Coiling Dragon

by welyjesch

Deities were nothing more than commoners. Probably one out of every ten Deities were Gods, while only one out of every ten thousand Deities were Highgods. But although the chances were very low, when one thought about how enormous the Infernal Realm was, one would understand how many Highgods there were as well!

  “This is what it means to be in the Infernal Realm. The place where experts are as common as clouds!” Linley’s heart trembled.

  “Boss.” Bebe gnawed on a straw, saying casually, “My Grandpa said that in a place like the Infernal Realm, those who became Deities through fusing with divine sparks can’t possibly gain a high status. Only those who became Deities on their own, and also have fused profound mysteries, have that chance. Only by being strong will one have a high status!”

  Linley agreed with this in his heart.

  “Linley, I won’t slow you down.” The nearby Delia suddenly said.

  Linley turned to look at Delia. Naturally, he understood what Delia was thinking. Delia was that sort of very strong-willed woman. Linley couldn’t help but laugh as he took Delia into his arms. “Delia, you? Slow me down? If you think about it, in our group here, I’m the only Demigod. It’s me slowing you down.”

  Delia felt a warm feeling in her heart. How could she not know that in truth, Linley, who was in possession of a soul-protecting Sovereign artifact, was the one amongst the three of them with the most variables in play? Once he truly went all out, if Linley were to encounter for instance those enemies that were most proficient in soul-based attacks, he would be able to counter them perfectly!

  “It’s broad daylight, you guys! Get a room! Argh, I can’t watch anymore.” Seeing this, Bebe called out while covering his eyes.

  “Little rascal.” Delia couldn’t help but laugh while scolding him.

  At this time, that silver-haired elder, Buffett, flew over from afar. Seeing Linley and the other two, he laughed loudly. “Linley, you’ve been in our Black Dragon Tribe for a while now. How do you feel?”

  “Not bad.” Linley immediately rose to his feet with a smile. “At least, we haven’t encountered any dangers yet.”

  Buffett said with a sigh, “Right. If you were outside, you would learn…that there are simply too many bandit groups that ambush and slaughter travelers in the Infernal Realm. Generally speaking, Gods and Demigods don’t dare to travel the Infernal Realm alone.”

  “Even Gods don’t dare?” Bebe stared.

  Buffett went to a nearby stone chair and sat down, then nodded. “Right. Not even Gods. The bandit groups of the Infernal Realm are generally formed by Demigods and Gods. Do you think an entire group of bandit Gods and Demigods wouldn’t be able to deal with you, a single God? They have the advantage of numbers!”

  “Then, why don’t Highgods act as bandits?” Bebe continued.

  “Haha.” Buffett laughed. “Highgods, even in the Infernal Realm, can be considered upper class individuals. Why would they engage in something as dangerous as banditry? Whether through cultivating Highgod artifacts, by refining divine jewels, or by joining a large clan and becoming a strong supporter, they are easily able to live carefree lives.

  Linley nodded slightly.

  It was the same as the Yulan Plane, actually. True experts, such as those experts of the ninth rank, disdained banditry. However, in the Yulan continent, there were still some famous bandit groups which had a few powerful experts in them.

  “But of course, the Infernal Realm has a few exceedingly powerful bandit groups. Only bandit groups like these will have Highgods. However, even if they have Highgods, they generally won’t act against another Highgod. After all, how would they know how powerful that other Highgod is? There are great gaps in power between Highgods as well.” Buffett sighed.

  Linley agreed completely.

  For example, Sadista had been killed by Bluefire with one blow.

  Adkins, when facing Beirut, had both his Highgod bodies destroyed in just two blows.

  “In our Infernal Realm, although there are many bandits who ambush and attack people, there are three powers that they don’t dare to offend. The first is the Redbud Army!” In a warm manner, Buffett continued to provide Linley’s group with some things that were common knowledge, while Linley and the other two listened carefully.

  Linley’s group was planning to head towards the Bloodridge Continent, after all.

  Only, right now they were too weak. They had to endure for now.

  “Redbud Army. Got it.” Linley and the other two nodded. That was an army under the control of a Sovereign, an extremely powerful army. Who would dare antagonize them?

  “The second power is the prefectural army!” Buffett sighed.

