“What a high temperature.”
Even Linley didn’t dare to resist this terrifying heat with his body alone. He had to use his battle-qi to protect the soles of his feet, and even his skin and head was covered by a layer of azurish-black battle-qi.
Without the protection of his battle-qi, most likely Linley would have caught on fire.
The surrounding stone walls were all red with heat. After walking for a while, Linley saw a pitch-black stone door in front of him. Despite the extremely high temperature, the stone door hadn’t turned even the slightest bit red. Clearly, it was made from no ordinary material.
“Whoooooosh.”
Gusts of hot air came from the other side of the door, carrying with it a faint, majestic presence. Faced with this majestic presence, Linley actually felt the sudden urge to bow down towards it.
“Master, I’ve brought Linley,” Fain said respectfully.
The War God?
The War God was past this door!
Linley had previously been calm, but now, his heart couldn’t help but begin to beat faster. He was actually standing in front of one of the six ultimate experts of the Yulan continent, with only a stone door separating them.
“Alright. Fain. You can leave now,” a calm voice rang out.
“Yes, Master.” Fain respectfully departed.
Linley still stood there, quietly waiting for the War God to address him.
“Linley. Twenty-seven years old. An Arch Magus of the ninth rank who has already embarked on the path of understanding the Laws…” The War God’s voice remained very calm. “Linley, you aren’t bad.”
Linley frowned.
He could sense that the War God’s voice seemed to be causing his soul to shudder. He had the sense that if the War God was to raise his voice a little bit, it would cause his soul to dissipate and collapse.
“Thank you for your praise, War God,” Linley said humbly.
“I have already instructed Fain to tell you that which you need to know. Outside the door, there is a scarlet talisman of command. Take it. From today forward, you can be considered to be someone belonging to my side,” the War God said calmly.
Linley’s heart shook.
Considered to be someone belonging to the War God’s side?
He turned to look at the side of the door. Indeed, atop a flat rock, there was a scarlet red talisman, which slowly rose into the air and began to fly towards Linley.
Atop the talisman, a single engraved word could be seen: “War”!
“What is this War God thinking? I’ll be considered as belonging to his side?” Linley felt somewhat unhappy. The War God was forcibly recruiting him without even asking or negotiating with him.
The War God’s calm voice once more rang out, “Given your current level of power, you actually aren’t yet qualified to receive this talisman. However… I believe you will reach that level sooner or later, which is why I am giving it to you in advance. Once you have this talisman, you will be qualified to investigate the secrets of the Yulan continent.”
“The secrets of the Yulan continent?” Linley said.
“When your human form reaches the Saint level, or… when you defeat the Monolithic Sword Saint, Haydson, come find me again. By then, you will be qualified to know this secret. Only then would you truly be worthy of this talisman,” the War God said calmly.
From the War God’s words, Linley could sense a certain lonely arrogance.
In the War God’s eyes, the current Linley wasn’t even qualified to possess this talisman. In his eyes, Linley’s power was indeed quite weak.
Linley knew his own limits as well.
“War God,” Linley said respectfully. “You just said when my human form reaches the Saint level, or when I defeat the Monolithic Sword Saint? Does that mean you, War God, feel that only after my human form reaches the Saint level will I be able to defeat the Monolithic Sword Saint, Haydson?”
The War God was momentarily silent.
“That Monolithic Sword Saint is reputed to be the world’s strongest Saint. Although in the eyes of those other peak-stage Saints who lie hidden throughout the world, he doesn’t live up to that reputation, Haydson’s current level of power can still be considered on par with those who have trained for thousands of years.”
Linley understood.
“As for reaching the Saint level in your human form… if you remain unable to defeat Haydson even after your human form reaches the Saint level, then I will feel embarrassed on your ancestors’ behalf,” the War God said calmly.
Linley laughed.
Clearly, as far as the War God was concerned, once Linley’s human form reached the Saint level, Linley should definitely have surpassed Haydson. But the War God seemed to currently feel that he was not yet able to overcome Haydson.
“I refuse to believe that the War God knows about the true offensive power of my ‘Profound Truths of the Earth,’” Linley said to himself.
Although the War God possessed divine power, he wasn’t omniscient.
“Linley, let me offer you a word of advice!” the War God suddenly said.
“War God, please speak.” Linley’s eyes lit up, and he immediately listened carefully. The War God had become a Deity over five thousand years ago. His advice could allow Linley to avoid many missteps.
That calm voice rang out from behind the stone door. “The Elemental Laws contain all sorts of truths. What you need to do is select a single path and follow it to its conclusion. It is best if you don’t simultaneously train in multiple paths.”
Linley was startled. The Elemental Laws were indeed quite boundless. For example, Linley was currently analyzing two aspects of the Elemental Laws of Wind. The first one was speed, the ultimate speed.
The second was in single-target sword attacks, such as his Tempos of the Wind.
“War God, why should I select just one path?” Linley asked.
“Naturally, if you so desire, you can simultaneously analyze multiple aspects of the Elemental Laws. No one can force you not to do so. Whether or not you choose to take my advice is up to you. Alright, I am finished. You can leave now,” the War God said calmly.
