgently.

Katheryn added, “She’s right. The former Left Archangel Lucifer lost all his nobility because of that cursed item. He became a demon, feared and rejected by all living beings.”

Lin Tian, however, was unfazed. To him, Lucifer and the others were more accurately described as fallen angels rather than demons. True demons were the native species of Hell, while “demon” was often just a label.

Besides, as Celeste had explained, the Demon Fruit didn’t alter one’s race but instead granted an immensely powerful and evil force. Whether that power could be controlled depended entirely on the individual.

Raising a hand to stop their protests, Lin Tian said, “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. Besides, the Demon Fruit isn’t my real target—it’s the Tree of Hell itself.”

Sometimes, he thought, being a little ambitious was necessary. What he would do exactly depended on what he found when he got there.

The group fell into a tense silence, unsure how to respond. In the end, they could only defer to Lin Tian. After all, every situation and plan thus far had been under his control, and he had never failed them.

Lin Tian had no intention of seeking anyone’s permission anyway. “Alright then, I’m leaving. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but it shouldn’t take too long. As of now, there aren’t any significant enemies left, and the Demigod Empire is unlikely to invade. Enjoy yourselves while I’m away.”

“Wait a second!” The One-Eyed Owl crossed her arms with a sly grin. “You got all dolled up to impress the demons, huh? Don’t you think we deserve to enjoy the view a little first?”

The others immediately followed suit, their infatuation clear.

Lin Tian, in his perfectly crafted form, was simply too stunning. Every inch of him seemed like a masterpiece of divine artistry.