  “Prefectural army?” Linley and the other two were puzzled.

  “What’s a prefectural army, old man?” Bebe asked, not understanding.

  Buffett said, “The entire Infernal Realm has 108 prefectures, and our Redbud Continent has nearly twenty as well. Every single prefecture has its own army! For example, our Nightblaze Prefecture naturally has the Nightblaze Army. These armies are known as ‘prefectural armies’! Within their own prefecture, everyone is glad if the army doesn’t make trouble for them; who would dare go antagonize the army? Once the army has their sights on you, even if you are a Highgod, you’ll be in for trouble!”

  Linley understood now.

  “The Redbud Army and the prefectural army, I can both understand. They are both giant armies. Then what is that third force which you said bandits are unwilling to antagonize?” Linley asked.

  Buffett’s eyes revealed a hint of anticipation. “Fiends!”

  “Fiends?”

  Linley, Delia, and Bebe’s hearts trembled. At the same time, they grew curious.

  “Mr. Buffett, what are Fiends?” Delia asked.

  Linley was extremely curious as well. Just now, they had watched that black-robed man fly into the chief’s adamantine castle. The people of the Black Dragon Tribe, upon seeing that man, referred to him as a ‘Fiend’.

  “Fiend is a type of title!” Buffett said with a sigh. “They are the valiant warriors of the Infernal Realm, a group of experts that fear no danger! Anyone capable of becoming a Fiend, even when roaming throughout the entire Infernal Realm, won’t encounter many bandit groups willing to act against them.”

  Linley’s heart was stirred. He thought to himself, “I’m going to the Bloodridge Continent. The journey there will be an extremely long one. If I can become a ‘Fiend’, then I will encounter many fewer difficulties on the way over.”

  Bebe and Delia had the same thought as well.

  “What sort of a title is ‘Fiend’, old man? How does one become a Fiend?” Bebe asked.

  Buffett said, “To become a Fiend isn’t too hard. You can go to any city, such as our closest Royalwing City. At Royalwing City, if you spend ten thousand inkstones, you can apply for a testing mission. Once you pass the testing mission, you will become a Fiend! Um, that is, you will become a One Star Fiend.”

  “Ten thousand inkstones, just for a testing mission?” Bebe couldn’t help but stare.

  Linley felt that this was too extravagant as well.

  Ten thousand inkstones weren’t so easily earned.

  “Just now, you said One Star Fiend?”

  Buffett nodded. “Fiends have ranks, going from One Star Fiends to the terrifying Seven Star Fiends. This has to do with the level of missions they can accept. Those who are capable of accomplishing seven star missions are known as Seven Star Fiends!”

  “However, it is generally only possible for Gods to accomplish even the simpler testing missions!” Buffett said with a sigh. “And that’s just a possibility!”

  “The work which Fiends engage in is dangerous. They are all valiant. Even robbers aren’t willing to antagonize them. The most important thing is…you can’t tell the star rank of a Fiend by looking at them. From the surface, one can’t tell the difference between a One Star Fiend and a Seven Star Fiend.” Buffett said.

  “From the surface? Wh
at do you mean?”

  Buffett smiled as he pointed at the black castle atop the mountain peak. “Didn’t you notice? That Fiend who came just now had a Fiend medallion attached to the clothes over his chest! These are issued after a person completes the testing mission. Every single Fiend has the same ‘Fiend’ emblem!”

  “Regardless of whether you are a One Star Fiend or a Seven Star Fiend, from the surface, you look the same. Only through using some very special methods can one judge a Fiend’s star rank.”

  Bebe frowned. “Oh? How powerful is that Fiend?”

  “I’m not sure either. However, even the weakest Fiends are Gods. Generally speaking, above-average Fiends are all of the Highgod level!” Buffett said. “Thus, bandits don’t dare to antagonize Fiends. After all, many Fiends are Highgods! If you encounter a Six Star Fiend or a terrifying Seven Star Fiend, no matter how powerful your bandit group is, you will be finished.”

  Linley’s heart shook.

  The majority of Fiends were Highgods? The weakest were Gods? It seemed that the quality of Fiends wasn’t lower than that of the Redbud Army at all.

