Coiling Dragon

by welyjesch

  Linley had already prepared the Windshadow spell, and so he flew into the tunnel. Those familiar, winding pathways led him deeper into the tunnels until he arrived at the pit. He dropped down several thousand meters, arriving at the bottom.

  A few moments later, Linley arrived at that pitch-black stone door.

  “Rumble.” That terrifying heat was still there, turning the stone walls scarlet red.

  Linley said respectfully, “Lord War God, I imagine that you already know about my duel with Haydson. I imagine that I should now be qualified to learn of the secrets you previously spoke about.”

  “Enter, then.” The War God’s calm voice rang out.

  “Rumble…” The pitch-black stone door swung open on its own, revealing a tunnel within. A terrifying blast of heat blasted out from within.

  Linley formed his Dragonblood battle-qi into his Pulseguard Defense.

  “What a hot place.” Staring deep into the tunnel, Linley was astonished. On the far end of the tunnel, Linley saw an enormous magma pool that was at least a hundred meters wide. The lava boiled and hissed and swirled about, but this wasn’t the astonishing part.

  The astonishing part was…in the air directly above the magma pool, there was a ball of fire at least three meters long.

  This ball of fire was pure, scarlet red. It was constantly emanating waves of terrifying heat from mid-air. For Linley to be forced to use the Pulseguard Defense to protect himself, one could imagine how terrifyingly hot this ball of fire was.

  The temperature of ordinary lava wouldn’t be able to hurt Linley, even if he went near it.

  Even if he were to walk on top of lava, all he had to do was to control his battle-qi to protect himself. There was no need to use the Pulseguard Defense. Linley suddenly realized something…

  “Where is Lord War God?” Linley looked suspiciously in every direction.

  In the blink of an eye, he could make out the surrounding area. Aside from the central pool of lava, everything could be seen clearly in this area. But there wasn’t a human figure in sight.

  “Linley!” The War God’s calm voice suddenly drifted down from within the ball of fire.

  Linley stared in astonishment at that hovering ball of fire.

  Could it be that the War God was that ball of fire?

  A blurry human figure slowly drifted out from within that ball of fire. In the blink of an eye, that blurry human figure appeared next to the pool of magma.

  This man was indeed the War God.

  Linley carefully inspected this War God, whose legend was known throughout the Yulan continent. The War God wasn’t an extremely tall man, only around 1.8 meters tall or so. He had the appearance of a man in his thirties. He had thick eyebrows and scarlet red hair which had grown to his waist. Due to his careful observations, Linley suddenly realized that atop the War God’s scarlet red hair were multiple blazing flames.

  The War God’s face was as hard and cold as granite, and his eyes were extremely sharp.

  With every single action, he radiated absolute certainty. In particular, he possessed a terrifying presence which caused Linley’s heart to quiver.

  Such power!

  “Respectful greetings to you, War God.” Linley said courteously.

  The War God carefully looked at Linley, a hint of a smile appearing at the corners of his lips. He nodded calmly. “Not bad. I watched your duel with Haydson. Your attack technique is quite interesting.”

  A hint of a smile appeared on Linley’s face as well.

  “Lord War God, I should now be qualified to learn about the secrets of the Yulan continent, right?” Linley had already decided long ago that before heading out to the Anarchic Lands, he would come visit the War God once.

  And now, he had to seek vengeance for his Fourth Bro as well.

  Linley had already made careful calculations. After avenging his Fourth Bro, he would immediately head out for the Anarchic Lands. In addition, this meeting with the War God wasn’t solely for the sake of learning the secrets. It was also to use the War God’s influence to suppress Johann.

  Who did Johann fear the most? Without question, it was the War God!

  “Linley, the attack you have developed is quite unique indeed. Your current level of power is indeed on par with Haydson, and is enough to qualify you to be made aware of the secrets of the Yulan continent.” The War God said calmly.

  Linley listened carefully.

  “Linley, do you know how I became a Deity?” The War God suddenly looked at Linley.

