盘龙 - Coiling Dragon, by I Eat Tomatoes (我吃西红柿）UNABRIDGED

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 48, Their Proposals

“Yes, Patriarch!”

Elders Garvey and Forhan didn’t dare to dawdle, immediately departing towards Bloodbath Gorge. The entire main hall immediately became silent, and even Wade had fallen asleep in Phusro’s arms.

“Wade…give me the child.” Linley said.

Phusro handed the child to Linley. Linley, holding his son in his arms, looked at the nearby unconscious Delia, a sour feeling in his heart.

“Swoosh!” “Swooosh!” Multiple other Elders hurried over. Just as they were about to speak, Gislason immediately sent out his divine sense and barked, “Be silent. Linley’s wife has just suffered an attack from an expert of the ‘Edric’ clan of the eight great clans. All of you who specialize in the soul, go take a look and see if you can save her.”

“You all came?” Linley looked in surprised delight at these Elders.

“Hurry over and take a look and see if you can save Delia.” Linley was at the point where whenever he saw someone, he would want them to go take a look.

The many Elders glanced at each other, and then they all walked towards Delia’s side. A silver-haired Elder said, “Then I’ll give it a try first.” As the Second Elder, he had reached an exceedingly high level of accomplishment with regards to the soul.

“Phusro.” Gislason led Phusro to one side. “The Lord Prefect’s…”

“This isn’t the time for discussing that.” Phusro couldn’t help but frown.

Gislason was startled. He then glanced sideways at Linley, then nodded towards Phusro. “I understand. Right. What happened? You, Tewila, and Linley were present on this journey. How could this have happened to Delia? Tell me this story in detail.”

As the Patriarch, Gislason knew that something was off.

“Hmph. It’s all due to the situation between your Four Divine Beasts clan and the eight great clans.” Phusro let out a low snort. Clearly, he was very dissatisfied. As Phusro saw it, Linley had been harmed by the Four Divine Beasts clan.

And then, Phusro described what happened in detail. “At first, Linley and I were riding in that metallic lifeform as we left Meer City…” Phusro gave a detailed description of what had happened, from start to finish.

At the same time, those Elders standing next to Delia were all using their own spiritual energy to enter Delia’s mind, investigating the situation.

“How is it?” Linley held Wade as he looked at these Elders. He felt his heart trembling nonstop.

“Nothing I can do.” The silver-haired Elder shook his head and sighed. “These green specks of lights are too obstinate. They constantly devour, and as they do, they also become part of the soul itself. To use brute force to kill and eradicate these green spots of light will cause Delia to die immediately! To cure Delia will be hard. Very hard!” When he said those two words, ‘very hard’, the silver-haired Elder stopped speaking.

Linley hurriedly looked towards the other Elders.

The other Elders shook their heads as well.

“Linley, don’t be impatient. In our Four Divine Beasts clan, the most proficient at the soul are those members of the Vermillion Bird clan. They possessed the ‘Flames of Rebirth’, and perhaps…they’ll have some method for curing Delia.” The silver-haired Elder said.

“Right. Flames of Rebirth!” A hint of hope appeared in Linley’s mind.

Right at this moment, Linley felt space shudder. He couldn’t help but turn to look, and he saw multiple figures descending from the air. There were dozens of figures!

“Elder Brother!” A deep voice rang out. It was the Patriarch of the Black Tortoise clan.

The other three clan leaders, along with the Grand Elder, had all hurried over. Because of the commands of Gislason, a large group of people now filled this main hall, surging towards and looking at Linley and Delia.

“Phusro.” These people noticed Phusro as well.

“Hurry and take a look at Linley’s wife.” Phusro just said.

“What’s wrong with Linley’s wife?” An Elder of the Vermillion Bird clan asked hurriedly.

Holding his son, Linley immediately stood up. Looking at the throng of people, all of whom were the most elite members of the Four Divine Beasts clan, he immediately said, “My wife suffered a spiritual attack from an Elder of the Edric clan. As for her situation…everyone, come take a look. I hope that someone who has the ability to rescue my wife will do so.”

These Elders all noticed the look on Linley’s face and in his eyes. They could all sense that Linley’s heart had torn to pieces from worry.

“Everyone, go take a look. Perhaps someone will be able to do something.” Gislason said hurriedly.

The entire Four Divine Beasts clan had, in total, just seventy or eighty Elders. More than fifty of them were present here; clearly, the majority of them had hurried over. The first to take a look were the three clan leaders, who all investigated Delia’s situation.

And then, one Elder after another used their spiritual energy to investigate Delia’s situation.

Seeing the large group of people, Linley felt a hint of confidence in his mind. “With so many people present…much like how I can train in other Laws, the Elders of the clan might include someone who trains in the Edicts of Life. Perhaps someone will be able to rescue Delia. In addition, the Matriarch of the Vermillion Bird clan is present. The Vermillion Bird clan possesses the ‘Flames of Rebirth’ ability. They can save themselves with it; perhaps they’ll also be able to save Delia.”

Holding his son, Linley just watched hopefully at these Elders.

He was like a drowning man staring at floating logs of wood.

Phusro, seeing the look on Linley’s face, couldn’t help but think back to the first time he had met Linley. At that time, although Linley had been in dire straits, he hadn’t lost his composure like he currently had. “Alas…” Phusro sighed to himself.

Soon, the Elders completed their inspection. Some of them were extremely skilled with regards to the soul, but they all couldn’t help but frown and shake their heads. Linley, seeing the looks on the faces of the Elders, especially when they shook their heads and sighed, felt his heart ache.

“How is it?” Linley’s voice was hoarse now, but his gaze was firmly fixed upon the Matriarch of the Vermillion Bird clan.

The Matriarch just turned to look at the others. “Everyone, do you have any solutions? Fourth Brother, your soul is very powerful. Do you have a solution?”

“This is too bizarre. I’ve never seen an attack like this.” The muscular, brown-haired man said with a frown. “To save Delia, there must be a step-by-step treatment process, much like the devouring process itself. There must be a slow counter-devouring, converting the green spots of light back into spiritual energy. In addition…during the treatment process, there can’t be any mistakes at all. If any energy ripples strike the soul, the soul might collapse. Difficult. Difficult. Difficult!”

Hearing these words, Linley’s heart fell into an abyss.

“Vermillion Bird Matriarch, how about you?” Linley hurriedly looked towards her.

But the Matriarch just said: “Linley, I’m truly sorry. Our Vermillion Bird clan’s ability to save ourselves isn’t bad…but even if we save ourselves, it takes a tremendous amount of energy. Save others? We don’t have that ability.”

Linley couldn’t help but look at each of the other Elders.

However, all of the Elders either sighed or shook their heads. None of them had any solutions.

“To quickly and yet methodically advance and counter-devour those green lights…it’s too hard!” That brown-haired man shook his head. “As I see it, in the entire Infernal Realm, there are only a few people who train in certain other Laws and Edicts who can rescue her, but I can count those off on one hand. Other than them, only supreme experts who train in the Edicts of Life can save her.”

Not just Edicts of Life. A supreme expert in the Edicts of Life.

If one trained in the Edicts of Fate, the Edicts of Death, it would also be possible. Only, the requirements for those people would be even higher. They would have to be at the absolute pinnacle of their fields, with their souls nearing the point of perfection.

The requirements for an expert in the Edicts of Life would be lower; generally speaking, anyone who had reached the level of that elfin Elder would be enough.

“Are there none amongst you who train in the Edicts of Life?” Linley asked, unwilling to give up.

The Patriarch of the White Tiger clan nodded. “There are. However, to reach the level of the person who launched that attack is difficult…just being able to execute an attack like this requires an astonishing level of understanding with regards to the soul.”

“Ah!” The Matriarch of the Vermillion Bird clan suddenly cried out. “My clan has a person who trains in the Edicts of Life, and his level of accomplishments is very high.”

Linley immediately looked at her.

Gislason and Phusro all looked towards her as well.

The Matriarch said confidently, “His name is Kestrel [Kai’si’tai’er]. He’s not an Elder; he’s a Six Star Fiend. However, his level of accomplishments in the Edicts of Life is very high. I can’t say for certain as to whether or not Kestrel will be able to save Delia, but…he has a teacher whose name is Alfonsus [A’fang’sa’si]. Alfonsus is not a member of our Four Divine Beasts clan. He is a supreme expert who trains in the Edicts of Life. Last time, I heard from Kestrel that his teacher was right here in Indigo Prefecture! Kestrel might not be able to save Delia, but Alfonsus definitely will!”

Linley’s eyes immediately lit up.

Two experts in the Edicts of life had suddenly appeared.

“Hurry and summon Kestrel over.” The Matriarch of the Vermillion Bird clan ordered a subordinate Elder of hers.

“Yes, Matriarch.” That Elder flew out at high speed.

Phusro laughed as he walked over. “Haha…Linley, I told you, right? At the Four Divine Beasts clan, there will definitely be a way to save Delia. If this Kestrel can’t do it, then his teacher definitely can. Don’t worry.”

Linley felt as the world, which had lost its color, suddenly became so bright and vivid once more, filled with hope!

Linley lowered his head to look at Delia. He said gently, “Delia, you have to hold on. There are two experts who train in the Edicts of Life. They will definitely save you. Definitely.”

He then looked at his son in his arms. Linley’s heart was filled with hope. “Everything will be well.”

In the midst of the Elders, Forhan looked at the expression on Linley’s face. In his heart, he snorted, “You really are lucky. You didn’t die. But it’s all for the best. Your wife is in such a state, causing you to be in such despair…I feel absolutely joyful to see you like this!”

“Linley.” A deep voice rang out, and Gislason walked over. “This time, not long after you left Meer City, you actually suffered an ambush from eight enemy Elders, and three of them immediately used Sovereign’s Might at the very beginning…this clearly was a premeditated ambush. How could the enemies have known about your whereabouts?”

Linley raised his head to look at Gislason.

“Patriarch, are you saying…?” Linley had a thought.

“A year or so ago, you rode that metallic lifeform to Meer City. In the past year, there have been three groups of visits on metallic lifeforms, but the eight great clans haven’t launched any attacks. But as soon as you leave Meer City, they attack? Clearly, they were tracking your whereabouts, resulting in them being able to arrange for their forces to lie in wait.” Gislason said. “How can the enemies know your whereabouts so clearly?”

Linley couldn’t help but nod.

“Perhaps someone in your clan revealed the secret.” Phusro snorted coldly. “Otherwise, how could they have found Linley so easily?”

“Phusro.” Gislason couldn’t help but frown and bark at him.

When Forhan heard these words, his pupils contracted. At this moment, Linley suddenly turned to look towards Forhan. Their gazes just so happened to meet, and Forhan couldn’t help but be surprised. “Is Linley suspecting me?”

“If someone revealed the secret…it had to have been him or his son.” Linley said to himself.

After all, in the clan, only the two of them had any grudges against him.

Right at this moment, two figures flew in from outside at high speed. Linley immediately turned to look, and his gaze immediately focused on a black-haired, handsome youth. This black-haired youth immediately walked towards the Matriarch of the Vermillion Bird clan and said, “Matriarch!”

“Hurry over and take a look at Elder Linley’s wife and see if you can rescue her.” The Matriarch said.

“Yes.” The black-haired youth first nodded towards Linley, then looked towards Delia before closing his eyes in thought.

Linley watched this scene nervously.

But then, the black-haired youth opened his eyes, and he looked at Linley frantically. “Elder Linley, your wife’s situation is very terrible. There’s nobody in our clan capable of saving her.”

“But don’t you have a teacher…” Linley said worriedly.

“My teacher should be able to save her, but…although my teacher is within Indigo Prefecture, to go from the Skyrite Mountains to my teacher’s place is a roundtrip of half a year, even for Seven Star Fiends who are making haste. I’m worried that based on the speed at which this devouring is occurring, your wife won’t be able to hold on for that long!”

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 49, Three Months

After Kestrel finished speaking, the entire hall immediately fell silent.

Linley was frantically pondering. “Although the teacher of this Kestrel is in Indigo Prefecture, the distance is too far. I don’t have enough time right now. If we make a round trip, there definitely won’t be enough time! Can it be that I’ll have to send Delia over there?”

If they sent Delia over, the amount of time it would take would definitely be much shorter.

But if they did that, then there wouldn’t be enough time to find anyone else who might also be able to save her.

“Kestrel!” Linley stared at him. “Tell me. If I send Delia to your teacher’s place, how likely is it that your teacher will be able to save Delia?”

Kestrel frowned. Hesitating momentarily, he stared at Linley then said with certainty, “If my teacher intervenes, although I can’t say he will definitely be successful, he has at least a 90% chance of success!”

“90%?” Linley turned, looking at the unconscious Delia.

Linley then turned his head to look at Patriarch Gislason. “Patriarch, I have no other options. I’ll have to send Delia to Mr. Alfonsus.”

Gislason was frowning, and he slowly shook his head. “Linley, don’t be impatient. There’s another way.”

“Another way?” Linley was stunned.

“Elder Brother.” That cold, arrogant-looking Patriarch of the White Tiger clan spoke out. “How about this. I’ll personally pay a visit and bring that Alfonsus over. A round trip for a Seven Star Fiend would normally take half a year, but if I go…the total time of the trip, including bringing Alfonsus back, will be just three months.”

Linley couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy.

In the Four Divine Beasts clan, the White Tiger clan was that of a wind-type divine beast. In terms of speed, the White Tiger Patriarch was definitely the fastest expert of the Four Divine Beasts clan, and was far faster than most Seven Star Fiends.

“No need.” Gislason shook his head.

“Patriarch?” Linley said frantically.

Gislason laughed calmly. “Linley, don’t worry. I just used my divine sense to give the order to an intelligence agent of our Four Divine Beasts clan to inform the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture regarding your situation…and soon, we’ll have an answer.”

Linley was astonished. In fact, everyone in the hall was astonished.

The Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture was getting involved?

“Linley.” Phusro walked over, slapping Linley on the shoulders and laughing, “Don’t worry. The forces of the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture are spread throughout the entire Indigo Prefecture. If he were to reach out to Alfonsus, it would be done very quickly! And perhaps the Lord Prefect even knows some other experts who can save Delia.”

Linley’s eyes couldn’t help but to light up.

The Lord Prefect, as the lord of Indigo Prefecture, had a level of influence in Indigo Prefecture that vastly surpassed the Four Divine Beasts clan. It must be understood that even the eight great clans dared not invade the Skyrite Mountains, all because of the Lord Prefect.

One could imagine how powerful the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture was.

“Will the Lord Prefect be willing to help me?” Linley was rather nervous as well. After all, he was neither friend nor family to this person.

“Don’t be impatient. Wait a while. Our intelligence agents will soon send an answer.” Gislason laughed, and Linley nodded. All he could do was swallow his impatience, burying it in his heart as he quietly waited.

Moments later…

“We have a response.” Gislason’s smile became brilliant. Clearly, the intelligence agent had communicated with him through divine sense.

Everyone in the main hall immediately looked towards Gislason.

“Haha, good news, Linley! The Lord Prefect has spoken.” Gislason laughed as he looked towards Linley, extremely happy. “Alfonsus is one of his friends, and in two or three days, his subordinates will reach and notify Alfonsus, who should be able to arrive here within three months.”

Linley felt relieved.

“Not just that!” Gislason laughed. “The Lord Prefect himself will come over as well. He says he will personally help treat Delia.”

“Elder Brother, the Lord Prefect is capable of treating the soul?” The Grand Elder asked, rather astonished. “I thought the Lord Prefect isn’t very specialized with regards to treating the soul.” The Grand elder and the others clearly remembered the scene, that year, of the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture intervening and stopping the eight great clans.

That could be described as utterly terrifying!

Precisely because of that event, even figures as exalted as Gislason would respectfully address him as ‘Lord Prefect’. After all, if it weren’t for the Lord Prefect, their Four Divine Beasts clan would most likely have been annihilated.

“Haha, I’m rather surprised as well. However, since the Lord Prefect has already spoken, he definitely won’t fail to live up to his word!” Gislason laughed as he looked towards Linley. “Linley, now both Alfonsus and the Lord Prefect will come, one after the other. Don’t worry.”

“I truly didn’t expect that the Lord Prefect would be so incredible with respect to treating the soul as well!” The Matriarch of the Vermillion Bird clan sighed in amazement as well.

Linley felt a surge of excitement in his heart.

“Thank you, thank you all.” Linley looked at everyone and spoke solemnly. “Since it will be a long time before Mr. Alfonsus comes, I’ll go back for now.”

“Alright.” Gislason nodded and laughed. “Linley, go back and get some rest. Don’t worry too much. With the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture himself intervening, given his ability and influence, he can easily invite quite a few people to come. Delia will definitely be successfully saved.”

Linley forced out a smile and nodded.

And then, he let the earth-type divine power swell from his body, which naturally formed a soft, cloud-like floating ‘bed’ which Linley placed Wade upon. And then, he took Delia into his arms, nodding towards the Elders, and flew out of the main hall.

“Alright. Everyone can go back now.” Gislason said clearly.

The Four Divine Beast clan’s Elders all bade farewell, and then flew away in small groups. Moments later, the only ones remaining in the main hall were Gislason and Phusro. The two looked at each other.

Gislason immediately set up his ‘Godrealm’, separating the sound within from the outside world, then said urgently, “Phusro, last time we were discussing…”

—————-

Linley returned to that gorge within the Skyrite Mountains. He spent every day either by Delia’s side or taking care of Wade. But of course, Linley would occasionally let some of the other members of the Yulan branch take care of Wade.

A thin fog billowed about. Baruch was currently standing in an empty spot of land, staring towards Linley’s distant abode.

“Father.” Ryan walked over. “Are you worried about Delia and Linley?”

Baruch let out a sigh. “Right. Linley has already been back for half a month, but during this past half month, he’s never dined with us. He’s always remained within the room, hiding inside. In his eyes, the only person he can see right now, aside from Delia, is probably his son.”

“Linley’s sunken in too deeply.” Ryan frowned.

“Love…is very complicated. It’s something which is hard to explain.” Baruch shook his head.

Right at this moment, a figure descended from the skies at high speed. “Clan leader Baruch, how is my Boss doing?” The newcomer was Bebe. Bebe’s group had arrived after Linley.

“Bebe?” A hint of a smile appeared on Baruch’s face. “It’s good that you’ve returned. Go speak with Linley. Even if you aren’t able to persuade him to come out, if you can chat with him, perhaps Linley’s mood will improvement.”

“Right.” Bebe nodded, then immediately ran over towards Linley’s residence.

Gislason’s residence. The main hall.

“Patriarch, nearly a hundred of our clansmen are unconscious. What should we do?” Tewila said frantically. “So many of our clansmen are sobbing!” Tewila’s return had resulted in the return of a large group of unconscious clansmen as well.

Gislason, frustrated, frowned as well.

“Enough of this subject.” Gislason ground out. “I know their situation well. They are just like Linley’s wife. We aren’t even able to save Linley’s wife; how are we going to save anyone else?”

Tewila’s face was full of worry as well.

“Let the clansmen make their preparations.” Gislason said. “Fortunately, most of our clansmen have divine clones. But Linley’s wife became a Deity through fusing with a divine spark. She doesn’t even have a clone. If she dies, she’ll truly be finished!”

Tewila nodded, letting out a sigh.

He had personally watched as Delia was hit by the technique and saw how Linley had reacted. “Most likely, in Linley’s mind right now, his wife’s life is more important than even his own. His wife is unfortunate as well, to have become a Deity through fusing with a divine spark!”

“Tewila.” Gislason instructed. “These unconscious clansmen…you go make the arrangements. Most likely…some of them fused with divine sparks as well.”

“Yes, Patriarch. I’ll make all the arrangements.” Tewila said.

“Fine. You can go now.” Gislason said.

After Tewila left, Gislason’s face became filled with exhaustion. To him, the matter of Delia and the other clansmen being unconscious was still a minor matter. What truly had him frustrated was the news which Phusro had brought him.

“Can it be…that there really is no hope?” Gislason raised his head, closing his eyes. A glimmer of tears flashed from between his eyelashes, like a gleaming, brilliant little jewel.

Gislason took a deep breath. The exhaustion disappeared from his face, and that resolute self-confidence once more appeared.

“Now…”

Gislason’s eyes were hard and firm. “All we can do is entrust our hopes to the Redbud Sovereign who stands behind Linley, as well as the Bloodridge Sovereign who stands behind the Lord Prefect. Unfortunately, the Lord Prefect isn’t willing to go all out for our clan’s sake. Otherwise…”

In the blink of an eye, three months passed.

“Why isn’t he here yet?” Linley stood outside his room, his head raised towards the skies. Ever since the three month mark approached, he had been watching the skies every single day, hoping that Alfonsus would descend into the gorge.

However, there had been no news of Alfonsus.

Bebe walked out from behind, looking at Linley’s back. Bebe felt miserable for Linley as well. He spoke. “Boss, don’t worry. He said three months, but that was just an estimate. It won’t be exactly three months, but it shouldn’t be too far off either. Most likely, Alfonsus will be here tomorrow.”

Linley turned to look at Bebe and nodded slightly. “Right. He’ll definitely arrive tomorrow.”

“Linley! Linley!” A frantic cry rang out from the air.

Linley seemed to have been struck by lightning, and he immediately turned to look towards the skies, only to see a figure descending at high speed while saying excitedly, “Linley, Mr. Alfonsus has arrived. He’s arrived!!!”

“Arrived?” After having waited so long, Linley’s heart seemed to have suddenly been set ablaze. All the hairs on his body stiffened, as though he had been hit by electricity.

The newcomer was Elder Garvey.

“The Patriarch told me to notify you. Hurry and make your preparations. He is currently accompanying Mr. Alfonsus, and they will arrive soon.” Elder Garvey’s face was filled with delight. “Linley, your wife will be saved.”

A look of joy was on Linley’s face as well.

“Right. Delia will be saved.” Linley turned and rushed into his room.

Delia was quietly lying on a bed in the room, as though she were asleep. By Delia’s side, there was a smaller bed, where Wade was quietly slumbering as well. Fortunately, by the time they had left Meer City, Wade was already able to eat liquid foods.

“Delia, Alfonsus is here. You’ll definitely recover.” Linley said softly.

“Boss, they’re here!” Bebe’s voice rang out from outside.

Linley hurriedly ran out, looking towards the skies. He saw that within the mist, more than ten blurry figures were flying over at high speed, and they soon landed on the ground. It was Gislason, the Vermillion Bird Matriarch, Kestrel, and a group of Elders.

There were two non-Elders; one was Phusro, while the other was a silver-haired old man with a ruddy complexion and with skin as tender as an infant’s.

“He must be Alfonsus.” Linley’s eyes lit up.

“Linley, this person is Mr. Alfonsus.” Gislason laughed, and the silver-haired, baby-faced old man laughed as well, nodding towards Linley. “You are Linley, right? And your wife?”

Only now did Linley come to his senses, and he hurriedly said, “Mr. Alfonsus, please follow me.” He immediately led them in.

The group entered the room.

“Mr. Alfonsus.” Linley pointed towards his wife. “Please help save my wife!”

“I will try.” Alfonsus smiled. He walked to the bed, standing there for a moment as he used his divine sense to investigate. His expression gradually grew solemn. This caused Linley’s heart to clench. And then, Alfonsus reached out with his right hand, pressing it against the top of Delia’s head.

A blurry green light flowed out from Alfonsus’ hand, encapsulating Delia’s head.

Immediately, the entire room fell completely silent, with no one daring to make a sound. Linley held his breath as well as he watched this scene. “Since Alfonsus is acting, he definitely must have confidence in his ability to succeed.”

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 50, Between Life and Death!

Within the room, everyone was watching Alfonsus treat Delia. Linley was the most nervous of them all, and his forehead became matted with sweat. Linley, however, didn’t even notice.

“Crackle…”

That green energy circulated, emanating a very faint sound. Alfonsus, his face solemn, suddenly let out a low growl, and the speed at which the green light circulated suddenly increased dramatically, constantly pouring into Delia’s brain.

“Uhhh….” Delia, seemingly in pain, let out a soft sound, and her forehead creased slightly.

This soft sound, to Linley, was like a clap of thunder. His eyes lit up as though he had been hit by lightning. “Delia has regained consciousness! She’s responding!” Linley was so excited, his entire body was trembling.

Looks of joy had appeared on everyone else’s faces as well.

“Boss, Delia is going to be saved.” Bebe hurriedly said through divine sense with joy as well.

“Right.” Linley nodded. He felt as though he were filled with life and energy.

Gislason, Phusro, and the others began to chortle as well. Linley continued to stare at Alfonsus as the man treated Delia, and the hope in his heart continued to swell. “Delia, you absolutely must get better, you must.”

Right at this moment…

Alfonsus took back his right hand, concluding the treatment.

“Mr. Alfonsus, is my wife treated?” Linley asked hurriedly. Alfonsus turned to look at Linley. He could clearly see the hopes and expectations held within the eyes of this youth. However, Alfonsus just let out a soft sigh. “Linley…make your preparations.”

“Preparations for what? What preparations?” Linley immediately had a bad feeling.

“Mr. Alfonsus, what is going on?” Gislason, whose face had been all smiles, hurriedly asked as his face changed as well.

Alfonsus shook his head. “All I can do is tell you quite openly…I am not able to save this woman. In addition, I recommend that you give up. To save this woman is virtually impossible.”

Hearing these words from Alfonsus, Linley felt his entire mind go blank.

“No!”

Linley suddenly growled, staring fixedly at Alfonsus, like a savage, maddened lion. “Mr. Alfonsus, you must be lying to me. Just now, Delia had a reaction. She was conscious. How can you suddenly said that you can’t treat her?”

“Right. Didn’t she improve just now?” Gislason said as well.

Seeing the savage, wild look on the face of the youth in front of him, Alfonsus let out a low sigh. “Linley, just now, your wife didn’t actually regain consciousness. Rather, while I was treating her, her soul pushed at mine strongly, causing a slight involuntary response in her body.”

“But…but didn’t Kestrel say that you had a 90% chance of saving my wife? How can…now…” Linley couldn’t accept this.

He truly couldn’t accept it!

Three months ago, Linley had been convinced that Delia would definitely be cured. Over the past three months, Linley had been waiting constantly for this day. Just now, Linley had believed that Delia had already been cured.

But now…

Alfonsus let out a sigh. “Three months ago, if I were to treat your wife, I would definitely have been able to save her. But now, it’s too late.”

“What do you mean? You could save her three months ago, but not now?” Linley said frantically.

Alfonsus looked around at everyone, then said, “Everyone, this sort of spiritual attack is a very insidious, vile type. Those green spots of light invade the soul, then constantly devour and transform it. One spot becomes two, two becomes four, four becomes eight…”

“Although the souls of Highgods are powerful, and to devour and transform them is very difficult…as the multiplicative effects continue, the more time passes, the more extravagant the rate of devouring becomes.” Alfonsus said solemnly.

Everyone present nodded.

“I know these things. But why are you unable to save Delia?” Linley said frantically.

Alfonsus looked at Linley, then sighed. “Linley, you still don’t understand? The devouring and transforming speed continues to grow faster and faster. Three months ago, the speed of devouring and transforming…was a million times slower than it is now!”

Linley was stunned.

One becomes two, two becomes four, four becomes eight…as time went on, after a just a few dozen rounds, the numbers would become astronomically large.

“What I need to do in order to save your wife is to counter-devour and counter-transform those green spots of light!” Alfonsus said.

Linley knew this as well; that the treatment method was to counter-devour and reverse the transformation process.

“Only when my counter-devouring speed surpasses the devouring speed will I be able to save your wife.” Alfonsus said, and Linley completely understood.

“Right now, my treatment speed is far too slow, compared to the devouring speed. Even if I go all out, at most I’ll be able to slow the devouring speed and slightly extend your wife’s life.” Alfonsus sighed. “Three months ago, I could have easily saved your wife. But now…forgive my inability.”

Linley stood there, stunned.

He completely understood. This sort of devouring speed was like a spark of flame that had become a prairie fire. The more time passed, the wider the burned area would become. A single spark of fire was enough to char the entire grassland. The same was true for these green spots of light.

The more time passed, the faster the devouring speed…and the more distant the hopes for saving Delia would be.

“Boss. Boss.” Bebe called out repeatedly.

“Linley.” Phusro called out as well.

But Linley stood there like an idiot, completely silent.

“Alas.” Alfonsus let out a sigh as well.

Within the room, Gislason, the Vermillion Bird Patriarch, and the various Elders all looked at each other, speechless. The entire atmosphere was extremely tense and gloomy.

“Mr. Alfonsus.” Linley suddenly said frantically. “I beg of you, please help treat my wife and extend her life. Let me have enough time to ask someone else to help treat her. Is that acceptable?” Linley looked hopefully towards Alfonsus.

Linley understood that Alfonsus’ treatment speed was inferior to the devouring speed. Then…if Alfonsus wanted to extend Delia’s life, he would have to constantly treat her. This request of his was indeed rather excessive.

But…he had no choice!

“Linley.”

Alfonsus said solemnly. “Both because of your Four Divine Beasts clan as well as because of the Lord Prefect, I would definitely help extend your wife’s life if I had the ability to. But…I have to tell you. Even if I help out, I’ll at most be able to extend her life for a day or two.”

“A day or two?” Linley was stunned.

He had been hoping the extension would be for several years. The longer the better.

“This sort of soul treatment…it isn’t as simple as you think it is. To treat your wife…as I just said, because your wife’s soul rejected my energy, even her body physically reacted.” Alfonsus continued, “The soul is a very central part of a person. When treating someone, I have to be extremely, extremely careful. If just the slightest bit of energy spills out, I’ll have injured your wife’s soul and she will die.”

“I can maintain this sort of peak performance for a short period of time, ensuring that I don’t make any mistakes. But if the amount of time I spend in that state is just a bit too long, given how much spiritual energy that takes up, errors will naturally occur. And once an error occurs, your wife will…” Alfonsus said apologetically.

Linley was silent for a moment.

“Linley. The Lord Prefect will soon arrive. Perhaps the Lord Prefect will be able to save your wife.” Gislason said hurriedly.

Linley’s eyes lit up. “Right. There’s still the Lord Prefect.”

But Alfonsus said, “Linley, I already told you to make your preparations. Although I deeply admire the Lord Prefect, to be honest…I don’t believe that the Lord Prefect has the ability to heal her.”

“Mr. Alfonsus!” Linley was growing angry.

“To save your wife, there are only three methods.” Alfonsus said.

Linley immediately started to listen attentively.

“The first is to have an expert who has trained to the utmost limits of the Edicts of Life come. Most likely, his treatment speed will be able to surpass the devouring speed. A person like this will be able to save your wife…but of course, you must understood that if three more months pass and the process reaches the late stages, most likely even the most powerful expert of the Edicts of Life will be unable to rescue her.” Alfonsus said. “However, this type of person, who has trained to the utmost limits of the Edicts of Life, is extremely rare even in the Higher Plane of Life, much less in the Infernal Realm. The second method is to use Life-type Sovereign’s Might. Devouring speed at this level, considering how powerful Life-type Sovereign’s Might is, can be quickly cured!”

Gislason said frantically, “Our Four Divine Beasts clan does have Life-type Sovereign’s Might!”

“Right, we have Life-type Sovereign’s Might!” Linley said hurriedly as well.

“You didn’t let me finish!”

Alfonsus shook his head. “Life-type Sovereign’s Might is extremely powerful. Naturally, its restorative speed is astonishing. But…Life-type Sovereign’s Might is in fact TOO powerful. There is no way a Highgod can control it perfectly. I imagine that those of you who have used Sovereign’s Might know that it will leak out, right?”

Linley was stunned.

Right…

Sovereign’s Might was too powerful. The spiritual strength which a Highgod could exert over it was not enough to perfectly control it. This would cause the user of Sovereign’s Might to emanate an azure aura or a black aura or some other aura over their body.

This was caused by the natural leakage of Sovereign’s Might.

It was said that Sovereign’s Might could only be used a single time! This was because once a Highgod used Sovereign’s Might, there was no way the Highgod would be able to prevent the Sovereign’s Might from leaking out and dissipating. Even if he stopped fighting, the Sovereign’s Might would still naturally disperse.

“Even if I used Sovereign’s Might to save Delia by delving deep into her soul…if there was the slightest bit of imprecision, Delia’s soul would be impacted and would die. To say nothing of the leakage of energy from the Sovereign’s Might!” Alfonsus said. “Remember, to save Delia, there can’t be a single hint of leakage of Sovereign’s Might, or a single mistake!”

Linley’s face couldn’t help but turn ashen.

He understood this principle. Sovereign’s Might was the energy of a Sovereign. He had never heard of a Highgod who could control it perfectly, to the point where not a hint was wasted or dispersed.

