Ethan Brooks casually stretched out his hand and started drawing cards from the magic card deck with a flurry.

　　One... two... three... five... ten...

　　Ethan Brooks's momentum in drawing cards quickly dropped as more and more broken cards appeared. He began to doubt whether the almanac was really just a bunch of outdated nonsense...

　　Bang! Golden flowers burst into the air, soaring ten times higher than the golden light from last time when he drew the Five Viscera Fruit, enveloping the entire offering table in a sky full of golden light.

　　‘Congratulations, you have smashed out a 【Tenfold Time House】.’

　　The prize information from the magic card echoed through the dilapidated temple.

　　The black shadow turned into a streak of black light and rushed to the front of the magic card, staring intently at the beam of light shooting out from the card, and at the five big characters 【十倍时间屋】written on the beam.

　　“How is this possible? How is this possible? What kind of luck is this? How can someone be so lucky?”

　　The black shadow’s muttering made Ethan Brooks curious as well. Did he really just smash out an incredible prize? Looks like the almanac really is the crystallization of thousands of years of Chinese wisdom!

　　“What is this 【Tenfold Time House】?”

　　Ethan Brooks's question was quickly answered by the magic card’s beam of light, which displayed the usage instructions for the prize.

　　【Tenfold Time House】: Time inside the house flows ten times faster than outside. One day outside equals ten days inside. Suitable for cultivation, studying, seclusion...

　　“A divine artifact!” Ethan Brooks began to understand why the black shadow was so excited. This prize could truly be called a heaven-defying artifact!

　　The introduction to the 【Tenfold Time House】continued to appear above the beam of light: this prize can be used for three days, meaning thirty days inside for every three days outside. After use, it will be automatically reclaimed.

　　“It’s not a permanent usage right?”

　　Ethan Brooks couldn’t help but complain, thinking about how to make the most effective use of this 【Tenfold Time House】. But his hand didn’t stop drawing cards, and in one go, he drew the remaining fifteen magic cards, gaining two more Five Viscera Fruits.

　　Seeing Ethan Brooks about to leave with his prizes, the black shadow hurriedly called out, “Wait a minute.”

　　Ethan Brooks looked at the black shadow curiously and asked, “What is it?”

　　The black shadow finally had the chance to ask the question he’d been wanting to ask: “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t draw cards that day? Something about windfall luck possibly being disaster—why did you suddenly start drawing?”

　　Ethan Brooks frowned and thought for a moment before saying, “I didn’t draw because I was afraid of a poisoned pie falling from the sky. I drew because I’ve encountered too many fantastical things. So smashing and drawing cards might not be a pie from the sky. It could be a key, but as for what door this key opens? I don’t know...”

　　The black shadow’s evaluation of Ethan Brooks rose to an even higher level. Is he really just a high school student?

　　“I’ve had bad kidneys since I was a child. The only reason I’m alive today is because I have a kidney my dad gave me.” Ethan Brooks pointed to his lower back, a self-mocking smile on his face. “The doctor said I can’t do any strenuous exercise for the rest of my life. That’s the nice way to put it. To put it less nicely, it means that even though I’m alive, I’m half-disabled.”

　　“Do you know what it’s like for someone to know from a young age that their whole life is ruined, destined to drag their father down, and that because of themselves, their father has become a shameless conman? Do you know what that feels like?”

　　Ethan Brooks suddenly raised his hand, making a stopping gesture: “Don’t say you do.”

　　Ethan Brooks lowered his head and was silent for a while. Over the years, some words had always weighed on his heart. Who could he tell? How could he say it? He never knew.

　　But the more he kept these thoughts hidden, the more they pressed on him like a heavy stone, making it harder to bear when he was alone.

　　The black shadow’s question, on the contrary, helped him find someone he could talk to.

　　Ethan Brooks wasn’t worried that after telling the black shadow, it would go and tell others, making everyone know his thoughts.

　　“Really, don’t say you do.” Ethan Brooks lowered his head. “Only those who have truly experienced this can understand. Only then can you understand that I don’t just long to live, I long to live healthily.”

　　Ethan Brooks fell silent again for a moment, then suddenly looked up at the black shadow and said, “That’s why I desire power more than anyone! I long for the power to protect my father! So he doesn’t have to get beaten up for being a conman! So he doesn’t have to worry about making a living the moment he opens his eyes! So he doesn’t have to worry that after he dies, I won’t be able to survive! So he doesn’t have to worry that after he dies, my kidney will reach its limit and there won’t be a new one to replace it!”

　　Ethan Brooks’s voice was full of honesty: “I have so many desires! So many! But they were always powerless desires, with no chance of coming true. Drawing cards? Seems like a pretty good opportunity. My life is worthless anyway. If it’s a poisoned pie, then I’ll die early and stop dragging my dad down. If I die early, he can still find another wife and live his life. If not...”

　　“Then I want to know, where does the road behind the door lead, and... how far can I go.”

　　After saying the words that had been pent up in his heart for so long, Ethan Brooks felt an indescribable relief in his chest. He ignored the black shadow and left the Demon King System.

Chapter 13: I Just Got a New Goji Berry