Coiling Dragon

by welyjesch

  “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.

  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 Rea
lm…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.