Gislason said, “There are indeed Highgods who are capable of controlling Sovereign’s Might so perfectly…according to legend, Highgods who have reached the Paragon level are able to perfectly control Sovereign’s Might. Unfortunately, I’ve never heard of a Highgod Paragon who resides within Indigo Prefecture.”

Linley couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

“Mr. Alfonsus, didn’t you say there was a third method?” Linley immediately asked.

Alfonsus said resignedly, “The third method is to ask a Sovereign to intervene! If a Sovereign is willing to intervene, no matter which Sovereign! Your wife would be easily saved. But…will you be able to convince a Sovereign to help?”

“Your third method is a waste of words.” Bebe said unhappily.

But Linley was silent for a long time.

“Mr. Alfonsus, are there truly no other methods?” Linley asked again.

Alfonsus nodded with absolute certainty. “Given my understanding of the soul, I daresay that I am completely certain that aside from these three methods, there are no other methods available.”

The first method was to find an expert who had reached the utmost limits of insight into the Edicts of Life, a supreme expert who vastly surpassed Alfonsus. But where in Indigo Prefecture would they go to find someone like that?

The second method was to find someone who was able to perfectly control Sovereign’s Might, without allowing for any leakage or making any errors. This amount of spiritual control was something which only those legendary Paragons were capable of.

The third method…

The only Sovereign which Linley had a connection to was the Redbud Sovereign. But even aside from the question of whether or not she would help out, the amount of time it would take to go from the Bloodridge Continent to the Redbud Continent was far, far too long!

Delia couldn’t wait for that long!

“Everyone…I’ve troubled you all in recent days.” Linley forced out a smile. “You can all go back now. There’s no need to worry yourselves over my affairs. Mr. Alfonsus, I wish to truly thank you for having hurried such a distance to come save my wife.”

Gislason, the Vermillion Bird Matriarch, Phusro, and the others, seeing the look on Linley’s face, all sighed in their hearts.

“Linley, we’ll leave for now.” Gislason and the others wanted to console him, but they didn’t know what to say. All of them simply left.

Although they all knew that the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture would arrive soon, after hearing Alfonsus’ explanations, they all understood…that the Lord Prefect probably wouldn’t be able to save Delia, unless his spiritual control was able to perfectly control Sovereign’s Might. But unfortunately, according to legends, only Highgod Paragons were capable of this.

“Boss…”

Bebe looked at Linley’s forlorn figure. He had the sudden urge to cry.

Linley turned to look at Bebe, forcing a smile out. “Bebe, you head out as well. Let me accompany Delia by myself.” Linley patted Bebe on the shoulders. Bebe made a sound in acknowledgment, nodding repeatedly.

And then, Bebe left the room as well.

Within the room, the only figures now present were Linley, Delia, and that slumbering Wade, who had no idea what was going on.

Linley quietly looked at Delia, countless scenes flashing through his mind. Grief filled his breast, and he couldn’t help but raise his head. “Heavens! Why must you punish me so!!!”

His hoarse voice echoed and reverberated within the silent room. It was filled with regret, anger, grief…and despair!

Two streams of tears fell down from Linley’s face.

Linley slowly walked to the bed, kneeling in front of it and looking carefully at Delia. He stretched his hand out, gently stroking Delia’s face. A hint of a smile appeared on Linley’s face as well, a peaceful smile. “Delia, I’ll accompany you on the final leg of the journey. Never to part…ever!”

Time flowed on. In the blink of an eye, many days had passed.

Bebe stood outside the room, staring in from outside the window. At this moment, Baruch walked past. Afraid of disturbing Linley, he said softly, “Bebe, how is Linley doing right now?” Everyone knew Delia’s situation, and they all understood…

That there was most likely no hope for Delia. Only, everyone feared that because of this, Linley would collapse and perhaps even do something which would cause everyone regret and pain.

“See for yourself.” Bebe sighed. There wasn’t a hint of a smile on Bebe’s face right now. He didn’t have any mood to laugh or joke around any longer.

Baruch looked in through the window.

He saw, within the room…

Linley was currently holding Wade, feeding Wade some liquid food. Every so often, Linley would look towards Delia and say softly, “Delia, Wade’s been very good today. He hasn’t caused any fuss at all.”

Seeing this from outside the window, Baruch couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

“I really hope!” Bebe said softly. “I really, truly hope, that Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture who is arriving soon will be able to save Delia! He has to!”

“Right.” Baruch nodded as well.

Right at this moment, a figure suddenly descended from the skies. It was Phusro. Phusro said in a soft voice as well, “Bebe, Linley, he…”

“Phusro, you came?” A gentle voice rang out. Smiling, Linley walked out of the room, carrying Wade. “I came to take Wade out for a walk. Come, Phusro, you can hold Wade for a while as well. It’s been so long since you last came. Wade has missed you.”

Phusro, seeing the smile on Linley’s face, couldn’t help but feel stunned.

He hadn’t expected that at a time like this, Linley would be smiling? But for some reason, he had this feeling…that Linley’s smile caused him to feel even more miserable than a look of grief.

“Alright, I’ll hold him…” Phusro immediately walked over.

“Hug…” Wade, seeing Phusro walked over, immediately reached out with his little hand while saying, “Hug…hug…”

Linley laughed. “Wade can say a few simple words already. He knows how to say ‘mother’.”

Right at this moment…

A figure descended from the skies at high speed. It was Elder Garvey. Elder Garvey flew over, hurriedly saying, “Linley, the Lord Prefect has arrived!”

Linley was stunned.

“The Lord Prefect came?” A hint of color appeared in Linley’s lifeless eyes. Although Linley no longer held much hope in the ability of the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture to save Delia, at least it was worth a try.

“Right. The four clan leaders and the Grand Elder immediately went to greet him. It’ll be a while before he arrives!” Elder Garvey explained.

The four clan leaders of the Four Divine Beasts clan were naturally very arrogant, but they sincerely admired the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture, admired and respected him. The great kindness this person had shown to their clan, as well as this person’s power, was more than enough for them to act this way towards him.

“Oh, Linley lives right here?” A friendly voice rang out.

Ten figures descended from the skies. Linley, Phusro, Bebe, and the others all raised their heads to look. The person flying at the head was the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture, while Gislason and the four clan leaders followed by his side, their attitudes very humble and meek.

But Linley just stared fixedly at that figure who was escorted by those four clan leaders, like the moon surrounded by four stars.

The person was dressed in a long black robe. His long black hair fluttered in the breeze, and his long black beard hung down to his chest. His eyes were very small, but they looked as lively and energetic as the stars. A hint of a smile was at the corner of his lips, and a very friendly look was on his face.

“Linley!” That person laughed while greeting him.

“Linley, this is the Lord Prefect.” Gislason introduced.

But Linley just stared in disbelief. “Be…Lord Beirut?!”

“Grandpa!” Bebe called out as well, shocked. He excitedly charged forward, and Beirut opened his mouth and laughed loudly. “Haha, Bebe…” And as he spoke, he drew Bebe into his arms.

“Grandpa!” Bebe called out excitedly once again.

“Haha…you’ve missed Grandpa, eh?” Beirut laughed very happily.

As for Gislason, the Vermillion Bird Matriarch, and the rest of the four clan leaders, as well as the Grand Elder and the other Elders, and even Phusro…they all stared with wide eyes in disbelief at this scene.

“The Lord Prefect? ‘Grandpa’?”

Looks of utmost amazement were on the faces of Gislason and the others.

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 51, Beirut’s Abilities

Linley had originally sunk into despair. He believed that Delia had no hope for life, and he didn’t place much hope into the arrival of the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture. But he had never imagined that the person who had saved the Four Divine Beasts clan from the flames and the floods, the Lord Prefect whom Gislason constantly praised as unspeakably powerful, was actually Bebe’s grandfather…Beirut!

When he saw Beirut, Linley couldn’t help but feel hope surge within his breast.

Beirut, in Linley’s mind, was unfathomably profound and powerful.

“Perhaps Lord Beirut truly will be able to save Delia.” Linley, in his heart, began to feel rather eager.

Outside the door of the room, a large group of people stared in astonishment at Bebe and the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture, Beirut, and at how close they appeared. They had no idea…that this unremarkable youth who had always been by Linley’s side had actually had such a close relationship with the Lord Prefect!

“Beirut…you are his grandfather?” Phusro spoke out in amazement.

Grinning, Beirut glanced at him sideways, then nodded slightly. “Phusro, I truly do apologize. I lied to you previously. I was afraid that if you knew the real relationship between myself and Bebe, that you would go out of your way to take care of this little fellow…you have no idea how lazy a temperament this Bebe has. He absolutely has to be made to learn to take care of himself.”

Phusro began to laugh as well.

When he had been just a little kitten in Elquin’s arms, that first time he had met Linley and Bebe, he had guessed that Bebe had some sort of relationship with Beirut, especially after seeing Bebe use that godspark weapon.

Afterwards, when he had met Beirut, he had asked Beirut about this. But Beirut just gave a casual answer and had thus deceived him.

“Haha, yes, this little fellow does need a bit of forging in the crucible of life.” Phusro laughed, looking at Bebe.

Bebe couldn’t help but let out a snort. “Grandpa, I already have mastered five profound mysteries. It has only been a thousand years. My speed is already quite fast.”

“How can you be so shameless!” Beirut didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. Of the five profound mysteries which Bebe had mastered, one came naturally from when he, as a divine beast, reached the age of maturity. As for the other four, they came from those soul slice fragments which Beirut had asked his friend to create.

But of course…

Bebe’s comprehension ability wasn’t bad, as he was able to break through four bottlenecks in a row.

Gislason, the Vermillion Bird Matriarch, the other clan leaders, and the Elders were all completely stunned. They truly had not imagined that Linley and Bebe actually had such a deep relationship with this unfathomably powerful Lord Prefect.

“Lord Prefect, Bebe is already quite impressive to have mastered five profound mysteries in a thousand or so years.” Gislason said as well.

“You don’t know the truth of the secrets within.” Beirut said, his eyes half-lidded in amusement.

“Grandpa!” Bebe was rather unhappy.

Beirut chortled, “However, compared to the Yulan continent, you have indeed made great improvements. At least your patience has improved a bit…haha…”

Only now did Bebe smile as well.

“Lord Beirut.” Linley finally spoke. “My wife, Delia, she…”

Beirut turned to look. Seeing Linley, his expression grew slightly more solemn. He nodded. “I heard of your wife’s situation, which is why I hurried over. Back then, when the two of you were getting married, I even sent my son with a divine spark to your wife. Who would have imagined…that this would happen. Alas. Come, let me take a look.”

“Right.” Linley immediately led the way forward, and the two stepped into the room, with Phusro and Bebe following behind.

In the past, Beirut had given her a divine spark out of good intentions. After all, the chances of becoming a Deity on one’s own in a material plane were extremely low. Although there were many benefits to becoming a Deity on one’s own…Delia, become a Deity without assistance? Forget about becoming a Deity; even becoming a Saint would be difficult. Who knew how long it would take for her to become a Deity?

The same was true for Wharton.

If Wharton didn’t undergo the Ancestral Baptism, it would also be very hard for him to become a Deity by relying on his own abilities.

“Linley actually has such a relationship with the Lord Prefect.” Gislason and the others were all outside the room, looking at each other. They were still stunned by this news. At the same time, Gislason set up his Godrealm, blocking out sound and not letting those inside the room listen to them.

“Didn’t you hear? When Linley got married in a material plane, the Lord Prefect even sent him gifts. Their relationship is an extremely close one.” The Vermillion Bird Matriarch’s lips crooked upwards in a smile, and she began to laugh. “To our Four Divine Beasts clan, this is a good thing as well.”

“Right. If the Lord Prefect truly decides to help us, the eight great clans won’t dare to be so arrogant!” The Black Tortoise Patriarch nodded as well.

“The abilities of the Lord Prefect truly are frightening.” Gislason sighed in amazement as well.

They all remembered that scene, from when Beirut had appeared to stop those eight great clans. He had wielded that long black staff in his hands, and moved like lightning as he roamed about in the midst of the many experts of the eight great clans. Not a single Seven Star Fiend who was touched by that staff had any chance at survival.

However, the experts of the eight great clans weren’t able to harm Beirut in the slightest with their material attacks, and when their spiritual attacks landed on Beirut, there was apparently no effect at all.

In the blink of an eye, Beirut had laid waste to and slaughtered more than twenty Seven Star Fiends, terrifying the forces of the eight great clans so badly that they had immediately paused their attacks. Even when Patriarch Boleyn of the eight great clans had exchanged a blow with Beirut, he had been heavily injured, even though he hadn’t died.

It must be understood that Patriarch Boleyn also had a Sovereign artifact. But when compared to Beirut…

They were on different levels!

Beirut was reputed to be the most powerful figure in the Bloodridge Continent, aside from the Bloodridge Sovereign himself! Not only did he have such a reputation; nobody even dared to question it. The other Asuras all tacitly accepted it. From this, one could tell how powerful he was.

“Back then, if the Lord Prefect had forcibly demanded the eight great clans to all f*ck off, even though they wouldn’t have been willing to do so, in the end, they still probably would have.” Gislason sighed. “However, it seems as though the Lord Prefect doesn’t want to offend the eight great clans too much. Most likely, he wants to give face to the Sovereigns behind the eight great clans. Thus, he just forbade the eight great clans from entering the Skyrite Mountains.”

“It already is very good for the Lord Prefect to be willing to do this for us.” The Vermillion Bird Matriarch said with a solemn look on her face. “Back in the day, when the four ancestors were all present, how many experts had aligned themselves with our clan? Our four ancestors had quite a few Sovereign’s Emissaries as well. But after the four ancestors died? Not a single one of those Emissaries cared about our clans.”

The other Elders all sighed quietly.

Indeed. As the saying went, ‘When the people are gone, the tea grows cold!’

Once the ancestors died, even their Emissaries simply watched, not assisting at all as the Four Divine Beasts clan tottered step by step towards annihilation. But fortunately, the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture had finally intervened. Although he hadn’t completely shooed away the eight great clans, at least he had allowed the Four Divine Beasts clan to survive and not be annihilated.

A person couldn’t be too greedy.

The Lord Prefect had already been very benevolent towards them. The Lord Prefect had done so much for them, but the Four Divine Beasts clan had been unable to do anything to repay him.

“Let’s go. We’ll go in and take a look.” Gislason was the first to walk in, and the various Elders all followed him.

As soon as Gislason entered the room, he saw that Linley was standing there to the side, waiting quietly. As for Beirut, he was standing with his eyes closed. Moments later, his eyes opened and he let out a sigh. “Delia’s situation is even more terrible than I expected!”

“Lord Beirut, can it be that even you are unable to save Delia?” Linley said frantically.

“Grandpa.” Bebe said hurriedly as well.

“Haha…” Beirut began to laugh loudly. “I only said the situation is terrible. I didn’t say I’m unable to save her! However, in order to save your wife, I’m going to have to waste a drop of Life-type Sovereign’s Might!”

As he spoke, Beirut extended his palm, and a green drop of liquid appeared within it.

“Lord Beirut.” As soon as Linley saw this drop of Life-type Sovereign’s Might, he was worried. “In treating the soul, one has to delve deep into the core of the soul. If there’s even a hint of energy leakage from the Sovereign’s Might or a single error, then…”

Although Linley wanted to save Delia, he didn’t want to watch as Delia died due to an accident.

“Lord Prefect, using a drop of Sovereign’s Might…” Gislason interjected as well.

“Hey, do you think that I actually don’t have common sense?” Puzzled, Beirut turned to look towards Linley and the others. “It’s just a drop of Life-type Sovereign’s Might. Although it is indeed hard to use a drop of it without letting any leak out, who says I’m not capable of it?”

As Beirut spoke, the drop of Life-type Sovereign’s Might in his hand entered his body.

And then, Beirut pointed out with a finger from his right hand, and a green blurry illusion formed.

“Sovereign’s Might!” Linley was stunned.

“How is that possible?” Gislason, Phusro, and the others were all stunned. Beirut had clearly already used his Sovereign’s Might, but Beirut’s body wasn’t emanating a hint of it at all.

Normally speaking, after a person used Sovereign’s Might, a colored aura would emanate from that person’s body.

That light was the leaking Sovereign’s Might. But Beirut didn’t leak out any at all. From the outside, one wouldn’t be able to tell at all…that Beirut was using Sovereign’s Might.

Linley was overjoyed. “She’ll be saved. Delia will be saved. I didn’t expect Lord Beirut to be so formidable. He’s able to wield even the heavy power of Sovereign’s Might with precision, not letting a hint leak out.”

Sovereign’s Might was simply too overpoweringly strong for Highgods.

Using it was like letting an ordinary mortal wield a heavy sword that weighed fifty kilograms. Due to its great weight, it would be hard for the mortal to wield it accurately, agilely, and without any errors.

The same was true for a Deity who used Sovereign’s Might.

It exceeded the bounds of control of their spiritual energy, and thus it would leak out. According to legend, only Paragon Highgods were able to perfectly control Sovereign’s Might. But today, Beirut had accomplished it.

“Lord Prefect, can it be that you have already reached the Paragon…” Gislason said in shock.

“Quiet!”

Beirut frowned, his face growing solemn. “While I am treating Delia, none of you are permitted to speak. If you disturb me, then you will bear the consequences!” Beirut, for once, decided to show his fierce side.

Immediately, everyone in the room fell silent.

Linley’s heart was pounding, and he watched everything nervously. He saw Beirut extend his right hand, clasping the top part of Delia’s head with it. Immediately, that blurry, illusory green light began to flood into Delia’s head.

As for Beirut, he closed his eyes, completely focused on healing her.

The entire room was completely silent. Not even breathing could be heard.

“She’ll definitely get better. She’ll definitely get better.” Linley stared unblinkingly as he prayed nonstop. He was truly afraid. Prior to this, when that Alfonsus had treated Delia, he had also acted in a similar manner. Linley had believed that Delia would get better, but the result had been…

Utter silence…

Time passed, one second at a time.

Healing the soul was a very detailed, careful project. The insides of a soul were extremely complex, and the innermost core of a soul was extremely fragile. The slightest error would cause the soul to be finished. Even Beirut had to be very careful and slow in his treatment.

After a long time…

The sweat which had poured out of Linley’s forehead had already dried.

“All done!” A long sigh shook the room. This sudden noise within the silent room caused Linley to feel shocked. He hurriedly looked towards Beirut. The moment of judgment had arrived!

“Lord Beirut, how is it?” When Linley said these words, his heart was trembling.

“How is it? Take a look for yourself.” Beirut laughed.

Linley immediately looked towards Delia, only to see the slumbering Delia’s eyelids tremble slightly. In that moment, Linley felt as though flames were scorching his chest, and a look of joy couldn’t help but appear on his face.

Delia opened her eyes, a lost, uncomprehending look within them. She looked around herself. There were so many people here.

“Lord Beirut.” Delia breathed in astonishment, then immediately looked at Linley. “Linley, what happened?” After Delia had been hit by the technique, she had lost all consciousness. She had no idea what had happened in the following period of time.

“Linley, why are you crying?” Delia felt completely baffled.

Why was it that as soon as she had woken up, there were so many people present, including the Patriarch. And even Beirut had appeared!

Tears uncontrollably fell down Linley’s face. The moment Delia woke up, Linley felt as though the world, which had turned dark, had suddenly regained its brightness. It had regained its color!

“Delia!” Linley embraced Delia, hugging her tightly, afraid that he might lose her again.

“Lord Prefect, you…you are a Paragon Highgod?” Gislason said.

“Beirut, you…” Phusro said in astonishment as well.

Beirut simply began to laugh loudly. “What are you people talking about? Can it be that if I’m not a Paragon Highgod, I won’t be able to control Sovereign’s Might?”

Linley replied, “That’s the one!”

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 52, Two Drops of Sovereign’s Might

Phusro, Gislason, and everyone else were momentarily speechless.

“Grandpa!”

At this moment, Bebe immediately spoke out, his face filled with delight. “I know why they are puzzled. It is because everyone says…that according to legend, only a Highgod who has become a Paragon is able to perfectly control Sovereign’s Might.”

Beirut looked around at the people within the room.

“Legend…all of you know that is just a legend, right?” Beirut laughed calmly. “Paragon Highgods are able to do it, but does that necessarily mean that no other Highgods are able to do it? All of you are too rigid in your thinking!”

Legends were nothing more than legends, after all!

Reality wasn’t necessarily the same as legends.

“Beirut…admirable, admirable. No wonder your almighty Sovereign values you so much.” Phusro laughed. Generally speaking, Emissaries were mere subordinates to their Sovereign. The death of a Sovereign’s Emissary just meant that the Sovereign could go find another one.

But some Emissaries were exceedingly valued and held in high regard by their Sovereign.

For example, Highgod Paragons. Although Beirut wasn’t a Highgod Paragon, his Sovereign still held him in extremely high regard.

“Forget about me; your Sovereign values you greatly as well.” Beirut laughed.

Phusro, hearing this, couldn’t help but laugh as well. That fire-type Sovereign had personally competed against him, starting with material attacks and spiritual attacks and moving to other aspects. Only at the very end did the fire-type Sovereign reveal his identity. For a Sovereign to lower himself to spar with Phusro…naturally, he didn’t view or treat Phusro as an ordinary chess piece.

As Phusro and Beirut chatted, the four Patriarchs and Elders just stood there and listened, not daring to interject. After all, the two were both Sovereign’s Emissaries.

Beirut turned to glance at Linley, and then instructed Gislason and the others, “Enough. Everyone, no need to keep crowding the two of them in this room. Linley and his wife undoubtedly have quite a few private words they want to share with each other. You can go out for now.”

Only now did Gislason and the others come to their senses, and they hurriedly nodded.

“Lord Prefect, Linley’s wife has been treated and cured thanks to your arrival. Tonight, our Four Divine Beasts clan will host a celebratory banquet for her cure and your arrival. What do you say?” Gislason said.

“Alright then. Tonight, you can send someone over. For now, I want to chat with Bebe for a time.” Beirut laughed as he looked at Bebe, rubbing Bebe’s head.

Bebe just cocked his head sideways, immediately dodging.

“Lord Prefect!” Suddenly, a clear voice rang out. “There’s something I want to beg of you, Lord Prefect.”

“Little Sis.” Gislason couldn’t help but hurriedly send through divine sense, “Let’s hurry up and leave.” Clearly, upon seeing that Beirut had already asked them to leave, it would be imprudent for them to stay.

Beirut couldn’t help but frown, dissatisfied. He turned to look, and he saw that the speaker was the Grand Elder of the Azure Dragon clan. The Grand Elder clan said solemnly, “Lord Prefect, this time, quite a few others aside from Linley’s wife had also fainted, and their situation is the same as hers! I wonder, Lord Prefect, if you would be willing to help…”

“Hmph!” Beirut let out a cold snort. His thick black eyebrows suddenly turned stiff, and his gaze turned cold as he looked at her.

“Little Sis!” Gislason barked as well.

“Laughable!”

Beirut’s gaze drilled down towards the Grand Elder. “Saving a person uses up Sovereign’s Might! Uses up my own energy! It is easy for you to say…and what’s more, what do the lives of your people have to do with me? By your line of reasoning…whenever anyone in the entire Infernal Realm is wounded or in danger, I, Beirut, should appear and rescue them!”

Seeing Beirut angered, the clan leaders and Elders of the Four Divine Beasts clan were shocked.

Good heavens. The only reason why their Four Divine Beasts clan was able to survive here within the Skyrite Mountains was all because of Beirut. If Beirut simply stopped helping them, the entire Four Divine Beasts clan, under the combined attacks of their enemies, would be finished.

Faced with Beirut’s anger, the Grand Elder didn’t dare to say another word either.

“Lord Prefect, I apologize. My little sister is just worried about her clansmen.” Gislason said apologetically, and then immediately led everyone away.

“Beirut, when you lost your temper, you frightened that female Elder so much, she didn’t dare say another word. Jeeze, Beirut. You could’ve just said no. Why lose your temper?” Phusro laughed. Beirut’s face returned to its normal, pleasant smiling expression as well.

“Phusro, there’s no need to receive outsiders like them with a smile at all times. Otherwise, some people will go farther and farther out of bounds.” Beirut said with a calm laugh

Beirut wasn’t the soft-hearted type. In the battles in the Yulan continent, no matter how many people died, Beirut hadn’t cared at all. As he saw it, life and death were both part of the laws of nature.

Each person would eventually die.

Deities would theoretically have an unlimited lifespan, true. But in the entire Infernal Realm, countless Deities were dying in battle each day. If they didn’t have a connection to him, why would he care about them and why would he intervene?

“Grandpa, let’s go back.” Bebe urged.

Beirut began to laugh. “Right. We’re disturbing Linley and his wife.”

“Lord Beirut, thank you, truly.” Linley held Delia’s hand as he spoke words of gratitude towards Beirut. Beirut had saved Delia this time, yet there was nothing Linley could do to repay this.

“Haha….” Beirut began to laugh. “Alright. I won’t disturb you two, husband and wife, any further.”

Beirut immediately led Phusro and Bebe away, and in the entire room, only Linley and Delia remained.

Within the room.

Linley began to slowly explained what had happened in recent days to Delia. Delia just sat there listening. Although Linley was very calm when speaking, Delia could sense from Linley’s words how much terror and despair Linley had felt, as well as the excitement he had felt when hope had been birthed from despair.

“Delia, if Lord Beirut hadn’t saved you this time…I really cannot even begin to imagine what the future would be like, after you died.” Linley sighed emotionally. “Training? Training for what? Even if I become powerful, what’s the point? Without you, no matter how powerful I am, what’s the point?”

Delia’s death, to Linley, would have caused his future to fade to utter black.

He wouldn’t have any hopes!

He wouldn’t have any motivation!

Hearing his words, Delia’s eyes glistened with moistness. She immediately stretched her arms out, hugging Linley. She hurriedly said, “Linley, say no more. I’m already healed now. I’m fine!”

“Right. You are fine!”

Linley stroked Delia’s face and nodded. “Delia, I have never been so excited, so happy, so energetic before! When I saw you open your eyes, when I saw the colors in your eyes…I felt as though my entire body was filled with life!”

“For your sake, for our child’s sake, I will continue to strive hard to continuously improve myself, to become powerful!” Linley looked at Delia. “With you by my side, I fear nothing!”

The tears began to roll down Delia’s face as she listened, but her face was covered with a smile of contentment and bliss.

“Delia!” Linley stretched his hand out, and a drop of water-type Sovereign’s Might appeared. “This is water-type Sovereign’s Might. This time, if I had given you a drop of Sovereign’s Might early on, you wouldn’t have been in any danger. Fortunately, you are fine now, but I don’t want this sort of event to occur again. Take this drop of Sovereign’s Might!”

“Linley, no…” Delia, upon seeing the Sovereign’s Might, immediately refused.

“Take it!”

Linley said solemnly, “Delia, after this event, I now understand that there will be times when I cannot protect you. By holding a drop of Sovereign’s Might, at a critical point in time, you will be able to preserve your own life. This Sovereign’s Might is highly effective in both soul defense and material defense. Delia, don’t refuse!”

Delia looked at Linley. She knew him very well and understood his temper.

“Fine. I’ll take it.” Delia didn’t refuse any further.

Only now did a smile appear again on Linley’s face. He stretched his arm out, pulling Delia closer, and she nestled into his embrace. “After having lost something, one values it all the more. I’ve tasted loss once. I don’t want to taste it again!”

“You won’t, you won’t.” A smile was on Delia’s face.

“Right.”

Linley said in acknowledgement. For a moment, both fell silent.

And just like that, the two leaned against each other, sensing each other’s breathing, enjoying that warmth, that peace…

That very night. The Skyrite Mountains. The four clan leaders of the Four Divine Beasts clan, a large group of Elders, and even many Elders who had lost their most powerful bodies were gathered together for a banquet. After all, the guest of honor this time was the savior of their Four Divine Beasts clan, the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture!

When they knew of the relationship between Beirut, Bebe, and Linley, all of them were shocked.

Exchanging toasts and celebrating joyously, everyone drank together happily.

“Elder Linley!” Gislason, seated on the throne at the front of the hall, said in a loud voice, “This time, you battled against eight Elders. Although you used up a drop of Sovereign’s Might, you also killed fully five of the enemy Seven Star Fiends.”

Linley couldn’t help but look towards him..

“I know that you specialize in the Laws of the Earth. This time, I had a meeting with the Patriarch of the Black Tortoise clan. Killing five enemy Elders is a major accomplishment. The clan thus bestows upon you two drops of Sovereign’s Might; one drop of water-type Sovereign’s Might, and one drop of earth-type Sovereign’s Might.” Gislason laughed as he spoke.

“Linley, by using this earth-type Sovereign’s Might with your Gravitational Space technique, the power will be much greater.” A deep, rumbling voice rang out. It was the Black Tortoise Patriarch

Linley hurriedly stood up, moving to the center of the hall.

At the same time, Sovereign’s Might floated out from the hands of Gislason as well as the Black Tortoise Patriarch. One was a blue drop of water, while the other was an earthen yellow liquid. Linley immediately accepted them, storing them into his Coiling Dragon ring.

“Thank you, Patriarchs.” Linley bowed.

“After having rendered merits, one must be rewarded. This is the rule of the clan.” Gislason laughed. “Alright. Take your seat again. Everyone, keep drinking.”

Phusro and Beirut, also seated in the front of the main hall, exchanged glances, then laughed.

Below them, however, the unassuming Elder Forhan felt unhappiness in his heart.

“Father.” Emanuel sent through divine sense.

This was a major celebratory event, and so many people had come. The clan still held in great esteem those warriors who had lost their most powerful divine clones in battle and who in terms of power were no longer worth of being called ‘Elders’. These people still had a fairly high status within the clan, and they were invited to attend this banquet as well. Emanuel was one of them.

“The Patriarch seems to be too biased.” Emanuel sent through divine sense. “According to the rules of the clan, if an Elder uses up a drop of Sovereign’s Might in battle, generally speaking, he’ll just receive another one in compensation. Even if the Elder rendered a significant amount of merit, at most he’ll just receive some words of praise. After all, the clan no longer has much Sovereign’s Might left.”

“Hmph.” Forhan replied through divine sense. “It’s all because of the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture. Otherwise, how could they give Linley two drops of Soveriegn’s Might? I really don’t know how Linley has such bullshit luck. He actually even has a relationship with the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture!”

Forhan was extremely unhappy.

Linley being in possession of the Azure Dragon ring was something which Forhan was already rather unhappy about. And now, it seemed as though Linley’s relationship with the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture was incredibly strong as well. Naturally, Forhan was smoldering. But although he was angry, he didn’t dare show it on his face.

On his face, he was still smiling. He even raised his glass in a toast. “Elder Linley, truest congratulations. Come, cheers!”

Linley was seated on the left seat of honor, fairly close to Beirut, who was seated in the front of the hall. Beirut looked towards Linley, then said through divine sense, “Linley, I heard that on the way back, you suffered a joint attack from eight enemy Elders?”

“Right.” Linley was puzzled by this as well. He sent back through divine sense, “This is indeed fishy. First of all, I changed my appearance. Second of all, as soon as I exited the city, they attacked en masse. And third, the enemy sent out eight Elders! They wouldn’t do that without complete certainty.”

Beirut was momentarily silent, then sent back through divine sense, “Phusro discussed this with me as well. I’ve carefully analyzed the situation, and I suspect…that someone within the clan probably leaked out your information.”

Linley was stunned.

“Linley, tell me, is there anyone you suspect?” Beirut sent mentally.

Linley naturally had someone he suspected.

“Lord Beirut, I have no proof at all. And there’s no way to be absolutely sure if there is even a traitor involved at all! Empty suspicions are useless to voice.” Linley sent.

“Don’t worry about if it is ‘useless’ or not. Just tell me, is there someone you suspect! Tell me who the person you suspect is!” Beirut said.

Linley hesitated, then said, “There is a person. That time, when I mounted on my metallic lifeform and left, he saw me leave as well. Within the clan, the only people I have a conflict with is him and his son.”

“Who is it?” Beirut asked.

“Forhan!” Linley finally said the name.

“Which one is he? Is he within the hall?” Beirut asked.

“Yes.” Linley replied. “He’s the fifth one on the row in front of us.”

Beirut followed Linley’s gesture. Turning his head, he saw that Forhan was currently exchanging toasts with another Elder while saying, “The clan’s situation is growing tougher and tougher. Last time, when I encountered an enemy Elder, I was nearly finished.”

“Oh, the one with gold hair?” Beirut sent back through divine sense and asked.

Linley replied, “That’s the one!”