  “Wasn’t it through gaining sufficient insight which allowed you to break through the limits of the Saint-level and reach the Deity-level?” Linley looked at the War God, puzzled.

  The War God shook his head slightly. “It isn’t so easy to break through to the Deity-level. Even Cesar, with his extraordinary talent, spent five thousand years before reaching the Deity-level. As for me…although in the past, I had indeed reached the limits of the Saint-level, it was very hard to take that last step and break through. Five thousand years ago, during a battle, I was fortunate enough to acquire the divine spark of a Demigod. I absorbed and fused that divine spark…and thus, I became a Deity.”

  Linley was stunned.

  So the almighty War God whom everyone praised to the high heavens had actually broken through because he had acquired the divine spark of a Demigod.

  “What, are you very disappointed?” The War God laughed calmly.

  Linley shook his head. “No. It is very incredible that in the past, you were able to reach the limits of the Saint-level after only a few hundred years. Your eldest disciple, Fain, has spent thousands of years training. By now, he should be at the limits of the Saint-level as well.”

  The War God laughed.

  He was very satisfied with Linley’s response. Indeed, reaching the limits of the Saint-level in a few centuries was extremely difficult.

  “It is hard to reach the limits of the Saint-level. For someone to reach the limits of the Saint-level definitely means that they have already arrived at the very end of the path of the Elemental Laws they have chosen. To break past that barrier, what they need is a sudden insight! In an instant, they must fuse together and combine every part of the aspect of Elemental Law they are training in. Only then will they succeed in breaking through.”

  The War God sighed, “In the entire Yulan continent, up until a few decades ago, there had been six Prime Saints who had reached the limits of the Saint-level and only needed to take one more step before breaking through to the Deity-level. Now that Cesar has broken through, there are five Prime Saints remaining who are at the limits. One of them is Fain.”

  “Currently, in the Yulan continent, aside from those five Deities, the most powerful people are Fain and the other four. You should already know by now how powerful Fain is.”

  Linley nodded slightly.

  Linley was now beginning to truly interact with the hidden aspects of the Yulan continent.

  “Lord War God, what level of power does the Holy Emperor have, in comparison with those hidden experts?” In the future, Linley would definitely have to deal with the Holy Emperor. Naturally, he needed to ask this question.

  “The Holy Emperor?”

  The War God paused for a moment, then said, “Amongst the hidden experts of the continent, aside from the Deities, Fain and the other four Prime Saints are the most powerful. They need only a single step to reach the Deity-level. Beneath them are the likes of the Holy Emperor. There are roughly ten or so people on this level. Below them are those people on Haydson’s level. Most of the experts who lie hidden here in the continent are on Haydson’s level.

  “The Holy Emperor is more powerful than Haydson?” Linley memorized this little fact.

  The War God cast a warning glance at Linley. “The Holy Emperor trains in Oracular Magic. Oracular Magic is extremely powerful. It is normal for him to be on a higher level than Haydson.”

  Linley looked at the War God, then asked, “Lord War God, the
n what are the secrets of the Yulan continent? What are they?” Linley had been curious this entire time.

  For what reason had the Yulan continent attracted so many experts to remain here on this plane?

  “In the Four Higher Planes, there is another name for the plane of the Yulan continent.” A hint of delight was in the War God’s face.

  “What name?” Linley’s eyes lit up.

  “The Necropolis of the Gods!” The War God said softly.

  “The Necropolis of the Gods?” Linley’s heart thumped. “Lord War God, even if Deities were to die, there’s no reason they would have to come to our Yulan continent to be buried, is there?”

  “Of course not.” The War God laughed calmly. “Five thousand years ago, many of the experts who descended from other planes were Deities. There were even Gods and Highgods. They engaged in warfare and slaughter here in the Yulan continent. In the end, aside from a few who left, virtually all of those experts died here.”

