Coiling Dragon

by welyjesch

  “Big bro, that snow…how? Could this be the ‘impose’ level mentioned in our clan’s records?” Wharton said in astonishment.

  Smiling, Linley said, “Wharton, once you reach the level of ‘impose’, it is true that you can prevent the rain or the snow from landing on your body. However, this requires that you whole-heartedly concentrate on utilizing the ‘imposing force’ of the surrounding area. It is impossible to do this at the ‘impose’ level while one is meditating and not focusing on it.”

  Just then, Linley hadn’t been intentionally preventing the snowflakes from reaching him. However, all it took was a thought, and the snowflakes couldn’t come near him.

  “What lies beyond the ‘impose’ level, then?” Wharton truly admired his big brother from the bottom of his heart.

  Wharton had trained hard for so many years, and had received the finest instruction from the O’Brien Academy, but to date, Wharton had only reached the ‘wielding something heavy as though it were light’ level as described in his clan’s records.

  Actually, there was no need for Wharton to be too modest. The reason why Linley had been able to make such astonishing improvements, aside from his natural talent, was the fact that he was greatly assisted by his exceptional elemental essence affinity.

  To ordinary people, elemental essence affinity only represented that one would be able to gather mageforce faster. But to experts, it represented that one would more easily be able to attune with nature, and understand the Laws of the world.

  “This part of the ‘Profound Truths of the Wind’ which I have gained insight into.” Linley laughed calmly. “This is just a simple application of it.”

  “Profound Truths of the Wind?” Wharton’s eyes lit up.

  “Continue with your training.” Linley said, then closed his eyes again, returning to his meditation.

  Actually, nowadays Linley didn’t spend too much time on his stone sculpting, unless he was seized by a sudden desire. When that desire came, Linley would more easily enter the correct state of mind, and the benefits to him would be better.

  These days, the effects of normal stone sculpting were about the same as Linley simply meditating.

  The reason was at this point, given Linley’s understanding of the Laws of the Wind and the Laws of the Earth, when Linley meditated, he could easily become one with nature, giving him essentially the same benefits as he had when sculpting under normal conditions.

  This sort of meditation on the various Laws was also helping to improve Linley’s spiritual energy at a constant rate of growth.

  Around nightfall.

  Linley, who had been quietly meditating this entire time, suddenly revealed a hint of a smile on his previously expressionless face. And then, Linley’s lips moved slightly. Shortly afterwards…

  “Swish!”

  Linley, who had been seated, suddenly moved at a terrifyingly fast speed. At the same instant, nine different Linley’s suddenly seemed to appear at different locations of the training ground.

  After the nine blurred images disappeared, Linley once again appeared seated in the meditative position in the training grounds.

  Only now did Linley open his eyes. “The ninth-ranked wind-style ‘Windshadow’ spell, famed as the most powerful speed-enhancing spell, lives up to its name. It can actually allow me, in my human form, to reach the speed of a Saint-level.”

  Right!

  Magic of the ninth rank!

  Roughly a year and a half after Linley had entered the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, he had reached the eighth rank as a magus. But from the eighth rank to the ninth rank as a magus, the amount of spiritual energy required was astonishing. Even the most brilliant of geniuses would require at least ten years.

  But due to his constant meditating, Linley’s spiritual energy had grown at a rapid rate.

  After spending just seven years, he had finally broken through and reached the level of an Arch Magus of the ninth rank.

  “Tomorrow is the Yulan festival. The day before the Yulan festival, I reached the level of an Arch Magus of the ninth rank, eh? Sheesh…” Linley felt extremely happy.

  Magi possessed extremely powerful attacks. If you gave a magus sufficient time, a magus could definitely use his spells to defeat a warrior of the same level. The wide area spells of magi were particularly astonishing.

  “Tomorrow, I will be twenty seven years old. A twenty seven year old dual-element Arch Magus of the ninth rank. This should be a first in history.” A look of confidence was on Linley’s face.

  How incredible.