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 53, Putting on a Performance

“What exactly is Lord Beirut going to do?” Linley was puzzled. Whether or not the clan had a traitor and whether or not Forhan was that traitor…there was no evidence for it. Why was Lord Beirut asking so many questions?

Just as Linley was puzzled, Beirut, seated at the front of the hall, suddenly slammed his cup against the long table in front of him. That ear-piercing sound couldn’t help but cause the four clan leaders and Phusro to all look towards him.

“Hmph!” Beirut let out a cold snort.

Instantly, the entire main hall went silent. Everyone understood that this Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture seemed to be rather upset about something. It didn’t matter if they offended others, but they couldn’t offend this person who was supporting their clan. Gislason let out two chuckles, then said, “Lord Prefect, is something amiss?”

Beirut glanced sideways at him, and then looked at the surrounding people, his gaze clear and fierce.

“Linley’s group was assaulted by eight enemy Elders. He killed several of them; he rendered merits, and so he was rewarded. I must praise your clan for the way you handled this part…but, can it be that your Four Divine Beasts clan isn’t preparing to investigate how this matter of a simultaneous attack by eight Elders came about?!”

Beirut let out a cold snort. “From what I know, when these eight enemy Elders attacked, three of them used Sovereign’s Might! Clearly, they wanted Linley dead! And the shockwaves of battle even impacted my grandson, Bebe. Fortunately, I had forged a soul-protecting divine artifact for him long ago, which is why he was able to resist those green spots of light. Otherwise, he would have ended up just like Delia!”

“This was such a major affair, but your clan isn’t investigating it? Hmph!” Beirut let out an angry snort, then didn’t say anything further.

After these words came out, all of the Elders in the hall began to secretly speak to each other through divine sense. Even the four clan leaders seated at the front of the hall began to speak amongst themselves through divine sense. As they saw it…

The real reason why Beirut was so angry was probably because Bebe was impacted as well.

Although Bebe wasn’t harmed, Beirut was clearly upset by this affair. The four clan leaders could completely understand this.

“Lord Prefect.” The Vermillion Bird Matriarch immediately said apologetically, “We, too, feel that there must have been a plot behind the attack of the eight Elders. Otherwise, how could the eight Elders have suddenly appeared as soon as Linley’s group left Meer City? But…there’s no way to investigate!”

“No way to investigate?” Beirut said calmly. “It’s simple. Your clan has a traitor.”

“Traitor!”

This word caused the entire hall to descend into a cacophony of noise.

Forhan was so shocked that even the hair on his body stood up. His heart clenched tightly…but then he immediately calmed down. “It’s fine. It’s definitely fine. Aside from myself, there’s no one at all who knows that I notified the eight clans. If I don’t admit it, who would know? Even if Linley suspects me, does he have proof?”

Forhan’s thoughts immediately firmed and coalesced around one thing – No matter what, he wasn’t that traitor!

But as the saying went, a thief would always be nervous. Forhan knew that no one else knew, but he still felt rather tense.

“Father, do you think there really is a traitor?” Emanuel asked Forhan through divine sense as well.

“Possibly.” Forhan put on a pretense of calm as he sent back through divine sense. “Perhaps there is a traitor. However, it’s also possible that the eight great clans truly do have a way to clearly locate Linley’s whereabouts.”

The main hall was in a state of chaos. The Elders were all stunned.

As for Linley, he was in a state of shock as well. “Lord Beirut is being perhaps a bit too…” He didn’t know what he should say. He didn’t have any proof at all, but Beirut had actually acted in such a manner. Still, as Linley saw it, Beirut’s behavior had always been different from that of normal people.

“Linley, is there really a traitor?” Delia, by Linley’s side, asked through divine sense.

“There probably is.” Linley replied.

“Who? That Forhan?” Delia glanced at Forhan as well. When thinking of possible traitors, the first person that came to mind for Delia was Forhan as well.

“If there really is a traitor, he is almost certainly the person.” Linley replied.

Only now did Gislason, seated in the front of the hall, say hurriedly in response, “Lord Prefect, you say there is a traitor. Can it be that you have proof?”

“Of course I do!” Beirut laughed calmly.

Immediately, chaos erupted once more in the hall. Even Linley was stunned.

“He has proof?” Even Linley himself didn’t know what proof there was.

“Proof?” Forhan, seated below, was shocked. “Impossible. Absolutely impossible. My divine clone sent the message after changing its appearance. There’s definitely no one who knows about this situation.”

“What is the proof?” Gislason immediately said. “If there really is a traitor who has betrayed the clan…Lord Prefect, worry not. No matter who the person is, our Four Divine Beasts clan will destroy all of the person’s bodies, not leaving a single one behind!”

Gislason’s words were firm and resolute.

“Right, the person must be executed!” The White Tiger Patriarch also said fiercely.

“Lord Prefect, what’s the evidence?” The Vermillion Bird Matriarch said. Everyone in the hall turned to look at Beirut, while Linley and Forhan stared at Beirut as well. They all were wondering…

What the proof was!

“I can’t say, I can’t say!” Beirut laughed calmly.

Everyone was stunned.

“Lord Prefect, what are you…” Gislason and the others were stunned, and Linley frowned in bewilderment as well.

Beirut laughed calmly, “There’s no point to me saying it. Only two individuals know about this. One is myself! The other is an almighty Sovereign! Do you think that a Sovereign will come bear witness about a matter like this? As for the details…it involves some of the secrets of the Sovereign. I dare not reveal them.”

Everyone was stupefied.

Linley was dazed as well. How did a Sovereign get involved in this?

“Lord Prefect, are you saying that you are unable to provide any proof?” The voice of the Grand Elder rang out in the hall.

“Right. I am unable to provide any proof.” Beirut nodded.

The Grand Elder said respectfully, “Lord Prefect, if you don’t provide any proof, then there’s no way this matter can be addressed. It’s uncertain as to whether or not there is a traitor! In a situation where there is no proof, it is best not to cause everyone to worry.”

“Laughable!”

Beirut stared at the Grand Elder. “What, can it be that you think I am lying?”

The Grand Elder was speechless.

“Little Sis.” Gislason hurriedly shouted at her through divine sense, “This Lord Prefect clearly wants to pursue this matter to the end. Let him pursue it if he wishes to. If he wants to find a traitor, in the end, he’ll still have to provide us with evidence that we find compelling. If he just randomly points at someone, our Four Divine Beasts clan won’t accept it either! It is best not to irritate him just yet.”

Gislason asked solemnly, “Lord Prefect, dare I ask, do you know who the traitor is?”

Immediately, the entire hall fell silent.

Linley listened carefully as well. Beirut laughed calmly, then stretched out his right hand, pointing down at Forhan, seated in front of them. “The traitor of your Four Divine Beasts clan is him! Forhan!!!”

“Forhan!!!” When Beirut barked out this name, it echoed throughout the hall, and Forhan’s face immediately became exceedingly unsightly to look at.

Linley felt astonished and surprised. He immediately asked through divine sense, “Lord Beirut, what are you…?”

“Don’t worry about it. I have my own plans. All you need to do is watch.” Beirut replied through divine sense.

All of the Elders within the hall turned to look at Forhan, who immediately rose to his feet, a look of anger on his face. In a sonorous voice, he said, “Lord Prefect, I, Forhan, am a third generation member of the clan. In the past ten thousand years, I have killed two enemy Seven Star Fiends! My son lost his most powerful divine clone while battling the enemy as well. And you say I am a traitor? Haha…”

Forhan actually began to laugh loudly, from his ‘grief and rage’. The anger and grief within that laugh caused many of the Elders present to believe Forhan.

Clearly, this Beirut hadn’t been able to provide any real evidence at all, and yet he pointed to Forhan as being the traitor. If it was a junior member of the clan, or a member who had joined the clan just recently, the Elders might believe it.

But this was Forhan. The son of the Grand Elder!

They didn’t believe Forhan would betray the clan!

“Lord Prefect.” The Grand Elder stood up, those eyes of hers behind that silver mask radiating an angry look. In a fierce voice, she said, “This Forhan is my son. Over the course of countless years, I have always understood him very well! I dare to guarantee that he definitely is not a traitor! And he can’t possibly be the traitor!”

A calm smile was still on Beirut’s face.

“Oh, you don’t admit it?” Beirut looked sideways towards Forhan.

“Forhan, you think that since you acted stealthily and secretly, as long as you don’t admit it, no one would find out, right?” Beirut laughed calmly. “But you forgot something. There is no way for you to notice when a Sovereign is paying attention to you!”

Forhan’s heart trembled. “Can it be that a Sovereign was aware of everything I did? Impossible, impossible! How could there be such a coincidence, that a Sovereign just so happened to notice what I was doing?” Forhan repeatedly tried to convince himself.

But on the surface, Forhan still had his head proudly raised, and he said firmly, “Lord Prefect, I, Forhan, dare to proclaim that I definitely have never betrayed the clan. Never!”

“I won’t waste words.” Beirut looked towards him. “You believe you are innocent, right??”

Forhan raised his head proudly, then nodded. “Of course!”

Beirut nodded slightly. “Very well, then. If you truly are innocent, then don’t resist. I will use a hypnotic technique against you. While hypnotized, you will tell the truth to everyone.”

Linley, by now, understood what Beirut intended. “Forhan is a Seven Star Fiend, after all, and even amongst the Elders, he is ranked amongst the most powerful. And he is also a member of the Azure Dragon clan, with that innate azure glow protecting his soul. Most likely even Lord Beirut isn’t capable of hypnotizing him against his will.”

Hypnotizing a Seven Star Fiend was very hard.

A Seven Star Fiend who also had, as an innate ability, that azure light protecting his soul…the number of people in the Infernal Realm capable of hypnotizing him could probably be counted on one hand.

“Hypnotize?” Forhan said angrily. “Lord Prefect, I am no traitor! You even want me to undergo ‘hypnotism’. Although you are a lofty and mighty figure, Lord Prefect, I dare say that you are going too far in abusing others!”

“Impudence!” Gislason barked.

Forhan took a large step forward.

“Bang!” He fell to his knees.

“Patriarch!” Forhan said furiously. “Given the situation, there’s nothing I have to say for myself. The Lord Prefect sullying me is one thing, but he even wants to hypnotize me and wants me not to resist. I, Forhan, am an Elder of the mighty Four Divine Beasts clan! I am also a Seven Star Fiend! I won’t accept an insult like this!”

Forhan raised his head proudly. “Patriarch, if you are afraid of the power and authority of the Lord Prefect, then today, I, Forhan, will grant the Lord Prefect his wish and accept death! The Lord Prefect can do as he pleases and execute me if he wishes! But you, Beirut…even though you are the Lord Prefect, even though you have shown great benevolence to the clan, I refuse to allow you to insult me any further! Even if you kill me, I won’t let you sully me!”

Forhan closed his eyes. “If you want to kill me, then do so!”

Immediately, the Elders in the hall all began to speak through divine sense.

“Forhan, just accept the hypnotism. When the time comes, the Lord Prefect will naturally know that you are innocent.” Gislason said.

“I’ve already suffered enough insults. To suffer hypnotism without resisting?” Forhan’s tears began to fall down, and he said in a high-pitched voice, “Patriarch…when the ancestor was alive, who would have dared to treat an Elder of our clan in such a way?”

These words struck right at the hearts of quite a few of the Elders who were present.

When the ancestors had been alive, the Four Divine Beasts clan wouldn’t have even held the Asuras of the Infernal Realm in much regard.

Beirut laughed.

“Haha!”

Beirut’s laughter echoed in the main hall, and he stood up and walked downwards.

“If you want to kill me, then kill me.” Forhan shut his eyes, kneeling there, the picture of rage and grief.

“Lord Prefect.” Gislason said hurriedly.

Beirut just walked out of the hall, laughing calmly. “Kid, your acting abilities aren’t bad. Fine. Today, I won’t force you to die. You say that I sully your reputation? Then I will permit you to live a few more months…and in a few more months, I’ll see what else you have to say for yourself!”

After finishing his words, Beirut, with a swirl of his cloak, exited.

“I, Forhan, am not a traitor. Several months from now, I still won’t be a traitor!” Forhan knelt there, but his head was held high

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 54, Nowhere to Run

Beirut’s sudden departure caused the atmosphere at the banquet to become rather awkward. This celebratory banquet thus ended very early. Gislason and the other clan leaders bade farewell to Phusro, Bebe, and Linley, and then Linley’s group left as well.

Most of the Elders were gone now, while Forhan still stood there in the main hall.

“Forhan.” A cold, fierce voice.

Forhan raised his head. The Grand Elder was walking towards him, and she stared at him with a clear gaze. Through divine sense, she asked, “Forhan, I ask you, did those eight enemy Elders go kill Linley because of you?”

“No!” Forhan didn’t hesitate at all. “Mother, I definitely am not a traitor! Mother, you must believe me!”

The Grand Elder stared at him, but since Forhan had decided to put on an act, how could he let her see anything amiss?

The Grand Elder seemed to relax slightly. In a slightly softer voice, she said, “Fine. I believe you. As long as you aren’t the traitor, the clan won’t permit any outsiders to kill you.” After speaking, the Grand Elder left as well.

Within that cold and gloomy underground hall.

Forhan was there by himself. “Judging from Beirut’s words, it seems as though he really is certain that I am the traitor? Can it be that a Sovereign truly was watching? But although Sovereign’s are high and mighty, they have their own personalities and human characteristic. They’ll often wander about as well. Perhaps one really did find out.”

Forhan was currently pondering nonstop.

“Hmph. Who cares if a Sovereign found out or not. How could a mighty Sovereign intervene personally in a minor matter like this?” Forhan made up his mind. “As long as I confidently assert that I am not a traitor, then that means I am not!”

Forhan only had to do one thing; deny it, no matter what!

Within that gorge in the Skyrite Mountains. Beirut hadn’t gone to live in the place which the Four Divine Beasts clan had arranged, instead electing to live in the gorge, with Linley and Bebe as his neighbors.

Within Linley’s living room. Linley, Bebe, Phusro, Beirut were present and seated, while Delia was outside with Wade.

“Grandpa, since you and the Sovereign already know everything and know that Forhan is the traitor, just go ahead and kill him.” Bebe snorted. “I’ve never liked that Forhan.”

Linley laughed, “Bebe, deep within the hearts and minds of the clan leaders of the Four Divine Beasts clan is a certain pride. If Forhan is killed without any evidence of his guilt, although the clan leaders and Elders might not immediately have a falling out with Beirut over this, they will remember it and harbor hatred in their hearts.”

“Right.” Beirut nodded and laughed. “Don’t be fooled by how respectful those four clan leaders act towards me. They are, after all, the sons and daughter of four Sovereigns. In their hearts, they are still quite prideful. I can’t go too far.”

Linley felt rather grateful towards Beirut.

Actually, why would Beirut care about if the Four Divine Beasts clan hated him or not? The reason Beirut was acting in this manner was because he was worried that Linley would be ostracized afterwards, and that his life in the clan would become miserable.

“Lord Beirut, you said that in a few months, you would make it so that Forhan would have nothing more to say for himself. What’s the plan?” Linley immediately asked.

“Right, Grandpa, what is your plan?”

“Haha…” Beirut laughed.

Phusro laughed as well. “Bebe, have you forgotten that a year ago, you met your grandmother in Meer City? What did you acquire on that visit?”

“The soul slice fragment. What about it?” Bebe said, puzzled.

Beirut laughed, “That soul slice fragment was delivered by an old friend of mine. I had your grandmother give it to you because I was busy accompanying my friend, so I didn’t have time to go find you.”

“That Forhan is a descendant of the Azure Dragon clan. With that innate ability protecting him, I’m unable to forcibly hypnotize him. However, that old friend of mine can.” Beirut was completely confident.

A supreme expert capable of making soul slice fragments?

“If this person is willing to help.” Linley rejoiced in his heart. “There’s no way Forhan will be able to escape!”

“This time, for Delia’s sake, I had to hurry over here. I was worried that my old friend might have left, but just now, I managed to reach him. That friend of mine is still in Indigo Prefecture. He’ll arrive here in a few months.” Beirut laughed calmly.

“Grandpa, are you sure about this?” Bebe said, rather worried. “Forhan has the protection of his innate ability.”

“Absolutely sure!” Beirut said.

Hearing this, Linley felt jubilant, but at the same time, he sighed to himself: “The friends which a supreme expert like Lord Beirut makes…are all supreme experts as well. Even someone like Forhan, protected by his innate ability, will still be mesmerized. What an amazing level of accomplishment does one have to be at, to be so skilled with regards to the soul?”

They waited leisurely, but as the days passed, the news that the Lord Prefect had accused Forhan of being a traitor quickly spread throughout the entire Skyrite Mountains. Quite a few clansmen were secretly furious, feeling the Lord Prefect to be abusing his power.

In the blink of an eye, several months passed. On this day, Linley and Delia were currently playing with little Wade in front of their house.

Wade was already able to walk wobblingly.

While supporting her son, Delia suddenly raised her head. “Linley, news about that affair from last time has spread quite far. Even the people in our valley know about it. Just now, when I was taking Wade out for a walk, I heard clansmen from the other branches in our valley say that the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture was sullying Elder Forhan. But of course, there were others who said that the reason Forhan refused to accept the hypnotism was due to fear borne out of guilt…still, the majority seem to support Forhan.”

“Don’t worry about it. When that expert comes, all shall be made clear.” Linley said, then half-knelt. “Wade, you can do it. Take a few more steps. Come to your father.”

“Uh…uh…”

Wade beamed, his dimply mouth curving upwards as he tottered forwards with small steps. Finally, he made it to Linley’s arms.

“Father.” Wade said sweetly.

“Come, give me a kiss.” Linley said dotingly.

While holding his son, Linley glanced sideways at Delia. Just a few months ago, he had been lost amidst his despair. But now, everything had changed. All because of Beirut. “I will never, ever forget the kindness he has shown me.”

Just as Linley’s little three-person household was in the midst of their joy…

“Beirut!” A clear voice echoed in the air above the Skyrite Mountains.

“Eh?” Linley and Delia all raised their heads, surprised.

Beirut, Phusro, and Bebe immediately flew out, and Beirut laughed towards Linley, “Linley, that good friend of mine is here. Let’s go. It is time for Forhan’s true face to be revealed.”

Linley and Delia, carrying their son, followed them out of the great gorge.

In the air above the Skyrite Mountains. A single, solitary figure hovered there in mid-air, his entire body covered with a bluish-black robe. His wavy, bluish-black hair was unbound, and his thick black eyebrows were shaped like two swords.

He just stood there, standing in the air above the Skyrite Mountains.

Not a single one of the patrolling warriors dared to go close to him. Gislason, leading a number of Elders, hurried over.

“Patriarch, this strange fellow flew there, shouted ‘Beirut’, then stood there without moving. We wanted to shoo him off…but all of our brothers who approached him lost their consciousness and plummeted to the ground. Only after landing did they regain consciousness.” The captain of the patrolling warriors hurriedly reported.

Gislason, hearing this, couldn’t help but frown.

Gislason immediately flew over and said sonorously, “I am Patriarch Gislason of the Azure Dragon clan. Might I ask who you are?”

Only now did this strange fellow open his eyes, glancing sideways as Gislason approached. Gislason couldn’t but feel his heart tremble. He actually had the feeling as though within the strange man’s eyes were a pair of illusory serpents.

“Gislason?” The strange man said calmly. “I’m waiting for Beirut.”

Gislason frowned. Although the person in front of him was very powerful, Gislason wasn’t afraid of him…‘soul defense’ was Gislason’s strong point. After all, he had a perfect, undamaged soul-protecting Sovereign artifact.

“Then please come to my place to rest while we await the Lord Prefect.” Gislason laughed.

“No need.” The strange man said.

“Haha…Dunnington [Dan’ning’dun], you were rather slow.” A loud laugh rang out, and Beirut’s form appeared in the distance. In but a moment, he arrived. As for Linley and Bebe, they flew over from behind as well.

“Beirut.” The strange fellow began to laugh, immediately going to greet him.

Linley and Delia flew over as well. They couldn’t help but look carefully at this person. But as Linley looked at him…he felt as though the wavy hair of this strange person had transformed into countless tiny serpents.

“Eh?” Linley was shocked. “What a strange feeling.”

“Lord Prefect, this is Dunnington? The legendary ‘Dunnington’ of the Chaotic Sea?” Gislason said disbelievingly.

The Infernal Realm had quite a few legendary figures, which even the likes of Gislason had only heard of, not met. As for this Dunnington, in the Infernal Realm, he was a legendary figure on the same level as Beirut, or perhaps who had even surpassed Beirut!

“Right.” Beirut laughed. “This friend of mine is the number one expert of the Chaotic Sea, aside from the Chaotic Sea Sovereign. Dunnington!”

The Infernal Realm was divided into five continents and two seas. The ‘Chaotic Sea’ was the largest region, with the most experts. Dunnington’s name, for countless years now, had reverberated in the Infernal Realm.

Dunnington was strongest in the Edicts of Death.

Each of the Seven Elemental Laws all had their own specialties and mysteries, which were all divided up clearly and thus could be fused clearly. But the Four Edicts were different. The Four Edicts didn’t have specific ‘profound mysteries’; as to whether or not a person had mastered enough of them to become a God or a Highgod, the natural Laws themselves would judge.

Nobody could be certain as to whether or not Dunnington had reached the stage of being a Paragon or not.

But…

If one was to discuss who, in the entire Infernal Realm, had the most impressive accomplishments with regards to the soul, the vast majority would say the name, ‘Dunnington’. A freakishly, monstrously powerful figure.

In describing Beirut’s power, one could use the phrase ‘sudden rise to prominence’ in describing the manner in which he proved his power through blood-soaked battle.

But the power of Dunnington…had been publicly acknowledged through countless years through countless trials.

Many people believed that Dunnington had already reached the utter pinnacle of power in the Edicts of Death and had become a Paragon. But of course, Dunnington himself wouldn’t tell anyone…and there was no way for others to be completely certain.

“Gislason, go arrange for Forhan to be found and brought here.” Beirut laughed.

Gislason already could guess what was going on, but he still instructed that Forhan be brought over.

Beirut and Dunnington flew together, side by side, while Gislason, Phusro, Linley, Bebe, and Delia followed from behind.

“Phusro, this Dunnington, the number one figure of the Chaotic Sea aside from the Sovereign…he is very strong?” Linley asked through divine sense. Linley simply hadn’t trained for long enough; he didn’t know anything about some of the legendary figures of the Infernal Realm.

“Very strong? Are you joking?” Phusro sent back through divine sense. “This Dunnington is probably a Highgod Paragon. You tell me, is he strong?”

Linley was badly startled. He couldn’t help but take a closer look at Dunnington. While flying, Dunnington’s long, wavy, bluish-black hair billowed casually in the wind, but as it did, it gave off a very strange impression, as though each strand of hair had turned into a long serpent, or arrows of ice…

As he stared at Dunnington, Linley felt his head grow dizzy.

“How terrifying.” Linley was secretly shocked.

“Boss, I keep on having the feeling as though the robe which Dunnington is wearing is actually a strange monster of the deep sea. So strange.” Bebe sent through divine sense. It wasn’t just Linley who felt strange things when looking at Dunnington.

Within the main hall of Patriarch Gislason’s residence. Everyone sat down. Linley raised his head, looking towards the outside. The Grand Elder was walking in. “Elder Brother, which person was the one who had been loudly shouting for the Lord Prefect?”

Gislason rose to his feet, introducing, “Little Sis, this gentleman is Mr. Dunnington of the Chaotic Sea.”

The Grand Elder was shocked.

“Mr. Dunnington.” The Grand Elder said in a friendly manner. They addressed Beirut as ‘Lord Prefect’, because they felt grateful towards him for his kindness. As for others, even if they were as powerful as Beirut, they would at most address others as ‘Mr.’.

As soon as the Grand Elder sat down, footsteps rang out from outside as well.

“Haha, they finally came.” Beirut laughed.

“Which one is it?” Dunnington spoke out calmly.

“The one with the yellow hair.” Beirut said. Forhan and several other Elders walked in together. When Forhan entered the main hall and saw Beirut, the look on his face turned rather ugly.

“Oh?” Dunnington said.

Very suddenly…

Twin illusory blurs shot out from Dunnington’s eyes, which suddenly surrounded and enveloped Forhan. Forhan wasn’t able to react at all, and Linley’s eyes couldn’t help but light up. “Dunnington’s actions appeared simple, but there definitely must have been a struggle within Forhan’s mind.”

Forhan’s facial muscles twitched slightly, but then he calmed down.

“All done.” Dunnington laughed, turning his gaze towards Beirut. “The innate ability of this Azure Dragon clan really is formidable. I had to use some real power.”

Beirut laughed back. “Stop showing off and help me interrogate him.”

“What are you doing?” The Grand Elder said frantically.

“Just hypnotism.” Beirut laughed calmly. “You can see for yourselves if he is innocent or not”

Gislason gave the Grand Elder a meaningful look. Since the hypnotism had already been used, then they might as well let this thing come to a conclusion. “Hmph.” The Grand Elder let out a low snort, but in the end, still sat down. “I want to see what you’ll have to say for yourself after it is proven that my son is no traitor.”

“That’s Beirut’s responsibility, not mine.” A hint of a smile appeared on Dunnington’s face.

“Forhan, tell me, were you the one who leaked information about Linley’s whereabouts to the eight great clans, resulting in the eight Elders attacking Linley?” Dunnington said calmly.

Immediately, everyone in the hall, including Gislason, the Grand Elder, the various other Elders, and Linley all looked nervously towards Forhan. Linley stared at the dazed Forhan. “If it wasn’t him, this will be very awkward.”

A calm look was on Forhan’s face, and his eyes were lifeless. He said mechanically, “Yes!”

“Yes!”

The voice echoed in the hall. Instantly, everyone fell silent. The Grand Elder wore her customary silver mask, and there was no way to see the look on her face…but disbelief could be seen filling her eyes.

“Did you hear that?” Beirut laughed as he looked towards the Grand Elder and Gislason.

“How is that possible?” The Elders in the hall were all stunned.

“Ask him….ask him why!” The Grand Elder’s entire body was trembling. The Grand Elder didn’t want to believe it. She truly didn’t understand…why had her son come to this decision? When a person was hypnotized, they wouldn’t tell any lies. This was an ironclad rule.

Dunnington continued, “Why did you leak the information and want Linley to be killed?”

“He deserves to die!”

Forhan said mechanically, “He is a junior descendant of the clan. By what right does he hold the Azure Dragon ring, the Sovereign artifact of our ancestor!?”

“Sovereign artifact?” Dunnington couldn’t help but look at Linley with surprise. The other Elders all were looking towards Linley in surprise as well.

Forhan continued, “Acquiring the Sovereign artifact was one thing, but my son lost his most powerful divine clone because of him. And he’s just a mere God…and yet he’s already so powerful. When he becomes a Highgod, his status in the clan will definitely be higher than mine. I, Forhan, look up at him and live beneath him, day in and day out? This sort of life is nothing but torture…and so he must die.”

“A God?” Quite a few Elders in the hall all looked towards Linley, astonished.

They didn’t know Linley was a God! They also didn’t know that Linley had a Sovereign artifact.

“So that’s what this was all about. So that’s what this was all about.” The Grand Elder stood up, murmuring softly.

“Whoosh!”

The Grand Elder’s body suddenly appeared next to Forhan’s. With a vicious palm blow, she smashed down at Forhan’s head. With a ‘bang’ sound, Forhan’s head exploded, then two divine sparks fell out as well.

Linley sucked in a sudden breath. “The Grand Elder…”

The entire hall instantly fell silent. Even Beirut and Dunnington stared at the Grand Elder in shock.

“All the clones of those who betray the clan are to be put to death!” The Grand Elder said in a low voice. Her eyes turned moist…but in an instant, they dried out.

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 55, Beirut’s Craftiness

It had been Forhan who had leaked the information. This had already shocked quite a few people, but the sudden attack by the Grand Elder, who had personally executed Forhan…this caused the entire hall to fall completely, utterly silent.

“I didn’t expect that it really was him!” A long, low sigh echoed in the main hall.

The speaker was Gislason. At this time, Linley was looking very carefully at the Grand Elder. “The Grand Elder actually straightforwardly executed her own son!” Linley was completely astonished.

“Elder Brother, Forhan has already been punished in accordance with the rules of the clan!” The Grand Elder said in a cold, calm voice. “This matter is concluded. I’ll leave for now.”

“Alright. You can go back and rest.” Gislason understood that his little sister was feeling terrible right now.

“Wait a moment.” A voice suddenly rang out.

The Grand Elder had already started to leave, but now she came to a halt, turning to stare at the seated Beirut. In a low voice, she said, “Lord Prefect, is there something else you need?” Although her voice was very calm and tranquil, Linley could sense the unbridled anger that was hidden within that calm!

Her son was already died, but Beirut still wouldn’t give it a rest?

Linley couldn’t help but look towards Beirut, who had a calm smile on his face. Beirut said, “According to the rules of the Four Divine Beasts clan, those who betray the clan shall have all their bodies and clones destroyed, correct?”

“Correct.” The Grand Elder raised her chin, looking towards Beirut. “Lord Prefect, why do you ask this?”

“I simply would like to ask, how many clones did Forhan have?” Beirut laughed calmly.

The Grand Elder was silent for a moment. The mask on her face prevented others from seeing her expression, but Linley could see that the Grand Elder’s entire body was trembling slightly. Clearly, she was already utterly livid.

“Including his original body, three clones in total.” The Grand Elder said in a low voice. “However, my son’s original body was still at the Saint level. Thus, when I killed him, only two divine sparks came out. Lord Prefect, I wonder if my answer is satisfactory for you?”

“Little Sis.” Gislason reproved softly.

The Grand Elder’s words and attitude were clearly hostile.

Beirut let out a calm laugh. “It’s fine. She just killed her own son with her own two hands. I can understand why she is in a poor mood. But…Gaia [Gai’ya], I hope that you will remember that your son was a traitor to the clan. He deserved his death!” Beirut spoke with no mercy or remorse.

The Grand Elder’s body shuddered once.

“Alright.” Beirut stood up. “This matter is at an end! Dunnington, Phusro, Linley, come, let’s all go back.”

Linley’s group immediately rose.

As Beirut walked past the blood-stained corpse, he glanced sideways at it and said calmly, “Hurry up and dispose of the body. It is foul to behold!” After speaking, Beirut left, while Dunnington and the others followed.

As Linley left, he glanced at the Grand Elder. The Grand Elder just waved her hand, and the corpse on the ground transformed into dust.

“Let’s go. Let’s go. I didn’t expect that Forhan was a traitor.” The Elders left, all disgusted. In but a few moments, the only ones remaining in the hall were Gislason and the Grand Elder.

The Grand Elder stood in the center of the hall, not moving at all.

“Little Sis, Forhan was a traitor to the clan. He deserved to die!” Gislason walked over, resting his hand on the Grand Elder’s shoulder. Once a person became known as a traitor to the clan, the other members of the Four Divine Beasts clan would hold that person in contempt. Even though Forhan was dead, nobody felt pity for him.

“I know.”

The Grand Elder’s voice was very low. “But I still feel miserable. Alright, Elder Brother. I’ll go back now.” The Grand Elder didn’t say anything else. She turned and immediately left. Her son had become a traitor to the clan and had been killed by her with her own two hands. Perhaps the person hurt the most by Forhan’s affair, in the entire Skyrite Mountains, was the Grand Elder.

Linley and the others flew down, entering their gorge.

“Haha, awesome, awesome!” Bebe laughed loudly. “I never liked that father-son duo. They lusted after the Boss’ Coiling Dragon ring from the very beginning, and I suspected them long ago regarding this event as well. So it really was them. An excellent death! An excellent death!”

Linley laughed as well.

He, too, had suspected Forhan, but he wasn’t sufficiently certain. Why, however, had Beirut dared to act in such a way? Wasn’t Lord Beirut concerned…that Forhan might have been wrongly accused? How would Lord Beirut have resolved the situation, if that had been the case?

Linley was puzzled about this the entire time.

Beirut, Dunnington, Phusro, and Linley sat down within Linley’s home, around that stone table. Linley hesitated for a moment, but in the end still voiced his puzzlement. “Lord Beirut, how could you be so certain that Forhan was the traitor?”

Beirut looked at him, a hint of satire in his gaze. “You were the one who told me that it was he!”

“I told you that I didn’t have any evidence, just suspicions.” Linley said hurriedly.

“Haha…” The nearby Dunnington seemed to have heard something enormously funny as he began to laugh loudly.

Linley couldn’t help but feel lost. What was so funny? The nearby Bebe spoke out. “Grandpa, can it be that you really did learn about this early on from a Sovereign?”

“How could I have known about this early on?” Beirut laughed. “If I had known early on, I would have sent someone to warn Linley long ago. In truth, before today, I wasn’t completely certain either.”