Linley hurriedly said, “War God, I would like to ask, what sort of power or authority does this talisman confer upon me?”
“Possessing this talisman is a symbol that you are qualified to enter the ranks of those who know the secrets of the Yulan continent. As for everything else… even if you die, I won’t get involved. You must rely on yourself.”
“Then War God, I would like to ask, right now, how many Deities exist on the Yulan continent?” Ever since meeting Fain, Linley had been wondering…
Was it possible that the Yulan continent had more than just five Deities?
“In total, there are five,” the War God said calmly. “That Cesar broke through just a few years ago.”
Linley felt secretly relieved.
The Yulan continent only had a few Deities standing at its peak after all.
“War God, why did you give me this talisman? Previously, why did you help my younger brother?” Linley asked. Linley had been puzzled about this the entire time. What sort of relationship did the War God have with him?
As far as Linley could tell, the War God shouldn’t need anything from him.
After all, the War God was far, far more powerful than him.
“You ask too many questions.”
The War God’s voice turned cold. “You can go back now. For now, don’t think about too many things. Focus on your training. After you defeat Haydson, or after your human form reaches the Saint level, come find me again.”
Hearing that the War God was starting to grow annoyed, Linley knew how he should act.
“War God, I bid you farewell then.”
Linley immediately left. Casting the Windshadow spell, Linley flew out of the deep pit, then exited the tunnel. After exiting the tunnel and allowing the mountain wind to buffet him, Linley let out a long breath.
D
espite being separated from the War God by a stone door, Linley still felt enormous pressure when speaking to the man.
“Someone belonging to his side?” Linley stared at the scarlet talisman in his hand. The scarlet talisman occasionally flashed with golden light. Linley had never seen this sort of material before.
With a flip of his hand, Linley stored the scarlet talisman into his interspatial ring, then headed down War God Mountain.
On the way down, Linley was still thinking about the War God’s final bit of advice.
“The Elemental Laws contain all sorts of truths. What you need to do is select a single path and follow it to its conclusion.”
His current focus was the throbbing pulse of the world.
Linley shook his head. Without thinking about it any longer, he left War God Mountain and returned to the imperial capital.
The next time Linley would return to War God Mountain, it would be after he defeated Haydson, or when his human form reached the Saint level.
23
Pulseguard
Count Wharton’s manor was very quiet. Zassler was in his room training, while Barker, his brothers, and Wharton were all training in the wide training yard in the back of the manor. Rebecca, Leena, and Jenne were chatting with the Seventh Princess, Nina.
“Whew.”
After finishing his training, Wharton took a shower and changed into a set of clean clothes. Satisfied and content, Wharton walked into his manor. He had never felt as happy as he currently felt.
He was together with his Big Brother, and he was marrying Nina. Grandpa Hiri and Hillman were also enjoying the quiet, comfortable lives of nobles.
“Father. Mother. If you two were still alive, you would definitely be very happy.” Wharton felt very satisfied, while at the same time, he felt very grateful to his Big Brother, Linley, who had brought all of this.
Linley was the pillar of the clan.
If it wasn’t for Linley, would the Emperor have given Nina to him? If it wasn’t for Linley, in the capital, he would only be an ordinary person amongst the nobles, at best considered a genius.
Wharton glanced at the distant Grandpa Hiri, who was reclining on a chair, idly sipping some fruit juice.
“Grandpa Hiri, where’s my Big Brother?” Wharton asked as he walked over.
Housekeeper Hiri looked up and smiled. “Oh, Wharton. Young master Linley left early in the morning.”
“He still isn’t back yet?” Wharton nodded.
“You have nothing to be worried about. Your Big Brother is a Saint. Young master Wharton, you need to train hard as well.” Housekeeper Hiri chortled.
“Right.” Wharton nodded.
“Grandpa Hiri, next month is Olivier’s duel against the Monolithic Sword Saint. Will you go watch?” Wharton laughed.
“Naturally. How could I miss a duel between two Saints?” Housekeeper Hiri’s eyes shone. “The Monolithic Sword Saint is an expert amongst Saints. This duel will definitely be exciting.”
Wharton’s eyes were also filled with excitement.
“One day, I will be like my Big Brother, Olivier, and Haydson.” Wharton secretly decided.
Just then, footsteps rang out.
Linley appeared outside the courtyard. Seeing his Big Brother, Wharton felt a warm feeling in his heart. He hurriedly went to welcome him. “Big Bro, what took you so long to come back? Barker and I have finished our training. We are going to eat dinner soon.”
“I went to see some people.” Linley laughed.
Linley didn’t tell his little brother about his trip to War God Mountain. As Linley saw it, it was best not to inform his little brother about certain affairs of the Yulan continent. When his little brother reached the Saint level, there would be plenty of time to tell him then.
Within the rear of the courtyard was Linley’s residence within the manor estate. The training grounds of the estate were extremely large, but Wharton, Barker, and his brothers all needed a great deal of space as well. Thus, Linley usually trained by himself in his own manor.