  A twenty seven year old dual-element Arch Magus of the ninth rank. This was a terrifying record which had never before appeared within the history of the Yulan continent. The previous record holder had reached the ninth rank and become an Arch Magus only after he had turned thirty.

  “Wind-style magic includes the Savage Tornado spell, which can easily deal with an army of a hundred thousand soldiers. As for earth-style magic, the ‘Castle of Earth’ can be considered a large-scale defensive spell…” Linley had to admit that the more powerful a magus was, the more terrifyingly useful the battle applications of their magic became.

  Magi also possessed very powerful one-on-one spells as well.

  “The ninth-ranked wind-style spell, ‘Void Extermination’. Reputedly, as long as one has enough mageforce, this is a single-target spell that can even kill Saint-level experts. It truly is monstrously powerful.” Linley couldn’t help but sigh in praise.

  Wind-style magic was very valiant and mighty. ‘Void Extermination’ was the most powerful attacking spell out of all spells of the ninth rank in every discipline. The ‘Dimensional Edge’ spell, in turn, was the most powerful attacking spell out of all forbidden-level spells.

  The earth-style in turn was legendary for its defensiveness, whether in self-protection or in large-scale protection.

  When an earth-style magus of the ninth rank utilized the ‘Supergravity Field’ spell, he could cause the hearts and veins of other experts to explode and cause them to instantly die. After all, although some people had powerful muscles, their hearts and their blood vessels weren’t necessarily that tough.

  “However, to me, the most useful spell is still the Windshadow spell. The most powerful speed-supporting spell!”

  In his human form, Linley had less than half the speed he possessed in his Saint-level Dragonform. But by relying on the Windshadow technique, his speed in human form could rival his speed in Dragonform. How terrifying!

  The day of the Yulan festival. The sun was bright and high in the sky, casting its glow on the snow-covered trees and rooftops, which gleamed dazzlingly. The entire imperial capital seemed to be much brighter than normal.

  On this day, the imperial capital was arranging large-scale celebrations as well.

  Within a carriage.

  Watching the festivities, Wharton and Linley were sharing a carriage while chatting about Nina, and what to do about her.

  “Wharton, in two days, bring me to visit the Emperor.” Linley said directly.

  “Visit his Imperial Majesty?” Wharton stared at Linley in astonishment.

  Linley said with a calm laugh, “I have no grudges against the O’Brien Empire. If the Emperor is willing to allow Nina to marry you, I wouldn’t mind settling down here in the O’Brien Empire.”

  Wharton looked at his older brother. In his heart, he understood what Linley was saying.

  “But if that Emperor doesn’t know what’s good for him and insists on marrying the Seventh Princess to Blumer, then we’ll have to resort to our backup plan. We’ll abduct Nina and then the two of you can elope.” Linley looked at Wharton. “Wharton, are you ready to accept this result?”

  Wharton was silent for a moment. “Of course I am. I don’t feel too great a sense of loyalty to the O’Brien Empire. But Nina…”

  “The Seventh Princess would refuse?” Linley asked.

  This was a major issue.

  Wharton shook his head. “I
know her. When I was competing against Caylan, Nina once said that if the Emperor really tried to force her, she would elope with me. But Nina is afraid that we wouldn’t be able to make it.”

  “You don’t need to worry about that, unless the War God personally intervenes.” Linley said calmly.

  Linley knew that given the War God’s status, he wouldn’t get involved in these minor issues. Only if the Empire truly suffered a severe crisis would the War God show himself.

  Normally speaking, the War God wouldn’t even get involved if an Emperor was assassinated.

  The War God had countless descendants. If one Emperor died, another would succeed him. As long as nothing threatening the entire foundation of the Empire occurred, the deity-like War God would not interfere.

  Three days later, a carriage came to the gates of the imperial palace. A tall young man dressed in a gentleman’s suit, alongside a young man dressed in a long black robe, stepped out of the carriage.

  “Count Wharton, who is this?” The palace guards asked. Given their keen eyes, they could clearly tell that the person next to Count Wharton was no ordinary individual.