Linley was stunned. Not completely certain?

“But Lord Beirut, you even invited Dunnington over, then did a forcible hypnotism. If Forhan hadn’t been the traitor, wouldn’t that have been embarrassing?” Linley immediately said.

“Haha…” Dunnington once again started to laugh loudly as he glanced sideways at Beirut. “Beirut, stop intentionally teasing Linley. I’ll tell him!” Dunnington immediately began to explain the truth.

As for Linley, he listened intently.

“This Lord Beirut of yours wasn’t sure at all about whether or not Forhan was the traitor.” Dunnington laughed. “That’s why he invited me over. After I hypnotized Forhan, I first did a quick review of Forhan’s memories!”

Normally speaking, there was no way to review a Deity’s memories.

But once a person was hypnotized and completely unable to resist, a terrifying figure like Dunnington was able to easily review the memories of the hypnotized person.

“After reviewing his memories for just a moment, I knew!” Dunnington laughed. “That he was the traitor!”

“But what if he wasn’t?” Bebe immediately asked, and Linley looked at Dunnington as well, puzzled.

Dunnington laughed. “If he wasn’t? Easy!”

“Then I would have immediately allowed Forhan to regain consciousness.” Dunnington glanced sideways at Beirut. “Afterwards, I would say a few words of praise, along the lines of, ‘The Azure Dragon clan really does live up to its name. Even I am unable to forcibly hypnotize him.’”

Dunnington’s words completely flabbergasted Linley, Delia, and Bebe.

Indeed, when a person was hypnotized, they would lose their consciousness. If Dunnington was successful in his hypnosis attempt, he could let Forhan regain his consciousness after investigating Forhan’s memories. Even Forhan himself would only have felt that his head had gone dizzy for a moment. He wouldn’t feel much else.

“Formidable.” Linley sighed to himself.

If Forhan wasn’t the traitor, Dunnington could just deliberately lie and claim that he had been unable to hypnotize Forhan. The end result would simply be that Gislason, the Grand Elder, and the others would feel that they had gained a great deal of face. After all…even a supreme expert such as Dunnington had been unable to forcibly hypnotize an Elder of the clan.

“This really was an excellent idea.” Bebe sighed in amazement as well.

“Excellent my ***.” Dunnington stroked his beard. “If Forhan truly hadn’t been the traitor, then I, Dunnington, would have suffered a blow to my reputation.”

“Stop worrying.” Beirut began to laugh. “Your reputation wouldn’t have suffered anything. Even if you publicly acknowledged that you were unable to hypnotize Forhan, others would just think that this innate ability of the Azure Dragon clan is incredible. They wouldn’t think that you are weak.”

Dunnington raised his eyebrows, laughing.

His power was something that was publicly acknowledged, after countless shocking, world-shaking battles. The number one expert of the Chaotic Sea, aside from the Sovereign. Who would dare belittle him?

“Linley, Bebe.” Beirut suddenly said. “After this affair, although the Grand Elder has nothing to say for herself, in her heart, she certainly is unhappy. I think you’d best leave the Skyrite Mountains and come to my place.”

Leave the Skyrite Mountains? Linley couldn’t help but turn and look at Delia.

“Excellent!” Bebe said jubilantly. “The Skyrite Mountains are rather boring. I haven’t even gone to Grandpa’s prefectural manor. I want to go and have some fun.”

“Delia, what do you think?” Linley looked towards Delia as he spoke to her through divine sense.

Delia looked at Wade, nestled in her arms, then replied through divine sense, “Wade is still young. It’s best not to make him tired by running all over the place. When Wade can take care of himself, we can go out wandering again.”

“Right.” Linley nodded. After their discussion through divine sense, Linley had come to his decision.

“Boss, wanna go?” Bebe immediately asked through divine sense.

Linley laughed, then shook his head. “Lord Prefect, Bebe, I won’t go for now. Wade is still young…and with Delia and myself living in the gorge with the other members of the Yulan branch, life is still fairly comfortable. As for what the Grand Elder will do…I won’t go to Bloodbath Gorge. Even if she isn’t happy, what can she do?”

“Fine, then I won’t pressure you to come.” Beirut laughed calmly and nodded.

“Alas.” Bebe let out a sad sigh. “Boss, you accompany Delia and your son, then. I’ll head there for now.”

Linley laughed and nodded. He could tell that although Bebe had always stayed here with him, Bebe’s heart wasn’t here. “Most likely, Bebe is still missing Ninny.” Linley sighed to himself. “However, Nisse is in the Jadefloat Continent.”

That very night, Beirut, Dunnington, Phusro, and Bebe all left the Skyrite Mountains. The four clan leaders of the Four Divine Beasts clan as well as a large group of other people came to send them off. Afterwards, Linley’s life returned to a rare calm.

Linley spent the calm days accompanying his wife, his son, and training.

In the blink of an eye, three years passed.

Linley was currently in his room, reading a book, while his four divine clones were all in the midst of training.

“Father, the snow is so thick. Quick, come look!”

Suddenly, a bright, clear voice rang out in the room. Hearing it, Linley couldn’t help but grin as he stood up, walking towards the outside. A youthful, tender-looking lad was outside, grabbing fistfuls of snow, while Delia was there playing with him.

“Father, look. That’s the snowman that I made.” Wade, seeing Linley come out, immediately ran over while calling out to him.

As Wade ran over, he leapt off the ground, giving Linley a flying hug. “Father, the snowman is over there. Look.” Wade’s little face was tender and ruddy, so soft, it seemed as though one would be able to squeeze water out of his face with a pinch.

Linley liked Wade very much.

By contrast, when he had been in the Yulan continent, Linley had always been training when Sasha and Taylor had been growing up. He hadn’t spent any time with his children.

“Oh, Wade. This is the snowman you made?” Linley turned to look. The snowman was just a pair of snowballs, one large, one small, with a few gems serving as the eyes and nose. There were actually a total of three snowmen; two large ones and one smaller one.

“Right..” Wade nodded solemnly, as though this were a weighty matter. “Father, look. That one is you. That one is Mother. That one is me.”

Hearing this, Linley couldn’t help but start to laugh.

“Wade, stop hanging on to your father. Come down.” Delia said.

“Oh.” Wade obediently let go of Linley and fell down, but the ground was slick. As he landed, he slipped and fell, and Delia couldn’t help but immediately go help him back up.

Linley chuckled, then casually, leisurely began to walk forward on the snowy ground. With each step, he left a footprint behind. The snow had come to a halt long ago, but the snow on the ground was fairly thick. Everything within his field of vision had turned a silvery white color.

“Father, Father.” Wade’s call rang out from behind.

Linley turned to look, but as he did, he saw out of the corner of his eyes his own footprint. He had left a deep impression in the snow, but a hint of green grass was still forcing its way out from within it. In that instant, when Linley saw that hint of green…

And when he heard his son calling from afar, ‘Father, Father!’…

Linley’s mind suddenly swept through the various events of recent years, from Delia’s life-threatening crisis to his own despair, then his escape from that despair, followed by last few years of calm, blissful life.

“BOOM!”

A green spot of light suddenly sprang into existence within Linley’s mind, and in the next instant, it transformed into a green sun, illuminating his entire mind.

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 56, Vitality

Delia was by Wade’s side, but she noticed that Linley wasn’t moving at all. Even his eyes had closed. “What’s going on with Linley? Can it be…” Seeing Linley in such a state, Delia naturally would suspect…

That he had gained a sudden insight and broken through!

This was indeed the case. At this moment, Linley finally moved through the initial threshold of gaining a basic understanding of the Profound Mysteries of Vitality. Training in a profound mystery always had two major barriers; the first was the initial threshold, while the other was the bottleneck before mastery. Although there might be some difficulties encountered while training, as long as one persevered, one would be able to overcome them.

But that initial threshold as well as the bottleneck before mastery couldn’t just be overcome through effort. It required talent, luck, and that instant of sudden enlightenment.

Once that moment of sudden enlightenment came, the speed at which one gained understanding would be astonishingly fast, allowing one to advance very rapidly. However, moments later, the speed at which Linley gained comprehension began to slow down. After all, that moment of insight only allowed a person to gain a portion of understanding. The rest required training.

Linley opened his eyes, and as he did, he saw Delia.

“You made a breakthrough?” Delia said softly.

Linley laughed and nodded. “I’ve finally passed the initial threshold for understanding the Profound Mysteries of Vitality…and indeed, understanding this profound mystery isn’t an easy task. I had to experience many things first, and have my entire mentality change…only after all of these things was I able to grasp that sudden moment of spiritual awakening and enlightenment.”

Delia couldn’t help but reveal a smile on her face.

“Linley, didn’t you say that after becoming a Highgod, it would become much harder to fuse profound mysteries?” Delia couldn’t help but ask.

When fusing profound mysteries, the difficulty level was lessened if one fused the mysteries while gaining insights to them. This was much like how if a large tree was crooked when it was young, if it kept on growing crookedly until it reached maturity, it would naturally become a crooked tree. But if you were to have a straight tree begin to grow crooked only after it reached maturity, it would be hard.

“Fusing is far more difficult than gaining initial insights into a profound mystery.” Linley shook his head. “Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so few Paragons, despite the passage of countless years.”

“The further one advances, the harder fusing becomes.” Linley sighed. “Look at me. It took me less than a thousand years to fuse three profound mysteries, but to fuse the fourth…although six centuries have passed, I have still only been able to fuse the Profound Mysteries of Strength with the Throbbing Pulse of the World. I haven’t been able to improve at all.”

He hadn’t made any improvements; was he supposed to just keep on wasting time?

Based on the historical pace of advancement by other people, even the greatest of geniuses would find it virtually impossible to fuse a fourth profound mystery in under ten thousand years.

“In addition, once I become a Highgod, my power will increase tenfold.” Linley said confidently. “By then, even if I encounter an Asura, I will at least be able to stay alive.”

When his soul was improved to the Highgod level, he would be able to absorb more amethysts and reach a new peak.

In addition, Linley’s ‘Blackstone Space’ had previously used God-level divine earth power. Once he became a Highgod, he would be able to use Highgod-level divine earth power to execute it. The power of his Blackstone Space would therefore rise once again!

When Purgatory Commander Resigem set up his Gravitational Space, he used Highgod-level divine earth power.

Once Linley became a Highgod, the ‘Spiritual Chaos’ component of his Blackstone Space would also become more than ten times stronger! The gravitational pull would also rise to a terrifying new level. By then, even Seven Star Fiends would find it hard to move freely within the Blackstone Space.

By then…

Linley’s Blackstone Space wouldn’t be too far off from Purgatory Commander Reisgem’s.

“In addition, only after becoming a Highgod will I have any hope of being able to repair the Coiling Dragon ring.” Linley sighed. “Although spiritual energy can be used to repair it, this is a soul-protecting Sovereign artifact, after all. My current spiritual energy is too weak. Once I become a Highgod, I can rely on amethysts to strengthen my soul to the limits of spiritual strength for a Highgod. Even if I’m not able to completely repair it, I can still make it so that it recovers a portion of its power.”

If one was too greedy, one would be like a python who attempted to swallow an elephant. The consequences would be obvious.

At present, as soon as Linley broke through to become a Highgod, his strength would become terrifying. Thus, it was best for him to become a Highgod as quickly as possible.

Time flowed on like water, advancing silently and soundlessly. Linley quietly trained within the gorge, slowly advancing step by step. As for Wade, he grew up and became an adult as well. When the hundred year event came, Wade went to undergo the Ancestral Baptism and became a water-type Deity.

“Wade’s power is too weak. In the Infernal Realm, a Demigod’s power is absolutely insufficient for roaming about.” Although Linley wanted Wade to experience some hurdles and hardships, he didn’t wish for Wade to throw his life away.

Wade normally remained within the Skyrite Mountains, sparring with the other Deities.

More than a century had passed since Forhan had been killed. However, the higher level members of the Four Divine Beasts clan felt tremendous pressure! This was because the enemy eight great clans had become more and more savage, while the Four Divine Beasts clan had lost too many Elders.

The residence of Patriarch Gislason.

“Patriarch!” Garvey said frantically. “We can’t let this continue. If this continues for another millennium, our Azure Dragon clan will probably not have Seven Star Fiends left!”

Gislason’s back was turned towards him, and he was silent.

“Patriarch.” Garvey called out frantically.

“Then you tell me. What should we do?” Gislason said in a low voice.

Garvey hesitated slightly, then gritted his teeth. “Patriarch, order all of our forces to be withdrawn. Forget about those forces of the eight great clans and their arrogant patrols…we should just stay quietly within the Skyrite Mountains and build up our strength!”

Gislason was silent.

In the past, how glorious had the Four Divine Beasts clan been? Their fame had spread throughout all the Higher Planes and Divine Planes. Not a single clan dared to underestimate them, and the lives of the clan leaders of ordinary clans wasn’t worth as much as the lives of ordinary members of the Four Divine Beasts clan.

The glory of the clan was utterly inviolable.

For countless years, although the descendants of the Four Divine Beasts clan might die, they had never lowered their heads. This was because these descendants all understood that even if they died, the clan would avenge them! The descendants of the Four Divine Beasts clan were proud and arrogant!

“Let our Four Divine Beasts clan lower our heads? Hide like turtles within the Skyrite Mountains and not go out?” Gislason said in a low voice. “Garvey, do you know what people will say about us in the outside world? They will say…that our Four Divine Beasts clan was beaten so badly by the eight great clans that we are hiding like turtles, afraid to show ourselves. That we are a pack of cowards! I am absolutely certain that this is how the eight great clans will spin the story, and that they will spread this news throughout the Infernal Realm, as well as the rest of the Four Higher Planes!”

To ordinary people, Gislason’s line of thought was laughable.

That was because ordinary people had never reached the heights that Gislason had. Even in material planes, ordinary people would be willing to sacrifice their lives for the glory of their clan, much less Deities who possessed eternal life. To them, the glory of their clan was even more important!

“Garvey, you can go back for now.” Gislason sighed.

“Patriarch.” Garvey couldn’t help but feel frantic.

“I told you to leave!”

Gislason growled. Stunned, Garvey had no choice but to leave, resigned. In the hall, the only remaining person was Gislason. His entire face was furrowed with wrinkles as he frowned, his heart filled with frustration.

He had never imagined that the incomparably firm mountains behind their clan, the ancestors, would all die.

With the ancestors dead, all the pressure now came crashing down upon the clan.

Within the gorge.

Linley, Delia, and Wade were eating together. But of course, Wade was now a handsome young man, slightly taller than even Linley, albeit somewhat thinner.

“Linley!” A voice suddenly rang out.

Linley raised his head and saw Garvey’s figure appear in mid-air, then descend. Seeing Linley’s family happily eating, Garvey let out a sigh.. “Linley, your life really is carefree and worry-less.”

“Sit.” Linley pointed in front of him. “What, are you feeling frustrated over the clan’s matters?”

“Right!” Garvey sat down.

“Uncle Garvey.” Wade called out.

Garvey laughed and nodded. “Time moves so very fast. Linley, I still remember how, over a century ago, you held Wade and Delia and hurried back. That really was a major event.”

Laughing, Linley nodded. “Right, Gravey. What happened within the clan?”

Upon hearing this subject, Garvey said bitterly, “Just today, yet another Elder of our clan lost his most powerful clone! Currently…our Azure Dragon clan, including you, Linley, only has seventeen Elders who truly possess the power of a Seven Star Fiend.”

“Seventeen?” Linley was stunned.

He still remembered how when he had accepted the position of Elder, the clan had more than thirty Elders. But now, only seventeen remained.

“After I learned this, I thought for a long time, then went to find the Patriarch. I advised the Patriarch that he should order the Elders to no longer go out and do battle, and that we should all return to the Skyrite Mountains.” Garvey clearly felt very miserable for having given this advice.

After all, he too valued the glory of the clan, did he not?

“What did the Patriarch say?” Linley asked.

“He didn’t agree.” Garvey raised his head, gulping down a cup of wine. “Every ten years, sometimes every few years, our Four Divine Beasts clan loses yet another Elder. If this continues, in a few centuries, how many Elders will our Four Divine Beasts clan have left?”

Linley felt resigned as well.

In this sort of clan war, the strength of any individual was simply insufficient.

“Enough of that. Come, drink.” Garvey raised his cup.

“Drink.” Linley responded.

Delia and Wade left the table shortly, leaving behind Linley and Garvey to chat and drink wine.

“Eh?” Linley raised his head, a hint of a smile on his lips. “He’s finally back.”

“Boss!” A figure descended from the skies, wearing a straw hat on his head. It was Bebe. Ever since he had left with Beirut, Bebe hadn’t returned a single time in the past hundred-plus years.

Linley rose to his feet.

“Boss, I missed you to death.” Bebe rushed forward, giving Linley a bearhug.

Linley and Bebe were as close as real siblings. After not having seen Bebe for so long, he naturally felt extremely happy.

“Bebe, long time no see.” Garvey greeted as well. After that affair nearly a century ago, all the Elders of the Skyrite Mountains had learned that Bebe was the grandson of the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture.

“Elder Garvey.” Bebe greeted as well.

“What have you been doing for the past century?” Linley laughed as he spoke. Bebe rubbed his nose, then laughed smugly, “In the past century, I’ve roamed the entire Indigo Prefecture and visited many secret locations. Indigo Prefecture really is large. In the past hundred-plus years, I’ve only managed to visit some of the more important areas.”

“Oh, so why didn’t you continue touring?” Linley said.

Bebe pursed his lips, saying in an unruly manner, “I got bored. Didn’t want to continue.” But although he was acting in a seemingly unrestrained manner, Linley could sense a desolate aura.

At this moment, Delia and Wade hurriedly walked over from afar. Delia laughed and said from far away, “Bebe, it’s been so long since you left. Look at this fellow next to me. Do you know him?”

“The fellow next to you?” Bebe was stunned.

“Wade.” Delia laughed. “Remember now?”

“Ah?! That little fellow?!” Bebe immediately began to laugh.

Linley watched as Bebe immediately begin to chat warmly with Wade, but could still sense that within Bebe’s heart…

“Bebe’s too lonely! Once the affairs of the clan have been resolved, I’ll immediately accompany Bebe on a trip to the Jadefloat Continent. Let’s go find Ninny.”

The Infernal Realm. The Jadefloat Continent. Jingan Prefecture. The city of Bayfay [Bei’fei].

The streets of Bayfay City. A man and a woman were walking side by side.

“Ninny, I’ve come out for the express purpose on a stroll with you. Smile, won’t you?” The man and woman were Salomon and his little sister, ‘Nisse’. Ever since that event at the volcano range, Nisse had believed Bebe to be dead, having perished after diving into that golden magma pool.

Bebe’s death had come as a tremendous blow to Nisse.

It had also caused her attitude towards her elder brother to change.

“Alright.” Nisse just responded with a single word of acknowledgement.

A passerby on the street was chatting with another person.

“That scryer recording really was exciting. It’s been so many years since I’ve seen supreme experts like that do battle. Wow. There were actually more than ten Seven Star Fiends, and six of them used Sovereign’s Might. And that Azure Dragon clan’s Elder named Linley, he killed five Seven Star Fiends by himself. Too terrifying!”

That year, when Linley had suffered an attack from those eight Elders, many people had recorded scryer recordings of the battle. The recordings of such an enormous battle very naturally spread very widely. Since Linley’s name had been verified, it also spread with the battle.

In the past hundred years, it had finally spread from the Bloodridge Continent to the Jadefloat Continent.

Hearing this conversation, both Salomon and Nisse were stunned.

“Linley?” Nisse was stunned. She had always believed that Linley and Bebe had both died. “Someone of the same name?”

“Linley? Six people who used Sovereign’s Might?” Salomon was stunned as well

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 57, Dangerous

The contents of that conversation had simply been too stunning. More than ten Seven Star Fiends in a single battle, six of whom had used Sovereign’s Might? This sort of group battle between supreme experts was simply too rare. Even if they occurred, scryer recordings of such battles would rarely spread out.

“How could it be Linley?” Salomon was completely stunned.

But from the contents of that conversation, Salomon had learned that the ‘Linley’ these people were discussing as a member of the Azure Dragon clan. The Linley which he knew was also a member of the Azure Dragon clan! “Can it really be him?” Salomon didn’t dare believe it. “He was just a God. How could he kill five Seven Star Fiends? No way. No way!!!”

A single person, kill five Seven Star Fiends? This sort of accomplishment was simply too terrifying.

As Salomon viewed it, no matter how powerful Linley was, there was no way he could’ve reached such a level.

“Big Bro, did you hear that? They said ‘Linley’!” Nisse turned to look at her elder brother, Salomon. Her eyes were filled with disbelief. At the same time, a hint of hope appeared in her heart…

She had believed that both Linley and Bebe had died.

But Linley was alive. Bebe, perhaps, was still alive as well! When she thought of the possibility that Bebe was alive, her heart, dormant for a thousand-plus years, began to come to life again.

“They might just be two people of the same name.” Salomon chuckled, intentionally saying disdainfully, “You know how strong our Linley was. He was just a God. It would be hard for him to face even an ordinary Highgod. Kill five Seven Star Fiends by himself? Do you believe it?”

Nisse was stunned.

“Alright. Don’t pay any attention to the idle chatter. Most likely, it’s just a supreme expert who also shares the name Linley.” Salomon laughed calmly. “Let’s go. We’re shopping for clothes today. Pick whatever you like.”

Salomon didn’t want Nisse to go look at the scryer recordings. It wasn’t an issue if it wasn’t Linley, but if it really was Linley…given Nisse’s temperament, she would definitely immediately go look for Bebe. That would be terrible.

“Let’s go look at scryer recordings.” Nisse said.

Salomon shook his head. “Why look at scryer recordings? What? Do you think Linley is still alive?”

“I don’t know…but regardless of whether or not it is the Linley we know, a scryer recording of a battle including more than ten Seven Star Fiends is worth watching, no matter what.” Nisse turned and immediately walked away.

Salomon had no choice but to follow, and he secretly consoled himself, “That Linley died long ago. And he was very weak! This supreme expert, in turn, is very strong. It definitely isn’t him. It has to just be someone with the same name!” Salomon had unjustly accused Linley in the past. Naturally, he didn’t want to see Linley grow strong.

There were three locations in Bayfay City that were dedicated to viewing scryer recordings.

Large groups of people were gathered in front of the gates of all three locations today, all of them handing over strips of inkstone and azurite to go in and watch the scryer recordings. By the time Salomon and Nisse arrived, they were shocked by how many people were present.

At the same time, those who had finished watching the scryer recordings were coming out from a side door.

“Truly astonishing. That Azure Dragon Elder was simply too terrifying!”

“Right. That azure prison of the Azure Dragon Elder appeared, and when it vanished, all of the enemy Elders were dead!”

Listening to this discussion, Salomon and Nisse felt all the more curious. They immediately handed over the entrance fee of a hundred inkstones and entered. There were six halls for viewing scryer recordings.

“Go to hall number five. The last viewing just completed, and will start anew soon.”

Salomon and Ninny both entered the fifth hall, looking for places to sit. The number of people within the fifth hall rose rapidly, but Nisse just stared at the front of the hall, her body trembling slightly.

“Ninny, relax.” Salomon said consolingly. “Don’t have too much hope.”

But Ninny didn’t say a single word.

Suddenly….

A large amount of water-type elemental essence coalesced in the front of the hall in mid-air, transforming into a recording. At the same time, a voice rang out. “Everyone, this battle occurred in Indigo Prefecture, at the Bloodridge Continent, in a mountain forest that was a few thousand kilometers outside of Meer City.

Everyone in the hall fell silent.

The explanatory voice continued, “These battling experts are eleven Seven Star Fiends! Based on my calculations, in Indigo Prefecture, only the Four Divine Beasts clan and the eight great clans have such a high number of experts. The two just so happen to be in a state of war…and now, everyone, please watch. When the scryer recording started, a Seven Star Fiend had already died, and his corpse is on the ground, still emanating the aura of Sovereign’s Might. Everyone, if you look carefully, you can see it.

After speaking, the recording in the front of the main hall began to play.

Everyone in the hall went silent. Ninny and Salomon held their breaths as well.

Within the enormous scryer recording, one battle scene after another appeared; these were the scenes of Phusro and Tewila battling their enemies. However, just by watching these two battles, the people watching this recording for the first time were already stunned.

Their bodies were all covered with light, and with each punch and kick, space itself split open.

“Three of these four are using Sovereign’s Might!” Salomon was stunned.

“Where is Linley?” Nisse was searching desperately. “And Bebe?”

However, at present, the scryer recording was primarily focusing on these two battles. At the same time, the scryer recording also recorded gray-robed corpse that lay on the ground, also emanating that aura. It was the Seven Star Fiend who had been killed by Phusro at the very beginning.

And then…

The scryer recording switched the point of view to the ground. The ground was roiling like the waves of the sea. Moments later, the ground suddenly exploded, and someone suddenly charged to the skies, blood matting his scales…but Nisse and Salomon were both shocked.

Those ferocious spikes, that tail, those dark golden eyes…they were so familiar!

Afterwards, five Seven Star Fiends pursued and attacked Linley. Linley’s body was emanating that blue light; it was water-type Sovereign’s Might. As for the five Seven Star Fiends behind him, one of them was emanating a black aura.

“It is Linley!” Nisse felt excited in her heart.

“This…” Salomon was stunned as well.

They had both seen Linley’s Dragonform.

“Big Bro, it’s Linley, it’s Linley.” Nisse could no longer suppress her excitement, and her divine sense reached out again and again to Salomon. “It’s definitely him. There’s no mistake.”

“Nisse, that’s not necessarily the case.” Salomon tried to equivocate through divine sense. “The Azure Dragon clan has many people, and their Dragonform appearances are all quite similar. In addition, in a thousand years, do you think Linley would become so powerful? It’s impossible.”

Nisse was stunned. Could it be true that there was someone with a Dragonform similar to Linley’s?

Nisse didn’t know too much about the Four Divine Beasts clan, and didn’t understand how unique Linley’s Dragonform was.

And then, Salomon and Nisse continued to watch. In the scryer recording, Linley began to go insane, actually using his spiked forehead to batter a Seven Star Fiend to death. The other four remaining Seven Star Fiends wanted to flee, but they were all trapped within that massive blue cube.

After the blue cube vanished, the four Seven Star Fiends were dead as well.

The scryer recording was focused on Linley now, and after killing those four Seven Star Fiends, Linley actually flew to the ground. The recording showed how Linley knelt down by the side of a woman who was lying on the ground.

The recording clearly captured the image of that woman’s appearance.

“Delia!!!” Nisse’s eyes instantly turned round.

“It is Delia!” Salomon was stunned as well.

And then, in the scryer recording, Linley returned to his human form, clutching his infant child by his wife’s side. Phusro and Bebe walked over as well, also entering the recording zone.

“Linley, Bebe!!!” Nisse instantly felt so overjoyed that her head went numb.

Linley, Delia, and Bebe; the three of them were all within the recording range.

There was no question about it! This mighty Azure Dragon clan Elder was that Linley which they had met.

“How can this be? How is this possible?” Salomon didn’t dare to believe it, but the truth was plainly visible for anyone to see.

“Big Bro, it really is them. It really is them. They didn’t die, didn’t die!” Nisse excitedly sent through divine sense. The scryer recording was almost over now. Linley took Delia in his arms while Phusro held the infant, and the two flew away side by side.

The scryer recording ended!

“That Azure Dragon clan Elder, based on the descriptions of the person who made this scryer recording, is named Linley. The woman on the ground should be a family member of Elder Linley’s. That woman died, which is why Elder Linley was so grief-stricken.”

Salomon and Nisse walked out to the street. Nisse’s face was filled with irrepressible excitement.

“Big Bro, they didn’t die, they really didn’t die.” In the past thousand years, Nisse had never been as happy as she was now. “Bebe is still alive. Still alive!”

“Right. This is good news.” Salomon responded.

But Salomon’s mind was currently in a state of chaos. Originally, he had mistakenly believed that Linley had exposed his secret, and thus in his rage had wanted to kill Linley. Afterwards, Linley and his wife had both plunged into that golden magma pool. But who would have imagined…

That Linley not only was still alive, he had become so very powerful!

“But what happened to Delia?” Nisse said, rather worried. “Did Delia die in that scryer recording?” Nisse still clearly remembered how, in the scryer recording, Linley had let out that howl of grief and rage by Delia’s side.

Although Nisse couldn’t actually hear any sound, she could already sense his agonizing grief just from watching.

“Big Bro!” Nisse suddenly said.

“Eh?” Salomon looked towards her. Nisse looked at Salomon. Determinedly, she said, “Big Bro, I have decided…I am going to the Indigo Prefecture of the Bloodridge Continent!”

“Nonsense.” Salomon couldn’t help but grow impatient. This was exactly what he feared . “Ninny, going from the Jadefloat Continent to the Bloodridge Continent is no joke. How would you, a God, make it there? It is too dangerous. Unacceptable. Completely unacceptable!”

Nisse just glanced at her elder brother, not saying another word. She had already made up her mind. She was just letting her elder brother know of her decision.

Seeing the look on his little sister’s face, Salomon grew frantic.

“Ninny, you are too weak, and to go from the Jadefloat Continent to the Bloodrige Continent, you have to pass through the sea…the trip truly is too dangerous.” Salomon said frantically.

“It’s pointless for you to say anything.” Nisse wasn’t going to listen to her elder brother this time.

Salomon, seeing how his sister was acting, felt helpless in his heart. They were within the city, and within the city, there was no way he could possibly act to imprison his little sister. If his little sister truly wanted to go, there was nothing he could do about it at all.

“Ninny, are you really going to make me worry about you like this??” Salomon said, worried. “How about this. Train to the Highgod level, then go!”

Nisse glanced at him, not saying anything.

Nisse had already made up her mind, and there was nothing Salomon could do about it. Although Salomon kept a careful watch on her after the day they viewed the scryer recording…the next month, Nisse left.

Within his room.

Salomon stared at a piece of paper. It was a letter which Nisse had left him.

“Alas!” Salomon threw the paper to the table hatefully. “The journey from the Jadefloat Continent to the Bloodridge Continent will be so dangerous…why won’t Ninny listen?”

Salomon was frantic, but there was nothing he could do. He didn’t even know where Nisse had gone.

As he thought of this, Salomon couldn’t help but somewhat blame Linley. It was because he had wrongly accused Linley and Bebe that the relationship between himself and Nisse had fractured, and he rarely would be able to see her smile these days. And now, this time…she left on her own.

“How is it that Linley didn’t die, and instead became so powerful?” Salomon couldn’t understand it either. How had Linley risen to such a level?

At the same time that Nisse departed from Jingan Prefecture, Linley and Bebe, in the distant Indigo Prefecture of the Bloodridge Continent, were living peaceful lives in the Skyrite Mountains. In the blink of an eye, a few decades passed.

“Linley!” A deep voice rang out.

“Father, Father!” Wade called out. “The Second Elder is looking for you.”

Linley walked out from within his room. From the corner of his eye, he saw that in the distant, the Second Elder was walking over with a very complicated expression on his face. “Linley, come. Our Four Divine Beasts clan is about to hold a joint Conclave of Elders.”

“Now?” Linley was rather surprised. “It hasn’t been a thousand years yet. In addition, the four Divine Beast clans, hold a joint Conclave?”

“Right! It will be in Bloodbath Gorge, at the Palace of the Four Divine Beasts.” The Second Elder sighed. “This time, the reason why all the Elders are being summoned is to discuss what our Four Divine Beasts clan should do with respect to the eight great clans.”

Linley’s heart trembled. “It seems though the clan is finally unable to keep fighting like this!”

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 58, Unwillingness

The Skyrite Mountains. Bloodbath Gorge. The Palace of the Four Divine Beasts.

When Linley entered alongside the Second Elder into the palace, he saw that quite a few people had already arrived. Linley swept them with his gaze. “Including me, a total of forty two Elders!” But of course, as time passed, more Elders entered, one by one.

“Linley.” Elder Garvey had a good personal relationship with Linley, and so he walked over. “The clan leaders are finally willing to lower their heads.”

Linley was stunned. “Garvey. Are you saying…?”

Garvey let out a low sigh. “Last month, our Four Divine Beasts clan suffered yet another severe setback. The clan leaders primarily aren’t able to endure it any longer either. Thus, they organized this Conclave. Or perhaps the clan leaders are also irresolute and so they wish the Elders to come discuss it. If the Elders agree, then…”

Linley understood as well.

Once the Conclave concluded, most likely the Four Divine Beasts clan would choose to turtle up within the Skyrite Mountains, no longer leaving. Although by doing so, the Four Divine Beasts clan would be able to preserve its strength, the reputation of the clan, built up over countless years, would suffer a huge blow.