  Book 9, His Fame Shakes the World – Chapter 41, The War God’s Favor

  “During one of those battles, I was extremely lucky. Although I had hidden far away, I managed to acquire a divine spark, and what’s more, it was the divine spark of a Demigod. If it had been the divine spark of a full God, I wouldn’t have been able to absorb and fuse with it at all.” The War God laughed calmly.

  Linley suddenly began to understand.

  There were certain preconditions for one to fuse with a divine spark.

  Someone who had not yet become a Deity probably would only be able to fuse with a Demigod’s divine spark.

  “Why did those experts from other planes descend to the Yulan continent and engage in battle here?” Linley immediately asked.

  The War God glanced at Linley. “For now, you don’t need to know about this.” Clearly, the War God didn’t wish to tell Linley.

  Linley had no choice but to remain silent.

  “The Necropolis of the Gods will be opened once every thousand years. Each time it is opened, those who have received acknowledgment and permission from us Deities are permitted to enter the Necropolis of the Gods and engage in exploration.” The War God glanced at Linley. “But I must tell you, the Necropolis of the Gods is extremely dangerous!”

  “Has anyone ever succeeded?” Linley asked.

  “Of course.” The War God said with certainty. “But only one person. And the funny thing was, as soon as he acquired a Demigod divine spark and broke through, he immediately headed off to the Higher Planes.”

  Linley secretly laughed.

  To become a Deity was extremely hard.

  But wouldn’t it be so much simpler to just acquire a divine spark from within the Necropolis of the Gods and then fuse it? No wonder so many of the lucky survivors of the past had decided to remain hidden here in the Yulan continent.

  After all, it was virtually impossible for a Saint to acquire a divine spark in the Higher Planes.

  “Lord War God, are there any differences between becoming a Deity through fusing with a divine spark and becoming a Deity through personal understandings and breakthroughs?” Linley asked.

  The War God nodded and sighed. “There are. After absorbing and fusing with a divine spark, one’s future training becomes much more difficult. After all, the divine spark you fused with wasn’t one which had naturally descended upon you and formed within your soul. There are qualitative differences.”

  Linley nodded.

  In his heart, Linley deeply appreciated the fact that the War God had provided him with this important piece of information.

  “But despite that, so what? Linley, if I placed a divine spark in front of you and told you that if you fused with it, you would become a Demigod, with the price being that your future training would be slower and more difficult…would you be willing to fuse with it?” The War God looked at Linley.

  Linley was startled.

  Indeed. If a Demigod’s divine spark was placed in front of him, which represented the chance to become a Deity, despite knowing that one’s future training would become more difficult…most likely, many people would choose to immediately absorb and fuse with the divine spark.

  “Enough. Linley, if there’s nothing else, you can leave now.” The War God said calmly.

  Linley hurriedly said. “Lord War God, in a few days, I plan to go to the Anarchic Lands. My little brother Wharton will probably remain in the imperial capital. I am worried that the forces of the Radiant Church will threaten my little brother…”

  “Don’t worry. The imperial capital is not a place where the Radiant Church can act as they please.” The War God said calmly.

  Hearing these words from the War God, Linley felt calmer.

  “Lord War God, the current Emperor, Johann…” Linley didn’t even finish speaking before the War God frowned and said, “I gave you my talisman. Just show it to Johann, and he will know that it represents my authority. Each generation of Emperors knows this.”

  Linley was startled.

  The talisman with the word ‘War’ on it which the War God had bequeathed unto him previously actually had this function as well?

  The War God glanced coldly at Linley. “But you had better not use the talisman too wildly. If you throw the Empire into a state of chaos, then you will be the one to fix it. Oh, right. When you go to the Anarchic Lands, there is a person you must remember not to offend.”

  “Who?” Linley was startled.

  The Anarchic Lands didn’t have any famous experts, right?

  The War God said calmly, “One of the five Prime Saints lives in the Anarchic Lands. His name is Desri [De’si’li]. He trains in the Laws of Light. His power is on par with Fain’s.”

  Linley immediately memorized this name.

  Someone who was on par with Fain was a person who was only a step away from becoming a Deity.