  With a calm laugh, Wharton said, “This is my older brother. I wish to take him to see his Imperial Majesty.”

  The palace guards didn’t make any difficulties for them, immediately allowing them in. Actually, it generally wasn’t too difficult for one to be granted entry into the palace. Anyone with some status could bring people inside.

  This was because the palace itself was enormous. If one wanted to enter one of the important areas of the palace, however, the guards would be much more restrictive.

  “Stop!” Two guards shouted. “Count Wharton, who is this person by your side?”

  “Please send a message. This is my older brother, Linley. I am bringing my older brother to meet with his Imperial Majesty.” Wharton said directly.

  “Please wait here first.” One of the guards shouted, before turning and running inside the courtyard.

  There were very many experts within this courtyard. Without the express permission of the Emperor, the various nobles did not dare to rashly barge in. A while later, that guard came running back. “His Imperial Majesty has permitted you to enter.”

  “There really are quite a few experts here.” As Linley walked into the courtyard, he could easily sense the locations of one expert after another from the flows of the nearby wind elemental essence.

  After walking for a while and taking some roundabout paths, they arrived at a classical, refined study room.

  “Your Imperial Majesty.” Wharton called out in a loud voice.

  “Haha, Wharton, I hear your big brother Linley has arrived? Come, quick!” Emperor Johann’s clear and bright voice rang out from within the study.

  Smiling, Linley stepped into the study.

  Book 9, His Fame Shakes the World – Chapter 3, Provocation

  Emperor Johann had heard of Linley’s fame long ago.

  That ‘second genius magus’ in all of history who had also reached the exalted rank of grandmaster sculptor at the age of sixteen. An absolute genius. When Johann had learned of Linley and his history, he couldn’t help but sigh repeatedly with admiration.

  He watched as Linley walked in.

  “He indeed appears to be a man of great talent.” Johann sighed to himself. Be it in either his physical proportions or his reserved personality, Johann could tell that Linley did indeed have that unique aura of a grandmaster sculptor.

  “Greetings, your Imperial Majesty.” Linley bowed fractionally.

  “How dare you.” The palace attendant next to Emperor Johann said in a shrill voice. “How dare you not kneel and kowtow before his Imperial Majesty?”

  Linley swept the attendant with his cold gaze. The palace attendant suddenly felt as though he was being stared at by a viper, and he couldn’t help but shiver.

  “A master artisan such as Linley is someone whom We have admired for a long time. Naturally, there is no need for him to kneel and pay any obeisance.” Johann glanced at his nearby attendant, and the attendant no longer dared to speak.

  In the O’Brien Empire, generally speaking, ministers needed to kneel on one knee before the Emperor. But people such as Blumer, a personal disciple of the War God, only needed to bow slightly.

  “Wharton.” Johann looked at Wharton, who stood next to Linley. “We have heard long ago that you had an older brother. Why is it that you have only brought him to see Us today?”

  Wharton immediately said, “Your Imperial Majesty, your servant’s older brother has only recently arrived in the imperial capital.”

  Emperor Johann nodded calmly, then looked at Linley. With a laugh, he said, “Master Linley, I heard that at the age of seventeen, you became a dual-element magus of the seventh rank. After ten years have passed, might I ask what level you have now reached?”

  Linley smiled. “After ten years of painstaking training, just a few days ago, I stepped past the gateway into the ninth rank.”

  “An Arch Magus of the ninth rank?” Johann blinked.

  “What?” A surprised shout from behind the Emperor. Linley casually glanced at the covering screen placed behind the Emperor’s seat. As soon as he had entered, Linley had known that there were two experts of the ninth rank hidden there, one a magus, one a warrior.

  Johann glanced backwards as well.

  Knowing that they had revealed themselves, those two came forward. One was dressed in a loose, long magus robe, while the other was wearing a classic warrior’s outfit.

  “These two are Our guards. They, too, were shocked at your advancement, Master Linley.” Johann laughed calmly.

  “A dual-element Arch Magus of the ninth rank. Linley, might I ask how old you are this year?” That silver-haired magus stared at Linley. As a magus, he naturally knew how incredibly difficult it was for one to increase one’s level of spiritual energy.