To the many clansmen, the honor of the clan was more important than life itself. This was a hard choice for the four clan leaders to make.

“We suffered a severe setback last month? What happened?” Linley hurriedly asked.

“You never pay attention to anything!” Garvey shook his head. “A month ago, our Four Divine Beasts clan lost another three Elders. One of the Elders belonged to our Azure Dragon clan. Factoring in the last event twenty years ago…our Azure Dragon clan has only fifteen Elders who truly possess the power of Seven Star Fiends.

Linley’s heart couldn’t help but clench in worry.

“Rumble…” The main door to the palace slowly slid closed.

Linley couldn’t help but feel startled. Garvey said in a low voice, “The Elders are all here. Soon, the four clan leaders will arrive.” Linley took a careful look about. In the hall, there were a total of fifty three Elders, including the Grand Elder.

From a side room, four figures walked out in a line, sitting down together at the front of the palace. It was Gislason and the other clan leaders.

The entire hall immediately fell silent for a time.

Gislason and the other three clan leaders swept everyone with their gaze, then looked at each other. In the end, it was Gislason who spoke. His deep, rumbling voice echoed in the hall. “Everyone, today, we have invited all of you over. I trust that all of you have already guessed what the purpose of this meeting is!”

As soon as these words came out, everyone felt misery in their hearts, and even Linley felt a surge of grief.

They no longer had the strength to save the situation!

“Ever since our four ancestors died, our Four Divine Beasts clan has suffered one heavy setback after another. Fortunately, thanks to the assistance of the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture, we were able to find out footing here in the Skyrite Mountains. Otherwise, our Four Divine Beasts clan would most likely have been turned into ash and disappeared like smoke, more than ten thousand years ago.

The palace was completely silent.

“Over the past ten thousand years, the Elders of our Four Divine Beasts clan have all fought fearlessly against the enemy for the sake of the glory of the clan. Ten thousand years ago, our Four Divine Beasts clan had a total of over two hundred Elders! But today, we only have fifty three remaining! It has only been ten thousand short years, but we’ve lost nearly two hundred Elders! Two hundred!!!” A moist light flashed in Gislason’s eyes.

The Elders below, thinking back to the other Elders who had perished over these years, all felt grief in their hearts.

Linley, as well, thought of the various members of his own Squad Thirteen who had died, as well as the forlorn image of Elder Arhaus, who had lost his most powerful clone.

For the sake of the clan, far too many Elders had sacrificed their most powerful divine clones. They had previously been Seven Star Fiends, lofty and mighty individuals. But after having lost their most powerful divine clones, they were now perhaps just ordinary Highgods.

“All these years, the other three clan leaders and I have been pondering…how long will we hold out for?” Gislason’s voice was hoarse. “Especially in the past few centuries. The eight great clans seem to have gone insane. They want to kill our Elders at all cost, even if they have to die with us. According to this current rate, in another few years, our Four Divine Beasts clan will most likely not have many Elders left.”

The Vermillion Bird Matriarch spoke out as well. “Right. One month ago in particular, we lost another three Elders! We four clan leaders have discussed this carefully…if this continues, we will only be able to endure for a few more centuries at most.”

The White Tiger Patriarch spoke out in a cold voice. “Since even if we continue to hold out, the only result will be that everyone will die, what’s the point?”

The Black Tortoise Patriarch rumbled, “This is why we wish to make sure that at least some of our elites will survive. After all, it isn’t so easy for someone to become a Seven Star Fiend and an Elder.”

Gislason said in a strong, forceful voice, “And so, we four clan leaders are united in agreement that we are to no longer fight against the eight great clans…all of the members of the clan are to enter the Skyrite Mountains. We will build up our strength!”

The Elders below were all stunned.

They had thought that the clan leaders would let them discuss this matter and vote on it, but who would have thought that this came as a simple declaration?

“Patriarch!”

“Matriarch!”

Instantly, quite a few Elders grew frantic.

“Patriarch!” A rushed voice rang out, and a youth with silver hair and a callous-looking face raised his head towards the four clan leaders. He frantically said, “Are we supposed to just surrender, just like that? Just admit defeat?”

Linley glanced at this silver-haired, callous-looking youth. It was the ‘Genius Elder’ of the Azure Dragon clan, Elder Blue.

“You can consider it as us admitting defeat!” Gislason no longer had the imposing, majestic aura that he previously always had.

“Blue.” The Vermillion Bird Matriarch looked down at him. “Even if we continue to fight, how much longer will the forces of our Four Divine Beasts clan be able to hold out for? Can it be that you want the remaining, final fifty three Elders of the clan to also be lost?”

Blue’s gaze was unyielding.

“Four clan leaders!” Blue raised his head slightly. “I, Blue, have submitted and surrendered to others, but that was because I was too weak. Ever since I became a Seven Star Fiend, I have never surrendered to anyone. The eight great clans are worthless! When our Four Divine Beasts clan was in the height of our power, they didn’t dare to oppose us in the slightest. But now? Hmph. Have me, Blue, surrender to them? Never!”

“Blue!” Gislason felt heartsick.

In their hearts, they not only hated the eight great clans, they also looked down on them. For them to surrender…they naturally didn’t wish to, given their pride. But Gislason and the other three were acting in the best interests of the clan.

“Patriarch, I understand that this is a hard decision for you. But I am just a single person. I am willing to go out and do battle…and to die on the field of war! After I die, the Infernal Realm will no longer have the Seven Star Fiend Blue, only the ordinary Highgod Blue. By that time, even if I want to do battle, I wouldn’t have the ability to.” Blue laughed softly as he spoke.

Linley, hearing this, couldn’t help but tremble.

At this moment, a black-haired Elder stood out and said in a somber voice, “Patriarch, for our clan to flourish again, what we need is a supreme expert like Beirut or Dunnington. I know that I have no more hopes for improving…I hope that you will let me go die in battle, Patriarch! Even if we lose, I refuse to let those eight great clans get off lightly.”

“Patriarch, in my life, I’ve given many things a try, but lowering my head? Never! Not even in death!” Yet another Elder stood up.

“Matriarch…”

Linley watched this scene quietly. Although to ordinary people, these Elders might appear to be too rigid and inflexible, Linley understood…these Elders had lived for countless hundreds of millions of years.

They weren’t afraid to sacrifice themselves, but they cared deeply about certain beliefs and values which they held.

Fifty three Elders. Amongst them, there were more than twenty who were willing to sacrifice their most powerful divine clones, just for the sake of making the enemies suffer. The other Elders were silent, but Linley knew that so long as the clan leaders gave the order, they wouldn’t hesitate in the slightest.

“Linley!” Suddenly, a voice rang out.

Linley was stunned.

The Grand Elder was looking at him, her eyes filled with panic. “Linley, you are on very close terms with the Lord Prefect. Can’t you just…discard your pride and go beg the Lord Prefect for him to help us? Given the Lord Prefect’s power, he is more than strong enough to force the eight great clans away. Linley, go beg him…for the sake of the clan, go beg him, just this once!”

Quite a few Elders immediately looked towards Linley.

Just now, these Elders had been in a state of despair, and many of them had been willing to throw away their most powerful divine clones in an attempt at vengeance. Even if their clan was submitting, they would make the eight great clans suffer. But hearing the words of the Grand Elder…

It seemed as though they had one last straw to clutch at for survival!

“I…” Linley didn’t know how to respond.

“Little Sis.” Gislason, seated at the front of the hall, let out a deep shout. “Having Linley do this would just make the Lord Prefect feel awkward. The Lord Prefect has already done many things for our Four Divine Beasts clan, and he has never asked for anything in return. You actually want the Lord Prefect to intervene yet again? Can it be that you think the Lord Prefect has an obligation to help us?”

The Grand Elder couldn’t help but fall silent.

“We’re able to preserve the clan, and it won’t be destroyed. We should know when to be content with what we have.” Gislason let out a sigh.

The Elders below all fell silent.

“Elders, I am unable to forcibly prevent any of you from deciding whether or not you wish to go do battle with the enemy. I just want to say…let the clan preserve a bit of power.” Gislason rose after speaking, then looked towards Linley. “Linley, no matter what, don’t go beg the Lord Prefect.”

Linley couldn’t help but raise his head and look towards Gislason.

“I know what sort of temper the Lord Prefect has. If we go too far and anger him by our actions…he doesn’t even need to personally do anything. All he needs to do is to stop caring about our Four Divine Beasts clan and allow those eight great clans to freely attack us. That…would be disastrous!”

Quite a few Elders seated below, upon hearing those words, felt their hearts tremble.

Whether or not to surrender and submit, that was a question of the clan’s honor and glory.

But angering the Lord Prefect…that was a question of the clan’s survival. If the entire Four Divine Beasts clan was eradicated, there would no longer even be a question of honor or glory.

Ever since that decision was made, the Four Divine Beasts clan no longer openly battled against the eight great clans. Even though the forces of the eight great clans continued on their predetermined patrol routes and acted provocatively, they were ignored.

The clan only needed to preserve its strength.

But although this was the order of the clan, there were still quite a few Elders who weren’t willing to accept it. They chose to go out to fight, causing the battles with the eight great clans to rise to a new crescendo…and the eight great clans, seeing that the Four Divine Beasts clansmen dared to act so brashly, couldn’t help but feel enraged and send even more people out.

A wild, savage, brutal war!

The most eye-catching of them all was the Genius Elder, Blue. Elder Blue travelled by himself, and he actually managed to kill eight enemy Elders. Afterwards, the eight great clans were enraged, and they actually sent out one of their Patriarchs, along with multiple experts.

In that battle…

Elder Blue’s most powerful divine clone…died!

Elder Blue, in those ten short years, accomplished the feat of killing nine enemy Elders.

But of course, although some did well, others did poorly. Other Elders went out to do battle as well, but some Elders weren’t able to kill anyone at all, as they were set upon by many others or were killed by enemies using Sovereign’s Might.

This sort of wild slaughter persisted for thirty years.

Twenty two Elders lost their most powerful divine clones in battle! As for the eight great clans, their losses were even greater. Thirty eight of the Elders perished. After all, the Four Divine Beasts clansmen were fighting with the intention of killing as many as they could in exchange for their own lives.

But after that, the Four Divine Beasts clan went silent, no longer seeking out battle.

For a short period of time, this actually threw the eight great clans into a period of wild speculation. After all, in thirty short years, they had lost thirty eight Elders, causing some shock to the eight great clans…after all, the Elders of their clans were the elites of their clans as well.

They, too, felt heartache at the losses!

The Skyrite Mountains returned to calmness. The roving patrols continued their patrols, but normally, very few people would come to the Skyrite Mountains. But today, a female youth flew out from a metallic lifeform.

Afterwards, that metallic lifeform flew away, while that young lady drew closer and closer to the Skyrite Mountains.

“These are the Skyrite Mountains. Outsiders are forbidden entry.” Immediately, more than ten patrolling warriors flew over from above, and one of them shouted at her.

This young lady had her hair tied into a ponytail, and she appeared very attractive. The strange thing was, she was wearing a straw hat on her head. The young lady hurriedly replied, “Hello. I am the friend of your Elder Linley. I’ve come to find him!”

“Elder Linley?” The patrolling warriors were all puzzled.

“Do you have any proof?” A patrolling warrior asked.

“Uh…” The young lady hesitated. What proof could she provide? But then, she immediately said, “How about this. Just go tell Elder Linley that my name is Nisse. He’ll know who I am.”

“Nisse?” The leader of the patrolling warriors glanced at her, then nodded. “Wait here.” After speaking, he flew away.

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 59, Suspicion

Although life within the gorge was peaceful, Linley’s heart was not at peace. He had continually been paying attention to Elder Blue and the others. These Elders all had chosen to sacrifice their most powerful divine clones for the sake of one last act of defiance. After hearing of their accomplishments in battle, Linley’s blood couldn’t help but boil, while at the same time, he felt rather saddened.

“Power. The problem, in the end, is still that our power is inferior to theirs!” Linley stood in front of his room, staring towards the sky, sighing in his heart.

From the Yulan continent to the Infernal Realm, Linley had experienced many things. Naturally, he understood that honor and glory wasn’t something which others would ‘give’ you; it was something you had to fight for and obtain for yourself by relying on your own power! The Four Divine Beasts clan was much weaker than before now, but they still wanted to have as much glory as they had in the past? This was nothing but a dream!

When you had power, others naturally would revere you.

For example, Beirut. He alone was enough to strike terror into the hearts of the eight great clans. A single order from Beirut resulted in the eight great clans not daring to make a single incursion into the Skyrite Mountains!

The Four Divine Beasts clan was in dire straits. Linley, in his heart, wanted to help his clan, but his current level of power was a good deal weaker than Patriarch Gislason. How was he supposed to help the clan? The final conclusion of all that pondering was…Linley still wasn’t strong enough.

“How long will it take for me to train to Lord Beirut’s level?” Linley’s heart was filled with desire…but then he shook his head and laughed.

Beirut and Dunnington could both be said as having reached the very peak of Highgod power. To reach the same level as Beirut was too hard!

“Once I train to the Highgod level, my power should begin to approach the Patriarch’s.” Linley was rather eager. Once he became a Highgod, although his body would still be physically weaker than the Patriarch’s, Linley had his Blackstone Prison.

If a Highgod Linley was to use the Blackstone Prison, the power of the technique would be very close to the level of the technique used by Purgatory Commander Reisgem. Only then would the true power of the Blackstone Prison be put on display!

Linley turned to look towards a nearby area. Bebe was lying on the grass.

“Bebe, what are you doing?” Linley laughed.

“Sky watching.” Bebe lay there, not moving at all. His gaze was focused on the skies. Through the mist, he could see the winding Dragon Avenue.

Bebe would often lie there and stare dumbly at one place, or perhaps at his straw hat. Occasionally, he would go out and have fun with others, but given how well Linley knew Bebe, he understood how Bebe was truly feeling. As more time passed…

Bebe longed for Nisse all the more.

“Bebe.” Linley walked over, sitting on the grass as well, laughing as he looked at Bebe. “Are you thinking about Ninny?”

Bebe was slightly startled, but he still nodded lightly. “Right. I…kind of can’t keep myself from thinking of her. Whenever I’m not focusing on something, I’ll begin to think random, foolish thoughts, at which point I’ll often think of her. However, what’s the point of thinking? Ninny thinks I am dead.”

“Bebe, in a little while, once you become a Highgod, or perhaps once I become a Highgod…let’s make a trip to the Jadefloat Continent.” Linley said.

“Whoah!” Bebe immediately sat up, turning to stare at Linley in shock.

“What, you don’t want to go?” Linley laughed.

Bebe had a rather awkward look on his face. “Boss, this is a rather complicated subject. I…do somewhat want to see her. But think about how her elder brother Salomon treated you. Treated us. If Phusro hadn’t shown us mercy, you and Delia would most likely be dead.”

Linley and Delia truly had nearly died, back then.

If they truly had died, Salomon would indeed have been the instigator and cause of their deaths.

“Whenever I think of Salomon, my belly fills with rage.” A savage light flashed in Bebe’s eyes, but then he said resignedly, “Tell me, if I go see Ninny, if I see Salomon, what should I do?”

Linley couldn’t help but laugh. So this was what sticking in Bebe’s craw, eh?

“No matter what, Bebe, in the end, Delia and I are still alive. In addition, the person you like is Nisse, not her elder brother. Just ignore her elder brother.” Linley urged.

“Ignore? Do you think I’ll be able to ignore him just because you said so?” Bebe pursed his lips resignedly.

Linley suddenly turned to stare towards the skies. A patrol warrior was flying towards him, and as he saw Linley on the ground below, he immediately landed next to Linley. Bowing, he said, “Elder Linley. There’s a woman at the borders of the mountains. She says that she is your friend. Her name is Nisse, and she wants to see you!”

Linley was stunned.

“Nisse?” Bebe immediately stood up, his eyes huge and round. He hurriedly said, “You said that woman is named Nisse, right?” “Right.” The patrol warrior was rather annoyed.

“Tell me, what is she like? Anything special about her?” Bebe said.

The patrol warrior paused momentarily. Describe a woman? This was rather hard. But then, the patrol warrior noticed the straw hat which Bebe was holding. His eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said, “Right. That woman was also wearing a hat on her head that looked identical to yours.”

Bebe was so excited, his face instantly turned red.

Linley felt both extremely shocked and delighted as well. How did Nisse end up coming over here?

“Boss!” Bebe hurriedly turned to look towards Linley. “Quick, slap me twice. See if I’m in a dream or not!” Bebe’s mind was completely numb right now, and he felt as though his body was light and airy, as though he wasn’t completely in touch with reality.

Linley acted quite simply. “WHAP!” He landed a palm blow on Bebe’s shoulder, knocking him straight to the ground.

“Haha, I’m not dreaming, I’m not dreaming.” Bebe instantly crawled back up.

Linley, seeing that Bebe was so excited that he was beginning to tremble, sighed to himself. It had been many years since Bebe had been excited to the point of going crazy.

The outside activities drew Delia out from the room as well. As she walked out, she said, “What just happened?”

“Nisse came. Bebe and I are going to go welcome her.” Linley laughed, then he grabbed Bebe and immediately flew into the air.

“Nisse came?”

Delia was slightly shocked, but moments later, she recovered. “Ninny actually came all the way from the Jadefloat Continent?”

The base of the Skyrite Mountains. Nisse was constantly staring into the depths of the mountains, her heart filled with worry. “What if Bebe doesn’t want to meet me? Will Bebe and Linley still be angry at what had happened in the volcano range that time?”

Worried. Panicked.

Nisse knew that her elder brother had wrongly accused Linley, and even wanted to cause the deaths of Linley and the others.

“Haha, Nisse!” A clear voice rang out.

Nisse couldn’t help but turn her head to look, and as she did, she saw two familiar figures fly towards her, shoulder-to-shoulder. Bebe, like her, wore a straw hat on his head. When Bebe saw Nisse, his eyes immediately lit up, and he was so excited that his speed instantly rose to a new level.

“Swoosh!”

“Bebe!” Nisse excitedly flew over as well.

But just as he drew near her, Bebe’s body suddenly trembled and his speed lessened. But Nisse ignored everything, rushing straight over to Bebe, clutching him in her arms. “Wuuuu…wuuuuu…I thought you wouldn’t want to meet me…wuuuu….” As she spoke, she actually began to cry.

Bebe opened his mouth a few times. In the end, his first words were…“Where is your elder brother?”

Hearing this, Linley didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. Bebe actually asked such an awkward question?

Nisse’s body trembled, and she released Bebe. She stared into Bebe’s eyes, as though she wanted to learn something from them. “My brother is still in the Jadefloat Continent.” Bebe seemed to have realized something, and in a low voice, he said, “This time…you came here by yourself? From the Jadefloat Continent?”

“Right!” Nisse nodded lightly.

“I almost…I almost…almost never would have been able to see you again.” As she spoke, tears once more began to appear in her eyes.

Hearing this, Linley couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath. Nisse was just a God. From Jingan Prefecture of the Jadefloat Continent to Indigo Prefecture of the Bloodridge Continent required passing through the Starmist Sea. One could imagine what a difficult journey this was, but Nisse had actually come by herself.

“You…” Bebe was completely stunned.

He had thought that Salomon had escorted Nisse here. The uncomfortable feeling that had been present in Bebe’s heart instantly vanished.

“You…did you want to die?!” Bebe instantly took Nisse into his arms.

Nisse was crying so hard that both her eyes had turned red. But her face was filled with a beautiful, overjoyed smile. Linley just stood there to the side, beaming as he watched. He felt very happy for the two of them, that they were able to have a reunion like this.

“Haha, the two of you have been holding each other for some time now. Do you want to continue to allow all those patrol warriors to watch this little drama?” A while later, Linley finally spoke with a smirk. “Come. Let’s go back first.”

Only now did Nisse and Bebe come to their senses.

Their reunion after a thousand years…they had both been so excited that they hadn’t noticed the passage of time.

Time flowed on. Nisse and Bebe, having reunited, naturally wouldn’t separate again. Bebe changed, once more becoming full of jokes and laughter, and spent every day with a delighted smile on his face. He was so happy he could die.

But although life for Linley and Bebe was comfortable, the eight great clans were frustrated.

Within the main hall of the Boleyn clan.

Four Patriarchs as well as four Deathgod Golem ‘clones’ of four other Patriarchs were gathered together. This meeting of the eight great Patriarchs had just begun.

“In the past few decades, the Four Divine Beasts clan has actually turtle up and refuse to come out. No matter how our clans’ forces challenge and provoke them, they don’t respond at all. What’s going on? Can it be that the Four Divine Beasts clan is admitting defeat?” A deep voice rumbled out.

“Impossible.” A hoarse voice rang out. “Everyone should still remember how savage and insane those Four Divine Beasts clansmen were, thirty years prior to this. It won’t be so easy to make them turtle up and submit.”

“Patriarch Boleyn, that’s not necessarily the case.” A devilish voice rang out.

“Nether Serpent. In the past countless years, have the Four Divine Beasts clan ever submitted? Don’t think so simplistically.” Patriarch Boleyn’s hoarse voice rang out once more.

The Four Divine Beasts clan had always been arrogant, prideful, and unyielding. They had never submitted. This was the impression that the Four Divine Beasts clan had always given others, throughout the countless years. Because the arrogance of the Four Divine Beasts clan had already been deeply engraved into everyone’s hearts, within a short period of time, there were quite a few members of the eight great clans who were unable to believe that the Four Divine Beasts clan would lower their heads and submit.

“As I see it, the Four Divine Beasts clan must be plotting something.” A forceful, unyielding voice rang out. “Their recent reactions have been too bizarre. Everyone, it is best to be careful.”

“Plot. What sort of plot could they have?” A high-pitched voice rang out.

“Enough, everyone.” A gentle voice rang out. “For now, it doesn’t matter whether or not the Four Divine Beasts clan has surrendered, or if they are plotting something. Let’s wait a while and take a good look. After a century, we will know for sure…if they have submitted, or if they are plotting something.”

“Right. I concur.” Patriarch Boleyn said as well.

“I concur.”

The hiding of the Four Divine Beasts clan, for a short period of time, caused the eight great clans to feel suspicious. However, once the Four Divine Beasts clan remained in hiding for a longer period of time, the eight great clans would be completely certain as to what the situation was, at which point, they had other options at hand.

The Skyrite Mountains. Within the gorge.

Today, the gorge was filled with the sounds of celebration and laughter. The surviving Elders of the clan, as well as the four clan leaders, and even many former Elders who had lost their most powerful divine clones had all gathered here on this day.

Because today…

Was the day of Bebe and Nisse’s wedding. Even Beirut, Carolina, and Phusro had hurried over. Today, Bebe was dressed in a very sharp manner, and for once, he was very humbly and courteously greeting every single guest who came.

“Getting married is exhausting.” Bebe secretly grumbled to the nearby Linley.

Linley couldn’t help but laugh. Suddenly, he noticed that Beirut was walking over. “Your grandfather is coming.”

“Haha…” Beirut weighed Bebe with his gaze, nodding in satisfaction. “You look proper today. But Linley, you and Bebe really are something. Bebe and Nisse have been together for a few decades now, but you didn’t even tell me. You only notified me after arranging the wedding.”

Linley could only chuckle.

Nisse had indeed been within the gorge for decades. Originally, Nisse and Bebe weren’t even planning a wedding, but…just a few months ago, Nisse suddenly discovered that she was pregnant!

Bebe and Nisse were both stunned. Having a child while not married? They frantically discussed this matter, then they came to a decision…they had to get married right away!

The two of them immediately wanted to notify everyone. However, Beirut was simply too far away, which was why they had decided to get married half a year later!

Today was the day of the wedding, but Nisse was already quite a few months pregnant and had a big belly. Each time Linley thought of this, he couldn’t help but want to laugh.

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 60, A Major Event

The day of the grand wedding. The gorge was filled with the nonstop sound of laughter.

Due to having chosen to submit and to retreat, the four clan leaders had been feeling quite depressed. Today, they seized the opportunity to have a good celebration. Beirut and Carolina were very happy as well, and so they happily chatted and drank with the four clan leaders and the various Elders.

“Lord Prefect, congratulations!” Gislason raised his cup to Beirut.

“Haha.” Beirut laughed as he looked towards Gislason, then lowered his voice. “Gislason, your Four Divine Beasts clan has truly retreated, and will no longer do battle?” Beirut paid attention to the struggle between the two sides as well.

Gislason was startled. He nodded.

“How have the eight great clans reacted?” Beirut asked.

“No reaction yet.” Gislason shook his head. “Most likely, in the near term, they will be unable to believe that we have truly submitted.”

“Right.” Beirut nodded. “But you still need to be careful. Once the eight great clans realize that you have retreated, even though they won’t dare to invade the Skyrite Mountains, they will think of ways to take their revenge upon you nonetheless.”

Gislason said self-mockingly, “We’ve already decide to hide in the Skyrite Mountains and not come out. What more can they do?” Gislason’s words had an undertone of grief and desolation to them.

Beirut didn’t say anything else.

“Hey.” The nearby Carolina laughed. “Tell me, will that Nisse of Bebe’s give birth to a boy or a girl?”

“How should I know?” Beirut laughed. “However, I can guarantee that it won’t be a Godeater Rat!”

If both husband and wife were Godeater Rats, their children would definitely also be Godeater Rats. Unfortunately, throughout the countless planes, only Beirut and Bebe were Godeater Rats. Generally speaking, especially terrifying divine beasts were also especially rare.

For example, the Azure Dragon, the White Tiger, and even the Nether Serpent were all unique divine beasts. There was only an extremely low probability that if their descendants married each other, they might be able to produce a true divine beast. But the chances were too low, far too low. As for the likes of the Ba-Serpent and the Suanni Lion, there were quite a few of them spread throughout the countless planes.

The more powerful a divine beast’s innate ability was, the rarer the beast was as well.

Those with weak innate abilities would be more common.

In the blink of an eye, months passed. Within the gorge. Outside Bebe’s room.

Linley, Beirut, Carolina, and the others were all present. Delia and Nisse were in the room. Nisse was about to give birth. The most nervous, restless person present was, of course, Bebe.

“She’s giving birth. She’s giving birth!” Bebe stood outside the room, mumbling to himself while walking back and forth, completely unable to come to a halt.

“Bebe, just sit down.” Linley couldn’t help but laugh.

“How can I sit down?” The muscles throughout Bebe’s entire body were taut and quivering. He glanced at Linley. “Boss, I’m so nervous, my heart’s about to leap out of my body. You want me to sit? Ugh. Why isn’t it out yet? It’s been so long.”

Beirut laughed. “Bebe, Nisse just went in. It’s going to be a good while longer.”

Bebe had no choice but to endure it. Right now, the passage of every single second, to Bebe, felt very long and slow.

“Waaaaa!” Suddenly, a high-pitched sobbing sound rang out.

Bebe seemed to have been hit by lightning, and he stood there stupidly.

“Creaaak!” The door swung open, and Delia walked out. She glanced sideways at Bebe. “Bebe, why are you standing there like an idiot? Aren’t you going to go in?” Only now did Bebe come to his senses, and his body transformed into a blur, entering the room.

Delia laughed. “Bebe actually went numb.”

“When you were giving birth to Wade, Bebe was telling me I was too nervous. But he’s even more nervous than me!” Linley laughed.

Delia glanced at him grumpily. “Don’t be so smug. When Taylor and Sasha were born, I heard that you were so nervous, you were sweating everywhere. You, a mighty, venerable Saint-level expert. So nervous that you were sweating?”

Linley could only laugh awkwardly.

Moments later, Bebe and Nisse walked out from the room. Bebe was beaming so widely, his mouth threatened to split apart. He was holding an infant in his arms. Nisse was a human, and so her baby was naturally a humanoid as well. However, this infant….

Was like Gislason. Although it had the lineage of a divine beast, it wasn’t a true divine beast.

“Boss.” Bebe looked excitedly at Linley. “Look, this is my child. This is the child of me, Bebe! Haha…I, Bebe, have a child of my own as well!” Bebe was so excited, his entire body was shaking.

“Come, let me hold the child.” Beirut laughed.

“Right.” Bebe very carefully handed the child over to Beirut.

Beirut took a careful look at the child. “Oh, so it’s a girl. The lineage of the Godeater Rat in her veins isn’t bad. Still, to activate the divine beast lineage in her blood will be rather difficult.” Up till now, Beirut still had yet to find a perfect way to draw out the innate divine ability of his descendants.

The Four Divine Beasts clan had their ‘Ancestral Baptism’, allowing their descendants to possess the ability to Dragonform and even have the innate divine ability of a divine beast. But of course, the strength of the innate divine ability was connected to the purity of the lineage.

“Girls are good. Girls are good.” Bebe continued to beam, his lips wide.

Today he was simply too excited.

Bebe was a divine beast, the Godeater Rat. With such a monstrously powerful innate ability, naturally he wouldn’t have too many progeny. For example, although Beirut had three sons, they were triplets; that was the only reason why he had three. After that one time, Carolina never gave birth to any more children.

As for Linley, although he wasn’t a divine beast and thus wasn’t restricted as tightly by the universe, Taylor and Sasha were a ‘dragon-phoenix’ pair of twins as well who were born together. As for Wade, he was only born after they came to the Infernal Realm.

From this day onwards, Bebe eagerly devoted himself to raising his daughter.

The skies were clear and the air was fresh. Linley walked out of his room, and as he did, he saw that in the distance, there was a young woman seated in the meditative position on a patch of grass, training. This young woman had black hair, and her skin appeared crystalline, like jade.

This was Bebe’s daughter, Ina [Yi’na].

“It will be very hard for Ina to even become a Deity.” Linley sighed to himself. Although Ina had the lineage of a divine beast, she wasn’t a divine beast, after all. As for Beirut, he did not yet have a method which would have the effect of the ‘Ancestral Baptism’.

For now, Ina had to rely on herself. This was why, despite having trained for over a century, Ina was just a Saint.

“Uncle Linley.” Ina’s clear voice rang out. She had already stood up, and her lively, agile eyes looked just like her father’s. “You seem to be in an excellent mood. Do you have good news?”

Linley couldn’t help but laugh, “Ina, good eye. Right. I made a breakthrough.”

“Oh?” Ina’s eyes immediately lit up. “In which Elemental Law?”

“Fire.” Linley didn’t hide it.

Linley improved the slowest in fire. Although he had trained in it for over a thousand years by now, by now, Linley had only mastered four profound mysteries. In addition, Linley hadn’t even gotten a basic understanding of the other two profound mysteries.

By comparison, as for water, in which Linley had only trained for six or seven hundred years, he had already reached the late stage in his fifth mystery.

As for the wind, although he had mastered seven profound mysteries, he hadn’t gain any insights into the last two at all.

He still trained fastest in the Laws of the Earth.

The Laws of the Earth had six profound mysteries. Linley had already trained to the ‘bottleneck’ level in ‘Vitality’; with but a final step, he would reach the level of Highgod. In addition, he had begun to fuse the Profound Mysteries of Strength as well as the Essence of the Earth.

“One’s mentality really does have an impact on the speed of one’s training.” Linley side to himself.

“Uncle Linley, you are too amazing. Alas, I still haven’t become a Deity. In the entire gorge, I’m the only non-Deity. Last time, when I went to great grandfather’s place, everyone I saw was a Deity as well.” Ina said helplessly.

Beirut and Carolina both doted on Ina, and often invited her to visit them at their place.

“Don’t be dispirited.” Linley said consolingly. “When training in the Elemental Laws, one must be fully absorbed in pondering them and focus in training them. If you do that, you will improve. I have faith in you. You are much more patient than your father.”

“Right.” Ina nodded and laughed. “Father has no patience for training.”

“Hey, are you people talking about me?” A voice rang out from nearby, and Bebe walked out from his own room, staring at Ina. “Nana, are you saying bad things about me?”

Ina let out a lovable snort, turning her head and ignoring Bebe.

Bebe just rubbed his nose. “This kid isn’t as obedient as she used to be when she was young.”

Linley didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. He originally had thought that since Bebe had a daughter, she would become the center of attention. But he was wrong…even after having a daughter, Bebe remained the same.

“Rumble…”

A spatial tremble suddenly swept out.

Linley’s face changed. He couldn’t help but turn his head. Although the spatial tremble came from far away and was already very weak, Linley could still sense it.

“What just happened?” Bebe’s expression grew focused as well, and he looked towards Linley.

“What is it?” Delia, Nisse, and Wade ran over as well.

“Come. Let’s take a look.” Linley led the way, flying into the air. Immediately, Bebe, Delia, Nisse, Ina, and Wade all followed, but as they flew out of the gorge, Linley’s group saw…

“This…” Linley stared, slack-jawed.