  “Enough. You can leave now.” The War God said calmly.

  Linley immediately bowed, then turned and prepared to leave.

  “Remember to treat with kindness that magical beast of yours, Bebe.” The War God said with a sudden sigh.

  Shocked, Linley turned his head to stare at the War God. Linley wasn’t surprised that the War God knew of Bebe’s existence, but why had the War God just told him to treat Bebe well?

  The War God paid no more attention to Linley. With one step, his scarlet hair flowing around him, he entered that hovering ball of fire once more and returned to his training.

  “Bebe?”

  Linley actually felt that the War God was being a bit too nice to him. Whether it was with regards to Wharton’s wedding, or telling him so many things on this visit…Linley now felt that this had to do with Bebe.

  Bebe?

  Linley still remembered how Bebe had told him that he came from a clan known as the ‘Beirut’ clan.

  “Bebe’s power is terrifying, and his rate of growth is astonishing as well. And he comes from the Beirut clan. Now, the War God says…” Linley suddenly began to question Bebe’s identity.

  The imperial capital of Channe. The imperial palace. Within the flower gardens.

  Emperor Johann was in a wonderful mood. He leisurely strolled about in his flower gardens, enjoying the sight of all sorts of beautiful flowers. With Linley no longer looking into Reynolds’ affair, he naturally felt much more relaxed.

  “Your Imperial Majesty, someone is flying over.” His personal attendant suddenly said.

  Someone was flying over?

  A Saint-level expert!

  Emperor Johann immediately turned to look. In the skies, he saw a blue-robed Linley soaring in his direction. In the blink of an eye, Linley arrived in the flower gardens.

  “Oh, so it is Master Linley.” A smile immediately blossomed on Emperor Johann’s face. “Is there something you need, Master Linley?”

  Linley glanced at the palace attendant.

  “Leave for now.” Emperor Johann said to his nearby attendant, who immediately walked far into the distance. Now there was only
Linley and Emperor Johann, with no one else nearby. Even the guards were over a hundred meters away.

  Linley stared emotionlessly at Emperor Johann.

  Stared at by Linley in such a manner, Emperor Johann began to feel puzzled and uneasy. Could it be that Linley had discovered that Reynolds’ death had to do with Julin?

  “Emperor Johann, do you still believe that you’ve told me the complete truth regarding Reynolds’ dying in battle?” Linley stared at Emperor Johann.

  Emperor Johann’s heart immediately plummeted. He felt as though he had suddenly fallen into a bottomless abyss.

  Emperor Johann was no fool. Hearing Linley’s words, he naturally could guess that Linley perhaps already knew everything.

  “Linley, that was the report that came from the military. It shouldn’t be fake.” Emperor Johann said seriously. The meaning of his words were clear; even if the information was wrong, it was the fault of the military reporters, and didn’t have anything to do with him, Johann.

  Linley glanced at Emperor Johann.

  “Emperor Johann, based on what I have learned, my dear friend Reynolds had led a group of knights in a scouting trip, but had been pursued by the forces of the Rohault Empire to the walls of the city of Neil. The pursuing forces of the Rohault Empire numbered only three hundred! But at that time, Prince Julin actually ordered the soldiers to stay put and guard the city from inside, out of fear!”

  The look on Johann’s face changed.

  “Faced with three hundred people, why would a garrison of tens of thousands of soldiers have to stand their ground inside the city of Neil?” Linley’s voice grew even colder. “My brother, Reynolds, and his dozens of subordinates were shouting for the gates to be opened from the base of the walls. But Prince Julin actually ordered that the gates were to remain shut. And thus like that…Reynolds and his men lost their lives, for no purpose whatsoever!”

  Linley stared coldly at Johann. “Emperor Johann. Tell me. How should we resolve this affair?”

  Emperor Johann already knew that there was no way to favorably resolve this situation. He didn’t dare to lie or to equivocate. In front of a peak-stage Saint, would excuses be of any use?