  Bebe’s eyes were shining. “You say more than half of Fiends are Highgods. How powerful are those powerful Seven Star Fiends?”

  “Seven Star Fiends are amongst the most powerful experts of the Infernal Realm!” Buffett’s eyes had a hint of veneration in them. “Ordinary Highgods are unable to fight back against them at all. Once you reach the rank of Seven Star Fiend, you will have your own unique title. For example, in our Redbud Continent, based on what I know, we have produced figures like the ‘Silvermoon Fiend’ and the ‘Bloodviolet Fiend’, ultimate experts whose fame has spread throughout the entire Infernal Realm!”

  Book 14, Fiend – Chapter 6, Red-Eyed With Greed

  “That powerful?”

  In his heart, Linley was astonished and trembling at the might of these Seven Star Fiends. “Based on what he is saying, the power of these Seven Star Fiends should be amongst the most powerful of Highgods. I wonder if Bluefire has the power of a Seven Star Fiend or not.” Linley wondered to himself.

  “Uh oh, I came to discuss something else. How’d we get sidetracked onto Fiends?” Buffett said hurriedly. “Linley, the reason I came here today was because I want to ask the three of you something.”

  “Oh, Mr. Buffett, please ask away.” Linley said.

  “Ask the three of us?” Bebe rubbed his jaw, staring at Buffett.

  Smiling, Buffett said, “Precisely speaking, it’s the two of you.” And he pointed at Bebe and Delia.

  “Oh?” Delia was somewhat puzzled as well.

  “What is it, old man? Speak, hurry.” Bebe urged.

  Buffett said, “In our Black Dragon Tribe, the vast majority of those at the rank of God will become a member of our guardian army. The two of you have already become Gods. I wonder if you’d be interested in joining the Black Dragon Tribe’s army? If you join the army, every ten thousand years, the chief will gift you with your salary. This is a much better life than rearing those Gerrard Black Dragons. If you rear those dragons, you always have to be by their side. It is quite tiring.”

  “This…?” Bebe hesitated, looking towards Linley.

  Delia laughed and spoke. “Mr. Buffett, we just arrived at the Black Dragon Tribe. There’s many things we aren’t familiar with yet, so we aren’t in a rush to join the tribe’s army either.”

  “You won’t be able to make money as fast through doing other things as through the army.” Buffett said hurriedly. “I urge you to reconsider.”

  “Mr. Buffett, let’s discuss this again in the future.” Linley said.

  He had planned long ago that when the chance arose, they would go to the Bloodridge Continent. How could they always stay here at the Black Dragon Tribe? Receive a salary every ten thousand years? To other Deities, ten thousand years truly wasn’t a long period of time, but to Linley, there was no way he could wait that long.

  “I just came to let you know.” Buffett didn’t mind.

  “Mr. Buffett.” Linley hurriedly asked, “I would like to ask you, how often do people of the tribe go to Royalwing City?” Comparatively speaking, Royalwing City had to have more powerful forces present. He might be able to find a way to travel to the Bloodridge Continent there.

  “Go to Royalwing City?” Buffett was startled. “Oh, our tribe doesn’t go there on any set schedules. We have to ride metallic creatures to get there. It can range from a short wait of a few years, or perhaps thousands of a years between trips.”

  Linley’s heart couldn’t help but lurch.

  Thousands of years? He had to wait that long?

  Buffett suddenly laughed and said, “Oh, I just remembered, in half a year, it seems the tribe will make a trip to Royalwing City.”

  “However, the members of the tribe have to pay five inkstones each if they want to ride on that metallic creature.” Buffett warned Linley and the other two. He could tell that Linley’s group truly wanted to head to that Royalwing City.

  Actually, every single person who had just arrived in the Infernal Realm would be very interested in visiting the large cities in the Infernal Realm.

  “Thank you, Mr. Buffett.” Linley felt a surge of joy in his heart. Just half a year.

  After Buffett left, Linley’s group began to drink and celebrate happily in their living room. In the Infernal Realm, wine was quite a luxury. Of course, Royalwing City had some extremely excellent wine, but the price was astoundingly high. The price of some fine wine could compare to that of a God spark.

  “Each of us have to pay five inkstones to ride on that metallic creature!” Bebe cursed softly. “How black-hearted.”