In the southern skies of the Skyrite Mountains, the entire area was clustered with people, who flew about like a horde of locusts. Quite a few people were launching attacks towards the mountain forests below.

“Boom!” “Boom!” “Boom!”

Those tree trunks exploded, and crevices in the ground appeared. Those spatial tremors from earlier had been caused from these attacks. However, these people were quite careful; despite attacking downwards, their attacks didn’t actually cause any harm to the Skyrite Mountains at all.

“So many people?” Linley felt his heart turn cold.

“Uncle Linley, how many people are there? There must be at least a few hundred thousand.” Ina stared dumbly.

“Not just a few hundred thousand!” Linley muttered.

At this moment, it wasn’t just Linley who felt his heart growing cold; throughout the Skyrite Mountains, members of the Four Divine Beasts clan were flying over, staring at the terrifying scene of countless people in the skies south of the Skyrite Mountains. Those people were currently attacking the mountain forests south of the Skyrite Mountains.

“Stay here. Don’t move.” Linley shouted. “If there’s any danger, immediately hurry back to the gorge. I’ll go to see the Patriarch first.”

“Don’t worry.” Bebe nodded.

Linley nodded slightly. He immediately flew at high speed towards the ‘dragon’s head’, the end of Dragon Avenue. And not just Linley; a good number of Elders were flying towards the Patriarch’s residence at high speed as well. On the way over, Linley met the Second Elder.

Linley saw Patriarch Gislason and some others in the distance. They, too, were looking towards the south.

“Patriarch.” Linley flew over.

“Linley, you came.” Gislason chuckled towards Linley. “Take a look and see the sort of game the eight great clans up to!”

“They really are the members of the eight great clans?” Linley had suspected this long ago.

“See for yourself.” Gislason turned his head to look towards the south.

Linley looked towards the south as well. Many experts were attacking the mountainous forests, and moments later, Linley understood as well. “They…they are setting up a foundation!” Within a large area, the trees were all destroyed, while at the same time, a solid foundation was being laid.

Soon…

Many of the clansmen belonging to the forces of the eight great clans came bearing giant stones, and they began to build one castle and estate after another! Given the power Deities possessed, especially when such an astonishingly large number of Deities worked together, in but half a day…

One castle and another was finished in the area to the south of the Skyrite Mountains.

The area in which these many castles were built was extremely close to the Skyrite Mountains. In addition, one could clearly tell that these castles were divided into eight areas.

Seeing this, the Four Divine Beast clansmen were stunned.

“What are they doing?” Elder Garvey couldn’t believe it.

“What are they doing? Setting up house next to us!” Gislason said gloomily.

Suddenly…

“Cowards of the Four Divine Beasts clan!” A wild, savage sound echoed throughout the air above the Skyrite Mountains. “Haha, I didn’t expect that the descendants of four Sovereigns would actually turtle up here in the Skyrite Mountains and be afraid to come out. Haha…”

All the clansmen living within the Skyrite Mountains heard this laughter.

All the clansmen were enraged.

“You fellows are quite good at hiding, aren’t you? Fine, then. Hide. Our eight great clans will just live right here next to you! As long as a single member of your clan exits the mountain, we will kill him or her! If you want, you can forever hide in there like cowards and never come out!”

“Haha…Four Divine Beasts clan? More like Four Pests clan! Haha…”

“Anyone with courage, step out. Our eight great clans will welcome you at any time! If you don’t have any courage…then just keep hiding!”

Waves of laughter continued to echo out from outside. Their voices shook the heavens like thunder, echoing within the Skyrite Mountains.

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 61, Group Battle

The countless members of the Azure Dragon clan who lived in the Skyrite Mountains all heard these insults and the mockery. Many clansmen were infuriated. Fierce looks flashed through their eyes, and they could no longer endure it. Bellowing, they flew out from throughout the Skyrite Mountains.

“Kill!”

“Kill these bastards!”

A large number of figures rose from within the Skyrite Mountains. Moving as fast as lightning, they wildly charged towards the south. Many of them were patrol guards. Many of them were so angry that their eyes had turned crimson, and quite a few other warriors charged towards the east as well.

They had gone mad!

The Four Divine Beasts clansmen had been enraged to the point of insanity! Being killed was nothing more than their severed heads falling to the ground, but the insults the other side was hurling caused these clansmen to go wild. Countless years of pride made it so that these tribesmen weren’t able to endure it any longer.

“Bastards!” Elder Garvey, standing by Linley’s side, was staring angrily, his eyes crimson as well.

They had elected to retreat, because they had realized the hopelessness of the clan’s situation. But now, the enemy had come right up to them, cursing them out while pointing their fingers towards the Four Divine Beasts clansmen’s noses. Everyone found it hard to endure this. All of the Elders were growing utterly enraged. Even Linley, upon hearing the mocking laughter, felt fury rise in his heart. “These eight great clans are forcing us to go battle them!”

“Return! All of you, return!” Gislason roared loudly.

Those reproving shouts echoed throughout the Skyrite Mountains, but many of the ordinary clansmen had never even met the Patriarch. In their rage, how could they possibly recognize their Patriarch’s voice? They didn’t care who was ordering them to stop; they still charged towards the south. All of them wanted to drink the enemy’s blood and devour the enemy’s flesh!

“Rumble…”

More than ten thousand clansmen filled the skies. They threw themselves towards the outside. Even though they were still quite some distance away, they attacked wildly, causing material attacks and spiritual attacks to instantly fill the heavens.

“Kill!” Many clansmen within the Skyrite Mountains who hadn’t flown out yet attacked savagely as well.

“Rumble…”

The skies shone with all sorts of lights, which rushed towards the south in a wave.

“Rumble…”

The many clansmen of the eight great clans all unleashed their terrifying attacks. The color of the sky itself changed. The countless attacks clashed and intersected in mid-air, causing an ear-piercing, rumbling sound. Many attacks, however, passed through to the other side.

“Bang!” “Boom!”

The Four Divine Beasts clan. The eight great clans. The bodies of their clansmen exploded in mid-air or tumbled directly to the ground.

“Kill them!”

Their blood boiling, these enraged clansmen attacked, ignoring all else. However, because many of the clansmen had halted after being ordered to stop, only ten thousand or so had truly charged over. All of those clansmen who had charged over immediately Dragonformed. They would either kill their enemies, or they would themselves die!

The world shook with countless rumbles.

Surrounded like this, those clansmen who had originally elected to remain within the Skyrite Mountains felt their own rage rise as well. They weren’t able to endure any longer. Even Linley felt a murderous intent rise in his heart.

“Quick, all of you, go stop our clansmen. Quick!” Gislason roared angrily towards Linley and the others. “They are just throwing their lives away!”

“Yes, Patriarch!”

Linley and the group of Elders were enraged, but all of them had no choice but to forcibly swallow their anger. They scattered everywhere throughout the Skyrite Mountains, loudly shouting, “Stop. All stop!”

“Stop. Stop!”

After all, it was the clan leaders and the Elders of the Four Divine Beasts clan who had made the decision to stop fighting against the eight great clans. The high level members of the clan knew, but the ordinary clansmen didn’t know. The ordinary clansmen were as proud and arrogant as they had been, ten thousand years ago. They weren’t able to endure this sort of humiliation.

Thanks to the shouts and roars of the Elders, as well as the shouts of the many patrolling warriors who were following the commands of the Elders, the insanity slowly began to fade away.

In that short while…

Tens of thousands of Four Divine Beasts clansmen had died. But of course, the losses of the eight great clans weren’t light either.

“All of you, back!” Linley roared at one clansman after another.

Many of those clansmen had unwilling looks in their eyes, which were filled with rage. They all stared towards the south. After so many years, quite a few members of the Four Divine Beasts clan had gotten to know Linley. The prestige and authority of the Elders was still very effective. All of them thus refrained from charging over.

“Elder Linley, are we supposed to just take it without fighting back?” A youth looked at Linley frantically, his face completely red with rage.

Linley was stunned.

“Just let them ride roughshod over us. To just let them insult us like this?” The youth’s body was trembling. “I would rather die and take a few of them with me, rather than accept this sort of humiliation!” “Elder Linley…are we really not going to fight back?” Quite a few clansmen looked towards Linley, their eyes filled with a hint of despair.

Being insulted and cursed at by others, but not fight back? This was more agonizing to the Four Divine Beasts clansmen than killing them.

“We will have our revenge!” Linley growled. “Don’t worry. We will have our revenge!”

Only now did the clansmen feel slightly better. They all listened to Linley and began to return, but as Linley stared at the surrounding area…he saw that most of the infuriated clansmen had been stopped by his shout.

When Linley had just arrived at the Four Divine Beasts clan, he hadn’t felt too strong a sense of belonging towards the clan.

This was because, deep in Linley’s heart, he had always considered himself to be Linley Baruch! He had a very strong sense of belonging towards the Yulan branch, but that wasn’t the case for the Azure Dragon clan as a whole.

However…

Much time had passed. He had lived here with the Four Divine Beasts clansmen for eight or nine centuries. Over the past eight or nine hundred years, Linley had met too many of his clansmen, all of them who were capable of Dragonforming, and who would all greet him as ‘Elder Linley’ upon seeing him. Unconsciously, without even realizing it…in the Infernal Realm, Linley had already grown to completely consider himself a member of the Four Divine Beasts clan.

“The eight great clans!” Linley stared towards the south, his eyes narrowing.

And then, Linley flew back to the residence of Patriarch Gislason. But right at this moment, yet another wave of mockery and derisive insults rang out.

“Haha, what? Your Four Divine Beasts clan only has this much courage?”

“Just keep hiding. I daresay that even though the Four Divine Beasts clan has people at their very doorstep mocking them and insulting them, they still don’t have the courage to fight back. This news, without a doubt, will spread throughout the Infernal Realm in just a few centuries, and even the rest of the Higher Planes. Haha…we will make sure that the people of the various planes all know what cowards you Four Divine Beasts clansmen are. How spineless!”

The voices continued to echo in the skies.

The Elders had already returned to the side of Patriarch Gislason, all of them utterly enraged.

“I didn’t expect the eight great clans would be this despicable!” The Second Elder was so angry that even his beard was trembling. “When they spread this news throughout the other planes, the various clans will look down upon them as well.”

“Look down upon them?” Patriarch Gislason laughed coldly. “You are wrong. The eight great clans, when spreading this news, will definitely make it all the more colorful. They’ll say that it was the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture who forbade them from attacking the Skyrite Mountains, which is why they were forced to remain outside the borders of the mountain range. This news will perhaps enhance the reputation of the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture. It won’t have much of an impact to the eight great clans. But to our Four Divine Beasts clan…”

Linley understood as well. Once this spread out, the reputation of the Four Divine Beasts clan would forever be tarnished. Others would say that all they were capable of was hiding behind the protection of the Lord Prefect of Indigo Prefecture, and that even when others came to their gates to insult them, they still didn’t have the courage to fight back!

“Patriarch Gislason of the Azure Dragon clan. You are a Patriarch and the son of a Sovereign, and yet you are so spineless and cowardly. You really are an embarrassment to your father. Why don’t you just kill yourself? Haha…”

“You, Gislason, are an embarrassment to the almighty Sovereign. Haha…”

Laughter rang out continuously.

Even after the four Sovereigns died, these people wouldn’t dare to casually besmirch the Sovereigns themselves. After all, even a dead Sovereign was still a Sovereign. The prestige of a Sovereign was inviolable…and if it was violated, if any of the other Sovereigns were to hear their words, be irritated by them, and decide to punish them, they would be doomed.

Gislason’s gaze was like ice.

“Patriarch.” The nearby Elders couldn’t help but look at him.

“These bastards.” Elder Garvey let out a growl, and he immediately transformed into a ray of light, flying towards the north.

“Get back here.” Gislason’s face changed. He immediately flew in pursuit, and Linley and the other Elders followed him.

Although Gislason was far faster than Elder Garvey, the Skyrite Mountains were only so large. By the time they caught up, Gislason and the others had already reached the borders of the Skyrite Mountains.

“Garvey. What are you doing?” Gislason grabbed Elder Garvey.

“Patriarch.” Garvey stared at Gislason.

“Oh. You finally found the courage to come out?” Ten or so figures were hovering there in mid-air, and they glanced over. They clearly had noticed Gislason and the others. “Gislason, what are you doing? Not only are you not fighting back, you aren’t going to let others fight back either? Haha…”

Gislason turned to look at them.

“And who the hell do you think you are?” Gislason’s eyes radiated frost. “Let the Nether Serpent, Edric, and the others come over!”

The leader was a big fellow that was more than three meters tall. Snickering, he said, “Gislason, a hundred years ago, I might have asked the Patriarchs to come over upon hearing your words. Unfortunately…you are not nothing more than a coward who doesn’t even dare to fight back. What right do you have to invite my Patriarch over? I feel ashamed just speaking with you!”

“Impudence.” Gislason’s face seemed to have been covered by ice.

“Bastard!” Garvey, furious, gnashed his teeth, charging forward once more.

“Hold it.” Gislason grabbed Garvey and shouted at him.

“Patriarch!” Garvey turned to look at Gislason, shouting angrily.

“Hey, kid.” The muscular fellow glanced disdainfully at Garvey. “From the looks of you, your rank in the Four Divine Beasts clan should be fairly high. But in all these years, in all the battles between our eight great clans and your clan, I’ve never seen you.”

Garvey’s body trembled.

Indeed. Over the many previous years, because Garvey was one of the slightly weaker Elders, he had never gone to Boodbath Gorge, nor had he fought on behalf of the clan. He had watched as the other Elders sacrificed themselves for the clan, and as he did so, he had always felt guilt in his heart.

“Patriarch. I, Garvey, am an Elder, but in all these years, I’ve never had the chance to do battle.” Garvey’s eyes were bloodshot, and he stared savagely at the Patriarch. “I imagine that in the future, I won’t have the chance to battle the eight great clans either. Today…just grant me my wish.”

Gislason was stunned.

“Elder Garvey…” Linley hurriedly spoke out as well.

“Garvey, don’t…” Gislason hadn’t even finished his words before Elder Garvey let out a low laugh.

“BANG!” Suddenly, a terrifying azure aura emerged from Elder Garvey’s body, and he immediately broke through Gislason’s grip as his body split into two. One was an ordinary divine earth clone, which remained. As for that body which was brimming with azure light, it seemed to have transformed into an illusory dragon, bellowing as it charged towards the south.

Sovereign’s Might!

“Retreat!” The face of that burly warrior changed dramatically.

The ten-plus people by his side had changed as well. They hurriedly scattered in each direction, while the leader let out a low growl. His own body became covered with an azure aura as well; this man was an expert of the Barbary clan, skilled in using water.

“Garvey…” Linley watched, stunned.

Garvey opened his mouth, and instantly, an enormous illusion of an Azure Dragon that was more than ten thousand meters long appeared. An enormous Dragon Roar shot out, immediately enveloping all of the ten-plus people who had wanted to flee. Their bodies stiffened, and they became paralyzed.

Innate divine ability – Dragon Roar!

“Swoosh!”

Elder Garvey immediately scurried over, attacking those people who had been affected by the Dragon Roar in quick succession. “Bang!” “Bang!” Garvey only had the chance to kill two of them, before that man who had also used Sovereign’s Might interposed and blocked him.

The two experts began to battle wildly, exchanging multiple blows. Garvey’s thigh was torn open, and blood splattered everywhere. In terms of power, Elder Garvey was still quite a bit weaker than this muscular man of the Barbary clan.

“Patriarch, quick, save him!” Linley let out a low growl, and he charged forward as well. At the same time…

“BOOM!”

An earthen yellow light surged out from Linley’s body. It was a drop of earth-type Sovereign’s Might.

But right at this moment…

“Swish!” “Swish!” “Swish!” “Swish!”

Six more figures flew out from the eight great clan’s forces, their bodies also radiating that terrifying, powerful aura of Sovereign’s Might. Clearly, they had come to jointly attack and kill Linley. Linley was by himself; how could he possibly overcome these six enemies?

Gislason’s face changed dramatically. He shouted loudly, “Quick, retreat!” At the same time, an azure aura burst forth from his body, and he too transformed into an azure ray of light, streaking through the skies.

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 62, The Thorn in Their Side

Elder Garvey’s battle against the enemy expert resulted in the aura of Sovereign’s Might filling the area, causing the other three clan leaders of the Four Divine Beasts clan to hurry over. When they saw those six figures simultaneously attack Linley, their faces all changed.

“Not good. All six of them are using Sovereign’s Might, and two of them are Patriarchs!” The Vermillion Bird Matriarch recognized the enemy experts from far away.

“How can this be?! The eight great clans have gone mad!”

The White Tiger Patriarch, the Black Tortoise Patriarch, and the other Elders couldn’t understand what they were seeing. No matter how powerful Linley was, he was just a Seven Star Fiend. How could he have angered the eight great clans to the point where without hesitating at all, six enemy members would immediately use Sovereign’s Might to attack him, with two being Patriarchs!

Of the eight Patriarchs, seven were a Sovereign’s Emissary, while the eighth was the most powerful of them all.

What sort of status did the eight of them have? And yet, two of them, not hesitating at all, immediately joined forces to shamelessly attack a junior like Linley? This was inconceivable!

“Linley, quick, flee!!!” A furious shout echoed in Linley’s mind. At this moment, Linley also noticed out of the corner of his eyes that six enemy experts were attacking. He couldn’t help but feel shocked. “Six? All using Sovereign’s Might?”

Murderous looks were in the eyes of the six, and they looked like six tigers that wanted to devour a little lost sheep. “Haha, Patriarch, this Linley actually flew out of the Skyrite Mountains. This really is an opportunity which the heavens had gifted us with.” An extremely muscular man whose entire body was covered with a white robe sent through divine sense.

“We have to seize this opportunity. We must kill him, no matter the cost!”

“He won’t be able to run!”

The six stared at Linley fixedly. Over the past thousand years, their eight great clans had wildly attacked the Four Divine Beasts clan, precisely because they were afraid that that they might take too long and allowed Linley to become a Highgod. They wanted to force Linley out.

But…over so many years, Linley had never come out.

Linley’s existence was a thorn in their side, a bone sticking in their craw. Even in their dreams, they dreamt of destroying this disaster waiting to happen. And now, today, heaven had given them the opportunity to do so! How could the six of them show any mercy? They didn’t show mercy…

But as for Linley, he was no fool. He knew his own limits.

Seeing the six of them charge over, Linley hurriedly retreated while shouting frantically with divine sense, “Garvey, retreat!”

In the same instant as he hurriedly retreated, with Linley at the center, an earthen yellow light sprang out in waves, immediately extending to create an enormous spherical region with a diameter of five hundred meters. It immediately caught the distant Elder Garvey and his opponent, still locked in battle.

Blackstone Space!

The Blackstone Space was the ultimate technique of Reisgem. Today, Linley actually used earth-type Sovereign’s Might to unleash this technique, which was an earth-type attack to begin with. Using earth-type Sovereign’s Might to unleash it…the power of this Blackstone Space had been lifted to an unprecedented, powerful level.

The divine power of a God, when using this Blackstone Space, was capable of affecting weak Seven Star Fiends.

The divine power of a Highgod, when using this Blackstone Space, was capable of affecting even experts who were close to the rank of Asura; Reisgem’s level.

But when using earth-type Sovereign’s Might to execute this Blackstone Space…the enemy would have to use Sovereign’s Might and also be a supreme expert in order to be able to resist it even slightly…as otherwise, within the Blackstone Space, there would be no way for them to fight back at all.

“Ahhh!” The Barbary clan’s warrior who was battling against Elder Garvey, when affected by the gravitational pull, was caught off guard and sank down. In a battle between experts, the slightest flaw was enough to cause one’s death!

“BANG!” Elder Garvey seized the opportunity to launch a palm slap against the head of the Barbary clan warrior, whose head exploded as a divine spark flew out.

The Barbary clan Elder had died!

But right at this moment…

“Swoosh!” Six figures charged straight into the Blackstone Space. The Blackstone Space was simply too large. If they wanted to kill Linley, they would have to draw close to him. Even though they knew how powerful the Blackstone Space was, they still had to charge in first.

But the power of the Blackstone Space was even greater than they had expected!

Blackstone Space – Repulsive Force!

The six figures that had been charging into the Blackstone Space suddenly slowed down. Caught off guard, two of the figures even were pushed backwards by the repulsive force of this Blackstone Space. They had charged straight in, but then suddenly were thrust out by the repulsive force. These two conflicting momentums caused their bodies to tremble, and their faces couldn’t help but turn red. Just like that, they were injured.

This was the terrifying power of a supreme Blackstone Space!

“How is that possible?” The other four, although just barely able to resist from being repulsed outwards, were also slowed dramatically.

There was no way they would be able to catch Linley!

“Attack!” The leader, Patriarch Boleyn, roared through divine sense. At the same time, white, glowing wings appeared from his back, and a white, holy aura of Fate-type Sovereign’s Might emanated from his entire body. The expression on Patriarch Boleyn’s face was incomparably emotionless as he stared at Linley!

“Swish!” A semi-translucent white arrow pierced through the air, shooting towards Linley.

“Hmph!” A low growl.

A man with two icy blue eyes swung out his right arm, his blue eyebrows fluttering. A blue scimitar instantly shot out. The spatial fabric of the Infernal Realm was cut open like a piece of paper, wherever that blue scimitar sliced past.

If a blade was very sharp, when you sliced it through someone’s head, the only thing that would happen would be that a red line would appear.

This scimitar cut through space in the same manner; when it sliced through space, it just left behind a thin crack, one which was almost invisible if not examined carefully. However, the power of this scimitar had reached an astonishing level.

The white arrow and the blue scimitar shot out simultaneously.

“Hmph!” With but a thought, Linley suddenly made layers upon layers of earthen yellow walls appear out of nowhere, blocking in front of that white arrow and the scimitar. But the gliding speed of that scimitar was simply too fast; it was even faster than the white arrow, and it easily sliced through one wall after another.

Linley was shocked. “This scimitar…”

This earthen yellow wall was formed from earth-type Sovereign’s Might, and its defensive power was very terrifying. But this powerful defense, in the face of that scimitar, was like nothing more than wet paper, unable to block it in the slightest.

“Can it be a Sovereign artifact?” Linley continuously retreated.

“Whoosh!” The scimitar sliced through the air, and had already arrived in front of Linley. Only now did Linley clearly see…that as the scimitar slashed towards him, a neat cut in space itself could be seen at the edge of the scimitar. “Too fast. Too fast!” Linley wasn’t able to dodge at all.

Right at this fatal moment…

A black fist slammed down in front of Linley like a mountain. This enormous black fist lightly brushed past the scimitar. There was a clear, ringing sound, and the direction of the blue scimitar was changed. “Swish!” It slashed past Linley’s chest, effortlessly piercing past it.

“Quick, back!” That black hand snatched Linley, then dragged him backwards.

“Patriarch.” Linley saw from the corner of his eyes who this person was, and he felt gratitude in his heart. The person who had saved him was Patriarch Gislason.

The half-translucent white arrow was slightly slower than the ‘scimitar’, and it landed on Gislason’s body. Gislason didn’t seem to even notice it, nor did he counter-attack; he just grabbed Linley and flew back into the Skyrite Mountains.

Although this took time to describe, the time it took between Linley flying out, Elder Garvey killing his enemy, and then Linley and Gislason both fleeing back was nothing more than the time it took to blink one’s eye. But such a heart-palpitating series of events had occurred in that blinking of an eye!

The Skyrite Mountains.

Gislason and Linley both flew back. Only now did they let out sighs of relief. Elder Garvey had been lucky enough to flee back as well. In truth, the enemies had considered Linley to be their real target, and so Elder Garvey had seized the chance to flee back.

“Patriarch, thank you for saving my life.” Linley looked at his chest, terror flashing through his mind at what almost happened.

“You really are audacious.” Gislason let out a long breath, then looked towards the front. “Just now, the enemy actually sent out six people at once, all using Sovereign’s Might. Even I was shocked…in particular, the Patriarch of the Venna Clan even attacked with his weapon-type Sovereign artifact!”

Linley was shocked. That had actually been a Sovereign artifact!

“However.” Gislason laughed as he looked at Linley. “The power of your Gravitational Space truly is terrifying, especially after you used a drop of earth-type Sovereign’s Might. Those two weaker individuals, even after having used their Sovereign’s Might, were actually repelled outwards. As for Patriarch Boleyn and the other Elders, they weren’t able to chase after and attack us at all.”

Indeed!

After Linley set up his ‘Blackstone Space’, the enemies could only attack from afar; they weren’t able to pursue at all.

“Linley, thank you.” Elder Garvey, his face ashen, drew near and said gratefully.

“Linley!” A deep, rumbling voice echoed out. The Black Tortoise Patriarch, the Vermillion Bird Matriarch, the White Tiger Patriarch, and a number of other Elders flew over as well. “What is going on? Why is it that as soon as you attacked, the eight great clans would suddenly attack you like mad? Even two Patriarchs joined forces. Is there some sort of huge enmity between you and them?”

Linley felt completely baffled as well.

“I don’t know either. I only fought for the clan on a few occasions and killed a few enemy Elders. Nothing else.” Linley stared into the distance. He didn’t understand why the eight great clans wanted to kill him this badly. Their madness had already reached an all-encompassing state, and they viewed him as the greatest thorn in their side.

“What a wonderful chance that was…” Patriarch Boleyn shut his eyes, unwilling to accept what had just happened.

“The two of you joined forces, and yet you still weren’t able to kill Linley. What a waste of a wonderful opportunity!” A cold, insidious man, dressed in voluminous black robes and with vipers hanging from his ears said in a low voice. “Patriarch Venna, how could you have missed with your blade?”

The man with the long, blue eyebrows let out a cold snort, not explaining.

“There’s no point to discussing this now.” A gentle voice rang out. Patriarch Edric. “What is done is done. What we now need to do is come up with a way…to find another chance to kill Linley. Linley’s Gravitational Space is simply astonishing. It isn’t so bad if he doesn’t use Sovereign’s Might, but once he does…only we Patriarchs have a chance to kill him.”

“It doesn’t matter who kills him. What matters is forcing him out to fight again.” A growling voice rang out.

“I’ll give it a try. Let’s see if I can force Linley out.” Suddenly, an elfin-looking Elder flew out.

The clan leaders and Elders of the Four Divine Beasts clan were all together. The actions of the eight great clans had caused them to be utterly enraged, but all they could do right now was to endure it. After all, the number of experts the enemies had was simply too overpoweringly greater.

“Boss, you were too rash.” Bebe hurried over as well.

Linley could only chuckle. “I didn’t expect that the eight great clans would attack me so madly.” Linley had thought that when he attacked, the enemy would at most send out a single Elder to stop him…and in that sort of situation, Linley was confident he would be able to save Elder Garvey. But the reaction of the enemy side was simply too astounding; even he was terrified by it.

Right at this moment, a mocking voice rang out from the other side.

“That should have been Elder Linley of the Azure Dragon clan just now, right? Oh, excuse me, the Azure Pest clan’s Elder. I had thought that you, Linley, were an impressive figure. But from the display you just put on, Elder Linley…haha, you really disappoint me!” The snickering laugh rang out. “I, an ordinary Elder of the Edric clan, am here right now. Elder of the Azure Pest clan, dare you fight me?”

This mocking laugh echoed throughout the Skyrite Mountains.

Azure Pest clan?

The Four Divine Beast clansmen were all enraged, and many stared hatefully at the enemy clansmen.

Linley couldn’t help but look towards the gray-robed, elfin-looking Elder. In his heart, he was pondering. “What is going on with the eight great clans? They want to make me step out and fight again? Why are they focused on me?” Linley felt that there was something amiss.

“Linley, don’t go.” Gislason immediately instructed.

“Hey…!” Bebe shouted loudly. “You claim to be eight ‘great’ clans? Just now, six of you attacked Linley, and two of you were Patriarchs. The eight great clans truly are great; two Patriarchs and four Elders jointly attacked Elder Linley, and yet Elder Linley wasn’t even injured in the slightest!”

On the side of the eight great clans, all of the Elders were pondering on how to make Linley fly out of the Skyrite Mountains. They viewed Linley as being the member of the Four Divine who was a true thorn in their side, a burr in their paw.

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 63, A Turn Of Events

The borders of the Skyrite Mountains. The clan leaders and Elders of the Four Divine Beasts clan were all gathered together, holding a secret meeting. This tactic of the eight great clans wasn’t a particularly brilliant one, but it really was vile, venomous, and vicious!

When the Four Divine Beasts clan had decided to withdraw from battle, this decision had already caused them teeth-gnashing agony.

But now the eight great clans came and openly mocked them and satirized them. This was like pouring oil onto a flame. The battle that resulted caused the Four Divine Beasts clan to feel angered, enraged, hate-filled. The four clan leaders and Elders were discussing how to resolve this matter, while Linley was pondering this matter as well. “Why exactly do the eight great clans want to kill me so badly? To the point where even two of their Patriarchs would be so shameless as to join forces to attack me?”

Linley was filled with confusion.

At the same time, Linley also looked towards the outside, but as he did, Linley suddenly frowned in puzzlement. “Hey, what are they doing?” The eight great clans had actually sent out several warriors who, working together, were shifting over a small mountain that was a thousand meters wide and nearly a hundred meters tall. The mountains of the Higher Planes were astonishingly heavy; given the size of this dwarf mountain, one could imagine how much it weighed.

“Why did they move a mountain over?” Bebe looked over, puzzled.

Gislason and the other clan leaders, as well as the Elders, all looked over as well. Everyone was rather puzzled.

Those warriors sent out their strengths in unison, directly tossing the dwarf mountain in front of them. It landed to the ground with a massive ‘boom’ sound, striking heavily down at the demarcating region between the Skyrite Mountains and the base of the eight great clans.

That arrogant looking man with the long green eyebrows flew towards the dwarf mountain.

“Him?” Linley wouldn’t forget this man. It was he who had used the weapon-type Sovereign artifact to attack Linley.

The green-eyebrowed man flipped his hand, and instantly, a large amount of green energy knives flew into the air, slashing past the dwarf mountain. Immediately, large amounts of rocks and stones were smashed apart. The wind howled and pebbles blasted everywhere. In but a few moments, the appearance of the dwarf mountain had changed.

It was now eight hundred meters in diameter and fifty meters in height.

An enormous dueling platform!

“Swoosh!” A skinny youth with cold, insidious eyes suddenly flew over to the dueling platform. He swept everyone with his gaze, then said brightly, “You say that we are fighting you in groups? Fine. Today, let’s fight one on one. Nobody will be permitted to interfere in a duel. Linley, you killed my older brother. Today, I challenge you, Linley. Linley, dare you accept my challenge?”

“Linley, dare you accept my challenge?”

This voice echoed throughout the Skyrite Mountains, reverberating in the heavens. Even Delia and Wade, originally in the gorge, heard this voice calling out to Linley. Worried, they all flew out.

Everyone looked at Linley, waiting for Linley to respond.

“Linley, don’t go fight.” Gislason said softly.

“Linley.” Delia had already flown out. Linley nodded towards Delia, then smiled.

At this time, the voice turned satirical. “You don’t even have the courage to fight one on one. Hmph!” Mocking, disdainful words. Despite that, however, quite a few people on the enemy side were staring at Linley, waiting to see his reaction.

“Bebe, Delia, Wade. Let’s go back.” Linley just smiled calmly, then turned and left.

Linley could tell that the eight great clans clearly wanted to incite him to go out and do battle. But after the previous experience, where six major experts had attacked him en masse, Linley had come to an understanding. The eight great clans wanted to kill him very much. “If I go accept a challenge now, that isn’t valor, that’s idiocy.”

Seeing Linley fly into the inner regions of the Skyrite Mountains, the Patriarchs and Elders of the enemy clans couldn’t help but feel resigned. “Just now, when all of you attacked without killing Linley, I knew that Linley would definitely grow cautious. To force him to come out now…difficult!” A deep, rumbling voice rang out.

“There’s no point to saying these things now!”

The eight Patriarchs were filled with regret. They had the perfect chance just then, but they had missed it. Kill Linley now? Linley wouldn’t be so impulsive as to give them the chance!

Within the Skyrite Mountains. The great gorge. Three days had gone by since the eight great clans had moved over. During the past three times, the eight great clans had especially arranged for a group of people who, working in shifts, spent their entire time cursing, insulting, and mocking the Four Divine Beasts clan. Of course, they would occasionally have to rest, but the majority of the time in each day was spent cursing and mocking.

It seemed as though mocking the Four Divine Beasts clan was a source of amusement for them.

And of course, they would call out some Elders and clan leaders by name, including Gislason and the other three clan leaders, as well as Linley. These names were often singled out for ridicule. Even though Linley knew that this was a treacherous plot by the enemy side, Linley still grew infuriated upon hearing it.