  Throughout history, more than ten warriors had reached the Saint-level in their twenties.

  But in all of history, there was not a single Arch Magus of the ninth rank who reached that rank before the age of thirty. The rate of advancement for spiritual energy was something which couldn’t be increased by any known means. It required one to slowly accumulate it, one step at a time.

  “My older brother is twenty seven years old this year.” Wharton spoke out.

  “Twenty seven!” Hearing this number, that magus of the ninth rank had a very…amusing…look of shock on his face.

  History was history. History included the records of countless geniuses over tens of thousands of years. There were a few people who reached the ninth rank after the age of thirty, but that was ancient history. In the past few centuries, there hadn’t been a single person who had reached the ninth rank in their thirties.

  But…

  “Twenty seven. Twenty seven!” That silver-haired old man laughed at himself. “I reached the rank of Arch Magus of the ninth rank when I turned 170, and I thought I didn’t do too bad. But compared to you, Master Linley…”

  The silver-haired old man sighed, shaking his head.

  The difference was simply too extraordinary.

  “Mr. Gerhaus, in the past, how old was the youngest Arch Magus to reach the ninth rank?” Johann immediately asked.

  The silver-haired old man said respectfully, “Your Imperial Majesty, according to the historical records, the youngest Arch Magus of the ninth rank was an absolute genius from over thirty thousand years ago. He reached the ninth rank at the age of thirty two. In more recent history, from the beginning of the Yulan calendar to now, the youngest genius magus to reach the ninth rank did so at the age of thirty five.”

  In training battle-qi, if one possessed or acquired some special treasures, perhaps their battle-qi would be greatly enhanced.

  One’s level of understanding might suddenly jump as well from a flash of insight.

  There had been people who had reached the Saint-level in their twenties!

  But spiritual
energy wasn’t something that you could easily increase at will. Even by using the Straight Chisel School of stone sculpting, Linley had only gained that sudden breakthrough and increase a single time, when he was sixteen. In the past ten years, he had been slowly, painstakingly training nonstop. Only then had he managed to reach the ninth rank.

  “I’ve heard that Master Linley isn’t just a magus. You are also a powerful warrior?” Emperor Johann smiled towards Linley.

  Linley smiled calmly. “Your Imperial Majesty, you can have that person next to you give me a try.”

  That warrior of the ninth rank pursed his lips. “Can it be that Master Linley is such a genius that you have reached the level of a warrior of the ninth rank as well?”

  “Mr. Lancy, go ahead and give him a try. But you must be careful. Master Linley is of the Dragonblood Warrior clan.” Johann laughed.

  Mr. Lancy immediately drew his pitch black broadsword.

  Linley only flipped his hand over, allowing Bloodviolet to appear in his palm. Against a warrior of the ninth rank, he didn’t even need to transform.

  “Hrmph.” A layer of illusionary, stellar light seemed to suddenly cover the broadsword in Mr. Lancy’s hand. “Mr. Lancy is the student of the Stellar Sword Saint.” Johann explained.

  Stellar Sword Saint?

  Linley wasn’t even concerned about the Stellar Sword Saint himself, much less his disciple.

  “Swish…” The broadsword seemed to split apart the air itself, chopping against Linley with seemingly enormous power. Linley just stood there, not even moving. Bloodviolet flashed…

  Mr. Lancer suddenly felt as though the entire world was filled with violet light, and that all the surrounding space had suddenly been locked and frozen.

  “Bam!” The flat of Bloodviolet’s blade struck against Lancy, knocking him flying back and smashing against the stone screen. The screen split apart, and Lancy spat out a mouthful of blood as he fell to the ground.

  Steadying himself with his hands against the floor, Lancy slowly rose to his feet. His eyes didn’t have a hint of arrogance in them. Instead, he said with gratitude, “Thank you for being merciful, Master Linley.” The flat of the blade had contained such tremendous force when it struck against him. If it had been the edge of the blade, he definitely would have died.