  “Three of us. That means fifteen inkstones.” Delia looked at Linley. “It seems we need to sell off some divine artifacts.”

  Linley was currently in possession of Highgod artifacts, God artifacts, and Demigod artifacts. Even more astonishingly, he had a Highgod spark. That Highgod spark alone would be enough to allow Linley become a rich man in the Infernal Realm. However…Linley’s group knew that they couldn’t reveal how much wealth they had.

  In the Black Dragon Tribe, if others learned that they had Highgod sparks, most likely they wouldn’t live to see the next day!

  “How about this. I still have four Demigod artifacts on me. I’ll go to the chief’s castle first and sell off those four Demigod artifacts.” Linley made his decision. “Although I’ll suffer a bit of a loss, there’s no other option.”

  Here in the tribe, a Demigod artifact would only sell for five inkstones. But if he went to Royalwing City, he would be able to sell it for seven inkstones, while the shops of Royalwing City, in turn, would sell it for ten inkstones. Demigod artifacts were cheap, not worth much at all.

  Since he made up his mind, he did it right away.

  After drinking, Linley’s group headed directly for that black castle atop the tall mountain peak. On the walls of this black castle, there were over ten Gods standing guard. They stared down at Linley’s group but didn’t say anything.

  The entire Black Dragon Tribe only had twenty thousand people. Everyone knew each other.

  “Linley, you came?” Someone came out from the side door to the castle. It was Buffett.

  “Mr. Buffett, we came to sell a few Demigod artifacts.” Linley said. Buffett nodded in understanding. “Oh, then come with me.” As he spoke, Buffett let them forward into the castle through a side door.

  Within the castle, there was actually another small castle.

  “The inner castle is the place where his lordship lives. The outer castle is where the warriors of the tribe live.” Buffett explained. “In the future, if you want to sell something, just head in directly from the side door and go to that shop. Generally speaking, members of the tribe can come into the outer city whenever they want. The guards won’t stop you.”

  Within the black castle, the warriors of the tribe could be seen everywhere.

  “Indeed, all of them are Highgods.” Bebe sig
hed in praise.

  Linley swept those people with his gaze as well. He knew that these people were all warriors of the Black Dragon Tribe. If other tribes were to invade, they would have to rely on these warriors to counterattack and defend.

  “Go on in.” Buffett pointed towards the shop in front of them.

  Linley and the other two entered the tribe’s shop. Within the shop, there was just a single black-haired middle-aged man seated cross-legged on the floor. When Linley’s group entered, the black-haired man opened his eyes, sweeping them with an icy gaze. He said calmly, “What is it?”

  Linley was startled. Was this the attitude a shopkeeper had towards his customers?

  “They came to sell artifacts.” Buffett walked in from outside as well.

  “Oh. Take out the artifacts.” The black-haired middle-aged man said.

  With a flip of his hand, Linley removed four Demigod artifacts. These four Demigod artifacts were useless to him anyhow. The black-haired middle-aged man glanced at them, then said calmly, “Four Demigod artifacts, all weapons, nothing special. Five inkstones each, twenty inkstones total!”

  With a flip of his hand, the black-haired man retrieved two long inkstone that were ten centimeters long. “Take the inkstones, leave the artifacts.”

  “Huh?” Linley was somewhat surprised. There were actually long inkstones? However, in terms of size, it did indeed appear that a long inkstone was equivalent to ten inkstones. Although he was surprised, Linley still placed the four divine artifacts down while accepting the two long inkstones which the man tossed over.

  After exchanging for the twenty inkstones, Linley’s group continued living quietly within the Black Dragon Tribe. Usually, they spent their time training quietly, peacefully awaiting the trip in half a year to Royalwing City.

  The mountain ranges of the Black Dragon Tribe had a circumference of a thousand kilometers. Thousands of black dragons could be seen flying about at all times, heading in and out of the mountains. All of the members of the Black Dragon Tribe lived quietly here. However, over a thousand kilometers away from the mountains…

  A savage black tiger that was the size of a mountain, along with a similarly sized vicious golden wolf, was moving together towards the Black Dragon Tribe. Those two astonishingly vast creatures also flew at a shockingly fast speed, creating terrifying sonic booms as they flew.