“Linley, during this period of time, you must not go out, no matter what.” Gislason instructed him solemnly.

Linley laughed bitterly and nodded. “Patriarch, don’t worry. I understand. Only, to tell the truth…” Linley could still clearly hear the constant mockery and insults drifting down from above. The eight great clans had already spent three days here at the borders of the Skyrite Mountains.

“To be insulted like this…anybody, no matter how good their temper is, will be furious.” Linley said somberly.

“In the past few days, quite a few of our clansmen were unable to endure it any longer, and they went to battle the eight great clans on the dueling platform.” Gislason let out a sigh. “When one’s rage reaches a certain level, one might not be able to endure it. These clansmen will even ignore the orders of their Patriarch and go do battle. But the eight great clans have held to their word as well; the fights have all been one against one. However, the results of the duels have actually been slightly favorable to our side.” Gislason, when saying these words, felt rather helpless as well.

The clansmen were going all out, but the experts of the clan weren’t able to overcome the enemy.

The battles of the Infernal Realm relied on supreme experts.

Linley understood that this was a gloomy subject, so he changed the topic. “Right, Patriarch. That day, when you saved me, you were able to block that Sovereign scimitar artifact. Are those black gloves of yours also Sovereign artifacts?”

“No.”

Gislason shook his head. “I don’t have any weapon-type Sovereign artifacts. The Lord Prefect gifted me with this set of black gloves. They are godspark weapons.”

“Godspark weapons?” Linley’s eyes lit up.

Bebe had a godspark weapon as well. Divine sparks were indestructibly tough, and so godspark weapons naturally were extraordinary.

“Sovereign artifacts are nourished by Sovereigns. Sovereigns contain astonishing levels of energy in their body, and so Sovereign artifacts have terrifying attack power. Godspark weapons, however, don’t actually have much energy in them. But they do have one strong point; their toughness!” Gislason laughed. “By relying on this godspark weapon, I am able to block even Sovereign artifacts. Still, that day, that wind-type Sovereign scimitar really was too frighteningly powerful. Even I only dared to rely on knocking it sideways and borrowing its own momentum, rather than taking it head on. After all, godspark weapons, compared to Sovereign artifacts, are still slightly inferior.”

Linley nodded.

Perhaps in terms of toughness, godspark weapons weren’t inferior to Sovereign artifacts. But Sovereign artifacts were formed from large amounts of Sovereign’s power nurturing them over countless years. Their attack power was simply too frighteningly great.

“If you have the chance, you should ask for a godspark weapon from the Lord Prefect as well. I trust the Lord Prefect would give you one.” Gislason laughed. “The power of your ‘Blackstone Space’ is indeed great, but your attack power is still a little weak. With a godspark weapon, you will be much stronger.”

Linley couldn’t help but feel stirred.

He had already witnessed the toughness of a godspark weapon for himself; it was far harder than even his own draconic scales.

“Don’t these people grow tired?” Gislason frowned, raising his head to stare into the distance.

“Four Pests clans, why is it that you have only sent ordinary Highgods? Where are the Elders? You let all these minor figures come out to fight, while the Elders all hide like cowards. Haha…” Mocking laughter drifted in from outside.

Linley couldn’t help but furrow his brow in anger.

Although he was able to forcibly restrain his anger, he was still annoyed when hearing these things. When one grew annoyed, one would become irritable as well.

“Endure for a few more days. The clan is currently carving out an enormous magic formation that will form a giant elemental barrier. By then, all sound will be blocked out between the outside world and us.” Gislason said helplessly. Being constantly assaulted by those voices was a form of torture.

……………

In the air above the Skyrite Mountains, an enormous elemental barrier had taken form. No matter what the forces of the eight great clans were saying, the clansmen were unable to hear it. But although they couldn’t hear it…everyone still felt unhappy.

This sort of action was akin to just holding their hands over their ears. They felt humiliated!

“The final bottleneck of the Profound Mysteries of Vitality truly is hard to break through.” Linley sat in the meditative stance atop a grassy area. Linley had been seizing every moment, wanting to reach mastery in the Profound Mysteries of Vitality, so as to become a Highgod.”

In the past few days, although at first, the eight great clans had continued their insults and mockery, the clan had erected that enormous magic formation, sealing off all sound.

These things caused Linley to constantly feel a suppressed rage in his heart.

“Boss.” Suddenly, Bebe’s voice rang out. “Grandpa came.”

Linley opened his eyes. He saw that in mid-air, Beirut, Bebe, and Phusro were flying down. Beirut had that perpetual smile on his face. Linley immediately stood up, walking forward to greet them.

“Linley, you are actually able to keep calm, eh?” Beirut chortled.

“What other choice do I have, other than keep calm?” Linley said helplessly.

“Aren’t they holding one-on-one duels outside? Why don’t you go?” Phusro asked with curiosity, while Linley said resignedly, “Phusro, those eight great clans are definitely fixated on killing me. In addition…I’m still a bit too weak. I’m not a match for those eight Patriarchs.”

Phusro laughed. “I have to tell you, if you don’t go now, in the future, it’ll be hard for you to find another opportunity like this.”

“What do you mean?” Linley asked disbelievingly.

In the future, he wouldn’t have a chance to go out and fight? Linley looked suspiciously at Beirut and Phusro. “Lord Beirut, what are you two…?”

“It is about time for this noisesome performance to come to an end.” Beirut laughed calmly. “Come. Take me to your Patriarch.”

“Grandpa, the Patriarch doesn’t know that you are here?” Bebe was rather astonished.

Phusro laughed resignedly. “Your Grandpa wanted to see you right away, so he flew over here directly…those patrolling warriors recognize myself and Beirut, so they didn’t dare stop us.” Just as they spoke, several whooshing sounds rang out.

“Lord Prefect.” Gislason and several others flew over.

“Lord Prefect, you should have informed me that you were coming. I would’ve gone to welcome you.” Gislason said with a laugh.

Beirut just laughed calmly. “Enough, Gislason. Hurry up and give the order to your Elders as well as important clansmen. Have them all be summoned here. Today, I will help your Four Divine Beasts clan and the eight great clans resolve the bonds of enmity and hatred that have ensnared you.”

Gislason was stunned, and the Elders behind him were stunned as well.

In recent days, especially after the eight great clans had moved to the Skyrite Mountains, Gislason and the others had long ago begun to feel exhausted from the ongoing mental pressure. None of them knew…when this would come to an end.

Sometimes, they too wanted to act as those ordinary clansmen had. To go crazy, and to go battle against the enemy!

But they were clan leaders and Elders. They had to consider what was in the best interests of the clan!

The pressure of carrying these heavy burdens had nearly driven them mad.

“Lord Prefect, you…what did you just say?” Gislason stuttered.

“Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted me to do?” Beirut laughed calmly.

A look of wild joy appeared on Gislason’s face. With a ‘bang’ sound, he actually fell heavily to his knees, his eyes glistening with tears. “Lord Prefect, I…our Four Divine Beasts clan will never forget the kindness you have shown us!” Involuntary tears came to the eyes of the Elders behind him as well.

“Hurry up and go invite the other three clan leaders. Have the Grand Elder and the others come as well.” Gislason hurriedly instructed.

“Yes, Patriarch!”

These Elders were moving with vigor and purpose now.

Linley just stared sideways at Beirut, who turned and looked back at him. “Linley, why are you looking at me like this?”

“I…I somewhat can’t believe it.” Linley still felt as though he were in a dream.

Although nobody in the eight great clans was capable of overcoming Beirut, still…the clan had multiple Sovereign’s Emissaries. If Beirut was going to force them to resolve their hatred with each other…wasn’t this going to cause a huge amount of trouble for him?

“Patriarch! Terrible news!” A figure flew over at high speed. “The Grand Elder, the Grand Elder, she’s gone to the dueling platform. She’s currently battling against the forces of the eight great clans!”

“What?!”

Gislason instantly grew frantic.

“Let’s go have a look.” Beirut just laughed as he spoke.

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 17, Indigo Prefecture – Chapter 64， Supremacy

“The Grand Elder went to the dueling platform?” Linley was very puzzled as well.

He immediately followed Beirut, Phusro, and the others as they flew out of the great gorge. After flying out of the gorge, Gislason glanced sideways at the elemental barrier covering the entire Skyrite Mountains, then shouted towards a group of patrolling warriors above Dragon Avenue, “Convey my orders. The entire elemental barrier is to be withdrawn and dispersed!”

“Uh….yes, Patriarch!”

These patrol warriors were rather surprised, but then they immediately came to their senses.

Linley stared at the elemental barrier covering the entire Skyrite Mountains. “This is an insult. A humiliation for the clan!” Others were insulting them, but all they could do was hold their hands over their ears, not daring to fight back? If this wasn’t humiliating, what was?

The dueling platform between the Skyrite Mountains and the eight great clans. After multiple battles, it was filled with countless holes already, and dark red blood stained the entire dueling platform.

“Haaaargh!”

An illusory draconic claw pierced through the enemy’s skull, then retracted. The Dragonformed Grand Elder glanced calmly into the distance. “Hmph. Next!” This was the third person she had killed on the dueling platform.

The first person she had killed had been an ordinary Highgod who had won a previous battle.

The second person she had killed was just a Six Star Fiend.

But the third she had killed, that was an Elder-level expert.

“Gaia! It seems today, you are looking to die.” The experts of the eight great clans hastened over as well.

“Looking to die? I want to see which of you members of the eight great clans will be capable of killing me today.” The Grand Elder’s icy gaze swept through them, no fear in her eyes at all. The past ten thousand years had already pressured the Grand Elder to the point of madness.

Her father had died, causing the Grand Elder endless grief.

The clan had been unable to escape from this disaster, and as they had fled and been pursued, her husband had died.

And now, a few centuries ago, her one and only son, Forhan, had died as well. And she herself had been forced to kill him with her own two hands.

Who could understand the level of grief, pain, and depression in the Grand Elder’s heart? Still, in her heart, she always remembered the clan, and that she had to remain strong for the clan. But in the past few days…

The eight great clans had been like mosquitoes, constantly mocking and insulting the Four Divine Beasts clan to the point where the clan had even been forced to set up an enormous elemental barrier. This sort of action caused the Grand Elder to feel humiliated.

She wasn’t able to endure it any longer. She didn’t want to continue suppressing herself either. She was afraid that she would go insane!

Kill, then!

Kill to her heart’s content! Only in slaughter would she be able to vent the rage and grief in her heart.

The Grand Elder stood there arrogantly on the dueling platform, her silver masked smudged with a hint of blood. “Who will come fight against me? No matter who comes, I will accept the challenge.” The Grand Elder’s gaze swept past the eight Patriarchs as she snickered.

The eight Patriarchs all felt that this was rather troublesome.

The second generation members of the Four Divine Beasts clan all had Sovereign artifacts. Gislason, for example, had a soul-protecting Sovereign artifact. As for the Grand Elder, Gaia, she had an armor-type Sovereign artifact that was fused with her draconic scales.

Although the eight great clans didn’t fear her, the Grand Elder was very hard to deal with, given that she had an armor-type Sovereign artifact.

“Patriarch Barbary, it should be easier for you to deal with her. You go.” Patriarch Boleyn said.

Patriarch Barbary swept his tiger-like gaze forward towards her. Nodding slightly, his body suddenly flickered as he flew atop the dueling platform.

“I knew that it would either be you or Venna. None of the other six dare.” The Grand Elder snickered. This armor-type Sovereign artifact made it so that the Grand Elder could ignore the material attacks of the enemies, while she herself could use her powerful body to attack.

The Grand Elder’s soul defense was also very strong; after all, she had that azure glow that was her innate ability, as well as an ordinary soul-protecting artifact.

But of course…

Although she was powerful, the eight enemy Patriarchs were also powerful.

“Gaia, today is the day of your death.” A deep voice rang out, which seemed to reverberate within that mighty chest. Patriarch Barbary, more than three meters tall, extended his right arm. A long blue whip suddenly appeared, tens of meters in length, like an enormous blue serpent.

“Who knows which of us shall be the one to die!”

The Grand Elder said in a fierce voice. And then, her body suddenly shot forward, instantly passing through the dueling platform. Patriarch Barbary leapt forward as well, his long whip lashing out, forming multiple circles that sought to wrap themselves around the Grand Elder.

By the time Beirut, the Patriarch, and the others hurried over to the borders of the Skyrite Mountains, the Grand Elder and Patriarch Barbary had already been locked into fierce combat. Still, in this battle, the Grand Elder was at a disadvantage.

That long whip was too monstrously powerful.

“This…this is the power of the Grand Elder?” Linley stared, amazed, at the scene before him. The Grand Elder and Patriarch Barbary had completely transformed into two balls of dancing shadows, but the low sound of hammer-like blows and the spatial explosions that could be seen everywhere caused Linley to stare in disbelief.

Beirut glanced sideways at Linley, then laughed calmly. “Don’t be so surprised, Linley. Gaia’s draconic scales includes an armor-type Sovereign artifact in them. Naturally, her punches and kicks are formidable. As for her opponent, that long whip is a weapon-type Sovereign artifact. Sovereign artifact against Sovereign artifact…the collisions will naturally be very powerful.

Linley took a deep breath.

“Linley, the power of your weapons are a bit weak. Would you like a weapon that is a bit more powerful?” Beirut laughed calmly.

Linley turned to look towards Beirut, his eyes filled with amazement. No matter how stupid he might be, he could tell that Beirut seemed to be offering him a powerful weapon. What sort of weapon? The first thing Linley thought of was…a godspark weapon!

“It isn’t easy for me to make a godspark weapon either.” Beirut laughed calmly. “So you work hard first. Once you become a Highgod, I’ll make one for you.”

Linley’s heart surged with excitement.

With a godspark weapon, he would at least have some capability of resisting the attacks of an enemy with a Sovereign weapon.

“Work hard and become a Highgod soon.” Beirut chortled.

Linley turned his head to stare at the platform. The Grand Elder’s battle against Patriarch Barbary had already reached a feverish point, and that long whip seemed to have transformed into countless giant serpents, surrounding the entire dueling platform.

“How could it become like this?” Linley stared at the dueling platform in surprise. The longer Patriarch Barbary fought, the more relaxed he seemed to be. That long whip had already reached the level of seeming to have a million branches, constantly and endlessly encircling the Grand Elder.

The more he watched, the more Linley realized how truly limitless the profound mysteries were.

“He’s trained quite well in the Laws of Water.” Beirut said in praise.

“Eh?” Beirut glanced sideways at Linley. “This kid…he really does get absorbed so easily.” Beirut finally began to understand why Linley trained so quickly.

While Beirut’s group was watching the duel, the Patriarchs and Elders of the eight great clans were staring towards them in shock. “That Beirut came. He actually came!”

“Beirut won’t interfere, will he?” A hint of panic flashed through Patriarch Boleyn’s eyes.

“We didn’t violate his orders. He won’t interfere.” Patriarch Reinales said with certainty, but despite saying that, he still felt worry in his heart.

The eight great clans felt a hint of dread towards Beirut.

When one reached the level of the clan leaders of the Four Divine Beasts clan, the Patriarchs of the eight great clans, or the Grand Level, it could be said that their power was comparable to the Asuras of the Infernal Realm! But although they were powerful, they weren’t monstrously powerful.

Soul defense, material defense…they had no weaknesses.

At their level, they had no need to fear each other. For someone on the other side to kill them would be difficult. But for them to kill someone else on the same level? Also difficult! It was much like how right now, Patriarch Barbary and the Grand Elder found it very hard to make this battle a life-and-death battle!

But Beirut was different!

Monsters like Beirut and Dunnington stood at the very peak of Highgods. They were capable of killing Asuras of the Infernal Realm. The power of individuals such as them was on a terrifyingly strong level.

If Beirut truly wanted to unleash a bloodbath, he could massacre the eight great clans. One could imagine how terrifying he was!

“Life without end, in a constant cycle…life without end, in a constant cycle…” Linley murmured to himself. He actually closed his eyes, and in his mind appeared the blurry shadow of that whip, and the profound mysteries held within it…

Seven Elemental Laws. Four Edicts.

Although they had different names, they all had some commonalities; for example, earth had the Essence of the Earth, while fire had the Essence of Fire. Some soul mutants, in turn, were capable of fusing and simultaneously using profound mysteries from different Laws.

Why were they able to fuse them?

Because they had commonalities and shared characteristics!

Different Laws weren’t completely separate; their profound mysteries were all interconnected. The Elemental Laws of Water had a hint of a connection with the ‘Profound Mysteries of Vitality’ of the Laws of the Earth. At this moment, Linley just so happened to seize that connection…

Linley was completely absorbed in his insights, but Gislason and the others were growing somewhat frantic. “Lord Prefect, my little sister’s situation is becoming worse and worse. Let’s pause it.” Gislason wanted to pause it, but he didn’t have the ability to.

Two Sovereign artifacts were clashing against each other. He didn’t dare to intervene!

“This sort of battle is indeed pointless.” Beirut laughed calmly.

“Swish!”

He moved so quickly, it seemed as though he had teleported!

Beirut instantly inserted himself into the center of the dueling platform. With a low thudding sound, the entire battle suddenly ground to a halt. Beirut was gripping one end of the long whip in one hand, while clutching the Grand Elder’s draconic claw in the other.

“Whoah…” Bebe stared, wide-eyed.

“Too powerful.” Gislason, the Vermillion Bird Matriarch, the other clan leaders, and even the Patriarchs of the eight great clans couldn’t help but feel their hearts clench tightly. The Grand Elder’s punches were comparable to the attacks of a Sovereign artifact, while the long whip really was a Sovereign artifact, and had transformed into countless movements.

But Beirut had effortlessly grabbed each with a single hand.

He dared to actually grab Sovereign artifacts with his bare hands…the power and might of Beirut caused Gislason and the others to be completely stunned. Although Beirut was also an Asura of the Infernal Realm…he vastly outstripped the other Asuras.

“Enough. Let it be finished.” Beirut said calmly.

The Grand Elder and Patriarch Barbary were both stunned. The Grand Elder silently retreated, while Patriarch Barbary opened his mouth as though he wanted to say something, but he didn’t dare to. In the end, all he could say was, “Since the Lord Prefect has made the request, I will spare her life.” After speaking, all he could do was fly back.

The eight great clans on one side. The Four Divine Beasts clan on the other. And between them, standing in the center of the dueling platform, surrounded by countless experts, was Beirut.

“Lord Prefect, why didn’t you tell us that you were coming?” Patriarch Boleyn laughed merrily, seeming to be quite friendly. There weren’t many clans that would dare offend monstrous individuals such as Beirut or Dunnington.

Even when the Four Divine Beasts clan was at the height of their power and glory, with the four Sovereigns behind them, although the clan didn’t fear Highgod Paragons, they wouldn’t want to offend figures on that level either.

“Oh. Today, I came to help your two sides resolve your differences with each other.” Beirut laughed calmly.

The Patriarchs and Elders of the eight great clans couldn’t refrain from having stiff looks appear on their faces.

“It has been more than ten thousand years now. You have been battling in my Indigo Prefecture this entire time, and I have been watching everything. By now, the Four Divine Beasts clan have lost enough of their Elders, and their reputation has been badly damaged as well. This punishment is sufficient! As I see it, your eight great clans should return to the places from whence you came.” Beirut said elegantly and lightly.

Return to the places from whence they came?

The eight Patriarchs were so furious, their faces reddened. The Elders of the eight great clans were also so angry that they could die.

“Lord Prefect.” Unable to restrain his fury, Patriarch Edric spoke out. “In all these years, our eight great clans have never disobeyed your orders. We have never attacked into the Skyrite Mountains. Back then, you said…that as long as we do not attack into the Skyrite Mountains, you will not interfere. So why is it that today you are interfering?”

The eight Patriarchs felt hatred.

Hatred for Beirut for not honoring his promises. They were indeed afraid of Beirut, but no matter how powerful Beirut was, he couldn’t just ignore his promises.

Beirut just let out a calm laugh. He didn’t say a word.

Patriarch Boleyn’s hoarse voice rang out as well. “Lord Prefect, it is true that many members of the Four Divine Beasts clan have died. But over these years, haven’t our eight great clans also lost many people? What’s more, when the four Sovereigns were alive, the Four Divine Beasts clan’s actions left behind one blood debt after another. My own son was killed by the members of the Four Divine Beasts clan, and the reason? That person took a fancy to my son’s wife!”

“Lord Prefect.” The Nether Serpent Patriarch also said in a low voice. “I had nine sons and daughters, but now? Only one is left! The other eight all died, and all of them died unjust deaths. Even if our Barbary clan ignores the other blood debts which were incurred…if it weren’t for the fact that we hate them so much, why would we be willing to sacrifice even our Elders, for the sake of eradicating them?”

“Beirut.” Reinales said in a low voice. ‘You and I are both Emissaries under the command of the Bloodridge Sovereign. I imagine you know my story…you tell me. Can I possibly so easily give up the enmity I hold against them?”

“Lord Prefect…”

All eight Patriarchs spoke out angrily.

They had killed many members of the Four Divine Beasts clan, yes…but had it been easy for them? Their Elders had died as well, one after the other. In addition, the stockpile of Sovereign’s Might which their eight great clans held was smaller than the stockpile held by the Four Divine Beasts clan. In fact, over the course of revenging themselves upon the Four Divine Beasts clan, the eight great clans had actually lost slightly more Elders.

It was only because those losses were evenly spread amongst their eight clans that they had been able to withstand these losses.

Over all these years, they too had lost around two hundred Elders! Their Elders were also the pillars of their clans. Did they want their Elders to die? They weren’t willing for it to happen…but over the course of countless years, from ancient times till now, the amount of hatred that had accumulated was simply too great!

They were willing to move their entire clans and willing to spend the lives of their Elders in order to fight. They were even willing to use words to insult and mock. These actions were very despicable, and they cared about their face as well. Did they want to do these things?

No…but they had no choice!

The Four Divine Beasts clan had retreated into the Skyrite Mountains. This was their only way to get them to come out!

“I know that your eight great clans and the Four Divine Beasts clan have great enmity. But the Four Divine Beasts clan has lost nearly ninety percent of their Elders, and their reputation has suffered greatly as well…I expect that the entire Infernal Realm will come to learn of these things. The glory of the Four Divine Beasts clan is over, and many of their Elders died…it is enough!”

Beirut said calmly, “And what’s more, in the past, they didn’t exterminate your clans either.”

“Lord Prefect, originally, you said that if we didn’t attack the Skyrite Mountains, you wouldn’t interfere. But today!” Patriarch Boleyn couldn’t help but speak out. The other seven Patriarchs as well as a large group of Elders were all staring at Beirut as well.

The Four Divine Beasts clan was staring at Beirut as well.

The members of the Four Divine Beasts clan had nearly been pushed to the brink of madness. Each of them was filled with the utmost agony. They now hoped…that the issues between the two sides would come to an end!

“I did indeed give my word!” Beirut laughed calmly. “And it is true that you have never attacked the Skyrite Mountains. However…today, I’m not the one interfering in this matter. Rather…the almighty Sovereign is!”

Beirut waved his hand, and a piece of lambskin parchment with complicated magic runes appeared within it.

“Crackle…” The lambskin suddenly ignited, and a strange energy ripple spread out.

The eight Patriarchs were stunned.

“Sovereign?” They didn’t dare believe it.

But right at this moment, a very unique sort of energy appeared in the world. A black energy quickly began to coalesce in the skies, and this black energy was the awe-inspiring ‘Destruction-type Sovereign power’. To coalesce Sovereign power out of thin air…what sort of ability was this?

A large amount of Destruction-type Sovereign’s Might took form in mid-air, coalescing into an enormous black face that was tens of meters high.

A terrifying, awe-inspiring aura of supremacy spread out.

“Sovereign!” Reinales was the first one to sink to his knees in supplication. He could immediately recognize…that this was the Bloodridge Sovereign whom he served.

The enormous black face floated there in mid-air, staring down at the various Patriarchs and Elders, as well as the millions of clansmen of the two sides. Everyone felt as though they couldn’t breathe. “Whoooosh.” Countless people fell to their knees, all of them incomparably nervous.

“Sovereign.” Beirut bowed.

The enormous black face revealed a hint of a smile towards Beirut, and then said in a voice that echoed like thunder, “Let the matter between the eight great clans and the Four Divine Beasts clan come to an end. Return to the places from whence you came.”

“Yes!” Reinales was the first to respond.

Although the other seven Patriarchs were reluctant in their hearts to do so, they still said in a respectful voice, “Yes!”

Beirut alone was enough to engender terror in them, to say nothing of a Sovereign. It would be utter simplicity itself for a Sovereign to annihilate all eight of their clans. The supremacy of a Sovereign…was inviolable and irresistible!

“Beirut.” The enormous black face turned to look towards Beirut, his gaze like pillars of light.

“Sovereign.” Beirut bowed.

“Who is that youth standing over there?” The enormous black face said. “In this place, aside from yourself, only that youth remains on his feet.” The Sovereign’s gaze was focused towards the distance. When a Sovereign descended, who would dare to be so wild and arrogant as to remain on his feet? Puzzled, Beirut turned his head to look, and Gislason and the others did so as well…

And they saw that Linley was standing there, his eyes shut, not moving at all. It seemed as though he even had a hint of a smile on his face.

“Linley?” Beirut felt rather amazed as well.

Just now, when they saw the Sovereign appear, Gislason and the others had all immediately knelt down nervously to await the Sovereign’s edict. Who would pay attention to Linley? Even if they had noticed anything, they wouldn’t dare to make a sound.

“Boss.” Bebe said frantically through their soul connection, but Linley didn’t react at all.

“Sovereign, he’s Linley, the one I mentioned to you before.” Beirut said in a low voice.

“Oh.” The Sovereign looked towards Linley curiously, and the beam of light emanating from his eyes fell upon Linley. “Someone is actually absorbed in gaining insights during the moment when I descend. In all my years, I’ve never seen this sort of situation happen before.”

And right at that moment…

“Rumble…”

A unique ripple surged out as the Laws of the universe descended. This sort of Law-ripple was one which everyone here was all too familiar with. These were the ripples of the Law which appeared when one became a Deity, or when one’s divine spark transformed. From within Linley’s body, a divine spark emanating an earthen yellow aura flew out.

The Laws of the Earth were transforming this divine spark, and at the same time, the soul was being transformed as well…

A Sovereign. The four clan leaders of the Four Divine Beasts clan. The Patriarchs of the eight great clans. Hundreds of Elders. Countless clansmen. They all watched as Linley became a Highgod. This perhaps had never before happened in the entire history of the Infernal Realm.

Some time later…

Linley opened his eyes.

“What’s going on?” Stared at by countless people, Linley couldn’t help but feel badly startled.

And then, Linley suddenly sensed a terrifyingly powerful presence. He couldn’t help but raise his head to stare into the air, where that enormous black face was staring at him. The twin beams of light emanating from those enormous eyes caused Linley’s heart to clench.

Linley, having seen a scryer recording of a Sovereign, instantly understood in his heart.

“Sovereign? When did this Sovereign come?” Linley was completely awestruck.

The lips of that enormous black face crooked upwards. “Amusing. Amusing.” And then, the enormous black face suddenly vanished. That enormous swirl of Destruction-type Sovereign power suddenly vanished, as though it had never existed.

Beirut flew over, staring at Linley, not knowing whether he should laugh or cry. “Linley, I told you that I’d make a godspark weapon for you when you became a Highgod, but there was…there was no need to make your breakthrough right away.”

“I…”

Linley didn’t know what to say.

He himself hadn’t known that he would suddenly gain that moment of insight.

End of Book 17

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 18, Highgod – Chapter 1, What Type of Weapon?

Linley had suddenly gained an insight and broken through, right at that critical moment when the Sovereign had descended, and became a Highgod. This caused Beirut and a few others to snicker in amusement, but quite a few others present were completely shocked. The most stunned of all were the experts of the eight great clans.

“This Linley…became a Highgod?” Patriarch Boleyn stared at Linley.

“He actually became a Highgod!” Patriarch Edric and the others all had very complicated looks on their faces.

“Even if the Sovereign hadn’t descended, we probably would still have to leave.” The Nether Serpent Patriarch sighed.

The reason behind their thousand years of savagery was because they were worried about Linley. They believed that the God-level Linley had to have fused at least five profound mysteries for him, given his power. And once Linley became a Highgod, he probably would have fused all six types and become a Highgod Paragon!

The terrifying power of a Highgod Paragon would be no lower than Beirut’s!

“Fortunately, he didn’t make his breakthrough earlier.” Patriarch Reinales whispered.

“Right.” The various Patriarchs all had very chaotic, mixed emotions right now.

The descent of the Sovereign had caused them to make an unwilling decision. But now that Linley had become a Highgod, they were frightened at the ‘close call’ they had.

Once a Highgod Paragon began a slaughter, the experts of their eight great clans would be like ragdolls for dismembering. Just look at Beirut! He even dared to block attacks from Sovereign artifacts head on. Who could resist such a monster?

“The Four Divine Beasts clan is so lucky, for such a genius to have appeared in their ranks.” Patriarch Barbary said in a low voice. “Let’s hurry up and leave.”

“It really is time to leave.”

The various Patriarchs all turned and left. They didn’t dare to violate the orders of a Sovereign, and Linley’s presence made it so that they left of their own accord as well. No matter what…today, the matters between the Four Divine Beasts clan and the eight great clans had come to an end.

The members of the Four Divine Beasts clan were all completely delirious with excitement and joy. Quite a few clansmen began to weep on the spot. From this day onwards, their Four Divine Beasts clan would no longer have to experience countless dangers and live a life of humiliation.

“It’s over!”

“Haha, it’s finally over!”

Celebratory voices rang out in the air above the Skyrite Mountains. Many clansmen were so excited that they fell to their knees, sobbing. The constant insults and taunts they had suffered in recent days from the eight great clans had been a sort of psychological torture to the Four Divine Beasts clan.

Finally…it was over!

“The forces of the eight great clans have left.” Bebe said.

Linley turned to look as well. The Patriarchs and Elders led the way, and the clansmen of the eight great clans, like a massive, roiling flood of locusts, flew into the air, then boarded multiple metallic lifeforms and left at high speed, leaving behind only those many empty castles and buildings.

“It’s all over.” Gislason had a very complicated look on his face.

The White Tiger Patriarch let out an emotional sigh as well. “Ten thousand years. Ten thousand nightmarish years. Finally, it’s over! Our clansmen won’t have to hide in the Skyrite Mountains, and won’t have to always be afraid.”

Every single member of the Four Divine Beasts clan felt extremely relaxed now.

“Lord Beirut. We will forever remember your great kindness!” Gislason was the first to bow, and then all of the other three clan leaders and Elders all bowed respectfully as well.

Beirut laughed calmly. “If you want to thank someone, thank the Sovereign.”

But Gislason and the others all understood that the Bloodridge Sovereign and the Four Divine Beasts clan didn’t have much of connection. If the Bloodridge Sovereign had truly wanted to save the Four Divine Beasts clan, he would have shown himself long ago. But he had only done so today…

Most likely, the reason for this had something to do with Beirut.

“Everyone!”

Gislason’s voice suddenly rang out, and it echoed in the air above the Skyrite Mountains. Instantly, the countless clansmen all turned their gazes towards him. Gislason said in a sonorous voice, “Today is a day of rejoicing. Over the past ten thousand years, our Four Divine Beasts clan has always been under tremendous pressure, and one Elder after another has perished in battle for the clan…today, we members of the Four Divine Beasts clan have finally once more regained our freedom to roam the skies of the Infernal Realm. We absolutely must celebrate this wonderful event. All clansmen will celebrate for three days!”

“Wonderful!”

“A three day grand celebration!”

Instantly, countless joyful voices rang out, reverberating throughout the air above the Skyrite Mountains.

“Lord Beirut, Phusro, the two of you absolutely must attend our celebration.” Gislason looked towards Beirut.

“Definitely.” Beirut laughed calmly and nodded.

“Haha.” Phusro chortled, then glanced sideways at Linley. As he did, he couldn’t help but laugh loudly. “Linley, you made a breakthrough just as you saw the Sovereign. I, Phusro, have lived countless years, but I’ve never seen such a thing.”

Linley could only grin rather awkwardly.

“You did see the Sovereign, right?” Beirut laughed.

“As soon as I saw him, he left.” Linley still felt rather stunned. Actually, at the moment of the Sovereign’s descent, Linley had already become absorbed in the insights he had gained upon watching the battle between the Grand Elder and Patriarch Barbary.

Linley had no idea as to when the Sovereign had arrived and what he had said.

However…from what everyone else was saying, Linley realized that the departure of the eight great clans was due to them obeying the orders of the Sovereign.