“Whoosh.” “Whoosh.” The wind blew about, scattering the fallen leaves on the floor, sending them dancing into the air. Linley’s hair gently fluttered about with the wind as well.
Linley was wielding the adamantine heavy sword, with the tip of the sword touching the ground.
“I have already managed to generate 128 pulses of the vibrational attacks of the Profound Truths of the Earth.” During the five years he had spent at Cloudpeaks Village, Linley had already mastered the Hundred Layered Waves during the fourth year.
Linley had improved quite rapidly when he had advanced from three waves to ten, then from ten to a hundred.
But after a hundred waves had been reached, Linley’s rate of improvement had begun to drop. Despite all that time having passed, Linley had only reached 128 waves.
With each breakthrough, Linley only managed to increase the number of waves by one or two.
“I wonder what the absolute limit is for the number of waves?” Linley sat down into the meditative position.
“Thruuum.” “Thruuuum.”
The sound of the throbbing pulse of the world rang out within Linley’s consciousness. That unique rhythm had a miraculous cadence, capable of causing someone to unconsciously be subsumed within it.
Linley’s muscles would occasionally expand or contract as they constantly vibrated, and wind arose out of nowhere around Linley. While meditating, Linley had previously noticed that his muscles would absorb earth elemental essence at an even faster pace when they were vibrating in pace with the rhythm of the earth’s pulse, allowing his body to gain strength faster.
“Ah!”
Linley suddenly stood up, his eyes shining with terrifying light.
“The throbbing pulse of the world. The throbbing pulse of the world…” Linley had suddenly recalled that technique the Monolithic Sword Saint, Haydson, had used to block himself and Olivier.
Haydson’s body had suddenly been surrounded by layered waves of earth-colored elemental particles which had hammered against him in waves, forcing him backwards.
“Back then, I had the feeling that Haydson’s defense seemed to have a very familiar quality about it. But at the time, I didn’t understand it, and I didn’t have time to analyze it. But now…”
Linley had a particular feeling, akin to seeing a bright moon that had been hidden behind a foggy veil gradually growing clearer in his mind.
“The throbbing pulse of the world isn’t just vibrational waves. It can also become invisible, and it can also be transmitted through battle-qi.” It was as though there had been an opaque film covering this realization. Having pierced through the film, Linley now began to understand.
“Using pulses for defense, haha… earth magic has the ‘Pulsating Guard’ forbidden level spell. It seems that they are based on the same principles. However, my ‘Pulseguard Defense’ would only be used to protect myself.”
Linley’s azurish-black battle-qi began to fill the area around him.
“No, that isn’t how it works.”
Linley shut his eyes, allowing his heart to merge with the throbbing pulse of the world, while also tuning his Dragonblood battle-qi to the same tempo. He already understood the general principles, but actually applying them wasn’t a simple task.
Linley stood there in the middle of the courtyard as waves of azurish-black battle-qi suffused the area around him.
The principle was actually quite simple. For example, a sheet of paper could easily be torn apart, but if the paper was folded six times into a braid, this braid of paper might be able to support up to a hundred pounds of force.
The same material, after being folded and braided, could support far more amounts of force.
Battle-qi was the same when used for defense.
The same battle-qi, when used in different ways, could defend against ten times or even a hundred times as much incoming force. The “Throbbing Pulse of the World”, in turn, was a very unique technique.
The Throbbing Pulse of the World was just one of the paths within the Laws of the Earth.
Linley had already reached a rather high level of understanding with regards to the Throbbing Pulse of the World. All he had to do now was to transform that understanding and use the same principles to create a Pulseguard Defense for himself. Since he already understood the principles, once he began to apply them, he would advance fairly quickly.
“Big Bro, time to eat.” Wharton walked over, with Barker and his brothers behind him. The five of them had just finished training and then showering.
But when they pushed the door open, they discovered…
Linley was surrounded by azurish-black battle-qi, which rolled out like waves of fog. Linley was hidden within those roiling waves of azurish-black battle-qi.
“Big Bro?”
“Lord?”
Wharton, Barker, and the others all looked at each other. Although training was important, resting was as well.
“Don’t bother the Boss,” Bebe, resting in the corner of the courtyard, ordered.
“It is dinner time. Big Bro should take a rest.” As he spoke, Wharton headed towards Linley. Bebe and Haeru glanced at each other, but didn’t block him.
Linley had already instructed Bebe and Haeru not to go near him, as they would otherwise be injured by those waves.
“Time to let this little punk learn a lesson,” Bebe secretly said to himself.
Wharton remained cautious. The battle-qi around Linley was quite dense, but he was still fairly far away from Linley. The battle-qi here was still rather sparse. How could Wharton be truly worried about such a small amount of battle-qi?
But once he reached the edges of that azurish-black battle-qi, Wharton suddenly felt a bizarre surge of energy strike at him.
“Bang!”
Wharton was sent flying away. Wharton had the sensation of being struck dozens of times in an instant, and each time he felt as though he had been struck by a meteor.
“Wharton.” Gates was the first to go forward and catch Wharton.
Baruch Rising_Book 3 of the Coiling Dragon Saga Page 18