“Sovereigns really are Sovereigns. With but a single sentence, the eight great clans were forced to obediently leave.” In Linley’s mind, he could still see that massive black face, tens of meters high, that stood in mid-air. He also remembered the terrifying gaze of those two eyes.

The supremacy of a Sovereign. Linley, having experienced it, would never forget it.

“Let’s go. Your clan is going to have a huge celebration.” Beirut laughed, then flew into the air.

Linley, Bebe, Phusro, Delia, and the others all followed Beirut into the air. As for Gislason and the other clan leaders, they had left early on to go arrange the banquet. This celebration would be one that was held throughout the Skyrite Mountains.

While flying, Beirut suddenly began to laugh at himself.

Linley couldn’t help but to turn and look at him. Beirut glanced at him, then said resignedly, “Linley, I really did make more work for myself. I wanted to give you some encouragement, so said that I would give you a godspark weapon after you became a Highgod, but who would have imagined that a few moments later, you would suddenly break through?”

Indeed…

Linley really was a bit too efficient.

“Grandpa, you have to forge a good godspark weapon for my Boss.” Bebe said hurriedly.

“Since I’ve given my word, of course I’ll do it.” Beirut nodded, then looked at Linley. “Speak, Linley. What sort of weapon do you want me to make for you?”

Even Phusro began to laugh loudly. “Linley, although Beirut’s godspark weapons aren’t Sovereign artifacts, in terms of toughness and hardness, they are comparable to Sovereign artifacts. In the Infernal Realm…the godspark weapons of Beirut are priceless treasures that can’t be bought.”

“I want…”

Linley pondered for a moment. He had the Coiling Dragon ring, and his soul had just improved greatly. After he refined more amethysts in the future and repaired the Coiling Dragon ring, his soul defense would rise to an extremely high level. What he lacked right now…was defense against material attacks.

“Lord Beirut, you can go ahead and forge a set of godspark armor that can fuse with my scales, just like the one the Grand Elder has. That’ll let my punches and kicks become tremendously powerful as well.” Linley said eagerly. With a set of armor, he could use it for both attack and defense.

A dual-purpose artifact!

The smile on Beirut’s face suddenly turned stiff and forced.

“Boss…you want a set of armor?” Bebe stared at Linley as well.

“Linley…you really are something.” Phusro stared at Linley, not knowing whether to laugh or to cry.

Linley was rather amazed, and he looked at them in confusion. “What? Is this request of mine very excessive?”

Beirut had a very strange look on his face. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say. In the end, it was Bebe who explained. “Boss, forging godspark weapons is an ability inherent to and unique to us Godeater Rats. It requires us to devour divine sparks, then refine the essence within, then coalesce the essence into the shape of a weapon.”

“But every single divine spark is very small, and the amount of essence that can be refined from each one is tiny. Digesting a divine spark takes a long time as well…thus, to forge a large weapon, just think about how many divine sparks will be needed, how much time would be needed, and how much effort it would take! It’s very hard. That’s why godspark weapons are generally very small.” Bebe explained.

Linley began to understand.

He also remembered how the godspark weapon in Bebe’s possession was just a dagger. As for Gislason’s set of godspark weapons, it was a pair of gloves. They were all very small weapons.

But what he requested was a set of armor that could cover his entire body. In terms of size, it was probably dozens of times, perhaps even a hundred times larger than Bebe’s dagger.

“A set of armor that can cover your entire body…to make this, I’ll probably have to work for thousands of years without resting.” Beirut felt quite a bit of pressure.

But he had already given his word.

“Lord Beirut, I apologize. I didn’t understand much about the forging of godspark weapons.” Linley said hurriedly. He didn’t want to make things too hard for Beirut. “Just make a sharp sword for me. It just needs to be comparable to Bloodviolet in length.”

What Linley lacked right now was attack power. With an extremely sharp godspark sword, his attack power would rise significantly.

“Comparable to Bloodviolet?” Beirut let out a sigh of relief.

Perhaps the amount of divine spark essence needed to make a longsword was somewhat more than what was needed for a dagger or a set of gloves, but…what Linley needed right now was, quite clearly, that sort of thin, sharp sword. The amount of divine spark essence needed would just be a few times more than what was needed for a dagger.

“Lord Beirut, what I lack right now is attack power, and so the sharper this godspark weapon, the better.” Linley said.

Beirut said confidently, “Forging something as hard as a godspark weapon and making it sharp is very easy…however, to forge this godspark weapon, I’ll still need to spend roughly a hundred years. You have to wait for a time.”

“No rush, I’m in no rush.” Linley laughed.

The Four Divine Beasts clan was in a state of peace now, and he himself had become a Highgod. Linley couldn’t think of anything he had to do right away. The only thing he ‘had’ to do was spend time with his family, and continue training as much as he could.

The members of the Four Divine Beasts clan all went wild. They all celebrated madly, and be it at the Patriarch’s residence or remote areas such as that great gorge, banquets could be seen everywhere. Everyone from the Patriarch to recently born Saints were all celebrating.

Linley, as an Elder, naturally was toasted by many people.

After three days passed…

Within the great gorge.

“The clansmen have all gone crazy with joy.” Linley laughed as he looked outside the window. The three days of mad celebration had caused the entire Skyrite Mountains to be filled with a festive aura. The stifled, depressed aura that had been present for so many years had been wiped away all at once.

Everyone was exceedingly happy.

“You’ve been smiling non-stop for the past three days.” Delia couldn’t help but laugh.

Linley laughed and nodded. “Right, Delia. That day, when I became a Highgod, I didn’t have the chance to carefully inspect myself, and I’ve been too busy the past three days as well. You go take care of something else. I’m going to spend some time investigating myself.” Linley said, then sat down in the meditative position on their bed.

Delia, seeing this, just laughed, then walked out of the room.

After having reached the Highgod level, he had been baptized once more by the natural Laws. The soul of Linley’s Highgod earth clone had increased in power nearly tenfold. Although the other souls weren’t strengthened much, still…

Linley’s five souls were in reality all one soul. Under the influence of his divine earth clone’s soul, the other four souls were slowly improving as well.

Actually, as long as Linley took his divine earth clone into his original body, then the spiritual strength of the divine earth clone would become the spiritual strength of his original body. After all…they were one to begin with.

“A little while later, I’ll need to spend some time refining some amethysts.” With a thought, Linley reached out and connected with the plane of the Elemental Sea.

The Elemental Sea.

This was a vast, roiling, endless, boundless sea of earthen yellow light. The deeper into the sea one looked, the higher level the quality of the energy of the ‘seawater’.

By now, Linley had become a Highgod. He could already see very deep into the sea, and deep within the sea, a large amount of liquefied Highgod-level divine earth power was present.

“What a thick, dense layer of Highgod-level divine earth power. When I had become a Highgod earlier, I was too worried about the clan, so I didn’t spend much time examining this bottom layer, and to see what it has!” Linley controlled his divine sense to delve still deeper into the Elemental Sea.

An incredibly dense and incomparably powerful aura spread out as waves of earthen water swirled about at the bottom.

The earthen yellow water was clearly different from the ordinary liquefied divine power.

“That should be…?” Linley’s divine sense wasn’t able to go down any further, but he was able to vaguely sense…“The aura of Sovereign’s Might? Right. It is Sovereign’s Might!” After having seen Sovereign’s Might for so long, Linley completely understood.

After all, the depths at which he could investigate was still a ways off from the deepest reaches.

“The bottom of this Elemental Sea is filled with Sovereign power?” Linley was rather stupefied.

The bottom of the Elemental Sea was boundless and limitless. So much Sovereign power made one grow desirous just looking at it…but Highgods had a limit to the depths at which they could investigate. There was no way they would be able to actually acquire any of it!

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 18, Highgod – Chapter 2, Mirage

Deep within the Elemental Sea, invisible currents of power swirled about, and the endless waves of water formed from Sovereign power rolled forth.

“I can see it, but I can’t get it.” Linley felt an itchy feeling in his heart.

So much Sovereign power! However, the Elemental Sea was something which every single Deity could sense. Highgods had more powerful souls, and thus were generally all able to sense the region containing Sovereign power. “The souls of Sovereigns are far more powerful than the souls of us Highgods.”

Linley quickly cast it aside.

If he couldn’t get it, there was no point obsessing over it.

“Who knows if there is perhaps a region of even more powerful energy beneath the region of Sovereign power?” This thought suddenly appeared in Linley’s mind, but moments later, Linley shook his head, no longer considering it. “I don’t even have Sovereign power. Why think of other things? But it really is odd. Divine power is divided into Demigod-level divine power, God-level divine power, and Highgod-level divine power. But I have never heard anyone say that there are different levels of Sovereign power.”

After having lived in the clan for many years, Linley had come to learn…

The Seven Elemental Laws and Four Edicts each had seven Sovereigns, with one being a High Sovereign, two being Intermediate Sovereigns, and four being Lesser Sovereigns. Clearly, Sovereigns were divided into levels as well.

“But why is it that I’ve never heard of there being different levels of Sovereign power?” Linley was very puzzled.

The Four Divine Beasts clan and the eight great clans all had Sovereign’s Might. In addition, Linley had never before gotten the feeling that one person’s Sovereign’s Might was more powerful than another’s. It seemed as though they were all the same.

“Can it be that different levels of Sovereigns all have the same type of Sovereign power? But why then are they divided into High, Intermediate, and Lesser Sovereigns?” Linley couldn’t understand it, and so he stopped thinking about it. After all…each Law had only seven Sovereigns.

Every single Sovereign was a lofty figure. Even the most powerful of Highgods was incomparably weak in the face of a Sovereign.

Linley then inspected his soul-protecting Sovereign artifact. He saw rays of spiritual energy circulate throughout it, and a small membrane had appeared over the flaw as well. As spiritual energy continued to circulate through the artifact, the bandage over the flaw was slowly transforming.

“Indeed…only after becoming a Highgod can I truly begin to repair this soul-protecting Sovereign artifact.” Linley sighed in amazement.

The repairing speed was now far faster than it had been when he was a mere God.

It was like a situation where floodwaters were bursting through a broken dam. If you threw little pebbles down into the hole, even if you threw many pebbles nonstop, they would be effortlessly wiped away by the floodwaters. But if you threw large numbers of boulders down, boulders which were dozens of times larger, then the effect would immediately be much better.

The same was true for repairing this artifact. The spiritual energy of a God was, qualitatively, too inferior to a soul-protecting Sovereign artifact. Thus, repairing with it was too difficult.

Ever since the Sovereign’s descent, the Four Divine Beasts clan and the eight great clans had ended their struggles against each other. The lives of the members of the Four Divine Beasts clan had returned to tranquility. Linley’s family and Bebe’s family thus began to live a peaceful life within the gorge as well.

Linley constantly consumed amethysts, strengthening his soul.

Towards the end, Linley actually used up all of the amethysts which he had. He had to end up asking Bebe for many amethysts, allowing himself to continue refining them. Bebe had said magnanimously: “Boss, you just keep refining. I’ll give you as many as you want.”

In the past, Bebe had spent ten full years harvesting amethysts in the Amethyst Mountains. The number of amethysts he had collected was truly astronomical.

In the blink of an eye, a century passed.

Within the gorge. Linley’s room. A long table was covered with food. Linley’s family of three and Bebe’s family of three were all gathered here. Delia, Nisse, Wade, and Ina were all handing plates of food back and forth, while Linley and Bebe were seated comfortably.

“Boss, how much more can your soul absorb?” Bebe asked. “You’ve already absorbed so many amethysts.”

Upon reaching the Highgod level, Linley’s amethyst refining speed had increased tens of times over as well. As his soul had risen in power, his refining speed had only grown even faster. The number of amethysts he had absorbed over the past century was an astonishingly high figure. But clearly…the soul of a Highgod truly was capable of absorbing a great deal of power.

“What, jealous?” Linley pursed his lips. “Bebe, as I recall, in the past, you wanted to compete with me in seeing who would become a Highgod first.”

Bebe rubbed his nose. All he could do was manage a resigned laugh.

That time they had gone to Meer City, Bebe had acquired from his grandmother that final soul slice fragment. After absorbing it, Bebe only needed one final step before reaching the Highgod level. But Bebe’s speed clearly was much slower than Linley’s.

Linley had gained his sudden insight, but Bebe had not.

“Boss, you are amazing. Happy?” Bebe said resignedly, a sour look on his face. “Still. Grandpa told me that once I become a Highgod, my power will be close to Grandpa’s power in strength. Boss, you are powerful right now, but when I become a Highgod, I might end up being even more powerful than you.”

“Being more powerful than me is a good thing.” Linley laughed.

Linley knew well what innate gifts Bebe had. This innate divine ability, ‘Godeater’, could be described as something which made Bebe invincible amongst his peers. Once Bebe reached the Highgod level, who would be able to resist his Godeater ability?

Perhaps only Highgod Paragons would be able to resist it.

In addition, as a Godeater Rat, Bebe’s body was frightfully strong. Just by watching how Beirut dared to use his hands to block Sovereign artifacts, one could imagine how astonishing a Godeater Rat would be at the Highgod level. Bebe hadn’t fused any profound mysteries at all…but by relying on his innate gifts, he would still be comparable to Linley after he became a Highgod..

Still, Linley wasn’t jealous in the slightest.

Over all these years, Linley and Bebe truly were like siblings, and they were happy for each other as they grew strong.

“I want to break through and gain a sudden insight too. Why is it so hard?” Bebe let out a long sigh.

Right at this moment, Wade walked over, carrying a platter of food. Hearing these words, he couldn’t help but say, “Uncle Bebe, I want to make a breakthrough also. When I became a Deity, I only did so thanks to the Ancestral Baptism. It’s hard for me to even become a God by myself.”

“Hmph.”

A low, dissatisfied snort. Ina walked in, carrying a plate of food as well. “Big Bro Wade, in the future, can you not complain about your situation? I’m still…not even a Deity yet.” Immediately, Linley and Bebe both began to laugh.

“Daaaad! Uuuuncle!” Ina couldn’t help but stare at them, but Linley and Bebe only laughed all the harder.

“Haha, what has all of you laughing so happily?” A loud, clear laugh rang out, and two figures descended from the skies. Linley turned his head to look. It was a black-robed Beirut and a red-robed Carolina.

Beirut’s appearance made Linley’s eyes light up.

This was because when he saw Beirut, he thought of that godspark weapon. Beirut hadn’t come to visit a single time over the past century. This time…had he come because he had finished forging the godspark weapon

“Grandpa.” Bebe was extremely happy as well.

Beirut just laughed, then turned his head to look at Ina. “Ina, come over here.” Beirut and Carolina both doted dearly on Ina. Ina immediately walked over to greet them and chatted with Beirut and Carolina for a while.

“Grandpa, is this visit of yours because the godspark weapon is finished?” Bebe went straight to the point.

Beirut, hearing this, looked towards Linley, then laughed loudly. “Linley, for the sake of this godspark weapon of yours, I spent a full hundred years. I’ve finally finished now. Take it!” As he spoke, Beirut waved his arm…

And suddenly, an illusory black blur sliced through the air.

Linley stretched his hand out, directly snatching that sharp sword. But the illusory shadow of the sword was too blurry, and Beirut had thrown it out too quickly, with the intention of making Linley look bad. When Linley caught it, he grabbed it by the blade instead of the hilt.

“So sharp.” Linley felt pain in his hand, and a line of blood sprang out from his palm.

He lowered his head…

The sword was long and slender, as thin as a butterfly’s wings. This longsword was actually translucent. If one took a close look at the sword, one would see that a black energy was circulating inside of the sword. It was very bizarre. Generally speaking, divine swords would have energy circulating on their surface, but this sword had black energy circulating inside of it, causing one to be stupefied.

In particular, the sharpness of the sword was so terrifying as to make one’s heart grow cold.

Although Linley hadn’t transformed, he was a Highgod; his body was fairly tough. This sword wasn’t bound by anyone, but just by its sharpness alone, it had cut through the palm of Linley, a Highgod.

“This sword…” Linley couldn’t believe it.

“Sharp enough for you?” Beirut laughed.

Linley hurriedly nodded. “It truly is sharp. I’ve never seen such a sharp weapon before.”

“Grandpa, how did you make it? Why isn’t my dagger this sharp?” Bebe said hurriedly.

Beirut laughed and said, “Actually, I myself am puzzled as to how this sword ended up like this.” These words caused Linley, Delia, Bebe, and everyone else to be puzzled. Beirut continued, “I knew that Linley trained in earth, wind, fire, and water; four types of Elemental Laws. Thus…when I forged this sword for you, I consciously only chose to devour and digest Highgod divine sparks of earth, wind, fire, and water.”

Linley couldn’t help but feel a surge of gratitude.

Actually, when making a godspark weapon, one could just pick some divine sparks at random for the forging. However, Beirut had gone out of his way to be very detailed and careful in this forging for Linley, and so had only used those four types of divine sparks.

“I was very careful in the forging. In the later stages, though…” Beirut laughed. “This sword actually somehow became like one solid whole. Those four different types of divine sparks essences actually fused to become a perfect whole. The power of this godspark weapon is such that it is the finest godspark weapon I have ever made in all these years.”

Linley couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.

“Lord Beirut. Thank you.” Linley said gratefully. Beirut truly had expended significant effort in forging this weapon for him.

“Bebe, as for your dagger, I only used darkness-type divine sparks to forge it. After all, you have only become a Deity in darkness.” Beirut laughed calmly. “As for Linley’s sword…I’m not too clear as to why the power of it is so great, myself.”

Sometimes…one might end up creating a perfect masterwork, for reasons one might not even understand.

Perhaps a true masterwork required a bit of luck as well.

Linley carefully stroked this sharp sword. The blood from his cut palm fused into the sword, and this sharp sword which had never before had an owner soon became wholly accepting of Linley, becoming Linley’s personal sword.

“Curious. Curious.” Linley discovered, after taking complete control of the sword…

That with but a thought, the energy flowing within the sword could suddenly become hidden, resulting in the entire sword becoming translucent. Someone looking at it would think that Linley wasn’t even holding a sword at all.

“Linley, pick a name.” Beirut laughed.

Linley stared thoughtfully at this incredible weapon. “When using this sword at high speed, even experts will just be able to see a blurry shadow…so let’s just call it ‘Mirage’.” Linley’s third weapon…

Mirage! Had arrived in this world!

After acquiring this precious weapon, ‘Mirage’, he naturally would often use it to train. The more he used it, the happier Linley became. Once this precious weapon was filled with Highgod-level divine power and matched with Linley’s tremendous physical strength in Dragonform…

Even Linley was astonished by the power of each sword stroke.

Linley had originally used his fist to execute the ‘Firmament Splitter’ with enough power to punch a hole in space itself. But…when this incomparably sharp and tough ‘Mirage’ used the technique…

Space itself would tremble, and wherever the shadow of the sword passed, a tear in space would be left behind.

Within the gorge. On the grassy field outside of Linley’s house. Linley was currently wielding Mirage, casually twirling it about. His entire body seemed to have become a gust of wind, fusing with it. One could only see the blurry shadow of an illusory sword, also as agile and untraceable as the wind.

“Slash!”

“Swish!”

Wherever the sword passed, rips in space appeared. It must be understood…this was Linley in his normal, human form. But of course, this was Linley as a Highgod and in possession of a godspark weapon. Nonetheless, one could still imagine how powerful Linley had become now, thanks to these factors.

“Great. Uncle, you are so powerful!” Ina stood off in the distance, her eyes shining as she watched Linley train with the sword.

Right at this moment…

“Rumble…”

Ripples born from the descent of the natural Laws suddenly descended. Even Linley, in the midst of training with his sword, came to a halt. He turned his head to stare towards the location where the ripples were emanating from. “Huh? Bebe’s residence? Can it be that Bebe has made a breakthrough?”

Linley still remembered the words that Bebe had spoken to him…“Once I become a Highgod, maybe I’ll be even more powerful than you.”

[AnimeFan9001]

Book 18, Highgod – Chapter 3, Goals

The descent of the natural Laws attracted attention from many of the dwellers within the gorge. The members of the Yulan branch all hurried over, looking towards the building where Linley, Ina, Delia, and the others lived.

The clansmen watched as Baruch walked over as well, and they immediately parted for him.

Baruch walked towards Linley. “Linley, who made the breakthrough? Is it Bebe?” Baruch knew that this building was one where Bebe lived in, and so it was very normal for him to come to this conclusion. Linley was in an excellent mood, and he laughed while nodding.

“Bebe actually became a Highgod? He’s even faster than me.” Baruch shook his head and laughed. Baruch had also reached a bottleneck in the Laws of Water, and would become a Highgod with one more step.

“Clan leader, perhaps tomorrow, you’ll become a Highgod as well.” Linley said consolingly.

How could Baruch compete against Bebe?

Bebe had those soul slice fragments, and thus rose in power at an unnatural speed.

“Uncle, my father is now a Highgod as well. Is he going to be as powerful as you?” Ina’s eyes were shining as she looked towards Linley.

“Not so fast.” The nearby Wade said confidently. “Uncle Bebe just reached the Highgod level; he’s going to need time for training, whereas my father was able to kill Seven Star Fiends even before he reached the Highgod level. He’s much more powerful now.” Wade clearly felt very proud of Linley.

“But Father himself said…” Ina didn’t really understand.

“He’ll be a match for me.” Linley laughed calmly.

“Father…” Wade looked towards Linley, puzzled.

“Wade, even I don’t feel confident in my ability to resist your Uncle Bebe’s innate divine ability.” Linley explained.

Once Bebe reached the Highgod level, his normal attacks might be ordinary in power, but his innate divine ability, ‘Godeater’, was without question an absolutely dominating ability. How many Highgods would be able to endure the ‘Godeater’ attack? After all, there wasn’t even a way one would be able to counter the Godeater technique.

“Boss, stop boasting about me.” A voice rang out, and Bebe, wearing that straw hat, walked out of the room with a chortle.

“Father.” Ina immediately ran over.

Linley just laughed in surprise. “Bebe, being so modest? How rare.” This was completely different from Bebe’s normal temperament. Linley could sense…that Bebe had indeed reached the Highgod level.

“Come inside and sit.” Nisse welcomed everyone warmly.

Linley, Baruch, and the others all immediately entered the living room. Nisse quickly prepared beverages for everyone. Bebe’s face was all smiles, and he was so delighted that even his eyebrows were jumping up and down. Laughing loudly, he said, “Boss, don’t boast about me any longer. After having become a Highgod, I know what level of power I now have.”

“Oh?” Linley said, puzzled.

“I finally understand that Grandpa Beirut…tricked me!” Bebe said resignedly.

Beirut had once told Bebe that once Bebe became a Highgod, his power would be close to Beirut’s.

“My most powerful attack is indeed comparable to Grandpa Beirut’s. But that’s just my innate divine ability. I’m at most able to use my innate divine ability twice before my spiritual energy is essentially used up. Without my innate divine ability, all I’m good for is taking hits…I’m pretty much an unkillable humanoid golem.” Bebe clearly was rather unhappy. “Compared to Grandpa, I’m still a long way off.”

Linley laughed.

“Bebe, with that innate divine ability, within a short period of time, you’d at least be able to kill two supreme experts. That’s enough.” Linley said. “Your grandfather didn’t lie to you. When you execute that innate divine ability, how many Highgods can possibly overcome you?”

Bebe sighed emotionally, “I heard that when Grandpa blocked the eight great clans in the past, he only used a single black staff. Every single Elder of the eight great clans who was struck by that staff immediately died, and even the Patriarchs who used Sovereign artifacts against it were badly injured. Grandpa never even used his innate divine ability…”

Linley couldn’t help but shake his head.

“Bebe, your grandfather has fused quite a few profound mysteries.” Linley said. “You haven’t even fused one. How can you compete against your grandfather?”

Lord Beirut’s punches and kicks already possessed such tremendous power…but as for Bebe, he had to use his innate divine ability to fight at that level. Clearly, Bebe was rather unhappy about this.

The nearby Baruch said in a booming voice, “Bebe, innate gifts is one thing, but hard work is necessary as well…I, too, have heard that the strength of your body is even greater than Linley’s Dragonform. But you haven’t fused any of the profound mysteries at all. I imagine that given how Lord Beirut can be one of the ultimate figures of the entire Infernal Realm, he surely must have fused quite a few profound mysteries.”

“Right.” Bebe nodded.

Linley could guess, however, that the toughness and strength of a Highgod Godeater Rat’s body was probably comparable to a divine spark. Most likely, it was tens of times or even a hundred times more powerful than his Dragonform. As for Lord Beirut, most likely, even if he only fused four or five profound mysteries, he would still be more than powerful enough to dominate the continents.

With a powerful body as the base, matched with four or five fused profound mysteries…Beirut definitely had the ability to trample all comers in the Infernal Realm, especially since he had a Sovereign artifact…

“Who knows how many profound mysteries Lord Beirut has fused.” Linley was curious.

In the past, from the conversation between Linley and Beirut, Linley had learned…that Beirut hadn’t reached the Paragon level. However, his innate gifts were simply too powerful; even if he ‘only’ fused four or five profound mysteries, he would be comparable to a Highgod Paragon.

“I need to work hard to fuse profound mysteries as well.” Bebe clenched his teeth.

Seeing the look on Bebe’s face, Linley couldn’t help but laugh. “Then Bebe, I’m just going to wait and see how well you do in your fusing.”

“Bebe.” Suddenly, the nearby Nisse spoke out.

“Hm?” Bebe looked towards her.

“Have you forgotten something?” Nisse stared at Bebe. “Something very important!”

Nisse’s stare caused Bebe to feel rather puzzled. He couldn’t help but scratch his head. “What are you talking about?” Nisse was so upset, she didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. In the end, she explained, “Back then, you told me that after you became a Highgod, then…”

“Oh…are you saying, go pay a visit to your brother, Salomon?” Bebe immediately realized what she was talking about, and his face went sour. “You were serious about that?”

Nisse’s face immediately became unsightly, and she fell silent.

That look on Nisse’s face caused the atmosphere of the entire hall to become rather awkward. Linley frowned, then immediately sent through divine sense, “Bebe, what’s this about?”

Today clearly was a festive day; how did it end up being so unhappy?

“Boss, Nisse’s been here all these years, and has always wanted to go visit her elder brother, Salomon. But you know as well as I do…Salomon, that fellow who forgets the kindness of others, should feel lucky that I don’t go kill him. Go pay a visit to him? But at the time, I didn’t want Nisse to feel so awkward, so I coaxed her and told her that I wasn’t strong enough yet, and that the trip back would be dangerous. I said that after I became a Highgod, I would have enough strength to escort her to the Jadefloat Continent. I just spoke casually, wanting to make her feel better, but who would’ve imagined…that she always kept these words in her heart.” Bebe had a sour look on his face.

Linley completely understood.

Bebe hadn’t been serious about it, but Nisse had always remembered it. After all, after the death of her parents, all she had left was her elder brother. Although Salomon hadn’t treated Linley and the others with sincerity, he had always been devoted to his younger sister.

“In the past…you just said that to make me feel better?” Nisse finally spoke, a hint of moisture in her eyes.

Bebe was stunned…but he was the obstinate sort.

Back then, he used his ultimate attack with that godspark weapon, wanting to kill Salomon with that dagger. Afterwards, the Seven Star Fiend, Elquin, blocked his attack to save Salomon, resulting in Elquin even losing a divine artifact of his own.

Given the situation, how could Bebe willingly lower his head and go ‘pay a visit’ to Salomon? Most likely, in Salomon’s heart, he also felt a hint of hatred towards Bebe.

“Ninny, the way your elder brother acted towards me that year…and the fact that he tried to get my Boss and Delia killed…” Just as Bebe said these things, Nisse’s tears actually began to uncontrollably leak outwards.

Nisse only had this one brother, after all.

Delia, seeing this, knew that things were headed in a bad direction. She immediately said through divine sense, “Bebe, stop saying these things. Although Salomon’s actions back then could be considered unrighteous, it was because he falsely believed Linley had betrayed him. For Nisse’s sake, make the trip. Otherwise, Nisse will forever have a thorn in her heart…Linley agrees with me on this.” Delia simultaneously sent the divine sense into Linley’s mind as well.

Clearly, Delia knew that Linley’s words were the most effective for persuading Bebe.

“Forget it, Bebe. Give Salomon a chance. If Salomon refuses to show regret and change his ways, then you can act accordingly.” Linley sent mentally.

Linley could imagine how Nisse felt.

After all, Nisse hadn’t done anything wrong. She was blameless in this matter.

“Fine, Boss. I’ll give that fellow one chance!”

Bebe glanced at Linley, then said towards Nisse, “Your elder brother really was a bastard for doing what he did!”

“My brother has regretted it ever since. He really didn’t know. He mistakenly accused you, which is why he acted that way. Afterwards, he really regretted it.” Nisse said hurriedly.

Bebe reached out with his hand, taking Nisse’s. “Ninny, fine then. For your sake, I’ll accompany you on a visit to see your elder brother…but with regards to the question of whether or not I’ll give him face when I see him, that will depend entirely on his attitude! If he still acts that way…then you can’t blame me.”

Bebe still couldn’t swallow his anger.

“My elder brother will definitely apologize.” Nisse said hurriedly, and a hint of a smile appeared on her face once more.

“Father, Mother.” Ina finally dared to speak out. “I want to go with you as well!”

“No way.” Bebe frowned. “Ina, you haven’t even become a Deity. We’ll be going to the Jadefloat Continent. The journey will be a long one, and if we encounter any danger on the way over, the slightest shockwave will kill you.”

Nisse agreed. “Nana, wait for the future.”

Seeing that both her father and her mother were of one mind, Ina felt helpless as well.

The next day, as per Nisse’s request, Bebe accompanied Nisse. The two left the Skyrite Mountains, heading towards the Jingan Prefecture of the Jadefloat Continent. This was a very long trip, and the roundtrip would most likely take nearly a century.

As for Linley and Delia, they accompanied Wade and Ina in a tour of Indigo Prefecture.

Despite having been in Indigo Prefecture for so many years, they hadn’t had a chance to visit many of the famous places of Indigo Prefecture. While they encountered some difficulties when adventuring in the Indigo Prefecture, given Linley’s power, he was able to effortlessly resolve them.

In the blink of an eye…

A hundred years of roaming about had passed. During these hundred years, Linley’s four divine clones had focused on their training, with the fastest gains being made by his divine water clone, which finally started on a sixth profound mystery. His divine wind clone was working on the eighth profound mystery as well…but his divine fire clone was doing terribly, still stuck on four mastered profound mysteries, and not having made any progress in gaining even a basic understanding of the other two.”

Clearly, Linley’s talent with regards to fire was significantly weaker.

Within the metallic lifeform. Linley was seated on a chair.

“Linley, you’ve reached the sixth profound mystery in water. Look at how happy you are!” Delia brought over a plate of food and wine.”

Linley’s eyes were gleaming. “Wrong. I’m not happy because I’ve reached the sixth profound mystery in water. Rather…it’s because my Profound Mysteries of Strength and Gravitational Space have started to connect just slightly.” Linley was indescribably happy. “It’s been two hundred years. More than two centuries have passed since the affairs between our Four Divine Beasts clan and the eight great clans have come to an end. I’ve finally made a small improvement in the Laws of the Earth! This improvement signifies…that I have hope of fusing four profound mysteries.”

“Fusing four? How long will it take?” Delia asked.

“Not sure. Although the Profound Mysteries of Strength are fusing with the ‘Essence of the Earth’ and ‘Gravitational Space’, it’s just a connection; they aren’t completely fused yet. Fortunately, it is completely fused with the Throbbing Pulse of the World. After the other two are completely fused…I’ll have four profound mysteries, fused into one.” Linley knew very well that in order to have four mysteries fused, he would have to separately fuse the Profound Mysteries of Strength with the other three profound mysteries.

And then, he would begin a final, complete fusion.

“But how long will it take?” Delia asked again.

“If I’m fast, a few centuries or a thousand years. If I’m slow, ten thousand years.” Linley laughed.

“So long?” Delia laughed as well.

Linley said solemnly, “Delia, I’ve been training for roughly two thousand years now, in total. If I continue to train at this rate…to be able to fuse four profound mysteries within ten thousand years is a cause for celebration.” Linley stared out at the Infernal Realm from outside the window.

“I no longer have any regrets. I only hope that one day, I will reach the peak of training. Whether it be in ten thousand years, a million years, or even longer…I will continue to pursue my goals.” Linley’s eyes were filled with a hopeful light.

That year, Doehring Cowart had set him on the path of training. Although Linley’s number one priority had been revenge, while training to gain his revenge, Linley had fallen in love with training, and the feeling of constantly exceeding his own limits.

“Linley, you will definitely succeed. I will accompany you the entire time, and wait for you to reach that peak!” Delia couldn’t help but take Linley’s hands into her own and say in a soft voice.